Hornbill Festival
Terms and Conditions: The Hornbill Festival is held from the 1st- 10th December every year. This tour is applicable for travel from 1st December – 12th December, 2021 and you will be at Kisama on 5th and 6th December, 2021 to witness the Hornbill festivities.
1st December, 2021: Kolkata: Arrive in Kolkata. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
2nd December, 2021: Kolkata: After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel, and together, you will go on a “walking tour” of Dalhousie Square. The Square was named in memory of Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856.
From here, you will visit the Flower Market, which is also called Heritage Market.
Next, you will visit the Howrah Bridge. Renamed Rabindra Setu, Howrah Bridge spans the River Hooghly and is a marvelous example of British engineering.
You will also visit Neveh Shalom Synagogue, the first synagogue of Kolkata. This will be followed by a visit to Magen David Synagogue. Built in 1884 by EDJ Ezra, its 140 feet high clock tower still dominates the Kolkata skyline.
Afterwards, you may like to stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Your guide will be happy to make recommendations based on the cuisine that you prefer (direct payment).
You will then visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the first Episcopal Church of the Orient. The interior has exquisite scriptural scenes and the massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop Wilson, as well as the Western Windows, are of special interest.
You will next visit Victoria Memorial. The memorial was the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901 felt that his recently departed Queen Empress required a suitable monument to her memory.
Your last stop on the day’s tour will be the Indian Museum. Founded in 1814, the museum is one of the oldest in Asia. One would need an entire day or more to fully browse the fossils, coins, stones, Gandhara art, meteors, the 4,000-year-old mummy and so much more that is exhibited here.
You will then return to your hotel.
3rd December, 2021: Kolkata – Dimapur – Kohima: After an early breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your flight to Dimapur.
Upon arrival, you will be met by your chauffeur who will drive you to your hotel in Kohima, (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
4th December, 2021: Kohima – Kisama Heritage Village – Kohima: Today, you will take a full-day excursion to Kisama Heritage Village (approximately 35 minutes, excluding stops) to participate in the festivities of the Hornbill Festival.
Named after the Great Indian Hornbill, this annual extravaganza is celebrated by the 16 tribes of the state. Revel in the glorious culture of the indigenous warrior tribes, displayed through folk dances (complete with elaborate costumes, striking jewelry and colourful headgear), musical performances and traditional games. If you like, you can also spend time with the tribes-people in morungs (youth dormitories) and gain an insight into their unique culture and habits.
5th December, 2021: Kohima: After breakfast, you will explore the treasures of Kohima.
You will begin your tour with a visit to the Kohima War Cemetery. A World War II cemetery located on a wooded spur on Garrison Hill, it contains about 2337 graves and memorials that are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
This will be a followed by a visit to The Catholic Church on Aradura Hill. An architectural marvel, it is said to house possibly the largest wooden cross in the country.
You will then drive to an Angami village on the outskirts of the city to gain an insight into the culture and traditions of the locals. You will also have the opportunity to interact, play indigenous games and have lunch with a local family at their home.
After lunch, you will return to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at leisure. Your vehicle and guide will remain at your disposal, should you wish visit Kisama Heritage Village to participate in the Hornbill festivities.
6th December, 2021: Kohima – Kaziranga: After breakfast, you will drive to Kaziranga in Assam (approximately 6 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival in Kaziranga, you will check-in to your lodge.
7th December, 2021: Kaziranga: Twice in the day - early in the morning and again late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Kaziranga National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.
You will then return to your lodge.
8th December, 2021: Kaziranga: This morning, you will drive to Silghat (approximately 45 minutes, excluding stops) where you will board a country boat (subject to the weather and river conditions) and cruise down the Brahmaputra river to spot river dolphins.
After your cruise, you will return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will be taken for another “game drive” inside Kaziranga National Park.
9th December, 2021: Kaziranga – Guwahati – Delhi: After breakfast you will drive to Guwahati’s airport (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will be met and assisted by our Peirce & Leslie colleague to check-in for your flight to Delhi.
On arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and assist you to check-in.
10th December, 2021: Delhi - Agra: Today, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel at 07:15 hours and escorted to the Nizamuddin railway station in time to board Train No. 12050 Gatimaan Express (08:10/09:50 hours – 1 hour/40 minutes) to Agra.
On arrival in Agra, you will be met by our colleague and escorted to your waiting vehicle. You will be driven directly to one of the significant monuments of the city, the Agra Fort.
Afterwards, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will visit the stunning Taj Mahal, a mausoleum and a symbol of the enduring love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631.
11th December, 2021: Agra - Delhi: Today, you will have the option of visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Alternatively, you could choose to lie in.
After breakfast, you will visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, the tomb of Mir Ghiyas Beg. It has a special place in the chronicles of both history as well as architecture as it is the first tomb in India that is made entirely of marble.
You will then return to your hotel.
Later, you will drive to Delhi (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
12th December, 2021: Delhi - Onward Destination: The morning’s sightseeing will begin with a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India.
You will then drive to Old Delhi where you will take an exclusive cycle-rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market. Your cycle rickshaw will pull up at the Jama Masjid, believed to be the largest mosque in India as well as Shah Jahan’s last architectural venture.
Lunch will be served at Chor Bizarre, India’s first theme restaurant that captures the spirit of the chor bazaar’ or thieves market’ within its kaleidoscopic interiors and serves authentic regional Indian cuisine.
You will then return to your hotel driving through Rajpath or “King’s Way” and the wide tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, which served as the capital city for the former British Empire.
Late in the evening, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your homeward bound flight.
1st December, 2021: Kolkata: Arrive in Kolkata. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
2nd December, 2021: Kolkata: After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel, and together, you will go on a “walking tour” of Dalhousie Square. The Square was named in memory of Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856.
From here, you will visit the Flower Market, which is also called Heritage Market.
Next, you will visit the Howrah Bridge. Renamed Rabindra Setu, Howrah Bridge spans the River Hooghly and is a marvelous example of British engineering.
You will also visit Neveh Shalom Synagogue, the first synagogue of Kolkata. This will be followed by a visit to Magen David Synagogue. Built in 1884 by EDJ Ezra, its 140 feet high clock tower still dominates the Kolkata skyline.
Afterwards, you may like to stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Your guide will be happy to make recommendations based on the cuisine that you prefer (direct payment).
You will then visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the first Episcopal Church of the Orient. The interior has exquisite scriptural scenes and the massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop Wilson, as well as the Western Windows, are of special interest.
You will next visit Victoria Memorial. The memorial was the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901 felt that his recently departed Queen Empress required a suitable monument to her memory.
Your last stop on the day’s tour will be the Indian Museum. Founded in 1814, the museum is one of the oldest in Asia. One would need an entire day or more to fully browse the fossils, coins, stones, Gandhara art, meteors, the 4,000-year-old mummy and so much more that is exhibited here.
You will then return to your hotel.
3rd December, 2021: Kolkata – Dimapur – Kohima: After an early breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your flight to Dimapur.
Upon arrival, you will be met by your chauffeur who will drive you to your hotel in Kohima, (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
4th December, 2021: Kohima – Kisama Heritage Village – Kohima: Today, you will take a full-day excursion to Kisama Heritage Village (approximately 35 minutes, excluding stops) to participate in the festivities of the Hornbill Festival.
Named after the Great Indian Hornbill, this annual extravaganza is celebrated by the 16 tribes of the state. Revel in the glorious culture of the indigenous warrior tribes, displayed through folk dances (complete with elaborate costumes, striking jewelry and colourful headgear), musical performances and traditional games. If you like, you can also spend time with the tribes-people in morungs (youth dormitories) and gain an insight into their unique culture and habits.
5th December, 2021: Kohima: After breakfast, you will explore the treasures of Kohima.
You will begin your tour with a visit to the Kohima War Cemetery. A World War II cemetery located on a wooded spur on Garrison Hill, it contains about 2337 graves and memorials that are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
This will be a followed by a visit to The Catholic Church on Aradura Hill. An architectural marvel, it is said to house possibly the largest wooden cross in the country.
You will then drive to an Angami village on the outskirts of the city to gain an insight into the culture and traditions of the locals. You will also have the opportunity to interact, play indigenous games and have lunch with a local family at their home.
After lunch, you will return to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at leisure. Your vehicle and guide will remain at your disposal, should you wish visit Kisama Heritage Village to participate in the Hornbill festivities.
6th December, 2021: Kohima – Kaziranga: After breakfast, you will drive to Kaziranga in Assam (approximately 6 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival in Kaziranga, you will check-in to your lodge.
7th December, 2021: Kaziranga: Twice in the day - early in the morning and again late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Kaziranga National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.
You will then return to your lodge.
8th December, 2021: Kaziranga: This morning, you will drive to Silghat (approximately 45 minutes, excluding stops) where you will board a country boat (subject to the weather and river conditions) and cruise down the Brahmaputra river to spot river dolphins.
After your cruise, you will return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will be taken for another “game drive” inside Kaziranga National Park.
9th December, 2021: Kaziranga – Guwahati – Delhi: After breakfast you will drive to Guwahati’s airport (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will be met and assisted by our Peirce & Leslie colleague to check-in for your flight to Delhi.
On arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and assist you to check-in.
10th December, 2021: Delhi - Agra: Today, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel at 07:15 hours and escorted to the Nizamuddin railway station in time to board Train No. 12050 Gatimaan Express (08:10/09:50 hours – 1 hour/40 minutes) to Agra.
On arrival in Agra, you will be met by our colleague and escorted to your waiting vehicle. You will be driven directly to one of the significant monuments of the city, the Agra Fort.
Afterwards, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will visit the stunning Taj Mahal, a mausoleum and a symbol of the enduring love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631.
11th December, 2021: Agra - Delhi: Today, you will have the option of visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Alternatively, you could choose to lie in.
After breakfast, you will visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, the tomb of Mir Ghiyas Beg. It has a special place in the chronicles of both history as well as architecture as it is the first tomb in India that is made entirely of marble.
You will then return to your hotel.
Later, you will drive to Delhi (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
12th December, 2021: Delhi - Onward Destination: The morning’s sightseeing will begin with a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India.
You will then drive to Old Delhi where you will take an exclusive cycle-rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market. Your cycle rickshaw will pull up at the Jama Masjid, believed to be the largest mosque in India as well as Shah Jahan’s last architectural venture.
Lunch will be served at Chor Bizarre, India’s first theme restaurant that captures the spirit of the chor bazaar’ or thieves market’ within its kaleidoscopic interiors and serves authentic regional Indian cuisine.
You will then return to your hotel driving through Rajpath or “King’s Way” and the wide tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, which served as the capital city for the former British Empire.
Late in the evening, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your homeward bound flight.
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