16 NOV'10 AHMEDABAD.
Upon arrival in Ahmedabad, our Executive will meet you at the Airport followed by transfer from Airport to Hotel. Overnight in Ahmedabad.

17 NOV'10 AHMEDABAD.
Ahmedabad is well known for its diversified culture. Ahmedabadis are very passionate about celebrating each and every festive occasion, be it Navratri, the nine nights festival or the kite flying festival. Ahmedabadis are usually very fond of food. Ahmadabad cuisine consists of hundreds of delicious dishes that you will want to try at the city's many well known restaurants. The typical Gujarati thali that is served in restaurants is a full multi course meal served on a very large platter. Ahmedabad cuisine has a very distinctive taste - slightly sweet and sour mouth watering delicacies that will satisfy the most discriminating foodie.

A trip around the walled city will provide visitors with valuable information on this city's glorious past. The simplicity of the city is complemented by the charm of various museums, mosques and forts that spread across the city. A heritage walking tour will bring into focus the city's unique charm. Some of the extraordinary attractions are the Jama Masjid, Shaking Minarets, the Calico Textile Museum, Sidi Sayid's Mosque, Hathi Singh Temple, Step-Wells, Vishala/Veechar (Utensils Museum) and Sabarmati Ashram, the sight of Mahatma Gandhi's camp from where he challenged the British and led the Nation to freedom. This afternoon drive through the countryside to Mansa. A very special picnic at a local farm has been organized for our group, the highlight will be the special preparation of fresh seasonal vegetables harvested from the farm and cooked with special spices in an earthen pot over rock charcoal buried underground. This is a dying art and there are now only a few experts left in the village who are masters of this cooking technique. Overnight in Ahmedabad

18 NOV'10 AHMEDABAD - MUMBAI.
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for the flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai we will meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. This afternoon you will have a short tour of the city visiting the Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan a private house where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay when he visited Mumbai, the Gateway of India and Marine Drive dubbed the Queen's Necklace - Mumbai's most popular promenade and a favorite spot for watching the sunset. This evening visit Masala Kraft Restaurant. Although Master Chef Hemant Oberoi reaches across culinary boundaries at his signature restaurant his feet are firmly rooted in India. Oberoi uses ingredients not usually seen on the subcontinent such as broccoli and salmon, and the results are hybrid marvels. The salmon, for instance, is smeared with sugarcane vinegar and baked in a clay tandoor oven. Other dishes seem straight out of a kitchen in the heartland, try the tangy, tomato-based mutton curry and dal makhani (creamy lentil stew) for a taste of wholesome home-cooked fare. The setting in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is grand, patrons dine amid imposing Thanjavur pillars that shimmer with draped silks, but they still dig in with their hands instead of using cutlery. Don't feel shy about getting your fingers dirty as waiters arrive after the meal to sprinkle rose water over them. Overnight in Mumbai.

19 NOV'10 MUMBAI.
This morning we will visit Mirchi Galli (the spice market). The vibrant street market at Crawford Street is one of the most famous markets in south Mumbai. The edifice is a blend of Norman and Gothic architectural styles. The friezes on the outside entrance depict Indian farmers, and the stone fountains inside, were designed by Lockwood Kipling, father of novelist Rudyard Kipling. The famous old Crawford Market building is straight out of Victorian London with its clock tower, steeple and soaring awning. From wholesale fruits to live chickens to pedigreed puppies and cosmetics, it's all available here. At noon, we'll take a guided tour of Khotachi Wadi, a tiny neighborhood of cottages tucked away in the middle of an incredibly bustling part of the city. This charming little village is considered a bastion of the Maharashtrian Hindus. Unperturbed by the hustle-bustle of the Mumbai metropolis, Khotachi Wadi rests amid verdant orchards and quaint cottages. Rich in culture and tradition, the colonies at Khotachi Wadi are said to have been in existence since the early 19th century when the area fell under the jurisdiction of the East India Company.
This afternoon visit Mumbai's famous dabbawallahs (one who carries the box). A dabbawallah is a person in the Indian city of Mumbai whose job it is to carry and deliver fresh home made food (lovingly prepared by wives and mothers) in lunch boxes to office workers. The BBC produced a documentary on dabbawallahs, and Prince Charles, had to fit in with their schedule, since their timing was too precise to permit any flexibility! Owing to the tremendous publicity, some of the dabbawallahs have been invited to give guest lectures in the top business schools in India. We will also visit the antique market bookstores and Jahangir Art Gallery this afternoon.
This evening dinner will be at one of the city's trendy restaurants, a magnet for the hip and cool young locals, Kebabs & Kurries, where giant skewers stacked with meat, chicken, and fish line the walls of this immaculately clean open kitchen in the Sheraton Hotel. Chefs deftly slide the well-rubbed kebabs into glowing tandoors (clay ovens), nurturing them until they explode with flavors such as fenugreek, cumin, and pepper. The focus is on traditional Mughlai and Nizami cooking, though the chefs at this sprawling restaurant have also developed their own exciting recipes, most notably the oven-cooked jumbo shrimp split and stuffed with crumbled potatoes, spices, and pomegranate seeds. There are many vegetarian selections, very popular with the city's legions of wealthy vegetarians. Overnight in Mumbai.

20 NOV'10 MUMBAI - NASIK.
After breakfast this morning transfer to the railway station to take the train for Nasik. Upon arrival in Nasik, meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of day is at leisure. Discover this quaint town at your own pace, walk through the markets, bargain for souvenirs, interact with locals and check out the local restaurants specializing in regional delicacies. Overnight in Nasik.

21 NOV'10 NASIK .
This morning after breakfast tour Nasik visiting the Coin Museum which displays a rich collection of research and well-documented history of the Indian currency system. The museum was founded under the Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies in 1980. It is the only one of its kind in Asia. Then visit Kalaram Mandir located in the Panchavati area of the city. It is the largest as well as the simplest among all the temples located here and dates back to 1790, when it was constructed by Sardar Odhekar of Peshwa. Return to the hotel and enjoy some free time in the afternoon.
This evening we visit the Estate vineyards where you can enjoy sampling local wines in the Tasting Room - India's first - located atop the winery. Designed by Californian architects Andy Hope and Laurel Roth the 2,000-sq. foot Tasting Room boasts a blue-mosaic balcony bar with a panoramic view of the rolling vineyards surrounded by hills and picturesque Gangapur Lake in the distance. The 34 foot bar runs continuously from the inner room to the open balcony and is softly lit by lamps made out of wine bottles hanging from the ceiling. More wine bottles glow alluringly from embedded backlit cases in the wood-paneled wall, while a large window in the back offers a view directly into the winery's bottling room. We tour the winery with our friendly, knowledgeable tour guide who will be able to answer any questions about viticulture and the process of winemaking. Overnight in Nasik

22 NOV'10 NASIK - MUMBAI.
This morning we transfer back to the railway station and board the train returning to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai, meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Later we enjoy a one hour boat ride across Mumbai Harbour brings us to lush green Elephanta Island. You have the opportunity to visit some of the huge and intricately carved Elephanta Caves that date back to the 8th century. Four rows of massive columns cut into solid rock form three magnificent avenues, leading to the outstanding three-headed sculpture representing Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer.
Tonight check out Mumbai-style nightlife at The Salt Water Grill. The Arabian Sea washes up at the foot of this charming restaurant, where diners laze on plush lounge chairs sipping fresh-watermelon caprioskas as fishing boats float in the distance. Lanterns adorn the central courtyard and white canopies billow in the breeze. The modern European menu focuses on seafood with standouts like white salmon rubbed with three varieties of garlic and smoked duck smeared with raspberry. The bar serves up delicious cocktails; the tart kiwi margarita is a favorite with South Mumbai princesses. The languorous mood is accentuated by trippy lounge beats, as up lit palm trees sway in the horizon. Overnight in Mumbai

23 NOV'10 MUMBAI- GOA.
After breakfast this morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Goa. Upon arrival in Goa, we meet our representative and transfer to the hotel. The Portuguese came here in 1510 to wrest control of the spice routes from the Arabs. They stayed for five centuries which explains the Mediterranean architecture, Catholic churches and amazing cuisine, influenced by "foreign" ingredients like vinegar and wine. We stay at one of Goa's golden beaches and slow our pace a bit, "Sussegado" as they say. Perhaps take a in the Arabian Sea.

This evening is a celebration of Goan Hindu dishes. Goan food is not all about fish and pork nor is it always too spicy and too vinegary. The Portuguese had a lasting influence on Goan Catholic cuisine, and delicacies like vindalho, cafreal, balchao and sorportel are known worldwide; they have achieved a cult status, so to speak. However, there are as many, if not more dishes for vegetarians in Goan Hindu cuisine, which has a lot in common with the Konkan region. Unfortunately, dishes such as bhaji, shaak, usal, tondak, ross (coconut-based dishes), hoomans (curries), karams (salads) and the queen of Goan vegetable dishes, khatkhatem (mixed vegetable curry) are not made outside of Hindu homes. Unlike the state's Catholics who have a more meat-based diet, Goan Hindus use a wide range of vegetables including squash blossoms, banana leaf stamens and taro leaves. We'll learn some of their tips and tricks, like roasting dried coconut with spices before adding it to curry. We will dine at the Plantain Leaf restaurant, popular with locals; this casual vegetarian restaurant serves a huge array of Udipi style and North Indian dishes. Try a thali, a platter of curried vegetable dishes, relishes, pappadams and a dessert. Locals wash it down with feni, a fiercely potent drink made from fermented cashew apples (beware, its 30 to 35 percent proof). Finish your spicy meal, the way locals like it, with a cup of chai. If your mouth is on fire, don't reach for your water glass; cool your mouth with raita (a yogurt-cucumber relish) or fruit instead. Overnight in Goa. , flowing through a rugged countryside, it still retains the captivating air of a bygone era. Evening is free for independent activities. In the evening enjoy a Sound and light show at Western group of temples. Overnight stay at hotel.

24 NOV'10 GOA.
We change gears today to recover from the previous night's food orgy. We'll visit Old Goa, the old administrative seat of Portuguese India, famed for its ancient cathedrals and for a contrast, the 400-year-old Shri Mangesh Temple. For lunch we'll stop at a local restaurant, Martin's Corner. More than a decade ago, Mrs. Martin started cooking for local taxi drivers who needed to pass the time while waiting for foreign clients who were eating at more up market institutions. The secret soon got out however, and now she presides over one of the best restaurants in the region. The menu here is extensive and the seafood superb. Highlights include fish caldin (cooked with coconut and spices), fresh lobster, big pomfret or red snapper. Tonight you're on your own; you can dine at one of the hotel's excellent restaurants or try one of the informal 'shacks' on the beach. A good choice would be Souza Lobo, a Goan institution since 1932; Souza Lobo is run today by Jude Lobo, the founder's great grandson and still serves some of the best Goan food in the region. Tables are draped in red cloths and waiters wear cheery orange shirts printed with coconut trees. Dine on steamed rice and fish cooked in a green paste of coriander and spices, served with crisp fried potatoes. For dessert, try the bebinka, a Goan sweet made of stacked coconut pancakes. The restaurant is close enough to the ocean for diners to see the surf glimmering in the moonlight. Musicians perform a lively assortment of Hindu and Konkani songs, American country music and soft rock. Overnight in Goa.

25 NOV'10 GOA - BANGALORE - COCHIN.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Cochin via Bangalore. Upon arrival at Cochin airport we will be met by our local representative and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Cochin.

26 NOV'10 COCHIN.
After breakfast we take you to a cooking workshop taught by Nalini Verma. Nalini Verma has been a professional cooking instructor for the past 26 years and has authored four cook books. She has conducted television shows, judged several cooking contests, conducted seminars and has contributed articles to magazines and newspapers. Nalini Verma offers tourists from across the globe a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the finer nuances of traditional Kerala cuisine through her special cooking classes. These classes/demonstrations are meant exclusively for foreigners and conducted at her residence in Panampilly Nagar, Kochi and Kerala. We will also enjoy a vegetable and spice market trip.
Late in the afternoon we view the famous dance drama of Kerala, the "Kathakali". The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and extensive make-up. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy a meal with an Indian family where we can enjoy delicious food in a homey ambience and have the opportunity to interact with the host family on a personal level and experience the nuances of a joint family system. This unique experience will bring us closer in touch with the traditions, values and cultural ethos of this enchanting land.
Overnight in Cochin.

27 NOV'10 COCHIN - MUNNAR.
This morning after breakfast enjoy a sightseeing tour of Cochin. We visit the old part of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, the Dutch Palace which was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin King in the 16th century and St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, Santa Cruz Basilica, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Jewish Synagogue also built in the 16th century, the fishing market and the famous Chinese fishing net, believed to have been brought by a trader from Kubla Khan's court in China. After touring Cochin we drive on to Munnar which is well known as a nature lover's paradise with sprawling tea plantations. Truly a picture book town with winding lanes filled with the heady fragrance of fresh tea, all 1800m above the sea level. Overnight in Munnar.