Grand Tour of India

ItInerary 2 (From Oct 2012):

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow via Delhi to Amritsar.

Day 2 Afternoon arrival in the capital of the Sikh religion. Transfer to Hotel Country Inn & Suites for two nights. Evening Palki ceremony at the Golden Temple.

Day 3 Morning tour of Amritsar includes the Golden Temple and volunteer kitchens, then the poignant memorial of Jallinanwala Bagh. Optional early evening visit to the Wagah border ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony.

Day 4 Morning at leisure. Take the Shatabdi Express to Delhi (6 hrs), crossing the Punjab and arriving late evening. Two nights at Oberoi Maidens, a heritage hotel.

Day 5 City tour of Old and New Delhi including India Gate, Jama Mosque, Raj Ghat, the Gandhi museum and Qutb Minar. Drive past Parliament, President House and the Red Fort.

Day 6 Fly to Varanasi, the religious capital of Hinduism and the oldest living city of India. Two nights at Hotel Radisson. Evening visit to the Aarti ceremony on the banks of the sacred Ganges.

Day 7 An early morning boat ride on the holy Ganga to see the cremation sites and crowded, colourful bathing ghats. A short drive to Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment and revealed the Buddhist doctrine of the eight fold path.

Day 8 Take the train to Lucknow (5 hrs), ‘the Constantinople of India’, a city of culture which rose to prominence under the Muslim rulers the Nawabs of Avadh. Overnight at La Palace Sarovar Portico.

Day 9 Sightseeing of Lucknow includes Bada Imambada and The Residency. Intercity Express train to Agra (6 hrs) for two nights at Hotel Wyndham Grand.

Day 10 Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, then to the dramatic Agra Fort. Optional visit to Itmad-Daula (the ‘Baby Taj’) and the Mughal garden with views across the river to the Taj Mahal.

Day 11 Visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Continue to Bharatpur and board the Shatabdi Express to Sawai Madhopur. Two nights at Hotel Ranthambore Regency.

Day 12 An early morning and afternoon game drive.

Day 13 Optional early morning game drive. Travel to Jaipur (4 hrs), the capital of the ancient desert state of Rajasthan, for two nights at Diggi Palace, a heritage hotel. High tea at the home of a Rajasthani family.

Day 14 Optional early morning Balloon ride in the area of Amber Fort. Visit the Amber Fort, City Palace and Observatory, viewing the ‘Palace of the Winds’. Optional Sound & Light show at Amber Fort.

Day 15 Fly to Mumbai for two nights at the Trident Nariman Point. Afternoon orientation tour of Mumbai including Marine Drive, the Gateway of India, Victoria Terminus, Dhobi Ghat, Mani Bhawan and Prince of Wales Museum.

Day 16 Early morning visit to the Elephanta Caves. Time at leisure before an evening walking tour of the Gateway of India markets and the marine drive walk.

Day 17 Fly to Cochin and drive to Kumarakom, on the shores of Lake Vembanad, for overnight at the Cocobay Resort.

Day 18 Morning at leisure. Board a Keralan houseboat for an overnight cruise on the backwaters. Known as Kettuvalam, the boats were converted from traditional rice barges. Enjoy a short canoe ride on the smaller canals. Lunch, dinner and breakfast on board.

Day 19 Disembark and drive to Cochin for two nights at the Trident Hotel. Walking tour of Fort Cochin area including the Jewish Synagogue, one of the oldest in India, the Mattancherry Palace, commissioned by the Portuguese and the Chinese fishing nets which line the harbour. Cooking demonstration and dinner at the home of a local family.

Day 20 Visit the agricultural and fishing village of Kumbalanghi on the backwaters with lunch included. Evening Kathakali classical dance performance, in which stylised movements relate to episodes from the Mahabharata, with an opportunity to see the dancers preparing for the performance.

Day 21 Transfer to Cochin airport for the flight to Mumbai and onward connection to London Heathrow arriving later that day.