Explore all corners of this fascinating sub-continent on
your very own Passage to India! Travel by train, on elephant back and
even on cycle-rickshaws as you experience the soul of India. Visit not
only famous places like the Taj Mahal, the Hindu holy city of Varanasi
or the erotic temples of Khajuraho, but also many places off the beaten
track which are no less fascinating, such as the incredible city of
Calcutta or the Kaziranga National Park, home of the one horned Indian
rhinoceros
Meenakshi temple, Madurai
Spotting rhinos in Kaziranga NP
Lake Palace, Udaipur
Trip Highlights include:
7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Cochin, spice trading port since the 13th
century
Backwaters of Kerala
Periyar National Park, wildlife reserve in
Kerala
Tea and Cardamom Plantations in Munnar
Madurai with the Meenakshi Temple
Bangalore, garden city and hi-tech center
Belur & Halebid – home of magnificent temples &
shrines
Wildlife spotting in Kaziranga National Park
Calcutta, so much more than what you thought
Varanasi, the Hindu holy city on the Ganges
Erotic sculptures on the temples of Khajuraho
Romantic Taj Mahal
Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned 16th century town
Keoladeo National Park, bird sanctuary
Bazaars and palaces of Jaipur, Rajasthan
Udaipur with its famous Lake Palace
Bombay (Mumbai), India’s Gateway by the Arabian
Sea
Ancient Elephanta caves off the coast
Stopover in Singapore
Day 1: USA to Singapore
Shortly after noon today, catch your Singapore
Airlines flight to Asia. Arrive in Singapore two days later after
crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: Singapore to
Cochin
After a good night’s sleep at your
hotel, the day is free for you to enjoy Singapore, a modern city and
yet distinctly Oriental. Your special visitors’ pass includes
entrance fees and transportation to important sights around the
city. Early this evening, take the short flight from Singapore to
Cochin.
Day 4: Cochin
Set on a cluster of islands, Cochin has an
eclectic past and you can visit a Jewish Synagogue, a Christian
Church where Vasco da Gama was initially buried, a Dutch Palace
built by the Portuguese and the Chinese fishing nets which line the
seafront.
Day 5: Cochin to Kumarakom
Travel to Alleppey, where you embark on a cruise
through the scenic backwaters, past coconut plantations, rice fields
and waterfront villages until landing at your lakeside resort hotel.
Day 6: Kumarakom
Enjoy a free day at your resort.
Day 7: Kumarakom to Periyar
Drive past miles of rubber and coffee plantations
as you head towards the wildlife reserve of Lake Periyar. During a
late afternoon boat ride on the lake you may see herds of wild
elephants and lots of exotic tropical birds.
Day 8: Periyar to Munnar
Wake up early this morning for another wildlife
spotting cruise on the lake. Later head for the hills of Munnar, a
favorite summer resort of the colonial British. With its expanse of
tea and spice plantations, pristine valleys and forests, this is a
haven of peace and quiet.
Day 9: Munnar to Madurai
Leaving the highlands of Kerala continue overland
through the charming countryside to Madurai, in the plains of Tamil
Nadu.
Day 10: Madurai
Visit the landmark Meenakshi Temple with its 985
pillars, each exquisitely carved. Many of these are hewn from a
single block of granite, and each produces a different musical tone
when tapped! A major pilgrimage center, the city is crammed with
shops and street markets, famous for its traditional handicrafts in
bronze and brass.
Day 11: Madurai to Bangalore and
Hassan
Catch an early morning flight to Bangalore and
continue overland to Hassan, the gateway for the amazing 12th
century temples of Belur and Halebid . On the way stop at
Sravanbelagola, a Jain pilgrimage center with a remarkable statue.
Day 12: Belur & Halebid
Belur is famous for its temples with intricate
sculptures and friezes that took 103 years to build! The walls of
the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebid are covered with endless
sculptures of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls,
no two of which are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a
Nandi bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labor. Return
to Bangalore late afternoon and fly to Calcutta.
Day 13: Calcutta (Kolkata) to
Gauhati
Morning flight to Gauhati in India’s eastern
state of Assam. Drive to Kaziranga National Park.
Day 14: Kaziranga National Park
The mighty Brahmaputra River runs through the
reserve, home of the One-horned Rhino, as well as buffalo, swamp
deer, wild boar and the tiger. Go wildlife spotting during a morning
Elephant Safari and a jeep excursion in the afternoon.
Day 15: Kaziranga to Calcutta
(Kolkata)
Early morning drive back to Gauhati and fly to
Calcutta, arriving late in the afternoon.
Day 16: Calcutta (Kolkata) to
Varanasi
Take an orientation tour of the city, well known
for its colonial era buildings, museums and art galleries. Late this
afternoon drive to the railway station across the busy Howrah
Bridge, teeming with pedestrians and all kinds of traffic – an
amazing sight! This evening, take an overnight train to Varanasi,
the holy city of the Hindus, on the river Ganges.
Day 17: Varanasi
After arriving in Varanasi take a walking tour
through the narrow lanes of this ancient town, reputed to be the
world’s oldest continually inhabited city!
Day 18: Varanasi to Khajuraho
Early this morning, take a boat ride on the
Ganges – undoubtedly another highlight of your trip. Watch the old
buildings lining the river bank glow bright orange in the light of
the rising sun, while pilgrims come to pray and bathe in the river,
in a devout act of ritual cleansing. Fly to Kharuajo in the
afternoon.
Day 19: Khajuraho to Delhi
Every facade-wall, window, pillar, and ceiling of
the temples of Khajuraho (built around 1000 AD) is carved with
figures of mythical and historical origins, often in explicit erotic
positions. Later this afternoon fly to Delhi.
Day 20: Delhi
This morning, enjoy a brief tour of Old Delhi,
riding in a rickshaw just like the locals, through the narrow
streets and teeming bazaars. Visit the grand mosque before
continuing to New Delhi, for other sites such as Humayun’s Tomb and
some free time for shopping etc.
Day 21: Delhi to Agra
Travel via a chauffer driven car to Agra. Another
highlight of your trip awaits you, the Taj Mahal ! Twenty thousand
master craftsmen labored for twenty years to build this awesome
memorial for one man to honor the memory of his wife. Stop at the
majestic Agra Fort.
Day 22: Agra to Jaipur
Visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and
continue to Keoladeo National Park , once a Maharajah’s private duck
shooting grounds and now a haven for migratory birds from Central
Asia. Visit Amber Palace just outside Jaipur – a hilltop fortress,
accessed in appropriately royal style on elephant back!
Day 23: Jaipur
Jaipur’s elegant buildings and palaces reflect
its past wealth and grandeur. Visit the elaborate ‘Palace of Winds’,
which is not a palace but merely a façade, behind which the ladies
of the royal household could watch processions and street festivals
without being seen themselves! Spend the afternoon walking through
Jaipur’s bazaars – famous for their silver jewelry and handicrafts.
Day 24: Jaipur to Udaipur
Morning flight from Jaipur to Udaipur. Often
called “the city of lakes”, Udaipur is famous for its whitewashed
houses with brightly decorated outside walls. Ornate doors that are
entrances homes or palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and royal
monuments, all lend their charm to make Udaipur a fascinating place.
Day 25: Udaipur to Bombay (Mumbai)
Visit some of the city sights this morning,
including the famous Jagadish Temple and the City Palace – which is
actually a complex of no fewer than 11 palaces overlooking the
romantic Pichola Lake. Late afternoon flight to Bombay.
Day 26: Bombay (Mumbai)
Take an orientation tour some this morning,
seeing the impressive Gateway of India, Crawford Market and the busy
Victoria Terminus Railway Station . In the afternoon travel by boat
to an offshore island, where the Elephanta Caves contain impressive
9th century sculptures, carvings and a temple of Shiva. Late this
evening transfer to the airport.
Day 27: Bombay to Singapore & USA
Leave Bombay just after midnight and land in
Singapore early this morning for your connecting flight to the US,
arriving the same day.
We offer two categories
of accommodation:
Silver
hotels are carefully selected for their excellent value - all rooms
have private facilities.
Gold
hotels are better located, offer more spacious rooms with better
amenities and a higher standard of service.
The departure date determines the price applicable. All prices
are per person and based on twin-share accommodation.
A $100 surcharge applies for bookings made within 30 days of the
departure date. The tour price does not include airport taxes, meals
(other than those indicated), personal expenses and travel insurance.
