Bangalore

Bangalore, known as the Garden City and the Silicon Valley of India, is the capital of Karnataka. It has the credit of being the fifth largest city in India. Before the advent of IT revolution, it was famous for its pleasant climate and green spaces. Now because of the boom in the high-tech industry, it has become a cosmopolitan city, where a large number of young professionals are flocking together contributing to its growth.

Also known as Bengaluru, the city was founded in the 16th century by a local chieftain named Kempe Gowda. For the wandering traveller, Bangalore offers a variety of experiences such as monuments, temples, lakes, parks, exhibitions and manifestations of its culture and cuisine. The main attractions are Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and Tipu Sultan’s Palace.

The Vidhana Soudha contains the State Secretariat and the State Legislature of Karnataka. Made out of granite and porphyry, this majestic building was constructed in 1956, when the administrative power was transferred from the royal family of Wodeyars to the government of India. Constructed to “reflect the power and dignity of the people”, it has mixed styles of architectural designs.

Bangalore has two big parks- the Cubbon Park and the Lal Bagh- and several other gardens that has given the city this epithet ‘The Garden City of India’. These gardens offer a quiet space far away from the crowded streets of the city. The Cubbon Park was designed in 1864 by the British and has statues of notable personalities across the verdant spaces, The Lal Bagh is one of the most notable botanical gardens in South Asia and was designed by Hyder Ali in 1740.

Tipu Sultan’s Palace was the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan, who called it “Envy of Heaven”. The citadel was built by Kempe Gowda in 1537, while the palace was constructed by Tipu in the same way as his summer palace at Srirangapatna.

Calicut

In front of a temple in Calicut

Calicut, also known as Kozhikode, is a busy commercial town in the northern part of Kerala. It was the capital of the kingdom of Zamorins, whose rule brought prosperity to the land. Calicut is where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese traveller who discovered the sea route to India landed his ship.

Right in the centre of the city is the Manamchira Tank, the Town Hall and the Public Library- all examples of traditional architecture. It also has many mosques such as the Mishqal Palli that has a beautiful five-tiered tiled roof. The attractions for the traveller in Calicut are Kappad, the Science Planetarium, the Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery in East hill, Beypore, Sweetmeats Street and the beach.

Kappad was where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. On the beach, there is a memorial monument of this historical event that marked the beginning of colonization in India. The Science Planetarium has shows on the beginning of the Universe, the stars, planets and the Solar System.

The Pazhassiraja Museum, located in East hill, offers you beautiful works of art such as wood and metal sculptures, miniature temples and miniature people from different parts of India, coins and ancient murals. The Art gallery situated next to the Museum contains paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the great nineteenth century artist from the Travancore royal family.

Beypore is a village in Calicut that finds reference in old Greek and Roman texts. It is famous for its traditional shipbuilding centre, where dhows are made in the traditional methods that are passed from generation to generation. The Sweetmeats Street sells the famous Calicut halwa, spices such as cloves, cardamom, pepper, turmeric and coffee.

The beach in Calicut is long stretch of sand that offers you with beautiful views at sunset. The traveller can enjoy the evening at the Lighthouse, the Lions Park for children and the Aquarium.

Konark

Konark, located in Orissa in India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It boasts of the Sun Temple, one of India’s greatest architectural wonders. The name Konark has come from the words Kona meaning corner and Arka meaning Sun and is also known as Arkakshetra.

The temple in Konark, dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, is in the shape of a huge chariot. It was built during the 13th century during the reign of King Narasimhadeva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple has sculptures of Gods, demons, kings, peasants, animals, maidens, dancers and erotic couples. The temple can be seen from the sea and was called the Black Pagoda by the European sailors who used it to locate the place.

The Temple is noted for its architectural intricacy and decorative sculptures. The chariot shaped temple has 12 pairs of wheels with spokes and designs on them. The chariot is driven by seven horses while the main entrance of the temple is guarded by two lions that crush elephants. This temple lay buried under the drifting sand until the twentieth century, when it was excavated and restored by the archaeologists.

A spectacle for the traveller at the Sun Temple in Konark is the existence of three life-size images of the Sun God made of coloured chlorite stone that are illuminated by the sunrays at dawn, noon and sunset. Equally important is the Shrine of the Nine Planets that has a large slab with deities of the nine planets.

Every December, the Sun Temple hosts the Annual Dance Festival that lasts a week and features traditional forms of dance such as the Odissi and others. The dancers perform in an open air stage against the backdrop of a beautifully lit Sun Temple. The festival also displays the finest handicrafts of Orissa and exotic Sand Art.

Bhuvaneswar

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa in India, is also known as the City of Temples because it houses more than 400 temples, among which some date back even to the seventh century. An important place for the Hindus, the city acquires its name from Lord Shiva who as Tribhubaneswar or the Lord of the Worlds presides over the place. The temples in Bhubaneswar bear witness to the power of the ancient dynasties such as Shailodbhavas, Bhauma Karas, Somavamshis and Eastern Ganges and are located in the older southern part of the city. The chief attractions in this city are the Lingaraj Temple, the Bindu Sagar Lake, Orissa State Museum, Mukteshwar Temple and the caves of Udaigiri and Khandagiri.

The Lingaraj Temple built in the 12th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva showcases the highest point in the evolution of Orissan temple architecture that easily blends sculpture and architectural design. This temple is 55 m tall and has a huge granite statue of Lord Shiva, which is bathed everyday with water, milk and bhang or marijuana. The temple has almost 150 smaller shrines in its courtyard. The Bindu Sagar Lake is believed to contain water from every sacred river in India. The Orissa State Museum has a large collection of palm leaf manuscripts, coins, Jain and Buddhist sculptures, traditional jewellery, musical instruments and other handicrafts. The Mukteshwar Temple is famous for its beautiful sculptures of women, exquisitely carved niches and architectural beauty.

The Jain monastic caves of Udaigiri and Khandagiri are located in twin hills of the same name and date back to the 1st century BC, when they served as retreats for the monks belonging to the Jain religion. Udaigiri has 18 caves and Khandagiri has 15 caves. Most of the caves were built so low making it impossible to stand upright in them and symbolise the practice of self-mortification and asceticism.

Trichy

Trichy also known as Thiruchirapalli got its name from the three-headed demon tirusira who attained salvation after he was killed by Lord Shiva. Located on the banks of the River Kaveri, Trichy is one of the booming commercial centres of Tamil Nadu. The town has historical importance as it was a major place during the reigns of the Pallava, Chola, Nayaka dynasties and during the colonial rule of the British who renamed Thiruchirapalli as Trichy. Most of the present day town was built by the British in the 18th and 19th centuries. The chief attractions of this second largest city in Tamil Nadu are the Rock Fort Temple and beautiful churches such as Christ Church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of St. John.

The Rock Fort Temple is located on an ancient massive rock that rises 83 m above the plains. The Nayaka dynasty, who made Trichy their capital in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, built a fortress on this huge rock that is several millions of years old. Very little remains of the fortress except the Uchipillaiyar Temple dedicated to Lord Ganapati. The summit offers a beautiful view of entire Trichy with its verdant fields and the island of Srirangam. The Thayumanaswami temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who took the form of a mother who could not assist in her daughter’s childbirth. Below this temple, there are two Pallava cave temples that dates back to the sixth and seventh centuries.

Trichy has beautiful churches from the previous centuries such as the Christ Church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of St. John. Christ Church was founded by Reverend Frederick Christian Schwartz in 1766 while the Neo-Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes was built in 1840 and the Church of St. John built in 1816.

Thanjavur

Thanjavur is famous for its temples, rice fields, handicrafts and Carnatic music. Also known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, this city was the political capital of the Chola, the Nayaka and the Maratha dynasties. It was mainly during the Chola reign that lasted from the 9th century till the 13th century that Thanjavur attained its political significance. The classical music of South India, Carnatic Music that is religious in nature and uses several musical instruments to create melody and rhythm originated here in Thanjavur. The main attractions in Thanjavur are the Sri Brihadisvara Temple, the Royal Palace and the famous Thanjavur paintings.

Sri Brihadisvara Temple was built by Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty and was completed in AD 1010. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An amazing example of Chola architecture, this temple basement has inscriptions that have historical value in that they give valuable details on the administration, revenue as well as the society at that time. A huge statue of Nandi guards the sanctum sanctorum. The walls of the inner shrine are decorated with frescoes belonging to the Chola and Nayaka eras. These paintings were discovered beneath the disintegrating Maratha paintings f the 17th century.

The Royal Palace, built in the shape of a flying eagle, was built by the Nayaka dynasty but was reworked by the Maratha dynasty. The seven-storeyed observation tower, the intricately decorated but huge Durbar Hall built by the Maratha ruler Shahji II and the Rajaraja Museum and Art Gallery form the attractions of this Royal Palace in Thanjavur. The famous Thanjavur Paintings were patronized by the Maratha ruler Serfoji II. Highly ornamental, decorative and colourful, these paintings have religious themes and highly symbolic colours that represent particular deities. Most of the subjects have round bodies and faces and almond-shaped eyes.

Exploring Kerala

From the traveller’s arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport till departure at the Cochin Airport, The Great India Tour Company takes him across the diverse landscapes across Kerala on a package tour that needs 7 nights and 8 days with stay arranged at the various hotels in the state. The places visited are Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alleppey, Periyar, Munnar and Cochin.

Kovalam, one of the most famous beach resorts in India. Kovalam provides the traveller with endless views of the sun, sea and land. The leisure activities at this beach resort include sunbathing, swimming, ayurvedic massages, catamaran trips and water sports. The beaches are filled with vendors selling handicrafts, jewels and comfortable beachwear along with the shacks that serve seafood like lobsters and tiger-prawns.

Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala. The city literally “the Holy City of Anantha”, the sacred thousand headed serpent on whom the Hindu deity Vishnu reclines is famous for its ancient architectural structures such as Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple, the Napier Museum and the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum.

Alleppey is known as the Venice of the East, where the traveller cruises across the Vembanad Lake to Kumarakom, watching the lush green scenery of the land.

In Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, nature is at its pristine best in the mist capped Western Ghats, spice plantations, grasslands, waterfalls and trekking trails. During the boat ride across the Periyar River, the traveller can spot the diverse wildlife of Periyar.

Munnar, the most beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats. Famous for its tea estates and its wildlife, Munnar offers you a walk in the clouds.

Cochin is Kerala’s most cosmopolitan city with its cluster of islands, narrow peninsulas , palaces, old churches and relics of Dutch, Portuguese and English bungalows. The traveller views the old churches of Cochin, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue and the Chinese Fishing Nets along with a special Kathakali dance in a local theatre.

The Great India Tour Company

The Great India Tour Company offers both inbound and outbound tours. Established in 1992, certified by IATA and proved by the Indian government, this branch of Air Travel Enterprises specialize in providing tour operations and travel packages that lead you to scenic destinations across the world.

From one end of India to another, GITC takes you to the breathtaking locales in India across its diverse landscapes, vegetation and variety of rich plant and animal life. From the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the sandy beaches of Goa and Kerala, from the historical Delhi to the pristine forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats, GITC offers you trips that will provide you with breath-taking experiences.

The company attributes its success to a team of trained travel and tour consultants who maintain a friendly rapport among themselves and with the customers. Moreover the company stands shoulder to shoulder with many of the most respected professional Travel and Tour Associations; thereby creating excellence in organizing your vacations with GITC.

The awards and distinctions that came for this prestigious enterprise of ATE group are many:

• Best Regional Outbound Tour Operator (2006 & 2008) from Galileo Express Travel World Awards.
• Best Tour Operator award from Kerala Tourism for the 4th consecutive year in a row in 2006.
• Best Marketed Tourism Product - Medical Tourism (KIMS) marketed by GITC.
• American Express appreciation award winner in 1990
• Kerala State's Maximum Foreign Exchange Earner award winner for travel agents in 1990 and 1991.
• Award for Excellence in Tourism for No:1 Travel Agent in 1993-1994,1994-1995 and 1995-96 by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.

The company takes part in several international trade fairs such as WTM, ITB -Berlin, MIIT Moscow, SATTE, FITUR, BIT Milan, UTTM -Ukraine and many more. It is one of the foremost American Express Network Partners in India and is a member of IATO -Indian Association of Tour Operators.