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Explore the wonder that is India on this trip that takes
you from Kerala, on the south western coast of India all the way across
to the tea estates and the famous Kaziranga wildlife reserve of Assam on
North Eastern India. On the way, discover the ancient port city of
Cochin, Kerala's Periyar National Park, the fabulous Hindu temple city
of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, the royal city of Mysore with the neighboring
Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid as well as the Eastern metropolis
of Calcutta - once the capital of the British Raj and now a bustling
city full of life and culture. |
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Elephant back photo safari, Kaziranga National Park, Assam |
Trip Highlights include:
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Cochin, spice trading port since the 13th
century
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Backwaters of Kerala
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Trekking in Periyar National Park, nature
reserve
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Hiking through Tea and Cardamom Plantations in
Munnar
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Madurai, with the famous Meenakshi Temple
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Bangalore, garden city and hi-tech center
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Belur & Halebid, home of magnificent temples &
shrines
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Wildlife in Kaziranga National Park, UNESCO
World Heritage Site
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Calcutta - everything you have imagined, and
then some!
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Trip Itinerary |
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| Day 1 USA to Singapore |
Shortly after midnight today, catch your
Singapore Airlines flight to Asia. Arrive in Singapore the next day
later after crossing the International Dateline. |
| Day 2 Singapore to Cochin |
After a brief layover at Singapore's Changi
Airport, take the short evening flight to Cochin. |
| Day 3 Cochin |
Set on a cluster of islands, Cochin has an
eclectic past and you can visit a Jewish Synagogue, a Christian
Church where the explorer Vasco da Gama was initially buried, a Dutch Palace
built by the Portuguese and the Chinese fishing nets which line the
seafront. |
| Day 4 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 5 - 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 6 Periyar |
Start early morning for an easy trek into the
forest, rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel
and Nilgiri langur. Then board a bamboo raft and drift for about
three hours on the lake with a panoramic view of forest-clad hill
reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar
usually keep close to the edges of the lake. Hike back to the boat
landing in the afternoon. |
| Day 7 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 8 Munnar |
Enjoy the scenery during a 3 hour trek, through
tea-covered slopes, to the peak of the highest mountain in Southern
India, the approx. 6,700 ft high Anaimudi, the Elephant's Head. |
| 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 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 and 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 for an overnight
stop. |
| Day 13 Calcutta to Kaziranga |
Take a morning flight to Guwahati in Indias
eastern state of Assam. Drive to the Kaziranga National Park,
habitat of the one-horned rhinoceros, tigers, leopards and a host of
other fauna and flora. |
| Day 14 & 15 Kaziranga National
Park |
The mighty Brahmaputra River runs through this
impressive nature reserve, an UNESCO World Heritage site. Go
wildlife spotting during a morning Elephant Safari and a jeep
excursion in the afternoon. |
| Day 16 Kaziranga to Calcutta |
Early this morning drive through picturesque tea
estates back to Guwahati and fly to Calcutta, arriving late in
the afternoon. |
| Day 17 - Calcutta |
Take a guided tour of the city this morning, with
the afternoon free to explore on your own.
Late
this evening you will be transferred to the airport for the
overnight flight from
Calcutta to
Singapore. |
Day 18 - Singapore to USA
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Morning departure for your flight back to the
US, arriving on
the same day.
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Cochin, Kerala Backwaters, Kumarakom, Periyar NP,
Munnar, Madurai, Bangalore, Hassan, Halebid, Calcutta, Kaziranga
National Park |
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18 Days from $4,079 |
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2007/08
Departures |
Silver
Hotels |
Gold
Hotels |
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4/1 - 6/5 |
$4,079 |
$4,277 |
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6/6 - 8/20 |
$4,389 |
$4,599 |
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8/21 - 12/5 |
$4,299 |
$4,577 |
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12/6 - 12/12 |
$4,548 |
$4,839 |
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12/13 - 12/23 |
$4,799 |
$5,125 |
|
12/24 - 12/31 |
$4,548 |
$4,839 |
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1/1 - 3/31/08 |
$4,299 |
$4,777 |
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Departs every
Thursday & Saturday |
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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.
Airport taxes, meals
(other than those indicated), personal expenses and travel insurance
are not included |
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Wild elephants at Periyar NP
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Tea plantation, Munnar, Kerala
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Somnath temple, Mysore
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Rhino at Kaziranga NP, Assam |
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