Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi airport
Our company representative will meet and assit
you at the airport
Later transfer to prebooked hotel (for immediate
occupency)
Day 02 : Delhi sightseeing
Breakfast at the hotel
Later start sightseeing 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.
AM :Sightseeing of Old Delhi
including Red Fort: The red
stone walls of the fort extend from 2kms and
vary in height from 18m on the riverside to
33m on the city side. The hall of public audiences,
the hall of private audiences, the royal baths
and Moti Masjid built by
Aurangzeb for himself are important part of
the immense fort. Jama Masjid:
It is the largest mosque in India and the
final architectural extravagance of Shanjahan.
Raj Gath: The memorial of
Mahatma Gandhi where he was cremated after
his assassination.Lunch at the hotel / Local
restaurant.
PM : Sightseeing of New Delhi starts
from Lotus Temple - Bahai
House of Worship, a white marble building
built in great architechture with the fusion
of old & new styles. It is a very peaceful
place surrounded by nice graden; Qutab
Minar: The building complex dates
back to the onset of Muslim rule in India
and are fine examples of Afghan architecture.
Humayun’s Tomb : Built
by wife of Humayun, the second Mughal king.
It is an early example of Mughal architecture.
India Gate: The 42m high
stone "Arch of Triumph", erected
in the memory of Indian soldiers who died
in the First World War; Drive through Rajpath
"Kingsway" a VVIP area of Delhi
including Rashtrapati Bhawan; Laxmi
Narayan Temple: Garishly colored
modern temple is erected by the industrialist
Birla. This temple is dedicated to Laxmi -
the goddess of wealth and Narayan - Lord Vishnu,
husband of Laxmi.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur (260
kms/4-5 hours)
Breakfast at hotel
Morning drive to Jaipur : The capital city
of the state of Rajasthan also know as "Pink
City" owes its name, its foundation
and planning to the great warrior astronomer
Maharaja Jai Singh II. The city of Jaipur
has broad avenues. The city sits on a dry
lake bed in a wild and somewhat arid landscape,
surrounded by barren hills surmounted by fortresses
and crenellated walls.
On arrival check in to hotel for overnight
stay. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 04 : Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast, excursion to Amber
Fort enroute witness the façade
of Hawa Mahal or the Palace
of Winds which was built in 1799. Amber
Fort - The ancient capital of the state until
1727 when Jai Singh decided to move from his
hillside fortress at Amber to new site on
the plains. The construction of this fort
began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput
commander of Akbar’s army. The fort
is a superb example of Rajput architecture,
stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking
a lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts.
Visit the Jagmandir or the hall of victory
glittering with mirrors, Jal Mahal
& temple of Kali. Ascend on elephant
back, the hill, on which the fort is situated.
Enjoy Elephant ride at Amber Fort
(upto the hills).
PM : City tour of Jaipur. Visit the
Jantar Mantar – the observatory
built by Jai Singh in 1728; the City
Palace which is a blend of Rajasthani
and Mughal architecture. It also has a museum
with an extensive collection of art, carpets,
paintings, enamel ware and weapons dating
back to the 15th century.
Day 05 : Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri
- Agra (appx 260 kms)
Morning, 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 Mughals,
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 check-in at pre-booked hotel for
overnight stay.
Day 06 : Agra - Varanasi
At the time of sunrise visit Taj Mahal, which
was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of
his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the
Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until
1653.
Later start sightseeig of Agra city including
visit to Agra 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
structures; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was constructed
by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is
very similar to the tomb she constructed for
her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan.
Evening visit world famous Marble Workshops
and Mughal Handicraft Centers in Agra.
Evening Agra - Varanasi (overnight
train)
Day 07 : Varanasi
Morning arrive Varanasi
Transfer to hotel, check in and breakfast
Morning relax in the hotel
PM : Excursion to Sarnath,
famous because of Lord Buddha who came here
and preach his sermon first after gaining
enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
Evening back to hotel in Varanasi for overnight
stay.
Day 08 : Varanasi
Early morning at the time of sunrise visit
Ghats of Holy river Ganga or Ganges.
Enjoy boat ride along the Ganges and catch
the scene of devotees bathing and praying
in the sacred water. Start sightseeing of
Varanasi – the city of temples and ghats
popularly known as “Banaras”.
Famous worldwide from ancient times for art,
culture and educational institutions here.
Every year millions of pilgrim come Varanasi
to take bath in holy Ganges and to pursue
various rituals. Also visit to Vishwanath
Temple, one of India’s most
important Shaivite shrines. The original temple
is said to have been over 1000 years old.
The Gyan Vapi tank enclosed in a hall is said
to contain the original shivalingam. Pilgrims
offer prayers here before embarking on the
Panchatirtha.
Next to the Vishwanath temple is the
Annapurna temple, built in the 18th
century by Peshwa Baji Rao I. The idol of
Annapurna Bhavani (the provider of food),
a benevolent form of Shakti is made in solid
gold and carries a cooking pot. There is also
a striking silver-faced image of Shani (Saturn)
within the temple. Shani is feared for his
destructive powers and is worshipped to prevent
any ill from befalling the devout.
Back to hotel for breakfast
After breakfast start sightseeing
of Varanasi including the Bharat
Mata temple north-west of Godaulia
is a modern shrine, inaugurated by Mahatma
Gandhi. It has a huge relief map of the Indian
sub-continent showing all its rivers, mountains
and pilgrimages. The idol of Durga, a manifestation
of Shakti is dressed in red and rides a tiger
with the trident, the discus and a sword in
her hands. The temple courtyard has a forked
stake for sacrificing goats, and non-Hindus
are allowed only up to this point.
The Tulsi Manas temple,
though, is open to all communities. Its white
marble walls have the verses of Tulsidas’
Ramcharitmanas inscribed on them.The Benares
Hindu University, which was founded by Pandit
Madan Malviya at the turn of the century,
also has a new Vishwanath temple. The temple,
built by the Birlas, a rich industrialist
family, is meant for a caste-less, egalitarian
society.
The Bharat Kala Bhavan museum
inside the Benares Hindu University campus
is open from Monday till Saturday. It has
a valuable collection of miniature paintings,
sculptures and bronzes. A special gallery
has a 19th century map of the Raj Ghat excavations
and old etchings of the city. Besides Hindu,
Islamic and Buddhist artefacts, the works
of contemporary artists like Jamini Roy, Nicholas
Roerich and Alice Boner are displayed here.
Overnight at hotel
Day 09 : Varanasi - Khajuraho
Morning after breakfast drive to
Khajuraho
Arrive Khajuraho by the evening
On arrival check in to hotel
Day 10 : Khajuraho
Breakfast at hotel
Morning start sightseeing of Khajuraho,
famous for the 9th to 12th century temples
of Khajuraho is the evidences of the architectural
geniuses during the times of Chandela dynasty.
Situated in Madhya Pradesh, India, Khajuraho
oozes with passion, eroticism, dance and music
and other finesses of creative arts depicted
in sculpture and images of the temples. The
85 temples were built in North Indian 'Nagara'
style of architecture, though only 20 of them
have survived the rough weather conditions
over long years of time. The two richer distinctive
groups of temples are the Western and Eastern
group of temples.
Temples of Khajuraho is much different from
any other temple city of India. It is not
about religion and worshipping and deities.
The temples of Khajuraho are instead famous
for the eroticism etched on its walls in the
form of sculptures. An amalgamation of science
and art of architecture, these 10th-11th century
temples have a very interesting legend behind
them that connects them to the origin of Chandela
dynasty. It is said that in a fit of passion
and lust, the Moon God seduced and ravaged
a beautiful Brahmin girls known as Hemvati,
resulting in the birth of Chandravarman (the
founder of the Chandela dynasty). Later, Chandravarman
had a dream where his mother requested him
to make a temple, which would reveal all aspects
of the treasure of passion and erotic fantasy
to the world.
The temples of Khajuraho are one the finest
examples of the central Indian style of temple
architecture. Though these temples have gained
popularity because of their erotic carvings
(pictured left), they are reflective of the
traditional way of life of Hindu society in
the medieval period. The temples were built
during the Chandella dynasty, which reached
its peak between 950 and 1050. Only about
20 of an estimated original 85 temples remain.
These fall into three distinct groups and
belong to two different religions - Hinduism
and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance
between architecture and sculpture.
Overnight at hotel
Day 11 : Khajuraho - Delhi (by air)
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi
Arrive Delhi have dinner at local restaurant
Transfer to international airport for flight
back to your home
