TOUR 2. COCHIN – VARKALA - MYSORE – DELHI 15 days
Sunday January 3rd – Sunday January 17th, 2010South India offers Portuguese Cochin, a Keralan overnight backwater cruise and lots of Ayurvedic massage. Experience the wildlife at Nagarhole National Park, then up to North India for the "ultimate monument to love" - the exquisite Taj Mahal.
SAT 2nd Jan - Arrive in Cochin to start the tour. Hotel in COCHIN
SUN 3rd - Day 1 Enjoy a day tour of this delightful harbour town with it's Portuguese churches and Spice Markets. See the Chinese fishing nets at sunset and experience the Kathikali Dance Show before dinner. Hotel in COCHIN
MON 4th - Day 2 Visit the Mattancherry Palace and the oldest Jewish synagogue in India. Take a Keralan cooking class and enjoy classical Indian dance on a rooftop restaurant with dinner. Hotel in COCHIN
TUES 5th - Day 3 We drive to Alleppey to board a Keralan houseboat for an overnight cruise exploring the backwaters. Deliciously authentic local cuisine on board as we drift through quiet canals lined with coconut palms. We see and meet local villagers living and working in this unique region. Overnight on HOUSEBOAT
WED 6th - Day 4 After disembarking, we drive through lush paddy fields and small fishing villages to Varkala Beach, perched atop of stunning red cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Watch the sun set while enjoying fresh cooked seafood in atmospheric restaurants. Hotel in VARKALA BEACH
THURS 7th - Day 5 Either a quiet morning enjoying brunch, and then indulge in an Ayurvedic massage and a nap in the afternoon, or take in a Dolphin watching tour for the day before another wonderful evening dining out. Hotel in VARKALA BEACH
FRI 8th - Day 6 We drive to Trivandrum to fly to Bangalore for the night. We take a late afternoon stroll through the beautiful Lalbagh Botanical Gardens before dinner. Hotel in BANGALORE
SAT 9th - Day 7 A morning drive to Mysore. On the way we visit the summer palace of Tipu Sultan "The Tiger of Mysore" who fought the British in the 1800�s. After lunch we drive to Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary via Kabini Lake to take in the most beautiful views. Hotel in NAGARHOLE
SUN 10th - Day 8 Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary - where we will hope to see the elusive tiger, leopards, monkeys, elephants and a variety of birds and wildlife. We drive back to Mysore for dinner at the stunning Lalitha Mahal Palace. Hotel in MYSORE
MON 11th - Day 9 A full day tour takes in Chamundi Hill, with its seven storey high Hindu Temple overlooking Mysore, an interesting art gallery and museum, with the highlight of the day being the magnificent Maharaja's Palace. Experience the illumination of 97,000 light bulbs of this amazing building. Hotel in MYSORE
TUES 12th - Day10 Mysore is a shoppers paradise for silk and sandalwood. Late morning we travel to Hassan. On the way we visit Sravanabelagola to view the world's tallest monolithic statue. Hotel in HASSAN
WED 13th - Day 11 In the morning we will visit Belur and Halebid to see the intricately carved 11th century temples before driving to Bangalore where we will connect with a flight to New Delhi. Hotel in DELHI
THURS 14th - Day 12 A day tour to explore Old Delhi's famous sights. See Jama Masjid Mosque, the Bahai Lotus Temple. Late afternoon we take the train to Agra. Hotel in AGRA
FRI 15th - Day 13 An early start where we will experience the Taj Mahal with the pink rays of sunshine on it. A photographer's dream! We spend a couple of hours there before the crowds build up. Drive through the countryside to the magnificent fortified ghost city of Fatephur Sikri and the superb marble shrine to a Muslim saint. Hotel in AGRA
SAT 16th - Day 14 In the morning we will visit the impressive Agra Fort overlooking the Taj Mahal and the exquisite marble tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah, commonly known as the "Baby Taj". In the afternoon we take a train back to Delhi. Hotel in DELHI
SUN 17th Jan Day 15 A day tour of New Delhi where we will visit the National Museum, Mahatma Gandhi's house and memorial, India Gate and the Rajpath . After dinner the tour ends with the late evening flight home.
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