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 Madras, Bangalore, Mysore, Cochin, Madurai, Trichy,Lake Periyar, the
“Backwaters” of Kerala,
Delhi and Agra … with a stop in Singapore
The
wonder of India. It begins with a warm and
gracious welcome. It continues with a splendour found nowhere else in the
world, a rich past, and a vibrant mosaic of
cultures and customs.
India ... Nothing
compares.
The world’s most exotic destination !!
Jewels of South India
Itinerary
Tues, Nov 05
Your Journey Begins
Depart Toronto on Air Canada flight #793Y to
Los Angeles where you will transfer to Singapore
Airlines flight #29Y to Singapore.
(inflight meals)
Thurs,
Nov 07
Singapore
Having lost a day crossing the International
Date Line, arrive in Singapore at 11:30.
Transfer (seat in coach), to a first class Peninsula
/ Excelsior hotel or similar for a 2 night
stay. The
rest of the day at leisure. (inflight meals)
Fri, Nov 08
Singapore
After
breakfast depart on an orientation tour of the
exciting city of Singapore.
The City
Experience Tour showcases the contrast of
old and new and the blend of East and West.
Experience the history, culture and
lifestyle of multi-racial Singapore.
Visit the Colonial district where old
Singapore began and where modern Singapore was
created, Little India, places of worship,
Chinatown and admire the best of Asian
craftsmanship at a gem factory. The rest of your day is at leisure. (B)
Sat,
Nov 09 Singapore - Chennai (Madras)
After breakfast you will have most of the day to
further explore Singapore.
Before you leave for the airport in the
early evening, consider an optional tour to see
Singapore from above, on the cable car to
Sentosa Island, a multi-million dollar
recreation park, or you might like to stop at
the original Raffles Hotel for a Singapore
Sling, the famous drink created here. Transfer to the airport for your Singapore Airlines flight
410Y to Chennai
(Madras). On arrival transfer to the first
class Radha
Park Inn International for a 2 night stay.
(B)
Sun,
Nov 10
Chennai (Madras) - Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
- Chennai
After breakfast, a half day excursion to the
little seaside town of Mamallapuram,
58 km south of Chennai, a sculptural
extravaganza, which has been designated as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
This open air museum of art and
architecture is noted for its exquisite rock cut
monuments, monolithic structures and the
world’s largest bas relief … a beautiful
composition of hundreds of celestial beings,
human and animals all hurrying to a natural rock
cleft that divides the giant stone.
The best known landmark of Mamallapuram
is the last remaining Shore Temple which has
stood by the sea for 12 centuries.
Its twin spires are pure poetry in
granite. The
other wonder of Mamallapuram
are the mandapams, each a cave scooped from a
hillside of solid rock and ornamented with
pillars, sculptured with panels and with rathams
(monolithic rock-cut shrines) that have inspired
generations of South Indian temple builders. Also in this area are a magnificent elephant and an exquisite
Nandi, the sacred bull.
Returning
to Chennai
you will have an orientation tour of this grand
Indian coastal city, the capital of Tamil Nadu
and the first capital of the Raj.
Visit Fort St. George, competed in 1653
and today filled with reminders of the past,
including St. Mary’s, the first church
consecrated on Indian soil. You may have time to
visit the National art Gallery which has many
excellent bronzes including the famous Chola
period (9th to 12th
century) bronze Nataraja, the God Shiva, in the
cosmic dance pose. Drive along the Marina, an
elegant promenade and proceed to the old Indian
section of Mylapore.
Visit San Thome Basilica - the
culmination of the enduring legend of Thomas
Didymus, the apostle who doubted and who is
believed to have lived and preached on
Mylapore’s shores.
(B,D)
Mon,
Nov 11
Chennai (Madras) - Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your
1 hour flight IC 995 to Tiruchirappalli.
On arrival transfer to your first class
centrally located hotel Jenney’s
Residency for a 1 night stay, and then
depart on a half day city tour of
Tiruchirappalli which includes Rock
Fort, which dominates the landscape.
At its summit is a Ganesha Temple, a
popular place of worship in spite of the steep
climb involved. There is a 100-pillar mandapam
which was used for music concerts and religious
discourses.
A fine view of the city can be had from
the fort. (B,D)
Tues,
Nov 12
Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) - Madurai
Enjoy your breakfast and morning at leisure.
In the afternoon depart for Madurai. Enroute you will visit Thanjavur
(Tanjore), famous for beautiful Chola Temple
of Brihadeshwara, which has exquisitely sculpted gopurams (temple
entrance towers) over 90’ high.
They lead to a vast courtyard in which
the main temple stands guarded by two sentries
carved out of single stones. Tanjore’s bronzes
and handicrafts make it one of the highlights of
a visit to the south.
It is also famous for its silk, one of
the best in India. Located on the banks of the
Vaigai River, Madurai is south India’s most
vibrant and colourful temple city.
Upon arrival, transfer to the Taj
Garden Retreat, a heritage classic hotel,
for overnight accommodation.
In the evening visit the splendid temple
dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi,
noted for its marvelous hall of a thousand
pillars. (B,D)
Wed,
Nov 13
Madurai - Periyar
After breakfast enjoy a short morning city tour
of Madurai. Visit the Madurai Temple, believed to have 33 million
sculptures, and the Palace of Thirumalai Nayak,
the most famous king of the Nayak dynasty. In
the afternoon travel to the wildlife sanctuary
of Periyar. Upon arrival
in Periyar, you will stay for 2 nights at the
4-star Hotel Spice Village.
Periyar is located in the cool hills and
is a beautiful area of tranqil winding roads,
tea, rubber, pepper and coffee plantations.
Daylight permitting, enjoy an evening sail on
Lake Periyar to view wildlife. (B,D)
Thurs,
Nov 14
Periyar
Rise early this morning for your special boat
ride on Lake
Periyar.
The thickly forested banks of the lake
are home to a great variety of wildlife.
Be sure to bring your camera as you may
come within a few feet of a herd of wild
elephants. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B,D)
Fri,
Nov 15 Periyar - Kochi (Cochin)
After breakfast travel by car to Kochi,
a port city with a rich past and a bustling
present. Chinese,
Jew, Arabs and Europeans came here to trade, and
their influence is still evident in the old
tiled houses, colonial buildings, synagogues and
mosques. Upon
arrival transfer for a 2 night stay at the first
class Taj
Residency or similar.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
(B,D)
Sat, Nov 16
Kochi (Cochin)
After breakfast depart on a half day tour of
the city highlights - the Mattancherri
Palace of the former Maharajas, built by the
Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in
1663, make
a visit to Kochi a unique experience.
In the ancient rooms are 17th
century murals that relate in vibrant colour the
story of the epic Ramayana.
Also visit St. Francis Church, the oldest
European Church in India.
See the Chinese Fishing Nets, unique to
this part of Kerala and living symbols of a
centuries old Chinese influence on this coast.
In
the afternoon visit the Keralan Backwaters, a vast network of rivers and canals, once used
by merchant ships laden with ivory, gold,
silver, rubber and spices, extend from Kochi.
Travel by boat through some of the meandering
channels edged by lush vegetation, groves of
coconut and banana trees, and rice fields, and
watch swooping kingfishers and flying
fish. (B,D)
Sun,
Nov 17 Kochi (Cochin) - Bangalore - Mysore
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your
short flight to Bangalore.
On arrival travel to Mysore and your grand heritage hotel, the Lalitha Mahal Palace, which offers a lovely view of the beautiful
city of Mysore, for a 1 night stay.
Tonight you will visit the massive Maharaja’s
Palace, which on Sunday nights is lit by
50,000 bulbs - a dazzling sight.
(B,D)
Mon,
Nov 18 Mysore - Bangalore
After breakfast you will have a city tour of Mysore,
the principal residence of the Royal Family.
You will visit the Maharajas’ Palace, a
synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles.
Gateways, domes, arches, turrets,
colonnades, sculpture … all are here in
magnificent profusion.
Continue on to Chamundi Hill named after
the Royal Family’s patron goddess and the site
of summer palaces, an ancient temple and the
16’ high Nandi (Siva’s bull) carved out of a
single huge boulder.
The view from the hill offers a beautiful
panorama of not only all Mysore, but also ranges
of hills, lakes and the turrets of temples and
churches. Then
proceed to Bangalore.
On arrival you will have a brief city
tour, including a visit to the Lal
Bagh gardens, developed with lavish care
since the Muslim era and which now offer a
variety of century old trees, fountains, lotus
pools, terraces and an assortment of herbs and
plants spread out over several acres.
Then check into your hotel, the 5-star Royal
Orchid Plaza. (B,D)
Tues, Nov 19
Bangalore - Delhi - Agra
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for
your early morning flight to Delhi.
On arrival in Delhi, you will travel to Agra,
and check in for a 2 night stay at the first
class Hotel
Trident Agra.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
(B,D)
Wed,
Nov 20 Agra
Up early this morning to visit the Taj
Mahal at sunrise.
The Taj Mahal is the greatest love story
ever told.
On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal, in wild extravagance, Shahjehan built her
this memorial.
20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to
build this wealth of white marble and precious
stone. Return
to the hotel for breakfast.
In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort. Behind its
forbidding red sandstone battlements lie palaces
that tell the story of the Moghul Empire
including Moti Masjid, the pearl mosque built by
Shahjehan, and the Jasmine Tower. In the early
evening re-visit the Taj Mahal at sunset before
returning to your hotel by rickshaw.
(B,D)
Thurs, Nov 21
Agra - Delhi
After breakfast drive back to Delhi and transfer to your hotel, the 5-star deluxe Le
Meridien for overnight.
In the afternoon take a city tour of Old
Delhi. Visit the magnificent Red
Fort, built of red sandstone.
Within its walls are marble palaces and a
grand audience chamber, the Diwan-i-Khas, where
Moghul emperors held court and the Peacock
Throne once stood.
Opposite the fort are the black and white
onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the
most elegant mosque in India.
Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an
old fort of the 14th century, see the
Ashokan Pillar of the 3rd century BC.
Then visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi
was cremated in 1948. In the evening enjoy a Son
et Lumiere Show. (B,D)
Fri,
Nov 22 and Sat, Nov 23
Delhi - Singapore - Los Angeles - Toronto
After breakfast you will tour New Delhi, the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens.
Drive down the main avenue, the
impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial
arch, the India Gate, and pass the Presidential
Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the
secretariat buildings … the centre of all
government activity.
Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 by
his grieving widow Haji Begum, Safdarjung’s
Tomb, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high, and the
ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque
and Delhi’s most curious antique, the
uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the
4th century AD.
Visit the Birla (Laxmi Narayan) Temple
with its many idols.
Your hotel check out is at noon today.
In the afternoon you will have time for
last minute shopping and leisure activities.
In the early evening transfer to the
airport for your flight home.
(B,D, inflight meals)
Jewels
of South India
Destinations
Agra
Agra’s importance is due to one
monument alone … the Taj Mahal.
This is the glory of Mughal India, its
white marble facade, domes and minarets were
built as an expression of love and is India’s
most enduring icon.
This city of nearly 2 million is easy to
get around.
It’s main monuments, the Taj and Agra
Fort rise above the banks of the Yamuna River.
Chennai, (formerly Madras)
India’s 4th largest
city, offers excellent hotels and
transportation, a terrific range of food and
some serious shopping for silks, cottons and
handicrafts - and of course, magnificent old
Hindu temples.
Savour Chennai, for a true feel of India.
Sniff jasmine and spices and glimpse
living traditions from Chennai’s ancient past.
Delhi
is India’s capital and a bustling
metropolis which combines the ancient with the
modern.
The parks and gardens are plentiful,
street life is colourful, the people outgoing,
and the amenities wide ranging.
Today Delhi has 12 million inhabitants
and sprawls haphazardly over 300 square miles of
verdant avenues, traffic choked back streets and
pungent markets packed with booths.
Kochi, (formerly Cochin)
One of the finest natural harbours on
the Arabian Sea Coast, Kochi, a city of
peninsulas and islands, has been a port of call
for foreign traders from early times.
Its cosmopolitan character is reflected
in the buildings and structures representing
different regions of the world.
Madurai
This extremely sacred city, Tamil
Nadu’s oldest, was originally designed in a
lotus motif but has since expanded into a
cacophonous labyrinth of temples, bazaars and
narrow
streets packed with stalls, squatting
vendors, rickshaws, cows, buffaloes and the odd
ambling elephant.
It is a perfect size, small enough for
easy orientation and large enough for interest
to spread over several days.
Garlands of scented jasmine, graceful
Tamil women, vegetarian specialties and friendly
people make it a quintessential southern town,
not to be missed.
Mysore
Few Indian cities can rival the
stately charm and easy going atmosphere of
Mysore, a former princely capital 87 miles
southwest of Bangalore.
With a population of around three
quarters of million, it remains a manageable
size, with tree lined streets and well
maintained historic buildings, and makes an
excellent base for this region’s numerous
cultural relics and wildlife sanctuaries.
Often dubbed the “city of palaces”,
it in fact has five, and several mansions too,
some of which have been converted into
attractive, atmospheric hotels.
Jasmine, incense, silk, carved
sandalwood, and rosewood are the main local
products, bringing fragrance to the Devaraja
market.
Singapore Founded as a trading post for the East India Company, this
thoroughly cosmopolitan city is overflowing with
all kinds of exotic goods.
Haggle for bargains in Change Alley,
sample exceptional cuisine in open-air food
markets, wander through Jurong Bird Park, the
finest in all of Asia or take a cable car ride
to Sentosa Island, home of one of the world’s
most interesting aquariums.
The Backwaters
The essence of Kerala is its palms
and waterways.
These two come together to create the
special magic of the backwaters, a great and
glistening web of rivers, canals, lakes and
estuaries where time flows at a measured pace
and yesterday and tomorrow merge into an
ever-lasting, jade-green today.
When you first encounter the backwaters
they look unreal - slow flowing watery highways
meandering between palm hung banks.
Clearly, the best way to encounter these
water lands is by boat.
Tiruchirappalli, (formerly Trichy)
This
place is situated in central Tamil Nadu,
on the banks of the Cauvery River.
It is 320 kilometers from Madras, and 150
kilometers from Madurai.
Trichy is a blend of history, a pilgrims
centre and a thriving commercial city.
INCLUDED
FEATURES
International
Airfare from Toronto via Singapore Air
PLUS Domestic air for flights
PLUS Airport / Hotel transfers
PLUS Porterage of one bag per person at
airports and hotels
PLUS accommodation in first class
hotels
PLUS 15 breakfasts and 12 dinners and in
flight meals
PLUS Overland transportation in air
conditioned mini coaches
PLUS Services of a Driver and Local English
Speaking Guides
PLUS All applicable sightseeing and
admissions as per itinerary
PLUS Entrance fees at monuments in Chennai,
Bangalore, Agra, Delhi except for still and
video camera fees
PLUS All taxes and service charges
PLUS A Pre-departure get acquainted briefing
PLUS Escorted from Toronto
NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR COST
Out of Country Health and Trip Cancellation
Insurance
Departure Taxes (approximately $88)
Passport
fees, Visa fees for India and Nepal if
applicable, excess baggage charges, meals other
than those specified, beverages,
items of a personal nature, optional
excursions, laundry, tipping for personal
services not a part of the tour’s included
features and end of trip gratuities for driver
and guides.
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