Mughal Monuments, Temples & Kerala Backwaters Tour 25 days

Day 1 Arrive Delhi

On arrival at Delhi airport, assistance and transfer to the hotel for check-in (check-in/out time 12 pm). Rest time is free and easy to relax. O/n at the hotel.

Day 2 Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Delhi visiting Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Raj Gath, Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar & Lotus Temple. Also, drive past the President's House, Parliament & India Gate, etc. O/n at the hotel.

Day 3 Delhi - Agra (210km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Agra, check in at the hotel. Later, visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb. O/n at the hotel.

Day 4 Agra - Gwalior - Orchha (220kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Orchha en route to visit Gwalior Fort, known for its great architecture and rich past. Arrive at Orchha, check in at the hotel. Visit the Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices. O/n at the hotel.

Day 5 Orchha - Khajuraho (180kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Later, drive to Khajuraho and check in at the hotel. Visit exceptionally well-maintained Khajuraho temples built in the short span of 100 years from 950-1050AD by the Chandela dynasty. Evening light & sound show. O/n at the hotel.

Day 6 Khajuraho - Varanasi (Flight)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board the flight for Varanasi. On arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Evening attend Holy Ganga Aarti, a magical ritual held at sunset on the banks of the holy Ganges. O/n at the hotel.

Day 7 Varanasi

Early morning boat ride & Ghat visit. Breakfast at the hotel. Later visit Banaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple & Sarnath Temple complexes, including the Great Dhamekh Stupa. If time permits, visit Ram Nagar Fort & Museum. O/n at the hotel.

Day 8 Varanasi - Bodhgaya (255kms)

Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Bodhgaya, check in at the hotel. Visit the Mahabodhi Temple complex, the Bodhi Tree where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Also visit Tibetan Monastery, Burmese Temple, Chinese Temple, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, Thai Temple & Monastery, Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple, etc. O/n at the hotel.

Day 9 Bodhgaya - Patna (170kms)/ Kolkata (flight)

Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Patna via visiting Rajgir & Nalanda. In Rajgir, visit tranquil Vulture`s Peak, where the Buddha meditated, and the Sattapanni Cave, where the First Council was organised after the Buddha`s passing. Nalanda, established in the 5th century CE, was an ancient Mahavihara, a revered Buddhist monastery which also served as a renowned centre of learning, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. Continue driving to Patna to board the flight for Koklaka. On arrival, transfer to the hotel, check in & O/n at the hotel.

Day 10 Kolkata

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day city tour of Kolkata visiting Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Netaji Bhawan, Howrah Bridge, Dakshineswar Kali Temple & other landmark monuments of the city. O/n at the hotel.

Day 11 Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar (Flight)

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport to board the flight for Bhubaneswar. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and check in. Later, city tour, visit Parasurameshwar, Mukteshwar, Rajarani & Lingaraj temple (Only Hindus can enter the sanctum). Also visit Khandagiri, Udaygiri caves & Dhauli Rock Edicts. O/n at the hotel.

Day 12 Bhubaneshwar - Puri (60kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Puri via visiting Konark Sun temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Pipili, the appliqué work village & Raghurajpur artisan village. Further visit, Ramchandi temple & Chandrabhaga beach. Also, visit the world-famous lord Jagannath temple (Only Hindus can enter the sanctum). O/n at the hotel.

Day 13 Puri - Chilika Lake (55kms one way)

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to visit Chilika Lake, the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent & home to several threatened species of plants and animals. Enjoy a boat ride, then drive to Puri, check in at the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 14 Puri - Bhubaneshwar/ Chennai (flight)

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Bhubaneshwar airport to board the flight for Chennai. On arrival, assistance & transfer to the hotel. Later, city tour visit Fort St. George, St Mary's Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach. O/n at the hotel.

Day 15 Chennai - Pondicherry (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram, an ancient city famous as the city of a thousand temples. And Mahabalipuram UNESCO WHS monuments Monolithic Temples, Krishnas Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance. On arrival, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 16 Pondicherry

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Auroville & Pondicherry Museum. Drive past through stunning French Quarters, which include the French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools. Rest time to relax on the beach. O/n at the hotel.

Day 17 Pondicherry - Thanjore (220kms)

Drive to Thanjavur via visiting Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and The Great Living Chola Temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Darasuram. Arrive at Thanjavur, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 18 Thanjavur - Trichy - Madurai (190kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Palace Complex, built by the great Chola king in the 10th century. Drive to Madurai via visiting Trichy, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the largest functional temple in the world, Jambukeswarar Temple & The Rock Fort, the oldest rock in the world, 230 crore years old. Continue driving to Madurai, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 19 Madurai - Munnar (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Drive to Munnar, check in & at the hotel.

Day 20 Munnar

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum. O/n at the hotel.

Day 21 Munnar - Thekkady (100kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu, one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. On arrival, check in at the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 22 Thekkady

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephants, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, etc. O/n at the hotel.

Day 23 Thekkady - Alleppey (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Alleppey boat jetty to board a houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside, enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, a sitting cum dining area, a separate bedroom with attached English toilets, a sun deck and a fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in a houseboat.

Day 24 Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin, check in at the hotel. Later, city tour visiting Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutch Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Evening watch Kathakali Dance show. O/n at the hotel.

Day 25 Cochin - Departure

As per the flight schedule, transfer to the airport to board the flight for the onward destination.