Negombo
Situated on the coast north of the airport, Negombo, founded by the Moors, is now a predominately Catholic enclave. The architectural remnants of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial years make it an interesting place for a stroll. Attractions include decent beaches, colorful buildings, fisherfolk putting out to sea in outrigger sailboats and even a canal dug by the Dutch in the 18th century. The city itself can be seen on a day trip from Colombo, or a stop on the way to the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Be sure to sample some of the fresh catches.
Negombo is a fascinating area to visit during Christian holidays. Sri Lankan Christians pay homage to the saints with an enchanting blend of Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. Negombo, however, is crowded with package resort hotels—the beaches to the south are better and definitely less crowded. 30 mi/55 km north of Colombo.
Ella
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is a picturesque town in Sri Lanka known for its tea production. Enjoy the temperate climate, breathtaking views, historic buildings in the town centre, and of course, tea!
Kandy
The city lies in the Kandy Valley with its beautiful tropical plantations. The city is home to many attractively adorned temples and palaces including the Lankatilaka temple, which is decorated with delicate floral designs and paintings. In August, Kandy hosts an extravagant Buddhist festival consisting of food, cultural dancing, and richly decorated elephants.
Sigiriya
On top of a rock plateau overlooking dense jungle and a vast plain, 90 mi/145 km northeast of Colombo, is Sigiriya, the mysterious remains of the fifth-century fortress of King Kasyapa. When it was built, an impressive 5-acre/2-hectare fort sat astride the rock and a city nestled at its base, but now the city is gone and the fortress is in ruins. According to legend, King Kasyapa gained power after burying his father alive. He ruled for the next 18 years, until his half brother Mogallan defeated him in battle. As his soldiers retreated, Kasyapa remained on his elephant facing the opposing army. Then, with great drama, he pulled out a dagger and slit his throat.
The ruins of Sigiriya are unique among the ancient sites in Sri Lanka. Be sure to brave the rickety-looking spiral staircase to see the 19 frescoes of female nature spirits (Apsaras) painted beneath an overhang about 300 ft/90 m up the rock. The frescoes are very beautiful—their colors stunningly vibrant after 1,500 years. A wall covered with 1,000-year-old graffiti and poetry (left by visitors who recorded their impressions of the painted women) lies just above the frescoes. Near the top of the rock fortress are a pair of huge stone Lion's Paws (all that remains of a giant stone lion). See the ruins in the morning—it's much cooler, and people and domesticated elephants may be walking along the road. There's a small archaeological museum at the base of Sigiriya.
In nearby Dambulla you can visit a series of caves on a mountain ledge. They contain frescoes showing some of Buddha's epic struggles against evil. (Photographs are not allowed in Dambulla's caves).
Sigiriya and Dambulla are usually seen together as a day trip from Kandy. If you're traveling by car, you can see Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa on the same day. But it will be a long day—plan to overnight in Sigiriya or in one of the beautiful resorts around Kandalama Lake (near Dambulla).
Hikkaduwa
This popular resort offers pretty beaches, good waves and a wide range of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. The reefs just offshore attract divers and snorkelers, but the coral is beat-up and the glass-bottomed boats are too numerous for our taste. Hikkaduwa can feel too crowded and overbuilt at times (street hawkers and unofficial "tour guides" can be overbearing), so if you want to get away from it all, stay elsewhere. The small town of Ambalangoda, a short drive north of Hikkaduwa, does not have much beach, but it is an excellent place to shop for crafts. The town is principally known for its masks. There are also good batik-makers and a nationally recognized dance school in the city. Hikkaduwa is 55 mi/90 km south of Colombo.
Varkala
Kollam
Kollam, India, is usually seen by travelers as the starting point for a boat trip down tropical inland waterways to the town of Alappuzha. Located 760 mi/1,220 km south of Mumbai, Kollam is an ancient city with traces of Portuguese, Dutch and British influence. There's a nice government rest house available for overnight stays.
Founded by a Syrian merchant in the 9th century, Kollam was one of the most important trade centers during the 12th century. It was there that Christianity first gained a foothold in India.
Kollam sits in a unique location, with the Lacadive coast of Kerala to its west and a huge network of canals and backwaters to its east. Ashtamudi Lake is the perfect starting point for a day-long backwater cruise where you can see life as it exists on these fragile yet ancient ecosystems.
Another attraction is the Thangassery Lighthouse: Built in 1902, the lighthouse is 144 ft/44 m tall, and can be climbed for a nice view of the area. The beautiful old British Residency is another site worth visiting for its pretty architecture. Close to the lighthouse is the Portuguese cemetery, built in 1519, and the remains of the St Thomas Fort.
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Also known as Alappuzha, Alleppey is considered a network of waterways. There are over 1000 houseboats, canoes and toddy shops located within the city; because of this many consider Alleppey to be the “Venice of the East”. About 2 miles west of the chaotic city center you will find Alleppey Beach, a beach not known for swimming, but known for the daily picturesque sunset.
Kochi
Kochi has beautiful lagoons and lakes and offers travelers an extraordinary setting for a stay of a few nights.
Excursions
Kochi, Shore Excursion - 8 hours
Meet at the port of Kochi -KERALA
(Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
KOCHI: 8HRS
Disembark from the ship and meet your personal guide on the pier.
You will drive to the historic Fort Kochi area where you walk in the area known as “Jew Town”.
You will visit the Mattancherry Palace, which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. The palace is two storeys’s high and is built in the traditional Kerala style known as “nalukattu” (four buildings around a central courtyard). Made of wood and richly carved, the palace exhibits memorabilia from the Raja of Kochi’s collection, but it is best known for its outstanding murals painted on the walls. Fast fading, one can still see some of these excellent 16th century paintings illustrating episodes from the great Indian epic – The Ramayana.
Surrounding the Synagogue are a jumble of antique and spice shops, and souvenir shop and it is a fun area to wander at leisure.
You will have time to explore the Heritage Zone, which with its varied architectural styles highlights Cochin’s history of being occupied by various foreign rulers. In this area, which is protected, is St Francis’ Church, first established by the Portuguese in the 1500s. This is one of the earliest European churches in the country. The simple façade served as the prototype for future churches here. Vasco Da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his body was taken to Portugal 14 years later. You will also visit the Santa Cruz Cathedral which was built in the late 19th century and has impressive murals on its ceiling. The walking tour ends at the Chinese Fishing Nets, which were first erected between 1350 and 1450 indicating trading ties with China.
You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you drive to the Folklore Museum. This Museum has an exceptional collection of private artifacts from all over the South and interestingly has a theatre attached as an added attraction. The collection includes masks, beautifully carved old wooden doors, musical instruments, lamps and tribal jewelry. You will also have the opportunity to watch a private performance of the classical Kathakali dance.
Early evening you will return to the ship.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee,Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified) Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted seperately.
*Terms and conditions apply
Kochi, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will head to the historic town of Mattancherry. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. The palace is two stories high and is built in the traditional Kerala style of “nalukattu” (four buildings around a central courtyard). Made of richly-carved wood, there are beautiful murals on display here depicting scenes from the Hindu epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata and some of the Hindu legends. The Palace also houses Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal Palanquins, coronation robes of former Maharajas of Kochi as well as period furniture.
You will next visit the Jewish Synagogue. One of the oldest in India, it is set in the Jewish Quarter, commonly known as “Jew Town”. The area is famous for its aromatic spice market and its antique shops. The interior of the Synagogue is decorated with 18th century blue ceramic Cantonese tiles, hand painted and each one different!
You will end your tour at the Chinese Fishing Nets, which were first erected between 1350 and 1450 AD indicating trading ties with China.
You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to the port to board your ship.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee, Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified), Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted separately.
* Terms and conditions apply
HALF DAY EXPLORING OLD KOCHI
HALF DAY
EXPLORING OLD COCHIN
Leave from pier for a panoramic drive along Mahatma Gandhi Road ending with a stop at the local market, known as the Broadway. A walk through, this local market in the new town of Ernakulum, is an enriching experience. A surprise lurks at every corner and whether you like it or not, you are propelled forward in a sea of people, brightly coloured baubles and warm, comforting smells.
Photo stop at Shiva Temple.
St. George's Forane Church, locally known as Edapally Church is a Catholic pilgrimage church in Edapally Kochi, India. Asia's largest shrine to Saint George, about five million people visit it every year.
The church is thought to have been founded in 593 AD. It is regarded as one of the oldest churches in Kerala, after the seven churches founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century AD. The church was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Marth Mariam). In 1080, a new church was built adjacent to the old church. A nine-day festival is celebrated annually as part of the Feast of Saint George. The church, also a destination for non-Christians, attracts offerings of gold, chicken, and eggs.
Gaze at the ancient Chinese fishing nets that line the shores of Fort Cochin.
You’ll be fascinated by the Dhobi Khana, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Kochi is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Depart the pier for panoramic tour of Ernakulum |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 00h55 |
Photo Stop at Shiva Temple |
10 meters / Flat |
| 00h55 – 02h10 |
Drive through Marine drive and stop for a walk through the Broadway Market |
300 meters / Flat |
| 02h10 – 02h30 |
Depart for Edappally Church |
|
| 02h30 – 03h10 |
Visit Edappally Church |
50 meters / Flat / 02 steps |
| 03h10 – 04h20 |
Proceed to Chinese fishing net and visit |
|
| 04h20 – 05h30 |
Later drive to Drive to Dhobi Khana and visit. Back to port |
|
HALF DAY HERITAGE TRAIL - A WALK THROUGH KOCHI
HALF DAY
HERITAGE TRAIL - A WALK THROUGH COCHIN
The best way to discover a new place is on foot; explore the streets of historic Fort Cochin and learn more about this town that is brimming with tales of maritime traders, who made Cochin the first European township in India.
A brief stop will be made at the Chinese fishing nets & St. Francis Church one of the area’s famous landmarks. These nets are set up on bamboo poles and held horizontally by huge mechanisms, which lower them into the sea. This is a unique symbol of the centuries-old influence on this coastline.
Princess Street is one of the oldest streets in Fort Kochi. The bungalows built in the European style and the other buildings of colonial architecture lining both sides of the street make it pretty as a picture.
The buildings here, with bronze stucco walls and peeling plaster, house antique stores, cigar shops, provisional stores, curio shops, kiosks, cafes, restaurants, art galleries and so on. Some are being used as homestays for tourists.
For the best view of the street, head for the Loafer’s Corner, a popular meeting place at the confluence of Princess Street, Peter Celli Street and Bastion Street.
The plain, squat walls that surround the two-storey Mattancherry or “Dutch Palace”, do not offer a particularly appealing invitation, but you will be delighted once inside. Its wooden interior is decorated with a remarkable series of murals. In the royal bedroom alone are 45 paintings illustrating the Ramayana every inch of space covered with rich colour, and painstaking detail. There is also an interesting collection of Dutch maps of old Kochi, coronation robes belonging to the maharajas, royal palanquins, weapons and furniture.
Next. The Jew Town surrounding area called Jew Town is a fascinating mix of antique shops, warehouses, and spice auction rooms. Signs for N.X. Jacob’s tailor shop, and the offices of J.E. Cohen serve as reminders of a once thriving community now consisting of about seven families. You’ll have a chance to stroll here before returning to your ship.
Return back to pier
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Depart the pier to Fort Cochin |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 02h00 |
Visit Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church
|
695 meters / Flat/4 |
| 02h00 – 02h30 |
Walk through princess street and loafer’s corner |
300 meters / Uneven |
| 02h30 – 03h00 |
Drive to Mattancherry |
|
| 03h00 – 03h30 |
Visit Dutch Palace |
200 meter/20 steps |
| 03h30 – 04h00 |
Leisure time in Jew town |
|
| 04h00 – 04h30 |
Return back to pier |
50 meters / Flat |
Ahmedabad
Aslo known as Amdavad, Ahmedabad is the major city in Gujarat. This is a common stop for many travelers en route to Rajasthan or Mumbai. The city is divided by the old city, east side of the Sabarmati River; and the new city, west of the river. Many people come to Ahmedabad to see Sabarmati Ashram, Ghandhi’s former headquarter.
Pushkar
Pushkar is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan on the shores of Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is a sacred pilgrimage site for devout Hindus and is one of the oldest cities in India. The many temples are famous attractions when visting Pushkar, as well as the Pushkar Camel Fair every November.
Tordi Sagar
Goa
Goa is the smallest state of the republic of India. It lies on the country's west coast, about 250 miles south of Bombay. The state covers an area of 1,429 square miles. Long, sandy beaches, fringed with coconut palms, make Goa a tropical paradise for visitors. Other tourist attractions are the colonial buildings from the 1500's, built when Goa
was headquarters of Portugal's Asian empire. Today, Old Goa is half-hidden in jungle. Its population was severely affected by plague in the 1600's, and a new city was set up at Panaji, which contains the main government buildings. Margao is Goa's biggest commercial center. Mormugao, Goa's major port, has a fine harbor - one of the best on the west coast of India. The harbor is the focus of economic activity in Goa.
Excursions
Goa, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
Meet at the Port of Marmugao, Goa
(Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
HALF DAY TOUR: 4HRS
Disembark from the ship and meet your personal guide on the pier.
Today the tour takes you Old Goa and start with a visit to the Basilica Bom Jesus which houses the remains of St Francis Xavier. His tomb was the gift of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and was carved by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista. Around the silver casket are 32 plaques decorated with scenes from the saint’s life. Nearby on “Holy Hill” is the Convent of St Cajetan, dedicated to St Catherine, on whose day Goa was recaptured. Inside are catacombs with the embalmed bodies of Portuguese viceroys and archbishops. Along the way, you pass several other churches you may like to visit – Se Cathedral, the largest of the churches in Old Goa and the Chapel of our Lady of the Rosary built in 1526 and a synthesis of Iberian, Hindu and Moslem styles. At the Church and Convent of St Francis of Assisi is an interesting archeological Museum and Portrait Gallery. In Panaji you can visit the Mahalaxmi Temple and walk in Goa’s Latin quarters – Fontainhas
You will be dropped at the pier late in the afternoon.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide,Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee,Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified) Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted seperately
Goa: Highlights - 5 hours
Lush and lovely Goa was created as a place for relaxation where Sun worship is a cult form. Adventure seekers can go hunting for beaches and tiny villages. There are colorful local markets, trips to Spice farms and a countryside of Portuguese and Indian culture, with warm friendly people. In quiet and complete contrast to other ports and places on the Indian sub-continent, Goa offers a quaint reflection of its colonial Portuguese past well assimilated with its democratic Indian present.
We drive to visit `Old Goa’ and the Basilica of Bom Jesus famous throughout the Catholic world. Amongst other religious edifices still standing in Old Goa is the `Se Cathedral”, the largest church in Asia, but also the site of the “Golden Bell” which announced the death – knell of burning heretics during the inquisition.
Goa’s capital, Panaji (formerly Panjim) spread along the south bank of the wide Mandovi River, in a charming sprawl of red-roofed houses, sunny squares and gardens of bougainvillea and frangipani. The newly built Nehru Bridge spans the river giving easy access to the beaches along the ocean shore to the north.
Visit Panjim town which has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere especially along the leafy avenues of its old section, retaining its Portuguese style winding streets and old houses with red tiled roofs and overhanging balconies. The streets have taverns offering Goan cuisine and “Feni” (cashew nut liquor) and bakeries serving `Bebinca’, the delicious local cake. Many residents still speak Portuguese.
Overlooking `Largo de Igreja’ or Church Square is the Church of Immaculate Conception with its Baroque façade, probably the town’s most important landmark. In 1541 Portuguese sailors began visiting this church to offer thanksgiving prayers after their long and treacherous voyage from Lisbon.
Later, explore the market before driving back to the ship.
- Tour Duration: 5 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No
Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.
Goa, Shore Excursion - 6 hours
You will be met at the pier (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore some of the important sights of Goa.
Start your tour with a visit to the World Heritage-listed Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier. The remains are entombed in a silver casket, which is kept in a mausoleum carved by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista. Continue on to Se Cathedral, a magnificent 16th-century monument and the largest church in Goa. Finally, stop at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, built in the 17th century which houses an interesting archeological Museum and Portrait Gallery. Stop for lunch at a tropical spice plantation after which, you will have time to stroll around the grounds and explore the butterfly garden in the premises.
You will also visit the Shri Manguesh Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the 400-year-old Shri Manguesh Temple is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in Goa, and features a 7-story Deepa Stambha (decorative lamp tower) at the gates of the temple complex. You will then visit Shree Shantadurga Temple, located in the hills and noted for its statue of the Hindu goddess Durga.
You will then return to the port area.
Inclusions: Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, private guide, complimentary soft beverages and bottled water in the car, monument entrance and still camera fee, meet and assist at all airports and hotels, porterage at airports, all current applicable taxes.
Exclusions: Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, telephone calls etc, unless specified), tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), meals (unless specified) any insurance or Visa, any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
FULL DAY FLAVORS OF GOA
FULL DAY
FLAVORS OF GOA
Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.
Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Flavours
Depart the pier and head towards Old Goa which stands testimony not only to the reality of the Portuguese rule in the country, but also to the grandeur and wealth of the city during their reign.
Your first visit of the day will be to the St. Cajetan Church which was modelled on St. Peter’s in Rome and built of laterite blocks and lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as a belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches, which keep the statues of the apostles. Hidden beneath the church is a crypt where the embalmed bodies of Portuguese governors were kept in lead coffins before they were shipped back to Lisbon. Forgotten for a time, the last batch was removed only in 1992.
Continuing, the next stop will be at the Basilica of Bom Jesus which was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and is one of the most important churches in Goa. The embalmed body of St. Frances Xavier is enshrined here in a marble mausoleum, which is exposed to the public once every ten years. The last date this happened was in December 2014.
Your final visit will be to the Panjim ‘Fontainhas’ area where the walking tour will begin. The Fontainhas is the Latin Quarter built by the Portuguese and we will be able to view from the outside the church and the old villas. Later, drive through Panjim, the capital city passing through streets lined with old villas that are characteristic of Portuguese Goa.
Later proceed for Trpical Plantation for visit and lunch. Spices are an ever present part of Indian life - they are essential in flavoring the distinctive regional cuisines and if you keep your eyes open you will see their bright colors reflected in the ladies' saris, and decorative textiles everywhere.
To find out where they come from, pay a most enjoyable visit to a spice plantation. Take a guided walk through the trees see what you can identify, smell, taste, and learn about the myriad spices for which India is renowned. And what place could be more perfect for a meal? Enjoy lunch here where everything is fresh and fragrant. Don't worry, the simple, tasty food will be spiced for Western tastes, and the preparation of each will be explained. After lunch you will return to the port and your ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 - 01h30 |
Depart the pier for an Old Goa Churches |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 01h30 - 02h30 |
Arrive in Old Goa and visit Basilica of Bom Jesus Church & St. Cajetan Church |
700 meters / Flat / 04 steps |
| 02h30 - 03h00 |
Depart for Panjim Latin Quarters |
|
| 03h00 - 03h20 |
Visit around the Latin Quarters |
400 meters / Flat / 15 optional steps |
| 03h20 - 04h20 |
Drive to Tropical Plantation |
|
| 04h20 - 05h50 |
Visit and lunch at Plantation |
|
| 05h50 - 07h00 |
Return to pier |
|
|
HALF DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF GOA
HALF DAY
HIGHLIGHTS OF GOA
Proceed for St. Cajetan Church which was modelled on St. Peter’s in Rome and built of laterite blocks and lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as a belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches, which keep the statues of the apostles. Hidden beneath the church is a crypt where the embalmed bodies of Portuguese governors were kept in lead coffins before they were shipped back to Lisbon. Forgotten for a time, the last batch was removed only in 1992.
Continuing, the next stop will be at the Basilica of Bom Jesus which was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and is one of the most important churches in Goa. The embalmed body of St. Frances Xavier is enshrined here in a marble mausoleum, which is exposed to the public once every ten years. The last date this happened was in December 2014. Continue with a short walk to the Se, or St Catherine’s Cathedral, which was commissioned to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and fame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific." With its exterior Tuscan design it is still larger than any other church in Portugal and said to be the largest in Asia.
Next visit will be to the Panjim ‘Fontainhas’ area where the walking tour will begin. The Fontainhas is the Latin Quarter built by the Portuguese and we will be able to view from the outside the church and the old villas. Later, drive through Panjim, the capital city passing through streets lined with old villas that are characteristic of Portuguese Goa.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 01h00 |
Drive to Old Goa Churches |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 01h00 – 02h30 |
Visit Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral Church and St. Cajethan Church |
350 meters / Flat / 6 steps |
| 02h30 – 03h15 |
Proceed for Panjim City, visit Latin quarter |
450 meters / Flat steps |
| 03h15 – 04h15 |
Return to the pier |
|
Mumbai
About 300 years ago, the area of Bombay was nothing more than seven islands occupied by small fishing settlements. Today this bustling city offers a seemingly endless array of sights and cultural activities. Mumbai is the glamour of Bollywood cinema, cricket on the maidans on weekends, bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty and red double-decker buses. It is also the infamous cages of the red-light district, Asia's largest slums, communalist politics and powerful mafia dons. This pungent drama is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea. Mumbai has vital streetlife, India's best nightlife, and more bazaars than a visitor could ever explore.
Excursions
Mumbai: 9 hours
With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city, bustling with activity of incredible diversity and complexity, her color and elegance, her wealth corresponding with her historic struggle against poverty. Certain affluent areas give Bombay an air of mini–Manhattan!
8:30am - 9:30am:
Depart the pier for the famous Gateway of India en route to Banganga. This Indo-Saracenic archway was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, and is the city's most famous landmark.
We then proceed to Banganga via Art Deco Marine Drive also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay.
9:30am - 10:30am
Walk around Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
10:30am - 10:50am
Drive to Dhobi Ghat.
10:50 - 11:15
Visit the `Dhobi Ghat’, the city’s open-air laundry! where “Dhobis’ (washermen) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily. Clothes, linen, towels… are washed in small open air cubicles rented out each day. An itemized account is logged in a notebook and clothes collected from households are returned a week later. Through the apparent chaos incredibly nothing gets lost from a countless number of pieces and most clothes somehow survive the beating they receive on the washing stones.
11:15pm - 11:45pm
Drive to Churchgate Railway Station.
11:45am - 12:15pm
We stop at the Churchgate Railway Station to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city. Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’. Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer. Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
12:15pm - 12:30pm
Drive to `Khyber’ restaurant for lunch which specializes in the Northwest frontier cuisine.
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lunch (on own)
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Drive to Mani Bhawan passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus.
2:30pm - 3:15pm
Visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use.
3:15pm - 4:45pm
Before returning to the pier, we spend some time where it all began, where the tide of human life rolls down the center of the street, unruffled by vehicles from all quarters ploughing their way through it. No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar. The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see probably anywhere else in a lifetime.
4: 45 - 5:30
Drive back to the ship.
Added Value:
- A good overview of the unique aspects of this unique city.
- Tour Duration: 8 – 9 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No
Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
You will first explore the Fort area of Mumbai – Kala Ghoda, literally Black Horse – a neighborhood in South Mumbai. The crescent-shaped precinct is the city’s premier art district. You will drive past a large number of the city’s heritage buildings, full of museums, art galleries and educational institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (previously called the Prince of Wales Museum) and The Arts Trust.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
Stop for a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant before you return to the port area.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee, Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified), Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 6 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
Your first stop will be to take pictures at Dhobi Ghat, a sight unique to this city. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ or “washerfolks’ place”, is the world's largest outdoor laundry, and where Mumbai's traditional washer-folk - or dhobis - provide a wonderful service, collecting dirty laundry, washing it, and returning it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee.
Drive to Churchgate Station where you get the opportunity to see the famed ‘dabbawallas’ or ‘lunch box carriers’ in action. The Mumbai dabbawallas are international figures now, thanks to Forbes Global. The Forbes story details the efficiency with which they deliver the dabbas or lunch pails of their customers. Around 5,000 dabbawallas collect and deliver 175,000 lunches every day and take the empty boxes back. Their operation has a six sigma rating which implies less than 3.4 errors in every million transactions. This is the same rating that has made companies like Motorola and GE world famous for their quality!
Later you will visit Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, a structure steeped in Indian history and culture. Built in Renaissance revival style in 1872 as the Victoria & Albert Museum, it contains 3,500-plus objects centering on Mumbai’s history. This landmark building was renovated in 2008.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before you continue on your tour.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
You will then return to the port area.
Inclusions: Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, private guide, complimentary soft beverages and bottled water in the car, monument entrance and still camera fee, meet and assist at all airports and hotels, porterage at airports, all current applicable taxes.
Exclusions: Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, telephone calls etc, unless specified), tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), meals (unless specified) any insurance or Visa, any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
FULL DAY MARVELS OF MUMBAI
FULL DAY
MARVELS OF MUMBAI
Proceed to Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark –an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure. You will make a stop here for photographs.
See the highlights of the city from the comfort of your minivan as you set off for a tour of Mumbai city. Your tour begins with the Gateway of India (PLEASE STOP FOR A WHILE SO THE GUEST CAN TAKE PHOTO), the city's most famous landmark - an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure.
Continue through Marine Drive, Mumbai's seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. This hill is Mumbai's ritziest neighborhood. Popular since the 18th century because of its forested slopes, fresh sea breezes and panoramic views, merchants and colonial governors built many mansions and bungalows on its hillsides.
Your drive includes a look at a most remarkable railway station. Inspired by St. Pancras Station in London, the Victoria Terminus was built during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. It is an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets in a style that was described by journalist James Cameron as "Victorian-Gothic-Saracenic-Italianate-Oriental-St. Pancras-Baroque". The first train in India left from this station in April 1853; today half a million commuters use the station every day.
Depart to Church Gate Station and spend some time watching the dabba-wallahs, the members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day 4,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 100,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable aluminum boxes. The meals are carried to their hungry recipients dangling from shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars, and stacked on decorated handcarts. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch.
Even if you are not possessed of an interest in other people’s dirty laundry, you’ll be fascinated by the dhobi ghats, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Mumbai is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. The next day, after being aired, pressed, folded and wrapped, the bundles are returned from whence they came. The secret that keeps the operation running smoothly is the coded symbol that each dhobi-wallah places on every item. Invisible to the untrained eye, this mark ensures that nothing will be lost. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
Proceed for Taj Mahal Hotel for Lunch on direct payment basis.
You will continue to The Prince of Wales Museum, crowned by a white Mughal-style dome, the finest work done by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 09h30 – 11h00 |
Orientation tour of Mumbai, Gateway of India, Malabar Hill and VT Station. |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 11h00 – 11h20 |
Proceed to Churchgate station |
|
| 11h20 – 11h40 |
Watch the Dabba-wallas at Churchgate |
10 meters / even |
| 11h40 – 12h15 |
Drive to Dhobi Ghat |
|
| 12h15 – 12h45 |
Visit Dhobi Ghat |
100 meters / Flat / 5 steps |
| 12h45 – 13h15 |
Drive to Taj Mahal Hotel for lunch on direct payment basis |
|
| 13h15 – 14h15 |
Lunch at Taj Mahal Hotel |
150 meters / Flat / 4 steps |
| 14h15 – 15h30 |
Drive to Prince of wales Museum and visit |
|
| 15h30 – 16h00 |
Return to pier |
50 meters / Uneven |
HALF DAY MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
HALF DAY
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
Explore the history, art and people of Mumbai and India during this informative half-day visit to the area's finest museums and galleries.
Depart from pier for the drive to Mani Bhawan, Gandhi's Bombay residence between 1917 and 1934. Mani Bhawan is now a permanent museum and memorial to the Mahatma. It contains a research library of more than 20,000 volumes, and a series of tiny dioramas depicting his life story in an interesting fashion. The walls are covered with photos of historic events and noteworthy people.
Next, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, easily recognized by its unique white Mughal-style dome. The museum is the finest work by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India. It houses interesting displays of jade work, antique weapons, Indian paintings, illustrated manuscripts, exquisite miniatures, and clay and terracotta figures from the 3rd century B.C. Adjacent to Prince of Wales Museum, you will find the Jehangir Art Gallery. Mumbai's best-known venue for contemporary art, Jehangir is home to five small galleries displaying changing exhibits of 20th century arts and crafts from around the world.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Pier to Mani Bhawan |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Mani Bhawan |
20 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Prince of Wales Museum |
|
| 01h30 – 02h30 |
Arrive and visit Prince of Wales Museum |
50 steps/flat Terrain |
| 02h30 – 02h35 |
Walk down to adjacent Jahangir Art Gallery |
|
| 02h35 – 03h20 |
Arrive and visit Jahangir Art Museum |
15 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 03h20 – 04h00 |
Back to pier |
|
FULL DAY THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
FULL DAY
THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
More than a thousand years ago, Hindu craftsmen carved columns and sculptures out of a series of caves located on an island off the shores of Mumbai, creating a temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Portuguese named the island Elephanta, after the large statue of an elephant they found near the spot where they docked their ships. Come and discover the unique beauty and intriguing tales of these temple caves with today’s memorable excursion.
Travel by minivan vehicle to the Gateway of India, the city’s most recognized landmark. Built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the archway was originally conceived as an entry point for people arriving on steamers from England. Today, the gateway serves as a launching point for your own exploration of the Elephanta Temple.
Boarding a motor boat, enjoy the approximately one hour and thirty minutes cruise to the Elephanta landing. From the jetty you have the option of either taking the mini train or walking approximately 15 minutes to the base of the long stairway which leads to the top of the hill, where the caves are located. As you enter, you will see a magnificent sculpture of Shiva as Nataraj, showing an enraptured expression as he removes the veil of ignorance. The most outstanding sculpture is a bust of Trimurti—the three-faced Shiva representing the Hindu trinity, Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. In other panels, Shiva is depicted in service to humanity as he brings the River Ganges to Earth, and at his most fearsome as he crushes the demon of Andhaka. Later, board the motor boat for return cruise to the Gateway.
Re-board your vehicle for the transfer back to your ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 - 00h15 |
Depart from the pier by minivan to the Gateway of India |
|
This tour is NOT suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h15 - 01h45 |
Board the motor boat and cruise to Elephanta Island |
|
| 01h45 - 03h45 |
Arrive and visit Elephanta Island |
1.5km / Uneven, cobblestones / 125 long steps each way |
| 03h45 - 05h15 |
Board your motor boat and return to Mumbai |
|
| 05h15 – 05h30 |
Return to the pier |
|
FULL DAY THE VICTORIAN PAST
FULL DAY
THE VICTORIAN PAST
Experience the highlights of this fascinating city, with its Western monuments and Eastern sensibilities.
Begin your tour with photo stop at the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
Next visit, The Church of St John the Evangelist better known as Afghan Church in South Mumbai, built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous First Afghan War of 1838. The church is located in Navy Nagar in the Colaba area of Mumbai. Besides British soldiers it also commemorates different Indian regiments, such as the Bombay Army, the Madras Army, and Ranjit Singh's army from Lahore.
Drive along Marine Drive-Mumbai’s seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s ritziest neighborhood. At the top of hill are the Hanging Gardens, laid out in 1881. Here, an assortment of hedges, trimmed into animal shapes. The gardens also offer a superb view of the bustling city centre in the distance.
You then proceed to Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum) one of the oldest museums in Mumbai. It was established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The museum houses a large number of archaeological finds, maps and historical photographs of Mumbai.
You then visit, Crawford Market - one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The market is situated near to Victoria Terminus railway station. The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market.
Finally, visit and savor a relaxing lunch while exploring the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which dates back to the 1500s before returning back to the ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h10 |
Leave from pier to Gateway of India |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h10 – 00h15 |
Arrive at Gateway of India (photo stop only) |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 00h15 – 00h30 |
Leave for Afghan Church |
|
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Afghan Church |
4 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Hanging Gardens |
|
| 01h30 – 02h00 |
Arrive and visit Hanging Gardens |
2 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 02h00 – 02h15 |
Leave for Victoria & Albert Museum |
|
| 11h15 – 12h00 |
Arrive and visit Victoria & Albert Museum |
5 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 03h00 – 03h15 |
Leave for Crawford market |
|
| 03h15 – 03h45 |
Arrive and visit market |
Uneven Terrain |
| 03h45 – 03h15 |
Leave for hotel Taj Mahal |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 04h15 – 05h45 |
Arrive at hotel and proceed for lunch (On Direct Payment) |
|
| 05h45 – 06h00 |
Back to pier |
|
Udaipur
One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert. The founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old capital of Chittaurgarh had to face due to repeated attacks by the Mughal armies. On the advice of a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola- the city was named Udaipur after him.
Jaipur
Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh. The pink color was used at the time of making to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of Mughal cities - and repainted in 1876, during the visit of the Prince of Wales. The city is best explored on foot and the adventurous visitor willing to go into the inner lanes can discover a whole new world not visible to the tourist-in-a-hurry.
Agra
In the mid 16th century and early 17th century, Agra witnessed a frenzied building activity and it was during this time when the symbol of love Taj Mahal was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality which is still reflected in what ever monuments remain in Agra. The narrow lanes of Agra filled with aroma of Mughlai cuisine, the craftsman who are busy creating masterpieces with their skill all remind of the Mughal royalty which this city had once experienced. Today whatever remains, has become a major tourist attraction which has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but this time as a major tourist destination of India. Main shopping areas include Taj Mahal complex, Kinari Bazaar, Raja Mandi, Sadar Bazaar. the Gangotri at Taj Mahal Complex and the Up Handlooms, UPICA at the Sanjay place are two UP Government emporiums.
Delhi (New Delhi)
Delhi is the third largest city and consists of Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of India Between 17th and 19th centuries and now contains many mosques, monuments and forts relating to India's muslim history. The other Delhi is the imperial city created as the capital of India by the British. In addition to its historic interest and role as government center, Delhi is a major travel gateway. The architectural designs and sophistication that buildings in Delhi like Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Connaught Place and various administrative buildings like the South and North blocks along the breathtaking view available from Raj Path, show British influence. Modern Delhi has a cosmopolitan culture that nurtures festivals of all faiths and religions. Theatre, drama and entertainment of all sorts including discotheques are there.
Situated on the coast north of the airport, Negombo, founded by the Moors, is now a predominately Catholic enclave. The architectural remnants of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial years make it an interesting place for a stroll. Attractions include decent beaches, colorful buildings, fisherfolk putting out to sea in outrigger sailboats and even a canal dug by the Dutch in the 18th century. The city itself can be seen on a day trip from Colombo, or a stop on the way to the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Be sure to sample some of the fresh catches.
Negombo is a fascinating area to visit during Christian holidays. Sri Lankan Christians pay homage to the saints with an enchanting blend of Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. Negombo, however, is crowded with package resort hotels—the beaches to the south are better and definitely less crowded. 30 mi/55 km north of Colombo.
Nuwara Eliya is a picturesque town in Sri Lanka known for its tea production. Enjoy the temperate climate, breathtaking views, historic buildings in the town centre, and of course, tea!
The city lies in the Kandy Valley with its beautiful tropical plantations. The city is home to many attractively adorned temples and palaces including the Lankatilaka temple, which is decorated with delicate floral designs and paintings. In August, Kandy hosts an extravagant Buddhist festival consisting of food, cultural dancing, and richly decorated elephants.
On top of a rock plateau overlooking dense jungle and a vast plain, 90 mi/145 km northeast of Colombo, is Sigiriya, the mysterious remains of the fifth-century fortress of King Kasyapa. When it was built, an impressive 5-acre/2-hectare fort sat astride the rock and a city nestled at its base, but now the city is gone and the fortress is in ruins. According to legend, King Kasyapa gained power after burying his father alive. He ruled for the next 18 years, until his half brother Mogallan defeated him in battle. As his soldiers retreated, Kasyapa remained on his elephant facing the opposing army. Then, with great drama, he pulled out a dagger and slit his throat.
The ruins of Sigiriya are unique among the ancient sites in Sri Lanka. Be sure to brave the rickety-looking spiral staircase to see the 19 frescoes of female nature spirits (Apsaras) painted beneath an overhang about 300 ft/90 m up the rock. The frescoes are very beautiful—their colors stunningly vibrant after 1,500 years. A wall covered with 1,000-year-old graffiti and poetry (left by visitors who recorded their impressions of the painted women) lies just above the frescoes. Near the top of the rock fortress are a pair of huge stone Lion's Paws (all that remains of a giant stone lion). See the ruins in the morning—it's much cooler, and people and domesticated elephants may be walking along the road. There's a small archaeological museum at the base of Sigiriya.
In nearby Dambulla you can visit a series of caves on a mountain ledge. They contain frescoes showing some of Buddha's epic struggles against evil. (Photographs are not allowed in Dambulla's caves).
Sigiriya and Dambulla are usually seen together as a day trip from Kandy. If you're traveling by car, you can see Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa on the same day. But it will be a long day—plan to overnight in Sigiriya or in one of the beautiful resorts around Kandalama Lake (near Dambulla).
This popular resort offers pretty beaches, good waves and a wide range of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. The reefs just offshore attract divers and snorkelers, but the coral is beat-up and the glass-bottomed boats are too numerous for our taste. Hikkaduwa can feel too crowded and overbuilt at times (street hawkers and unofficial "tour guides" can be overbearing), so if you want to get away from it all, stay elsewhere. The small town of Ambalangoda, a short drive north of Hikkaduwa, does not have much beach, but it is an excellent place to shop for crafts. The town is principally known for its masks. There are also good batik-makers and a nationally recognized dance school in the city. Hikkaduwa is 55 mi/90 km south of Colombo.
Kollam, India, is usually seen by travelers as the starting point for a boat trip down tropical inland waterways to the town of Alappuzha. Located 760 mi/1,220 km south of Mumbai, Kollam is an ancient city with traces of Portuguese, Dutch and British influence. There's a nice government rest house available for overnight stays.
Founded by a Syrian merchant in the 9th century, Kollam was one of the most important trade centers during the 12th century. It was there that Christianity first gained a foothold in India.
Kollam sits in a unique location, with the Lacadive coast of Kerala to its west and a huge network of canals and backwaters to its east. Ashtamudi Lake is the perfect starting point for a day-long backwater cruise where you can see life as it exists on these fragile yet ancient ecosystems.
Another attraction is the Thangassery Lighthouse: Built in 1902, the lighthouse is 144 ft/44 m tall, and can be climbed for a nice view of the area. The beautiful old British Residency is another site worth visiting for its pretty architecture. Close to the lighthouse is the Portuguese cemetery, built in 1519, and the remains of the St Thomas Fort.
Also known as Alappuzha, Alleppey is considered a network of waterways. There are over 1000 houseboats, canoes and toddy shops located within the city; because of this many consider Alleppey to be the “Venice of the East”. About 2 miles west of the chaotic city center you will find Alleppey Beach, a beach not known for swimming, but known for the daily picturesque sunset.
Kochi has beautiful lagoons and lakes and offers travelers an extraordinary setting for a stay of a few nights.
Excursions
Kochi, Shore Excursion - 8 hours
Meet at the port of Kochi -KERALA
(Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
KOCHI: 8HRS
Disembark from the ship and meet your personal guide on the pier.
You will drive to the historic Fort Kochi area where you walk in the area known as “Jew Town”.
You will visit the Mattancherry Palace, which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. The palace is two storeys’s high and is built in the traditional Kerala style known as “nalukattu” (four buildings around a central courtyard). Made of wood and richly carved, the palace exhibits memorabilia from the Raja of Kochi’s collection, but it is best known for its outstanding murals painted on the walls. Fast fading, one can still see some of these excellent 16th century paintings illustrating episodes from the great Indian epic – The Ramayana.
Surrounding the Synagogue are a jumble of antique and spice shops, and souvenir shop and it is a fun area to wander at leisure.
You will have time to explore the Heritage Zone, which with its varied architectural styles highlights Cochin’s history of being occupied by various foreign rulers. In this area, which is protected, is St Francis’ Church, first established by the Portuguese in the 1500s. This is one of the earliest European churches in the country. The simple façade served as the prototype for future churches here. Vasco Da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his body was taken to Portugal 14 years later. You will also visit the Santa Cruz Cathedral which was built in the late 19th century and has impressive murals on its ceiling. The walking tour ends at the Chinese Fishing Nets, which were first erected between 1350 and 1450 indicating trading ties with China.
You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you drive to the Folklore Museum. This Museum has an exceptional collection of private artifacts from all over the South and interestingly has a theatre attached as an added attraction. The collection includes masks, beautifully carved old wooden doors, musical instruments, lamps and tribal jewelry. You will also have the opportunity to watch a private performance of the classical Kathakali dance.
Early evening you will return to the ship.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee,Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified) Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted seperately.
*Terms and conditions apply
Kochi, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will head to the historic town of Mattancherry. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. The palace is two stories high and is built in the traditional Kerala style of “nalukattu” (four buildings around a central courtyard). Made of richly-carved wood, there are beautiful murals on display here depicting scenes from the Hindu epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata and some of the Hindu legends. The Palace also houses Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal Palanquins, coronation robes of former Maharajas of Kochi as well as period furniture.
You will next visit the Jewish Synagogue. One of the oldest in India, it is set in the Jewish Quarter, commonly known as “Jew Town”. The area is famous for its aromatic spice market and its antique shops. The interior of the Synagogue is decorated with 18th century blue ceramic Cantonese tiles, hand painted and each one different!
You will end your tour at the Chinese Fishing Nets, which were first erected between 1350 and 1450 AD indicating trading ties with China.
You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to the port to board your ship.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee, Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified), Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted separately.
* Terms and conditions apply
HALF DAY EXPLORING OLD KOCHI
HALF DAY
EXPLORING OLD COCHIN
Leave from pier for a panoramic drive along Mahatma Gandhi Road ending with a stop at the local market, known as the Broadway. A walk through, this local market in the new town of Ernakulum, is an enriching experience. A surprise lurks at every corner and whether you like it or not, you are propelled forward in a sea of people, brightly coloured baubles and warm, comforting smells.
Photo stop at Shiva Temple.
St. George's Forane Church, locally known as Edapally Church is a Catholic pilgrimage church in Edapally Kochi, India. Asia's largest shrine to Saint George, about five million people visit it every year.
The church is thought to have been founded in 593 AD. It is regarded as one of the oldest churches in Kerala, after the seven churches founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century AD. The church was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Marth Mariam). In 1080, a new church was built adjacent to the old church. A nine-day festival is celebrated annually as part of the Feast of Saint George. The church, also a destination for non-Christians, attracts offerings of gold, chicken, and eggs.
Gaze at the ancient Chinese fishing nets that line the shores of Fort Cochin.
You’ll be fascinated by the Dhobi Khana, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Kochi is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Depart the pier for panoramic tour of Ernakulum |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 00h55 |
Photo Stop at Shiva Temple |
10 meters / Flat |
| 00h55 – 02h10 |
Drive through Marine drive and stop for a walk through the Broadway Market |
300 meters / Flat |
| 02h10 – 02h30 |
Depart for Edappally Church |
|
| 02h30 – 03h10 |
Visit Edappally Church |
50 meters / Flat / 02 steps |
| 03h10 – 04h20 |
Proceed to Chinese fishing net and visit |
|
| 04h20 – 05h30 |
Later drive to Drive to Dhobi Khana and visit. Back to port |
|
HALF DAY HERITAGE TRAIL - A WALK THROUGH KOCHI
HALF DAY
HERITAGE TRAIL - A WALK THROUGH COCHIN
The best way to discover a new place is on foot; explore the streets of historic Fort Cochin and learn more about this town that is brimming with tales of maritime traders, who made Cochin the first European township in India.
A brief stop will be made at the Chinese fishing nets & St. Francis Church one of the area’s famous landmarks. These nets are set up on bamboo poles and held horizontally by huge mechanisms, which lower them into the sea. This is a unique symbol of the centuries-old influence on this coastline.
Princess Street is one of the oldest streets in Fort Kochi. The bungalows built in the European style and the other buildings of colonial architecture lining both sides of the street make it pretty as a picture.
The buildings here, with bronze stucco walls and peeling plaster, house antique stores, cigar shops, provisional stores, curio shops, kiosks, cafes, restaurants, art galleries and so on. Some are being used as homestays for tourists.
For the best view of the street, head for the Loafer’s Corner, a popular meeting place at the confluence of Princess Street, Peter Celli Street and Bastion Street.
The plain, squat walls that surround the two-storey Mattancherry or “Dutch Palace”, do not offer a particularly appealing invitation, but you will be delighted once inside. Its wooden interior is decorated with a remarkable series of murals. In the royal bedroom alone are 45 paintings illustrating the Ramayana every inch of space covered with rich colour, and painstaking detail. There is also an interesting collection of Dutch maps of old Kochi, coronation robes belonging to the maharajas, royal palanquins, weapons and furniture.
Next. The Jew Town surrounding area called Jew Town is a fascinating mix of antique shops, warehouses, and spice auction rooms. Signs for N.X. Jacob’s tailor shop, and the offices of J.E. Cohen serve as reminders of a once thriving community now consisting of about seven families. You’ll have a chance to stroll here before returning to your ship.
Return back to pier
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Depart the pier to Fort Cochin |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 02h00 |
Visit Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church
|
695 meters / Flat/4 |
| 02h00 – 02h30 |
Walk through princess street and loafer’s corner |
300 meters / Uneven |
| 02h30 – 03h00 |
Drive to Mattancherry |
|
| 03h00 – 03h30 |
Visit Dutch Palace |
200 meter/20 steps |
| 03h30 – 04h00 |
Leisure time in Jew town |
|
| 04h00 – 04h30 |
Return back to pier |
50 meters / Flat |
Aslo known as Amdavad, Ahmedabad is the major city in Gujarat. This is a common stop for many travelers en route to Rajasthan or Mumbai. The city is divided by the old city, east side of the Sabarmati River; and the new city, west of the river. Many people come to Ahmedabad to see Sabarmati Ashram, Ghandhi’s former headquarter.
Pushkar is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan on the shores of Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is a sacred pilgrimage site for devout Hindus and is one of the oldest cities in India. The many temples are famous attractions when visting Pushkar, as well as the Pushkar Camel Fair every November.
Goa is the smallest state of the republic of India. It lies on the country's west coast, about 250 miles south of Bombay. The state covers an area of 1,429 square miles. Long, sandy beaches, fringed with coconut palms, make Goa a tropical paradise for visitors. Other tourist attractions are the colonial buildings from the 1500's, built when Goa
was headquarters of Portugal's Asian empire. Today, Old Goa is half-hidden in jungle. Its population was severely affected by plague in the 1600's, and a new city was set up at Panaji, which contains the main government buildings. Margao is Goa's biggest commercial center. Mormugao, Goa's major port, has a fine harbor - one of the best on the west coast of India. The harbor is the focus of economic activity in Goa.
Excursions
Goa, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
Meet at the Port of Marmugao, Goa
(Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure)
HALF DAY TOUR: 4HRS
Disembark from the ship and meet your personal guide on the pier.
Today the tour takes you Old Goa and start with a visit to the Basilica Bom Jesus which houses the remains of St Francis Xavier. His tomb was the gift of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and was carved by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista. Around the silver casket are 32 plaques decorated with scenes from the saint’s life. Nearby on “Holy Hill” is the Convent of St Cajetan, dedicated to St Catherine, on whose day Goa was recaptured. Inside are catacombs with the embalmed bodies of Portuguese viceroys and archbishops. Along the way, you pass several other churches you may like to visit – Se Cathedral, the largest of the churches in Old Goa and the Chapel of our Lady of the Rosary built in 1526 and a synthesis of Iberian, Hindu and Moslem styles. At the Church and Convent of St Francis of Assisi is an interesting archeological Museum and Portrait Gallery. In Panaji you can visit the Mahalaxmi Temple and walk in Goa’s Latin quarters – Fontainhas
You will be dropped at the pier late in the afternoon.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide,Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee,Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified) Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted seperately
Goa: Highlights - 5 hours
Lush and lovely Goa was created as a place for relaxation where Sun worship is a cult form. Adventure seekers can go hunting for beaches and tiny villages. There are colorful local markets, trips to Spice farms and a countryside of Portuguese and Indian culture, with warm friendly people. In quiet and complete contrast to other ports and places on the Indian sub-continent, Goa offers a quaint reflection of its colonial Portuguese past well assimilated with its democratic Indian present.
We drive to visit `Old Goa’ and the Basilica of Bom Jesus famous throughout the Catholic world. Amongst other religious edifices still standing in Old Goa is the `Se Cathedral”, the largest church in Asia, but also the site of the “Golden Bell” which announced the death – knell of burning heretics during the inquisition.
Goa’s capital, Panaji (formerly Panjim) spread along the south bank of the wide Mandovi River, in a charming sprawl of red-roofed houses, sunny squares and gardens of bougainvillea and frangipani. The newly built Nehru Bridge spans the river giving easy access to the beaches along the ocean shore to the north.
Visit Panjim town which has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere especially along the leafy avenues of its old section, retaining its Portuguese style winding streets and old houses with red tiled roofs and overhanging balconies. The streets have taverns offering Goan cuisine and “Feni” (cashew nut liquor) and bakeries serving `Bebinca’, the delicious local cake. Many residents still speak Portuguese.
Overlooking `Largo de Igreja’ or Church Square is the Church of Immaculate Conception with its Baroque façade, probably the town’s most important landmark. In 1541 Portuguese sailors began visiting this church to offer thanksgiving prayers after their long and treacherous voyage from Lisbon.
Later, explore the market before driving back to the ship.
- Tour Duration: 5 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No
Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.
Goa, Shore Excursion - 6 hours
You will be met at the pier (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore some of the important sights of Goa.
Start your tour with a visit to the World Heritage-listed Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier. The remains are entombed in a silver casket, which is kept in a mausoleum carved by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista. Continue on to Se Cathedral, a magnificent 16th-century monument and the largest church in Goa. Finally, stop at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, built in the 17th century which houses an interesting archeological Museum and Portrait Gallery. Stop for lunch at a tropical spice plantation after which, you will have time to stroll around the grounds and explore the butterfly garden in the premises.
You will also visit the Shri Manguesh Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the 400-year-old Shri Manguesh Temple is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in Goa, and features a 7-story Deepa Stambha (decorative lamp tower) at the gates of the temple complex. You will then visit Shree Shantadurga Temple, located in the hills and noted for its statue of the Hindu goddess Durga.
You will then return to the port area.
Inclusions: Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, private guide, complimentary soft beverages and bottled water in the car, monument entrance and still camera fee, meet and assist at all airports and hotels, porterage at airports, all current applicable taxes.
Exclusions: Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, telephone calls etc, unless specified), tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), meals (unless specified) any insurance or Visa, any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
FULL DAY FLAVORS OF GOA
FULL DAY
FLAVORS OF GOA
Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.
Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Flavours
Depart the pier and head towards Old Goa which stands testimony not only to the reality of the Portuguese rule in the country, but also to the grandeur and wealth of the city during their reign.
Your first visit of the day will be to the St. Cajetan Church which was modelled on St. Peter’s in Rome and built of laterite blocks and lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as a belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches, which keep the statues of the apostles. Hidden beneath the church is a crypt where the embalmed bodies of Portuguese governors were kept in lead coffins before they were shipped back to Lisbon. Forgotten for a time, the last batch was removed only in 1992.
Continuing, the next stop will be at the Basilica of Bom Jesus which was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and is one of the most important churches in Goa. The embalmed body of St. Frances Xavier is enshrined here in a marble mausoleum, which is exposed to the public once every ten years. The last date this happened was in December 2014.
Your final visit will be to the Panjim ‘Fontainhas’ area where the walking tour will begin. The Fontainhas is the Latin Quarter built by the Portuguese and we will be able to view from the outside the church and the old villas. Later, drive through Panjim, the capital city passing through streets lined with old villas that are characteristic of Portuguese Goa.
Later proceed for Trpical Plantation for visit and lunch. Spices are an ever present part of Indian life - they are essential in flavoring the distinctive regional cuisines and if you keep your eyes open you will see their bright colors reflected in the ladies' saris, and decorative textiles everywhere.
To find out where they come from, pay a most enjoyable visit to a spice plantation. Take a guided walk through the trees see what you can identify, smell, taste, and learn about the myriad spices for which India is renowned. And what place could be more perfect for a meal? Enjoy lunch here where everything is fresh and fragrant. Don't worry, the simple, tasty food will be spiced for Western tastes, and the preparation of each will be explained. After lunch you will return to the port and your ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 - 01h30 |
Depart the pier for an Old Goa Churches |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 01h30 - 02h30 |
Arrive in Old Goa and visit Basilica of Bom Jesus Church & St. Cajetan Church |
700 meters / Flat / 04 steps |
| 02h30 - 03h00 |
Depart for Panjim Latin Quarters |
|
| 03h00 - 03h20 |
Visit around the Latin Quarters |
400 meters / Flat / 15 optional steps |
| 03h20 - 04h20 |
Drive to Tropical Plantation |
|
| 04h20 - 05h50 |
Visit and lunch at Plantation |
|
| 05h50 - 07h00 |
Return to pier |
|
|
HALF DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF GOA
HALF DAY
HIGHLIGHTS OF GOA
Proceed for St. Cajetan Church which was modelled on St. Peter’s in Rome and built of laterite blocks and lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as a belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches, which keep the statues of the apostles. Hidden beneath the church is a crypt where the embalmed bodies of Portuguese governors were kept in lead coffins before they were shipped back to Lisbon. Forgotten for a time, the last batch was removed only in 1992.
Continuing, the next stop will be at the Basilica of Bom Jesus which was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and is one of the most important churches in Goa. The embalmed body of St. Frances Xavier is enshrined here in a marble mausoleum, which is exposed to the public once every ten years. The last date this happened was in December 2014. Continue with a short walk to the Se, or St Catherine’s Cathedral, which was commissioned to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and fame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific." With its exterior Tuscan design it is still larger than any other church in Portugal and said to be the largest in Asia.
Next visit will be to the Panjim ‘Fontainhas’ area where the walking tour will begin. The Fontainhas is the Latin Quarter built by the Portuguese and we will be able to view from the outside the church and the old villas. Later, drive through Panjim, the capital city passing through streets lined with old villas that are characteristic of Portuguese Goa.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 01h00 |
Drive to Old Goa Churches |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 01h00 – 02h30 |
Visit Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral Church and St. Cajethan Church |
350 meters / Flat / 6 steps |
| 02h30 – 03h15 |
Proceed for Panjim City, visit Latin quarter |
450 meters / Flat steps |
| 03h15 – 04h15 |
Return to the pier |
|
About 300 years ago, the area of Bombay was nothing more than seven islands occupied by small fishing settlements. Today this bustling city offers a seemingly endless array of sights and cultural activities. Mumbai is the glamour of Bollywood cinema, cricket on the maidans on weekends, bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty and red double-decker buses. It is also the infamous cages of the red-light district, Asia's largest slums, communalist politics and powerful mafia dons. This pungent drama is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea. Mumbai has vital streetlife, India's best nightlife, and more bazaars than a visitor could ever explore.
Excursions
Mumbai: 9 hours
With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city, bustling with activity of incredible diversity and complexity, her color and elegance, her wealth corresponding with her historic struggle against poverty. Certain affluent areas give Bombay an air of mini–Manhattan!
8:30am - 9:30am:
Depart the pier for the famous Gateway of India en route to Banganga. This Indo-Saracenic archway was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, and is the city's most famous landmark.
We then proceed to Banganga via Art Deco Marine Drive also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay.
9:30am - 10:30am
Walk around Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
10:30am - 10:50am
Drive to Dhobi Ghat.
10:50 - 11:15
Visit the `Dhobi Ghat’, the city’s open-air laundry! where “Dhobis’ (washermen) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily. Clothes, linen, towels… are washed in small open air cubicles rented out each day. An itemized account is logged in a notebook and clothes collected from households are returned a week later. Through the apparent chaos incredibly nothing gets lost from a countless number of pieces and most clothes somehow survive the beating they receive on the washing stones.
11:15pm - 11:45pm
Drive to Churchgate Railway Station.
11:45am - 12:15pm
We stop at the Churchgate Railway Station to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city. Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’. Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer. Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
12:15pm - 12:30pm
Drive to `Khyber’ restaurant for lunch which specializes in the Northwest frontier cuisine.
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lunch (on own)
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Drive to Mani Bhawan passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus.
2:30pm - 3:15pm
Visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use.
3:15pm - 4:45pm
Before returning to the pier, we spend some time where it all began, where the tide of human life rolls down the center of the street, unruffled by vehicles from all quarters ploughing their way through it. No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar. The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see probably anywhere else in a lifetime.
4: 45 - 5:30
Drive back to the ship.
Added Value:
- A good overview of the unique aspects of this unique city.
- Tour Duration: 8 – 9 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No
Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
You will first explore the Fort area of Mumbai – Kala Ghoda, literally Black Horse – a neighborhood in South Mumbai. The crescent-shaped precinct is the city’s premier art district. You will drive past a large number of the city’s heritage buildings, full of museums, art galleries and educational institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (previously called the Prince of Wales Museum) and The Arts Trust.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
Stop for a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant before you return to the port area.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee, Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified), Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 6 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
Your first stop will be to take pictures at Dhobi Ghat, a sight unique to this city. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ or “washerfolks’ place”, is the world's largest outdoor laundry, and where Mumbai's traditional washer-folk - or dhobis - provide a wonderful service, collecting dirty laundry, washing it, and returning it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee.
Drive to Churchgate Station where you get the opportunity to see the famed ‘dabbawallas’ or ‘lunch box carriers’ in action. The Mumbai dabbawallas are international figures now, thanks to Forbes Global. The Forbes story details the efficiency with which they deliver the dabbas or lunch pails of their customers. Around 5,000 dabbawallas collect and deliver 175,000 lunches every day and take the empty boxes back. Their operation has a six sigma rating which implies less than 3.4 errors in every million transactions. This is the same rating that has made companies like Motorola and GE world famous for their quality!
Later you will visit Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, a structure steeped in Indian history and culture. Built in Renaissance revival style in 1872 as the Victoria & Albert Museum, it contains 3,500-plus objects centering on Mumbai’s history. This landmark building was renovated in 2008.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before you continue on your tour.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
You will then return to the port area.
Inclusions: Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, private guide, complimentary soft beverages and bottled water in the car, monument entrance and still camera fee, meet and assist at all airports and hotels, porterage at airports, all current applicable taxes.
Exclusions: Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, telephone calls etc, unless specified), tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), meals (unless specified) any insurance or Visa, any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
FULL DAY MARVELS OF MUMBAI
FULL DAY
MARVELS OF MUMBAI
Proceed to Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark –an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure. You will make a stop here for photographs.
See the highlights of the city from the comfort of your minivan as you set off for a tour of Mumbai city. Your tour begins with the Gateway of India (PLEASE STOP FOR A WHILE SO THE GUEST CAN TAKE PHOTO), the city's most famous landmark - an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure.
Continue through Marine Drive, Mumbai's seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. This hill is Mumbai's ritziest neighborhood. Popular since the 18th century because of its forested slopes, fresh sea breezes and panoramic views, merchants and colonial governors built many mansions and bungalows on its hillsides.
Your drive includes a look at a most remarkable railway station. Inspired by St. Pancras Station in London, the Victoria Terminus was built during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. It is an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets in a style that was described by journalist James Cameron as "Victorian-Gothic-Saracenic-Italianate-Oriental-St. Pancras-Baroque". The first train in India left from this station in April 1853; today half a million commuters use the station every day.
Depart to Church Gate Station and spend some time watching the dabba-wallahs, the members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day 4,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 100,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable aluminum boxes. The meals are carried to their hungry recipients dangling from shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars, and stacked on decorated handcarts. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch.
Even if you are not possessed of an interest in other people’s dirty laundry, you’ll be fascinated by the dhobi ghats, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Mumbai is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. The next day, after being aired, pressed, folded and wrapped, the bundles are returned from whence they came. The secret that keeps the operation running smoothly is the coded symbol that each dhobi-wallah places on every item. Invisible to the untrained eye, this mark ensures that nothing will be lost. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
Proceed for Taj Mahal Hotel for Lunch on direct payment basis.
You will continue to The Prince of Wales Museum, crowned by a white Mughal-style dome, the finest work done by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 09h30 – 11h00 |
Orientation tour of Mumbai, Gateway of India, Malabar Hill and VT Station. |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 11h00 – 11h20 |
Proceed to Churchgate station |
|
| 11h20 – 11h40 |
Watch the Dabba-wallas at Churchgate |
10 meters / even |
| 11h40 – 12h15 |
Drive to Dhobi Ghat |
|
| 12h15 – 12h45 |
Visit Dhobi Ghat |
100 meters / Flat / 5 steps |
| 12h45 – 13h15 |
Drive to Taj Mahal Hotel for lunch on direct payment basis |
|
| 13h15 – 14h15 |
Lunch at Taj Mahal Hotel |
150 meters / Flat / 4 steps |
| 14h15 – 15h30 |
Drive to Prince of wales Museum and visit |
|
| 15h30 – 16h00 |
Return to pier |
50 meters / Uneven |
HALF DAY MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
HALF DAY
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
Explore the history, art and people of Mumbai and India during this informative half-day visit to the area's finest museums and galleries.
Depart from pier for the drive to Mani Bhawan, Gandhi's Bombay residence between 1917 and 1934. Mani Bhawan is now a permanent museum and memorial to the Mahatma. It contains a research library of more than 20,000 volumes, and a series of tiny dioramas depicting his life story in an interesting fashion. The walls are covered with photos of historic events and noteworthy people.
Next, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, easily recognized by its unique white Mughal-style dome. The museum is the finest work by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India. It houses interesting displays of jade work, antique weapons, Indian paintings, illustrated manuscripts, exquisite miniatures, and clay and terracotta figures from the 3rd century B.C. Adjacent to Prince of Wales Museum, you will find the Jehangir Art Gallery. Mumbai's best-known venue for contemporary art, Jehangir is home to five small galleries displaying changing exhibits of 20th century arts and crafts from around the world.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Pier to Mani Bhawan |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Mani Bhawan |
20 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Prince of Wales Museum |
|
| 01h30 – 02h30 |
Arrive and visit Prince of Wales Museum |
50 steps/flat Terrain |
| 02h30 – 02h35 |
Walk down to adjacent Jahangir Art Gallery |
|
| 02h35 – 03h20 |
Arrive and visit Jahangir Art Museum |
15 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 03h20 – 04h00 |
Back to pier |
|
FULL DAY THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
FULL DAY
THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
More than a thousand years ago, Hindu craftsmen carved columns and sculptures out of a series of caves located on an island off the shores of Mumbai, creating a temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Portuguese named the island Elephanta, after the large statue of an elephant they found near the spot where they docked their ships. Come and discover the unique beauty and intriguing tales of these temple caves with today’s memorable excursion.
Travel by minivan vehicle to the Gateway of India, the city’s most recognized landmark. Built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the archway was originally conceived as an entry point for people arriving on steamers from England. Today, the gateway serves as a launching point for your own exploration of the Elephanta Temple.
Boarding a motor boat, enjoy the approximately one hour and thirty minutes cruise to the Elephanta landing. From the jetty you have the option of either taking the mini train or walking approximately 15 minutes to the base of the long stairway which leads to the top of the hill, where the caves are located. As you enter, you will see a magnificent sculpture of Shiva as Nataraj, showing an enraptured expression as he removes the veil of ignorance. The most outstanding sculpture is a bust of Trimurti—the three-faced Shiva representing the Hindu trinity, Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. In other panels, Shiva is depicted in service to humanity as he brings the River Ganges to Earth, and at his most fearsome as he crushes the demon of Andhaka. Later, board the motor boat for return cruise to the Gateway.
Re-board your vehicle for the transfer back to your ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 - 00h15 |
Depart from the pier by minivan to the Gateway of India |
|
This tour is NOT suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h15 - 01h45 |
Board the motor boat and cruise to Elephanta Island |
|
| 01h45 - 03h45 |
Arrive and visit Elephanta Island |
1.5km / Uneven, cobblestones / 125 long steps each way |
| 03h45 - 05h15 |
Board your motor boat and return to Mumbai |
|
| 05h15 – 05h30 |
Return to the pier |
|
FULL DAY THE VICTORIAN PAST
FULL DAY
THE VICTORIAN PAST
Experience the highlights of this fascinating city, with its Western monuments and Eastern sensibilities.
Begin your tour with photo stop at the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
Next visit, The Church of St John the Evangelist better known as Afghan Church in South Mumbai, built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous First Afghan War of 1838. The church is located in Navy Nagar in the Colaba area of Mumbai. Besides British soldiers it also commemorates different Indian regiments, such as the Bombay Army, the Madras Army, and Ranjit Singh's army from Lahore.
Drive along Marine Drive-Mumbai’s seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s ritziest neighborhood. At the top of hill are the Hanging Gardens, laid out in 1881. Here, an assortment of hedges, trimmed into animal shapes. The gardens also offer a superb view of the bustling city centre in the distance.
You then proceed to Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum) one of the oldest museums in Mumbai. It was established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The museum houses a large number of archaeological finds, maps and historical photographs of Mumbai.
You then visit, Crawford Market - one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The market is situated near to Victoria Terminus railway station. The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market.
Finally, visit and savor a relaxing lunch while exploring the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which dates back to the 1500s before returning back to the ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h10 |
Leave from pier to Gateway of India |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h10 – 00h15 |
Arrive at Gateway of India (photo stop only) |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 00h15 – 00h30 |
Leave for Afghan Church |
|
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Afghan Church |
4 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Hanging Gardens |
|
| 01h30 – 02h00 |
Arrive and visit Hanging Gardens |
2 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 02h00 – 02h15 |
Leave for Victoria & Albert Museum |
|
| 11h15 – 12h00 |
Arrive and visit Victoria & Albert Museum |
5 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 03h00 – 03h15 |
Leave for Crawford market |
|
| 03h15 – 03h45 |
Arrive and visit market |
Uneven Terrain |
| 03h45 – 03h15 |
Leave for hotel Taj Mahal |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 04h15 – 05h45 |
Arrive at hotel and proceed for lunch (On Direct Payment) |
|
| 05h45 – 06h00 |
Back to pier |
|
One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert. The founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old capital of Chittaurgarh had to face due to repeated attacks by the Mughal armies. On the advice of a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola- the city was named Udaipur after him.
Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh. The pink color was used at the time of making to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of Mughal cities - and repainted in 1876, during the visit of the Prince of Wales. The city is best explored on foot and the adventurous visitor willing to go into the inner lanes can discover a whole new world not visible to the tourist-in-a-hurry.
In the mid 16th century and early 17th century, Agra witnessed a frenzied building activity and it was during this time when the symbol of love Taj Mahal was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality which is still reflected in what ever monuments remain in Agra. The narrow lanes of Agra filled with aroma of Mughlai cuisine, the craftsman who are busy creating masterpieces with their skill all remind of the Mughal royalty which this city had once experienced. Today whatever remains, has become a major tourist attraction which has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but this time as a major tourist destination of India. Main shopping areas include Taj Mahal complex, Kinari Bazaar, Raja Mandi, Sadar Bazaar. the Gangotri at Taj Mahal Complex and the Up Handlooms, UPICA at the Sanjay place are two UP Government emporiums.
Delhi is the third largest city and consists of Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of India Between 17th and 19th centuries and now contains many mosques, monuments and forts relating to India's muslim history. The other Delhi is the imperial city created as the capital of India by the British. In addition to its historic interest and role as government center, Delhi is a major travel gateway. The architectural designs and sophistication that buildings in Delhi like Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Connaught Place and various administrative buildings like the South and North blocks along the breathtaking view available from Raj Path, show British influence. Modern Delhi has a cosmopolitan culture that nurtures festivals of all faiths and religions. Theatre, drama and entertainment of all sorts including discotheques are there.
