Best Of India: Golden Triangle & Kerala Tour (133826),Holiday Packages to New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kovalam, Kochi

Package Overview

OFFER: less £100 pp if booked by 31 May: This top-selling holiday combines the cultural treasures of Jaipur in Rajasthan & ancient Delhi, with relaxation in beautiful Kerala. Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra & Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, then fly to Kerala. Stay overnight on a traditional Rice Houseboat, before relaxing on Kovalam Beach. English driver & city guides, tiger safari & all specified sightseeing included.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Delhi • Agra Fort • Taj Mahal • Fatehpur Sikri
• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve • Jaipur • Cochin • Kathikali Dance Show
• Kumarakom Backwaters • Kovalam Beach

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Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival

You will be met at Delhi Airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel in this ancient capital of kingdoms and empires that is now a sprawling metropolis.

Delhi's strategic location was one of the main reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power and today it is a conglomerate of seven cities. The division between the old walled city and New Delhi marks a division in lifestyles, with the old city retaining its past traditions whilst New Delhi strives to match the pace of the 21st century.
Day 2 : New Delhi

Today enjoy a full day tour of modern New Delhi and the 17th century walled city of Old Delhi, which came to prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital here from Agra.

In Old Delhi enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through 300-year old Chandni Chowk market, a maze of lanes crowded with noisy shops selling an extraordinary variety of items and foods, and past the Jamia Masjid (or Friday Mosque), the largest in India, and drive past the imposing walls & battlements of the Red Fort, once the most opulent palace in the Mughal Empire. We continue to the Raj Ghat - the simple but moving memorial on the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

In the afternoon our tour of New Delhi starts with a visit the Qutub Minar, an ancient victory tower built of red sandstone and marble in 1199 and still the tallest minaret in India. With its imposing cylindrical towers and surrounding ruins, it is today a World Heritage site. Our next stop is Humayuns Tomb, the beautiful mausoleum of the Mughul emperor Akbar, that inspired the Taj Mahal.

We drive along the Rajpath - the capital's broadest avenue - where you will see the imposing arch of the India Gate war memorial, Parliament House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential residence built for the Viceroy of India, and the government buildings on Raisina Hill.
- Hotspots : Taj Mahal, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate
- Themes : Heritage
Day 3 : Agra

This morning we drive 3.5-hours from Delhi to the ancient city of Agra, set along the banks of the Yamuna River and originally the capital of the Mughal Empire.

Agra is world renowned as the home of the Taj Mahal - that great symbol of love built by emperor Shah Jahan in the 16th century as a memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal.

On arrival we visit Agra Fort, a massive structure with walls over 70-ft high and 1.5-miles long that encompasses an astounding collection of well preserved buildings, many of them completed during the reign of Shah Jahan. After he was deposed by his son, he was imprisoned in this fort where he remained until his death - spending the rest of his life looking out along the river to the final resting place of his beloved wife.

At the end of the day we visit the stunning Taj Mahal. This magnificent white marble mausoleum took 22 years to build and, apart from its stunning design and perfect symmetry, it is noted for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best marble inlay work ever done. Sunrise and sunset are particularly good times to visit and see the dome subtly change its colour.

Note: Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. You cannot take anything in with you except your camera, water and medicine.
- Hotspots : Agra Fort, Taj Mahal
Day 4 : Agra

This morning ask your guide to take you across the river to view the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Also visit the much quieter Itmad-ud-Daulah - fondly known as the "Baby Taj" as this mausoleum, built to honour the grandfather of Mumtaz, was the forerunner of the Taj Mahal.

Afterwards we travel 1-hour to the magnificent red sandstone royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the emperor Mohammad Akbar as the capital of the Mughal Empire. The city was abandoned due to water shortage, when the capital was moved north to Delhi, and in more recent years the fort has provided a dramatic backdrop to several famous films.

We then drive 15-minutes to Bharatpur Station to board the express train (air-conditioned chair car) travelling for 2.15-hours to Sawai Madhopur in southeast Rajasthan.

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel situated near Ranthambore National Park. This world famous tiger sanctuary was originally the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Today it is the largest wildlife reserve in northern India, covering an area of over 250 sq miles (400 sq km).
- Hotspots : Itmad-Ud-Daulah, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal
Day 5 : Ranthambore National Park

This morning enjoy a game drive in Ranthambore National Park.

Early morning is the best time to see tigers, but be aware that it is extremely difficult to find them in the jungle and sightings are never guaranteed. Best viewings are generally at the end of the dry season (March to May, although it is extremely hot from April onwards), when the tigers search out the waterholes - but you need to take at least 4 game drives for a good chance of a sighting.

Other animals you can hope to see include leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, caracal, civet, desert cat, mongoose, ratel, sloth bear, langur & macaque monkeys, wild boar, palm squirrel, flying fox, porcupine, long-eared hedgehog, marsh crocodile, tortoise and soft shelled turtle. Also antelope such as sambar deer, chital, nilgai, chinkara and black buck.

In the afternoon return to the park for another game drive. In addition to the many mammals and reptiles, there are over 270 bird species - including eagles, falcons, owls, graylag geese, flamingos, parakeets, fly catchers, bee eaters, grebe, terns, woodpeckers, hornbills and kingfishers.

Note: Zones 1 to 5 of this tiger reserve are closed during the monsoon season (July to early October), but Zones 6 to 10 remain open.

Please note we always try to book jeep safaris, but these can only be reserved 90 days in advance and cannot be guaranteed - in which case your game drive will be in a 20-seater canter. In the winter months, morning safaris require warm clothes including woolly hats and gloves to protect you from the wind chill in your open vehicle.
- Themes : Jungle Safari, Jeep Safari
Day 6 : Jaipur

Today we travel 4-hours from Ranthambore National Park to the chaotic and colourful "Pink City" of Jaipur - home to over 3 million people.

On arrival check into your hotel in this capital city of Rajasthan.
Day 7 : Jaipur

Today enjoy a tour of the city of Jaipur.

Our first stop is to view the magnificent Hawa Mahal (the "Palace of the Winds") designed in the form of the crown of the Hindu god Krishna. This five-storey frontage looks like a bee's honeycomb with 953 small windows, each decorated with intricate latticework so that the court ladies living in secluded purdah could watch royal processions, without being seen themselves. Built of red and pink sandstone, it is particularly striking early in the morning when lit by the sunrise.

We continue to the Amber Fort This magnificent royal palace was built from pale yellow & pink sandstone and white marble and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. You will enter via the main courtyard (Jaleb Chowk) where returning armies would display their war booty and women could view them from the veiled windows of the palace. Once inside explore the amazing Palace of Mirrors and Hall of Public Audience (with optional elephant ride up the ramparts).

We then visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world and a World Heritage site. It is the best preserved of five observatories built by Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. It has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.

Our day finishes with a visit to the nearby City Palace, the former Royal Residence part of which is now a museum. One of the major attractions here is the armoury with its impressive array of pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers used by the Maharajas of Jaipur. The Textile and Costume museum on the first floor is another fine display, with items from all over India.

In the evening enjoy the unique experience of dining with a local family, where you will taste spicy Rajasthan food and gain insight into their Hindu lifestyle, with different generations living under the same roof.
- Hotspots : Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, City Palace
- Themes : Heritage
Day 8 : Cochin

Transfer to Jaipur Airport for your flight to Mumbai and onward connecting flight to Cochin in the beautiful southern state of Kerala - fondly called "God's own Country".

This Arabian seaport, now known as Kochi, was at the centre of the spice trade for many centuries.

In the evening a special treat awaits - a performance of the famous Kathakali classical dance.
- Hotspots : Kathakali
Day 9 : Kumarakom

This morning your driver will collect you from your hotel in Cochin and introduce you to the beauty of rural Kerala, as you travel 2.5-hours to the small town of Kumarakom, situated on Vembanad Lake - the largest backwater in India.

Check into your hotel and relax surrounded by these tranquil waters.
- Hotspots : Vembanad Lake
Day 10 : Kumarakom

At leisure to relax and enjoy the leisurely lifestyle and wonderful food of Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake - an important habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and shrimps.

Kerala is famous for yoga and ayurvedic spa treatments. Bird watching is also outstanding, with nearby Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary offering a safe refuge for many migratory birds. Sunset boat rides, pedal boats and fishing are available from some hotels.
- Hotspots : Vembanad Lake
Day 11 : Vembanad Lake

This morning board your air-conditioned Rice Houseboat set on Vembanad Lake. This network of backwaters, lakes and rivers stretches over 930 miles (1,500 km) and provides a vital waterway for transporting people and their produce, once used to transport goods from isolated interior villages to the larger towns but now largely used for pleasure.

As the water is level with the land here, spend the afternoon relaxing and watching the agricultural lives of the people who live along the canals and work in the rice paddy fields, as you cruise through the Kerala Backwaters.

In the evening see the sun setting over the tranquil backwaters and enjoy dining on delicious local Kerala cuisine prepared by your chef.
- Hotspots : Vembanad Lake
Day 12 : Alleppey

After breakfast disembark at the merchant town of Alleppey and transfer 5-hours to Kovalam (meaning "a grove of coconut trees").

Check into your beach hotel and relax on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
Day 13 : Kovalam

At leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches of Kovalam on the Arabian Sea, with its warm shallow waters that are ideal for swimming.

Three famous beaches separated by rocky outcrops form the crescent of Kovalam Beach - popular Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach (also known as Eve’s Beach) frequented by fishermen in the early mornings, and the much quieter Samudra Beach.

Also enjoy the wide variety of ayurvedic spa treatments for which this region is renowned and its tasty regional cuisine.
- Hotspots : Kovalam Beach
Day 14 : Kovalam

At leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches of Kovalam on the Arabian Sea, with its warm shallow waters that are ideal for swimming.

Three famous beaches separated by rocky outcrops form the crescent of Kovalam Beach - popular Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach (also known as Eve’s Beach) frequented by fishermen in the early mornings, and the much quieter Samudra Beach.

Also enjoy the wide variety of ayurvedic spa treatments for which this region is renowned and its tasty regional cuisine.
- Hotspots : Kovalam Beach
Day 15 : Departure

At leisure to relax at your hotel where a very late checkout has been arranged, so that you have the use of your room all day.

Later you will be transferred 30-minutes to Trivandrum Airport for your flight home.

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Inclusions

Hotel
Sightseeing

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Price & Rates

No of pax	Age Limit	Price per pax (Rs)
Adult	Above 12 years	$ 2900 / Adult

* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.

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Package Start From

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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