DESCRIPTION:

Once relatively unknown, the lands of southern India now offer visitors a world of discovery. This program offers the wide range that India has to offer: religion, culture, architecture and history as well as exotic wildlife, tea plantations, and beach resorts.

Begin the journey in the densely forested and mountainous Western Ghats, one of the world’s 14 listed biodiversity hotspots. In its jungles, seek out the last remaining large herds of Asiatic elephant, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, and the Malabar Giant Squirrel. The intensity of these locations is further increased by the presence of predators such as tiger, leopard, and wild dog, which quarter the forests of Nagarhole, Avalanche, Munnar, and Periyar.

Then descend from the Western Ghats into the verdant plains of Kerala, where sky, sea, lakes, and emerald-green fields of rice paddies merge almost seamlessly. Here, cruise on traditional rice boats though a network of lakes, lagoons, and canals known as the “Backwaters” of rural Kerala, observing life on and off the eaters.

Then head for the coast, viewing the art, architecture, and timeless antiquities that epitomize India. Temples, markets, public squares, and roads are alive with the effervescence of friendly people.

The adventure also includes a survey of both Old and New Delhi, the colorful decaying Bengal capital of Kolkata, and a sojourn to the seldom-visited eastern Indian state of Orissa, known for its temples and tribal peoples. Its Sun Temple at Konarak is considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Conservation and development are the broad underlying themes of any tour whose context is India. The medley of prospects, contradictions, and problems unfold larger than life with each passing day.

CONSIDER:

This is a view of India that few Americans see. Of course, the trip can be shortened.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.