Bengaluru

Capital of Karnataka State, Bengaluru, also known as the 'City of Gardens', is one of the most attractive cities in India with its beautiful parks, avenues and impressive buildings. The once-sedate cantonment settlement of the British has now spread way beyond the mud fort and the four towers constructed by Kempe Gowda in 1537. With its booming economy and racy lifestyle, the capital of Karnataka has metamorphosed from a sleepy Garden City into one of India's fastest growing, accommodating, technophiliac, and cosmopolitan cities.

Bangalore is a city of contrasts, going by several other aliases: India's Silicon Valley, Pub City, Shopper's Paradise, Garden City, Air-conditioned City, Gourmet's Delight, Pub Hopper's Paradise and Shopper's Hot Spot. Surrounded by weekend getaways, Bangalore makes an ideal hub for visitors who want to travel to the many hill stations and coastal towns of South India.

 

Chennai

This metropolis is often called the ‘Cultural Capital of India’ for its deep-rooted traditions and age-old heritage. A city younger than its image, Chennai has blossomed into a charming city within a span of just over 350 years.

The city gained recognition when, in 1639, Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, agents of the English East India Company, acquired a strip of land, called Chennapatnam on lease from the Vijayanagar King. Fort St. George that serves as the Government Secretariat today was built to set up a factory serving as a nucleus for British settlements.

The city was known as Madras till 1996 and later renamed Chennai. Today this buoyant metropolis is a blend of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. Spread over 200 sq km with the Bay of Bengal on the east, the city is the gateway to the rest of South India.

 

Mamallapuram

An ancient port with a flourishing maritime trade, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram is situated on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It was the chief sea port of the Pallavas who ruled over South India from the 1st century BC to 8th century AD and is recognised as the site of some of the greatest architectural and sculptural achievements in India.

Under the reign of the Narasimha Varman, this seaport began to grow as a great artistic centre. Mamallapuram is a world heritage site, and a testimonial to early Dravidian style of architecture.

 

Puducherry

A French colony up to 1954, Puducherry (earlier known as Pondicherry) is a small conclave in India that retains a distinctly French ambience and culture.

This small, quiet Union Territory is well known for its fine cuisine and good hotels.

The Ashram founded by Sri Aurobindo, the well-known philosopher, attracts thousands of people from all over the country and abroad who come here to learn yoga and to meditate. Puducherry is definitely a place to unwind for a great weekend getaway from Chennai or Bengaluru.

 

Thanjavur

Thanjavur (earlier known as Tanjore) was the royal city of the Chola, Nayak and the Maratha rulers. Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan, a giant, who, according to legend, devastated the neighbourhood and was killed by goddess Sri Anandavalli Amman and Lord Vishnu.

Tanjan's last request that the city might be named after him was granted. Thanjavur reached the zenith of its glory between 10th and 14th centuries, especially during the reign of Raja Raja Chola. Thanjavur has produced many classical musicians and Bharatanatyam dancers and is also well known for its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting and Thavil, a percussion instrument.

Apart from hundreds of ancient temples, the district is also known for its exquisite handicrafts, castings, pith craft and South Indian musical instruments.

 

Madurai

The oldest existing city in the Indian peninsula and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Madurai is richly steeped in cultural heritage. The city, earlier known as Madhurapuri, grew around a huge temple built by Pandian King Kulasekhara 2,500 years ago.

Madurai became famous during the Sangam period through the third and last conglomeration of Tamil scholars, which existed for more than 100 years. The city was the magnificent capital of Pandya kings and visited by travellers such as Megasthenes (302 BC), Pliny (77 AD), Ptolemy (140 AD), Marco Polo (1203 AD) and Ibu Batuta (1333 AD). Today, Madurai is synonymous with the awe-inspiring Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple

 

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is located at the southernmost point of peninsular India. It is the meeting point of three great water bodies: the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a pilgrim centre, it is well known for its beautiful views of sunrise, sunset and moonrise over the waters.

From the Sthalapurana of Kanyakumari and the inscriptions found on the premises, we learn that the temple was famous during the period of the later Cholas, and that it was actually built before the ancient Thanjavur temple.

 

Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram ("City of the Sacred Serpent"), the capital of Kerala, is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west. Also known as Trivandrum in the popular parlance the city is home to temples and museums. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in the Eastern, and North Eastern borders give some of the most enchanting picnic spots, a long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this district a much sought after tourist destination. With a good infrastructure, the city is an excellent base to explore Varkala, a famous seaside holiday destination.

 

Chennai

Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.

The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres.

Accommodation facility for tourists at Kovalam ranges from five star hotels to budget hotels and the choice of food is available at restaurants and cafeteria ranges from Continental varieties to South Indian tastes.

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city. The City of Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Ponmudi hill station etc. SMSM Institute, a State owned handicrafts emporium, is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles.

 

Alappuzha

This laid-back market town Alappuzha, previously known as Alleppy, is built on canals that form a web, which serves the coir industry. All around are coconut palms, and obviously, coir making, boat building, toddy tapping and fish farming are mainstays of the village economy.

Every August, Alappuzha comes to life with an adrenaline-pumping event that sees huge, low slung chundan vellams (snake boats), rowed by up to 100 people, compete for the Nehru Cup. Alappuzha's attraction does not, however, lie solely in its natural aspects. Apaprt from the Poomkavu Church, other well-known religious sites in and around Alappuzha are Mullackal Raja Rajeshwari Temple, Mannarasala Temple and Salafi Juma Masjid Mosque.

 

Kochi

Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala, is one of the most picturesque places in Kerala with an all weather harbour and a grand seascape and is termed the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. The earliest verifiable history of Kochi kingdom is traced to the last Perumal of the second Chera Dynasty, Rama Varma Kulashekara Perumal in the 12th century.

Chinese and Arab traders are believed to have been the first traders to this port, heralding a wave of subsequent visitors, the Portuguese, Dutch and British, who brought in the era of colonial power to the region. Kochi was able to offer in abundance the best of spices to the world, a reputation that continues to this day.

In addition to spices, the voyagers also coveted the fine ivory, sandalwood, perfumes and gold that came to this market town. At one point nothing but a small fishing village, the destiny of Kochi changed in 1341, with the flooding of the Periyar River, which rendered the then popular Kodungallur ineffective.

Among many repercussions of this event was the creation of a natural harbour at Kochi. It was Sir Robert Bristow, an experienced harbour engineer who came to Kochi in 1920 who was responsible for the modernization of Kochi harbour. The city is now the proud owner of one of the most beautiful ports of the country that is the biggest in Kerala and is also one of the premier industrial trading and commercial centres of southern India. Kochi expanded to include many towns and villages surrounding it and the corporation of Kochi was formed in 1967.

 

• HOTELS ...

  • At most hotels in India the  check-in time is 1400 hours and the  check-out time is 1200 hours.  Early  Check  In  or  Late  Check  Out  is  subject  to  availability  at  the  sole  discretion  of  the hotels.
  • In the case you are arriving at a hotel before 14:00 you should consider booking an extra night, because immediate occupancy of rooms at hotel is subject to availability at the goodwill of hotels.
  • Triple: Triple rooms are inexistent in India; normally it is a double room in which a folding extra bed is placed. This reduces the space and comfortable movement in the room. There is no standard extra bed and its size varies from hotel to hotel and may be more or less comfortable. Extra bed is not recommended for children over 10 years of age.
  • Smoking in public areas of a hotel is prohibited in India. Public areas include  reception, restaurants,  hotels,  pubs,  discotheques,  banquet  halls,  and  even  open  lawns  etc.  Though demarcated  spaces  exist  for  smokers,  no  service  is  allowed  in  these  enclosures;  the  only exception being smoking rooms at hotels.

• MEALS ...

  • If any meal is included in the cost, it normally refers to a fixed menu or a free buffet laid in the Coffee Shop or a place designed for it. We advise you to consult the hotel reception for more details.
  • The cost does not include meals at any specialty or gourmet restaurants the hotel might have. The hotel may allow you to have meals at these restaurants at a supplement at their sole discretion.
  • Meals cannot be taken away from the restaurants to the rooms or in other public places such as pool, garden etc.

• TRAVEL BY ROAD ...

  • Road condition in India and the subcontinent can run full range from six lane pay ways, normal highways to very poor un-surfaced roads.
  • Driving here also follows different practices as all types of vehicles, animals and people use the roads.
  • Road conditions may also change due to climatic conditions such as rains, landslides and the commuting times can vary due to this. And this is obviously beyond our control.
  • Road journeys in the Indian Subcontinent can seem quite startling at first sight; however, our  drivers  are  well  trained  and  have  a  special  permission  given  to  transport  foreign  tourists. They  might  have  some  knowledge  of  English  but  normally  they  do  not  speak  other  foreign languages.
  • The driver is not allowed to carry the services of a guide in India.  It is advisable not to speak to the  driver  while  he  is  driving. We  suggest that  you  relax  and  enjoy the  extraordinary sights en route.
  • During the visit to Taj Mahal, from the parking, you would have to take a battery operated non-polluting,  non-air-conditioned  microbuses.  These  cannot  be  booked  in  advance  and  you would have to wait in queue for your turn.

• AIRFARES AND TRAVELLING BY AIR ...

  • The proposal indicates the best existing price. Bookings are made once you accept the proposal  and  send  your  names  and  other  details  required.  Your  booking  form  should  include the Name and Surname as they appear in the passport along with the age of the passengers. This is very important as change of names due to   error is not allowed and the booking must be cancelled to issue new tickets and new rates might be applicable. Holding tickets without the day of travel and correct names is now allowed by the airlines.
  • Airlines may also modify airfares at any time till the time of issuance of the tickets. If such a case does happen, we shall inform you of the new rates applicable and these shall apply.
  • Airlines  may  decide  to  change  or  cancel  flights,  without  prior  notice  and  Indior  Tours cannot be held liable for this. We shall, however do our best to maintain the original program and would inform you of any discounts or supplement rising from a situation beyond our control.
  • Baggage  trolleys  are  available  at  the  airports.  Should  you  require  extra  services  of  a porter to move your luggage from the carousel to the vehicle or from the vehicle to the check-in counter please let us know in anticipation so that we can check with the airport authority or the airlines if such service is availability and arrange it.
  • Our representative will meet and assist you on your arrival and departure within the area permissible to them under security regulations of the Airport Authority.

• BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE ...

  • Checked Baggage: Baggage exceeding in size, the sum of the 3 dimensions (length + breadth + height) in excess of 45 inches or 115 centimeters, cannot be treated as hand baggage and will have to be checked in. The following are the permitted allowance:

   

           First Class                                                                         40 Kgs.

           Executive Class                                                                 35 Kgs.

           Economy Class (Y,B,M & H)                                              20 Kgs.

           Economy Class (K,Q,V,W,G,L,U,S,T,X, N & E)               15 Kgs.

           Infants not entitled to a seat (All economy classes)          Nil

   

  • Infants will be entitled to 1 collapsible stroller/carrycot/infant car seat.
  • The maximum  weight  permissible for  a  single  piece  of  baggage  is  32  kgs.  This  rule  is applicable on the entire Air India network
  • Cabin Baggage:  The  Government  of  India  regulations  permit  only  one  piece  of  cabin baggage  on  board.  The  dimensions  of  which  should  not  exceed  115  linear  cms  and weight  should not exceed 7 kgs. The  dimensions  of  the  hand  baggage  should  not exceed 55 cm X 35 cm X 25 cm totaling not more than 115 linear cms for Boeing as well as  Airbus.  The  hand  baggage  dimensions for  ATR  should  not  exceed  50  cm  X  45  cm X  20  cm  totaling  not  more  than  115  linear  cms.  Trolley  bags  with  the  above  specified dimensions will be allowed.
  • An infant carrying basket is allowed per infant traveling within India.
  • Guests travelling on flights originating from Jammu, Srinagar and Leh stations will not be
  • Contours  are  available  at  all  airports  to  check  the  dimensions.  If  it  exceeds  these
  • Gels,  alcohol,  liquids,  creams,  lotions,  and  sharp  articles,  etc.  are  not  permitted  in  the
  • If you are arriving at Delhi and Mumbai from an international flight and then in transit to
  • Please note that you can carry electronic items like camera etc. but without the batteries. allowed to carry any hand baggage. specifications,  you  will  be  requested  to  check  your  bag  into  the  baggage  hold.  Hand baggage is accepted in the  cabin  subject to availability of  space in the Over Head Bin. Restricted stowage space is also available under the front seat. In the event of no space being available in the aircraft to stow hand baggage, it will be necessary to remove and load the same in the baggage hold as per safety regulations. hand baggage. another flight (international or within India) you may not be permitted to carry liquids more than 100 ml in their cabin baggage when going through security at these airports. Batteries  should  be  taken  out  and  placed  in  the  check-  in  baggage.  Otherwise  the security personnel at the airport shall remove the batteries and throw them away.
    • Indior Tours suggests the following:
      • Take small toiletries in your cabin luggage so that you are not left without supplies in case your checked luggage is lost by the airline.
      • In  case  of  special  medical  prescription  -  pacemaker  :  please  carry  the English translation for the prescription with you in the cabin baggage.
      • Remember to take more medication than necessary for your stay in case you get stuck in place.
      • Also take all your medicines in the cabin luggage.
      • Take your chargers, phones, cameras etc. in the cabin luggage.

• INSURANCE ...

  • All arrangements made by Indior Tours are in the capacity of an agent only. Indior Tours will not be liable for  claims or expenses arising from  circumstances beyond its  control  such as accidents, injuries, delayed or cancellation of flights & acts by forces of nature.
  • Force  Majeure:  Indior  Tours  shall  not  be  liable  to  pay  any  compensation  where  the performance  or  prompt  performance  of  our  contractual  obligations  is  prevented  or  affected  by or  you  otherwise  suffer  any  damage  or  loss  as  a  result  of  “force  majeure”.  In  these  Booking Conditions, “force majeure” means any event which Indior Tours or the supplier of the service(s) in  question  could  not,  even  with  all  due  care,  foresee  or  avoid.  Such  events  may  include  war or threat of war,  riot,  civil  strife, actual or threatened terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or  nuclear  disaster,  adverse  weather  conditions, fire  and  all  similar  events  outside  our  control. Indior  Tours  and  its  associates  are  not  liable  for  any  compensation  for  damage  caused  by  a force  majeure  or  other  unforeseen  events  that  Indior  Tours  or  its  associates  could  not  have prevented even through utmost care. Indior Tours would notify our clients/agents timely of such force  majeure  events  as  and  when  feasible  and  will  aim  to  limit  the  damage  and  supplement cost  befalling the  clients/agents for making  alternate  arrangements  deviating from the  planned program.
  • We  suggests that apart from  regular travel insurance,  you  should also take extra  cover for cancellation, natural and man-made disasters, technical hazard that can cause any significant or non-significant physical damage and destruction or loss of time, life and property.

• FESTIVALS ...

  Local  festivals  may  fall  on  the  date  of  travel  and  it  is  possible  that  the  visits  to  places of  interest  are  modified  by  the  local  government  or  authorities  for  which  we  cannot  be  held responsible. The program would be amended accordingly so that none of the visits included are missed on an alternative provided.

• ACTIVITIES ...

  (Wildlife Safari/ Boat ride/ Desert & Rural Safari/ Bicycle & Rickshaw Ride/ Animal Rides)

  • Please  be  aware that  local  laws  governing transportation  safety  in Indian Subcontinent may differ from those in your country. As per your itinerary, you may indulge in an activity that includes  alternate  mode  of  transport  including  canters  and  jeeps,  bicycle  and  auto-rickshaws, camels,  elephants  and  horses  and  a  variety  of  All  passengers  participating  in  village/desert safaris  should  be  ready  for  a  rustic  experience  as  local  jeeps  may  have  side  facing  seats (seats placed along the length of the vehicle). Also, please be informed that most of the Wildlife Safari  vehicles are open and as  such  vehicles like jeeps/canters used for  safaris and for other sightseeing tours / excursions may or may not have seat belts. All guests must acknowledge that they are aware of the risks involved depending on the type of tour taken.

   

  Boats: To take part in any boat ride, you need to be of average mobility to be able to climb on and  off  all  these  boats  unaided;  able  to  disembark  onto  makeshift  docks  without  handrails,  or onto muddy and slippery riverbanks.

  Canters: These are large, open trucks with wooden bench seats in the back and used for safaris on sharing basis in the national parks.

  Elephant ride at Amber Fort (Jaipur): Elephant rides can either be taken to the fort or from the fort based on the directives  received from the Rajasthan State Tourism Board and are booked on first come-first serve basis. As such for Elephant ride at Amber Fort, an early departure from the hotel is recommended. Also note Elephant ride to or from the Fort is subject to same being operational and may be stopped due to various reasons by Rajasthan State Tourism Board

  Important: At all times, our Tour Managers, Local Guides, and Representatives will assist and brief  guests  about these  activities  but  cannot  guarantee the  uninterrupted  services  during their stay in Indian Subcontinent. All guests must bear full responsibilities for such activities releasing Indior Tours, its associates, its directors, its agents of any claim. It would be in your interest to buy a suitable insurance to cover all risks associated with such travel.

• SUGGESTED CLOTHING ...

  • To  respect local traditions, we  suggest that  you  should avoid to wearing dresses which are short, tight fitting, sleeveless or with deep necklines. This is particularly recommended during visit to places worship and meetings with families etc.).  Visitors going to a religious place on the tour should be modestly dressed. Admission may be denied (depending on the code of conduct followed  at  the  religious  place  being  visited)  to  anyone  wearing  shorts  pants/skirts,  sleeveless t-shirts/blouses.  Bare  shoulders  and  mid-riffs  are  not  permitted  and  should  be  covered  with shawls. Visitors are required to take their shoes off and cover their heads (with scarves/ stoles) before entering a  religious  complex. Please try and avoid  very  revealing  swimsuits even at the hotel swimming pool.

• POPULATION ...

  In  order  not  to  encourage  begging,  we  suggest  that  you  should  not  distribute  anything  during your visits  (candy, money, toys, pens etc.).Should you wish to made donations in cash or kind, please consult your guide who would provide you with the best advice.

  We suggest that you spend your money to buy locally produced things made my local craftsmen and take them to the  country of  your origin and  contribute to the local economy thus providing work to those in need.

• PRICE AND OTHER CONDITION OF SALE ...

  • Prices are subject to change in case any supplier decides to increase the rates at short notice or any change in tax structure is proposed by the Government of India and Reserve Bank of India regulations pertaining to taxes. Similarly in case of any hike in the hotel rates, transport and fuel charges, entrances to the monuments, fluctuation in the rate of exchange, or a change caused  by  an  unforeseen  political  activity  or  force  majeure  situation,  we  reserves  the  right  to adjust the tour price accordingly.

  • The  rates provided in this quotation are  confidential exclusively for the person or agent to  which they  are  being  sent.  These  cannot  be  disclosed to  any third  party  without the  written consent of Indior Tours.

  • The  costs indicated are based on  rates  contracted for leisure business. No  conference/business/corporate activity is envisaged in this tour cost. Including any such activity may result in the above group being treated as a business delegation and the hotels may like to charge rates applicable for Business delegations.

  • For  package  deals,  Indior  Tours  may  not  be  in  a  position  to  provide  supporting  bills. Supporting bills may be provided only where available and only if it was agreed in writing before confirmation of any tour, conference or event.

  • In case of any refunds / adjustments, if applicable, the same will be processed between Indior Tours and the Foreign Tour Operator. No refund will be given directly to the clients in India.

  • Any dispute will be settled within the guidelines framed by Indior Tours and at courts and forums at Delhi shall have exclusive jurisdiction in this regard.

• RECOMMENDED TIPS ...

  (Indicative only because it is at the discretion of each / not to spare but only tickets ) :

  • 10% of the total amount of the invoice/meals in restaurants, hotels
  • ` 20 (Indian Rupees) / porterage at hotels
  • PP 03 € per day for guide escort (to be submitted in an envelope at the end of the stay)
  • PP 02 € per day for the driver (to be submitted in an envelope at the end of the stay)
  • PP 01 € 01 per day for the assistant driver  (to be submitted in an envelope at the end of the stay

• CANCELLATION FEES ...

  • Cancellation fee per person:
  • 31 days prior to arrival: no cancellation fee.
  • 30 - 15 days prior to arrival date: 50 % of the total billing amount.
  • 14 - 07 prior to arrival date - 75% of the total billing amount.
  • 07 - No show: 100 % of the total billed amount.
  • In  case  of  reservation  of  luxury  hotels  like the Villas, Palace Hotels,  Luxury Trains  and Cruises etc. the  cancellation fees  can be  severe. Same is also applicable for the high demand periods of Christmas and New Year's or during periods when International or local Fairs or major Sports events are being organized. Please contact us for details.
  • In case of cancellation or change of flights once the tickets have been issued, a standard deduction of 25 per person per sector would be levied. In case of no show, the deduction will be that of 100 %.