Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the traditional healing system of India that emphasises on a holistic way of living so as to ensure optimum health. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayur that means life and veda that means “knowing”. In India, Ayurveda is the science of life.

Based on Astangahridaya, an ancient text written by the ancient physician Vagbhata, Ayurveda depends on the right balance of the three humours in the body- vata, pitta and kapha. The traditional Ayurvedic methods focus on proper nutrition along with the use of aromatic oils, herbs, milk and massages. These steps eliminate all toxic imbalances from the body and help to improve health and longevity.

This holistic system of medicine originated in Kerala, where the abundance of forests and medicinal herbs, it was possible to follow this system of medicine. The first Ayurvedic institution in India is at Kottakal in Malappuram, where it has also a research centre and a laboratory. Some of the holiday resorts in Kerala such as Kovalam provide Ayurvedic treatment packages for the travellers. In Kovalam, there are Ayurveda centres with government approval that provides the traveller with simple massages or long treatments, depending on the need of the traveller.

Ayurvedic system has eight specialised branches:

1. Kaya chikilsa (general medicine),
2. Shalya (surgery),
3. Shalakya (ENT and Ophthalmology),
4. Graha (Psychotherapy),
5. Damshitra (toxicology),
6. Bala (Pediatrics and Gynecology),
7. Jara (rejuvenation) and
8. Vrishya (Aphrodisiacs).

Ayurvedic medicine is founded on the belief that all diseases stem from the digestive system as a result of improper digestion or improper diet that aggravates your basic dosha. The three doshas-vatta, pitta and kapha- are influenced by the rhythms of nature, seasonal changes and time of the year. Ayurveda diagnoses the dosha and advises a diet suitable for the type of dosha.

Manali

Manali is situated in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a hill station that is a famous traveller’s delight because to its scenic beauty with dense forests of deodar and pine and adventure sports for the traveller. Situated by the River Beas, this town is named after Manu, a Hindu sage who is considered to be the founding father of Manali. The main attractions of the Manali tour include visits to Rohtang Pass, Rahalla Falls, the Hadimba Temple, the Manu Temple, the Tibetan monasteries, the Roerich Art Gallery museum in Naggar Castle, Manikaran and the Parvati River.

The traveller can watch the Rohtang Pass, situated at a height of 3979 metres, which is the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti valley. Along the way, there is the spectacular Rahalla Falls. Situated amidst a virgin deodar forest, the Hadimba Temple is dedicated to Hadimba, the demoness wife of Bhima, the mighty Pandava of the Mahabharat. Built in 1533, this temple is four-tiered and its roof has the shape of a Pagoda. The Manu Temple is the only temple dedicated to Manu, the founding father of Manali. The Tibetan monasteries in Manali are many, of which Nyingamapa Gompa has a huge gold-faced image of Buddha.

Naggar was the capital of the Kullu kings when it was moved from Jagatsukh. The Naggar Castle, a World Heritage site was built in the 15th century. This building, which is now a hotel is typical of the traditional architecture of Kullu. The Roerich Museum contains the paintings of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. By the scenic River Parvati is located Manikaran, famous for its hot springs.

Manali offers the traveller with adventure sports such as skiing, heli-skiing, trekking, hiking, paragliding, river crossing, rafting, kayaking or mountain biking. Trout fishing is another activity that the traveller can enjoy in the rivers of Manali.

Alleppey

Alleppey, known as the Venice of the East is a beautiful town in Kerala. The long stretches of paddy fields, the beautiful backwaters and beaches as well the lush-green land full of coconuts makes it a visual paradise for the traveller. The chief attractions in Alleppey are the Alleppey beach, Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna temple, Arthunkal Church and the water carnivals, boat races and the backwater cruises.

The beach in Alleppey offers a view of the old colonial buildings of the town along with a lovely garden on the shore. The pier that extends into the sea is about 150 years old. The coconut groves and the ancient lighthouse are other attractions at the beach other than the parks with boating facilities.

The Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Temple is constructed in the typical Kerala architectural style and is famous for its daily offering of Palpayasam, a sweet porridge made of milk and rice. The inner walls of this temple are adorned with Dasavatharam or the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Ottanthullal, a traditional art form of Kerala that satirised the contemporary social issues was performed by its originator Kunjan Nambiar in the premises of this temple.

The Arthunkal Church in Alleppey is a famous pilgrim centre of Christians. The St. Andrews Church dates back from the time of by Portuguese missionaries and its annual feast of St.Sebastian is held every January.

The large number of canals and lakes in Alleppey provide a distinctive flavour to this place. Water carnivals and boat races are held annually. During the August-September time, many boat races are held in different parts of Alleppey, for which thousands of people arrive to watch this interesting event. Every year, the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on the second Saturday of August.

A cruise in Alleppey is an enchanting experience for the traveller who can view the beautiful landscapes, the temples, churches and industries of Alleppey while travelling through the rivers, canals and backwaters.

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is a major pilgrimage centre of the Hindus and considered as the mythological place from where Lord Rama built the bridge to Lanka. This place is on an island in the Gulf of Mannar, the narrow body of water that separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka.

The attractions of Rameshwaram are the Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Dhanushkodi that is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be a place of absolution from all sins according to Hindu religion.

Ramanathaswamy Temple is believed to have been built in the 17th century by the Chola dynasty and has lord Shiva as its chief deity. It is believed that image of Shiva in the temple was originally made by Lord Rama and it is one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in India. The key feature of the temple is a Mandapa in the form of a dice. The temple has images of several Hindu deities. It also has 22 tanks for dipping and a dip in the Agni Thirtha is believed to remove all sins.

Dhanushkodi or Rama’s Bow is the southernmost point of Rameshwaram about 18 km from the main temple. It has a beautiful beach from where the traveller can view the Adam's bridge, which is the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connect Sri Lanka to India. In the Hindu mythology, this place is known as the Sethubandhan, the bridge that Lord Rama makes with the help of Hanuman and the army of Sugriv.

Rameshwaram is known as the Varanasi of the South because of the belief that a visit to this place can provide absolution to the believer. Other than being a pilgrim centre, this place has a variety of birds such as flamingos, sea gulls and during winter some species of migrating birds as well.

Madurai

Madurai is South India’s great town celebrated for its temples like the Sree Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple. Located in Tamil Nadu, near the banks of Vaigai, Madurai has had an importance place in the Tamil cultural history as the host of the cultural groups called sangams that created many classics of Tamil literature. It was famous for trade and art even from the early 7th century. The present day Madurai is famous for religion as well culture.

Madurai got its name from the Tamil word “mathuram” that means sweetness. This name came from a legend that Lord Shiva appeared here on the day a temple was to be consecrated to him. According to legend, the drops of nectar that dripped from his hair gave Madurai its name. The key attractions for the traveller in Madurai are the Meenakshi temple, The Thirumalai Naicker Palace and The Gandhi Museum.

Sree Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple is one of the oldest temple complexes in India and is more than 2000 years old. The twin temple has Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati as the deities, though here they are known as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi respectively. The two shrines of the deities are surrounded by large gateways, halls and towers. One special feature is the Hall of Thousand Pillars that has ornate and life-like sculptures.

The Palace of the Thirumalai Naicker was built in 1636 by a ruler of that name and later restored by Lord Napier in 1872. This building, designed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style has massive white pillars and a huge pavilion called the Swarga Vilasam. The light and sound shows held at the Palace narrate the history of King Thirumalai and his love of art and his devotion towards his subjects.

The Gandhi Museum is located in the old palace of Queen Mangammal. It has a gallery of pictures belonging to Gandhi, the freedom struggle and the Gandhian movement as well as a collection of relics and handicrafts.

Mysore

Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty who ruled from 1399 until 1947, except during the rule of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who changed the face of Mysore by demolishing old buildings and constructing new ones in its place. The Wodeyar rulers were great patrons of art and culture and the princely state was the cultural capital of the south. Even now these historical monuments from the time of Wodeyar dynasty and Tipu Sultan attract many travellers from across the world.

The major attractions of the Mysore trip are the Amba Vilas Palace, Art Gallery, Chamundeswari Temple, Devaraja Market, Srirangapatna, Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Tipu's Summer Palace and the Gumbaz. The Amba Vilas Palace also known as the Mysore Palace was built by the Wodeyar rulers and houses many valuable works of art from all over the world. During festivals and on weekends, the palace is lit up with thousands of bulbs, a splendid sight for the traveller. Next to it is the Chamarajendra Art Gallery that has a large collection of works of art such as antique furniture, musical instruments, ceramics, ivory and paintings by a world-famous artist Raja Ravi Varma.

The Chamundeswari Temple, built by the Wodeyars, is located at the top of a hill and is in honour of Chamundeswari , the family deity of the Wodeyars. The temple, a typical example of the Dravidian architecture houses an image of the goddess made of solid gold. The traveller can visit the Devaraja Market in Mysore.

Srirangapatna is of historical importance as it was the island fortress of Tipu Sultan and the location of the legendary battles between Tipu Sultan and the British. The place is named after Ranganatha Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Inside the fortress is Tipu’s mosque and Tipu’s Summer Palace, built in 1787 and now is a museum of Tipu memorabilia. The Gumbaz consist of the tombs of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is situated at the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent and the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet in Kanyakumari. Located in Tamil Nadu, this place is famous for the picturesque views at sunrise and sunset. A rare sight is on the full moon night in April, when both sunset and moonrise take place simultaneously.

The chief attractions for the traveller in Kanyakumari are the Kumari Amman Temple, the Vivekananda Memorial and the Church of Our Joy other than the multi-coloured granite rocks and the sandy beaches.

Kanyakumari has its name from the Virgin Goddess who abides here in the Kumari Amman Temple dedicated to her. She wanted to marry Lord Shiva and did penance to the Gods to fulfil her desire. But to save the world, she had to remain a virgin. This temple was built by the Pandya Kings in the 8th century and later was renovated by kings of other dynasties such as Chola, Vijayanagar and Nayaka.

The temple has a Navaratri Mandapa that has a painted panel depicting the Hindu goddess Durga killing the demon Mahisha. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is at the spot, where Goddess Kumari did her penance and has her footprints carefully preserved.

The Vivekananda Memorial is situated on a rocky island off the coast. The boat ride across the sea is a memorable experience for the traveller. The memorial is erected on a place, where Swami Vivekananda sat in meditation just before going to attend the Chicago World Religious conference in 1893. Next to the memorial stands a huge 40 m statue of Thiruvalluvar, an ancient Tamil poet famous for his epic Thirukurral, which is a classic of Tamil literature.

The Church of Our Joy, a sixteenth century church built by Francis Xavier is located in the southern part of Kanyakumari.

Ooty

Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam, better known as Ooty is one of the most popular hill stations in South India. The name Ootacamund means house in the mountains. Situated in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, Ooty is an ideal destination for the traveller because it has several attractions like green forests, valleys, tea plantations, streams and mountains.

During the colonial rule of the British in India, Ooty was the favourite summer retreat and the summer capital for the Madras Presidency. The Mountain Railway remains as a sign of its earlier importance during the British Rule. The traveller can indulge in a variety of activities like travelling in the Nilgiri Hill Railway, visiting the tea plantations, trekking in the blue hills. Ooty is a great place for shopping especially in items such as Nilgiri tea, fruits and natural oils like that of eucalyptus, lemon grass, geranium, clove and camphor.


The main highlights of Ooty are the Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Doddabetta Peak. The Botanical Gardens is just 2kms from the town and dates back from the 18th century. Spread over an area of 22 acres, it was set up to study the vegetation of the Nilgiri Hill s and has more than 650 species of plants and trees. The Botanical Garden hosts the Flower Show, or the annual Tea and Tourism Festival.

The Ooty Lake is an artificial lake built by John Sullivan in the 18th century and stretches for about 2 km in length. The traveller can enjoy boat rides from morning till evening in motor boats, pedal boats and rowing boats. The traveller can also visit the deer park nearby.

The train journey in the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty is till Mettupalyam, 46 kms away and located at the foot of the Nilgiris. The train journey with its beautiful sights of the mountains takes more than four hours. With the slowest train in India, this historic railway is a remnant of colonial life in India.

The Doddabetta Peak is the highest point in Ooty at a height of 2,623 metres, providing a delightful view of the surrounding area.

Periyar

Periyar is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kerala because of its deciduous forests, grasslands and evergreen forests. Periyar is located in the Western Ghats, in the Idukki District in Kerala. The Periyar National Park and Periyar Tiger Reserve are the chief attractions of this place.

The focal point of Periyar is the Periyar Lake, which was formed as the result of the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River in 1895. This formation of a lake led to the submersion of large areas of forest land and led to the formation of a lake, rich in its animal and plant life.

The Lake, which is at the heart of the wildlife sanctuary, provides water throughout the year. For the traveller, a two-hour cruise on the boat is an excellent opportunity for viewing the animals who wander near the lakeside such as elephant herds that come near the waterfront to play in the lake.

There are 260 species of birds at Periyar Park. These include darters, cormorants, ibises, gray herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood pigeons, kingfishers, kites, ospreys, thrushes, and an appreciable number of blue-winged parakeets. Other than the elephants, the traveller can also spot sambar, wild pigs and at times tigers, wild dogs, leopards, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, sloth bear, pythons and king cobras.

Another source of interest for the traveller is the tree-watchtower built by tribal people to prevent wild animals such as pigs or elephants from destroying their crops. The tribal people, who are good fishermen and farmers stay in these tree dwelling keeping an eye over their crops. The traveller will find the time between October and June as the best time to visit Periyar, rich in its sights of animal and plant life.

Munnar

Munnar is an idyllic hill station, located in the Idukki District of Kerala, at a height of about 1800 m above sea level in the High Ranges, part of the Western Ghats. Called the Nature-Lovers's Paradise, it is a popular destination for tourists from all over India and abroad because of its scenic natural beauty in the form of lakes, reservoirs, forests and tea estates. The name “Munnar” comes from the fact that it stands at the confluence of three rivers - the Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.

One of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar was once the summer resort of the British Government in South India during the Colonial Period. Munnar has large tea plantations, beautiful picturesque towns, winding roads, facilities for trekking and stay as well. The majority of Kerala’s tea plantations are in Munnar. Most of the tea plantations in Munnar belong to the Tata Tea Company. A rare wonder is the exotic flower Neelakurinji that blossoms once in every twelve years.

The small town that is 130km from Cochin and 142km from Kottayam is known for its captivating beauty. The mist-covered hills that seem to touch the clouds, streams flowing through the green grasslands and the old Colonial air of this town make it a special experience for the traveller. No wonder it was hailed by the Time Magazine as one of the best destinations in India.

In Munnar, the traveller can enjoy a range of activities like paragliding over the heights, horse-rides through streams, trekking or relaxing in the fresh air of the mountain-tops. The best season to visit Munnar is between October and May as the monsoons between June and September are heavy in this hill station and can spoil your holiday easily. The town has a lot of facilities like hotels, restaurants and shopping centres.

Cochin

Cochin is a collection of narrow islands and peninsulas, built around a saltwater lagoon of the Arabian Sea. The mainland of Ernakulam bustles with the crowds at its shopping malls, trade centres, offices and recreational places, the old part of Cochin especially Fort Cochin and Mattancherry takes you back along the centuries with its mixture of Dutch, Portuguese and English bungalows and streets.



Cochin, also called Kochi is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It is the commercial capital of Kerala and its most cosmopolitan city. Cochin is a beautiful destination for tourists because of its scenic port, inland lakes and backwaters. It has been rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler's '50 greatest places of a lifetime'.



In Fort Cochin, you can sight massive Chinese fishing nets or Cheenavala, which were brought by traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan. They are unique because they can be found only in Cochin now. The Fort Kochi beach at sunset is a wonderful sight with the Chinese fishing nets and ships in the background. The beach has stalls that make traditional preparations with freshly caught fish.

St. Francis Church in Fort Cochin is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama, the first Portuguese trader who reached India was buried inside this church. But later his remains were taken to Portugal.

Another attraction in Fort Cochin is Vasco House, where legend has it that Vasco da Gama lived and is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Santa Cruz Basilica is a famous church built by the Portuguese.

The Jewish Synagogue, decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers and the Dutch Palace, with its fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana are the main attractions in Mattancherry.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Malaysia

The Great India Tour Company takes you on a comprehensive tour of Malaysia in 3 nights and 4 days. Malaysia is a country in South-East Asia noted for its diversity of flora and fauna. The key attractions of this GITC Malaysia package are Genting Highlands and shopping and sightseeing in its capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Genting Highlands is reached by cable car from Kuala Lumpur after travelling for less than an hour. It is the most developed hill resort in Malaysia, ideal for relaxation and entertainment. 2000 metres above sea level, this is a cool retreat from the bustle of Malaysian city life. There are two theme parks in Genting with lots of amusement rides and entertainment that is meant for the whole family. The nightlife here is full of entertainment ranging from discos and dinner shows to casinos.

The city of Kuala Lumpur has several tourist attractions in the form of historical sites and monuments such as the Jamek Mosque, King’s Palace, the Parliament House, the Independent Square and the busy Chinatown. The Jamek Mosque, built in 1909, stands as a symbol of Malaysia’s Islamic fervour. Designed in the Indian Muslim style of architecture, this red-bricked mosque stands at the place, where the early settlers built their tin shacks at the point of confluence of the two rivers Klang and Gombak. The King’s Palace is located on a hillock at Jalan Istana amidst green lawns and beautiful gardens. This place is used for ceremonies and official functions and can be of interest for the traveller. The Parliament House is situated in one of the most lush-green areas of Kuala Lumpur and is lit beautifully at night. The Malaysians celebrate independence from the British rule every year at the Independence Square, where the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Singapore

Great India Tours Company offers a wonderful journey through the sights and experiences of Singapore in a Singapore package tour of four nights and five days.

Singapore is a city-state in South-East Asia and one of the most affluent countries in the world. It has a main land with around 50 surrounding islets. These small islets present the traveller with relaxation and tranquility. The topmost tourist attractions in the GITC Singapore Tour are the Sentossa, the Night Safari and the Jurong Bird Park.

The Sentossa is a resort island of Singapore and an imperative for the traveller. The white sandy beaches and scenic nature awaits the traveller here. This tour has for its highlights glimpses from the underwater world in Asia’s most exciting oceanarium, watching dolphins and the musical fountain in Sentossa. The island is remarkable with its serene atmosphere and great entertainment.

The Singapore Zoo is an open-concept zoo that uses natural barriers such as rock walls and streams instead of bars, thereby creating the best possible environment for the animals. It houses more than 2000 creatures and is a wonderful spectacle for the traveller. The Night Safari lets the traveller see wild beasts at close distance. Spotting animals such as single horned rhinoceros, leopards and striped hyenas in these natural settings is a treat for the traveller.

The Jurong Bird Park is a star attraction of Singapore. It is located in 20 hectares of landscaped parklands and houses over 8,000 birds of 600 different species from all over the world. It is one of the world’s largest aviaries and an impressionable experience for the traveller. The sight of the colourful birds, which fly freely as they please in the natural environment of these parklands, is a delightful experience.

Singapore is a beautiful country with its bustling city crowds and contrastingly relaxing surrounding islets.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Hong Kong

Great India Tour Company takes you to enchanting travel experiences across the globe. The Hong Kong Tour offered by GITC takes you along the beautiful sights of Hong Kong in 3 nights and 4 days. Hong Kong is a territory of China that offers the traveller with many fascinating tourist experiences. The major attractions of this package are visits to the Hong Kong Disney Land and to the Ocean Park Tour, where the traveller spends an entire day each.

The Disney Land in Hong Kong is a wonderland for the traveller. Hong Long Disney Land is in Lantau Island, located in Penny's Bay on the northeast end of the island. It is the first theme park in Hong Kong Disney Land Resort. Built in a style similar to the original Disney Land, it has four themed lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland.It has a visitor capacity of 34,000 visitors per day and is spread over 310 acres. It is dedicated to the young and young at heart. Every day, there are parades of numerous cartoon characters and themes.

The Ocean Park in Hong Kong is one of the largest marine parks in the world. It has delightful adventures for both children and adults. The park shows through interactive journeys the animal life of Asia. It has a cable car system that links the lowland and headland sections and provides spectacular views of Hong Kong and the South China Sea. You can watch colourful goldfish, birds, Asian otters at the park and go to "Panda Cafe" for refreshments and relaxation. Recently in April, it opened it latest theme area called “Amazing Asian Animals” that feature some of the native Asian animals like giant pandas, red pandas, Chinese giant salamanders and Chinese alligators.

The Hong Kong Tour takes you to a land of fantasy and reconnects you with the spirit of nature.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Dubai

Great India Tour Company takes you to enchanting travel experiences across the globe. The Dubai tour lets you stay 4 nights and 5 days in this amazing commercial city of Dubai -a wonderful land for shopping and full of traveller’s delights.

Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates, is known for its shopping wonders and lively tourist attractions. It is the second largest developing city in the world, with its huge construction projects and commercial hot spots. This cosmopolitan city has several malls and streets, where a variety of products of all brands and prices are available to the traveller. Goods include automobiles, fashion accessories, clothes, jewellery and different kinds of household items.

The key attractions of this trip are the Jumeira Mosque, the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Bastakia area, the traditional Dhow Cruise in Arabic boats and delicious Arabian cuisine.

Jumeirah Mosque, the largest mosque in Dubai, is considered to be a fine example of Islamic architecture. Built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, it is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Jebel Ali, where the Dubai World Trade Centre is located, has a collection of resorts, recreational facilities, freshwater lakes and shopping malls.

The traveller can catch a glimpse of the oldest parts of the city by a visit to the Bastakia Quarter. Built in the late nineteenth century, this part inhabited the rich Persian merchants, who traded in pearls and textiles. These traders built their homes here because of tax-free trading and the nearness of the Dubai Creek.

The traveller enjoys a romantic evening during the traditional Dhow Cruise in Arabic boats. Some of the dhows are over 100 years old and are still used by small traders to transport goods to other places such as Kuwait and Oman. As the Arabic boat glides along the waterfront of the Dubai Creek, the traveller is offered a variety of delicious food in the form of a buffet and onboard barbecue and exposed to the Arabian spirit of adventure and sights and sounds of the glittering Dubai City.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Thailand

The Great India Tour Company offers a Thailand Package of 4 days and 3 nights. Located in South East Asia, Thailand holds in store several treasures for the traveller like islands, beaches, undersea sights, caves, hills, waterfalls, forests and historical monuments.

The highlights of the GITC Thailand Package are sights in and around the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok, known as the City of Angels. They are tour of the Coral Island and a Temple Tour that covers the Golden Buddha Temple, Reclining Buddha Temple and Marble Temple.

The Coral Island is two hours distance from Bangkok. The Island is about 4 square kilometres and has beautiful beaches, where you can indulge in swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing. From the glass-bottom boat you can view the rich coral treasures of the underwater world.

The Golden Buddha temple houses the world’s biggest golden image of Buddha. The gold price value of the Golden Buddha is in the Guinness World Records recorded as 28.5 million Britain Pounds. It is more than three metres tall, weighs more than 5 tonnes and dates back to the thirteenth century. The Buddha covered in plaster was the principal Buddha image at the ancient Choti-naram Temple until the 1950s, while being moved to Wat Traimit Temple, the plaster cover cracked revealing the golden image inside.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located on an area of 20 acres and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bangkok. The image of the Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, with the soles of the feet decorated with more than a hundred signs of Buddha.

The Marble Temple is one of the most modern temples in Bangkok. It is made of white Carara Italian marble and has a three-tiered roof, typical of Thai architecture. It has more than fifty images of Buddhas, of foreign and local make, poised in different styles.

Travelling abroad with GITC: China

The Great India Tour Company takes you on a comprehensive tour of China in 4 nights and 5 days. China is a land of mystery and wonder, also famous for its 5000 year old culture and beautiful landscapes.

The GITC China Package involves visits to important places in Beijing such as the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Mao Mausoleum, Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, shopping at the Yaxiu Market, visits to important places in Shanghai such as the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden, and the Pearl Tower.

The Summer Palace is one of the most famous classical gardens in China. An archetypal Chinese garden, the Summer Palace has several beautiful landscapes and magnificent constructions. It occupies an area of 294 hectares and has several exquisite works of art designed by artists who were inspired by the water bodies in the garden to create perfect works from the finest materials. With its ambience of tranquillity, the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors.

Tiananmen Square is the largest central city square in the world. This large courtyard has witnessed several historical events and is surrounded by many important structures such as the Great Hall of the People, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and the Monument to the People's Heroes. Mao Mausoleum is situated right on the Tiananmen Square.

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the reigns of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This is the world's largest palace complex, covering an area of 74 hectares and has 9,999 rooms. Now known as the Palace Museum, it is an architectural wonder almost completely painted in yellow, the colour of royalty in China.

The Great Wall of China is among the Seven Wonders of the World and can be seen even from space. It was enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987 and stretches across diverse terrains such as deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus. This architectural wonder, which is more than 2000 years old, is one of the fascinating landmarks of Chinese history.

The Shanghai trip contains the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden and the Pearl Tower. The Jade Buddha Temple is located in the western part of Shanghai and contains jade Buddha statues brought from Burma. The Yu Garden was a place of relaxation of the Ming Dynasty, built by Pan Yunduan to please his old parents. The Orient Pearl TV Tower is the tallest TV tower in Asia and is beautiful artistic creation.

Travelling abroad with GITC: Mauritius

The Great India Tour Company leads you the beautiful land of Mauritius, situated about 1200 miles off the coast of Africa, on a package tour of 5 days and 4 nights. This dream island is filled with dark forests, dazzling waterfalls, mountainous landscapes, beautiful beaches and rich wildlife, which makes it a perfect destination for tourists.

The Mauritius package tour starts with the North tour that contains visits to the capital city of Port-Louis, which is located in the north west of the island. The only commercial port of the island, it was referred to as the Grand Port and is protected by a range of mountains on one side and by a bay on the other. This city is a remnant from the colonial rule of Britain in Mauritius. The traveller can also roam around the recently built Caudan and Port Louis waterfront that has several restaurants, cafés, bars, cinemas, duty-free shop, craft shops, and a casino. Shopping along Port Louis, the traveller will realise with astonishment that most of the shops sell only one kind of product.

The East Tour involves a day spent at Ile aux Cerfs, a tiny island of Mauritius. The most beautiful beach in Mauritius, Ile aux Cerfs fascinates the traveller with its long stretches of white sand and emerald waters. It has a bar and restaurants other than shops that sell beachwear, jewellery and handicrafts to the traveller. But the main attraction of this island is the variety of water sports such as speed boat rides, banana rides, skiing and parasailing.

The last day comprises of visits to the Floreals factory shop, the town of Curepipe, the dead crater Volcano, Trou aux Cerfs, the natural reservoir of Mare Aux Vacoas, the Hindu sacred lake of Grand Bassin, the Alexandra view point, the Black River Gorges view point, the Chamarel waterfall and to the coloured earths of Chamarel.