HERITAGE INDIA

Arrive Delhi by evening. On arrival meet with our representative to transfer to the hotel. Delhi, the Empress of Indian cities has a fascinating history and stimulating present. The capital of India, Delhi has been the seat of power of a number of dynasties – the Rajputs, the Afghans, the Turks and the Mughals who continued their imperial line until the British.  Check in and rest of the day free or depending on the flight arrival, Go for a city tour of New Delhi, see the Qutub Minar built in 11th Century and Government Buildings of New Delhi (India Gate, President House and Parliament).  . Overnight Stay at the Hotel Surya.

Post breakfast by 9 am drive to Agra by surface. Arrive at the old Mughal capital of Agra and check-in to the Hotel. Later the day drive up to the Agra Fort, a World Heritage Site credited to Emperor Akbar, India’s great visionary. Onward visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah, which became the first Mughal structure totally built from marble and pioneering the extensive use of `pietra dura’, the inlay work of marble, which became so characteristic of the Taj Mahal. Akbar made it a great center for learning, art, commerce and culture.  It is therefore not surprising that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously in its monuments. Overnight stay at Crystal Sarovar Premiere.

Visit TAJ MAHAL at Sunrise, with its incredible lacy white grandeur, perhaps the most perfect architectural monument in the world. In memory of his wife, the great Mughal emperor Shah Jehan planned this most extravagant and incomparable monument built for love After breakfast,, take an hour’s drive into the Indian countryside to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone former capital of the Mughal empire. The city lived between A.D. 1571 up to 1585 and then became a ghost town, abandoned, possibly due to complexities with the water systems. After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, drive a short distance to `The Bagh’ for lunch. Drive to Jaipur where the enduring charisma of the past blends with the throbbing vitality of today.  Where a colorful cast of characters – from painters and potters to artists and antique dealers – present a fascinating picture of a city that is alive to both tradition and change. Arrive check in at the hotel. Rest of the Day free. Overnight stay at Park Regis.

Post breakfast, trace Jaipur’s history at the Amber fort, the former seat of the Rajput rulers of Jaipur. Ascending the fortress seated in jeep, wander around the beautiful palaces and visit the Shiladevi temple (which continues to be the private temple of the Royal family) with its exquisite marble carvings and silver door. Break for Lunch. This afternoon, encompass the highlights of Jaipur city as we drive to visit the open air royal observatory “Jantar Mantar” stopping en route to see the “Hawa Mahal” or the Palace of Winds.   Next to the Observatory is the City Palace and Museum with its fine collection of textiles. The car is at your disposal.  Shopping in Jaipur is quite exhilarating. The bustling  bazaars laden with souvenirs, carpets, world famous gems and jewelry, textiles, the specialty  being the traditional hand block printed fabric, antique textiles and handicrafts. Overnight stay at Park Regis.

After breakfast departure for Hassan by a beautiful winding road.  Enroute see the 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara located on Vindyagiri one of the twin Hills of the village Shravanabelagola. It is considered to be the world’s largest monolithic stone statue. Then continue on to Hassan, The city was founded by Channa Krishnappa Naik in the 11th century. On arrival check in at the hotel. Later the day proceeds to seer Belur and Halebid. This day is spent visiting sites of two major Hindu arts and especially of the Hoysala dynasty. A few kilometres from Hassan, Belur is the first site built by the Hoysala dynasty (11th and 12th century). The many and admirable reliefs recount scenes of battle between the Cholas Vishnuvardhana and his neighbour of Tamil Nadu. At Halebid, the Temple Hoysaleshwara appears like a jewel in the quality of its sculptures. No detail is overlooked in this stunning overview of the great Hindu myths. Overnight stay at Hoysala Village.

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, drive south to Mysore. On arrival check-in at your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.Mysore (or Mysuru), a city in India’s south-western Karnataka state, was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947. Later the day visit  Srirangapatna (16km from Mysore) – the island fortress of Tipu Sultan and the early capital of the Mysore Wodiyars – Here you will find monuments such as Tipu’s mosque with its twin minarets built in 1787, Tipu’s Summer Palace – Daria Daulat Bagh, built completely on wood and converted into a museum that houses some fantastic artifacts and paintings related to Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan and in the Gumbaz where  lie buried both of Them and others of the Royal Family. Overnight stay at the Metropole.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Go sightsee Mysore, In its center is opulent Mysore Palace, seat of the former ruling Wodeyar dynasty. Mysore is also home to the centuries-old Devaraja Market, filled with spices, silk and sandalwood.  After Lunch Transfer to railway station to connect Shatabdi Express to Chennai. Departure: 1415 hrs – Arrival : 2140 hrs. Upon arrival at Chennai airport, meet and assistance by our office representative, followed by transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight stay at the Raintree.

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the diverse neighbourhoods and sense its role as a keeper of South Indian artistic and religious traditions…Visit Kapileswara Temple – Chennai’s most active and impressive example of Dravidian Architecture  Pass though the excellent British-built Government Museum, the Roman style San Thome Basilica and the majestic colonial Fort St George.  Overnight stay at the Rain Tree.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Pondicherry. Settled by the French in the 18th century, Pondicherry retains a quiet colonial atmosphere with wide shady streets lined with colorful stucco houses. An ongoing French presence in the town means that many local dishes are subtly fused with French ingredients and techniques. En route visit Auroville and understand the unique community living here based on universal harmony. You will be taken through the visitors center and a few of the auroville units which innovatively works on paper, textile, bamboo and stones among others. See the Matri mandir (the meditation centre) from outside. Refreshments at the Auroville Bakery. Arrive Pondichery and check in at the hotel. Early evening take a stroll through the French boulevard with our Storyteller. Through reminiscence of almost a century old European occupation, walk through the white town (as the French quarters is popularly known as) while our Storyteller relates the history with what you see around.  Overnight stay at Palai De Mahe

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out by mid day and drive to Your next stop – the small seaside town of Mahabalipuram, the port for the Pallava kings in the 5th to 8th centuries. Along the shore lies a stunning series of temples and sculptures, carved from the living rock 1,200 years ago. Unlike many Hindu temples, the rocks show scenes of everyday life. Today visit the stunning Shore temple set at the edge of the waves features an altar to the god Siva that is lit by the rising and setting sun. Suggest a lunch on the beach side restaurant (Payable locally), go explore the Rock cut caves. Mahabalipuram has become a centre for stone carvers, and hundreds ply their trade in the streets and alleys of the old town.  Overnight stay at The Radisson Temple Bay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure. Overnight stay at the Radisson Temple Bay.

…Tour Ends…