Day 1 - Arrival in Delhi
Transfer to Hotel.
Day 2 - Delhi - Goa
Relax in the morning; afterneoon fly to Goa -the picturesque
land full of scenic charm and many attractions such as historic
forts, elaborately ornate churches and temples, evergreen hills
and mountains, winding rivers, creeks and fields and
particularly, the palm-fringed pearly white beaches. Rest of the
day relax on the beach.
Day 3 - Goa
Morning visit to Old Goa driving by the seashore. Here the
ensemble of monasteries, convents and chapels will take you back
to the days when the Apostle of the Indies, St. Francis Xavier,
preached the Gospel of Christ. Visit the Basilica of Bombay
where mortal remains of the Saint lie preserved in a silver
ornate casket. Also visit St. Thomas Cathedral and the Church of
St. Cajetan-- modeled on the original.
Day 4 - Goa
Explore the activities at Goa's colorful.
Day 5 - Goa - Bombay
Morning visit the St. Francis Church where Vasco-da-Gama was
originally buried. Fouteen years later his mortal remains were
taken to Portugal. This Protestant church was built originally
by Portuguese in 1510 AD and is believed to be the first church
built by the Europeans in India. Visit Santa Cruz Cathedral -
Roman Catholic church, situated close to St. Francis Church,
built by the Portuguese in 16th century. Afternoon fly back to
Bombay
Day 6 - Bombay
Morning city tour will take you to all of Bombay Ős best known
landmarks: impressive Gateway of India built in 1911; the Prince
of Wales Museum, famous for it's collection of miniature
paintings; Marine Drive, Bombay's sweeping shoreline; the unique
Hanging Gardens and Main Bhawan, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Day 7 - Bombay - Cocin
Fly to Cochin is a natural harbor created by the famed
underwater Malabar mudbanks whose unique quality ensures that
the rougher the seas are outside, the calmer the waters are
within the harbor. Here at dusk, the dim silhouettes of the huge
merchant ships can be seen patiently awaiting their turn for a
berth in the docks. Centuries ago, tales of this exotic coastal
strip crossed the vast ocean & attracted famed sailor Vasco da
Gama of Portugal, who arrived in Cochin & placed it on the World
Map. Stroll around the lanes of old Portuguese, Dutch & British
merchant houses. Take a peek at Vasco da GamaŐs church. Glimpse
the Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against an amber sunset.
Evening Kathakali dance performance.
Day 8 - Cochin
Early morning boat cruise on the enchanting backwaters through
the coconut groves and quiet lagoons. Watching the sunrise in a
symphony of colours is an unforgettable experience. A few
minutes after you move out of the old fashioned dock, you will
find yourself surrounded by lush palmgroves and lovely stretches
of paddy fields. The swaying coconut palms almost dip into the
waters, and on chunks of land that nudge backwaters are little
children playing in the sun. You might see housewives cleaning
rice for the dayŐs meal, or pounding coconut husk for coir fibre
or sweeping the Muttom (front yard), completely oblivious of the
regular ferry & cargo boat traffic that ply to & fro across
these waters from dawn to dusk. Independent day to attend Cochin
Festival activities.
Day 9 - Cochin - Agatti - Lakshadweep
Fly to Agatti. On arrival you will embark on a magical two
hour journey by boat to Lakshadweep or Laccadive Islands, as
they were formerly called, are a string of little known islands
Lying approx. 200 miles off the south West coast of India. The
Islands present a breathtaking spectacle of sparkling coral
reefs, turquoise blue lagoons, silvery beaches and lush green
coconut palms.
Day 10-11- Lakshadweep
Spend the day at the beach or go scuba diving and explore the
Marine life; dive to the remains of a 200 years old galleon; go
snorkeling,; deep-sea sports fishing on a country canoe; boat
trips within the lagoon.
Day 12 - Lakshadweep - Agatti - Cochin - Kumarakom
Morning depart for Agatti to board flight for Cochin and drive
to Kumarakom. Arrive and check in at hotel. Located on the banks
of the Vemband Lake adjacent to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
The resort is built on a 10 acre coconut garden. The rooms are
the old wooden houses of Kerala dating back 100 - 150 years
which have been transplanted from various locations. The public
areas of the resort such as the reception and restaurants are
almost 400 years old. The menu is international and ethnic with
special emphasis on seafood and tropical fruit and vegetables.
The large free form swimming pool with the sunken bar has been
designed in traditional Kerala temple style. Evening sunset
cruise on a traditional Rice Boat.
Day - 13 - Kumarakom - Periyar
This morning depart for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - Cradled in
mist shrouded mountains, Periyar nestles close to the dense rain
forests of the High Ranges. The luxuriant vegetation, sudden
gushing waterfalls & an exhilarating view of the velvet valleys
below form a scenic background to the journey up the Ghats. This
tranquil hill retreat is accessible only by road and the journey
up is half the pleasure. Winding mountain roads bordered by
undulating tea plantations; flocks of tea-pickers calmly fill
their bags in the clear mountain air. The road winds on to
Kumily, a tiny village near the Periyar Sanctuary. Arrive and
check in at hotel. Afternoon boat safari.
Day 14 - Periyar
Morning and evening wildlife viewing.
Day 15 - Periyar - Munnar
Morning visit the nearby plantations and share a cup of morning
tea with the workers, or select your pick from the freshest of
spices, straight from the spice gardens. Periyar is the Garden
of India. The crisp climate, the gentle slopes of fertile
grassland and bright sunlight combine to make Periyar on ideal
home for spice gardens, from pepper & cardamon to cinnamon and
cloves. Pepper plants grow wild on the hillsides, while the
surrounding tea plantations give off fragrances of fresh tea in
the calm crystalline air. Afternoon depart for Munnar - A hill
station on the western ghats & a nature loverŐs paradise. The
drive takes us through picturesque villages and up winding lanes
filled with heady fragrances of fresh tea. 1800 meters above sea
level, Munnar has the highest peak in South India - Anaimudi
which towers over 2695 meters. An assortment of wildlife such as
the Nilgiri Thar, Nilgiri Langur, Sambar, Gaur and the
Lion-tailed Macaque are found in the rich tropical forests.
Neelakurinji, the unique plant that blooms only once in 12
years, paints the entire Munnar hillside blue.
Day 16 - Munnar
Morning visit the serene hill township Devikulam-1500 m above
sea level, 16 kms southwest of Munnar. Activities here include
trout fishing on the Devikulam lake and hiking in the Eravikulam
national park- the best place to see Nilgiri Tahrs (Hemitragus
hylocrious), the mountain goat of the South India. With a total
population of less than 2000 in the world, more than 60% of
Nilgiri Tahrs are found here. The Nilgiri Languar, the Lion -
tailed Macaque, Leopards and Tigers are other attractions.
Day 17 - Munnar - Cochin
Morning depart for Cochin (3hr drive). On arrival check in at
hotel. Afternoon city tour. Cochin has a delightfully
cosmopolitan look: a 400 year-old Jewish synagogue, Portuguese
churches, mosques & hindu temples co-exist amicably in a typical
example of Indian secularism.
Day 18 - Cochin - Bombay - Home
Fly to Bombay, Transfer to hotel for wash/change & dinner.
Transfer to the International airport for flight home.
- 17 Nights / 18 Days
