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All India Travel Tours --» Other Tours in India --» Tobacco Tours

Tobacco Tours

Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days

India is the 3rd largest grower of Tobacco in the World. Most probably, the tobacco plant came to India from China through the Silk route.

The flue cured Virginia tobacco which is the major export type of tobacco, constitutes 30-35 % of total tobacco production in the country. The main producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and to a small extent Maharashtra.

While India is the third largest producer of un-manufactured tobacco in the world, it ranks fifth as an exporter in the world market.

Besides this variety, India also produces a large quantity of tobacco to manufacture "beedies" (the Indian cigarette), and chewing tobacco.

The major manufacturing units for cigarettes are in BOMBAY, BARODA, HYDRABAD, CALCUTTA etc. The major companies are ITC Ltd. ( a subsidiary of the Imperial Tobacco company, in India they are known as the Indian Tobacco Company, and the largest), The Golden Tobacco Company, The Vazir Tobacco Company, Godfrey Philips India,Ltd. etc. etc. This industry is worth USD 170 millions.

But the "bidi" industry, most of it is in the unorganised, home industry sector is almost as big as the cigarette industry and is also worth USD 170 Millions. The chewing tobacco industry is also very large. Most of the bidi industry is concentrated in the states of Gujrat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Bengal. Where as the chewing tobacco is produced basically in the state of Bihar.

The British did try and with success develop in the erstwhile Madras state, the cigar manufacturing industry and it is concentrated mainly in the city of Dindugal.

We have put to gather a tour that will take you through one of the main states producing tobacco and also manufacture a large quantum of cigarettes, "bidis' and chewing tobacco. We will also arrange for you to meet the people in the industry and watch the production centres.

Naturally, we have combined with this trip some beautiful sights and you also have the opportunity to relate at one of the beautiful beaches of India.

If you are fond of playing Golf, you have the opportunity to do so in Bangalore and during your stay in Coorg.

We are sure you will like to come and experience India.

Day 01. Arrive Bombay. Transfer to the hotel.(Check-in/out 1200 Hr.) In the afternoon a city tour of Bombay. During the city tour you will also see some of the "pan" kiosks. These are small shops that sell besides cigarettes and bidies, the "pan". It is a green leaf, which is rolled up with different ingredients and supplemented with chewing tobacco if one desires. The "pan" forms an integral part of the Indian dietary habits. A "pan" after a good meal has digestive properties. It can be served in different forms and with different aromas. Every locality has its one special "pan" shop and the business volume is mind boggling. Most of them do not pay any income tax ! Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 02. In the morning, we will take you to visit one of the major cigarette making factories in Bombay. Bombay is the manufacturing base for Golden Tobacco Company and Godfrey Philips (India) Ltd. You will also have a chance to interact with the local experts and know more about the industry.

In the afternoon take the flight to Bangalore. Transfer to hotel Windsor Manor Sheraton.
It is a hotel of ITC. Rest of the day is free. If you are a Golf enthusiast, you can play a round. The Golf course is just opposite to your hotel.

Day 03. Today morning we will drive about 60 kilometres out of the town to see some good tobacco growing areas in Karnataka. They grow the Virginia variety of tobacco. You will meet a few farmers, interact with them, see their co-operatives. Drive back to Bangalore. In the afternoon, you will visit one of the most modern plants of cigarette manufacturing in the country. Time permitting a short sightseeing trip of Bangalore the Garden City. Dinner and overnight.

Day 04. After breakfast leave for Hassan. Check-in. Later drive to see the temples at Belur and Halebid. Dinner and overnight.

Day 05. Today you drive to the royal city of Mysore. Enroute climb up to the mountain at Sravan Belegola to see the tallest monolithic structure of Gomteshwara, then on to the fort of Srirangapattam. You will reach Bangalore about 1400 hours if you had left Hassan at 0600 Hr. In the afternoon, visit the Palace Museum and the Chamundi temple on the hill. Dinner and overnight.

Day 06. A.M. Excursion to Somnathpur temple and on the way back visit the summer palace and the tomb of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapattam. Rest of the afternoon is free to shop or explore the interesting bazaar.

Day 07. Today, we take you away to the gentle slopes of the Western Ghats, to Mercara the district head quarters of Coorg. This is a prime Coffee and spice growing area. We will take you to show coffee plantations, spices plantations. We will also show you the fort which now houses the district administration, the old church museum and the Shiva temple which looks more like a mosque.

We will also have time to go for interesting walks and enjoy the nature at its best. The hotel is small but comfortable and has a very good cuisine. Today afternoon, you visit the sites in the city. Weather permitting Bar-b-que dinner.

Day 08. Today we drive out to a plantation. Lunch with the planters family. In the afternoon we will suggest you the different nature walks that are available. We will recommend the one that takes you to a water fall. We will arrange to serve you hot tea and biscuits at the water fall.

Later you can join the locals to enjoy folk dances and music. Dinner and overnight.

Day 09. You continue your drive west wards down the hills, through cacao plantations to reach Ullal on the coast. The hotel is simple but authentic. The beach is lovely, with miles and miles of golden sand and not many tourists. The infrastructural facilities on the beach etc. are almost non existing but the nature is all yours in the most rustical form. Enroute to the hotel, we will visit one of the largest "bidi" manufacturing units, to complete your journey through the Indian Tobacco and to top up the journey we will add a very interesting cultural monument. We will show you the church built in the 17th Cent. by the first missionaries that came to the then major ship building port of Mangalore. The church has very beautiful and imposing frescoes done by Italian priests. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 10. A full day to relax and bath in the sea. Evening, sea food dinner.

Day 11. Transfer to Mangalore airport to connect the flight to Bombay.
Two rooms for wash and change at a hotel. Rest of the day free.

Dinner. Final transfer to the airport to connect the flight to Home.

End of our services.

Best time: NOV. and DECEMBER. We will recommend that the group is organised in the beginning of December to see the tobacco crop.

If you are interested in seeing the harvesting and curing then the time is JANUARY and FEBRUARY.



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