Detailed Itinerary
Namaste - We welcome you with folded hands
Day 1 : Arrival at Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport. Transfer
to your hotel. Relax. DELHI,
the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis
with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Delhi is a
perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land
and a window to the kaleidoscope - that is India. Overnight will
be at Delhi.
Day 2 : Delhi
Start a Full day tour of Old & New Delhi after breakfast. OLD
DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the
Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated;
Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once
the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.Enjoy a Cycle
rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include
a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the
ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament
Houseand the President's Residence and would end with a drive through
the Diplomatic
Enclave.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur
Breakfast will be at hotel. Drive to Jaipur.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced
back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II
who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes
the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis,
it still retains its character and history - A beautiful fusion
of the yesteryears and modernity. It is popularly known as the Pink
City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered
stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of
Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts,
magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Reach Jaipur and check in at hotel. Shopping and relax in the evening.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 4 : Jaipur
Proceed for morning excursion will be taken to the Amber Fort. Ride
to the Fort on elephant back in a royal manner.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort
palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh in 1592, and completed
by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an
inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles
finds its ultimate expression. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jaipur
visiting...
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani
architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area
in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev
Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the
five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the
country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments
is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds"
is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure
of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and
elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built
in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the
palace women. Free in the evening or roam the city.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 5 : Jaipur - Agra
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri en-route after breakfast.
The
deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and
palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a
veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition
... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the
days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in
the world.
Continue your drive to Agra and on arrival check-in
at Hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan,
transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of
the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the
Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting
edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint
buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals
still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its
Mughal heritage most conspicuously.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 6 : Agra : Proceed for Sightseeing of Agra
A fter breakfast.
TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah
Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a
Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in
Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their
14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard
were said to have grown snow white in a few months. When Mumtaz Mahal was
still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he
build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to
their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary.
He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was
completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it.
An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the
architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it.
It is a "symbol of eternal love".
Having buried her
down at Behrampur, it was time for the emperor to keep his promise and build
a tomb there itself. But by and by, it was felt that it was virtually
impossible to transfer all the marble there, as it would cost an entire
fortune and an entire lifetime. So, when Agra was chosen as the only
alternative, astonishingly her grave was uprooted and brought to Agra, only
to be finally transferred to the monument, completed twenty-two years later.
After Taj we will visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In
1525 AD. After Agra Fort we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are
considered better than the Taj.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 7 : Jhansi - Khajuraho
Breakfast will beat hotel. You will be transferred to station for train to Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and proceed to Orchha, 12 km away.
Orchha - a
medieval city founded by bundela rulers with palaces and temples of the 16th
and 17th century - which have remarkably withstood the onslaught of time.
The city is picturesquely flanked by the river betwa.
Proceed
for sightseeing of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex. Enjoy your lunch at
Orchha.
Continue drive to Khajuraho.
Situated in the
heart of india, in the state of madhya pradesh, khajuraho is a fascinating
village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage, honoured
by the world as india's unique contribution to human civilisation. The
chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Twenty remain as
embodiments of indian architectural and sculptural art at its most evolved
state. Even ten centuries after they were constructed, the temples of
khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to all mankind. The temples
of khajuraho is a world heritage site and belong not just to india but to
the world. Khajuraho is one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Evening will be
free or you can go out for a stroll. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 8 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a tour of the FAMOUS TEMPLES of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival
at Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to hotel.
Varanasi
is the world's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen
from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples, and
its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number of tourists.
The religious capital of hinduism, varanasi is the carpet manufacturing
place of india. It was previously known as kashi - the city that
illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at
the confluence of the rivers varuna and asi.
Visit Sarnath ? 5 miles out
of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the
world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the ruins
of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which
houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the
site.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 9 : Varanasi
Drive to Daswamedh Ghat early in the morning and
take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and
witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most
important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime
experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you
to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with
your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the
sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to
bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers
from the water's edge. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets
along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now
becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Proceed for a half day-guided tour of Varanasi including the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu University and other
important monuments.
Spend night at Varanasi.
Day 10 : Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Relax in the
morning and finish last minute shopping. Explore the city or visit the GHATS
once more. Proceed to the airport for flight to Delhi.
Reach Delhi and take connecting flight home.