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 DAY
01 : ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi in the evening.
Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted with your baggages at
the airport by our executive and transferred to prebooked hotel.
Delhi : India’s capital & a major gateway to the
country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully
combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic
location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose
it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the
British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is
the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls
respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably
confront the citys’ past.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half
day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama
Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan,
the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until
1658; Red Fort,
which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built
from 1638 to 1648; Chandni
Chowk and Rajghat
- the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns
Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example
of Mughal architecture; Qutab
Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught
Place. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple.
DAY 03 : DELHI - AGRA
(203 KMS, 04-05 HRS)
 After
breakfast, drive to Agra, enroute visit Sikandra - the Mausoleum
of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Arrive Agra & check-in
at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Agra : Visit Red
fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions
were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains
the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other beautiful
structues; Itmad-ud-daulah,
which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very
similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near
Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The
Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and
was not completed until 1653.
DAY 04 : AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI - JAIPUR
(240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Jaipur. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal
city of Fatehpur Sikri - built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which
was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful
buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch
Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original
glory. Continue drive to Jaipur.
Arrive Jaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
DAY 05 : JAIPUR
 After
breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills
of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At a distance
of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state.
Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput
commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit
the City Palace which
has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel
ware and weapons; Jantar
Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728
and the façade of Hawa
Mahal.
DAY 06 : JAIPUR - PUSHKAR
(135 KMS, 02-03 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Pushkar. the
holy lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma
himself. It is as important as Banaras or Puri. Devout Hindus believe
that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime.
No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar
lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only
temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahma is to be found
here. While Pushkar is a heaven for the religiously inclined, it
is also the venue of one of the country's most colorful cattle fairs
- the Pushkar Fair.
Arrive Pushkar and check-in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, explore Pushkar on your own.
DAY 07 : PUSHKAR
- JODHPUR
(220 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave
for Jodhpur. On arrival in Jodhpur, check-in at prebooked hotel.
In the afternoon, city tour of Jodhpur : visit the Mehrangarh
Fort which literally means “Majestic Fort”, located
at the very centre of the city. There are ,in all , three gates
, each built to commemorate a particular victory, as well as to
reinforce the fort. It has a collection of musical instruments,
palanquins, furniture & cannons on the forts’ ramparts
are well preserved. Jaswant
Thada : Close to the fort complex lies this white marble
cenotaph, built in 1899, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh
II. Rare portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen at
Jaswant Thada.
DAY 08 : JODHPUR - RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR
(275 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Udaipur,
enroute visit the Jain temples at Ranakpur : The cluster
of temples, made of intricately sculpted white marble, come across
as a marvellousfeat of architecture. It would take anyone by surprise
to learn that they were built in 1460, so well preserved & sparkling
is the marble. The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars –
none of which is similarly carved. After the visit, continue drive
to Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
DAY 09 : UDAIPUR
After breakfast, visit the romantic city of Udaipur. Visit
the City Palace which
is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish
temple, a fine Indo Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion
ki Bari or Garden of the Maids of Honour, which is a small
garden with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants & lotus
pool.
Afternoon, free. In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY 10 :
UDAIPUR - MUMBAI (FLIGHT)
Early
morning, transfer to the airport to board flight for Mumbai.
Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Mumbai - Located on the west coast
of India, the group of islands which has grown into the city of
Mumbai.
The city was called Bombay for much of the last four hundred years.
The origin of the name is obscure, but is often said to come from
the Portuguese phrase bom bahia meaning "good
bay". The name Mumbai has been used in the main local languages
for as long, and is ascribed to the local goddess, Mumba
(ai means mother in Marathi). The name of the
city was changed to Mumbai by an act of the parliament in 1997.
DAY
11 : MUMBAI - AURANGABAD (FLIGHT)
After
breakfast, excursion to Elephanta caves - About ten kilometers north
east of Apollo Bunder lies the island of Elephanta, the glorious
abode of Lord Shiva. An epitome of Hindu cave culture, Elephanta
consists of seven caves of which the most notable is the Mahesa-murti
cave. It has a very impressive size with a main body of 27 meters
square supported by rows of six columns each. The main temple consists
of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine
at the west end of the hall. The pillars and reliefs in the cave
are gigantic in scale. Set in various niches are a number of large
reliefs depicting different aspects of Shaivaite iconography. Around
the perimeter of the cave are sculptured compartments in this cave
with images from the Hindu mythology. They depict Lord Shiva as
Andhakasuravadha, impaling the demon of darkness, as Kalyanasundara-the
gentle loving god, as Ardhanarishwara, Shiva and Shakti, male and
female, Nataraja-Shiva as the cosmic dancer and as Ravana anugraha
-the destroyer of enemies
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Aurangabad.
Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous
Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock, by hand, and
rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian
architectural heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves
at Ajanta, were remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium,
till John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon
them while on a hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated
as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy
that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to
come.
DAY
12 : AURANGABAD
After breakfast, excursion to Ajanta caves
: It was only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of
caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved
mountain side, above the Waghora river, were discovered. They depict
the story of Buddhism, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD.
The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks,
who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the
ancient seats of learning, and nerve - centers of the Buddhist cultural
movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved
out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures.
Many of the caves house panels depicting stories from the Jatakas,
a rich mine of tales of the several incarnations of the Buddha.
Images of nymphs and princesses amongst others, are also elaborately
portrayed. Return to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
DAY 13 : AURANGABAD - MUMBAI
(FLIGHT)
After breakfast, excursion to Ellora caves
- 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill,
30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave - temple architecture,
they house elaborate facades and exquisitely adorned interiors.
These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism
and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period. The
12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated
to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The sculpture
in the Buddhist caves accurately convey the nobility, grace and
serenity inherent in the Buddha. Caves 6 and 10 house images from
the Buddhist and Hindu faith, under the same roof, the latter dedicated
to Vishwakarma, the patron saint of Indian craftsmen. The Vishvakarma
cave is both a Chaitya and a Vihara, with a seated Buddha placed
in the stupa. Its two - storied structure sports a colourful pageant
of dwarfs, dancing and making music.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board
flight for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY
14 : DEPART MUMBAI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.
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