Gastronomic Tour of India

Gastronomic Tour of India (Tour Code: IN/012) – India welcomed invasions in context to culinary art, refined it, and laid a sumptuous spread for the world to envy. Rather the world is divided into two parts, one who have eaten Indian curry and others who have not. Combinations and use of unheard spices all make Indian cuisine so very inviting. And then consider the array of spread that changes with every 10 miles, depending on the geographical, cultural, religious and physical exclusivity of the region. We take you on this very exclusive 19/20 nights tour of a few Indian regions to learn, cook and eat from the best of Indian kitchens.

Itinerary

Day 01  Arrival day in Delhi

Arrive Delhi. You will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. A welcome dinner awaits you here and over this a culinary expert will give an informal orientation about the Indian Food and explain your tour ahead. Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 02  Delhi

Breakfast at hotel and post breakfast, we set out for a city tour of Delhi. Evening we will visit a few local eateries that have excelled in Mughlai cuisine. Our specialist food guide will introduce us to this style of cooking over the dinner table. Back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 03  Delhi / Agra

After breakfast at the hotel you will take another tour of the city. Post lunch check-out from the hotel and transfer to Railway Station in time to connect your afternoon train to Agra (180 kms / 3 hrs). On arrival in Agra, you will be transferred to your hotel and an exclusive Mughlai cooking demonstration followed by dinner is the highlight of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Agra.

Day 04  Agra / Lucknow

Breakfast at hotel and post breakfast you take a city tour of Agra. Back to hotel post dinner you will be transferred to Railway Station in time to connect our overnight train to Lucknow ( 330 kms / 6 hrs). Overnight on board your train.

Day 05  Lucknow

Early morning arrive in Lucknow. You will be transferred to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel, breakfast will be served at your hotel. Later we take a city tour of Lucknow. Early evening we visit local bazaar to look for vegetables, spices and cook-wares. Late evening we take a culinary walk or call it a food tour of Lucknow, visiting local eateries for our Awadhi Dinner. Back to hotel and overnight at our hotel in Lucknow.

Day 06  Lucknow

Breakfast at hotel and post breakfast you take yet another short tour of the city. Post lunch we have scheduled an exclusive session with the Nawab over an afternoon tea. Here we get a chance to interact with the Nawab Sahib and know about some secret and extinct recipes from the Avadhi kitchen. This evening we will visit, Coquina – an experiential dinning place. This is a kitchen where we will learn to cook, cook ourselves under expert supervision and dine here as well. Post dinner we will return to our hotel and overnight at the hotel in Lucknow.

Day 07  Lucknow / Kolkata

Breakfast at the hotel. Day up to lunch at leisure. Post lunch check out from the hotel and you will be transferred to airport in time to connect your afternoon flight to Kolkata (2.5 hrs). On arrival in Kolkata you will be transferred to your hotel. Check in at the hotel. Later you take a short visit of the city. Discover the evening markets and life in this old capital of India. Special Bengali Dinner at a famous Bengali Fine Dine Restaurant is in store for you today. Back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

Day 08  Kolkata

After breakfast at the hotel you will take a city tour of Kolkata. An exclusive visit to Hathi Bagan – Kolkata’s biggest fish and vegetable market awaits you today. After we buy our fish and grocery, you will visit a traditional Bengali home to try our hands on some very authentic Bengali dishes. After spending a learning day here till the night you will be back to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

Day 09  Kolkata / Chennai

Breakfast at hotel and post breakfast you will be transferred to airport in time to connect your morning flight to Chennai. Upon arrival in Chennai, transfer to your hotel. Later visit the city. Evening we will have an orientation with a specialty South Indian Chef. You also try your hands on south India style of cooking, serving and eating it too. Dinner at an authentic local restaurant, serving Chettnad cuisine. Back to our hotel and overnight at the hotel in Chennai.

Day 10  Chennai

Breakfast will be served at our hotel. After breakfast we take yet another tour of the city. Our lunch we will be served at a local restaurant and later in the evening we visit a local home to learn the nuances of south Indian home cooking and preparing for a meal. Enjoy your dinner here with this family and later return to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Chennai.

Day 11  Chennai / Cochin

Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast you will be transferred to airport in time to connect your morning flight to Cochin. Arrive Cochin and transfer to hotel. This evening we visit a local restaurant to taste some typical coastal dishes that are peculiar to this region. Overnight at the hotel in Cochin.

Day 12  Cochin

Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast you will explore this romantic city and its local culinary delights. Early evening we take you to a local family for a dining experience, where you will learn to cook and understand the nuances that go with this cuisine. Back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Cochin.

Day13  Cochin / Goa

Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast fly to Goa. Arrive Goa by PM hours and transfer to a local family home stay. Here you will get an extensive knowledge about Goan cooking that is influenced by the Portuguese settlement. To have your dinner here, you will cook it yourself, of course under an expert supervision, who will guide you all through during this session. Overnight stay at this family home in Goa.

Day 14  Goa

Rejoice, its Goa. The culinary art of this place is an amalgamation of so many countries due to its extensive exposure to diverse cultures and by and large a cosmopolitan fabric. As Goa is proud of its unique culture, so it is for its unique and at times very secretive culinary art, that includes a wine made of cashew. Also explore the beaches and the churches of Goa. Evening, settle down to an exclusively laid Goan menu on the beach. Overnight at the local family home in Goa

Day 15  Goa

This is a life time day for you to relax, no cooking, no learning today, just eating – what’s cooked for you, relaxing on the beach and bathing in the sun. Enjoy the evening at well lit chalets on the beach, indulging in dance, drinks and dinners. We bring you back to your home for this nights stay in Goa.

Day 16  Goa / Ahemdabad

After breakfast, you can relax at the beach. Post lunch you will be transferred to airport in time to connect your afternoon flight to Ahmedabad, upon arrival in Ahemdabad, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. Later explore the city markets and visit a traditional restaurant to try out some Gujrati spread, you can also learn a recipe or two here. Later back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Ahmedabad.

Day 17  Ahemdabad / Jaipur

After breakfast, this morning you will explore the city. Also visit some areas famous for the Gujrati delicacies that are primarily vegetarian. Back to hotel for lunch. Post lunch check out from the hotel and transfer to airport in time to connect your late afternoon flight to Jaipur (1 hrs). Arrive Jaipur and you will be transferred to hotel, that is more of an ethnic resort giving you a glimpse of a typical Rajasthani village and culture. You will also explore the traditional local markets of Jaipur and later back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Jaipur.

Day 18  Jaipur

Breakfast will be served here in lush green ambiance of the resort. After breakfast you take a tour of the city. Back in evening, watch the folk dancers, enjoy a sumptuous spread of Rajasthani cuisine for dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jaipur.

Day 19  Jaipur

After breakfast, you will take yet another city tour and explore the colorful bazaars of this city. Back to the hotel where a specialty chef will teach you some easy to cook dishes from Rajasthani kitchen. You get a hands-on cooking experience of the Rajasthani cuisine here. Dinner and overnight at the resort in Jaipur.

Day 20  Jaipur / Delhi / Home

Today after breakfast, you will drive to Delhi. En route we experience the highway cuisine, that originated to cater the truckers. Limited menu is served at these highway eateries called, ‘Dhabas’. Enjoy this rustic no-frills lunch here on a hand woven cot made of jute and bamboo. Continue the drive on this highway that is both traditional and modern serving you butter milk along with some soft drinks. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be dropped off at the international airport to connect your homeward flight.

Tour Highlight

This tour gives you live demonstrations and hands-on cooking at various places while you travel.

Local interactions and food walks are the best ways to discover the most authentic culinary high-notes of the place.

Family meal in Goa and Cochin with hands on cooking with the local family.