This post contains links to pages of the places we stopped during our tour India in the order of our tour. Just click the word LINK to view the site. In a few cases, the links go to the YouTube video.
All Dates are January 2017
9 Monday. We
left Springfield, Missouri for Charlotte, NC then boarded British Airways for
the overnight flight to London Heathrow.
10 Tuesday.
We arrive in London at 7:10 am and board British Airways to Mumbai at 9:50 am.
11 Wednesday.
It’s 12:15 in the morning when we land in Mumbai. We grab a local cab and head
to the Trident hotel for some rest.
Later we walk across the nearby cricket grounds to
the old Prince of Wales museum now called CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ VASTU SANGRAHALAYA
12 Thursday. Mumbai. We head for the docks by the Gate of India and purchase
a boat ride to Elephanta Island where a monkey steals Sandy’s Coke
Gate of India and
Elephanta Island by boat LINK
13 Friday. Mumbai. we join a tour of the city along Marine Drive, a stop at Dhobi Ghat (laundry), the
Hanging Gardens and Mani Bhavan- former residence of Mahatma Ghandi.
Mumbai City Tour
Dhobi Ghat laundry LINK
14. Saturday.
We’re back to the airport for a flight south to Cochin on the Arabian Sea in
the southern state of Kerala.
15. Sunday.
Today we explore Cochin- the Hill Palace, the Dutch Palace, a walk through the
Jewish Quarter, watching fishermen and a relaxing cruise.
Watching the
fishermen LINK
Cruising Cochin
Harbour LINK
16. Monday.
We fly to Delhi, India’s capital city.
17.
Tuesday. Lot’s to see: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Presidential
Palace. We take a Rickshaw Ride through the local bazaar. In the evening it’s
Indian Cuisine with a cooking demonstration.
Visit Jama Masjid LINK
Auto Rickshaw Ride LINK
Biker Rickshaw Ride LINK
18. Wednesday.
We stop by Qutab Minar—the world’s tallest brick minaret, which dates to the
1000s. We visit Humayan’s Tomb and the Sikh Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. After lunch
we drive to Agra.
Qutub Minar LINK
Humayan’s Tomb LINK
Gurdwara Bangla
Sahib LINK
Monument to Mahatma
Ghandi LINK
19 Thursday.
We are stunned by the Taj Mahal. We board a Tongas (horse-drawn carriage). Next
we are off to Agra Fort built of red sandstone.
Visit Taj Mahal LINK
Marble workers video LINK
Visit Agra Fort LINK
20 Friday.
We’re off to Ranthambore National Park but first we visit Fatehpur Sikri built
in the 1500s. We get lunch at Bharatpur then take a train to Ranthambore.
Fatepur Sikri LINK
Palace at Bharatpur
LINK
Train to
Ranthambore LINK
21. Saturday.
We take morning and afternoon drives in Ranthambore. In the afternoon, we
photograph a tiger.
Ranthambore Park – “The
Eye of the Tiger” LINK
Camel cart tour of
Kilchipur LINK
Pottery worker
video LINK
22. Sunday.
Following a morning game drive, we head to Jaipur—“The Pink City.” In the
evening, we are dinner guests at the home of an Indian noble family.
City Palace Jaipur LINK
Dinner with an Indian family
23. Monday.
In the morning we visit the magnificent Amber Fort. After lunch, we take it
easy and walkabout Jaipur.
Amber Palace LINK
24. Tuesday.
We visit the City Palace and Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). After lunch in Jaipur, we visit a Hindu Temple then return
to Delhi.
25. Wednesday.
Our long trip home begins with a 3:20 am flight to London, which arrives at
7:45. Two hours later, we board British Airways to Charlotte, NC and finally,
at 5:50 pm, we head to Springfield MO arriving at a little after 7pm.
Notes
Most of our tour of India was organised by Cosmos Tours. They don't pay me to advertise but maybe they should.
We've had good luck with Cosmos.
Given problems with airlines over the years, we have learned to arrive a day or two ahead of time and stay at or near the hotel where the tour begins.
We stayed at the Trident Hotel to connect with the tour group. There are a variety of hotels in the area.
Map of Mumbai Google Link
