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OVERVIEW
India, known for the Taj Mahal, megacities of over 20 million people, and food, sights, and smells unlike anywhere else in the world, is also a tapestry of history and an amazing location for Jewish heritage tours.
The Jewish communities of Delhi, Cochin, and Bombay have their own special histories, from some of the richest families in the world to some of the most beautiful synagogues.
Take a Jewish trip to India to meet the current members of the Jewish communities, some of who have been in India for centuries, others who can trace their ancestry back to Baghdad, Iraq.
Visit a synagogue in Mumbai and meet the community, who came to the city when their ship wrecked off the Maharashtra coast in 175 BC. See the Shaar-ha-Rahamim Synagogue, the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, and in Calcutta the Magen David Synagogue.
Head to the port city of Cochin and learn about the Cochin Jews and a history that goes back to King Solomon. The Paradesi Synagogue in Cochin is decorated with hand-painted tiles and Belgian glass chandeliers. Nearby in older synagogues, excavations have unearthed coins, clothes, and tools dating back to Roman times.
There is nothing like a visit to India to understand the world and all of the fascinating paths Jewish history can take.
Highlights*
*Some experiences are subject to minimum group size
Individual arrivals: Meet, assist, and transfer.
You will be met by a representative of our team who will guide and assist you through the formalities, making your journey easier and more relaxing including visas, porterage, and group arrival. Transfer and check into the hotel.
Eat opening Brunch at the hotel
At 12:30 pm depart for a tour of Cochin including the Chendamangalam Synagogue and Jewish cemetery in Cochin.
Follow the tour with a Martial arts workshop in Cochin
Take a tuk-tuk ride to discover the Paradesi synagogue, Mattancherry, Jew Town, the fishing nets, Fort Kochi, and Dhobi Khanna
Take a tour of the vibrant spice market
Head back to the hotel to refresh, then have dinner
Spend the night at the Grand Hyatt, Cochin
Breakfast at the hotel
Take an Alleppey / Alappuzha Backwater Canoe (Shikara) Cruise
Head back to the hotel to refresh for dinner
Watch Kathakali Theatre with an extravagant Dinner Experience
Overnight in Grand Hyatt, Cochin
Check out of the hotel
8:05 departure with anticipated arrival in Mumbai at 10:10am. Travelers are met by a representative of our team who will guide and assist through the formalities, making the journey easier and more.
Lunch is delivered by Dabbawallas, a hot lunch delivery service on bikes.
Take a Slum Tour to get to know the other side of India
Visit the museum of Mani Bhavan dedicated to Gandhi. This location was the center of Gandhi’s political activism between 1917 and 1934
Learn another part of Indian Jewish life at Chabad Mumbai, the location of a tragic attack in 2008, where six of its occupants were killed
Check into the hotel and have dinner
Overnight at the Taj Palace, Mumbai
Breakfast at the hotel and a JDC Briefing. JDC is a Jewish humanitarian organization dedicated to rescuing Jews in danger around the world.
Visit to the Gabriel Project Mumbai, according to their website, a non-profit that works with communities in underserved informal urban settlements of Mumbai and the historically marginalized rural tribal villages of Maharashtra to create innovative and comprehensive development solutions, enabling communities to thrive.
Cooking class and lunch with Chef Moshe Shek on the island
Refresh for Shabbat followed by Shabbat services at Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue
Shabbat dinner at Keneseth Eliyahoo
Overnight: Taj Palace, Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel
Optional Tours:
Walking tour for Sabbath Observers
Elephanta Caves
Mumbai Film City Tour of Bollywood
Crawford Market – Mahatma Jyobita Phule
Late night dinner cruise on the shores of the Arabian sea followed by a tour of the gothic architecture by night including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, the Bandstand Promenade via the Worli Sea Link Bridge, and the Gateway to India.
Overnight: Taj Palace, Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel
10:35 am flight from Mumbai to Agra with an anticipated arrival at 12:25pm where you will be met by a representative of our team who will guide and assist you through the formalities, making your journey easier and more.
Lunch
Head to the Agra fort
Go to Fatehpur Sikri, the first planned city of the Mughals with religious buildings, palaces, public buildings, and living areas for the court.
Sunset at the Mehtab Garden
Dinner
Overnight: Oberoi Amarvillas, Agra
Fastest train from Agra to Delhi
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal and Mausoleum
Return to the hotel for breakfast and check out.
Train to Delhi
Check into the hotel followed by dinner.
Overnight: Leela Palace, Delhi
Breakfast at hotel
Hop in a rickshaw to tour:
Shahjahanabad
Jama Masjid
Qutub Minar
Humayun’s Tomb
Raj Ghat—a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Parliament House
Chandni Chowk
Akshardham Temple
Synagogue Judah Hyam
Sound and Light show at the Red Fort followed by dinner on a ‘Street Food Tour’ of the Pandara Market’ and a glance at the India gate.
Overnight: Leela Palace, Delhi
Breakfast at hotel
10:30am flight from Delhi with an anticipated arrival in Varanasi at 12:25pm
Lunch
Sarnath: Sarnath Archaeological Museum, the Lion Capital of Ashoka, and the monastery.
Check into hotel
Take a boat tour to see the sights of Varanasi at night from the water including the famous aarti ceremony.
Dinner
Overnight: Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel
See the morning aarti ceremony as the sun rises.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and check out.
Visit to the main temples in Varanasi: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Monkey Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, and Birla Temple.
Lunch
Depart for 5:00 pm flight with an anticipated arrival to Delhi at 6:30pm to take a flight back to the USA.
Accommodation
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
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