SUMMER INTERNSHIP REPORT

ON

Submitted To Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Amity University, Uttar Pradesh For The Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award Degree Of Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Administration Submitted By Jitin Gulati Enrollment No.: A1707208022 Batch: 2008 2011 DURATION OF INTERNSHIP: 02nd June to 10th July 2010 Under The Guidance Of External Guide Mr.Vishal Mahajan Sr. Manager Paradise Holidays India New Delhi Internal Guide Prof. ( Dr. ) Manohar Sajnani Director Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh Mr. Bipin Chandra Pant Internship Mentor: BA Vth Semester Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh

AMITY INSTITUTE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM AMITY UNIVERSITY, UTTAR PRADESH, NOIDA

SUMMER INTERNSHIP REPORT

ON

Under The Guidance Of External Guide Mr.Vishal Mahajan Sr. Tour Executive Paradise Holidays India New Delhi Internal Guide Prof. ( Dr. ) Manohar Sajnani Director Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh Mr. Bipin Chandra Pant Internship Mentor: BA Vth Semester Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh DURATION OF INTERNSHIP: 02nd June to 10th July 2010 CREDIT UNITS: 09 Credit Units Submitted By JITIN GULATI |Page 2

Enrollment No.: A1707208022 Batch: 2008 2011

AMITY INSTITUTE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM AMITY UNIVERSITY, UTTAR PRADESH, NOIDA
PREFACE
Management courses without practical training are incomplete. Theoretical studies in the classroom are not sufficient to understand various activities, problems and happenings in any industry. Practical training is therefore a process of learning, a sequence of programmed behaviour, application of knowledge and awareness of rules and procedures. It is therefore become necessary to undergo such training Tourism, indeed, a high-touch, high-tech, high involvement industry where it is the people who make the difference. It is the quality of human resources in tourism that acquiesces enterprises to build-up competitive advantage and gives forth added value with their service. In the days gone by, tourism has been marked by a lack of skill in human resources policies and practices. A high quality tourism workforce can be brought in just by means of high standards of tourism education and training.I did my job training in Paradise Holidays Ind. Pvt. Ltd. The travel and tourism sector creates more jobs per million rupees of investment than any other sector of economy and is capable of providing employment to a wide spectrum of job seekers from the unskilled to the specialised even in the remote parts of the country. Tourism has come into its own in India. Tourism as a general economic service and social phenomenon is a post independence development.BTA is a modest offer for students to explain tourism phenomenon. It helps in exploring some important concepts of tourism like what makes the tourism possible and how tourism plays an important role in the prosperity of any nation. The industrial job training of BTA is mainly meant for study of tourism phenomena and how we can use our theoretical knowledge into practice. As the fourth semester ends the students of BTA have to go for industrial job training to industrial hub like Delhi, Mumbai. The report reflects the learning and experience during the two months winter training in the organization. It includes my experience of working in the travel trade and profile of the travel agency PARADISE HOLIDAYS IND. PVT. LTD.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my sincere gratitude to my industry guide Mr. _________________ for there able guidance, continuous support and cooperation throughout my project, without which the present work would not have been possible. I would also like to thank the entire team of Paradise Holidays India Pvt. Ltd., for the constant support and help in the successful completion of my project. Also, I am thankful to my faculty guide ______________________ respective director of my institute, for his continued guidance and invaluable encouragement and all the other faculty member of my college for arranging my summer training with an outstanding company PARADISE HOLIDAYS INDIA PVT. LTD.. Last but not the least, I thank my family and all my friends, who encouraged me to go ahead and prove myself with confidence and self efficiency.

JITIN GULATI BA(TA) Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism (AITT)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPICS Preface Acknowledgement Certificate 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Tour and travel- overview History Travel Scenario Trade Fair Tour & Travel - An Overview Methodology Adopted SWOT Analysis At A glance Paradise Spice Reservation Form Tour Package Adventure Tours in India Sailing Down The Ganges 7 8 9 11 14 20 21 23 25 26 27 30 34 |Page 5 Pg. Nos.

14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Main Competitors Work Profile Trade Faire Organization Chart Learning from Training Conclusion Case Study

36 37 38 39 40

TOUR & TRAVEL - AN OVERVIEW

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited". Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. Types of tourism: Outbound Tourism Outbound tourism is what you may be most familiar with. It involves people traveling to different countries other than their own country. For example, people traveling from India to US, for business, leisure, or other purposes. Inbound Tourism People (foreigners) traveling to home country, from there native place is known as inbound tourism. This is very important from the tourism point of view as it not only benefits the culture but also gets in foreign currency. Sectors The tourism industry is divided into five different sectors:

Accommodation |Page 6

Food and Beverage Services Recreation and Entertainment Transportation Travel Services

History Wealthy people have always traveled to distant parts of the world, to see great buildings, works of art, learn new languages, and experience new cultures and to taste different cuisines. Long ago, at the time of the Roman Republic, places such as Baiae, were popular coastal resorts for the rich. The word tourism was used by 1811 and tourist by 1840. In 1936, the League of Nations defined foreign tourist as "someone travelling abroad for at least twenty-four hours". Its successor, the United Nations, amended this definition in 1945, by including a maximum stay of six months

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|Page 8

OBJECTIVES OF JOB TRAINING

I. Inducing Practical approach in Tourism Management: Industrial Training is an essential component in the development of the practical and professional skills which will aid to prospective employment. It exposes to practical tourism experience and knowledge that is required in industry, where these are not taught in the lecture rooms. II. Application of Class theory in working organisation: Contrary of above objective is equally important, as the theoretical knowledge can be applied in the practical work so as to make it more prcised and fruitful. Applying the Tourism knowledge taught in the lecture rooms in real industrial situations completes the purpose of course. III. Utilization of Experience in future Perspective: Experience gained from the Industrial Training can be utilized in the future perspective related to career options. All the experiences throughout the training period prove fruitful in rending better career options. IV. Acclimatization of work environment: In order to get an actual feel of the work environment, industrial training provides the required atmosphere where one finds it easy to acclimatize or familiarize in the prospective working atmosphere. V. Awareness towards tourism responsibilities and ethics: These internship programs provide better platforms to learn the basic responsibilities and ethics that plays crucial role in tourism industry. Every trade is associated with its ethics or code of conducts and these can only be learnt through practical knowledge in an organisation.

METHODOLOGY ADOPTED
The methodology adopted by me during my working was a step by step procedure. As Paradise Holidays only deals in inbound tourism , so it handles the foreign agents and the direct clients who are willing to come to India. Following process was undertaken by me to make all the arrangements for the client for its comfortable experience.

At the very first the foreign agent sends it query through mail which contains the information like: Personal Information of the clients who are willing to come to India.

No. of pax

Dates suitable to them

Destinations they want to visit . or sometimes the client only gives the information about what type of tourism they are interested into such as medical tourism,cultural tourism , adventure tourism etc. After that I used to revert back to the clients with the confirmation of the destinations , changes if the destination proposed by the agent is not suitable, and the names of the destinations in case the agent has just provided us with the type of tourism it is interested into. All the data was collected by me through secondary sources. Further, the client reverts back with the confirmation of the destinations he is willing to undertake with the suitable dates.

 Then according to the dates given by the client all the status of the flights , trains , cars , coaches and rooms were checked by me through the primary sources and I did tele calling for it. After then the dates are confirmed from the clients as per the availability of the transportation and the accommodation and an detailed itinerary was sent by me as per their requirements. The confirmation of the client on the itinerary enabled me to do further bookings for the reservation of the rooms , flights and others mode of transports through tele calling as per the itinerary confirmed by the client. As soon as the confirmation is done then even client was sent a confirmation letter. For the further confirmation of the hotel rooms an email is sent to the Reservation Manager. As they revert back , a hotel voucher and a transportation voucher was prepared by me and it was sent to the hotel and to the transportation agent through email and fax. The copy of the clients copy is sent to ht client Finally a folder was prepared by me containing all the tickets .

COMPANY PROFILE
PARADISE TOUR CO INDIA ( PRIV) LTD

MANAGEMENT FLOW CHART

DEPARTMENTS OF THE ORGANISATION

HOLIDAYS IN INDIA: Offers holidays in India which includes India holiday tours, luxury holiday package to India, south India tour packages, Rajasthan tour packages, India incentive tours, train tour India, fair& festivals in India, hotels deal & availability. Get best holiday package to India by Paradise Holidays. This offers comprehensive information about travel agents and tour operators in India. Travel is one of the fastest growing sectors. Foreign tourist arrivals to India are steadily increasing. Indian and international Tour Operators and Travel Agents geared up to address this demand with various tour plans, travel plans, religious tours and Indian culture tours. Various value added and innovative plans like wild life tours, honeymoon packages, trekking, jeep and elephant safari are offered to customers. To serve domestic and overseas demands new Hotels, Motels, Recreational Centers and Casinos have been established across India. 8

Paradise Holidays India Pvt. Ltd. had a humble beginning in 1981 with a staff of four people. Today we are a fully equipped Travel Agency with a staff of over 45 trained professionals, located in New Delhi's prime business district. The companys commitment to excellence in service and a deep pride in show casing India has contributed to our steady growth over the years in promoting tourism . Paradise Holidays offers several categories of tours to India & Nepal to cater to all kinds of tourists. Apart from offering standard itineraries, we specialize in cultural tours, adventure tours, incentive groups, pilgrimage tours & conferences & exhibitions. The company also provide itineraries tailor made to your specific requirements. Whatever your personal requirements, we will plan your visit to India to fulfill them. The company offers all categories of accomodation & facilities. The travellers can choose from the best hotels belonging to the 'leading hotels of the world' category & Palace Hotels to budget accomodation such as Yatri Niwas, Tourist Bungalows & Paying Guest. accomodation. Paradise Holidays meticulously organize all your travel plans. India has several domestic airlines to help you get around. It also has one of the largest Rail networks in the world which offers INDRAIL PASS along the lines of EU RAIL PASS. The company owns large fleet of deluxe air-conditioned coaches and air-conditioned cars ensure smooth & comfortable journeys throughout India. For motorbike lovers the organisation have Royal Enfields based on the models of old English Harley Davidsons - one of their only kind in the world. Our fully computerized office efficiently looks after all your national & international air bookings & ensures speedy confirmations. Paradise Holidays has a network of carefully selected Associate Agents all over the country , Nepal,Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Paradise Holidays approved by the Ministry of Tourism & Govt. of India, Paradise Holidays, is a member of various International and National Tourism bodies. Our operations have contributed immensely to the Foreign Exchange earnings of the country & we have been repeatedly awarded for the same in 1988, 1992, 1993 & 1995. 9

Office locations

DELHI KATHMANDU

10

MAIN OFFICES

INDIA OFFICE : Paradise Holidays (I) Pvt.Ltd. Address :Tel :312 - Ansals Classique Tower Rajouri Garden, New Delhi - 57, India +91-11-45520735 - 739 +91-11-25108463 Fax :+91-11-25109463 Hemant Gupta - +91-9810054543 Website :Email :www.paradiseholidays.com paradise@del2.vsnl.net.in paradiseholidays@vsnl.com Nepal Office : Contact Person :Address :Tel :Fax :Mr. P. P. Rauniar (Director) GA/2 - 177 Dhobidhara, Dillibazar, P. O. 9640 Kathmandu 420985, 417710, 414779 004977-1-414779

Mobile No. :- Rajnish Kaistha - +91-9811052376

Location [Address] 312 - Ansals Classique Tower Rajouri Garden, New Delhi, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi (110057), Delhi, India Contact Person Business Phone Mr. Rajnish Kaistha +91-11-45520735 - 739 +91-11-25108463 11

Mobile Phone Category(s)

+91-9811052376 Travel - Tour Operators

PRODUCTS OF THE COMPANY

12

HOLIDAYS: Paradise Holidays offers a huge variety of holidays to choose from. The company offers no. of tour packages from whole of India , Nepal and Sri Lanka. It offers different types of holidays and destinations according to the interests, need and requirements of their clients such as adventure tours, cultural and historical tours, religious tours , business tours etc . The holidays provided by the company includes world class facilities and amenities such as new destinations, exciting activities, luxurious stay and comfortable journeys. To make the holiday more comfortable for the tourists Paradise also sends a tour executive for escorting and they also provide the tourist with the guide of a particular language if required by the tourists. For motor bike lovers the company also arranges for the motor bike trips . Paradise Holidays is a well known company for its inbound holidays as it offers large no of packages such as:

Beach Tours India 13

Nepal Extension Adventure Tour of Manali Ladakh Classical India Royal Rajputana South to the Cape

HOTELS: The company provides various types of hotel rooms for the tourist all over India , Sri Lanka and Nepal .It offers all the categories of hotels for all catering to the needs of all kinds of tourists such as budgetary tourist , five star hotels for business travelers ,cottages, resorts, camps as per the clients requirements with the best facilities possible to make the stay and the holiday comfortable. FLIGHTS: Paradise Holidays also offers flight as one of the product of the company and components of the major component of a holiday. The company offers flights for all over India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It offers flight seats in all operating airlines of the destinations and to name a few Kingfisher airlines , Jet Airways , Spicejet , Go Air etc.

INTRODUCTION TO INBOUND DIVISION

14

The inbound division of Paradise Holidays deals in customized itineraries of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Dharamshala Amritsar Manali

Chandigarh Rishikesh

3rd map south- Bangalore-hassan-coorg-mysore-mahabalipuram-pondicherry-tanjoremadurai

15

SOUTH INDIA

Hassan Bangalore Coorg Mysore

Mahabalipuram

Pondicherry Madurai Tanjore

4 th Nepal- chittwan pokhra- -kathmandu

16

Pokhra

Kathmandu Chittwan

17

SRI LANKA
Colombo - kandy-dambulla-sigiriya-nuwaraeliya

We offer several categories of tours to India & Nepal to cater to all kinds of tourists. Apart from offering standard itineraries, we specialize in cultural tours, adventure tours, incentive groups, 18

pilgrimage tours & conferences & exhibitions. We also provide itineraries tailor made to your specific requirements. Whatever your personal requirements, we will plan your visit to India to fulfill them. Primarily I was working with the inbound (General) department of the company , which primarily looked into tourists coming in from all over the world except Israel and Middle East .

WORLD MARKETS

1.

Middle -East Market

19

Source: www.map-zone.net/continent/middle-east/ 2. Israel Market

20

21

3.

General market

I was working under General market. The general market of Paradise Holidays delt with the countries like America and Europe. Similar to the other markets of the company the GENERAL MARKET offers tailor made itineraries to its clients of AMERICA and EUROPE. Clients coming from various parts of America and Europe such as New York , Washington , Los Angeles , San Francisco and Germany , France , Italy , Spain respectively undertake various itineraries of north and south India , Nepal and Sri Lanka. The general market of inbound division was responsible for making all the arrangements for the client starting from its departure to its arrival.

22

My Learning Outcome

The first week of intership was a real introduction to the tourism industry. I have been kept under Mr Ranjeet Bhardwaj, the Manager of the company. After a brief introduction about the company and staff, he assigned me the work. For the first few days he gave me few files of the already delt clientel. These files gave me an inside to the working methodology and handling of clients. File handling is the crucial aspect of any company as it not only gives core information about the client, his/her interests , choices in relation to the changing scenario in the present tourism industry. File handling makes us to understand the step wise procedures where simple query from direct client or from a foreign agent abroad provides us. This is further processed by the operations depatment { a rough draft of their query is resent to them }. Every minute detailing is cruicial as there is no space for even a margin of an error as it involves monetary transactions and goodwill of the company. In this week I also studied various brochures of the company and got the idea about promotion of tourism product. For a company in travel trade brochures is a key method of advertisement of intangible tourism products, like: boarding and lodging in hotels, motels, resorts etc. and transportation. Transportation compromises different mode of transport segments. These company brochures enhance an indiviuals skill for planning purposes. The following weeks I went through various processes of managing different aspect of tourism products and clientel. The summary is as follows:

In this week I was assigned to prepare the itineraries. For the first few days I studied different different itineraries from the website of the company as well as itineraries used by the clients of the company in the past. Firstly I was asked to prepare the itinerary of Delhi for 2-3 days. After through study of Delhi from internet and Lonely Planet, I prepared different itineraries of Delhi named as Delhi Darshan. Apart from Delhi I also prepared the itineraries of Rajasthan and South India. These were the rough itineraries (not for the use of company), only to made me understand about the format and language used in itinerary preparation. I have been given the names of different destinations and asked to route them with detail description. Initially I made few mistakes but they taught me in a very 23

polite way that how these mistakes can be overcome. This was a great learning experience for me. During itinerary preparation we should keep following points in mind: Back tracking /routing of destinations should be taken into consideration. Itinerary should be captivating ensuring the comfort of the traveler.

It should be comprehensive, satisfying, preferences and requirements of the traveler. Itinerary should clearly specify the inclusions and exclusions of the travel packages.

Procedural aspects of hotel reservations: Prior to hotel reservation a telephonic call is made to check the availability status of rooms as per the client preference. This is further continued with a formal mail to the reservation concerned faculty of the respective hotel. Once the rooms are confirmed by the hotel, it is further reconfirmed prior to the arrival of the client. In case there is unavailability of base category rooms, upgraded category are booked on the temporary basis as a supplement cost to the base category. Formal mailing format in outlook: It depicts the proper address to the receiver end. A formal email ensures the companies signature concerned to the sender who is sending the mail either to hoteliers or business associates.

Issuing formalities of train and air tickets: It ensures collection of all the documents of the traveler, which proves the identity on the legal basis away from his/her home country. It comprises VISA, Passport Copy. I prepared an itinerary of South India for a client which is as follows :

24

ITINERARY SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR

HALPERIN PARTY X 06 PAX

OCT10

ONLY MR & MRS ROSENFELD ARRIVAL BANGALORE ON 13 JAN

02:35 HRS KE 0655

13 WED ARR: BANGALORE

MEET UPON ARRIVAL & TRANSFER TO HOTEL PENINSULA GRAND

14 THU ARRIVAL/BANGALORE/HASSAN (REST OF THE 04 PAX (MR/MRS HALPERIN & MR/MRS SHAHAM FLY BOMBAY/BANGALORE DEP: BOMBAY ARR: BANGALORE 1030 HRS 1205 HRS DRIVE 9W 2116 BANGALORE/HASSAN (187 KMS/04 HRS) VISITING

MEET ON ARRIVAL AND SRAVENBELGOLA ENROUTE.

SRAVENA BELGOLA: A CENTRE OF DIGAMBAR JAINS. BHADRA BAHU, A SAGE WHO DIED HERE IN THE 4TH CENTURY B.C. WAS ONE OF THE SIX DESCEPTES OF MAHAVIRA, THE FOUNDER OF JAIN SECT. THE ROCK IS PRESIDED OVER BY A COLOSSAL STATUE, 57 FEET HIGH (AD 983) OF JAIN SAINT GOMATESWARA. IT IS NUDE. THE FACE HAS THE CALM LOOK USUAL IN JAIN & BUDDHIST STATUES. THE STONE LOOKS AS FRESH AS IF NEWLY QUARRIED, DUE TO ITS BEING PROFUSELY ANOINTED AT INTERVALS OF 25 YEARS. PALANQUINS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT EXTRA COST. CONTINUE DRIVE TO HASSAN. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT HOTEL HOYSALA VILLAGE

RESORT.

15 FRI

HASSAN/COORG AM: VISIT BELUR & HALEBID. BELUR & HALEBID: SITUATED ON THE BANKS OF RIVER YAGACHI, BELUR WAS THE CAPITAL HOYSALA EMPIRE 800 YEARS AGO BEFORE IT WAS SHIFTED TO NEARBY HELEBID. TODAY, BELUR IS A SMALL TOWN BANKING ON ITS LUXURIOUS GREENERY AND IN THE GLORY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MONUMENTS OF MEDIEVAL ART IN INDIA. VISIT CHENNAKESWARA TEMPLE BUILT IN THE 1120 A.D. IN AN AGE WHEN THE GREAT CATHEDRALS OF LINCOLN, WELLS, AMIENS, RHEIMS AND CHARTERS WERE BUILT IN EUROPE. THE TEMPLE, OF POLISHED BLACK STONE WITH PERFECTLY MADE PILLARS, STANDS ON STAR-SHAPED PEDESTAL. YOU WILL BE STRUCK BY THE CLOSE ATTENTION TO DETAIL PAID BY THE ARTISANS! LATER DRIVE TO COORG (140 KMS/4 HRS). ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT HOTEL ORANGE

COUNTY RESORT

16 SAT

COORG ENJOY THE NICE AMBIENCE OF THE PLACE: ENJOY THE PLANTATION TOUR, AS HOTEL ORANGE COUNTY IS SITUATED IN THE 380 ACRES OF PLANTATION. YOU SHALL BE SHOWN AROUND AND EXPLAINED ABOUT COFFEE, BLACK PEPPER, GINGER, HYBRID FRUITS PLANTATION AND COFFEE SEED PULPISATION PLANT. THE QUALITY OF FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION IS ONE OF BEST IN SOUTH INDIA & SET IN NATURAL SURROUNDINGS WITH CLOUDS COMING INTO YOUR ROMMS AT TIMES...

25

COORG IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL PLACES OF SOUTHERN INDIA WHERE NATURE IS STILL BEING PRESERVED. COORG IS INDIAS COFFEE CAPITAL.

AM: ENJOY THE PLANTATION TOUR, AS HOTEL ORANGE COUNTY IS SITUATED IN THE 380 ACRES OF PLANTATION. YOU SHALL BE SHOWN AROUND AND EXPLAINED ABOUT COFFEE, BLACK PEPPER, GINGER, HYBRID FRUITS PLANTATION AND COFFEE SEED PULPISATION PLANT. THE QUALITY OF FOOD AND ACCMMODATION IS ONE OF BEST IN SOUTH INDIA & SET IN NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. PM: VISIT BYLAKUPE, SECOND LARGEST TIBETANS IN EXILE IN INDIA WITH 40 THOUSAND TIBETAN INHABITANTS, THEIR SCHOOL, MONASTERY AND TEMPLES OF PADAMSAMBHAVA. YOU SEE THE LITTLE TIBETAN STUDENTS BUSY STUDYING TIBETAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE BY CHANTING MANTRAS ON THE BEAT OF DRUMS. THE MAIN TEMPLE HAS THREE LORD BUDDHA STATUES AS PADAMSAMHAVA. MUST TO VISIT..

17 SUN

COORG/MYSORE AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE TO MYSORE (140 KMS/04 HRS) ON ARRIVAL CHECK IN AT HOTEL ROYAL ORCHID RESORT PM: EXCURSION TO SOMNATHPUR

SOMNATHPUR: THE TINY VILLAGE, EAST OF MYSORE, HAS ONE OF THE PRESERVED AND THE ONLY COMPLETE ONE OD APPROSXIMATELY 80 THE MYSORE REGION.

BEST HOYSALA TEMPLES IN

18 MON MYSORE/MADRAS/MAHABALIPURAM AM: SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MYSORE CITY MYSORE: VISITING, MAHARAJA'S PALACE; THE ART GALLERY, HOUSED IN THE JAGAN MOHAN PALACE, HAS A COLLECTION OF ABSOBING PAINTINGS; CHAMUNDI HILL, IS THE CHAMUNDESWARI TEMPLE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3,489 FT. TRANSFER TO RAILWAY STATION TO CONNECT TRAIN TO MYSORE DEP: MYSORE 1430 HRS 2008 SHTABDI EXP. ARR: MADRAS 2130 HRS A/C CHAIR CAR MEET ON ARRIVAL & STRAIGHT DRIVE MADRAS/COVELONG (45 KMS) ON ARRIVAL CHECK IN AT

HOTEL TAJ FISHERMAN COVE

19 TUE

MAHABALIPURAM FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MAHABALIPURAM & KANCHIPURAM MAHABALIPURAM: ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEVEN PAGODAS, MAHABALIPURAM IS A PLEASANT SEASIDE RESORT, 85 KMS FROM MADRAS. TODAY THE PRINCIPAL ATTRACTION OF THE PLACE TO THE TOURIST LIES IN THE WONDERFUL MONOLITHIC MONUMENTS AND STONE SCULPTURES OF THE ANCIENT PALLAVA DYNASTY OF KINGS WHO RULED MUCH OF THE TERRITORY NOW KNOWN AS TAMIL NADU, FROM THE 16TH CENTURY AD. THESE KINGS LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA AND AT MAHABALIPURAM, TODAY, THE EARLIEST OF THESE REMARKABLE MONUMENTS ARE TO BE SEEN, ALL HEWN OUT OF ROCKS. THE IMPORTANT

26

MONUMENTS TO BE SEEN ARE THE FIVE RATHAS, THE BAS-RELIEF ON HUGE ROCK POPULARLY KNOWN AS ARJUNA'S PENANCE, THE MAHISASURA MANDAPAM, THE KRISHNA MANDAPAM AND THE SHORE TEMPLE. KANCHIPURAM: VISITING EKAMBARESWARA TEMPLE, SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE; SRI KAILASENATH TEMPLE; SRI VAIKUNTHA PERUMAL TEMPLE; SRI VARADERAJA TEMPLE ETC.

20 WED MAHABALIPURAM/PONDICHERRY AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE MAHABALIPURAM/PONDICHERRY (132 KMS, 3 HRS 15 MIN). MEET ON ARR CHECK-IN AT HOTEL THE PROMENADE PM: SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF PONDICHERRY INCLUDING THE WORLD-FAMOUS SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM IS SITUATED HERE. THE AUROVILLE COMPLEX IS THE BRAINCHILD OF "THE MOTHER". THE LATE FRENCH WOMAN DEVOTEE OF SRI AUROBINDO TO WHOM THE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY WAS PASSED ON AFTER THE DEATH OF SRI AUROBINDO.

21 THU

PONDICHERRY/TANJORE AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE PONDICHERRY/TANJORE (175 KMS, 4 HRS) VISITING CHIDAMBARAM ENROUTE

CHIDAMBARAM: SITUATED 58 KMS SOUTH OF PONDICHERRY. THIS FAMOUS PILGRIM CENTRE IS KNOWN FOR ITS NATARAJA (SHIVA AS THE COSMIC DANCER) TEMPLE. THE LORD HERE IS WORSHIPPED AS AKASHA LINGAM. THE TEMPL'S GOPURAMS, CARVED WITH 108 CLASSICAL POSTURES OF NATARAJA AND THE THOUSAND-PILLARED HALL ARE WORTH SEEING. CONTINUE DRIVE TO TANJORE. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT HOTEL SANGAM PM: VISIT WORLD FAMOUS TANJORE TEMPLES. TANJORE (THANJAVUR): TANJORE WAS THE CAPITAL OF CHOLA EMPIRE FROM THE 10TH TO 14TH CENTURY A.D. BUILT IN 1003 A.D. BY KING RAJARAJA. THIS TEMPLE IS CONSIDERED THE GRANDEST AND FINEST IN INDIA. THE MAJESTIC TOWER OF THE TEMPLE RISES 216 FT. HIGH OVER THE CITY. THE TEMPLE IS CAPPED BY A MONOLITHIC CUPOLA FORMED BY A SINGLE GRANITE BLOCK WEIGHING 80 TONNES. THIS ENORMOUS STONE IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN POSITIONED BY MOVING IT ALONG AN INCLINED PLANE WHICH COMMENCED IN A VILLAGE 6 KM. AWAY - A TECHNIQUE ADOPED BY THE PYRAMID-BUILDERS OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

22 FRI

TANJORE AFTER BREAKFAST FULL DAY EXCU5RSION TO TRICHY VISITING ROCKFORT & SRIRANGAM

TRICHY: THIS TOWN HAD BEEN THE SOUTHERN SEA OF POWER FOR CENTURIES. MANY FRENCH & ENGLISH BATTLES WERE FOUGHT HERE BATTLING FOR POWER WHEN ROBERT CLIVE BROUGHT VICTORY TO THE ENGLISH IN 18TH CENTURY. THE ROCK FORT HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THESE EVENTS.

27

VISIT THE ROCK FORT, A CLIMB UP ITS STONE STEPS TO THE "HALL OF A HUNDRED PILLARS", THE MATHUBHUTESHWAR SHRINE AND FINALLY AT THE VERY TOP OF THE ROCK FORT, THE GANESH TEMPLE. ALSO VISIT THE ISLAND OF SRIRANGAM, A MASSIVE VISHNU TEMPLE WITH SEVEN WALLS. AFTER SIGHTSEEING DRIVE BACK TO TANJORE OVERNIGHT CHECK IN AT HOTEL

23 SAT

TANJORE/MADURAI AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE TANJORE/MADURAI (128 KMS, 3 HRS) ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT HOTEL TAJ GARDEN RETREAT

EVENING: AUTO RICKSHAW RIDE TO WITNESS POOJA CEREMONY AT MEENAKASHI TEMPLE.

24 SUN

MADURAI FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MADURAI CITY INCLUDING MEENAKSHI TEMPLE MEENAKSHI TEMPLE: THIS IS AN EXQUISITE EXAMPLE OF TEMPLES BUILT BY THE PANDYAN RULERS. THERE ARE AS MANY AS 11 MAJESTIC TOWERS WITH THE MAIN ENTRANCE FROM THE EAST. THERE ARE TWO SHRINES, ONE DEDICATED TO SUNDRESWARAR AND THE OTHER TO HIS CONSORT MEENAKSHI. THE HALL IN FRONT OF THE SUNDARESWARAR SHRINE IS KNOWN AS KAMPATHADI MANDAPAM. THE DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF LORD SHIVA ARE DEPICTED ON THE PILLARS OF THIS HALL. THE HALL OF THOUSAND PILLARS IS THE MOST INTERESTING FEATURE. THIS REMARKABLE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN THE 16TH CENTURY. THE PILLARS HERE HAVE A REPEATED MOTIF OF THE STYLISED DRAGON. THERE ARE MUSICAL PILLARS IN ONE OF THE OUTER ENCLOSURES. EACH PILLAR SOUNDS A DIFFERENT NOTE WHEN STRUCK. INSIDE, APILLARED PORTICO SURROUNDS HE SACRED GOLDEN LOTUS TANK. ACCORDING TO A LEGEND, THIS TANK WAS ONCE USED TO JUDGE THE METITS OF TAMIL LITERARY WORKS. MANUSCRIPTS OF GREAT WORTH WOULD FLOAT ON ITS DISCERNING WATERS, WHILE THOSE LACKING IN MERIT WOULD SINK. THE TEMPLE ART GALLERY IS INTERESTING.

25 MONMADURAI/PERIYAR

CHECK -IN AT

HOTEL CLUB MAHINDRA TUSKER TRAIL

AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE MADURAI/PERIYAR (160 KMS, 4 HRS 30 MIN). ON

ARR

NOON: SPICE PLANTATION TOUR WITH NATURALIST SPICE PLANTATION VISIT IS A 1 HRS PROGRAM. KERALA HISTORY IS CLOSELY LINKED WITH ITS COMMERCE, WHICH IN TURN WAS WHOLLY DEPENDENT UNTIL RECENT TIMES ON ITS SPICE TRADE. PEPPER STILL REMAINS THE KING OF KERALA SPICES. OVER 12 VARIETIES OF SPICES INCLUDING GINGER, GARLIC, CARDAMOM, VANILLA, PEPPER, CINNAMON, COFFEE, TEA, AND CLOVE ETC IS CULTIVATED. VISIT OF SPICE PLANTATIONS DEFINITELY BE AN EXCITING PROGRAM FOR EVERYONE. OPTIONS TO VISIT SPICE SHOPS ALSO TO BE HAD.

28

26 TUE

PERIYAR/MUNNAR

0700 HRS: AFTER EARLY BREAKFAST NATURE WALK WITH TRIBAL NATURALIST DIFFERENT NATURE TRAILS TRAVERSING DIVERSE HABITATS FORM THE TREKKING ROUTES, GENERALLY 4 TO 5 KM. IN LENGTH. THIS IS AN INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMME OFFERING EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THE TRAILS OFTEN PASS THROUGH EVERGREEN AND MOIST DECIDUOUS FORESTS INTERSPERSED WITH MARSHY GRASSLANDS. THE PROGRAMME IS OFFERED BETWEEN 7.00 AM. AND 10.30 AM. AND LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. A MAXIMUM OF 5 PERSONS CAN GO FOR TREKKING AT A TIME ALONG EACH NATURE TRAIL, ACCOMPANIED BY A TRAINED TRIBAL GUIDE. THE NATURE WALK IS THE RIGHT PROGRAM TO FEEL NATURE, HEAR HER WHISPERS AND SMELL HER FLOWERS.

LATER DRIVE PERIYAR/MUNNAR ((150 KMS/04 HRS)). ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN

AT

HOTEL

PM: TOUR OF MUNNAR CITY WITH A SHORT TREK IN TEA PLANTATION THE VISIT INCLUDES TOP STATION, ON KERALAS BORDER WITH TAMIL NADU, WHICH HAS SPECTULAR VIEWS OVER THE GHATS & PLAINS, CHRIST CHURCH, IN THE CENTRE OF OLD MUNNAR, SET ON A HILL IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE ROAD IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN & MOUNT CARMEL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE HIGH RANGES, IS IN OLD MUNNAR ON THE ROAD UPTO TATA GENERAL HOSPITAL.

27 WED MUNNAR/COCHIN AFTER BREAKFAST LEISURELY DRIVE MUNNAR/COCHIN (135 KMS). ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT

HOTEL LE MERIDIEN
EVE: ENJOY THE KATHAKALI DANCE PERFORMANCE IN A THEATER 28 THU COCHIN AM: CITY TOUR OF COCHIN. COCHIN: VISIT TO THE COCHIN HARBOUR TERMINUS, MATTANCHEERY DUTCH PALACE, JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, JEW TOWN, FORT COCHIN AREA-ST. FRANCIS CHURCH, CHINESE FISHING NETS. ALSO AT ERNAKULAM, THE PUBLIC GARDENS, COLLEGES, HIGH COURT BUILDING AND BROADWAY SHOPPING CENTRE. PM: FREE AT LEISURE

29 FRI

COCHIN/KETTUVALLAM AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE COCHIN/KOTTAYAM & ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT A/C DLX HOUSE BOAT CALLED VEMBANADU KETTUVALLAM. ((THE TIMINGS OF HOUSEBOAT IS 1200 0900 HRS)) KETTUVALLAM: ADAPTED AND MODERNIZED FROM THE TRADITIONAL KETTUVALLAM OF KERALA, THE KETTUVALLAM IS AN EXPERIENCE IN ITSELF. LARGE AND COMFORTABLE AMENITIES YOU COULD ASK FOR. A LARGE, SECLUDED BEDROOM, AN ATTACHED BATHROOM, A FULL FLEDGED KITCHEN WITH COOKING UTENSILS AND A VERY SPACIOUS DINING AREA. AND A

29

SINDECK WHERE YOU CAN LAZE ON WICKER CHAIRS AS YOU WATCH THE WORLD GO BY. THE KETTUVALLAM COMES COMPLETE WITH A FULL TIME CHEF TO COOK YOU THE CATCH OF THE DAY OR WHATEVER ELSE THAT MIGHT CATCH YOUR FANCY AND TWO ATTENDANTS ARE ALWAYS AT YOUR BECK AND CALL. YOUR HOUSE BOAT CARRIES YOU SLOWLY INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE OFFER A CLOSE LOOK INTO AN ENGAGING RUSTIC LIFE. SKIFF-FISHERMEN LAUNCHING THEIR COCKLESHELL BOATS. LARGE FLOTILLAS OF DUCKS WADDING DOWN TO THE WATER FROM THATCHED HOUSES ON THE BANKS. WOMEN, NECK-DEP IN WATER, WITH THEIR WAIST-LENGTH HAIR HEAPED IN A CROWN, SEARCHING FOR FISH WITH THEIR FEET. AND AIMLESS CATTLE GRAZING IN LUSH PASTURELAND, WHERE WHITE LOTUSES LIE HERE AND THERE IN SMALL, LOW-LYING POOLS. LUNCH & DINNER AT HOUSEBOAT

30 SAT

KETTUVALLAM/KOVALAM EARLY IN THE MORNING YOU CAN HAVE THE PANORAMIC VIEW OF SUNRISE FROM THE KETTUVALLAM. AFTER BREAKFAST CRUISE TOWARDS ALLEPPEY THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE, OFFERS A CLOSE LOOK INTO AN ENGAGING RUSTIC LIFE. THEREAFTER DRIVE ALLEPEY/KOVALAM (200 KMS) & CHECK-IN AT HOTEL LEELA

KEMPINSKI (BEACH VIEW SUPERIOR)

31 SUN

KOVALAM FULL DAY RELAX AT LONG PRESTINE QUITE SANDY BEACH (NO CAR)

NOV 10 01 MON KOVALAM/TRIVANDRUM/BOMBAY AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE TO TRIVANDRUM (35 KMS) & STRAIGHT DRIVE TRIVANDURAM AIRPORT TO CONNECT FLIGHT TO BOMBAY DEP: TRIVANDURAM ARR: BOMBAY 1550 HRS 1745 HRS IT 3138 TO

(ONLY MR/MRS HALPERIN & MR/MRS SHAHAM CONNECT FLIGHT TO BACK HOME (BY OWN)

ONLY MR/MRS ROSENFELD STAY 01 NIGHT IN BOMBAY

ARR: BOMBAY 1745 HRS IT 3138 MEET UPON ARRIVAL & TRANSFER TO HOTEL PENINSULA GRAND (ARRIVAL TRANSFER AT AIRPORT BY HOTEL CAB)

02 TUE

BOMBAY/OUT (ROOM TILL 1200 NOON) DEP: BOMBAY 0430 HRS KE 0656 (DEPARTURE TRANSFER AT AIRPORT BY HOTEL CAB)

END OF OUR SERVICES 30

This week I further learnt the preparation and use of Vouchers pertaining to the services of the company provided to the concerned or prospective client. Vouchers: These are the temporary fiscal figures which are generated to book the travel services in advance on confirmed basis. They are of two types: one is Hotel Voucher which is issued to the hotel prior to the visit of the client. Second is Service Voucher, it can be transport voucher, to be more prcised it can be jeep safari voucher. Service Voucher includes all the services apart from accommodation which is provided to the traveler, like: sightseeing, monument entry fee, guide services etc.

In this week I was asked to prepare the complete folder for the upcoming client Ms Bedier. This folder comprises various documents like welcome letter, different kinds of vouchers and a detailed itinerary of the desired program. I prepared all the vouchers and final itinerary for the clients. This itinerary is mainly the Golden triangle tour with Kajuraho and Varanasi. All the initial hotel reservations were made in the four and five star hotels. I was also involved in the file handling of the same client. Briefing sheet is also prepared for the client that included the detailed itinerary of his tour, feedback form and detailed copy of vouchers. Apart from this I also prepared the list of hotels and vendors at various destinations on excel sheet. Generally the operation process is same for all the FIT tours but it very when it is concerned with GIT tours. I have been asked to collect the heritage hotel list of Rajasthan. The famous hotels which are generally preferred by the foreign tourist are: I. Heritage hotels of Jaipur: -Royal Castle Kanota -The Ramgarh Lodge -Chirmi Palace Hotel -Raj Mahal Palace 31

II. Heritage hotels of Jodhpur: -Ajit Bhawan Resort -Fort Chanwa Luni -Karni Bhawan -Balsamand Lake Palace III. Heritage hotels of Udaipur: -Hotel Devigarh Fort -Shiv Niwas Palace -Lakshmi Vilas Hotel -Shikarbadi Hotel IV. Heritage Hotels of Bikaner: -Hotel Lallgarh Palace -Karni Bhawan Palace -Gajner Palace Hotel -Basant Vihar Palace

SUGGESTIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS

My overall period of the training at Paradise Holidays was a great expirence to have in my entire course of travel and tourism administration . Though to do my summer internship I was mostly interested to do it in aviation or hospitality sector before joining Paradise Holidays but working with such a renowned travel agency enhanced my further knowledge of travel and tourism industry as it 32

provided me with a greater incite of the working the industry , various destinations and other aspects of the tourism industry. Working in a travel agency broaden my horizons about the industry as I realized that tour operations is a leading pathway to aviation and hospitality industry in which I was keen to work. Training in travel agency boosted confidence in me as I got a chance to interact with different industry professionals and it further motivated me to work as I also got stipend of Rs 1000/- . The working environment over their was also comfortable as it had an excellent infrastructure and friendly and supportive collegues. After my training in Paradise Holidays I would like to suggest that the company can diversify its line by adding s product more tourism products OUTBOUND TOURISM as the company already have a image of a renound tavel agency . It can also diversify the company by adding up MICE division as it is a big boon for the tourism industry now and in coming years, as the company offers world class facilities in the components of tourism which can easily cater to the needs of MICE division. I have also come up with a suggestion that as the company mentions END OF OUR SERVICES after providing the client with a formal itinerary , the company can have promising words like END OF OUR SERVICES TO A NEW RELATIONSHIP which commits on the services provided by the company , builds a lasting image in the minds of the customers , an also creates goodwill of the company.

33

CONCLUSION
Tourism is a major social phenomenon of the modern society with enormous economic consequences. Its importance as an instrument for economic development and employment generation particularly in remote and backward areas and a positive step for poverty elimination has been accepted the world over. According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) about 808 million tourists criss crossed globally in 2005 and spent about 682 billion. The tourism scene in India is also very positive with 3.92 tourists coming to India in 2005 (13.2% over 2004) and contributed Rs. 25172 cores in the foreign exchange earnings for the country (16.5% up over 2004) India also derived benefits from tourism inspite of the fact that the level of tourist arrivals was not very high. For a country like India the arrival figures should have been more to get the real economic benefits of tourism I did my project report from a prominent company, PARADISE HOLIDAYS INDIA PVT. LTD. were the first official travel company to be formed in 1758. the purpose of the training is to change attitude. Training is about providing opportunities for learning and it is through learning that we may or may not change behaviour. To summarize, in this report I have tried to do justice in explaining the 2 months of valuable training experience that I obtained at the organization. Working like an employee in such a big brand has definitely provided me with significant competencies in me for today and for future. I have done full efforts to accumulate my experience in this report. Training makes the student aware about effective tourism strategies, structures and planning systems. I have got the opportunity to have a first hand practical knowledge of various aspects of the tourism industry and enhance the skills and knowledge. During training I got a chance to interact with different people like the prospective customers, tourism professionals already working in the field, people working in the airlines, hoteliers and travel agencies.

34

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS 1. Indian Tourism Map 2. Tour & Travel Books MAGAZINES / NEWSPAPERS 1. Business Tour 2. The Economics Times 3. The Times of India

WEBSITES 1.www.paradiseholidays.net 2.wikipedia 3.www.googlesearchengine.com

35

ANNEXURES
ITINERARY 1:
ITINERARY SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR

PROF EYTAN & MRS IRIT GILBOA

APRIL10

01 THU BOMBAY/UDAIPUR
ARR: BOMBAY 07: 55 HRS LY 071

MEET UPON ARRIVAL & STRAIGHT PROCEED FOR SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF BOMBAY CITY BOMBAY CITY: THIS CITY, WITH A POPULATION OF 10 MILLION, IS THE ECONOMIC CENTER OF INDIA. IT IS AN ISLAND CONNECTED TO THE MAINLAND BY BRIDGES & LOW SWAMPY AREAS, WHICH HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY RECLAIMED. THE PLACES OF VISITED IN THE CITY ARE THE GATEWAY OF INDIA -THE 262FT. HIGH GATEWAY, OVERLOOKING THE SEA, BUILT TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF KING GEORGE V. AND QUEEN MARRY IN 1911; DHOBI GHAT; TATA INSTITUTE, RAJABAI CLOCK TOWER AND THE HIGH COURT IN THE GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL STYLE; MARINE DRIVE (ALSO KNOWN AS "QUEEN'S NECKLACE", THE STREET LIGHTS SHINING LIKE JEWELS AT NIGHT) HANGING GARDENS ON MALABAR HILL; MANIBHAWAN; CRAWFORD MARKET; VICTORIA TERMINUS STATION; FLORA FOUNTAIN. THE PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM HAS INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT COLLECTION. AFTER SIGHTSEEING TRANSFER TO AIRPORT TO CONNECT FLIGHT TO UDAIPUR DEP: BOMBAY ARR: UDAIPUR 0000 HRS 0000 HRS (TO BE ADVISED) (ISSUED IN ISRAEL)

MEET UPON ARRIVAL & TRANSFER TO HOTEL

THE TRIDENT.

02 FRI

UDAIPUR
AM: SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF UDAIPUR CITY UDAIPUR CITY: VISITING, CITY PALACE - SITUATED ON ELEVATION ON THE EASTERN BANK OF LAKE PICHOLA; JAGDISH TEMPLE-CLOSE TO THE CITY PALACE IS THIS 17TH CENTURY TEMPLE DEDICATED TO LORD VISHNU; LAKE FATEHSAGAR; NEHRU ISLAND PARK; JET FOUNTAIN; MAHARANA PRATAP MEMORIAL - OVERLOOKING LAKE FATEHSAGAR IS MOTI MAGRI HILL. THE HILL NOW IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MAHARANA PRATAP, THE GREATEST HERO OF MEWAR; SAHELION-KI-BADI - THE GARDEN HAS SEVERAL FOUNTAINS. WHEN WORKING, THEY CREATE THE ILLUSION OF DRIZZLE AND THEN RAIN. THERE ARE FOUR ELEPHANTS CUT OF SINGLE MARBLE ROCKS. PM: VISIT TO EKLINGJI & NAGDA TEMPLES. EKLINGJI TEMPLE: 22 KMS FROM UDAIPUR IS A TEMPLE BUILT IN 734 A.D. CUT OUT OF SANDSTONE AND MARBLE. THIS IS A COMPLEX OF 108 TEMPLES ENCLOSED BY HIGH WALLS. THE TEMPLE IS DEVOTED TO THIS PARTICULAR DEITY WHICH WAS WORSHIPPED BY THE MAHARANAS OF MEWAR NAGDA: VERY CLOSE TO EKLINGJI IS NAGDA, NAMED AFTER ITS FOUNDER NAGADITYA AND IS ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT PLACES IN MEWAR.THERE ARE HINDU AND JAIN TEMPLES, NOTABLE AMONG WHICH IS THE SAS-BAHU TEMPLED DEDICATED TO VISHNU.

03 SAT UDAIPUR/DEOGARH
AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE UDAIPUR/DEOGARH (120 KMS/3 HRS) VISITING RANAKPUR ENROUTE.

36

RANAKPUR: 90 KMS FROM UDAIPUR IN A QUIET ISOLATED GLEN, IS A REMARKABLE COMPLEX OF JAIN TEMPLES OF RANAKPUR (1440AD). BUILT DURING THE REIGN OF THE LIBERAL AND GIFTED MONARCH RANA KUMBHA, THESE TEMPLES, THOUGH BELONGING TO A LATE PERIOD (15TH CENTURY), WHEN THE PEAK OF THE CLASSICAL AGE WAS ALREADY PAST, ARE A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF JAIN RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE.THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE IS ENCIRCLED BY A WALL. ONE TEMPLE CONSISTS OF 29 HALLS AND 426 PILLARS FULL OF SCULPTURAL DECORATION. NO. TWO PILLARS ARE ALIKE HERE. CONTINUE DRIVE TO DEOGARH ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT

HOTEL DEOGARH

MAHAL.
VISIT FORT & THE CENOTAPHS, OUTSIDE THE DEOGARH VILLAGE. DEOGARH- IT IS A VERY PLEASANT, LITTLE FREQUENTED TOWN WITH A DUSTY BUT INTERESTING BAZAR. ITS ELEVATION MAKES IT RELATIVELY COOL & THE COUNTRYSIDE & SURROUNDING HILLS ARE GOOD FOR GENTLE TREKS. THERE IS AN OLD FORT ON A HILL AS WELL AS A MAGNIFICENT PALACE ON A HILLOCK IN THE CENTRE WITH MURALS ILLUSTRATING THE FINE LOCAL SCHOOL OF MINIATURE PAINTING.

04 SUN DEOGARH/JODHPUR
AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE DEOGARH/JODHPUR (160 KMS/03 HRS) ON ARRIVAL CHECK IN AT

HOTEL BAL SAMAND PALACE.

PM: CITY TOUR OF JODHPUR INCLUDING MEHRANGARH JODHPUR CITY IS AN ANCIENT CAPITAL CITY OF MARWAR IS SURROUNDED BY A STONE WALL (ALMOST 9 KMS IN CIRCUMFERENCE) WITH SEVEN GATESSEPERATING IT FROM THE SANDS THAT STRETCH OUT ON ALL SIDES. DOMINATING THE CITY IS A MASSIVE IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS SITUATED ON A ROCKY SCRAPPED HILL. WITHIN THE FORT WALLS ARE NUMBER OF OLD PALACES, WITH PRICELESS JEWELS AND INTERESTING COLLECTION OF ARMS. ON THE WALLS OF ENTRY GATE ARE STONE-PALM-IMPRESSIONS OF THE WIDOWS, WHO AGES AGO IMMOLATED THEMSELVES UPON THE PYRES OF THEIR DEPARTED HUSBAND. MEHRANGARH: STILL RUN BY THE MAHARAJA OF JODHPUR, MEHERANGARH, THE MAJESTIC FORT, IS JUST THAT SPRAWLED ACROSS A 125 M-HIGH HILL, THIS IS THE MOST FORMIDABLE FORT IN FORT STUDDED RAJASTHAN.

05 MON

JODHPUR/PUSHKAR
AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE JODHPUR/PUSHKAR. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT

HOTEL JAGAT PALACE.

PUSHKAR: THE BIGGEST OF RAJASTHAN'S NUMEROUS FAIRS, PUSHKAR TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE PUSHKAR LAKE NEAR AJMER WHERE IT IS HELD ANNUALLY. A DIP IN THE HOLY WATERS OF THE LAKE IS CONSIDERED AUSPICIOUS. WITNESS SPLENDID SUNSET VIEW FROM THE LAKE. ALSO VISIT WORLD FAMOUS BRAHMA TEMPLE. VISIT THE BRAHMA TEMPLE (HOLY) MAY BE HEREBY PEOPLE CAN ASK THEIR WISHES FOR TRUE LOVE TO BE FULFILLED BY THE HINDU GOD BRAHMA WHO IS KNOWN FOR WRITING THE HUMAN FATE

06 TUE PUSHKAR/JAIPUR
AM: FREE AT LEISURE THNE DRIVE LEISURELY PUSHKAR/JAIPUR (145 KMS/03 HRS) VISITING AJMER ENROUTE AJMER: AJMER WAS FOUNDED IN THE 7TH CENTURY A.D BY RAJA JAI PAL CHAUCHAN, A RAJPUT RULER. AJMER IS TODAY A BLEND OF THE HINDU AND MUSLIM CULTURES. IT IS FAMOUS FOR

37

THE HOLY PUSHKAR TEMPLES,AS WELL AS THE DARGAH OF KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISTI AND OTHERS. ADHAI-DIN-KA-JHONPRA IS A MOSQUE BUILT IN 1193 BY MUHAMMED GHORI.IT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BUILT IN JUST TWO-AND-A-HALF DAYS FROM THE RUINS OF AN ANCIENT SANSKRIT COLLEGE AND HINDU TEMPLES THERE, DARGAH IS POPULARLY KOWN AS DARGAH SHARIF OR DARGAH KHWAJA SAHIB. THIS IS THE TOMB OF A REVERED SAINT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISTI (1142-1246 A.D). IT IS SAID THAT EMPEROR AKBAR'S PRAYER FOR A SON WAS GRANTED THROUGH HIS SUPPLICATION HERE THE URS OF MOINUDDIN CHISTI EVERY YEAR ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND. GOVERNMENT MUSEUM, HOUSED IN AKBAR'S PALACE AND ROYAL QUARTERS, HAS A COLLECTION OF MUGHAL AND RAJPUT ARMOURY AND SCULPURES. CONTINUE DRIVE TO JAIPUR. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT

HOTEL RAMADA

PLAZA.
PM: VISIT TO CHOKHI DHANI ETHNIC VILLAGE FAIR PARK WITH TRADITIONAL RAJASTHANI DINNER CHOKHI DHANI -A BEAUTIFUL PLACE ABOUT 12 KMS OUT FROM JAIPUR, SURROUNDED BY ARTIFICIAL LAKE TO GIVE A VILLAGE FAIR TYPE. THE FAIR STARTS IN THE EVENING, WHOLE PLACE IS ILLUMINATED BY LANTERNS AND ON TOP TRADITIONALLY DRESSED STAFF GIVES A MEMORABLE AMBIENCE. YOU CAN ENJOY OPTIONAL HORSE, CAMEL RIDE & WITNESS PUPPET SHOW, RAJASTHANI MUSIC, PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL JUGGLERS AND MUSICIANS, MONKEY SHOW, BEAR SHOW, SNAKE CHARMER, CLAY POTTER, EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUE UTENSILS, BHOOL BHOOLYIA, WALK THROUGH ARTIFICIAL DARK CAVE, FORTUNE TELLER, TRADITIONAL DRINK ETC. LATE EVENING: INDIAN MOVIE AT RAJ MANDIR CINEMA HALL WATCH AN INDIAN MOVIE AT RAJ MANDIR CINEMA HALL CONSIDERED TO BE THE BEST IN INDIA. EVEN THOUGH, YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL LANGUAGE, YOU CANT RESIST YOURSELF TO GET INTO THE MOOD OF THE MOVIE WITH FOOT TAPPING MUSIC. FYI, INDIAN MOVIE INDUSTRY IS KNOWN AS BOLLYWOOD AND THE LARGEST FILM INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD AS FAR AS MAKING MOVIES IS CONSIDERED

07 WED

JAIPUR
AM: EXCURSION TO AMBER FORT WITH ELEPHANT RIDE. AMBER (PALACE) FORT: THE ORIGINAL PALACE OF THE LOCAL RULERS WAS BUILT IN THE 17TH CENTURY HIGH UP ON A HILL OVERLOOKING A LAKE, JUST BELOW THE VAST AND SOMBER WALLS OF THE ANCIENT FORT OF AMBER. THE TOWERS AND DOMES OF THE AMBER PALACE ARE REMINISCENT OF SCENES FROM SOME FAIRY-TALE. ITS HALLS OF VICTORY IS RICHLY DECORATED WITH PANELS OF ALABASTER WITH FINE INLAY WORK OF TENDERCOLOURS. YOU ASCEND UP THE PALACE ON BOARD GAILY CAPARISONED ELEPHANTS, AS DID THE MAHARAJA'S OF YORE. PM: CITY TOUR OF JAIPUR. JAIPUR CITY: THIS 18TH CENTURY CITY (CAPITAL OF RAJASTHAN) IS FAMED AS "THE PINK CITY", BECAUSE OF THE LOCAL ROSE-PINK-SANDSTONE USED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION. THE FORTIFICATIONS GIVE IT A MEDIEVAL ATMOSPHERE, BUT ITS WELL-PLANNED LAYOUT IS "MODERN", BUILT IN 1728. VISIT MAHARAJA'S CITY-PALACE, SITUATED IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WITH CHARMING GARDENS SURROUNDED BY HIGH WALLS; PALACE OF WINDS (HAWA MAHAL), A UNIQUELY DESIGNED FIVE -STORY STRUCTURE WITH TIERS OF OVERHANGING BALCONIES OF PINK SANDSTONE; MAHARAJA JAI SINGH AFTER WHOM THE CITY WAS NAMED, BEING A KEEN ASTRONOMER BUILT AN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY WHICH IS STILL IN USE. IT IS MADE OF QUAINT MASONRY INSTRUMENTS OF REMARKABLE SIZE. LATER WALK AROUND LOCAL BAZAAR.

08 THU JAIPUR/AGRA

38

AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE JAIPUR/AGRA (225 KMS/05 HRS) ENROUTE VISIT FATEHPUR SIKRI. FATEHPUR SIKRI: ABOUT 40 KMS FROM AGRA LIES THE MAGNIFICENT DESERTED CITY OF FATEHPUR SIKRI, THE CAPITAL OF THE GREAT AND LOVED EMPEROR AKBAR. DURING HIS BRIEF STAY HERE, A GREAT COMPLEX OF FORTS, PALACES AND MOSQUES SPRANG UP, BUT AKBAR WAS FINALLY FORCED TO ABANDON HIS DREAM CITY DUE TO SCARCITY OF WATER, AND IT BECAME A GHOST TOWN. THIS EPIC POEM IN SANDSTONE LIES `STRADDLED ACROSS A ROCKY RIDGE, SURROUNDED BY IMMENSE WALLS WITH NINE GATES. THE LARGEST OF THE GATES IS THE BULAND DARWAZA, AND IT LEADS TO THE JAMA MASJID AND TO THE FANTASTIC TOMB OF SHEIKH SALIM CHISTI WHICH LIES UNDER AN ELABORATE MARBLE CANOPY AND IS LAVISHLY INLAID WITH MOTHER-OF-PEARL CONTINUE DRIVE TO AGRA. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT HOTEL PM: VISIT TAJ MAHAL (TAJ IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS) THE TAJ MAHAL, UNQUESTIONABLY THE WORLD'S MOST MAGNIFICENT MONUMENT BUILT IN 17TH CENTURY. A COLOSSAL, PERFECTLY PROPORTIONED MASS OF WHITE MARBLE, IT IS LITERALLY A JEWEL, FASHIONED OVER 20 YEARS OF HUNDREDS OF SKILLED CRAFTSMEN AND OVER 20,000 LABORERS TO FLOAT LIKE SOME FANTASTIC MIRAGE UPON THE YAMUNA.

JAYPEE PALACE.

09 FRI AGRA
FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF AGRA CITY VISITING RED FORT & ITMAD-UD-DAULAHS TOMB INCLUDING RICKSHAW RIDE AT KINARI BAZAAR THE AGRA FORT WAS ONCE THE FLOURISHING CENTRE OF THE MUGHAL DYNASTY, AND FOUR SUCCESSIVE EMPERORS HELPED TO CREATE ITS MASSIVE WALLS, WITHIN WHICH HINDU AND MUSLIM STYLES MERGE INTO A SPLENDID FUSION OF MILITARY MIGHT AND LAVISH BEAUTY. ITMAD-UD-DAULAH'S TOMB: IT WAS BUILT BY NOOR JEHAN IN MEMORY OF HER FATHER GHIAS-UD-DIN-BEG. IT IS INLAID WITH WHITE MARBLE. THIS BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE STANDS ON A RAISED PLATFORM IN THE CENTRE OF MOGHAL STYLED GARDEN. SIKANDRA: SEE THE 16TH CENTURY AKBAR'S TOMB, THE FOUNDATION STONE OF WHICH HAD BEEN LAID BY THE EMPEROR HIMSELF. THE MAUSOLLEUM WAS COMPLETED BY HIS SON, JEHANGIR AND IS INLAID WITH WHITE MARBLE IN VARIOUS POLYGONAL PATTERNS. THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE STANDS ON THE RAISED PLATFORM IN THE CENTRE OF MOGHUL STYLED GARDEN. IN THE EVENING, ENJOY MOHABBAT-E-TAJ LIVE SHOW WITH DANCES DEPICTING STORY BEHIND TAJ MAHAL AT KALAKRITI AUDITORIUM www.kalakritionline.com

10 SAT

AGRA/JHANSI/KHAJURAHO
AFTER BREAKFAST TRANSFER TO RAILWAY STATION FOR TRAIN TO JHANSI. DEP: AGRA ARR: JHANSI 0805 HRS 1025 HRS 2002- SHATABDI EXP A/C CHAIR CAR

COACH NO: C8 SEAT NO: 65 & 66

MEET ON ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO KHAJURAHO VISITNG ORCHA ENROUTE ORCHHA: A MEDIEVAL CITY WHERE GRANDEUR HAS TRULY BEEN CAPTURED IN STONE. YOU VISIT SEVERAL OF THE PALACES AND TEMPLES BUILT BY THE BUNDELA RULERS IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES.

39

ORCHHA WAS FOUNDED IN THE 16TH CENTURY BY THE BUNDELA RAJPUT CHIEFTAIN RUDRA PRATAP WHO CHOSE THIS STRETCH OF LAND ALONG THE RIVER BETWA AS AN IDEAL SITE FOR HIS CAPITAL. OF THE SUCCEEDING RULERS, MOST NOTABLE WAS RAJA BIR SINGH JU DEO WAS BUILT THE EXQUISITE JEHANGIR MAHAL, TIERED PALACE CROWNED BY GRACEFUL CHHATRIES. FROM HERE THE VIEW OF SOARING TEMPLE SPIRES AND CENOTAPHS IS SPECTACULAR. CONTINUE DRIVE TO KHAJURAHO. ON ARRIVAL CHECK-IN AT

HOTEL JASS

RADISSON.
11 SUN KHAJURAHO/VARANASI
AM: SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF WESTERN & EASTERN GROUP OF TEMPLES. WESTERN GROUP OF TEMPLES-LAKSHMANA TEMPLE, VARAHA TEMPLE, KENDARIYA MAHADEO TEMPLE, DEVI JAGADAMBI TEMPLE, CHITRA GUPTA TEMPLE, VISHWANATH AND NANDI TEMPLE. EASTERN GROUP OF TEMPLES ADINATH, SHANTINATH AND PARASHWANATH TEMPLES, JAVRI AND BAMANA TEMPLE. TRANSFER TO AIRPORT TO CONNECT FLIGHT TO VARANASI. DEP: KHAJURAHO ARR: VARANASI 1330 HRS 1410 HRS 9W 724 (ISSUED BY US)

MEETING, ASSISTANCE ON ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO

HOTEL TAJ

GANGES.
PM: EXCURSION TO SARNATH. SARNATH - 10 KMS NORTH OF VARANASI IS SARNATH, WHERE IN THE "DEER PARK, GAUTAM BUDDHA DELIVERED HIS FIRST SERMON AFTER HE BECAME THE "ENLIGHTENED ONE". THE RUINS OF MONASTERIES, BUILT MORE THAN 2000 YEARS AGO, THE DHAMEK STUPA AND THE MANISHRINE DRAW BUDDHISITS PILGRIMAGE TO SARNATH. HERE STANDS THE FAMOUS ASHOKA PILLAR OF POLISHED SANDSTONE WHOSE LION CAPITAL HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS INDIA'S STATE EMBLEM. THE MUSEUM (CLOSED ON FRIDAY) CONTAINS MANY SUPERB SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT ART. EVE: RICKSHAW RIDE & DEEPMALA CEREMONY IN THE EVENING VISIT THE BANKS OF GANGES TO WITNESS THE "DEEPMALA CEREMONY" WHERE YOU SEE HUNDREDS OF FLOATING LAMPS IN THE RIVER- A RARE TREAT FOR THE EYES. THIS IS BASICALLY AN HINDU FORM OF WORSHIP WHERE PEOPLE PUT FLOATING LAMPS IN THE HOLY RIVER GANGES FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR WISHES.

12 MON

VARANASI/DELHI
EARLY MORNING, BOAT CRUISE ON RIVER GANGES. GANGES BOAT TOUR- "SOUL OF THE HOLY CITY", DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY TO THE SACRED RIVER & THEN CRUISE BY BOAT ON GANGES VISITING DASASWAMEDH BATHING GHAT MANIKARNA CREMATION GHAT, PANCH GANGA GHAT, MUNSHI GHAT AND RETURN TO DASASWAMEDH GHAT. RETURN TO HOTEL FOR BREAKFAST. NOON: CITY TOUR OF VARANASI

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VISIT BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY; BHARAT MATA TEMPLE, DURGA TEMPLE, KING AURANGZEB'S MOSQUE; SACRED BULL, SHIVA TEMPLE, WELL-OF-KNOWLEDGE, KALA BHAWAN ART GALLERY, VISHWANATH TEMPLE, GOLDEN TEMPLE AND DRIVE THE CITY. TRANSFER AIRPORT CONNECT FLIGHT TO DELHI DEP: VARANASI ARR: DELHI 1605 HRS 1730 HRS SG 119 (ISSUED BY US)

MEET UPON ARRIVAL & TRANSFER TO HOTEL (BOOKED BY CLIENTS)

END OF OUR SERVICES

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