Destinations: Delhi-Udaipur-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Orcha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Delhi.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport . Our Representative will meet and assist you. Check in at the hotel and 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 .
Rest of the day will be at leisure. Evening enjoy the visit to Nizamuddin Dargah and listen to Sufi Music. (Only on Thursdays) The dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is a pilgrimage site for Sufi devotees from around the world. It is also rich with relics. Visit a baoli (Stepwell) or the tomb of the revered Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
After breakfast start with the sightseeing of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, Red Fort which has been restored largely in the last few years. The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Jamuna was built during the years 1638 – 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak.
Take the bicycle rickshaw continuing to the Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.
Visit the Gandhi Samadhi where the great leader is remembered by his country.
Later drive to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively.
Visit Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India and the Humayun’s Tomb which is one of the great monuments of Delhi. There is a saying that this monument was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. the Lotus Temple of the Bahai sect which represents the modern architecture of India.
Drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 3: Delhi – Udaipur
After a morning at leisure, Transfer to Airport to board the flight for Udaipur. . Reach Udaipur and relax.
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravallis. A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers. Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar ,a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years. Evening at leisure .Overnight at Hotel
Day 4: Udaipur
Morning proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur. Visit City Palace, Standing on the east bank of Lake Pichola, is a massive series of palaces built at different times from 1559 A.D. The balconies of the palace provide panoramic view of Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. Now the palace contains many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils and attracts thousands of visitors every day.
Saheliyon ki Bari was built by Maharana Sangram Singh in the mid-18th century. The garden of the maidens brings to mind the lifestyle of the ladies of the court.
Bagore ki Haveli is a very congenial old building built right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat. It came to be occupied by Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore who built the palace of the three arches also in 1878 and it acquired its name of Bagore-ki-haveli, the house of Bagore.
Jagdish Temple is situated in the middle of the city. The temple of Jagannath Rai, now called Jagdish-ji, is a major monument and should be seen carefully. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh Ist in 1651 A.D.
Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace – the island palace in the middle of the lake. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 5: Udaipur- Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur . Reach Jaipur and check in to the Hotel. Day at leisure. Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India. Proudly belonging to the Kshatriya ,warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made fearsome foes. Jaipur is known as the Pink City on account of the distinctive color of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State Visit of Prince Albert. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 6: Jaipur
Morning after breakfast, visit Amber Fort. Its construction was started by Man Singh I 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. Elephant rides or a hired jeep can take one up to the towering heights of Amber fort.
City Palace is a delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthan 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 is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consist of outsized astronomical instruments which is still in use.
Hawa Mahal is 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 work and elaborate balconies.Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
This evening, visit the Birla Temple to learn more about the fascinating religious life of Jaipur. Your visit will coincide with the Aarti Ceremony, which involves oil lamps being lit , in order to awake and invoke the deity.
Later visit Choki Dhani. Experience a true flavour of Rajasthani culture, with a folk dance performance by local tribal artistes. A sumptuous Indian dinner will mark the perfect end to a great day Overnight at Hotel.
Day 7: Jaipur-Agra
Drive to Agra after breakfast visiting Fatehpur Sikri en-route.
Akbar, who was without a male heir heard about Saint Salim Chisti and visited him in the year 1568. The saint blessed him with 3 sons and in gratitude Akbar ordered the great mosque of Fatehpur Sikri built under his supervision. As a mark of respect to the saint, Akbar shifted his capital to Fatehpur Sikri and built various secular buildings . Continue your drive to Agra. On arrival check-in at Hotel.
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 the 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.
In the evening, attend a performance at Kalakriti, a stunning performance art based rendition of the history of the Taj. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 8: Agra
Early morning visit Taj Mahal, symbol of eternal love, which stands on the banks of River Yamuna. It was built by the 5th Mughal emperor, Shah Jehan in the year 1631 in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it’s well worth visiting at different times. Return to the hotel for a leisure breakfast.
Proceed for the sightseeing tour of Agra. Visit Sikandra, the beautifully maintained monument is where Emperor Akbar was buried.
Agra Fort built by the 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. It lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town.
Baby Taj or the Itmad-Ud-Ullah – The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj. It is one of the most beautiful Mughal tombs and was built by Nur Jahan, the Empress of Jahangir for her father in 1628. With its tranquil, small garden on the bank of Yamuna River, the tomb stands impressively elegant from a distance.
Evening at Mehtab Bagh to experience the Sunset. The Garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal, is known as Mehtab Bagh, or The Moonlight Garden. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 9: Agra- Jhansi- Khajuraho
Transfer to the railway station to board train for Jhansi. Reach Jhansi and drive to Khajuraho visiting Orchha enroute.
Orchha is a medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with Palaces and temples of the 16th and 17th century which have withstood the onslaught of time. The city is picturesquely flanked by the River Betwa.
Enjoy sightseeing of Orchha, sites within the Fort Complex. Continue drive to Khajuraho. Reach Khajuraho and check into the hotel.
Situated in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is famous for its enchanting temples. The Khajuraho Temples are dedicated to a celebration of womanhood, her myriad moods and facets. These temples have been designed and carved to lead the eyes from ground level upward till you seem to be looking at heaven.
Reach Khajuraho and check in at the hotel. In the evening enjoy the Sound & Light Show at the temple complex. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10: Khajuraho
Morning visit the world famous temples .These temples are the most exquisite specimen of Hindu architecture and sculpture in medieval India. Though sculptures are the main attraction to common visitor. The architectural style of the Khajuraho temples is very different from the temple prototype of that period. Visit all of the temples of Khajuraho divided into three geographical groups: Western, Eastern and Southern. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 11: Khajuraho-Varanasi
Morning after breakfast ,proceed to airport to board the flight for Varanasi.
Varanasi is one of the most ancient living cities in India. From time immemorial it has been a great religious center for Hindus and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every year. To every visitor Varanasi offers a breathtaking experience. Visit Sarnath for a day excursion. One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Here he revealed the eight fold path that leads to the attainment of inner peace, Enlightenment and Ultimate Nirvana. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site. In the evening visit the Ghats for the evening ceremony . Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12: Varanasi-Delhi
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges and witness the living traditions of one of the world’s oldest and most important religion. Board a boat 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.
Walk through the cobblestone street along the banks of river Ganga. Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
After Breakfast Proceed for day tour of Varanasi. Visit Bharat Mata Temple, which features a big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble. The 18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the huge population of the monkeys.
Proceed to the Tulsi manas Temple, crafted from white marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed on its walls.
The Banaras Hindu University considered as the biggest residential university in Asia. The University Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi . Arrive Delhi and check in to the Hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 13: Delhi-Departure
Transfer to Airport to board the flight for onward journey.