Detailed Itinerary
Namaste - We welcome you with folded hands
Day 1 : Delhi Sight-Seeing
You will be picked up from your hotel and proceed for a full-day
tour of Old & New Delhi. (Start at 0900 hrs).
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.
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
House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through
the Diplomatic Enclave.
After the sightseeing, check in at THE PARK in Connaught Place.
Relax in the evening or roam the Connaught Place market.
Proceed for LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW and then for dinner.
Overnight: at Delhi.
Day 2 : Delhi - Alwer
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for ALWAR and reach by noon.
150 Km from Jaipur and 170 Km from Delhi - ALWAR nest between a
cluster of small hills of the ARAVALLI range. Perched on the most
prominent of these hills is a massive ancient fort that whispers
tales of the rich history of the city. Apart from its long history,
the city has a rich natural heritage with some beautiful lakes and
picturesque valley thickly wooded in parts.
Some of the finest variety of birds and animals are spotted here.
ALWAR has one of the finest wild life sanctuaries in Rajasthan -
SARISKA, which is an excellent tiger country.
Visit the PALACE and complete all sightseeing and stay at SARISKA
PALACE for the night.
Day 3 : Delhi - Agra
Proceed to Jaipur after breakfast. Reach by noon.
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 it's character and history - Beautiful fusion of
the yesteryears and modernity. 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.
Shopping in the city.
Overnight: at Jaipur.
Day 4 : Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for morning excursion to Amber Fort.
Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort
palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and
completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. It's forbidding exterior
belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and
Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.
Continue city sightseeing.
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. Its 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.
Relax in the evening.
Overnight: at Jaipur.
Day 5 : Jaipur - Agra
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Agra.
Visit Fatehpur Sikri en-route.
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.
Reach Agra and check in at hotel.
Badal Singh established the city of Taj in 1475. Agra finds mention
in the Mahabharat as Agraban. This city in those days was considered
to be the sister-city of Mathura, which was more prominent than
Agraban. Agra came into its own when the Lodhi Kings chose this
place beside the RIVER YAMUNA to be their capital city. Sikander
Lodhi made Agra his capital but Babar defeated the Lodhis to capture
not only Agra but also laid the foundation of the Mughal empire.
The coming of Babar heralded a new era, which was to see Agra at
its zenith during the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It
was during Akbar's period that Agra became the center of art, culture
and commerce and learning. This trend reached its height when Shah
Jahan became the ruler.
In the Mid 16th century and earlier 17th century Agra witnessed
a frenzied building activity and it was during this time when the
symbol of love Taj Mahal was built. The buildings made during this
era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high
quality. The same is still reflected in whatever monuments remain
in Agra. The narrow lanes of Agra filled with aroma of Mughlai cuisine,
the craftsman who are busy in crating master pieces with their skill
all remind of the Mughal royalty which this city had once experienced.
Today whatever remains, has become a major tourist attraction which
has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but this time as a
major tourist destination of India.
Visit the TAJ MAHAL - one of the Seven Wonders of the World was
built by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD and was completed in 1651AD. Taj
Mahal - The symbol of Love was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal
(Shah Jahan' s second Wife).
Overnight: at Agra.
Day 6 : Agra - Khajuraho
Proceed for city sightseeing after breakfast.
AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD,
the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is
the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho. Reach and transfer
to hotel.
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, honored by the world as India's unique
contribution to human civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five
temples here. Only 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 temple of Khajuraho
is a world heritage site and belong not just to India but to the
world. The nearby Panna national park is a project tiger park making
the area a unique combination of outstanding cultural and natural
heritage - one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Afternoon visit the WESTERN TEMPLES.
Overnight: at Khajuraho.
Day 07: Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel. uided tour of EASTERN TEMPLES.
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 rivetfront, as seen
from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples,
and it's 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
thecity is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and Asi.
Overnight: at Varanasi.
Day 08: Varanasi
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat 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. Then 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. Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel. Proceed for day guided tour of
Varanasi including the Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu University.
Overnight : at Varanasi.
Day 09: Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of SARNATH.
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.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi.
Reach Delhi and you will be transferred to your hotel or airport.