|
DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
On
arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer 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 city's
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, half day 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. In the evening,
transfer to the airport to board flight for Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu
and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 03 : DELHI - UDAIPUR (BY FLIGHT)
Early
morning, transfer to the airport to board flight for Udaipur. Arrive
Udaipur and transfer to prebooked hotelrrive Udaipur and transfer
to prebooked hotel.
Later , 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.
In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY 04 : UDAIPUR - RANAKPUR - JODHPUR
(275 KMS, 06-07 HRS)
After breakfast, leave for Jodhpur,
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 Jodhpur. Arrive Jodhpur in the
evening and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 05 : JODHPUR - PUSHKAR (225
KMS, 04-05 HRS HRS)
After
breakfast, 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.
Also visit the Clock Tower
– the city centre.
Afternoon, leave
for Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 06 : PUSHKAR - JAIPUR (135
KMS, 03-04 HRS)
After breakfast, day free to explore Pushkar
Afternoon, leave for Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check in at prebooked
hotel.
DAY 07 : 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 08 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI -
AGRA (256 KMS, 06-07 HRS)
After breakfast, leave
for Agra. 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 Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening and checkin at
prebooked hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 09 : AGRA
After breakfast, 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.
Afternoon, free for individual activities.
DAY 10 : AGRA - JHANSI (BY TRAIN),
JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO (BY ROAD)
After
breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board train for Jhansi
at 0800 hrs. Arrive Jhansi at 1030 hrs and board our car/coach which
awaits you to drive you to Khajuraho. Enroute visit Orchha : Once
the capital of Bundelas, Orchha is a village, set amongst a complex
of well preserved palaces and temples. Though Orcha was founded
in 1531, it's golden age was during the first half of 17th century.
When Jahangir visiting the city in 1606, a special palace, the Jehangir
Mahal was built for him. Visit the Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal &
Ram Raja temple which also dates back to the 17th century.Arrive
Khajuraho and check in at hotel.
DAY 11 : KHAJURAHO - VARANASI
(BY FLIGHT)
After
breakfast visit Khajuraho : Built
by the warrior Chandela dynasty that rose to power in Central India
between 10th & 11th centuries, the 25 odd surving temples display
different facets of life, including the sensual. These erotic carvings
on some panels have given rise to much speculation since Khajuraho’s
re-discovery by a British officer in 1838. To preserve it for posterity,
Khajuraho has been declared a World Heritage Site.Visit the world
famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings between 950
AD & 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini temple
dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji
temple with lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishwanath & Nandi
temples, Lakshmana temple, Visha temple dedicated to Shiva, which
is the largest & most typical of temples.
Afternoon, transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. Arrive
Varanasi and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 12 : VARANASI
Early
morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges
to see the bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise
on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting
sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals,
ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across
have fascinated visitors from all over the world. Return
to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi.
Formerly known as
Kashi – the city that illuminates. The religious capital of Hinduism
, Varanasi is the oldest living city of India & one of the worlds’
most ancient. The present name is derived from the fact that the
city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi. Visit
the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble,
Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which
has an art gallery & the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.
Afternoon, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where
Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment at
Bodhgaya.
DAY 13 : VARANASI - KATHMANDU
(BY FLIGHT)
After breakfast, free. Later, transfer to the airport
to board flight for Kathmandu.
On arrival in Kathmandu meet and assist at the airport and transfer
to prebooked hotel.
DAY 14 : KATHMANDU
In
the morning, visit the valley of Kathmandu – the capital city of
Nepal, Swayambhunath & Museum. Afternoon, excursion to Patan.&
Tibetan Handicraft centre
DAY 15 : KATHMANDU
After
breakfast, visit Bhaktapur, Boudhnath & Pashupatinath.
Afternoon, excursion to Dhulikhel to witness the beautiful sunset.
Return to Kathmandu after sunset.
DAY 16 : KATHMANDU - DELHI (BY
FLIGHT)
After
breakfast, free for individual activities.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. On
arrival in Delhi transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 17 :
DEPART DELHI
Transfer
to the airport to board flight back home/onward destination.
|