Indian Urban Landscapes by Kamalan Travels

KAMALAN READY-TO-TRAVEL

INDIAN URBAN LANDSCAPES an eleven-day journey to major metropolitan cities in India

Kamalan means born from the lotus, the strongest symbol of purity in the Eastern traditions, evoking the blossoming of an extraordinary travel experience.

WHY KAMALAN Travel, Hand-crafted for you Once you have selected your Kamalan pathway, we personalise the journey based on your personality and interests and add unique curated activities to make sure it is tailormade exclusively for you.

Value-added Services Whether it be a pre-activated Indian mobile phone, a complimentary massage or a meal at a destination, travelling with Kamalan generates value for you, inspiring a travel experience unlike any other.

24/7 Dedicated Support During your Kamalan journey, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always assisted by a dedicated Concierge. They are also your source for any impromptu suggestions (restaurants, boutiques) or local events (concerts, plays, festivals).

Kamalan Quality Standards We undertake regular inspections of hotels, transportation and curated activities. Our in-depth knowledge of each destination enables us to select services best suited for your travel needs.

Local Experts Our handpicked team of local experts are recognised authorities in their respective fields (art, cuisine, history etc.) and are fluent in multiple languages, ensuring that you will cherish your interactions.

INDIAN URBAN LANDSCAPES an eleven-day journey to major metropolitan cities in India

Meant as an initiation into the incredible diversity of India, Kamalan’s Ready-To-Travel programs are classic journeys that you can purchase off the shelf and get packing! Born out of a synchronous blend of 30 years of travel experience, these journeys have been curated with passion and care. India’s growing urban landscapes, which are some of the world’s largest, have their own stories to tell. India’s cities span different eras in different areas and this journey shows you the contrasts with which the new generation lives viz-a-viz the old. The animatedly erratic face of each Indian city has an inimitable character, be it in their language, their culture, the people’s attitudes, their histories. Their uniqueness is only experienced when one visits them. This journey begins in the nation’s capital Delhi, which is also the melting pot of India from where the path flies to the country’s first colonial capital and the pride of Bengal, Kolkata. From Kolkata, the route heads straight to the pearl of the Deccan and the capital of two states, Hyderabad and then over to India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore. The path heads over to the financial capital of India and the home of ‘Bollywood’, Mumbai where it ends. The next few pages will give you a glimpse into each city. SEE includes the places you will explore and have the opportunity to indulge in. DO provides optional activities you can add on to your journey to further personalize your stay in India according to your pace and style. The Accommodation pages give you choices of three hotel categories.

2 NIGHTS

DELHI

2 hr flight

2 NIGHTS

KOLKATA

2 hr flight

2 NIGHTS

HYDERABAD

1 hr flight

2 NIGHTS

BANGALORE

2 hr flight

2 NIGHTS

MUMBAI

DELHI fly in to Delhi 2 nights

SEE

THE CAPITAL CITY India’s capital is an enchanting medley of different influences, one foot deeply grounded in time-revered traditions, whilst the other steps forth confidently into the future. Destroyed and rebuilt several times by just as many rulers over two and half millennia, Delhi is one of India’s most multifaceted cities, embracing diversity; simultaneously offering the traveler historic masterpieces, and sophisticated boutiques in modern central Delhi. A city of cities, it is a treasure-trove of intriguing sights and tales too.

RED FORT This “massive rhubarb-red curtain wall pierced by a pair of mighty gates and fortified by a ripple of projecting bastions” completed in 1648, is the grand legacy of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

JAMA MASJID

The final architectural triumph of Shah Jahan, Jama Masjid is India’s largest mosque. Capable of holding a 25,000 worshippers, this sacred place towers over Old Delhi. Once inside you can climb the minaret for spectacular views.

HUMAYUN’S TOMB EXPLORE HANDLOOMS AND HANDICRAFTS

VISIT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

GUIDED TOUR THROUGH SHAHPUR JAT

INTERACT WITH AN ODISSI DANCE PERFORMER

Set up like a traditional village, this museum aims to preserve traditional crafts of India. Highlights include an enormous carved temple rath (chariot), a mock Gujarati haveli (house), giant terracotta figures.

Offering a compelling snapshot of India’s last 5000 years, exhibits include rare Harappan Civilisation relics, Silk Route antiquities, a mesmerising collection of miniature paintings, wood carvings and more.

Take a guided walk through the narrow streets of Shahpur Jat. Discover ruins, designer shops or a typical Haryanavi House. The earning from this walk goes to a foundation named “Kamalini”.

Odissi is one of the oldest forms of Indian classical dances in existence, dating back to at least 2,000 years. You will have the opportunity to meet a professional dancer and request a private performance.

*Price on request

‘A monument to love’, Humayun’s tomb is the city’s most sublime sight with graceful high arches and meringue-like domes. It was commissioned by the widow of Emperor Humayan in tribute to her husband.

LOTUS TEMPLE This peaceful temple is made up of pure white marble in the shape of a lotus flower, a symbol common in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It is the last of seven Major Bahai’s temples built around the world.

KOLKATA fly in to Kolkata 2 nights

SEE

CITY OF POETS

VICTORIA MEMORIAL Fondly known as the Grand Dame of Kolkata, The Oberoi Grand is situated in a prime location, near the central business district, bustling markets and cultural landmarks. Dating back to the late 1880s, it was frequented by the country’s leading figures during colonial times and even now, hosts grand functions for Heads of State in the city’s largest pillarless Grand Ballroom. (2 nights)

The incredible Victoria Memorial is a vast, beautifully proportioned festival of white marble. A memorial to Queen Victoria following her death in 1901, it is one of the many remnants of Kolkata’s colonial past.

MARBLE PALACE

The 19th century Marble Palace mansion which was built by a wealthy Bengali merchant, Raja RajendraMullick, who had a passion for collecting art. It served as his residence and is now the residence of his descendants.

KALIGHAT TEMPLE BOAT RIDE ON THE HOOGLY RIVER

HERITAGE WALK THROUGH BBD AREA

EXPLORE KUMORTULI

CAFFEINE FIX AT INDIA COFFEE HOUSE

Sail the flowing murky waters of the Hoogly River, on the banks of which the grand metropolis of Kolkata stands.

Discover the grandeur of India’s first colonial capital as you walk through ‘British Calcutta’ and marvel at some of the first British structures in India.

The Kumartoli potter’s village is an exotic enclave of creativity, from where the clay images of the goddess Durga are supplied for the occasion of Durga Pujo every year. Take a walk through the potters’ village and interact with the artisans.

This coffee house used to be a meeting place for poets and artistes from the world of art and culture. Today, it is more a place where students use to hang out. Today still, you might catch lively discussions during evenings.

*Price on request

This ancient Kali temple is Kolkata’s holiest spot for Hindus and possibly the source of the city’s name. Today’s version, a 1809 rebuild, has floral- and peacock-motif tiles that look more Victorian than Indian.

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL Seat of the Anglican diocese of Kolkata, St Paul’s would look quite at home in Cambridgeshire. Built 1839–47, it has a remarkably wide nave and features a stained-glass window by pre-Raphaelite maestro Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

HYDERABAD fly in to Hyderabad 2 nights

SEE

THE CITY OF PEARLS

CHARMINAR Hyderabad was historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre, and it continues to be known as the City of Pearls. The Old City of Hyderabad is everything you might dream an Indian old city to be – narrow lanes thronged with markets, chai shops, wandering animals, autorickshaws, a whirl of noise, colour, languages and religions dotted with stately old architecture.

Hyderabad’s principal landmark and city symbol was built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and the end of epidemics caused by Golconda’s water shortage.

MEKKA MASJID

This mosque is one of the world’s largest, with 10,000 men praying here at major Muslim festivals. Several bricks embedded above the prayer hall’s central arch are made with soil from Mecca, hence the mosque’s name.

CHOWMAHALLA PALACE DO A HERITAGE WALK WITH AN ARCHITECT

EXPLORE HAVELI WITH RENOWNED DESIGNER

TAKE A COOKING CLASS WITH AN EXPERT

EMBARK ON A GEOLOGICAL TOUR

Explore the southern district of Mumbai - a treasure trove of colonial architecture. The walk becomes even more exciting if you take it with a knowledgeable, witty, interactive architect who understands the city’s soul like no other.

Take a closer look at Bollywood, the Hindi film industry with a visit to a working film set, watch a director work his magic, meet the technicians, visit a film studio where the magic you see is woven and drive by the homes of the stars.

Dabbawala translates to ‘one who carries a box’. Take a ride with our local expert across India’s busiest metropolis, watch the Dabbawalas and get a glimpse into a primitive yet one of the most efficient delivery systems in the world.

Take a stroll along the Bandra Bandstand Promenade, where some of the most popular Bollywood stars live. Explore one of the most charming areas of India’s largest metropolis.

*Price on request

*Free

*Price on request

*Free, donation is optional

This opulent 18th- and 19th-century palace, the main residence of several nizams, comprises four garden courtyards in a line from north to south. Most dazzling is the Khilwat Mubarak at the end of the first courtyard, a magnificent durbar hall where nizams held ceremonies.

SALARJUNG MUSEUM The 40-plus galleries include early South Indian bronzes and wood and stone sculptures, miniature paintings, European fine art, historic manuscripts, a jade room and another room of fancy walking sticks. A special highlight is the Veiled Rebecca by 19th-century Italian sculptor Benzoni.

BANGALORE Fly in to Bangalore 2 nights

SEE

SILICON VALLEY OF INDIA This young, dynamic and fresh city is the hub of India’s booming IT industry and correspondingly attracts an enigmatic, youthful crowd. The benevolent climate, interesting sights and progressive dining, cultural and artistic scenes make Bangalore an exciting place to be. Despite the recent surge in population and development, the city’s green spaces have been carefully preserved and its ex-colonial district and the central district remain more or less unchanged. The city still retains some its old world charm in a few typically south Indian neighborhoods.

VIDHAN SOUDHA Visit Vidhan Soudha, home to the state legislature and completed in 1956. It is an imposing building, constructed in a style sometimes described as Mysore NeoDravidian, and incorporates elements of Indo-Saracenic style as well.

BANGALORE PALACE

Designed to resemble Windsor Castle, and purchased by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Bengaluru castle remains the residence to the Wodeyars, the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore state.Indulge this misplaced nostalgia by taking a tour.

BOTANICAL GARDENS BANGALORE WALKS

NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART

GOVERNMENT MUSEUM

ATTAKALARI INDIA BIENNIAL

Take a walk through the medieval and colonial parts of the most ‘modern’ city in India and discover its past. Let and learned guide regale you with fascinating tales from Bangalore’s history.

Housed in a 200 year-old mansion – the former vacation home of the Raja of Mysore – this museum showcases an impressive permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions. The Old Wing has works from preIndependence India.

Established in 1886, as one of the oldest museums in India it holds a prized collection of ancient coins, sculptures and paintings. Among the most precious in its collection are relics from the Indus Valley Civilisation.

The Attakkalari India Biennial is a unique platform in South Asia for fresh voices in contemporary dance, digital arts and research. It is considered South Asia’s largest international contemporary dance festival.

*Price on request

The Lalbagh botanical gardens are a sprawling expanse of lush, landscaped terrain came into existence as a private garden for Hyder Ali in 1760. To appreciate as much of this 240 acre oasis take a guided tour in eco-friendly buggy.

BASAVANAGUDI TEMPLE Visit Bangalore’s most famous temple, built by Kempegowda in the 16th-century Dravidian style. The Basavanagudi Bull Temple contains a huge granite monolith of Nandi, a remarkable feature.

MUMBAI Fly in to Mumbai 2 nights

SEE

THE CITY OF DREAMS

THE GATEWAY OF INDIA Mumbai is the microcosm of India, its financial capital and its largest city. Once a collection of fishing hamlets spread over seven islands, it is today a screaming metropolis. From the Portuguese who established it, to the British, all the colonizers who set foot here left their imprints on the city. Lovingly called the ‘City of Dreams’, Mumbai’s charm is its allure. It never ceases to amaze the casual visitor.

Visit Mumbai’s most iconic landmark, an Indo-Saracenic monument built to commemorate the 1911 visit of King George V, the only British monarch to visit India. It’s a magical place to view a sunrise or sunset.

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS

This UNESCO world heritage site was named after Queen Victoria and is a spectacular example of Gothic architecture with interjections of Indian influence.

ELEPHANTA CAVES ARCHITECTURE HERITAGE WALK

BOLLYWOOD TOURS

DAY WITH THE DABBAWALAS

BANDRA VISIT

Take a stroll along the Bandra Bandstand Promenade, where some of the most popular Bollywood stars live. Explore one of the most charming areas of India’s largest metropolis.

*Price on request

Gracing the interiors of the caves are large sculpted depictions of the Hindu God Shiva, hewn from the sheer basalt walls. Located on an island just outside Mumbai, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a walk back in time.

CRAWFORD MARKET Now called the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, it was built in 1869. It is mainly a wholesale fruit and vegetable market, but also has stores selling imported cosmetics, foods and household articles. It is an interesting stop for those looking for a glimpse at daily urban life.

PRICE PROPOSAL FOR LUXURY ACCOMMODATION experience the grandeur of India by staying at its most iconic hotels, and indulge in the travel experience of a lifetime

CITY

HOTEL

ROOM CATEGORY

NIGHTS

Delhi

Leela Palace

Premier Room

Kolkata

The Oberoi Grand

Premier Room

Hyderabad

Taj Falaknuma

Deluxe Room

Bangalore

Taj West End

Luxury Room

Mumbai

Taj Mahal Palace

Superior City View

Cost based on a Double/Twin Room sharing basis:

USD 3545

per person valid from 1 October 2015 to 15 April 2016*

* Peak period supplements may apply

PRICE PROPOSAL FOR MID-RANGE ACCOMMODATION experience true Indian hospitality in authentic settings while getting the best value for your money

CITY

HOTEL

ROOM CATEGORY

NIGHTS

Delhi

The Claridges

Deluxe Room

Kolkata

The Oberoi Grand

Deluxe Room

Hyderabad

Taj Krishna

Deluxe Room

Bangalore

Villa Pottipati

Category 1

Mumbai

Trident Nariman Point

Superior Room

Cost based on a Double/Twin Room sharing basis:

USD 2095

per person valid from 1 October 2015 to 15 April 2016*

* Peak period supplements may apply

PRICE PROPOSAL FOR BUDGET ACCOMMODATION experience India the simple and economical way without compromising on service, hygiene and comfort

CITY

HOTEL

ROOM CATEGORY

NIGHTS

Delhi

The Indus

Standard Room

Kolkata

Kenilworth

Executive Room

Hyderabad

Hampshire Plaza

Basic Room

Bangalore

Villa Pottipati

Category 1

Mumbai

West End

Junior Suite

Cost based on a Double/Twin Room sharing basis:

USD 1345

per person valid from 1 October 2015 to 15 April 2016*

* Peak period supplements may apply

TERMS AND CONDITIONS THE PRICE INCLUDES: • 10 nights’ accommodation with breakfast included at specified or similar hotels, based on availability • All transfers, excursions, sightseeing tours will be in Toyota Innova • Road taxes, parking fee, fuel charges, driver overnight charges as per programme • Local English speaking guide during sightseeing as per programme • All activities and visits as mentioned in the programme • Monument entrance fee • Kamalan representative for assistance on all arrival and departure transfers • All current applicable taxes THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: • International flights and visa fees for India • Expenses of a personal nature like tipping, laundry and telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc. • Domestic airfare (will be given as a supplement quote) • Any spa treatment, safari and ride, not mentioned in inclusions • Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary • Any insurance • Any other services not mentioned in the inclusions SUPPLEMENT COST FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: Fares* for domestic flight will depend on dates. Please contact us directly at contact@kamalan.travel for current prices * Flight timings and fares are subject to change

For detailed Kamalan Booking Terms and Conditions, please click here.

TRANSPORTATION

Toyota Innova - Price Included

Toyota Fortuner - Price on Request

The best way to get around in India is having your own vehicle and a chauffeur, who knows routes like the back of his hand and can communicate effortlessly with local people. At Kamalan, we give you the luxury of an air-conditioned car with excellent features that allow you to set your own pace, without having to worry about making public-transport connections. Take in the magnificent sights of India’s urban escapes as you travel from one city to another.

Driver

Kamalan hand-picks its drivers and they become our local eyes and ears. Besides being able to converse in English, your driver will be a huge help in providing advice on local customs and helping you with everyday needs.

Safety

Comfort

Media

Wi-fi

• Seatbelts for all seats • Airbags for front seats

• Air-conditioning and heating • Head rests

• Music playlist curated by our team

• Stay connected with wifi on the go

THE PATHFINDERS

At Kamalan, we call pathfinders those, among our colleagues, who are a reservoir of knowledge about India and its limitless possibilities for a traveller. Those who are constantly on the look out for cultural events, lovely places to stay, enriching experiences. Those who are ever so eager to accompany you through your decision making process. Those who can craft for you a unique journey, respectful of your desires and your budget, not a standardised packaged tour. What unifies such a group of people from varied walks of life and different regions of the world? It is an incommensurable passion for their beloved India and the desire to share it with discerning independent travellers from all over the world. Kamalanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team of pathfinders is there to advice, guide and help you discover India based on your personality. They devote a significant amount of time visiting new hotels, following up with on-site changes in facilities and staying abreast with cultural festivals and events to create enriching travel experiences.