Cultural and Historical Tour of Agra, Alappuzha, and Chennai

Arrive Mumbai

On arrival at Mumbai airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel. (hotel check in / out time 1200hr afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability). Rest time free and easy to relax.

Mumbai is a city that is disciplined by no time frame neither day nor night. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre, music & gourmet restaurants offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for Cochin. On arrival assistance and trasfer to hotel.

Later visit Fort Cochin famous for Chinese fishing nets, scenic beaches and architectural style of ancient buildings. At St. Frances Church see the town of Vasco da Gama. The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 in the old part of Mattancherry Town, one of the oldest lively synagogues. Mattancherry "Dutch" Palace which has an incomparable collection of huge Kerala Temple murals, exhibits & portraits. You may also visit the famous Hill Palace Museum, the largest archaeological and heritage museum in Kerala. Bolgatty Palace the oldest living Dutch palaces outside Holland, now converted into a heritage hotel. Willingdon Island a man-made island created in 1933 with wonderful walkways and jetty’s. In the evening, enjoy the Kathakali Dance, one of India's most famous Classical dances with lavish costumes, exotic makeup & Masks intensifying the beauty of the dancer’s intricate moments.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail in the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. The Chinese fishing nets the reminiscent of our past trade links are also found on the way. Flocks of duck swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures reflecting the charm of this tourist land, you also enjoy fishing from the houseboats, evening enjoy sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a Chef, and Driver. Lunch, Dinner and

overnight in houseboat.

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport to board flight for Chennai. On arrival assistance and transfer hotel check in.

Later city tour of Chennai. Visit Fort St. George & Museum built by the British East India Company in 1640 AD. The fort is believed to be the first establishment of the British in India. Kapaleeshwarar Temple a Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva, Semmozhi Poonga a beautifully landscaped botanical garden. Dakshina Chitra a living history museum & Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy Temple an 8th-century Hindu Vaishnavite temple dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. Later walk on Marina beach.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram.
In Kanchipuram visit Kailasanathar 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, noted for its architecture and sculptures. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine as compound wall. Ekambareswarar temple another ancient temple dedicated to Siva. The 2500-year-old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yields different varieties of mangoes. Varadharaja temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, noted for its wonderful sculptures. Vaikundhaperumal temple dedicated to lord Vishnu, it is also one of the 108 Divyadesams. Kamakshiamman temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi the presiding deity, one of the holy Sakthi worship places in India.

In Mahabalipuram visit Monolithic Temples locally known as Rathas. They were executed by chiseling out the exterior face of the boulder. Shore Temple built with blocks of granitein in 7th century the temple complex consisting of two Siva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. It is one of the oldest structural stone temples of South India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Cave Temples cut and decorated with panels in the Mamalla style of the Pallava period in the 7th century. Remnants seen in the caves also indicate that they were plastered and painted when built. Krishna's Butterball a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline.

Continue drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel. Rest time free & easy to relax on the beach.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Pondicherry. Visit Aurovil founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Pondicherry Museum an art and history museum especially noted for its collection of fine lost wax bronzes form the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. Later walk in French Colony. Pondicherry has some of the finest examples of old French culture with a hint of Tamil influence in its visual aesthetics. Observe and get inspired by the architectural beauty of the French part of the town while enjoying a cup of coffee and some deserts along the way. Customise your walk with your guide to cover French consulate, French Institute, Raj Nivas, Bharati Park (Aayi Monument), Government Square, Beaches, Monuments, Churches, French schools.

Afternoon drive to Chennai airport to board flight for Hyderabad. On arrival assistance and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

On arrival at Kolkata airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel (hotels check in time 1200hr afternoon, early check in subject to room’s availability). Rest time free for personal activities relax.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.

Evening Ghats’s & temples visit, attend Holy Ganga Aarti. Every evening, a magical aarti is performed at Dasashwamedh Ghat. Halt your boat right at the steps for the best view. The presiding priests stand on a wooden chauki in the water, to chant Sanskrit mantras on the clash of cymbals and drums, the river is worshipped with flowers, incense, sandalwood, milk and vermilion. First the blazing camphor lamp and then the many flamed aarti lamps are raised high and then arched back to the water.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel check in. Rest time free and easy to relax.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel drive to Agra check in at hotel. Later visit Taj Mahal an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna river commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. Agra Fort the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb a Mughal mausoleum commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel drive to Jaipur enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri. Founded in 1569 by Mughal emperor Akbar and abandoned after 15 yrs due to scarcity of water. Predominately, a red sandstone construction sprawling over a huge area, the architectural style is very much in tune with emperor’s dream & partakes of both Hindu & Muslim styles. See the graceful buildings including Diwan-E-Khas hall, Jodha Bais Palace, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & Buland Darwaza.

Further drive and visit Abhaneri a small village popular for the amazing Chand Baoris (step wells) and Harshat Mata Temple. Chand Baori is one of India's deepest and largest step wells. The huge tank with delicate carvings is certainly delightful to the eyes. Continue drive to Jaipur check in at hotel. Evening explore the pink city and visit the colorful bazaars. As per your interest wrap up your day by watching Bollywood movie at the opulent Rajmandir Cinema.

Overnight at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. From Mumbai board connecting flight for onward destination.

Alternatively drive to Delhi and board flight for your onward destination.