North And South India Adventure Tour

Our tour begins this afternoon in Delhi.  We stay in the Karol Bagh region of the city which has a large, bustling marketing and interesting streets which are perfect for stretching our legs and taking in the sights and sounds of India.

Overnight Simple Hotel

This morning you have the opportunity to join an optional tour of Old Delhi by metro and cycle rickshaw (please be aware that rickshaw and metro costs are at your own expense).The former capital of the 17th century Moghul emperor Shan Jahan, the old city is a magnificent blend of architectural splendour and vibrant chaos, the very image of an Indian city and all centred on the bustling Chandi Chowk Bazaar. The tour will take in the bazaar and the spectacular Jami Masjid Mosque, the largest in India and Shah Jahan’s magnificent swan song. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to remain in old Delhi and make your way back to the hotel later, meeting with the rest of the group in time to transfer to the Nizamuddin station for an overnight train on to the beautiful lakeside city of Udaipur.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

Arriving early this morning, we travel to the hotel by taxis/auto rickshaws. Our tour leader will then take an orientation tour of the city by foot. Set before the serene backdrop of forested hills this is without doubt one of Rajasthan’s most elegant and sublime settings: a city of temples, palaces and gardens that is considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful in the state. Founded in 1559, by Maharaja Udai Singh II, today it encom-passes some of the finest architectural examples of Rajput design and excess anywhere in India. Your tour will take in the lakeside ghats and the dhobi wallahs, who come down to the shore to wash clothes before the setting of Udaipur’s regal grandeur. We will also visit the intricate carvings of the Jagdish Temple, home to a black stone image of Vishnu as Lord of the Universe, before moving on to view the exterior of the City Palace, one of Udaipur’s most iconic buildings. Over the next 2 days there will ample opportunity to re-visit some of these places in your own time.

Overnight Simple Hotel

In a state filled with testaments to a golden age of Indian nobility, the City Palace is the largest of its kind in Rajasthan, a magnificent edifice of towers and cupolas, halls and balconies that overlooks the waters of Pichola Lake. There is the option today to visit this extraordinary setting. Other possibilities for today include a boat trip on Lake Pichola oy you can hire a bike and  venture into the surrounding countryside, the ideal way to con-trast life in the villages with that in the city. Other alternatives further afield include visits to the Eklingi Temple, whilst a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola, presents this idyllic setting in all its glory. Please be aware that during the dry season the water levels on the lake can drop considerably, and in the event of a poor monsoon season dry up completely.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A morning train takes us on to the city of Ajmer, a famous Muslim pilgrimage centre that is home to the tomb of a 13th century Sufi saint. Our train should get us into the city around lunchtime. From here we then transfer by jeep to the nearby town of Pushkar, an important Hindu pilgrimage place and the setting each autumn for one of the most famous camel fairs in all Rajasthan. Set besides the shores of Lake Pushkar, to the north-west of Ajmer, this tranquil little  town is one of the oldest in India and is revered as one of the 5 sacred dhams of the Hindus, boasting one of the few temples to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, anywhere on the planet.  This afternoon has been left free to enjoy at your leisure.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

For those that wish, this morning offers a chance to take a hike up into the nearby hills to visit the Savitri temple for sunrise (optional). Dedicated to Brahma’s first wife, the temple lies at the end of a long series of steps that run behind the Brahma Temple and from its lofty vantage point the views out across to the lake and the surrounding desert offer a breathtaking setting from which to watch the arriving dawn. The rest of the day is then free to explore a little more of Pushkar, taking in its lake and perhaps visiting some of its colourful bazaars, before the opportunity to take a late afternoon camel safari out into the desert (optional).

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Catching a local bus this morning we head for the fabulous ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, a city steeped in the rich heritage of the Rajput princes. The journey should take around 3 hours and on arrival we will transfer to the hotel by taxi. The capital of the state of Rajast-han, Jaipur is considered by many to be one of the finest planned cities anywhere, with the usual Indian urban chaos being replaced by wide streets and formal gardens. This afternoon we have planned an orientation tour of the city on foot, following which you might like to take in the unique majesty of the Hawa Mahal, the famous ‘ Palace of the Winds’, whose extraordinary façade of red and pink sandstone towers some 5 storeys above the city streets. Other options include the remarkable 18th century observatory of Jantar Mantar, the fascinating creation of Maharaja Jai Singh II, which houses a collection of astronomical instruments capable of measuring time to an accuracy of 2 seconds, including the largest sundial in the world. Another alternative is a visit to the opulent splendour of the City Palace, a rich fusion of Moghul and Rajasthani design that houses an armoury and a museum that is home to a dazzling array of costumes, manuscripts and inlaid grandeur

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning there’s the chance to pay an optional visit by taxi or rickshaw to the once mighty Rajput capital of Amber and its magnificent fortress. Lying at the mouth of a rocky mountain gorge, overlooking Maotha Lake, the fort is a stunning creation of white marble and red sandstone that contains a dazzling mix of Hindu and Muslim ornamentation, in-cluding the breathtaking mirrored halls of the Sheesh Mahal. Today it presents visitors with a staggering insight into the lives of the Rajput rulers. There is also an option to take an elephant ride up to the fort to enter the complex in the footsteps of the princes of old. The rest of the day is free for personal activities.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

An early morning transfer to the railway station sees us catching the train to Agra, once the capital of the Moghul Empire. Littered with some of the country’s most opulent and spectacular buildings, Agra provides a perfect setting for some fascinating sightseeing and the rest of the day has been left free to enjoy it at your own pace. One alternative is to take an optional tour of the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Founded in 1569 and, for a brief time the capital of the Moghuls under Akbar the Great, the city was deserted just 16 years later following the emperor’s death. Today it remains a ghostly testament to the majesty and power of 16th century Moghul India and presents a perfectly preserved ex-ample of an imperial court.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we have the option of making an early start and taking a rickshaw ride to visit one of the most universally recognised buildings on earth. The Taj Mahal was built by the emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, and was once described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘…the embodiment of all things pure’. Built of marble and decorated with the most exquisite inlay work, it required the labours of 20,000 men and is estimated to have cost something in the region of 3 million rupees (at today’s prices around $70 million). You can watch the sunrise over this iconic masterpiece before breakfast, after which the rest of the day is free to enjoy as you wish. You might like to visit the city’s imposing fort, whose grandeur and importance has seen it inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another recommendation is the exquisite Itimad-ud-Daulah on the east bank of the river, a 17th century tomb built for the Emperor Jehangir’s chief minister, which mirrors the marble majesty of the more famous Taj Mahal (hence its rather apt title of ‘Baby Taj). There is also a possibility of returning to the Taj Mahal, to watch the sunset later this afternoon, before we catch the overnight train to Allahabad.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

We arrive in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh early this morning and, after a chance to freshen up in a nearby hotel, continue by road to Batoli Ghat on the shores of the sacred Ganges. Boarding our boats in the afternoon, we then begin our 2-day journey to Varanasi, drifting downstream in traditional crafts towards the historic walls of Chunar Fort. Overlooking the waters of the Ganges, the fort is steeped in 5 centuries of Indian history, providing us with a fascinating place to stop and explore, before we continue on to our simple overnight camp on the sandy beaches that line the banks of the river. 2-man tents, foam mat-tresses and blankets are provided – we recommend that you bring your own sleeping sheet or lightweight sleeping bag.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Dinner

We set sail again this morning, passing through a rural landscape of timeless villages and ageless landscapes towards the holy city of Varanasi. We hope to stop at the school in Sherpa village, before ending our journey at the Asi Ghat in Varanasi, from where we transfer to our hotel by taxi.One of the oldest Hindu pilgrimage centres in India, Varanasi is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, its age making it a contemporary with ancient Thebes and Babylon. Lying on the banks of the scared River Ganges, it is steeped in the lore and traditions of Hinduism, and since its inception as one of the principal centres of Shiva worship some 1200 years ago, it has attracted devotees from across the world to its myriad of temples and ghats. Believed by many to be the place where the material and spiritual worlds cross, countless thousands come here to cleanse themselves along the banks of the Ganges and partake in the rituals of Aarti. This evening there should be an opportunity to attend an optional classical music performance.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

It is possible this morning to take an optional dawn boat ride along the Ganges, when the city is bathed in the glow of the early morning and the pilgrims can be seen performing the puja ceremony to the newly awaking sun. For those that it’s easy to make a trip to the nearby site of Sarnath by taxi one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, where the Buddha preached his first sermon following his attainment of enlightenment. This remarkable site is home to the Dharmarajka Stupa and the Dhamekh Stupa, the spot where Buddha first espoused the teachings that were to form the very principles of the Buddhist faith. The entire area constitutes the most expansive collection of Buddhist temples and monasteries on earth and represents one of the four holiest Buddhist sites in the world. Late afternoon in Varanasi provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy an evening sunset boat ride along the sacred Ganges, hopefully catching sight of the local priests performing the revered Aarti ceremonies. Varanasi can boast some 80 or so riverfront ghats, including a number of ‘burning ghats’ where public cremations take place along the waters edge. Please be aware that photographing the cremation ceremonies is not really acceptable.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is left free - you may like to take the time to explore the old city and the river-front by taxi, bicycle and rickshaw, or perhaps immerse yourself into the eclectic mayhem of the city’s narrow streets and alleyways, a truly unforgettable experience that provides an incredible insight into traditional Indian life. Later this afternoon we then board an over-night train to Kolkata

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

Once the capital of British India, Kolkata (Calcutta) has had a turbulent past. It was central to the struggle for Indian independence and thousands of Bengali refugees came here at the start of the 1900’s. It is a city of striking contrasts and can be overwhelming initially, but the unusual sights, pungent smells and the chaotic sounds of the country’s second largest city are an experience unique to India. Arriving early morning, the rest of the day is free to explore. You could visit St John’s Church and the many historic Raj buildings around Dalhousie Square, or take in the Jain and Kali temples and the magnificent marble dome of the Victoria memorial, where the grandeur of European and Mughal influences come together in a blaze of white marble. There is also the flower market and clay modeller’s village of Kumartuli, where the potters spend all year creating a wealth of images and idols for the annual festivals.

Overnight Simple Hotel

Taking the morning flight to Chennai, we then transfer to Mamallapuram on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Mamallapuram, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, was the chief harbour of the Pallavas King-dom some 1200 years ago and a number of superb examples of its masterful carvings still exist in the so-called pagodas (actually ‘rathas’). This morning there’s the option to take a tour with your tour leader to view some of the areas most celebrated structures, including the 7th century Shore Temple - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and Ajuna’s Penance, the world’s largest bas-relief and one of the most impressive friezes in India. Although both have suffered at the hands of cen-turies of natural erosion, a remarkable amount of detail still remains amongst the carvings. We will also explore the fascinating reliefs of the Mandapa Cave temples and the Five Rathas, 7th century monolithic temples that were sculptured out of the very rock that surrounds them. The rest of the day is then free to enjoy some of the many attractions of the area, perhaps relaxing on the beach, or exploring by foot or bicycle the town and its environs.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Another day in Mamallapuram offers the opportunity for some more personal exploration, with the chance to visit the either the nearby sights of Pondicherry or perhaps the Hope Foundation School at Pudipattinam. Pondicherry offers a charming mix of French colonial and Tamil heritage, whilst the school at Pudipattinam has been supported by Explore since the 2004 tsunami and is an inspiration to all who visit. Following dinner this evening we transfer to the railway station to catch the overnight train to Madurai and the cultural heartland of the Tamil and Dravidian cultures.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

Arriving very early this morning, the rest of the day is free for optional sightseeing. Some of the options available include the stunning Tirumalai Nayaka Palace and the 16th cen-tury Meenakshi Temple, whose imposing gopurams (monumental gates) and dominating towers rise above the chaotic exuberance of the seemingly endless throngs of pilgrims. Another possibility is a visit to the exquisite Hindu Temple of Brahadeswara, a World Heritage site that encompasses some 400 years of the Chola Empire and includes within its main shrine the largest Lingham (the sacred Shiva fertility symbol) in India today. You may of course just wish to wander Madurai’s vibrant streets, soaking up the colour and noise of its many bazaars and perhaps searching for a bargain or two amongst its myriad of craft and carpet shops. This evening we will visit the Meenakshi Temple to witness the ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’, where a festive procession of priests and musicians accom-pany a statue of the Lord Shiva, as he is carried to the chamber of his wife Parvati on a silver chariot.

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Quilon lies in India’s beautiful southwest, amongst the lush landscapes and hidden channels of Kerala and this morning a private bus takes us across the Cardamom Hills, towards the glittering waters of the Arabian Sea. The journey will take us a good part of the day, covering some 260 kms and crossing the cool foothills of the Western Ghats, through an ever-changing landscape of plantations and verdant greenery. Quilon itself lies along the shores of Ashtamudi Lake and has long been a major trading centre in this region. Indeed, this was one of the earliest centres of Christian activity in the region and provides us with our gateway into the staggering natural beauty of India’s Arabian coast.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we will cruise through the Backwaters by public motor boat from Quilon to Allepey, a journey time of some 6 hours and the perfect way to observe the colourful comings and goings on the waterways. Boats are the villagers’ lifeline, acting as taxis, mail delivery, school buses and even cargo vessels. You may see great pyramids of co-conuts or even the odd buffalo being carried along in this time honoured fashion! Along the narrow channels the industrious villagers survive on narrow spits of land, keeping cows, pigs, chickens and cultivating vegetable gardens. Even the shells from the fresh water mussels are burnt to make building lime, and coir is used for just about everything. This evening we stay in a traditional homestay, a fantastic opportunity to learn more about life in the Backwaters. In the late afternoon our hosts can organize a trip by traditional canoe.

Overnight Simple Homestay Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Continuing north today, we head for the bustling port of Kochi (Cochin) by private bus. With a beautiful natural harbour that earned it the title of Queen of the Arabian Sea, Ko-chi, as you might expect, was founded on trade, originally with the arrival of Jewish and Arab spice traders in the first century AD. Its prosperity and importance increased even more with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, to be closely followed by the Dutch and the English, an eclectic heritage that helped produce a fascinating mix of styles and influences. This afternoon we will enjoy a short orientation tour around Fort Kochi on foot. You can find the oldest church and the oldest synagogue in India amongst its winding streets. We will take in the architectural charm of the Church of St Francis, where Vasco do Gama was buried for a while, as well as the port’s famous cantilevered Chinese fishing nets.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today has been left free to explore at your leisure. Fort Kochi is the oldest European settlement in India (1500), with a mix of English, Dutch and Portuguese architecture, making it a fascinating city to wander and discover either on foot or by auto-rickshaw . The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, but extensive renovations by the Dutch some hundred years later earned it the name ‘The Dutch Palace' and today it houses some of the best murals in India, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other great legends. There is the option of taking a ferry across to nearby Ernakulam, or perhaps visiting the sumptuous grandeur of the Tripunithura Hill Palace, the impres-sive former residence of the Maharajas of Kochi. Kochi is also home to the famous Kathakali dance, thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala, por-traying as it does events from the great Indian epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Its origins may have come from traditional temple rituals and from an art form known as Koodiyattam. It is the face make up which makes this dancing so unique and dancers can take up to three hours painting their faces – the features are heavily emphasised as it is the facial expressions and coordinated eye movements which are important in the dance. This evening there may be an opportunity to view one of these remarkable performances for ourselves (optional).

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A morning train to Coimbatore takes us back across the Western Ghats, towards the old hill stations of the British Raj. On arrival we will transfer by road the short distance to Metupalayam, on the banks of the Bhavani River in the foothills of the Nilgiri Mountains.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Metupalayam is the rail junction for the Nilgiri broad gauge railway and the remarkable ‘Toy Train’ to the historic hill station of Ooty, the only rack and pinion railway in Asia. Departing early this morning we head into the hills, travelling via the town of Coonoor and covering the 46 km journey in a little over 4 hours. Pulled by steam and crossing forested hills and girder bridges, the blue and cream carriages hark back to a golden age of engineering, when seemingly no hurdle could halt the ever-expanding British Empire. The railway itself can boast an interesting array of statistics, including a gradient of 1 in 12, no fewer than 208 curves and an impressive 13 tunnels. Given the terrain over which it has to negotiate it is also probably the slowest train in the country, averaging just 10.5km an hour and getting us into Ooty around lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore something of Ooty’s natural and colonial charms at your leisure.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Departing Ooty today we take a public bus north, to the city of Mysore, famed for its silk, its sandalwood and its Dasara festivities. The so called ‘City of Palaces’, it was, until the middle years of the last century, the heart of the regal state of Mysore. Today it is renowned as the cultural capital of Karnataka. Depending upon our departure time from Ooty, there may be time later this afternoon for some exploration of the city before dinner.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today there’s a chance to visit some of the cities cultural highlights, including the sumptuous grandeur of the Maharajah’s Palace. Originally built in the 14th century, the palace has undergone two subsequent rebuildings (the most recent being in 1912 when the palace was redesigned by the English architect Henry Irwin). Today it is an opulent mix of Hindu and British architecture, filled with stained glass, mirrored halls and a fascinating mix of the elegant and the gaudy.  The Chamundi Hills that overlook the city are home to the towering Sri Chamundeswari Temple and the giant representation of Shiva’s sacred bull, Nandi, which was carved from a single piece of rock in the 17th century and is one of the largest in the country. Later today we depart the city and head by local bus to Bangalore, where we will before board the overnight train to Hospet, our gateway onto the fabulous World Heritage sites of Hampi.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

Arriving in Hospet early this morning we continue on to Hampi by taxi. The flourishing capital of the Vijayanagar Kings between the 14th to 16th centuries, Hampi was once the powerbase of one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history. The sudden destruction of the city, following the Battle of Taikota in 1565, saw it abandoned by its people, leaving behind a ruined city that, even today, still conjures up something of the spirit of its long departed occupants. This afternoon you can choose to explore something of the ruins, or perhaps just enjoy a stroll through the wonderful countryside that surrounds these ethereal structures.

Overnight Simple Hotel

At its peak, Hampi was reputedly the size of Rome, with nearly half a million people occupying its city streets. Today has been left free to explore its numerous temples and monuments, one of the most remarkable examples of South Indian Dravidian architecture anywhere in India. There are the stunning carvings that adorn the temples of Virupaksha and Vittala, the sculptured pillars of the Ramachandra Swami Shrine and the wonderful two-storied Lotus Pavilion, all providing rich testament to one of the most powerful Hindu dynasties that ever existed.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We catch another train this morning, crossing over the Western Ghats to Margaon in Goa, the one time Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea. Under Alfonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese landed here in the 16th century, capturing the original Arab trade settlement and building a city festooned with gardens and fountains, monasteries and churches, most of them sadly now gone. Goa became a rich source of trade, bringing east and west together to trade pearls and rubies, exotic spices and Chinese porcelain. This eclectic mix of cultural influences has had a marked effect on the region, with Catholicism still firmly entrenched and the Portuguese custom of afternoon siestas still widely practised in the draining heat of the afternoon. Food too plays a big part in Goa’s heritage, with pork vindaloo being a particularly popular dish and the locally brewed feni - a spinetingling spirit made from coconut or cashews - providing a favoured tipple.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A free day today, you may choose to tour a spice plantation or perhaps pay a visit to Panaji, Goa's easy going capital; a friendly, sleepy town of narrow winding streets and whitewashed shuttered houses. The Malabar beaches here are very long and very white against the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea and close to the capital you can find the superb beaches of Gaspar Dias and Dona Paula. Please be aware though of the strong undercurrents that can make some of these offshore waters dangerous. Other options include dolphin watching boat trips, or exploring the beautiful Goan countryside by bicycle.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our tour ends this morning after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast