Grand Tour of India

Our Grand Tour of India combines the best that India has to offer by taking you from the deserts of Rajasthan in the north down to the backwaters of Kerala in the south. Encompassing the economic heart of the country, Mumbai, to the historic caves at Ajanta and Ellora, this tour will leave the visitor with a strong sense of the depth and breadth of the history, culture and geography of this diverse country.

TOUR ITINERARY

Days 1-2: New Zealand to Delhi

Begin our Wendy Wu Tours group holiday to India. Travel to Delhi with Singapore Airlines. Upon arrival we will be welcomed by our National Escort. The following morning drive past the Red Fort and undertake a walking tour of ‘Chandani Chowk’ to Jamma Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Drive past the President’s Palace and the Parliament House before a photo stop at India Gate.

Day 3: Delhi to Varanasi

This morning visit Gandhi Smriti Gandi’s last residence and the Qutab Minar complex. This afternoon fly to Varanasi, the oldest living city in India and the religious capital of Hinduism.

Day 4: Varanasi

Visit the Buddhist sites at Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before taking a rickshaw ride to the Ghats of the River Ganges to witness the Pooja ceremony of Ganga Aarti.

Days 5-6: Varanasi to Khajuraho

Take an early boat ride on the river followed by a tour of Varanasi city before returning to the hotel for breakfast. This afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to Khajuraho. This evening enjoy a cultural dancing show. Tomorrow we visit the Western Group of Khajuraho temples.

Days 7-8: Khajuraho to Agra

Travel overland through the countryside stopping for lunch in Orchha. Later we drive to Jhansi where we board the Shatabdi Express train, arriving in Agra this evening. The following morning rise early and take a horse drawn carriage ‘tonga’ to view the Taj Mahal in all its glory at sunrise. After breakfast visit a marble inlay workshop and Agra Fort.

Agra to Jaipur Days 9-10 via Bharatpur or Ranthambore

Days 9-10: September to December
Agra to Bharatpur to Jaipur

Depart Agra and drive to Keoladeo National Park stopping at Fatehpur Sikri en route. This evening visit the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The following morning we continue our drive to Jaipur, upon arrival visit the Jaipur City Palace and the Jantar Mantar (Observatory).

Days 9-10: January to May
Agra to Ranthambore National Park to Jaipur

Departing Agra, continue to Bharatpur and board our train to Ranthambore National Park, one of the prime examples of Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in Rajasthan. This afternoon enjoy game viewing by canter. The following day enjoy morning game viewing before continuing by road to Jaipur. Visit the Jaipur City Palace and the Jantar Mantar (Observatory).

Day 11: Jaipur

Start the day with a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) before continuing to the palace and fortress at Amer. Enjoy a shopping experience at the ‘Choti Choper’ local shops inside the walled city. This evening enjoy a traditional dancing show and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 12: Jaipur to Alsisar

Drive to Alsisar. Alsisar provides the visitor a non-commercialised picture of village life in rural Rajasthan, with beautiful frescoes and havelis it is often referred to as an open air art gallery. Stay in a restored heritage haveli.

Day 13: Alsisar to Bikaner

Drive to Bikaner founded in 1488. Upon arrival explore the town dominated by Junagahr Fort.

Days 14-15: Bikaner to Jaisalmer

Drive to Jaisalmer, dubbed as the ‘Golden City’. Take an evening visit to Sunset Point. The following day see the fort built by Rawal Jaisal atop the 80m high Trikuta Hill. Within the fort are beautifully carved Jain temples and the Badal Vilas Palace. This afternoon visit the Sam Dunes and take a camel ride on the sand dunes.

Days 16-17: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

Drive to Jodhpur. This afternoon visit Meherangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada memorial, the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum and explore the local market with a walking tour. The following morning enjoy a jeep safari to Rohetgarh to visit a local Bishnoi Village.

Day 18: Jodhpur to Udaipur

Drive to Udaipur via Ranakpur, home to the largest Jain temple complex in India. The remainder of the day is at leisure before our afternoon cruise on Lake Pichola.

Day 19: Udaipur

Visit the Folk Museum and Mewar Art Gallery. After lunch visit the City Palace and the local shops. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola.

Day 20: Udaipur to Aurangabad

Enjoy the morning at leisure. After lunch visit the Sahelion Ki Bari Gardens (the Garden for the Maids of Honour) before flying to Aurangabad.

Day 21: Aurangabad - Ajanta

Today visit the World Heritage listed Buddhist caves of Ajanta dating from 200 BC to 650 AD. The thirty rock-hewn caves are adorned with sculptures and frescoes portraying the religious and secular life through eight centuries.

Day 22: Aurangabad to Mumbai

Morning excursion to the caves of Ellora, another World Heritage site. The caves, dating from the 4th to 5th Century AD, are carved into a basaltic hill 30km from Aurangabad. After an Indian Tandoor BBQ for lunch, fly to Mumbai.

Days 23-24: Mumbai to Kochi

Tour the city of Mumbai today, drive past the Gateway of India, the Afghan Church and along Marine Drive. Also visit the Hanging Gardens, Chowpatty, Kamala Nehru Park and Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi stayed. Stop at the ‘Dhobi Ghat’, where Mumbai’s ‘dirties’ are scrubbed, bashed, dyed and hung out to dry and visit the colourful Crawford Market and Flora Fountain. Fly to Kochi this evening. Tomorrow visit the Jewish Quarter of Fort Cochin, see the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets and visit St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Cathedral. Later in the evening we will enjoy a Kathakali Dance Show.

Day 25: Kochi to Nedumudy/ Houseboat

After visiting the Jewish Synagogue leave Kochi and drive to Nedumudy near Kumarakom to board our houseboat and explore the village life around the backwaters of Kerala. Popularly known as ‘kettuvallam’ the houseboats are converted from a traditional rice barge. Overnight on the houseboat.

Days 26-27: Alleppey to Kovalam

Disembark this morning and drive to Kovalam. Relax on the beach this afternoon. Sightseeing around Trivandrum tomorrow. Visit the Sri Padmanbhaswamy Temple, the Zoological gardens and Museums where we visit the Napier Museum and the Chitralayan art gallery. Also visit the Observatory, the Kanakakannu Palace and Sree Moolamthirunal Shastri Purthi Memorial. After dinner, transfer to the airport to board our flight home.

Day 28: Arrive New Zealand

Arrive home in Australia.

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Images from Grand Tour of India