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Popularly known as the Manchester of the East, Ahmedabad boasts of the largest denim production in the world. Many of Ahmedabad’s buildings bear the signatures of world-renowned architects like Le Corbusier, Louis Khan , Doshi and Correa. It is from here that Mahatma Gandhi launched his famous Dandi March, as a protest against the Salt Tax and gave human race the non-violent way of fighting oppression. Set upon the Sabarmati riverside the city is filled with a delightful range of tourist attractions. Ahmedabad is split into the old quarter and new urban spaces and offers visitors a variety of  enriching holiday experiences.

Bhavnagar lies in the southeast corner of the peninsular region of Gujarat known as Kathiawad or Saurashtra. Once the capital of a princely state, Bhavnagar is home to several lakes and temples. For the tourists, Bhavnagar serves as a convenient base to visit the Jain temples of Palitana on the Shatrunjaya hills and the Velvadar Sanctuary, the home of the famous Indian Black buck. Bhavnagar was found in 1743 A.D. by Bhavsinhji Gohil, near the small village of Vadva. It was once a flourishing port but today the only activity related to the port is at Alang and Ghogha. Alang is well known for the largest ship breaking yard in Asia.

Junagadh also known as ‘Sorath’ is an ancient fortified city, situated at the foot of the Girnar Hills. Junagadh literally translated means the “old fort”. The fort which circles the medieval town is popular for its Buddhist caves and 2 step wells known as “Adi Kadi ni vaav” and “Navghan kuvo”. The journey to the top of Girnar Hills is considered holy by the Jains and Hindus. ‘Girnar’ has 5 major peaks and 9999 steps to reach the top. The history of Mount Girnar dates back to the awesome empire of Ashoka, one of India’s greatest emperors. Ashoka inscribed 14 edicts on a huge boulder during his journey to the Mt. Girnar Peak.

Sprawling in an area of 1424 sq. km., the wildlife sanctuary of Sasangir is home to the endangered Asiatic Lion. The dry and deciduous forest has a rich ecosystem endowed with flora and fauna. Thirty species of mammals, twenty species of reptiles, several species of insects and birds are found here. Gir forest is the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. A safari in this forest can be one of the rare and delightful moments of life, as one can spot the Lion in all its majesty.

Located in the Saurashtran peninsula by the Arabian Sea, Dwarka is mentioned as the Golden city in ancient Hindu texts like the Gita and the Puranas. Steeped in legends associated with Lord Krishna, Dwarka is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. The Dwarkadhish temple along the Ghats is the most famous landmark in the city. The five-storeyed temple stands on 60 pillars and its ‘Sikhar’ rises to 170 feet. The other temples in Dwarka are the Trikamji temple, Kalyanrai temple, the Patrani temple, Durvas temple, etc. It is believed that Dwarka was submerged into the sea six times and the modern day Dwarka is the seventh one.

A large city of Saurashtra, Rajkot was an important city of the British Raj and a major princely state capital. The city has a number of impressive colonial buildings and educational institutions. It is famous for its Watson museum and association with Mahatma Gandhi who spent much of his childhood here. The city is also well known for its silver jewellery, woolen and cotton textiles, silk embroidery and bandhnis (tie & dye work).

Bhuj is the administrative city of Kutch. The city has a unique heritage and culture with its small, meandering streets, palaces and temples. It has many villages around it that are famous for their traditional handicrafts and embroidery. Geographically, Bhuj has low hills overlooking the city and is known for its palaces built in the traditional Kutchi architectural styles. Among them, the Aina Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors is the most famous and one of its main highlights. The palace is surrounded by a small, fortified courtyard built in the 18th century located in the old part of the city. Prag Mahal, the museum within it, was built in the latter half of the 19th century.

Transfer to the Ahmedabad and proceed to onward destination.

Bangalore has been put on the international map by the immensely successful software industry. Bangalore is proud of its strongest traditions, the clamor of commerce, the serenity of vast green park lands, temples, quiet back lanes, bustling bazaars and dazzling shopping arcades all woven together in a mystic bond. The city offers plenty for sight-seeing like the ISKCON temple (Krishna temple), Lalbagh Gardens (Botanical Park), Vidhana Soudha (State Legislature and Secretariat Building), Bull Temple, Government Museum (acclaimed as one of the oldest museum in India), etc.

Former capital of the princely state, Mysore is Karnataka’s second largest city. It is the city of royal Palaces, sandalwood and silk. The city offers many fascinating markets, the Maharaja’s Palace and the Jaganmohan Palace (with an excellent painting section) and good museums. It might be a nice option to spend a morning or afternoon climbing up Chamundi Hill. Famous rock cuttings and temples along the way make this climb even worth more the effort. Mysore also boasts of one the oldest and most popular zoos in India.

Hassan is located in the heart of Malnad and is a suitable base for those who want to visit the archaeological and religious sites of Belur, Halebid and Shravanabelgola, all situated in close vicinity. The Hoysala rule between 11th to 13th centuries has left a profound impact on the architectural and cultural legacy of the region and it was during this time that most of the legendary and renowned temples of Belur and Halebid were constructed. Its proximity to Sravanabelagola, a Jain pilgrimage centre, Hassan has been deeply influenced by Jainism and Jain philosophy and mythology can readily be seen in the sculptures, paintings and literary works of the region.

Hospet, a small town in Northern Karnataka, was once the seat of the powerful Vijayanagar Empire (1336 – 1646). Its importance lies in its close proximity to Hampi, formerly the  epitome of architectural wonders and a World Heritage Site. Hospet is the ideal base for tourists visiting Hampi and other nearby places. This glorious empire was ravaged by the Moghul invaders and the city was crushed and the entire kingdom was turned to ruins. The city today acts as repository of the prestigious remnants of the great Vijaynagar empire.

Badami is known for its cave temples – all carved out of sandstone hills. The Badami Cave temple comprises of four caves: the third cave is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is the largest and the most picturesque. The caves represent different religious sects. In front of the cave temple, there is a reservoir dotted with temples on its bank. Among them, two are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and the fourth is a Jain Temple. Badami Cave temples have some spectacular carving displaying the Hindu gods, Narashima and Hari Hara. The temples also have paintings on the ceiling and interesting bracket figures on the piers.

Goa, also known as ‘the pearl of the east’, is popular for its palm-fringed beaches, Gothic churches, age-old ruins, coconut groves, ferry rides and bubbly folk music. With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is the best beach holiday destination in India. Sun, sand and sea being the major attractions, Goa is a heaven for the ones who want relaxation. Goa is one of India’s special tourism destinations because of its fabulous weather, delightful people, good food, hill-top forts, little white-washed churches, soaring Portuguese-era cathedrals and a unique cultural legacy-small wonder.

On the last day, transfer to the airport and proceed to onward destination.

The fourth largest city in India, Chennai (formerly Madras) is the seat of culture and learning in South India. It is also India’s third largest industrial centre as well as the automobile capital of India.  It is home to one of the world’s longest beaches, the 12 km long Marina Beach.

Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, was an ancient port city built by the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th century. It was named after the cruel demon king Mahabali, who was slayed by Goddess Durga, and is an important World Heritage Site today.

Pondicherry was under the French rule for nearly 281 years. It still has the French flavor with its grand colonial mansions, beautiful boulevards, and placid promenades, French street signs, buildings and public places. Auroville is an International township located at 6 kms from Pondicherry. Auroville was conceived as a utopian paradise by the Mother, the spiritual successor of Sri Aurobindo. The idea was to build a futuristic city where people of goodwill would live together in peace and harmony. Auroville came into existence in 1968. The Matrimandir (Temple of the Mother) is situated at the centre of Auroville.

Thanjavur or Tanjore, is well-known throughout the world for being the home of the Brahadeeswara temple. The temple is enclosed in two courts, surmounted by a lofty tower and includes the exquisitely decorated shrine of Subrahmanya. Among the other historic buildings is the Vijayanagar fort, which contains a palace that was expanded by the Maratha king with an armoury, a Bell Tower and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, which contains over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper.

Situated in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu between Trichy and Rameshwaram, Karaikudi is the biggest city in Chettinad and is famous for its Ganesha temple, saris, distinctive cuisine and majestic mansions. Comprising about 72 villages of which many of them were once the homes of wealthy merchant families known as the Chettiars, today, it is an area of mostly deserted splendid mansions. The place derives its name from the famous plant “Karai” which abounds in the area.

Madurai boasts of a cultural heritage that goes back 2500 years and has functioned as an important commercial center as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city of the Pandya kings of South India. The Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple, which stands today as one of India’s cultural and architectural landmarks, was originally built by the early Pandya King Kulasekara. The ancient city of Madurai was supposed to be laid out in a lotus-like formation with the temple at the center and streets and main thoroughfares layered one after the other in a concentric fashion.

The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary located in Thekkady is a breathtakingly beautiful tiger reserve. It is nearly 1,800 m above sea level in the dense and evergreen deciduous forests of Kerala.

It is a landlocked home for its myriad fauna and flora as well as for the Mannans, Palians and Ooralie tribes who still continue their ancient methods of herding and bee keeping. The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary offers a fairly good chance of seeing the great Indian tiger and elephants in their natural habitat.

Munnar, landscaped with tea plantations, hills, lakes, forests and winding walks is a beautiful getaway. Located at an altitude of 1,829 m, it is home to South India’s highest peak called Anamudi, standing 2,695 m tall. Eravikulam National Park which is a habitat of the endangered Nilgiri Tahrs is one of the highlights of Munnar. Often referred to as the Kashmir of South India, Munnar offers tourists a mix of relaxation and adventure amidst beautiful landscapes.

Cochin (Kochi) has one of the finest natural harbours in India around which is based an ancient history of maritime trade. The cosmopolitan city is fascinating in many ways – the beautiful sea front with Chinese fishing nets and stalls selling seafood; the traditional Fort Kochi area with its mix of Dutch, British, Muslim and Portuguese architecture; and the older city of Ernakulam steeped in Malayali culture. Built around a saltwater lagoon, the bustling seaport city on the southwest coast of India is actually a cluster of islands and peninsulas.

The quaint town is a cluster of little islands, located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in the Kuttanad region of Kerala. Renowned for its natural beauty, Kumarakom is an ideal base to experience the famous Kerala backwaters, replete with meandering lagoons, coconut trees, endless rows of paddy fields interspersed by waterways and canals. Just 16 Km from Kottayam, Kumarakom is also home to a bird sanctuary.

Alleppey (Alapuzzha), coined ‘Venice of the East’ is a mosaic of mirror-still lagoons, picture book lakes, palm fringed canals and a long sandy beach – all brimming with glimpses of daily life in the Kerala country side.

The town is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Alleppey remains prominent on the tourist attractions of Kerela as one of the major centers for backwater cruises.

Varkala has also grown into a popular seaside resort over the years. It has a beautiful beach facing the Arabian Sea, but what is more unique are the steep cliffs rising from the beach with unique geological formations and natural springs, known as the Varkala Formation. The mineral rich waters are used for spa treatments and this small unexplored destination has been attracting many tourists, including foreigners, for a mix of beach relaxation and natural therapies.

Once a fishing village and a favourite hippy haunt, Kovalam has transformed itself into a top beach destination of Kerala. It is 16 Km from Trivandrum and draws thousands of tourists from all over India and the world. Kovalam is spread with coconut trees and is a big draw for beach lovers, as it offers a variety of water sports, great seafood and Ayurvedic massages and treatments.

Transfer to Trivandrum and proceed to onward destination.