PALMWAYS & WATERWAYS

» DAY 1. ARRIVE DELHI : Assistance on arrival and transfer to your five star hotel. Morning tour of New Delhi, the capital of India, the fastest growing large city in India, rapidly catching up with the colonial cities of Mumbai and Calcutta in size, and long since eclipsing them in political importance. Turbaned Sikhs, colourfully dressed Rajasthani and Gujarati women working as manual labour on building sites, Muslim shopkeepers along Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, Tibetans and Ladakhis in the street stalls along Janpath, and Kashmiris in the handicraft emporia around Connaught Place, all add to the cosmopolitan feel of the city. City tour to include Humayan's tomb, Baha temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate and Mughal gardens at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Post lunch tour of the historic city of Old Delhi to include the magnificent Red fort, the jama Masjid, India's largest mosque and Rajghat - memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Mughlai theme dinner in the evening with the Mughal durbar musicians in attendance at the chic as well as ethnic Hauz Khas village with the beautiful 14th century inspired Mughal architecture providing the perfect setting for the city's most authentic kebab and tandoori restaurant. Enchanting Gbizals and Thumris, a breathtaking view of the lake and the lush green surroundings form a complementing backdrop for the exceptional tandoori cuisine. Overnight Delhi.

» DAY 2. DELHI I COCHIN : Early morning flight to Cochin. Morning at leisure after a traditional welcome. Evening sunset cruise to view the Chinese fishing nets.Later relish the delicacies of South Indian cuisine in a South Indian theme dinner where a typical meal, like the one served in a traditional South Indian home, is laid out on banana leaves which are in turn placed on copper "thalis" (plates). The cuisine's of South India are distinctively different and varied from those of North India. Savour the delicacies of the coastal areas of Mangalore and Karwar and the famed Chettinad cuisine of the house of the Chettiars of Chennai. Chettinad cuisine is one of the rare non-vegetarian cuisines of South India. Overnight Cochin.

» DAY 3. COCHIN : Full day tour of Mattancherry palace, Jewish synagogue and a backwater cruise to Bolghatty palace. Relish the experience of a moonlight boat cruise where guests are ferried aboard a spacious, specially decorated boat for a delightful moonlight cruise on the backwaters of Cochin. South Indian culinary surprises are served and a thrilling fireworks display on an island off the backwaters of Cochin concludes a wonderful evening. Overnight Cochin.

» DAY 4. HOUSEBOATS : Cruise through the enchanting waterways of Kerala in a "Kettuvallam", acomplete houseboat,in silent and misty surroundings, watching the sun rising behind the tall green palms,hearing the rhythmic humming of thehelmsman and filling your heart with all the green around.This canal threads its way from Trivandrum to Kasaragod in central Kerala (from Quilon to Cochin ) that the waterways manifest their true magnificence,where you are forced to surrender to the charms of the lakes merging with the deep blue Arabian Sea,pleasant expanses of green fields and an unending line of coconut palms.Each houseboat with a capacity to accommodate at least 6 people at a time has all modern facilities like bedrooms ,bath,kitchen and a sit-out. Relish the delicacies of traditional Kerala cuisine like puttu, appam,vellayamppam, rice and different types of fish curries and chicken stews served on board in earthenware. Overnight Houseboats.

» DAY 6. KOVALAM : A beautiful town comprising of a series of sandy bays separated by rockypromontories,deserted except for the scattered fishing villages under the coconut palms and superb beaches.There are four main stretches of beach, each about 400m long, with a rocky promontory, on which stands your hotel, Charles Correa's award-winning Ashok Beach Resort dividing them into north and south sections. The hotel has its own small section of beach immediately to the north of the promontory, giving the most sheltered bathing and the clear water. Spend the day at leisure on the beach and evening relish the delicacies of fresh seafood bar- be- que with a bonfire along the stretch of the beach.

» DAY 7. KOVALAM I TRIVANDRUM: Transfer in time to connect your flight to international destination. » Options and Extensions 1) Extension to Bangaram island resort in Lakshwadeep for scuba diving, snorkeling and water sports. 2) Day return trip to Kanyakumari from Kovalam, India's southernmost tip. 3) Overnight stay at Kumarakom at the Coconut Lagoon.

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