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13 Day Vacation - 1
Agra - Jaipur - Cochin - Backwaters - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Arrive at US

Detailed Itinerary - 13 Day Vacation - 1

 

Day 1: Delhi – Agra. Board the early morning (6 am) Express train - two hour journey - to Agra.

Because it is the city of the incomparable Taj Mahal, Agra's many other historical and architectural monuments get far less attention than they deserve. There are magnificent palaces, forts, mausoleums, as well as various other similar structures. Spectacular historical reminders flourish all over this area, and you can choose how many of them you want to visit. 

Visit four hundred and forty year old massive sandstone Agra Fort and it's many monuments; Jehangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, among others. Near there, tour the Itmad-Ud-Daulah and Agra's Jama Masjid. Just outside Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a remarkably well preserved ghost city from the same time in history.

Agra is famous for its marble art & manufacturing of the same.




Day 2: Agra – Jaipur. Check out of your hotel and proceed on the drive to Jaipur. Arrive at Jaipur and check in to your hotel.

Rajput culture considers pink to be the color of hospitality; hence the pink walls of  the Old City in Jaipur. Constructed in the early 18th century, Rajasthan's capital has broad and open streets and is very well laid out. Maharaja Jai Singh II, after whom it is named, was a great astronomer who also had Jaipur's Jantar Mantar designed and constructed. The king and his architect built Jaipur using ancient Hindu principles of civic planning and design, and created a city full of magical color and beauty.

A visit to Jaipur should be a must for every visitor to India; the multi hued garments and jewelry of the locals, the profusion of camels in everyday traffic, and the play of the sun's rays on the brightly colored walls of the inner city all combine to create an atmosphere unique to this city. Magnificent palaces, the seven city gates, forts, and other monuments sit unchanged amidst the bustle of a busy metropolis. Just outside Jaipur, the Royal Cenotaphs provide for an interesting visit.

Astonishing in it's simple ingenuity, the Jantar Mantar (Jaipur Observatory-built 1728)is a must see for anyone with an interest in astronomy. Maharaja Jai Singh was a great conqueror and an equally adept astronomer. The observatory he had designed and built is a marvel that, even today, intrigues and fascinates visitors to Jaipur.

Jaipur is famous for its carpets, jewelry, & handicrafts.




Day 3: Jaipur. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.


Day 4: Jaipur. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.




Day 5: Jaipur – Cochin. Check out of your hotel and board the morning flight to Mumbai. Connect with the flight to Cochin. Arrive at Cochin and check in to your hotel.

One of the least acclaimed tourist destinations in India, Kochi has something to delight every explorer. It is know as "The Queen of the Arabian Sea", among other names, and is a scenic and lush collection of islands, capes, and mainland; connected by an elaborate yet intricate system of ferries and bridges.

Europeans controlled Kochi, and it's thriving trade, from the early 16th century. Their influence can be seen all over the picturesque city and the surrounding area. There are many monuments, architecture, and other reminders of the Dutch, Portuguese and British. The old world charm of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin have not changed much in the last couple of centuries. There are also many events in surrounding Kerala, such as the "Great Boat Races".

Visit Mattancherry Palace and its exquisite murals. St. Francis Church (early 16th century) is the oldest European church in India, and The Pardesi Synagogue was founded around the same time (history records Jewish settlers in this area as early as the 6th century, the guides will tell you that roots can be traced to over two thousand years ago). Fort Cochin is distinctly British Indian (with a little bit of Dutch thrown in) in it's architecture, and the Chinese fishing nets that dot it's northern end add to it's languid charm. The modern section called Ernakulam is pleasant and offers one of India's best opportunities to view classical Indian dance.




Day 6: Cochin. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.


Day 7: Cochin. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.




Day 8: Cochin – Backwaters cruise. Check out of your hotel in the morning, and then driven to the backwaters.

The backwaters of Kerala - meandering inland lakes networked by canals - stretch to over 900 km. Boat trips across these tranquil stretches are an experience unique to Kerala. Large kettuvalloms (traditional country crafts over 60 ft. in length) have been converted into luxury houseboats for these cruises.




Day 9: Backwaters – Kovalam. Disembark from your houseboat and you proceed on the picturesque journey to Kovalam.

Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s.A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse-sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centers etc. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city. Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Ponmudi hill station etc.




Day 10: Kovalam. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.


Day 11: Kovalam. You are at leisure on these days. The only services provided by ETI are hotel room (including breakfast and taxes).

ETI can provide various services upon request, such as chauffeur driven vehicles, guides, escorted sightseeing and recommendations / reservations for dining and entertainment.




Day 12: Kovalam – International Flight. Check out of your hotel at leisure by noon. Do any last minute shopping and sightseeing that you feel you may have left for the end.

Your vehicle and chauffeur stay with you till your (usually late evening) assisted check in at the airport.

Our services end at Trivandrum airport.




Day 13: Arrive in your Country of Origin.
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