1. North India
2. South India
Mumbai - Jaipur - Ajmer - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi.
In India, philosophy and food are inseparable and Indian hospitality is justifiably legendary. A culinary tour is a different way of travelling to regions of India with interactions in urban cities and village life through the common thread of cuisine as it is through any other art or social activity. Experience the Indian way of life through the traditional and local cuisine's that depend the understanding of the country visited, and make the travel richer and tastier! From North Indian barbecue and Mughlai cuisine to South Indian fare, Ibex takes you on a journey sampling varied food, taking in diverse religions, cultures, languages and a way of life.
In the North, the weather varies from a scorching heat to a nail-biting cold, with a sprinkling of showers in between. So, the food here is quite rich and heavy. Also, the Mughal influence has resulted in meat-eating habits among many North Indians. Also, a variety of flours are used to make different types of breads like chapathis, rotis, phulkas, puris and naan. In the arid areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, a great variety of dals and preserves (achars) are used to substitute the lack of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Day 01 Arrive Bombay
Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 Bombay - Jaipur - Ajmer
In time tansfer to airport to board flight to Jaipur. Arrive and drive directly to Ajmer. Hotel Mansingh. Lunch & Dinner. Overnight Ajmer.
Day 03 Ajmer
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner at the Hotel. Demo of Indian cuisine. Half day excursion to Puskhar. Overnight Ajmer.
Day 04 Ajmer
Breakfast. Morning tour of Ajmer. Lunch and Dinner at the Hotel. Demo of Indian cuisine. Overnight Ajmer.
Day 05 Ajmer - Jaipur
Breakfast. Drive to Jaipur. Check-in at Hotel . Lunch. Afternoon city tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince and ever since, it has retained this colour. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas. Dinner. Demo of Indian cuisine. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 06 Jaipur
Breakfast. Morning visit Amber Fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Lunch and Dinner. Demo of Indian cuisine. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 07 Jaipur - Agra
Breakfast. Drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Lunch & Dinner. Demo of Indian cuisine. Overnight Agra.
Day 08 Agra
Breakfast. Half day city tour. Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud- Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Lunch and Dinner. Demo of Indian cuisine. Overnight Agra.
Day 09 Agra
Breakfast. Drive to Delhi and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon combined tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb. Overnight Delhi.
Day 10 Depart Delhi
Transfer to airport to board flight for onward journey.
South India (Kerala Curry & Culture Tour) - 10 Days
Cochin - Periyar - Mararikulam - Cochin
In Kerala, lamb stew and appams, Malabar fried prawns and idlis, fish molie and dosai, rice puttu and sweetened coconut milk are the many combinations eaten at breakfast. Puttu is glutinous rice powder steamed like a pudding in a bamboo shoot. Sweets are very popular all over India and are usually cooked in a lot of fat. 'Jalebis', luscious pretzel shaped loops fried to a golden crisp and soaked in saffron syrup can be had from any street vendor in North India. 'Kheer' or 'payasam' are equivalents of the rice pudding and 'Kulfi' is an Indian ice cream made in conical moulds and frozen.
Day 1 Arrive Kochi - Kumarakom
Arrive Cochin and transfer to Coconut Lagoon.Sunset cruise on a Rice Boat . Dinner and overnight COCONUT LAGOON.
Day 2 Kumarakom
After breakfast short cruise to "Philip Kutty's Farm" (A small home stead on an island). See the cultivation of various tropical fruits and vegetables and also a short demo of simple home cooking. Return to Coconut Lagoon for a talk on backwater food and cooking with a demo follwed by lunch. PM : At leisure. A cultural show follwed by Dinner.
Day 3 Kumarakom
After Breakfast demonstration of preparation of a "Sadhya"(vegetarian wedding feast) Lunch would be sadhya - food served on banana leaf (to be eaten by hand). PM : At leisure
Cultural show followed by dinner.
Day 4 Kuranakom - Periyar
After Breakfast proceed to Periyar. Check in Spice Village followed by lunch. PM : Boat Safari in Lake Periyar. Dinner and overnight Spice Village.
Day 5 Periyar
After Breakfast visit a Spice Plantation and Tea Plantation. Lunch and Leisure Late afternoon cooking demonstration. Theme - cooking with spices.Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Periyar
Early morning tour of Spice Village to indentify various spice plants growing in the village. After Breakfast cookery demo followed by lunch. Late afternoon walking tour of Kumily and the Spice Shops .Dinner and overnight.
Day 7 Periyar - Kochi
After Breakfast proceed to Kochi. Stop at the plantation Bungalow for a typical home lunch. Proceed to Cochin. Dinner and overnight Cochin.
Day 8 Kochi
After Breakfast city tour of Cochin including the ancient Spice Market at Mattancherry and Chinese Fishing Nets. Proceed to Brunton Boatyard for a "History" lunch. Return to Casino. Kathakali performance followed by dinner.
Day 9 Kochi
Half-day hands -on experience with Hotel Chef on various Kerala Food. PM : Leisure.Farewell Dinner.
Day 10 Departure Cochin
In time transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.
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