India with Kerala - Itinerary

Day 1: Departure

Departure from Sweden. We will meet and get to know each other as well as our tour guide prior to boarding the plane that will be taking us to Delhi. Once there, we will be picked up and driven to our hotel for a good night sleep.

Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 2: Delhi

First, we will visit the old city in Delhi and its ancient walls surrounding the town. The city was built during the Mughal period and possesses a countless number of narrow alleys. We will drive past the Red Fort, which was the main palace during the Mogul Empire and almost an exact replica of the Red Fort in Agra. We will then visit the Raj Ghat, which is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India. We also see Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India and the old city's fiery and colorful market, Chandni Chowk . Our tour of New Delhi includes visits to such attractions as the great Mogul Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung’s burial place as well as Qutabminareten’s with it’s iron pillar. At 72 meters high, it is one of the most perfect towers in the Persian world and has managed to withstand the elements for over 1,500 years. We will continue onto the embassy area and its administrative buildings.

Overnight at the hotel in Delhi. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Delhi, Agra

We will drive to Agra and check into our hotel before it is time for a visit to the Taj Mahal mausoleum. Considered one of the world's most beautiful and perfect buildings, the white masterpiece was built by mogul Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved and favorite wife, Mumtaz. He was one of the greatest kings of the Mogul kingdom. Agra is the medieval city near the Taj Mahal that is known for its impressive red fort, Agrafortet. There sat the Shah Jehan, imprisoned the last few years of his life as he looked out over his wife's grave monument, quite the ironic fate.

Overnight at the hotel in Agra. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Agra, Jaipur

We will go on to Jaipur and, en route, visit the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri. It was built as the capital in 1569 and was abandoned only 14 years later, but no one really knows why. One theory is that it was due to water shortages. Everything is very well preserved and here we will see one of the most impressive and perfectly preserved buildings that is on the World Heritage List. The city is divided into religious and secular elements where there are a large number of unique sculptures, like the white marble mosque in the secular district. The mosque is a very sacred place for pilgrims that travel from near and far. We will gradually make our way to Jaipur where we check into our hotel. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City as it constructed from the local pink sandstone. When the Prince of Wales visited the city in 1876, the maharajah decided that all buildings would be painted pink which, according to tradition, is the color that symbolizes that one is welcome.

Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Jaipur

We will visit the Amber Fort in the city that was formerly the capital during when the Rajput class was in rule. One is easily impressed by the grandeur of this palace, today situated on a cliff 11 km north of Jaipur. We will ride up the mountain palace on beautifully painted elephants passing through the old main gate, just as the old maharajas and kings did. The architectural masterpiece that is the Amber Fort with its mirror-lined alcoves and splendid mosaics captivates today's visitors just as it attracted the past royal inhabitants.

In the afternoon, it's time for Jaipur and the Palace of Winds, Hawa Mahal, which is a five-story building made of pink sandstone and is, today, considered Jaipur's most beautiful structure. It was built in 1799 made with niches and windows by the hundreds so that veiled royal women could gaze at the life outside, away from the eyes of public. We continue with a tour of the City Palace in the heart of the city. In the center of the palace is a seven-story building called Chandra Palace, which offers a lovely view over the gardens as well as the city. Next stop is the astronomical observatory with its original instruments that still work today.

Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur. Breakfast included.

Day 6: Jaipur, Cochin

We will fly to Cochin via Mumbai where we will settle ourselves at the hotel. In the evening, expecting something special, we will see the strength and power of a Kathakali dance drama when the male dancers depict episodes from the great Indian nationalistic poetry. The extremely stylized gestures, the exquisite makeup and the fabulous costumes of the men provide us with an experience that is difficult to compare with anything else we have seen before.

Overnight at the hotel in Cochin. Breakfast included.

Day 7: Cochin

We will start with a tour of the coastal city of Cochin, which has many islands and narrow peninsulas just like a small archipelago. Cochin is a fascinating place of historical interest on the southern coast. The city has many traces of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism inhabitants. Of special interest are the older parts of the area around Cochinfortet. This district looks more or less like it did hundreds of years ago and recreates an unusual blend of medieval Portugal, Holland, and England that has been moved to the Malabar Coast. Here we will visit the 1500-century palace, Matancherry, also known as the Dutch Palace. It is a unique creation with elegant buildings and interesting collections from neighboring royalty. The city has a unique Jewish community, which dates back to 52 BC. The Jewish people live here independently with their own synagogue in an area that is referred to as Jew Town. It is the city’s center for the spice trade and there are plenty of small traders whom sit in the worn-out buildings full of fragrances.

Overnight at the hotel in Cochin. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Cochin, Kumarakom

We will go to Kumarakom in Kerala. There, we can partake in the life along Kerala's famous Backwaters, with its narrow canals, lagoons, lakes and waterways that are connected with each other. Not so long ago these water channels acted as the backbone of transportation in and around Kerala and Kumarakom is the ideal place to experience just this. Here, people have a very different lifestyle that is built around the water.

Overnight at the hotel in Kumarakom. Breakfast included.

Day 9: Kumarakom, Houseboat

We will board our houseboat for a wonderful experience in the narrow canals of Kerala's water system. The houseboat is constructed solely of natural materials and the wood type used is called Anjali. On board, we will have all the necessary amenities. For light, we will use lanterns. The food is traditional for the area and spiced with local specialties such as fish and shrimp. Cruising around on a boat through these remote villages and exploring the waterways from the deck of our houseboat along the calm waters is a wonderful experience. In addition, we cheer on the villagers that we pass along the way, see the craft villages and their piers with the so-called snake boats. We see fishing nets set for the day's catch and palm wine shops, paddy fields, and lots of little boats that travel back and forth. Through all this, we are able to reach beautiful and relatively undisturbed areas.

Overnight at the houseboat. All meals included.

Day 10: Houseboat, Kovalam

After breakfast, we will disembark at Alleppey and travel to Kovalam. There, we will check in at our hotel and have the day free for the beach, swimming, and sunbathing. Tourism is still relatively undeveloped and the beach is several kilometers long. You may meet with fishermen and can eat their catch in the small restaurants on the beach.

Overnight at the hotel in Kovalam. Breakfast included.

Day 11-12: Kovalam

These days will be devoted to sunbathing and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Overnight at the hotel in Kovalam. Breakfast included.

Day 13: Departure

We enjoy a final day of swimming and sunbathing before we take the evening flight for further transport back to Sweden.

Breakfast included.

Day 14

We land in Sweden.

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