Kerala Travel Packages :: Kerala
with North India
Best of
North India with Kerala
Travel Duration : 16
Nights/ 17 Days for Best of North India with Kerala
Places Covered
: Delhi - Alwar - Jaipur - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi -
Trivandrum - Varkala - Kumarakom - Cochin - Thekkady - Delhi
Day
Tour 1: Delhi Sight-Seeing You will be picked up from your
hotel and proceed for a full-day tour of Old & New Delhi. (Start at 0900
hrs).
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail
visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated;
Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most
opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
Cycle rickshaw ride
from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive
sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb,
the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the
imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would
end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
After the
sightseeing, check in at THE PARK in Connaught Place. Relax in the evening
or roam the Connaught Place market.
Proceed for LIGHT AND SOUND
SHOW and then for dinner. Overnight at Delhi.
Day
Tour 2: Delhi - Alwar Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for ALWAR
and reach by noon.
150 Km from Jaipur and 170 Km from Delhi -
ALWAR nest between a cluster of small hills of the ARAVALLI range. Perched
on the most prominent of these hills is a massive ancient fort that whispers
tales of the rich history of the city.
Apart from its long
history, the city has a rich natural heritage with some beautiful lakes and
picturesque valley thickly wooded in parts.
Some of the finest
variety of birds and animals are spotted here. ALWAR has one of the finest
wild life sanctuaries in Rajasthan - SARISKA, which is an excellent tiger
country.
Visit the PALACE and complete all sightseeing and stay
at SARISKA PALACE for the night.
Day
Tour 3: Alwar - Jaipur Proceed to Jaipur after breakfast.
Reach by noon.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to
the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the
Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana.
In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains it's
character and history - Beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity.
Popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally
abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal
consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts,
magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Shopping in the city. Overnight at Jaipur.
Day
Tour 4: Jaipur Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for morning
excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER
FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its
construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his
descendent Jai Singh I. It's forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise
where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate
expression.
Continue city sightseeing.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani
architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the
walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the
City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the
best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different
parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical
instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade
of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its
five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine
trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows.
Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the
palace women.
Relax in the evening. Overnight at Jaipur.
Day Tour 5: Jaipur - Agra
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Agra.
Visit Fatehpur Sikri en-route.
The deserted, red Sandstone City,
Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century
is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins"
are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life
must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund
Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Reach Agra and check
in at hotel.
Badal Singh established the city of Taj in 1475.
Agra finds mention in the Mahabharat as Agraban. This city in those days was
considered to be the sister-city of Mathura, which was more prominent than
Agraban. Agra came into its own when the Lodhi Kings chose this place beside
the RIVER YAMUNA to be their capital city. Sikander Lodhi made Agra his
capital but Babar defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also laid
the foundation of the Mughal empire.
The coming of Babar
heralded a new era, which was to see Agra at its zenith during the reign of
Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It was during Akbar's period that Agra
became the center of art, culture and commerce and learning. This trend
reached its height when Shah Jahan became the ruler.
In the Mid 16th century and earlier 17th century Agra witnessed a frenzied
building activity and it was during this time when the symbol of love Taj
Mahal was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the
contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality. The same is still
reflected in whatever monuments remain in Agra. The narrow lanes of Agra
filled with aroma of Mughlai cuisine, the craftsman who are busy in crating
master pieces with their skill all remind of the Mughal royalty which this
city had once experienced. Today whatever remains, has become a major
tourist attraction which has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but
this time as a major tourist destination of India.
Visit the TAJ
MAHAL - one of the Seven Wonders of the World was built by Shah Jahan in
1631 AD and was completed in 1651AD. Taj Mahal - The symbol of Love was
built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan' s second Wife).
Overnight at Agra.
Day Tour 6: Agra -
Khajuraho Proceed for city sightseeing after breakfast.
AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the
fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture
perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
After Agra
Fort we will visit BABY TAJ - The interiors of which are considered better
than the Taj.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho. Reach
and transfer to hotel.
Situated
in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a
fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural
heritage, honored by the world as India's unique contribution to human
civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Only
twenty remain as embodiments of Indian architectural and sculptural art at
its most evolved state. Even ten centuries after they were constructed, the
temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to all mankind.
The temple of Khajuraho is a world heritage site and belong not just to
India but to the world. The nearby Panna national park is a project tiger
park making the area a unique combination of outstanding cultural and
natural heritage - one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Afternoon visit the WESTERN TEMPLES.
Overnight at Khajuraho.
Day Tour 7: Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel.
Guided tour of EASTERN TEMPLES.
Transfer
in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi, you
will be met and transferred to hotel.
Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the rivetfront,
as seen from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with
temples, and it's labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number
of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet
manufacturing place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city
that illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is
at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and Asi.
Overnight at
Varanasi.
Day Tour 8: Varanasi
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the
sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living
traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To
start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate
this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges
before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle
of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of
faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background,
temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Then return for a
walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga".
As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the
faithful are coming and going. Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning
to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel. Proceed for day
guided tour of Varanasi including the Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu
University. Overnight at Varanasi.
Day
Tour 9: Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast
at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of SARNATH.
Sarnath - 5 miles
out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites in
the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the
ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum
which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at
the site.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi.
Reach
Delhi and you will be transferred to your hotel or airport.
Day
Tour 10: Abroad - Trivandrum - Varkala Arrive at Trivandrum
airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Varkala
(100 kms)
Upon arrival in
Varkala - check into the hotel.
Rest of the day free for own activities. Overnight at hotel
Day
Tour 11: Varkala Morning visit the Portugese church of
Anjengo dated to the time of occupation, which maybe the Elanchoros of the
geography of Ptomempee (2nd century A.D.). Also visit the English Fort
constructed in 1695 A.D. by the English 'East India Company'.
Afternoon
free.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
Tour 12: Varkala -
Kumarakom Morning drive to
Kumarakom (100 kms), check into hotel.
Afternoon visit the superb
Bird Sanctuary in adjacent wooded marshland - which boasts of
egrets, tree pies, black headed orioles, bee-eaters and a whole host of
herons. Overnight at hotel
Day Tour
13: Kumarakom - Cochin Morning drive to
Cochin (100
kms), check into the hotel. Afternoon free for a stroll in Jew town. Evening
witness
the Kathakali dance performance -
Kathakali.
Overnight at
hotel.
Day Tour 14: Cochin
Morning sightseeing tour of
Cochin or "Kochi". Visit the
Dutch Palace, the
Jewish Synagogue, the
Church of St.
Francis, the
Bolghatty Palace & the famous
Chinese
fishing nets. Afternoon free. Overnight at hotel.
Day
Tour 15: Cochin - Thekkady Morning drive to
Thekkady
(160 kms), check into the hotel.
Afternoon at leisure to explore the
neighboring spice market. Overnight at hotel
Day
Tour 16: Thekkady - Trivandrum Drive to Trivandrum (120
kms)
Upon arrival in Trivandrum - proceed straight to airport for
flight.
Day Tour 17: Trivandrum -
Abroad Depart Trivandrum
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