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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 city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI
- JAIPUR
(260 Kms., 05 Hrs. Drive)
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur - The city owes its names, foundation
and its careful planning to the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja
Jai Singh II. In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh
decided to move down from his hillside fortress at nearby Amber
to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding
walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of
town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise
on architecture.
Arrive Jaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure.
DAY 04 : 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 05 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
(240 Kms., 06-07 Hrs. Drive)
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 and check-in at prebooked hotel for overnight
stay.
DAY 06 : 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 07 : AGRA
- JHANSI (TRAIN)
JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO
(178 Kms., 04-05 Hrs. Drive)
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board
Shatabdi Express, scheduled to depart for Jhansi at 0815 hrs. Arrive
Jhansi at 1025 hrs., transfer 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 prebooked hotel.
DAY 08 : KHAJURAHO - VARANASI
(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
: 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. Arrive Varanasi and transfer
to prebooked hotel.
DAY 09 : 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 - 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 Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this one
is seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of Benares
still resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar Hall) and
the royal museum housing collections of palanquins, elephant saddles,
arms, furniture, costumes, etc., are a must see at the Ramnagar
fort. Return by boat in the evening, enroute witness the religious
ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges.
DAY 10 : VARANASI
- DELHI (FLIGHT)
After breakfast, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist
city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment
at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he
preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the
'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this
place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Sarnath
was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century
AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum
(closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its
four guardian lions, used as independent Indias’ national emblem.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive
Delhi and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY
11 : DEPART DELHI
Early Morning, ransfer to the airport to board flight back
home/onward destination.
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