Holy India Travels

Places to Visit  :  Delhi –Sikandra – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri- Abhaneri - Jaipur – Cochin – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey – Kovalam – Cochin - Delhi

Duration of Tour Package  :    14 Nights | 15 Days

Day 01| Arrival at Delhi |

Afternoon/evening arrive at Delhi International airport. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.

Day 02 | Delhi |–Cycle Rickshaw Ride at Old Delhi Markets

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi City. Start from old Delhi monuments.

Raj Ghat–is the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and a memorial was placed here. People come here to pay homage to Father of Nation. Foreign ministers, dignitaries, Indian ministers, guests, tourists and local all come here to pay respect to the man who believed in non-violence and helped India gain its independence.

Red Fort– Red Fort which is also known as Lal Qila was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. This monument represents the grandeur of the Mughal Court, constructed during the 17th century. Lal Qila was once the residential area of the Imperial Family of India. It was the capital of the Mughal rulers until 1857. (Visit from outside)

Jama Masjid– The stunning Jama Masjid mosque is the largest in India and the final architectural magnum opus of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Construction of the mosque began in 1644, but it wasn't completed until 1658. 

Here you will enjoy a Cycle Rickshaw Ride at Chandni Chowk market. This is one of famous Old Delhi’s market. The pleasure associated with the rickshaw ride here is ultimate. The rickshaw pullers here take you on a ride through various routes, offering you a different experience all together.

Qutub Minar– Qutub Minar is one of the tallest individual towers in the world, measuring about 234 ft in height. The construction work of Qutub Minar was commissioned by the ruler of Slave Dynasty, Qutubuddin-Aibak in 1199, which was later completed by his descendant Shams-ud-din-Iltutmish.

Lotus Temple– Lotus Temple is one of the most incredible architectures of the Bahai faith. The temple has been constructed to resemble a lotus flower and made of marble.

Gandhi Smriti- This poignant memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is in Birla House, where he was shot dead on the grounds by a Hindu zealot on 30 January 1948, after campaigning against intercommunal violence. The house itself is where Gandhi spent his last 144 days. The exhibits include rooms preserved just as Gandhi left them, a detailed account of his life and last 24 hours, and vivid miniature dioramas depicting scenes from his life (Close on Monday).

India Gate– India Gate is situated on the Raj Path and was commissioned by Sir Edwin Lutyens for paying reverence to the Indian Soldiers, who died during the First World War. The huge walls of India Gate reveal more than 90,000 names of the soldiers who lost their lives during the war.

President’s House– Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India, which is situated towards the west end of the Rajpath. It is a blend of both Mughal and European architectural styles with a copper dome and around 340 bedecked rooms.

Evening free for leisure / shopping. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.

Day 03 | Delhi - Sikandra - Agra (200 Kms /4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Today drive for Agra, on the way visit to Sikandra – The Great Mughal emperor Akbar started building his own mausoleum, near Agra, that was to be a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain designs and motifs, bespeaking of his religious tolerance and secular views. However, he could not complete it and died. Thus, his son Jehangir completed his tomb, popularly known as Sikandra.

Further drive for Agra. Agra is famous in worldwide for the Taj Mahal (Monument of Love). On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel start sightseeing tour of Agra.

Taj Mahal (Monument of Love)– one of the most recognisable structures in the world, attracts around four million visitors annually. This beautiful structure of white marble was built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took 20,000 workers to complete this monument in a period of 22 years from 1632 to 1653. ( Taj Mahal is close on Friday ).

Great Red Fort of Agra– Built by the Mughal dynasty's greatest Emperor Akbar in 1565. A number of the fort’s beautiful palaces, mosques and gardens were built by his successors in later years.

Itmad ud Daulah Tomb - is one of the most beautiful Mughal tombs. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, this tomb comprises cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, who were parents of Mughal Empress Nur Jahan. The tomb is primarily built in white marble with mosaic and lattice. Overnight stay at hotel in Agra.

Day 04| Agra -  Fatehpur Sikri -  Abhaneri - Jaipur (235 Kms/ 5-6 hrs) |  

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Agra. On the way visit to Fatehpur Sikri & Abhaneri.

“Fatehpur Sikri”– Constructed by Akbar in 1569 to honor Sufi saint Salim Chisti. Akbar’s court occupied this city till it was abandoned due to non-availability of water but still in a state of perfect preservation. Here one can visit Asia biggest door Buland Darwaja, Dargah of Sufi Saint Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal etc.

Abhaneri- The Chand Baori is a stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones.

Further drive to Jaipur. “Jaipur”– The Capital of Rajasthan. It’s popularly known as ‘The Pink City’ for the colour of the buildings in its wonderful old city. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaipur.

Day 05 | Jaipur |–Elephant Ride at Amber Fort

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Jaipur city.

Amber Fort and Palace– Amber Fort, also known as Amber Palace, is said to have played a key role in the history of Medieval India. This fort depicts true royal lifestyle of the Rajputs, who are known for their decadent, radical and volatile behaviour. The Amber Palace is a perfect fusion of Hindu and Muslim architecture.

Here enjoy the unique experience of an ascent on the back of a brightly caparisoned Elephant up to the Fort. This is one of the highlights of a visit to the stunning Amber Fort is the chance to ride an elephant up the hill to the main entrance. These wonderful animals are painted with traditional designs and almost effortlessly transport visitors up the steep slope to the fort.

City’s Palace Complex– City Palace, a beautiful palace in the city of Jaipur, is surrounded by large walls on all sides. It also houses audience halls, pavilions and many other important buildings. The construction work of this palace was commissioned by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during the early 1730s.

Jantar Mantar– Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or "Jantar Mantars" as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement.

Hawa Mahal– (Palace of the Wind)– It is a five-storey structure that has more than 950 windows. The latticework was built for allowing women to watch everyday life of the city. Hawa Mahal is situated near the Johari Bazaar and provides a beautiful view of the entire Pink City.

Jal Mahal– Jal Mahal was built during the 18th century in the middle of Mansarovar Lake. This is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Jaipur, which was constructed using red sandstone. It is a five-storey structure built in Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles.

Later free to visit the local markets/bazaar for shopping. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaipur.

Day 06 | Jaipur –  Cochin (By flight) |

Breakfast at hotel and drop at Jaipur airport to board on flight to Cochin.  On arrival pick up from Cochin International airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Cochin.

Day 07| Cochin |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Cochin city.  

Cochin– Cochin is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala.

Visit Jewish Synagogue– Cochin is the oldest existing synagogue. The prosperous Jewish trading community built it in 1568 AD. It was partially destroyed in the 1962 war. Later it was rebuilt by the Dutch.

Dutch Palace– The Palace is located at Mattancherry and incorporates fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Santa Cruz Basilica–St.Francis Church, Kochi In 1503, the then Rajah of Kochi permitted Alphonso Alburquerque to build this fort. Within this fort, Alburquerque erected a wooden church and dedicated it to St. Bartholomew.

Fort Kochi Beach– The beach is a wonderful experience during sunsets with the silhouettes of Chinese fishing nets and ships forming its background which makes the experience a memorable one. Mouth watering fresh seafood is available at the stalls near the beach.

Chinese Fishing Nets– Chinese fishing Nets one of the most popular tourist spots in Cochin is the Chinese Fishing nets at Fort Kochi. Set up on bamboo and teak poles, these fishing nets which are of 10 meters in height and spread over 20 meters over the water body is a very unique way of fishing.

Marine Drive– This is a picturesque promenade in Kochi. It is built facing the backwaters, and is a popular hangout for the local populace. It is also an economically thriving part of the city of Kochi with several shopping malls it is as an important centre of shopping activity in Kochi. The view of the setting and rising sun over the sea mouth. Overnight stay at hotel in Cochin.

Day 08 | Cochin - Munnar (170 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Munnar. On the way you will visit Tea Plantations - The lush greenery and the soothing cold wind with a mild aroma of tea leaves totally rejuvenates you

Munnar– Breathtakingly beautiful a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days.

On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel start sightseeing tour of Munnar city.

Visit Mattupetty dam– Mattupetty dam and its reservoir  is  located 13 km away from Munnar.  This concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Its reservoir is an idyllic place to enjoy the serene nature.

Echo Point - Go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back! Its quite interesting. If you have kids with you they will love it. They can experience this natural phenomenon firsthand.

Tea Museum– This tea museum is first of its kind in India. It is located at KDHP’s Nullatanni estate in Munnar. The aim of this museum according to its founders is to showcase the growth of more-than-a-century-old tea plantations in this region. Anyone visiting this museum will get a clear  picture of how laborious this tea processing really is.  Overnight stay at hotel in Munnar.

Day 09| Munnar |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit Lakkam Waterfalls– The waterfall is surrounded by ‘Vaga trees’. The waterfall

originates from the Eravikulam Plateau. Though the stream creates lots of cascades, most of them are inaccessible. But, due to its visual treat, this destination is one of the most preferable destinations for the tourists. Near the hill  station of Munnar is located at a distance of 9 kms from the town. It is an idyllic picnic spot surrounded by verdant rolling hills. A favorite location for trekkers. It is one of the most attractive scenes that you can look at during your

stay at Munnar.

Eravikulam Park– It is an ideal place for seeing the biodiversity of high elevation shola-grassland ecosystem. A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragus hylocrious), the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Kannan devan hills.

Evening visit at studio to watch Kerala’s famous traditional Kathakali Dances show. Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world.  The Kathakali dance is presented in a group, the themes of which are based on Hindu Mythologies - particularly on epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata. Overnight stay at hotel in Munnar.

Day 10 | Munnar - Thekkady (Periyar National Park) (100 Kms/ 3 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Thekkady.

Thekkady (Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary)– Periyar, spread over an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise.

On arrival check-in at hotel. In the afternoon enjoy Boat safari on Lake Periyar to view wildlife. This is best way to see wild animals in Periyar wild Park.

Later visit the Sprawling Spice Gardens in Periyar amidst the Eucalyptus trees. Spice tour of Periyar is the best way to explore the land known for its different aroma of spices. One can find people letting out all kind of yell just to reciprocate the echo getting reflected from surrounding hills. Overnight stay at hotel in Thekkady.

Day 11| Thekkady -  Alleppey ( 145 Kms/ 3 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Alleppey.  On arrival embark on deluxe Houseboat local people called Kettuvallam.

A house boat is around 67 feet in length and has a width of around 13 feet.  The materials that go into the making are all local and Eco friendly bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, coir carpets etc. The house boats have fully furnished single, double rooms with sundeck, private balcony with comfortable chairs, kitchen and western toilet with WC. In addition there is also separate rest room for the crew. The cuisine is traditional Kerala flavour with the local specialities, delicious fish and prawns.

Houseboat Sail along the winding network of Kerala backwaters, see the unique water world and experience its myriad charms. Spot colorful insects and butterflies flitting over flower bunch that adorn the lush green vegetation on the banks of the Kerala backwaters. Cruise through the unique web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers.

You will enjoy an overnight leisure stay in a houseboat also enjoy lavish Lunch & Dinner at houseboat. Overnight stay at houseboat in Alleppey.

Day 12 | Alleppey - Kovalam (161 Kms/ 4.5 hrs) |

Breakfast at houseboat. Morning disembark and drive to Kovalam. 

Kovalam Beach– One of the most famous and popular of all the beaches in South India. The Kovalam beach in Kerala offers the best of facilities to its visitors like Sunbathing, Swimming, Ayurvedic & Spa Massages and plenty of other options.

On arrival check-in at hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Kovalam.

Day 13 | Kovalam |

Breakfast at hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Kovalam.

Day 14| Kovalam -  Cochin  (210 Kms /4-5 hrs)|- Delhi by flight |

Breakfast at hotel and drop at Cochin airport to board on flight to Delhi. On arrival pick up from Delhi airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.

Day 15| Delhi / Departure |  

Breakfast at hotel and drop at New Delhi international airport to board on flight for onward destination.

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