Jewish Heritage & Golden Triangle

As soon as you arrive at Mumbai airport, our representative will welcome you before you are transferred to your hotel.Our itinerary will begin soon afterwards, with a visit to a synagogue and other sites related to the local Jewish community. Afterwards, we will see the colossal Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai’s outdoor hand laundry, and enjoy a drive along the Marine Drive. Visit the Gateway of India, a monument built during the years of the British Raj, and Flora Fountain, at the Hutatma Chowk (Martyr’s Square), which is an ornamentally and exquisitely sculpted architectural monument.

• Mumbai  Synagogue – (Kenesset Eliyahu), established in 1884 by Mr. Jacob Sasson, in memory of his father.
  Visit Shaar Hashamaim synagogue, established in 1879 and meet the leaders of this unique community – Rabbi Binyamin and Mr. Ezra Moses – for an extremely rare insight into Jewish life in India.

Overnight at hotel in Mumbai

In the morning, you will take a flight from Mumbai airport to Cochin. At Cochin airport, our representative will assist you with traveling to Chennamangalam. There, you will visit the ancient Chennamangalam Synagogue and Jewish cemetery. Later, you will drive to Kumarakom, where you will check into your hotel.

• Kumarakom: The enchanted Peninsula, that invades the waters of the always lively Vembanad lake, takes us to the heart of the magnificent views of the lake. Here we meet a variety of traditional rural arts, canoes. In the evening we can enjoy a relaxed cruise towards the setting sun.

Overnight at hotel in Cochin

After breakfast, we will sail in small canoes along the canals surrounding the area’s small and remote villages, through the tropical countryside and enchanting backwaters of Alleppey, for which Kerala is very famous. As we sail, we will enjoy the palm-fringed, narrow canals that wind through a vast expanse of paddy fields. The neat, tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals add to a panoramic view that you will never forget

• BackwatersA large part of Kerala’s considerable charm lies in the backwaters, a network of canals that lead off Lake Vembanad. Whether you spend time in one of the palm-shaded hotels or drift along in a rice boat, it is difficult not to be captivated by the local way of life. Seeing children travelling to school in a narrow canoe, local ladies washing the pots at the side of the canal and fishermen netting their daily meal in the shallows, you realise how integral this network is to the life of the region. Villages, temples and churches are built along the banks and the area is also a haven for wildlife with wading birds, kingfishers and fish eagles.

After breakfast, we will drive back to Cochin, where we will visit the Jewish market and Judaica stores owned by local Jewish women.

At 13:00, when the official visiting hours of the synagogue end, we will receive a special guided tour from the synagogue’s janitor. Look at and touch the beautiful Torah crown that was a gift to the community 206 years ago from the king, as well as the ancient copper plates that were “a charter” for the first Jews who arrived in Cochin 1100 years ago.
After leaving the synagogue, we will visit the tomb of Rabbi Nehemiah Mota – a Kabbalistic Sage who came to India from Yemen 390 years ago. Later, we will tour the famous spice market of Cochin, walk along the beach, and see how the fishermen repair the Chinese nets that they still use in their profession.

In the evening, enjoy watching a live Kathakali dance show.

Overnight at hotel in Cochin

• Synagogue “Pardesi”, located  in the Jewish quarter and  the synagogue  is one of the most exotic Jewish communities who settled  in India after the destruction of the Temple.
•  In Synagogue we observed handmade tiles made in China that came to cochin  250 years ago, and the gold crown of Torah That  Carla King gave to the Jewish.  Later we will visit the tomb of Rabbi Nehemiah  mota, a kabbalist from Yemen  who came to India Before about 391 years.

In time transfer to Cochin airport to connect flight to Jaipur. Arrive at Jaipur airport and straight drive to Pushkar.
Jaipur – Pushkar (Surface: 140 Kms/03 hrs) Upon arrival check-in at Hotel.
Enjoy a short tour of main bazaar of Pushkar, a great place to buy souvenirs, clothes and handicraft. Towards evening, we will enjoy walking tour near Pushkar Lake and view the spectacular sunset.

Overnight at hotel in Pushkar

• Every November in accordance with the lunar cycle, the normally tranquil lakeside town of Pushkar changes completely thanks to the camel festival. Thousands of colourful Rajasthanis come to trade and race camels or to enjoy the annual celebrations as the desert transforms into a huge tented city. The festivities are concentrated during a one week period but the day’s preceding the fair are just as exciting as the participants arrive from all corners of Rajasthan .

We will rise early and walk upto mountain overlooking the Pushkar river and view a spectacular sunrise. Return back to hotel and enjoy breakfast, we will go for a long and enjoyable camel ride. We’ll go south to the depth of the desert surrounding Pushkar, visit remote villages.
Return back to hotel and rest of day free for Organizing to Shabbat. Shabbat prayers and Shabbat meals at the Chabad House
Overnight at hotel in Pushkar

• Riding on camels This trip is a historical journey back in time Beginning of the journey will be in the deserts surrounding Pushkar We will go through the desert ‘ reaching remote villages and experiencing ancient life as it was centuries ago. In the villages we’ll visit with local families, and will be exposed to their special way of life
• On Sabbat we’ll be guests at the Chabad House Pushkar, where we will eat the Shabbat meals and experience the unique atmosphere of the Sabbath. About 200 Israelis are gathered at the Chabad House and play together the “Yedid Nefesh” And “lecha Dodi” and then they all sit down to Shabbes dinner, rich with melodies and singing.

Shabbat prayers and Shabbat meals at the Chabad House. After the Shabbat meal and we’ll enjoy walk near central market of Pushkar.
Enjoy Rajasthani dance performance, fire and snake dance (witness snake that dance to the sound) during dinner.
Overnight at hotel in Pushkar

• Pushkar – is indeed a very small town in terms of India, but it is a pilgrimage site for many Israelis too. At the height of the season in Pushkar there are about 500 Israelis. at the market’s main street you will find signs in Hebrew, inviting Israeli’s to eat falafel and to surf the Internet. The average Israeli is in Pushkar for two weeks,  

Drive to Jaipur – the capital of the state of Rajasthan popularly also known as the ‘PINK CITY’ as the buildings in its old, walled city are all constructed in pink-colored sandstone. Jaipur owes its name, its foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1699-1744). He laid out the city with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks by principles of town planning set out in an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. In 1728 he constructed the remarkable observatory, which is still one of Jaipur central attractions.
Visit Galtaji temple popularly known as the Monkey Temple, due to the large tribe of monkeys who live here. And also visit famous milk market of Jaipur.
Evening enjoy Bollywood movie show at Raj Mandir.

Overnight at hotel in Jaipur

Morning after breakfast start an excursion to the splendid Amber Fort, an architectural masterpiece of great historical significance. Begun in the 16th century and built of red sandstone and marble, the seemingly rough exterior gives no hint of the warm and opulent ambiance of the interior, as you’ll discover this morning. Here you also get an opportunity to climb up to the fort on decorated elephant back. Proceed to visit milk market in Jaipur. Also visit the old city of Jaipur very colourful with colourful market and people. You can view the range of various Indian saree, Jewelery, copper objective and wood carvings.
In the afternoon also visit the splendid City Palace & Museum which opens a door into the opulent world of the Rajput princes and the treasures with which they surrounded themselves. Jantar Mantar, the world’s biggest stone observatory, between 1727 and 1733 AD. You’ll be amazed by the “tools” he used to study the heavens – and that still provide accurate information today – during a tour.
Further visit the Palace of Winds also known as Hawa Mahal, a five storeyed wonder with a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires.

Overnight at hotel in Jaipur

Drive to Agra en route visiting one of the most important place of Mughal era Fatehpur Sikri founded by Akbar in 1569 AD as a ceremonial capital. But unfortunately this magnificent city was abandoned due to scarcity of drinking water and Akbar went back to Agra.
After sightseeing continue your drive to Agra. On reaching Agra check in to hotel.
Later, proceed to visit the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most admired architectural masterpieces. Witness this majestic marble-domed mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife to symbolize unending love. Return to hotel for breakfast. Also visit the massive Agra Fort, with splendid remains of sandstone and marble palaces.
Overnight at hotel in Agra

• “Taj Mahal” – This is a mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his wife Parsee who died during the birth of their 14th child. The construction of the Taj began in 1630. 20 000 laborers worked for 23 years until the job was completed, thousands of elephants carried the red sandstone, and the building blocks were brought in from neighboring countries.
• Agra Fort is located 2.5 miles from the Taj Mahal, and is actually a walled royal city. The most important kings of India lived in the fort, and every king immortalized his reign with a building which was characterized by the spirit of the period. Visiting the fort is a fascinating architectural historic journey.

Monrnig drive to Delhi enroute visitng Vrindavan, one of the popular cities for Indian pilgrims. Its narrow street is crowded by thousands of Pilgrims that come visit around town. Later drive to Delhi and on arrival, check-in at hotel.

Overnight at hotel in Delhi

Morning proceed to visit the synagogue “Judah chaim” – Jews have lived in India since ancient times, and their communities are even mentioned in the Talmud. Later we will explore India’s bustling capital city the New Delhi visiting the Vijay Chowk, “Victory Square”, stopover at the Presidential Palace with its intriguing combination of classical and Indian design elements and the India Gate memorializing Indian soldiers who died in World War I.
Enjoy the Rickshaw ride at busy central street of Old Delhi, the Chawri Bazar Road and the Chandni Chowk. A poignant visit to Rajghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation and a memorial to this humble man who so changed the world.
Later, transfer to international airport in time to connect flight for back home.

• Delhi, this bustling capital, on the surface it is very much a symbol of developing, modern India but scattered throughout the city are testaments to Delhi’s intriguing past. The vast Red Fort and the Jama Masjid Mosque, one of the largest in India, remain central to the old city’s structure and are a wonderful introduction to the architectural splendors of northern India. Between the two run the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, where spice traders continue to ply their pungent wares in a scene unchanged for centuries
  The designation of New Delhi as the British capital in 1911 heralded the construction of wide tree-lined streets and colonial architecture designed by Lutyens. Open parkland and imposing colonial buildings are connected by a series of vast boulevards that contrast markedly with the winding alleys of Old Delhi.