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Overview

Tailor-made trip to India : Rajasthan & Kerala
India is a gigantic country that is home to almost one out of six inhabitants of our planet. Land of contrasts, India has been an object of Western fascination for centuries with its eclecticism and its traditions rooted in an ancient culture which is complex, both hard and happy. The Westerner never quite knows through which door to enter this world of countless divinities and ubiquitous beauty... This tailor-made trip to India will allow you to discover parts of both Northern and Southern India.
After an encounter with the genuine and colourful Rajasthan, you will move on to Kerala, rightly considered the most tolerant state of the large Indian Republic. Christians, Hindus and Muslims have lived there, side-by-side, without conflicts, for centuries. With its lush forests, its coconut-lined canals, its paradisiac beaches and its mountains providing shelter to an abundant wildlife, Kerala presents itself today as a small piece of paradise and surely as the ideal gateway to the Indian sub-continent.

Don't hesitate to contact our India expert at Uniktour to get more information about this fascinating tailor made trip!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Arrival in New Delhi
Arrival at New Delhi international airport. Welcome and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3| New Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning free to recover from your trip.
In the afternoon, visit of New Delhi and specifically Humayun's Tomb, drive pass the President House and India Gate. End the visits at Qutub Minar, the world's tallest minaret

Day 4| Delhi - Agra (200km/4h00)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Agra, the ancient capital city of the Mughal emperors. On the way, visit the impressive white marble tomb of Akbar, the greatest Mughal emperor.
Upon arrival in Agra, check in at the hotel and visit of Red Fort, the forbidding exteriors of which hide an inner paradise. Its palaces, gardens and mosques formed at the time of its splendour a real city, surrounded by ramparts of red sandstone.

Day 5| Agra - Jaipur (250km/4h30)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning visit of the Mughal empire's jewel: Taj Mahal. It is the second most visited monument in the world after the... Eiffel Tower! Set amidst landscaped gardens, the main monument reflects the genius of the architects and the work of thousands of labourers. A walk in the gardens is highly recommended.
After the visit, you will depart to Jaipur, the pink city and capital of Rajasthan. On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the capital city of Akbar in the 16th century that he had to abandon only after fifteen years due to scarcity of water in the town.
Driving on to Jaipur, a new stop will take you to Abhaneri, a small village where one can see one of the oldest and deepest baori (well) of India. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in at the hotel.

Day 6| Jaipur - Udaipur (train)
Breakfast at the hotel. Prior to visiting Amber Fort, you will take a look at Jaipur's most famous monument: -Hawa Mahal- or the Palace of Winds. Built in 1799 of red and pink sandstone, its original intention was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below, without being seen.
You will then proceed to Amber Fort, the ancestral residence of the maharajas of Jaipur, a magnificent citadel perched on a hilltop that you will reach on elephant back. Visit of the palace made of numerous staircases, courtyards, gardens, and walls covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings, or intricate carvings, mosaic, and mirror work.
In the afternoon, visit of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, the amazing observatory built by Jai Singh II in the 18th century. The collection of architectural astronomical instruments was meant to measure time, predict eclipses, track stars in their orbits...
Rest of the day at leisure to wander in the colourful bazaars of the city. In the evening, transfer to Jaipur railway station to board the overnight train to Udaipur.

Day 7| Udaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning arrival at Udaipur. Welcome and transfer to the hotel for breakfast. In the heart of the Aravalli range, Udaipur was once the capital city of the Mewar province. The « pearl of Rajasthan » is one of the most romantic cities of India.
Full day sightseeing of the city with the visit of the City Palace, the largest palace complex of Rajasthan. This complete white structure stands majestically on a hill surrounded by crenellated walls. It houses numerous rooms decorated with glass mosaics.
Thereafter, boat ride on Lake Pichola and visit of the -princess gardens- which were initially built for the royal ladies.

Day 8| Udaipur - Jodhpur (275km/5h00)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure to Jodhpur, the blue city, through the Aravalli range. On the way, visit of the magnificent white marble jain temples of Ranakpur. Unique in style and design, the temple of Adinath has 1444 different pillars, each of them beautifully engraved, making the temple an absolute architectural marvel.
Late afternoon, arrival at Jodhpur and after check in, walk in the buoyant narrow streets of the Sardar bazaar around Clock Tower.

Day 9| Jodhpur - Jaisalmer (285km/6h00)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit of the impressive Mehrangarh Fort which stands proudly on a hilltop, overlooking the blue city. It has a good collection of royal accoutrements on exhibition besides housing a number of charming palaces that used to accommodate the Maharajas of Jodhpur. A visit to Jaswant Thada is also recommended, the memorial to a number of royal Rajputs who have their cenotaphs here. After the visits, drive on to Jaisalmer through the desert. On the way, visit of the richly decorated Jain temples of Osian, some of which date back to the 11th century. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and see sunset from royal cenotaphs.

Day 10| Jaisalmer
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day visit of the citadel. Surrounded by massive ramparts, it houses palaces, temples and amazing havelis with beautiful ornate sandstone carvings. A walk in the narrow streets is highly recommended to enjoy the atmosphere of the 12th century fort where time seems to have stopped. In the afternoon, visit of Gadi Sagar Lake surrounded by pavilions and temples, before departing to Khuri, a typical village in the desert, to see sunset from the sand dunes.

Day 11| Jaisalmer - Bikaner (350km/6h00)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Bikaner which was founded in the 15th century by a prince of Jodhpur on the edge of the Thar Desert. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and visit the old city.

Day 12| Bikaner - Mandawa (190km/4h30)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit of Junagarh Fort renowned for its richly decorated and well-preserved palaces. Thereafter, drive on to the Shekhawati region, renowned for the fresco-decorated havelis, the ancient mansions of the wealthy merchants.
Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and visit of the village by walk.

Day 13| Mandawa - Delhi (290km/5h30)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Delhi that you will reach in the afternoon. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and rest of the day free.

Day 14| Delhi - Kochi (flight)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, transfer to the domestic airport to board your flight to Kochi in South India. Upon arrival, welcome and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free.

Day 15| Kochi
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day sightseeing of Kochi, the « Queen of the Arabian sea ». More specifically, you will visit the historic part of the city, Fort Kochi, with the Synagogue dating back to 1568, St Francis Church and the famous Chinese Fishing Nets among others.

Day 16| Kochi - Munnar (110km/2h15)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive towards the mountains of Kerala and the hill resort of Munnar. Developed to cultivate tea plants by the British planters, Munnar today is mainly a tea town. Offering sprawling tea plantations it remains little-known thus preserving its charm.
Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and rest of the day free. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 17| Munnar
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day sightseeing of Munnar and its surroundings, where tea, cardamom and coffee plantations look like natural carpets.

Day 18| Munnar - Kumarakom (110km/2h15)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Kumarakom and the region of the Backwaters for an overnight cruise. Upon reaching at 12.30, you will board a traditional houseboat, also called « Kettuvallam » with which locals used to transport rice. Today, they have been transformed into floating hotels and are the best option to visit this region and its numerous canals.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.

Day 19| Allepey - Trivandrum (140km/2h30)
Breakfast on board. Arrival and deboarding at Allepey. Thereafter, drive to Trivandrum and the renowned beaches of the South. On the way, visit of Karunaganpally, a fishermen village along the coast where traditional boats are repaired. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and rest of the day free.

Day 20| Kanyakumari
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day excursion to Kanyakumari, the city located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and also known by its former name Cape Comorin.
A major site of pilgrimage for Hindus, it is the point where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed. Return to Trivandrum late afternoon.

Day 21| Trivandrum
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day free to rest and enjoy beach activities.

Day 22| Trivandrum - Mumbai - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning free until your transfer to the airport to board the flight back to Mumbai and your onward journey to Canada.

Budget

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Lodging

Overview

From the snow-covered peaks of the Himalaya to the splendors of medieval Rajasthan, India never fails to bewitch and bewilder. A land of contrasts where history and tradition survive side by side with high-tech industries, fascinating India leaves no one indifferent!

Your customized trip to India will send your senses into permanent rapture. Imagine letting yourself become one with the soothing sounds of sacred music, or gazing into the desert on camelback, marveling at the immensity of the Himalayas, sampling countless unique flavors and aromas, and feeling the warm stones of ancient temples with breathtaking architecture under your bare feet. India is an endless source of wonder and spellbinding fascination.

Geography

With a total surface area of 3 165 596 km², India is the world’s seventh largest country. The Indian peninsula forms its own sub-continent, totally distinct from Asia, from which it was separate until the first tertiary period.

India’s geographical profile is very varied, featuring snowy landscapes, deserts, hills, plains, and plateaus. Each of India’s regions has its own climate: equatorial at the southern tip, rigorous in the Himalayas. Since India covers most of the Indian subcontinent, it boasts more than 7000 kilometers of coastlines. India is bordered by the Oman Sea (also called the Arabian Sea) to the west and to the east by the Bay of Bengal.

The fertile plains through which flow the Ganges and the Indus occupy the northern, central, and eastern territories of India, which the Deccan plateau stretches to the south. In western India lies the rock and sand of the Thar Desert. The eastern and northeastern border follows the Himalaya. The highest point of India is a controversial point following conflicts with Pakistan. According to Indian authorities, it is K2 (8 611 m) in Jammu and Kashmir. Outside this area, the highest point is Kanchenjunga, at an altitude of 8 598 meters.

India shares borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are Island states located south of the Indian peninsula. Politically, India is divided into 28 states, 6 federal territories and the territory of New Delhi. These divisions follow linguistic differences rather than geographical ones.

Culture

Cultural Heritage
From Agra to Delhi by way of Rajasthan, India is home to monuments of incomparable beauty. Proud protectors of their country’s rich historical and cultural heritage, essential visits include sites like Agra’s Taj Mahal, the second-most visited monument in the world, independent India’s pride, Delhi’s Red Fort, Kajuraho, the second-most visited site in India, and the Qutb Minar. Such a bounty of forts showcasing myriad architectural styles can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the country’s most impressive fortresses and palaces can be found in Rajasthan: Hawal Mahal and the City Palace in Jaipur, Jaisalmer Fort, not to mention Delhi’s Havelis.

On top of all this abundance of great sites, India also offers visitors many festivals of varying origins. In the Indian calendar, there are national, local, regional, religious, seasonal, and social celebrations bursting with color, energy, and enthusiasm. Well-known festivals include the harvest festival (Pongal), the Ganesh festival in Mumbai, and the festival of lights in honor of the goddess Lakshmi. Known as Holi, the spring festival is undoubtedly one of the most popular Hindu celebrations in India. Movie studios also make for an interesting visit. After all, movies are certainly one of the most popular forms of entertainment in India. Each year, Bollywood produces around 900 feature films, placing India at the top of the list of the world’s biggest movie producers.

Customs and lifestyles

Customs and ways of life vary greatly in India, depending largely on region and religion. Vegetarianism, dress code, cows allowed to roam freely in the city, and seeing life as a transitory stage all follow from strong belief in religion, which has a central place in the daily life of Indians. A good example of this is seen in the dress code and the tilak: this mark worn by Hindus on their forehead represents the “third eye” of Shiva or “the eye of truth”. It is also a good luck charm that can indicate social status: married women wear red tilaks, while single women will have black tilaks.

The sari, a traditional garment, can also have many meanings: different colors and ways of wearing these can express a wide variety of moods, events, occasions, ethnic background, and religion. For example, newlyweds will wear crimson, while white symbolizes mourning. To greet someone, join your hands together under your chin and lower your head: some find that shaking hands is impure. Shorts, tank tops, and short skirts should also be avoided.

Also, try to avoid kissing in public or making too many compliments, as this is frowned upon. It is also considered disrespectful to have your feet pointed at the person you are talking to, at religious statues and representations, and to step over someone in a public area.

Cuisine

India boasts many different culinary traditions, which vary according to religion, caste, and region. Spices vary in the same way, which leads to countless novel flavors. This being said, there are two main cuisines in India: vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Some of the best known dishes among the many specialties of this rich and varied culinary tradition include dhal, a lentil-based dish that serves as the basic meal across the country, biryani and pulao (pilaf rice with saffron and cooked with or without meat and fish), rotis (bread), naan and dosai (white flour biscuits and pancakes made from rice and lentil flour). Pastries and sweets also come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure you try halwa or kulfi, a pistachio or almond flavored ice cream. But the best way to enjoy the myriad flavors of India is to eat with the locals: recipes are passed down from one generation to the next, carrying with them family secrets that give even more character to an already rich culinary heritage. Apart from the national drink, tea served with milk, people also love masala tea boiled with milk, sugar, cardamom, and countless other spices. Also popular are lassis (plain, sweet, or salty), fresh fruit juices, nimbu pani, limejuice served sweet or salted, and coconut juice straight from the coconut.

Climate

With such an immense territory and varied topography, India features all kinds of climates, from the alpine regions of the Himalayas to the tropical climates of the south.
There are three main seasons in India: winter, summer, and monsoon. During the winter months – from November to March – the weather is pleasant throughout the country. Temperatures drop dramatically as one enters the mountains, where snowfall is common. Generally speaking, April has the mildest weather. Summer months – from April to June – are hot almost everywhere in the country, with temperatures rising above 30, and even above 40 degrees inland. Going for a stroll in the pollution of the big cities becomes a real challenge under such intense heat.
The southwest monsoon usually stops around early June on the West coast. Apart from the southeast regions, most rainfall in India occurs between June and September. Some regions receive up to 10.000 mm of rainfall annually.