Duration:- 20 Nights / 21 Days
Routing:-Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Varanasi-Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry-Kumbhakonam-Trichy-Tanjore-Madurai-Chennai-Mumbai-Delhi Airport
Morning arrival at Delhi airport. Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representative welcomes you with folded hands and escorts you to your a/c car. Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative would introduce the tour to you and hand over the documents to you. Overnight stay at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi Sightseeing TourAfter sumptuous breakfast leave for a full day guided tour of Old & New Delhi. Delhi - The Capital Of India has been the centre of politics of India since 13th century. Visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana – The cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid- The largest mosque of India built in 1656 and drive past the Red Fort and Chandani Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibek in 1199, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple, Jantar Mantar, India Gate - A tribute to Indian martyrs (War Memorial Arch), Laxminarayan Temple – A modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight stay at Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi – Jaipur (A/C Car Journey, 260 kms 5 hrs)Morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur. On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon tour of Jaipur - The Capital Of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince and ever since, it has retained this colour. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas. Overnight stay at Jaipur.
Day 04: Jaipur Sightseeing TourMorning visit Amber Fort for an Elegant Elephant Ride till the main entrance of the fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory- Glittering with mirrors. Evening is free for shopping and own leisure activities followed by specialised Rajasthani/continental Dinner at Chokhi Dhani - A Traditional Style Restaurant. Return to hotel for the overnight stay at Jaipur.
Day 05: Jaipur – Agra (A/C Car Journey, 245 kms 5/6 hrs)Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri (Abandoned city) is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Continue drive to Agra on reaching check-in to your hotel and relax. Overnight stay at Agra.
Day 06: Agra – Varanasi (Travel by A/C Sleeper Class Overnight Train)Morning visit the most awaited and world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. In evening transfer/ drop to Agra Cantt Rly station to catch your overnight a/c train for Varanasi.
Day 07: Arrive Varanasi Rly StationVaranasi - The Cultural Capital Of India. Upon arrival at Varanasi Rly station, escorted transfer to the hotel and check-in. Later leave for a tour of Holy City ' Varanasi' visiting Bharat Mata temple, Banaras Hindu University- founded by the great nationalist Pandit Malaviya in 1917 as a centre for education in Indian art, music, culture and philosophy, and for the study of Sanskrit and attracts students both from India and abroad. Durga Temple is one of the most important temples in Varanasi and is built in the 8th century, by Bengali Maharani and is stained red with ochre. This temple is built in north Indian Nagara style with a multi-tiered shikhara (spire). Kashi-Vishwanath Temple Situated 3.8km from the railway station, near the ghats, the is the most sacred of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, the patron deity of Varanasi. (Originally constructed by Rani Ahillya Bai Holkar in 1776, it was reconstructed in the 18th century and its gold plating on the 'shikharas' was a gift of the one-eyed Sikh King, Maharaja Ranjit Singh). Overnight stay at Varanasi.
Day 08: Varanasi – Bodh Gaya - VaranasiMorning proceed for Sarnath – This is a famous pilgrimage and tourist destination in India. The city is famous as the seat where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after he got enlightened in Bodh Gaya. There are several tourist spots in Sarnath that are worth visiting. Evening return to hotel. Overnight stay at Varanasi.
Day 09: Varanasi – Chennai via Delhi (Travel by Air)Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from ghat to ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchadra where funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Later drop to Varanasi airport to catch your flight for Chennai.
Welcome to Chennai, earlier known as ‘Madras’ proceed to hotel to check-in in you’re a/c car and relax. Overnight stay at Chennai.
Day 10: Chennai – Mahabalipuram (A/C Car Journey, 55 kms 1 hrs)Morning after breakfast Proceed to Mahabalipuram enroute Chennai Sightseeing Tour & Late afternoon Check-in to hotel. Then visit Shore Temple. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.
Day 11: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (A/C Car Journey, 100 kms 2 hrs)Morning after breakfast depart by surface to Pondicherry. Arrive & check-in at hotel. Afternoon visit Aurobindo Ashram. Overnight stay at Pondicherry..
Day 12: Pondicherry SightseeingMorning after breakfast proceed for half day sightseeing tour of Pondicherry visiting Auroville "City of Dawan". Visit the Matrimandir - which has been acclaimed as the outstanding, original architectural achievement. Return back to the hotel. Evening walk thorugh Promonede beach. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Day 13: Pondicherry – Kumbakonam (A/C Car Journey, 150 kms 3hrs)After breakfast drive to Pondicherry 40 kms from Karikal lies Kumbakonam. Check-in the hotel and then go for local sightseeing like Navagraha Temple Circuit and therefore best place to stay to visit the Navagraha temples evening back to the hotel and Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.
Day 14: Kumbakonam – Tanjore (A/C Car Journey, 175 kms 4.5 hrs)After breakfast depart by surface to Tanjore enroute visiting Chidambaram. Chidambaram is one of the foremost Saivite shrines; the very name Kovil refers to Chidambaram, where Nataraja is enshrined in the Hall of Consciousness. Have darshan at Sivakami Amman Temple. Arrive Tanjore and visit Brihadeeshwara Temple. Brihadeeshwara Temple (A World Heritage Site), built in 10th century is the grandest architectural achievement of the Chola era. Overnight stay at Tanjore.
Day 15: Tanjore - Trichy (A/C Car Journey, 54 kms 1 hrs)After breakfast proceed for an excursion to Trichy. Visit Rock Fort Temple, which is a prominent landmark of the city. Later tour of Srirangam Island. Return to Thanjavur in the evening. Overnight stay at Trichy
Day 16: Trichy - Madurai (A/C Car Journey, 128 kms 2 hrs)After breakfast depart by surface to Madurai. Arrive & check-in at hotel. Afternoon visit Sri Meenakshi Temple & Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 17: Madurai SightseeingAfter breakfast full day excursion to Rameshwaram, situated 160 kms from Madurai. It is home to Ramanathaswamy Shiva Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India. It is believed that from Rameshwaram, Lord Rama built a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka where he fought a batter with Ravana in one of the epic battles of the Ramayana. Evening return back to hotel. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 18: Madurai – Chennai (Travel by Air)After breakfast transfer to Madurai airport to catch your flight for Mumbai or Delhi. Overnight stay in Mumbai or Delhi.
Day 19: Mumbai or DelhiIf Mumbai then you can also do Mumbai city tour. Overnight stay at Mumbai.
Day 20: Mumbai or DelhiIf Mumbai then full day free at your leisure for shopping activities by visiting some local shops for exclusive and beautiful Kashmiri Handmade Rugs, Pashminas, Antiques, Jewellery etc. Overnight stay at Mumbai.
Day 21: Departure Mumbai or DelhiMorning drop to Mumbai or Delhi International Airport to catch your flight for your onward journey to your home country with some warm & sweet memories of your Incredible India Tour!!!