15Days Culinary Tour of India

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the hotel.

Late morning, disembark at Alleppey jetty, also known as “Venice of the East” for its narrow canals and backwaters. Drive to Kochi airport to connect your flight to for onward destination.

Drive this morning to pier to board a Houseboat. A houseboat cruise is the best way to explore the beauty of the backwaters; sit back and relax while the boat cruises through the narrow serene backwater canals that take you through nearby villages. Cruise on the backwater canals in a personal, luxurious kettuvalam (houseboat), watching the paddy fields painted rich greens, rice barges and village life along the slim canals of Kerala.Enjoy your evening on the sundeck away from polluted cities and maddening crowd. The only disturbance will be the twinkle of a shining star or the leap of a fish near you.

Morning plantation tour in nearby garden with free afternoon. Evening boat trip in National Park to view herds of elephants, bison and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just before sunrise and sunset

Morning drive to Periyar via Philipkutty. Take motorboat cruise along backwaters of Kerala to a unique family run farmhouse. Get a unique opportunity to interact with the local family, enjoy a home cooked meal, about traditional South Indian Kerala cuisine and enjoy a tour of the family farm. Cruise back to jetty and drive to Periyar.

Take a monring tour of Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala, with its wealth of historical associations and its magnificent setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas. Of special mention is the older parts of the Fort Cochin area. This part of the city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English country life grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. The 16^th century Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is a fascinating fort with elegant buildings and interesting collections from the Royal traditions of the region. The unique feature of Cochin is the unexpected and isolated Jewish community, whose origins date back to AD 52. They are self-contained in Jew Town and have their own Synagogue. Afternoon is at leisure

Evening visit to a local family for home cooked dinner. Learn the culinary art of south Indian Cuisine all the way from preparation to serving eating food off on banana leaves.

Flight from Udaipur to Kochi via Mumbai. In the evening, a special treat awaits us this evening as we proceed to witness the strength and vigour of Kathakali dance drama, as it enacts episodes from great Indian epics. The extremely stylized gestures, the elaborate make-up, the masks and the splendid costumes of these all-male dancers, recreate an incomparable sense of pageantry.

Proceed on a city tour of Udaipur visiting city Palace, Jagdish Mandir and Sahelion ki Bari. A fusion of Medieval European and Chinese architecture City Palace. This marble monument is situated on the eastern banks of Lake Pichola. Numerous balconies, towers and cupolas of the palace provide a marvelous view of the lake and the city below. Jagdish temple built in 1651, houses an image of Lord Vishnu in black stone, along with a brass image of Garuda, his carrier. Covering the exterior and the plinth are base relief of alligators, elephants, horsemen and celestial musicians rising in rows. It is the largest temple in Udaipur. Also visit Sahelion ki Bari, the garden of maidens was built by Maharana Sangram Singh in the mid-18th century. Afternoon at leisure or for an optional boat ride on Lake Pichola.

Afternoon cooking demonstration by the owners of Devra followed by Dinner.

Morning drive to Udaipur and check into hotel. Afternoon free to explore at your own leisure

Morning excursion of Amber fort,  a honey-coloured fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills. Enjoy a jeep ride along the fortress ramparts. The sombre exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments which open on to striking views of the gorge. Walk into the Sheesh Mahal and admire the amazing interior décor thought of over 200 years ago. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art panels of alabaster with fine inlay work.

Afternoon city tour of Jaipur, driving past Hawa Mahal, an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies. Jai Singh’s Observatory built in the 17^th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. This is an architectural feat. Visit the City Palace now a museum exhibiting fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armoury.

Morning driver to Jaipur and in the afternoon, visit the colourful bazaars on your own. In the evening you will be taken to an ancestral home of a local Jaipuri family, where generations have lived together in a joint family system for as long as the family history dates back. Learn about their history and heritage, view the traditional arts and antique furniture and learn to cook a typical Rajasthani meal and enjoy it after.

Visit the City Palace of Karauli and enjoy a stroll through the local village. Visit an organic farm, local charity school and handicrafts shop where you can interact with farmers, school children and handicraft workers. A number of optional tours available on request. Tonight enjoy a short cooking demonstration and dine with the descendants of Royal family of Karauli, learning about their lifestyle and the glorious history of their region.

Morning drive to Karauli visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. On arrival check in at your hotel, where you will be personal guests to Karauli’s royal family – you get the opportunity to interact with members of the family and discover their history, heritage and rich culture.

Transfer this morning to Agra (205kms; 5 hours).Afternoon proceed for a Agra city visiting the wonder, Taj Mahal, the most extravagant monument ever built for love. Stroll down the ornamental gardens laid out along the classical Mughal charbagh lines. A short drive away is the Agra Fort where Shah Jehan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb.

In the evening, learn about Indian culture and lifestyle with dinner at an Indian home. Step inside an Indian kitchen and learn secret recipes and handy tips.

Cross the city into the walled gates of Old Delhi, visiting Jama Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk. Then we drive past the Red Fort (1639-1648) built by Shahjehan, the builder of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Later visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to Father of the Indian Nation – Mahatma Gandhi.

In the afternoon, proceed on a tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutub Minar. Drive through the Embassy area, Connaught Place, the heart and main shopping district of the capital. Continue to Humayun’s tomb, also known as the forerunner to the Taj Mahal.

Continue this evening to explore the famous street food of Delhi and taste some popular delights like Aloo Tikki, Samosa & jalebi along with traditional Indian chai. This will be followed by lip-smacking array of succulent Kebabs, Korma, butter chicken and luscious rice ending with a dessert of kulfi.