Spectacular Hidden India (24 DAYS)

DELHI - JAIPUR - UDAIPUR - AHMEDABAD - RAJKOT - BHUJ - RANN OF KUTCH - MUMBAI - BANGALORE - BELUR/HALEBID - MYSORE - COCHIN - ALLAPUZA - AGRA

DAY (01) DELHI
Arrive in Delhi. Meeting and assistance on arrival outside the customs hall. Transfer to the Hotel and overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (02) DELHI
Morning at leisure. Afternoon city sight seeing of New Delhi. Visiting Qutub Minar, Government buildings, India Gare. In evening welcome cocktails followed by dinner. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (03) DELHI/JAIPUR
Morning city sight seeing of Old Delhi, visiting Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Rajghat. Afternoon depart for the airport in time to connect flight to Jaipur. Meeting and assistance at Jaipur airport and transfer to the Hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY (04) JAIPUR
After breakfast drive to Amber fort. Perched on a seat high aback on elephant, climb the hill up to Amber fort, a splendid fortress whose massive walls and gates protect and ancient and exquisitely designed palace. return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon city tour of Jaipur visiting city palace and Museum, Observatory and the palace of Winds. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY (05) JAIPUR/UDAIPUR
After breakfast transfer to the airport to connect flight for Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur and transfer to the Hot Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast tour of Udaipur city, come back to the Hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit shilpgram a Crafts village where it is possible to see artisans practicing their traditional crafts. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY (06) UDAIPUR
In the morning drive to Ranakpur to see the beautiful carved Jain temple, which could be aptly call the marlvis of religious sculpture. Lunch at the Maharani Bagh the Royal Orchid. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (07) UDAIPUR/AHMEDABAD
This morning drive to Ahmedabad. Arrive there by lunch time. Afternoon visit Sabarmati Ashram and drive through Ahmedabad the city founded in 16th century by Ahmed Shah a Muslim ruler. Visit the Sidi Saiyad Mosque one of the fine example of islamic architecture. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY (08) AHMEDABAD
This morning we go to the Calico Museum in the compound of the Sarabu's stately mansion and view the rare antique textiles. Afternoon visit Mr. Manubhai's collection of embroideries from all over the Gujarat and also visit vishala utensils museum which is remarkable collection of 2500 Gujarati preparation and food cooking utensils. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (09) AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT
After breakfast visit the Institute of Design and then the Shreyas Folk art museum to see the collection of trivial costumes and crafts. Continue to Rajkot to arrive in time for late lunch. Afternoon visit the Watson Museum and Jubilee garden. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (10) RAJKOT/BHUJ
This morning drive to Bhuj visiting embroideries in Ghada a village of Rabari sheep herders and Bhujodi, where a traditional woman blankets called Dhabla are woven, stop at the village of Damadaka to see ajark dying a traditional resist and Mordant process. Arrive bhuj by noon. Afternoon tour of the old wall city of Bhuj, visiting the picturesque Rao Ragmalji's palace and the richly decorated Swaminarayan Temple. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (11) RANN OF KUTCH
Drive to RANN OF KUTCH which is an island of the saltwater marshes, have remained isolated from the cultural influence that adducted the rest of KURCH. Here herders and leather workers embellish their homes with mud relied and painting and create some of the finest embroideries of the region. Spend day visiting Banni villages. Return to the Hotel for lunch and continue to visit the Banni villages. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (11) BHUJ/MUMBAI
This morning after breakfast transfer to teh airport and intime to connect flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to the Hotel.

DAY (12) MUMBAI
After breakfast morning tour of Mumbai. India's economy power-house, includes the prince of Wales Museum, with its extensive collection of miniature paintings, elegantly carved stone and ivory, plus fine Himalayan arts. The drive continues to Dhobi Chat, a colourful ourdoor 'laundry', Malabar Hill with its lovely gardens and vista of Bombay and the Arabian Sea. Visit the Mani Bhavan Museum, dedicated to the life of Mahatama Gandhi and the busting Crawford Market. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (13) MUMBAI
After breakfast walk to the pier and depart by motor hunch across Bombay harbour to Elephanta island to see the anchanting sixth centory carved cave Temples, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Return to the hote. Afternoon at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

DAY (14) MUMBAI/BANGALORE
After breakfast transfer to the airport. Depart Mumbai to Bangalore. Arrive in Bangalore at noon and transfer to teh Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (15) BANGALORE
After breakfast explore the city of bangalore, known as the garden city of India. A modern city with a distinct British flavour. Bangalore is home to the a8th century Palace of Tipu Sultan, the 'Tiger of Mysore' who dies fighting with the britishers. Visit the Indian Institute of Science and teh Bull Temple and the Lal Bagh Gardens. Return to teh Hote for dinner. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (16) BELUR/HALEBID
After breakfast depart Bangalore to visit the incredible Hoysala Remples of Belur and Halebid, carved 800 years ago with the richest ornamentation of any temples in India. Lunch at Hassan park Hote, conclude the visit and proceed to Mysore stopping enroute at Sravanbelgola to view India's largest free standing sculpture, an image of Jain saint Gomateshware, worshipped for 1000 years on arrival at Mysore, check into the Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (17) MYSORE
Afer breakfast city sight seeing of Mysore, visit the monolithic stone carving of Nandi on Chamundi Hill and the magnificent city palace, built by the Maharajas of Mysore in 1912 and still occupied by his grandson and heir. It is an architectural marvel of stained glass, mosaic mirror, inlandwoods activities. Afternoon free for independent activities. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (18) BANGALORE
After breakfast depart for Bangalore stopping enroute to see the ruins of the palace and fortress of the famed Tipu Sultan. Arrive bangalore and check into the Hotel. Lunch at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (19) BANGALORE/COCHIN
After breakfast transfer to the airport to connect the flight to Cochin. Transfer to the hotel. Lunch at leisure. Afternoon tour of Cochin, visiting the Jewish Synagogure, Dutch Palace and St. Francis church. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (20) COCHIN/KOTTAYAM Drive to Kottayam to cisit a spice garden and soem traditional churches. Traditional Kerela lunch served on a fresh Banana leaf. Board a motorboat for cruise through palm-fringed backwaters of Alleppey, from there, drive back to Cochin. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (21) COCHIN
Day at leisure. Evening witness a performance of Kathakali Dance. Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY (22) COCHIN/DELHI
After breakfast transfer to teh airport to conenct flight to Delhi. Arrived Delhi and transfer to teh hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY (22) DELHI/AGRA
In the morning transfer to teh railway station. Depart by Shatabdi Express train. Arrive Agra and transfer to the Hote. Visit Agra Fort and Tajmahal, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula (time permissting). Lunch at the Hotel. Afternoon drive by Bus to Fateshpur Sikri and return to Hotel with a stop at Tajmahal for photographs by Sunset. Early dinner and transfer to Railway station depart Agra by Shatabdi Express. Arrive Delhi and overnight atht the Hotel.

DAY (23) DELHI
Day at leisure. Evening farewell coktails follwed at the hotel.

DAY (24) DELHI/HOME
Depart for the airport to connect flight back home.