Kerala with Taj

Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations covered: – Cochin – Marari Beach – Kumarakom – Alleppey – Mumbai – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Delhi

Day 01: Arrive Cochin
Traditional welcome on arrival at Cochin International airport. Transfer to hotel. Relax for the rest of the day or take a walk along the historic colonial streets of Fort Cochin. Watch a Kathakali Show (Traditional art performance of Kerala). Overnight at hotel in Cochin
Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as ‘God’s Own Country‘. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala

Day 02: Cochin

After breakfast proceed for a guided tour of Fort Cochin and the Jew Street in Mattancherry. Visit the synagogue, century’s old churches and palaces, colonial buildings, Chinese fishing net etc. Spend your evening on the near by Fort Cochin beach or ferry across to Cherai Beach which is half an hour away. Come back to the hotel or visit Ernakulam city for souvenir and other shopping on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 03: Cochin –Marari Beach (60 Kms 80 minutes drive by road)

After breakfast start for Marari Beach.Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more. An authentic experience of the world of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a recreation of an ancient, harmonious way of life.

Arrive Marari Beach check in at resort.

Enjoy on the beach and it is time to enjoy some herbal Ayurveda treatments already included in the package.

Overnight at resort.

Day 04: Marari Beach Kumarakom (35 Kms 40 minutes drive by road)
After breakfast start for Kumarakom.
Kumarakom – When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God’s own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.
Arrive Kumarakom and check in at resort.
Visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. In the evening canoe down the narrow canals. Join the evening sunset cruise or enjoy the beauty of backwater by just relaxing near Vembanadu Lake. Overnight stay at the resort.

Day 05: Kumarakom (Houseboat)
Breakfast at resort. Morning at leisure at resort, 1230 hrs check in at houseboat. Rest of the day at leisure on the House Boat. Sit back and relax while the boat cruises through the narrow serene backwater canals. Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee with snacks, dinner and enjoy your evening on the sundeck away from polluted cities and maddening crowd. Overnight stay on House Boat.

Day 06: Kumarakom-Alleppey (38 kms, 40 minutes drive by road)
After breakfast start for Alleppey.

Arrive Alleppey and check in at Houseboat and enjoy an over night cruise cum stay in your houseboat. Food will be served in the houseboat. Enjoy the unique experience of a day on backwaters in a houseboat, and meander through the labyrinth of canals, that makes Kumarakom a top world destination. The backwater ride paints vivid picture of the traditional country life in all its natural beauty.
Over night stay at the houseboat.

Day 07: Alleppey – Cochin – Delhi (2594 Kms 4.5 hrs by air)

After breakfast drive towards Cochin for your onward flight to Delhi.

Arrive Delhi and check in at hotel.

Delhi, capital city of the Federal Republic of India is one of India’s fastest growing cities. The city has two distinct parts, Old Delhi & New Delhi. Old Delhi reflects shades of Mughal Emperor whereas New Delhi shows the legacy of what British left behind.
The streets of Old Delhi are narrow & bustling. The beauty & serenity lies inside the courts of the main buildings. Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Its boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts, from all over the country. New Delhi was proclaimed the capital of India by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944), & is tree-lined & spacious.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 08:Delhi
After breakfast proceed for day sightseeing of Delhi covering the following areas of New Delhi and Old Delhi
Rajghat – A memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Bapu (Father of Nation)
Red Fort (Lal quila) – Old Delhi is centered on the Red Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1636 & 1658, when the mougal empire was on its peak.
Jama Masjid (Mosque) – Work on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete the largest mosque in India.
Qutub Minar – is the tallest stone tower in India. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer
India Gate – Built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931.
Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
Rashtrapati Bhawan – Formely the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen’s New Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms
Overnight in Delhi – we will be happy to recommend places for an evening stroll or a restaurant for dinner tonight.

Day 09: Delhi – Agra (201 kms – 4 hours drive by road)

After breakfast start for Agra by road. Check in at hotel.
Agra- Heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century.
Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached.

Evening proceed for Taj Mahal sightseeing
Taj Mahal For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty. The Taj Mahal in Agra India is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture in India. The history of the Taj Mahal is one of the great love stories of the world. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658 and was married to Arjumand Bano Begum in 1612 A.D. He called his wife Mumtaz Mahal or Crown of the Palace. Her dying wish to Shah Jahan was that he should “build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before.” The history of the Taj Mahal begins with Mumtaz Mahal’s tragic end.
Overnight at Agra.

Day 10: Agra-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra

After breakfast visit the Agra Fort, offering gorgeous views from its lofty walls, and the Itmad-ud-Daulah – the exquisite tomb of a Persian adventurer who became chief minister at the Emperor Jahangir’s court. His grand-daughter Mumtaz married Shah Jahan and her tomb is, of course, the Taj Mahal.

After lunch drive to Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri in Agra is a city in Uttar Pradesh, built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar during the 16th Century BC. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a combination of various regional schools of architecture. Influence of Hindu and Jain architectural features are found in this monument with traces of Islamic elements in it. Fatehpur Sikri is made of red sandstone and the beautiful marvel tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti is located here.

In the late afternoon back to Agra.

Evening leisure for shopping. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Agra – Delhi (201 kms – 4 hours drive by road)

After breakfast drive to Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and move to the international airport to take the flight for other destinations.