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A Study Tour of The Indian Cuisine
Duration :- 11 Days Tour
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Tour Description
India has finally got more of the recognition it deserves in the world for its cuisine, with fresh ingredients and imaginative flavors, and one of the highlights of any trip to India is the food. Indian curry and Mughlai food is now in great demand all over the world. Even if you do not expect to do much Indian cooking, a cooking class is a fun and interesting way to learn about the local ingredients and how to make some of the popular dishes. In this tour you will be able to do on hand cooking of North Indian and South Indian dishes.
In general, most cooking classes are half-day classes starting with in the morning with a trip to the local market followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch where you can eat the dishes that were prepared.
Most of the classes tend to be aimed at casual tourists, rather than serious chefs, and some tend to be cooking demonstrations, rather than classes with individual cooking stations. Please inquire before you book. Also, please keep in mind that some of the smaller, ad-hoc programs may be more flexible to change the menu or request more interaction, especially if you arrange your own private lesson for your group.
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. After immigration and custom formalities, we are assisted and driven through the city to our hotel.
Overnight: Jaypee Siddharth (2 nights) (D)
Day 02 : Delhi
Morning after breakfast we are transferred to the cooking school for 1st class 9.30 A.M to 1.30 P.M
After orientation & introduction to Indian food and people, today you will be learning Preparation of following dishes :
Starters
Potato Chop with chicken/peas filling with variations and mixed vegetable pakoda (Spinach, onion, potato etc.)
Main Course
» Yellow dal ( lentil)
» Chickpea gravy
» Cauliflower Potato
» Chicken Rogan Josh dry
» Indian whole wheat bread (Parantha,roti, naan etc.)
» Vegetable Pulao
» Mixed Raita (Yogurt)
Dessert
» Semolina Halwa
» Vermecilli Kheer
» Indian Chai (Tea)
Lunch : At the cooking school, we enjoy what we have cooked.
Afternoon Our afternoon concentrates on Old Delhi, starting with the famous Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort of the Mughal Empire. Next we visit another Mughal majesty, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Afterwards we take a Rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Old Delhi, passing through Chandni Chowk arrive at Khari Baoli the biggest wholesale market of Spices in Northern India and also visit a Local Vegetable Market before ending the tour with a dinner at a local restaurant.
Please Note:- Red fort is closed on Monday and Chandni Chowk is closed on Sunday.
Dinner - Swagath or Suvarna Bhawan South Indian Food
Day 03 : Delhi/Agra Drive 200 Kms/5 hours
The capital of India is a true reflection of the old and new of India. After an early breakfast we start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place, Qutub Minar - a perfect minaret towering 72.5 meters / 80.5 yards into the sky and there are 379 stairs inside the tower and Humayun's Tomb.
Later we depart for Agra, and on arrival check in to your Hotel. Afterwards visit historic monument Taj Mahal, best described as 'poetry in marble' because of its beauty, grace and exquisite workmanship, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Johan in 1630 as a memorial to his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Surely it is the greatest monument of love, and THE wonder of the world. Dinner at hotel.
Overnight - Jaypee Palace, Agra (1 Night) (B, D)
Day-04:Agra/Jaipur Drive 225 kms/5 hrs
After breakfast, we visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan, in the later years of his life, was imprisoned by his son to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal. We depart for Jaipur enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1640 by the Mughal King, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir, Father of builder of the Taj.
On arrival in Jaipur we make a visit to the Food Market. Return to our Hotel.
Dinner: To be advised
Overnight Hotel Shahpura House ( 2 Nights) (B,D)
Day 05 : Jaipur
Morning after breakfast we are transferred to the cooking school for 2nd class 9.30 to 12.30.
Today we learn the preparation of following Vegetarian dishes
» Traditional Karry (Raw Mango) Chhach
» Lachha Payaz ( Onion)
» Chilli Curd
» Dahi Bada
» Pindi Chana
» Mughlai Cauli Flower
» Maharani Pulao
» Pindi Puri
» Gulab Jamun
We enjoy Lunch of what we cook at the School.
After Lunch, we drive to Amber Palace. We ride a jeep to go uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. After the tour and enjoying a panoramic view, we return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical observatory built by the founder of the city, Jai Singh. We also visit the majestic Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art, and the colourful bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone and one of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal, Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. Evening is free to enjoy both shopping and a cultural experience in the bazaars of Jaipur.
Dinner: At Spice Court Restaurant.
Overnight at Hotel
Day 06 : Jaipur/Mumbai/Kochi - flight
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport in Jaipur in time to Board our flight to Kochi via Mumbai. On arrival in Kochi we are transferred to our Hotel. Rest of the day free to relax.
Dinner and Overnight at Hotel Casino 2 Nights (B,D).
Day 07 : Kochi
Morning after breakfast, we drive to the residence of Nimmy Paul, for a 3rd session of cooking class. Nimmy is a professional cookery instructor for more than twenty years and belongs to traditional Syrian Christian community in Kerala. Nimmy conducts cookery classes. She teaches guests the nuances of traditional Kerala recipes. We enjoy Lunch preparations by Nimmy.
After Lunch, we take a guided tour of the city visiting - the oldest European Church in India "St. Francis Church". Today it is governed by the Church of South India (CSI). Vasco Da Gama was buried here before his remains were taken back to Portugal 14 years later. One can see the winding streets with mosques and 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community with ancient roots, a 16th century synagogue, and a palace built by the Portuguese and given to the Raja of Cochin.
After the sightseeing tour of Cochin, we return to our Hotel for dinner and overnight.
(B, L,D)
Day 08 : Kochi / Calicut / Thallassary: Drive 262 Kms/5 Hours)
Today the day starts early as after an early breakfast we are we are driven to Thallassary where on arrival we stay with the owners of Ayisha Manzil a Heritage House for nights.
Here you will be taught to prepare :
» 1 Sea Food dish
» 1 meat item
» 1 rice dish
» 1 type of bread
» 1 desert
Dinner and over night at Ayisha Manzil.
Day 09 : Thallasary
Morning again attend cooking class :
You will be taught to prepare :
» 1 Sea Food dish
» 1 meat item
» 1 rice dish
» 1 type of bread
» 1 desert
After Lunch we take a round around Thallasary Town.
Thallassery is one of the oldest British settlements in India. This historic town is located at 21 km from Kannur in north Kerala. Thalassery is blessed with abundant natural beauty with small hills, four rivers, number of breath taking cliffs and a beautiful long coastline.
British entered in Thalassery in 1682 with an aim of establishing their trading facilities. They exported spices such as cardamom, pepper, cinnamon to various European countries using Thalassery port. In 1708, British East India Company was established in Thalassery and Thalassery Fort was built on a beautiful rocky cliff. Thalassery port was considered as a significant part for trading and military purposes during British Raj.
The British East India Company built the fort in 1708 to establish a stronghold on the Malabar Coast. In 1781 Hyder Ali, ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, was unsuccessful in capturing the Fort in his campaign to control Malabar. His successor, Tipu Sultan, was forced to cede Malabar District to the British in 1792, at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalassery's development. It is now a historical monument.
Breakfast, Lunch and dinner at Hotel. Lunch will consist of dishes which we cook.
Day 10 : Thallasary / Calicut / Mumbai Drive and flight.
Today after breakfast we drive to airport in Calicut in time to board our flight to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai, we check in to our Hotel.
Afternoon our experience of Mumbai starts with Gateway of India- Mumbai's most famous monument; this is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city.
We continue our tour of Mumbai by visiting the Prince of Wales Museum & Victoria Terminus which is recently added to the world heritage site. This is a city's most exuberant Gothic building look more like a lavishly decorated palace or cathedral than a train station. Our Next Stop is at Mani Bhawan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed here during the freedom Struggle of British India. The house is now converted into a Museum. From here we leave for Jain Temple and Hanging gardens and drive past Haji Ali - the tomb of a wealthy Muslim merchant, who renounced all his worldly belongings before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The tomb itself is over eight hundred years old and linked to the mainland by a path that is annually submerged in the high monsoon tide. We end our tour at the Dhobi Ghats - a vast outdoor laundry. After the tour we return back to our hotel.
Please Note: - The Prince of Wales Museum is closed on Mondays.
Day 11 : Mumbai /Home
Today we are transferred to airport in Mumbai for our flight back Home.
Bon voyage
Cost
| Details |
Cost based in US Dollars Per Person |
| Land Cost |
USD 1498 |
| Cost of entrances at Monuments in India |
USD 97 |
| Cost for Cooking Classes inclusive of Lunch |
USD 223 |
| Single Room supplement |
USD 852 |
| Domestic Air for Jaipur-Mumbai-Cochin, Calicut-Mumbai, fare Subject to Change and availability |
USD 358 |
ACCOMMODATION
| City |
Hotel Name |
Room Category |
No. of Nights |
| Delhi |
|
Standard Room |
02 |
| Agra |
|
Standard Room |
01 |
| Jaipur |
|
Standard Room |
02 |
| Cochin |
|
Superior Room |
02 |
| Thallasary |
Aiysha Manzil |
Standard Room |
02 |
| Mumbai |
|
Standard Room |
01 |
Standard Inclusions :-
» 10 Nights accommodation as per meal plan listed in Itinerary.
» Twin bedded room with private bath or shower & hotel taxes.
» Air-conditioned Car/Mini Van/Coach with an expert driver for all transfers and sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary.
» Cost of Cooking Classes.
» Fuel, Insurance, Toll Taxes, All State Taxes, All transport related Expenses and Driver Services.
» Assistance by our representatives at the airports on arrival at each place as per the itinerary.
» Services of a local English-speaking guide for sightseeing as per itinerary.
» City sightseeing & cooking classes in as mentioned in the itinerary.
» Bottled Mineral Water while traveling on Car/Coach.
» All taxes and service charges including Service Tax of 2.58 %.
Price Does Not Include :-
» Any Domestic/International Air Fare supplement quoted above for Domestic airfare
» Meals and beverages not listed in itinerary,
» All entrances to the monuments of visit Supplement quoted above
» Tips for Drivers/Helpers and Guides.
» Porterages, tips to Bell Boys at Hotels and Porters
» Movie/video camera fee at monuments.
» Expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, portage etc.
» Any other service that has not been included into "cost inclusions"
» Important: Cost is subject to revision due to any change in Taxation and Government policies.
General Conditions:
» The prices are on Per Person basis in US$ and Nett Non commissionable.
» All prices are subject to any revision of tax and tariff structure.
» In case there is a further fuel hike we will be forced to charge a fuel surcharge.
» The Prices of air tickets are given as per current rate and immediate purchase.
» Please Note that Smoking is prohibited in Public and all parts of the hotels except in designated bedrooms, where smoking is permitted. Should you desire a smoking bedroom, please let us know. The fulfilment of this request is subject to availability.
Fuel Surcharges
All package prices include fuel surcharges based upon prevailing rates at the time of agreements with suppliers. Fuel surcharges are subject to change without notice due to fluctuating oil prices. BTS INDIA reserves the right to amend tour prices at any time prior to receiving your final tour payment due to increases in fuel surcharges imposed by suppliers including airlines, cruise lines, motor coach companies and hotels.
To avoid potential increases, you may choose to pay for your tour package in full at any time. Once Full payment has been received by BTS INDIA, BTS INDIA will not charge any fuel surcharge.
