Golden Triangle Tour - South India Trip

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Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Delhi - Chennai - Cochin - Kanchipuram -                                   Mahabalipuram - Chennai

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Day 01: Arrival at Dehli

Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax. Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Start a full-day tour of Old and Delhi.

OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire. NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President’s Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 03 : Delhi - Agra

Breake fast at hotel Thereafter drive to Agra (203 kms), check into the hotel. Late afternoon visit the Taj Mahal - Overnight at hotel.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it’s stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen. Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Day 04 : Agra - Jaipur



Drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Red Fort. Later commence drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri - the deserted capital of Emperor Akbar. Continue driving to Jaipur. On arrival check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 05 : Jaipur

Experience the glory of Amber Fort on an elephant back and later enjoy a sight seeing tour of the city that includes mirror inlayed palaces and courtyards.

After breakfast excursion to Amber Fort where elephant ride is provided to ascend the hill on top of which this magnificent Fort is built. Sightseeing tour of Jaipur city in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. It’s forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.

Proceed for sightseeing of the city.

CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Day 06 : Jaipur - Delhi

After leisurely breakfast proceed for shopping. Leave for Delhi after lunch. Reach Delhi and you will be transferred to airport for flight with sweet memories of India after FAREWELL DINNER.

Day 07 : Delhi - cochin – Alleppey

Arrive Cochin airport. Upon arrival, you would be met by our representative Drive to alleppey to board the traditional rice boats - "Ketuvallam" and begin your journey through the picturesque backwaters and small lakes relaxing in the tranquillity of Kerala's beautiful scenery. Experience the way of life and activity of the local people, the one bedroom house with a lounge is exclusively for you, meals will be served with freshly bought produce from the local markets and cooked on board.

About House Boat

Earlier Houseboats of Kerala are known as "Kettuvallam", these huge, ling and tapering barges were traditionally used to cargo tonnes of goods across kingdoms, with portion covered with bamboo and coir serving as a rest room and kitchen for the crew. A familiar sight on the Backwaters, these vessels are built entirely without nails. Plants of jack wood are joined together and coir rope and coated with caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kennels. With careful maintenance they last for generations. Today widely and appropriately called Luxury Houseboats, (Kerala Backwaters) they carry furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. As you cruise down the canal you can see morning newspaper and mail delivery by boat, vendors in boat paddle from house to house selling everyday provisions like rice, vegetables, oil, kerosene etc. with hundreds of quacking ducks around. Also you can see village activities, fisherman's activities and see old beautiful temples, churches and old fashioned Kerala Overnight on board

Day 08 : Alleppey - Cochin

Disembark house boat drive to Cochin City tour 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.

From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.

This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Strictly speaking, Cochin is a small town. But, Cochin has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town, which now includes Cochin, Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many other nearby towns and villages. Cochin is situated in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala. Ernakulam is also the name of a town - the administrative capital of Ernakulam district - but, for all practical purposes Ernakulam and Cochin, generally, refer to the same place.

Over night at hotel

Day 09 : Cochin – Bangalore – Puttaparti(Sai baba Ashramam)

Early Morning Drive to airport to Board the flight to Bangalore on Ariival drive to Puttaparti to Visit Sai Baba Ashramam.

Puttaparthi, once a sparsely populated village, has shot into national and international fame as the abode of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba. The original name of Sai Baba is "Satyanarayana Raju". He was born on November 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the most colourful and multifaceted prophet, modern India has produced, is believed to be the very avatar (incarnation) of love and the voice of one's own innermost heart speaking to each individual externally. The teachings of the Baba are based on the famous 'five props' of Sathya (truth), Dharma (righteousness) Santhi (peace), Prema (universal love) and Ahimsa (non violence). Prasanthi Nilayam, over the years, has attracted people from all over then world. The Ashram has a code of conduct which every visitor should follow. The Ashram also has museums, stadiums, educational institutions, the Sai Space Theatre etc. The 23rd of November is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by the devotees of Baba at the Prasanthi Nilayam. Over a million people gather here on the occasion of the Baba's birthday. The atmosphere around the Ashram is undeniably peaceful, and the growth of such a vibrant community in this once forgotten backward area is not a small miracle.

Day 09 : Puttaparti – Tirupathi

Tirupati is a temple town in Chittoor District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located at the foot hills of Tirumala.

The town owes its existence to the sacred temple situated on the Tirumala Hills. Tirumala is the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, one of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu, located atop Seshachala hills often called as "Yaedu Kondalu" (seven hills).The temple of Lord Venkateshwara was built by Telugu Kings representing the rich Telugu culture and it is the richest Hindu temple and the most visited religious center in the world followed by the Vatican[1]. The town is also home to Sri Venkateswara University, one of the three major universities in Andhra Pradesh. Although, Tirupati has been a city for many years, the Andhra Pradesh state government had not recognized it officially until recently. Over night at hotel.

Day 10 : Tirupathi – Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet).

Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over night at hotel

Day 11 : Mahabalipuram – Kanhipuram

The Golden city of thousand Temples of which 124 have withstood the ravages of time. This was the capital of the Pallavas. Kanchipuram is the holy city of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and it is for this reason that Kanchipuram is one of the seven holy cities of India and on the pilgrim route.

Some have called Kanchipuram the "Varanasi of the South". Though the Temples in this city of Gods and erstwhile Kings date back to the 4th century, the finest Temples was constructed in the 6th and 7th centuries.

Kanchi was also the seat of learning and Hindus and Buddhist philosophies flourished side by side. The oldest Temple, constructed in sandstone by the Pallavas, the Kailashnatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Over night at hotel

Day 12 : Kanchipuram – Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fourth largest metropolitan city. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 7.06 million (2007), the 368-year-old city is the 32nd largest metropolitan area in the world.

Chennai is the third largest commercial and industrial centre in India[citation needed, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture. It is also a hub for south Indian classical music and dance performances. Chennai is considered the automobile capital of India, with a major percentage of the automobile industry having a base here and a major portion of the nation's vehicles being produced here. It has also become a major centre for outsourced jobs from the West[citation needed]. The 12-kilometre long Marina Beach along the Bay of Bengal forms the city's east coast. The city is known for its sport venues and hosts an ATP tennis event, the Chennai Open. Chennai is also one of the few cities in the world to accommodate a national park, the Guindy National Park, within its city limits Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 : Chennai – Home

Full day sightseeing of Madras: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Cathedral, Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Fort St. George, the Marina Late afternoon drive back to Madras (80kms./2hrs. drive). Transfer to international airport for flight home.