Cultural and History Tour of India | Small Group Tour

Upon arrival in Delhi, we transfer to our hotel individually. Our tour begins with a welcome dinner and program orientation at a specialty restaurant. (D)

Today we begin exploring Delhi, the capital of India, a metropolis of great importance to the nation, serving as both the gateway to the country and the seat of its political power. It provides an intoxicating mix of the ancient and the modern. In its 3,000-year history, Delhi has been the site of 7 different cities. Its strategic location has long defined it as the seat of power. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored. (B,D)

After breakfast, we drive to Jaipur (265 km / 5 hours drive). After checking in to our hotel, we enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant. The capital of Rajasthan was built in pink by the notable astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh. It was designed in honour of a visiting prince in the 18th century, and, ever since, has retained this colour. We visit Maharaja's City Palace, the pink rose of the residential and business areas. (B,D)

After breakfast, we continue to explore the Pink City with our tour guide on an excursion to Amber Fort, situated just outside the city, where we ride on elephant to the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. The Fort Palace of Amber was the Kachhawahas citadel until 1727, when their capital moved to Jaipur. Successive rulers continued to come here on important occasions to seek the blessings of the family deity, Shila Devi. The citadel was established in 1592 by Man Singh I on the remains of an old 11th-century fort, but the various buildings added by Jai Singh I (r. 1621-67) is what constitutes its magnificent centrepiece. We have an afternoon sightseeing tour of the City Palace in the heart of Jaipur, known for its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Not far away is the Central Museum. Occupying the Heart of Jai Singh II's city, the City Palace has been home to the rulers of Jaipur since the first half of the 18th century. The sprawling complex is a superb blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, with open, airy Mughal-style public buildings leading to private apartments. Today, part of the complex is open to the public as the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, popularly known as the City Palace Museum. Its treasures, which include miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes, and weaponry, provide a splendid introduction to Jaipur's princely past, and its fascinating arts and crafts. Our next stop is Hawa Mahal. A whimsical addition to Rajasthan's rich architectural vocabulary, the fanciful Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds" was erected in 1799 by the aesthete Sawai Pratap Singh (r.1778-1803). Its ornate pink facade has become an icon for the city. The tiered, Baroque-like composition of projecting windows and balconies with perforated screens is 5 stories high but just 1 room deep, its walls not more than 20 centimetres (8 inches) thick, built of lime and mortar. The structure was designed in this way to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe unnoticed the lively street scenes below. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the Hawa Mahal, seen from afar, looks like the mukut (crown) that often adorns the god's head. Visitors can climb up the winding ramp to the top, and a gateway towards the west leads into the complex. Within are administrative offices and the Archaeological Musuem, which houses a small collection of sculptures and local handicrafts, including some utensils dating back to the 2nd century BC. We continue to Jantar Mantar. Of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the one in Jaipur is the largest and best preserved: the others are in Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi. A keen astronomer himself, Jai Singh kept abreast of the latest astronomical studies in the world, and was most inspired by the work of Mirza Ulugh Beg, the astronomer-king of Samarkand. Built between 1728 and 1734, the observatory has been described as "the most realistic and logical landscape in stone." Its 16 instruments resemble a giant sculptural composition. Some of the instruments are still used to forecast how hot the summer months will be, along with the expected date of arrival, duration, and intensity of the monsoon, and the possibility of floods and famine. (B,D)

After breakfast we depart for Agra (233 km / 5 hours drive). En route we stop for lunch at Bharatpur and, time permitting, we will stop at Keoladeo Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary before continuing to visit Fatehpur Sikri. An old deserted town from the Mughal Dynasty, Fatehpur Sikri, built in red sandstone in honour of Saint Salim Chisti. Chisti foretold the birth of 3 sons to Emperor Akbar. The town is an example of robust stability combined with much originality. Each important edifice here represents a style in itself. Notable among them is the Diwan-e-Khas, entirely unique in its concept, having a tall vaulted room with an intricately-carved central pillar supporting a platform that once held the emperor's throne. The airy Panch Mahal, a 5-storied structure rising in pyramidal fashion, was probably used by the ladies of the court. Set like a jewel in a courtyard of pink sandstone, it is the finest building here, with the marble Tomb of Salim Chisti enclosed by finely carved, lacy marble screens. The Buland Darwaza, an imposing gateway 54 metres high, was built to commemorate Akbar's Aligarh. The tomb is a combination of Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. We arrive in Agra in time for dinner and check in at our hotel. Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. The city is also famous for its craftsmen and their superb inlay work on marble and soapstone, carpets, gold thread embroidery, and leather shoes. Also of interest are the Agra Fort, Sikandra, Ram Bagh, and Itmad-Ud-Daulah. Thirty five kilometres away are the imperial ruins of the Mughal city, Fatehpur Sikri. Agra is an old city and it is said that its name was derived from Agrabanad, a forest that finds mention in the epic Mahabharata. (B,D)

Today we visit the wondrous Taj Mahal, where we take in the superb structure and views. Taj Mahal, the architectural modern day wonder of the world, is a fine example of the fusion of many architectural styles. We continue with a visit to Agra Fort, designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D. It is constructed with barricaded walls of red sandstone and it houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am, Macchhi Bhawan, Nagina Masjid, Meena Bazar, Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, and Musamman Burj, from where Taj Mahal is visible in all its beauty. Later in the evening we will have an early dinner followed by a transfer to the train station where we will board our overnight train to Varanasi. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. Its perfect proportions and exquisite craftsmanship have been described as "a vision, a dream, a poem, a wonder." This sublime garden-tomb, an image of the Islamic garden of paradise, cost nearly 41 million rupees and 500 kilos (1,102 lbs) of gold. About 20,000 workers laboured for 12 years to complete it in 1643. Situated on the West Bank of the Yamuna, Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. Its imposing red sandstone ramparts form a crescent along the riverfront, and encompass an enormous complex of courtly buildings, ranging in style from the early eclecticism of Akbar to the sublime elegance of Shah Jahan. The barracks to the north are 19th-century British additions. A deep moat, once filled with water from the Yamuna, surrounds the fort. (B,D)

Upon arrival at the Varanasi train station, we are transferred to our hotel to freshen up. After lunch, we have a half-day sightseeing tour of the city including visiting the Ghats and attending the evening Aarti ritual at the Ghats for the river Ganges. Also known as Kashi ("the City of Light"), or as Benares, Varanasi is situated on the west bank of the Ganges and is India's holiest Hindu City, with a spiritual and religious legacy that goes back nearly 3,000 years. This is the city of Shiva, the foremost among the 12 places where the god burrowed and then burst into the sky in a fiery pillar of light (Jyotirlinga). Sanctified by Shiva's all-pervading presence and the sacred Ganges, the 90 or so ghats along the river define the life and identify of Varanasi. Stretching from the southern Asi Ghat to the northern Adi Keshava Ghat, close to the Malviya Bridge, the Ghat covers more than 6 kilometres. Lined with temples and shrines, the ghats reverberate with the endless cycle of Hindu religious practice, from daily rituals to profound rites of passage. (B,L,D)

Today, we take an early morning boat ride on the Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from Ghat to Ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarniks and Harishchandra, where funeral pyres burn day and night. Hindus believe that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. After our boat ride, we return to the hotel for breakfast, and then depart for our tour of Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was a renewed school of learning from 6th century BC to 12th century AD. Later on, we visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple, and the museum. (B,D)

Today we fly to Mumbai and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. The capital of Maharashtra is India's most dynamic, cosmopolitan, and crowded city. The country's financial centre and its busiest port, Mumbai is also home to the world's biggest cinema industry, popularly known as Bollywood. Some 16 million people, from billionaire tycoons to homeless pavement dwellers, live in this teeming megalopolis. (B,D)

In the morning, we enjoy an Elephanta Excursion. The rest of the day is spent doing sightseeing in Mumbai, where we have the chance to visit the Prince of Wales Museum and The Gateway to India, among other culturally significant sites. The Elephanta cave temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on an island off Mumbai's eastern shore, the 6th-century AD Elephanta cave temples, chiselled into a rocky cliff and dedicated to Shiva, contain some great masterpieces of Indian sculpture. Originally called Ghaarapuri or "Fort-City," the island was renamed Elephanta by the Portuguese after a huge stone elephant that once stood here. (B,D)

After breakfast, we take a flight to Bangalore, and on arrival transfer by road to Mysore (145 km / approx. 3.5 hours drive). On arrival, we check in at our hotel. (B,D)

Today we enjoy a full day sightseeing. We will visit the Mysore Palace of the Maharaja. Built in 1911-12, the palace is a harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and Saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades, and sculptures that are magnificent. We visit the art gallery, drive up to Chamundi Hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple, and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, we see the Nandi Bull. (B,D)

After breakfast we drive to Wayanad (136 km / 4.5 hours drive). Upon arrival we transfer to the hotel. (B,D)

We visit Pookat Lake and nearby Nilgiri wildlife reserve. Rich in biodiversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has been established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna. The management lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration for the general lifestyle of the tribal members and others who live in and around the forest. Elephant, spotted deer, bison, tiger, cheetah, and wild bear can all be seen here. (B,D)

After breakfast we drive to Thrissur (195 km / approx. 6 hours drive). Upon arrival we transfer to the hotel. (B,D)

After breakfast, we depart to Alleppey (140 km / approx. 6 hours drive). Upon arrival we board a houseboat where lunch will be served. Later we will stop at Champakulum village to see the snake boat and the market here. Dinner will also be on board while enjoying the natural scenery. (B,L,D)

In the morning we disembark and drive to Kumarakom for an overnight stay at an Auyrveda resort where we will learn more about this traditional Indian medicine. We visit the Punnathur Kotta elephant park, regarded as one of the largest elephant parks in the world, and Guruvayoor Temple, if time permits. (B,D)

In the morning, we drive to Periyar (138 km / approx. 3 hours drive). On arrival in Periyar we check in to our hotel and take some time to explore the nearby area. We will visit Thekkady town as well as a spice plantation where we will be accompanied by a local expert guide on spices. The area is also known for its tea plantation(s). (B,D)

We enjoy a morning boat ride on Periyar Lake and later take a nature walk led by a naturalist. The construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river at Thekkady in 1895 submerged large tracts of land and created a huge lake, covering an area of 26 square kilometres (10 sq miles). Years later, in 1935, the then Maharaja of Travancore declared 600 square kilometres (232 sq miles) of forest surrounding the lake a wildlife sanctuary - - Periyar National Park. The Periyar Lake now forms the nucleus of the ecosystem of the sanctuary, which, over the years, has been expanded to 777 square kilometres (300 sq miles). Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978, the sanctuary is a rare example of human interference having enhanced rather than damaged an ecosystem. (B,D)

After breakfast we drive to Cochin (154 km / approx. 4 hours drive). Upon arrival we check in at our hotel and explore the nearby area on foot. Kochi, better known as Cochin, is Kerala's most cosmopolitan city. It is also its main trading centre for spices and seafood. Built around a saltwater lagoon of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is in fact a collection of narrow islands and peninsulas. While mainland Ernakulam boasts of concrete shopping malls and glitzy apartment buildings, Mattancherry and Fort Koch have an old world charm, with their blend of Dutch, Portuguese, and English bungalows and quaint narrow streets. The scenic location of Kochi's natural harbour, surrounded by palm groves, green fields, inland lakes, and backwaters, has enchanted visitors from across the globe for centuries. Cochin is a natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher seas are outside and the calmer waters are within the harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed this city on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques and Hindu temples. (B,D)

Today we have a full day sightseeing in Cochin visiting the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese and known for its murals, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as the dresses and palanquins used by Cochin's erstwhile rulers. We will see Koonan Kurishu Shrine, which is a small chapel. We will also see the Jewish Synagogue, which has a number of copper plates inscribed in the Hebrew script, as well as Fort Kochi, St. Francis Church, the oldest to be constructed by Europeans in India, Santa Cruz Basilica with a beautifully painted ceiling, and Chinese Fishing Nets near the harbor's entrance of Cochin. In the evening we enjoy a performance of the traditional dance of the Kerala region, called Kathakali, which is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama, with elaborate make-up and costumes, detailed gestures, and well-defined body movements and complementary percussion. The Mattancherry Palace, constructed by the Portuguese in the mid-1550s, was given to the ruler of Cochin as a token of goodwill in exchange for trading rights. It was later renovated by the Dutch, and so gained the misnomer: Dutch Palace. The 2-storied structure, built around a courtyard with a small shrine to the goddess Bhagavati, is today a museum with a rare collection of murals and royal artefacts. In the central Durbar Hall, where coronation ceremonies were once held, is the portrait gallery of the Kochi rulers; it also displays palanquins and textiles. The adjacent bedrooms and chambers are renowned for their fine 17th-century murals, representative of Kerala's temple art, painted in rich, warm shades of red, yellow, black, and white. They depict religious and mythological themes as well as episodes from the Ramayana. St. Francis Church was established in the early 1500's by the Portuguese (who called it Santo Antonio). It is one of India's earliest European churches, with a simple façade that became the model for later churches. Taken over by the Dutch and then the British, it is today affiliated with the church of South India. Within are numerous gravestones with inscriptions, the earliest a Portuguese epitaph dated 1562. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 until his body was taken to Portugal 14 years later. Fort Kochi is Kochi's natural harbour, created by a massive flood in 1341. It attracted imperialists and merchants from all over the world. In the 16th century, the Portuguese built a fort here, which was later occupied by the Dutch and then the British. Today, this quarter, with its mixture of architectural styles, encapsulates Fort Kochi's tumultuous history. The most important building here is St. Francis Church, erected by the Portuguese in 1502 and considered to be among the oldest churches built by Europeans in India. This area has now been declared a Heritage Zone to preserve its many historic buildings. (B,D)

Your India holiday tour concludes today after breakfast. If you're departing later in the evening a late check-out can be arranged at the hotel. (B)