Duration:
9 Nights / 10 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi -
Khajuraho - Varanasi - Kathmandu - Dhulikhel - Kathmandu
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport.
Transfer to your hotel. 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 and a window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Overnight will be at
Delhi.
Day 02: DelhiBreakfast at hotel.
Full day tour of
Old & New Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi
would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was
cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the
most opulent fort and palace of the Mughul Empire.
Cycle rickshaw ride from
Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing
tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar,
a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament
House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave.
Enjoy the DANCES OF INDIA SHOW in the evening and retire early. Overnight
at Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi - JaipurBreakfast will be at the hotel.
Drive
to Jaipur.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur
can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II
who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of
Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains it's
character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. Popularly
known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink
plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen
Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces,
exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Reach Jaipur and check in at hotel.
Afternoon
sight-seeing tour of Jaipur visiting...
CITY PALACE - A delightful
blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani 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
- This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by
Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of
outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental
facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur.
Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork
and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799
by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
Proceed
for dinner at a VILLAGE THEME RESTAURANT. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day
04: Jaipur - AgraBreakfast will be at the hotel. Morning excursion will
be taken to the Amber Fort. Climb the FORT on elephant back in royal style.
AMBER
FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction
was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh
I. It's forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion
of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.
Drive to Agra visiting
Fatehpur Sikri en-route.
The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar
built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating
experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine
condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like
in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Buland Darwaza, the largest gateway
in the world.
Continue your drive to Agra and on arrival check-in at Hotel.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 05: AgraBreakfast will be
at the hotel. Proceed for the sight-seeing of Agra.
TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal
emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Behrampur
in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their 14th child. Her
death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown
snow white in a few months. When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four
promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should
marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit
the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction
began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed
to work on it. An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when
the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it.
It is a "symbol of eternal love".
Having buried her down at Behrampur,
it was time for the emperor to keep his promise and build a tomb there itself.
But by and by, it was felt that it was virtually impossible to transfer all the
marble there, as it would cost an entire fortune and an entire lifetime. So, when
Agra was chosen as the only alternative, astonishingly her grave was uprooted
and brought to Agra, only to be finally transferred to the monument, completed
twenty-two years later.
After Taj we will visit Agra Fort- which was built
by Akbar In 1525 AD.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 06: Agra -
Jhansi - KhajurahoBreakfast at hotel. Transfer to station for train to
Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and transfer to Orchha, 12 km away.
Orchha - a medieval
city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces and temples of the 16th and 17th century
- which have remarkably withstood the onslaught of time. The city is picturesquely
flanked by the river Betwa.
Proceed for sight-seeing of ORCHHA sites within
the Fort Complex. Enjoy your lunch at Orchha.
Continue drive to Khajuraho.
Situated in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho
is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage,
honoured by the world as India's unique contribution to human civilization. The
Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Twenty remain as embodiments
of Indian architectural and sculptural art at its most evolved state. Even ten
centuries after they were constructed, the temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal
philosophy relevant to all mankind. The temples of Khajuraho is a world heritage
site and belong not just to India but to the world. Khajuraho is one of the few
millennium destinations of the world.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel
and relax. Evening free. Can go out for a stroll.
Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 07: Khajuraho - VaranasiBreakfast at hotel. Proceed for
a guided tour of the exotic temples of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport
for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met and transferred
to hotel.
Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the
riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with
temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number of
tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet manufacturing
place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates.
The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of
the rivers Varuna and Asi.
Overnight at Varanasi.
Day 08: Varanasi
- KathmanduMorning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the
sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions
of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs.
for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city,
we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board
a boat with your guide 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. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the
banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive
of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Return to hotel for a sumptuous
breakfast.
Proceed for a half day-guided tour of Varanasi including the
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu University and other important
monuments.
Visit Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One
of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon
in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then
visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures
found at the site.
Transfer to airport for flight to Kathmandu.
Reach
Kathmandu.
The Kathmandu Valley, the political, commercial and cultural
hub of Nepal, is the first for the majority of visitors to Nepal. Once a separate
kingdom in itself, it contains three fabled cities - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
Each is an artistic exposition of graceful temples, elegant palaces, brick paved
courtyards and quaint streets. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in
the valley.
Relax for the rest of the day. Overnight at Kathmandu.
Day
09: KathmanduBreakfast at hotel.
Day tour covering Swambhunath and
Patan Durbar Square. Shopping and rest of the day will be at leisure.
Proceed
to Dhulikhel. Reach and check in at resort.
Dhulikhel offers a traditional
atmosphere along with spectacular views. Situated just 30 km east of Kathmandu,
this is a magnificent place to spend the night and awaken to the sun rising across
the wide Himalayan range. Once an important link in the ancient trade route to
Tibet, Dhulikhel has a glorious past, which can be witnessed in the lovely buildings
and intricate woodcarvings found along the shop-lined streets and in the temples.
Overnight will be at resort with a panoramic view of the HIMALAYAN RANGE.
Day 10: Dhulikhel - KathmanduLeave after breakfast and proceed
to Kathmandu. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and will be
received at international airport. Take connecting flight to the next destination.
Taj
Mahal with North India & Nepal Tour Reservation Form