Golden Triangle & God's Own Country

Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast to start your day of sightseeing in Delhi. A mixture of history with a taste of everyday Delhi, today’s itinerary covers all aspects of this former capital of the Mughal Empire. Stop off at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. Built in 1570, it is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Then visit the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. After that visit the bustling Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Enjoy a rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk.

Have lunch at a nice restaurant and then reach back at the hotel. Later visit the towering Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall tapering tower of five storeys. Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutb Minar's first storey around 1192. Afterwards visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples, or Sikh house of worship in Delhi and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. There is also a sacred pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar."

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Delhi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Agra. Welcome to the city of Wonder… because it’s the place of the Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world. Pictures of the Taj Mahal don’t do the complete justice to its magnificence. It’s an epitome and symbol of love. You got to be here to feel your jaws drop. Agra used to be the historic capital of the Mughal empire.

Reach Agra by afternoon. Have lunch at a nice restaurant. Check-in at the hotel and freshen up. In the late afternoon visit Agra Fort, a historical fort, which remained the main residence of the Mughal emperors till 1638. Walking through courtyard after courtyard of this palatial red-sandstone and marble fortress, your amazement keeps growing as you hear about the history of this fort from the guide. In the evening visit the local market to get the true essence of Agra city. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Agra.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Early in the morning at sunrise visit the spectacular Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by Shah Jahan in 1632 CE in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Return to hotel for breakfast.

After a filling breakfast check out from the hotel, and head towards the Pink City - Jaipur, famous for its broad avenues, massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples, and royal culture. On the way visit Chand Baori, a 13 floors stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones.

Reach Jaipur by evening. Check-in at the hotel and relax. In the evening have a guided walk tour of the famous Pink City markets. Jaipur is also known as the shopper’s paradise. Jaipur's colorful markets offer a great break to stop and shop on your tour. Take in the glint and sparkle of the rows of shops selling hand-crafted bangles and other decoration items. While moving through the markets, you will come across the vivacious culture of this region.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur

Meals: Breakfast

Have a sumptuous breakfast and then set out for exploring the best attractions of Jaipur. Visit Hawa Mahal ("Palace of Winds"), a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside. Then visit Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, and completed in 1738 CE. Afterward, visit the City Palace. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during the years 1729 to 1732, the vast complex of the palace occupied one-seventh of the walled city. The palace is divided into a series of courtyards, buildings, and gardens.

In the afternoon stop by Jal Mahal, a palace in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city. It was built in the 17th century. Then visit the grand Amer Fort (or Amber Fort), also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur and the current structure was built during the late 16th century by Rajput Kings. This magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. In the evening visit Nahargarh Fort, which provides a beautiful bird's eye view of the entire Jaipur city.

Later in the evening enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and transfer to Jaipur Airport. Board the flight for Kochi. Arrive by flight at Kochi by noon. The serene Kochi (a.k.a. Cochin) has been drawing traders and explorers to its shores for over 600 years. Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix of giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses, and the crumbling remains of the British Raj.

The private car will pick you up from Kochi airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kochi. In the afternoon head out for a local sightseeing tour of Kochi. visit the Old Paradesi Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations, located in Kochi, Kerala, in South India. Constructed in 1567, it is one of seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan or Yehudan Mappila people or the Cochin Jewish community in the Kingdom of Cochin. Then visit Mattancherry Palace, a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace, in Mattancherry, which features Kerala murals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi. Afterward, visit Cochin Spice Market & Chinese fishing nets. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kochi.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and head straight to Munnar. One of the biggest tea-plantation regions of South India, Munnar is one of the most beautiful and popular hill stations of Kerala. The blissful hill station Munnar - famous for its tea estates, soothing lush greenery, and craggy peaks, is located in the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial center for some of the world’s largest tea estates. Munnar has many protected areas that are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.

After around a 5-hour drive, reach Munnar by late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. In the evening head out to see Kalaripayattu Show. Kalaripayattu is an ancient Indian martial art, which originated as a style in Kerala. It is considered by some to be the oldest martial art still in existence, with its origin dating back to the 3rd century BCE.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Munnar.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

In the morning head out for a guided soft trek tour. It will be around 3-hours trekking tour covering around 9 km of walk through plantations, grasslands and rocks. A small backpack with some sun cream is advisable. You may also wish to bring a sun hat. Enjoy a nice homemade breakfast during the tour.

Then visit Munnar Tea Museum. The tea museum preserves the aspects of the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's mountain region of the Western Ghats.

Afterward, visit the spice plantation. The spice plantation in Munnar is one of the major spice plantations in Kerala. The spice plantations are captivating farms to wander in since different spices are cultivated in different sections of each plantation. Then visit Pothamedu View Point, from where you could enjoy the scenic view of mountains, valleys and tea gardens.

The evening is at your leisure. Reach back at the hotel.  Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Munnar.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast check-out from hotel & head towards Kumarakom, a sleepy little village on the shores Vembanad Lake in Kerala, situated 14 Kms away from Kottayam. It offers wide variety of flora, exotic sightseeing, boating and fishing experience. Kumarakom is a true travel pleasure that will mesmerize your senses. It is a paradise on earth. It is one of the foremost travel destinations of India and a jewel in the crown of Kerala tourism.
Reach Kumarakom by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. Evening at your leisure.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kumarakom.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast head out for a village tour. Visiting a local village will give an experience beyond imagination for the tourists who look for something different during their trip to Kerala. See how locals do the Coconut tree climbing, Screw pine weaving, Net fishing, Toddy tapping, and other farm activities. Later enjoy a Shikara boat ride. Shikara boat is comparatively small in size than houseboats and motorboats but it is really beautiful handicraft work in elegant Kerala style.

In the noon check-out from hotel & head towards Alleppey (a.k.a. Alappuzha). Welcome to the “Venice of the East” – Alleppey, world-famous for its vast mesmerizing backwaters. This charming place is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters and is home to a huge network of backwaters and more than a thousand houseboats.

Reach Alleppey by noon. Check-in at a private AC houseboat. Have lunch on the houseboat. Enjoy a boat cruise through the magnificent Vembanad lake for an unforgettable experience of backwater cruising. Dinner & overnight stay will be at the houseboat in Alleppey.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast check out from the houseboat and transfer to Kochi Airport. The private car will drop you at Kochi airport by noon, from where you could take your return flight.

To all the good things, comes an end. Bid farewell with the memories of amazing fun-filled 11 days of this trip through Golden Triangle & Enchanting Kerala, worth remembering for a lifetime!

Meals: Breakfast