----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian
Cuisines
Duration :- 8 Days Tour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day
01 : Calcutta.
Arrival at Calcutta. Overnight stay in Calcutta.
Day 02 : Calcutta.
Morning city tour of Calcutta city visiting The Victoria Memorial, St. Paul's
Cathedral, Fort William, Raj Bhawan and the High Court . Afternoon free.
Overnight stay in Calcutta.
Victoria Memorial - Calcutta
The white marble building at the Southern end of Calcutta's maidan continues
to be the city's pride and joy. The Victoria Memorial, with its formal gardens
and water courses was conceived by Lord Curzon to commemorate the British
Empire at its peak. Other colonial monuments within the city have either
been obliterated with time or have been renamed or demolished. But the popularity
of the "VM" seems to endure for ever.
The Memorial consists of numerous hybrid features: it has Italian-style
statues over its entrances, Mughal domes in its corners and tall elegant
open colonnades along its sides. The building was designed by Sir William
Emerson and its construction was completed in 1921. The main attraction
at the memorial is the huge sombre statue of the Queen, which is flanked
by two ornamental tanks. Made of Makrana marble from Jodhpur, the Memorial
is capped by a dome bearing a revolving bronze figurine symbolizing victory.
There are 25 galleries in a chamber beneath the dome. These house several
mementos of British Imperialism - statues and busts of Queen Mary, George
V and Queen Victoria; paintings of Robert Clive and the Queen, French Guns
captured at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and a black marble throne of a
nawab defeated by Clive.
Fort William: citadel of Calcutta . With the permission of the
Nawab of Bengal, this fort was built between 1696 and 1702 by the British
East India Company and named after King William III of England. In 1756 the
fort was taken by the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-dullah. In 1757 East India
Company regained their power and demolished this fort and they started reconstruction
of the fort. The new fort was completed in 1773 and it is still there.
Day 03 : Calcutta - Bhubaneshwar.
Fly from Calcutta to Bhubaneshwar. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon
visit The capital of modern Orissa, is known as one of the ancient temple
towns of India. There are still as many as 100 temples, some of which
are masterpieces of Hindu architecture and contain exquisite carvings and
sculptures,
Raja-Rani temple,
Mukteshwar temple,
Parasurameswar
temple and
Lingaraja temple
(to be seen from the outside)
are the most important highlights. Overnight in Bhubaneshwar.
Raja-Rani
Temple: Dating back to the 11
th century, The Raja – Rani
temple is an elegant example of great finesse in temple art and architecture.
The sensuous beauty of the female form and filigree sweetness of flowers
and fruits are enhanced by the artist’s dexterous skill. Lack of a temple
deity, and celebration of the female form are some intriguing aspects of
this temple.
Mukteshwar temple: Bhubaneshwar
is also called the Cathedral city…in fact, it is said that at one time over
7000 temples crowded around the holy Bindu Sagar Tank alone. Today, just
about 500 remain, of which, some are perfection personified. One of the
most delightful expressions of the Kalinga School of architecture in this
city is the luminous beauty of the
Mukteshwara temple, often called
the “
Gem of Orissa Architecture"
. It’s importance also
lies in the fact that is a glorious synthesis of the old and new styles
of that school. It also shows and excellent combination of Hindu, Buddhist
and Jain features, which find a common voice in much of Orissan temple craft.
Lingaraja Temple: Its towering spire-like
beauty dominates the Bhubaneshwar skyline. The 11
th century temple
is the culmination of architecture beauty and sculpted elegance. Dedicated
to
Lord Shiva, it is believed to have existed is smaller form as
far as back as the 7
th century. It is closed to Non-Hindus. The
temple boasts of a Natamndir (hall of dance), the
Bhog Mandap (hall
of offering) and the Jagmohan (the porch) while is’ beautifully carved tower
rises to a height of about 55 mtr. Over 150 smaller shrines, dedicated to
a host of other cities, crowd the temple enclosure.
Day-04:Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri.

Leave
Bhubaneshwar for Puri which is 56 kms & approx. 1˝ hrs. drive. Enroute
visit Konark Sun Temple the beautiful Sun Temple built in the 13
th
Century in honor of the Sun God, containing exquisite carvings, of life-like
lions and Elephants, collosal figures of Warriors on Horse, Scenes of Battle
and the Chase – all carved with great imagination and skill, testifying to
the high standard of ancient Indian art and engineering skill.Overnight in
Puri.
Day 05 : Puri - Gopalpur on Sea. Puri- A
town of eternal festivals and an important center of pilgrimage through the
ages. Puri’s famous 12th Century temple of Jagannath
is a travel destination for thousands of Hindu pilgrims during its famous
car (Rath) festival (June-July). Puri also has an excellent beach for sun
bathing. Morning visit to Jagannath Temple. Afternoon leave for Gopalpur on
Sea, which is 265 kms & approx 07 hrs. drive. Transfer to hotel. Overnight
at Gopalpur on Sea.
Jagannath Temple: Much revered, and the destination
of countless pilgrims from the length and breadth of the country, the Jagannath
temple in Puri is one of the four most sacred places (Dhams) of worship for
Hindus. Closed to Non – Hindus, is is synonymous with all that is held sacred
in both the state and India. The reigning deity who holds the devotees in
a fever of intense religious fervor is Jagannath, the
Lord of the Universe,
Vishnu. The 65 meter conical tower slashes the skies with it’s Vishnu
Wheel and flag punctuating its glorious ascent. The exquisite pillar with
it’s Aruna head, at the entrance, once a rested at the Konark sun temple.

Day 06 : Gopalpur on Sea. Gopalpur-on-sea is a miniature seaside
haven where boating, yachting and a seaside run invite visitors to share
the expanse and have fun. Sand dunes, groves of coconut palm and casuarinas
separate the small town from the beach on the Bay of Bengal. The backwater,
creeks and lagoons give some variety.
Full day at leisure. Overnight in Gopalpur on Sea.
Day 07 : Gopalpur on Sea - Bhubaneshwar.
Morning free for own activities. Afternoon drive back to Bhubaneshwar, which
is 177 kms. & approx. 04 hrs. drive. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in
Bhubaneshwar.
Day 08 :
Bhubaneshwar – Delhi or Calcutta. Drive to airport to connect flight for
Calcutta or Delhi.