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Delhi – Jaipur –
Agra – Gwalior – Khajuraho – Varanasi
Duration: 13 Days Season:
Round the Year
DAY
01. FLY TO DELHI
Fly to Delhi, the capital of India.
DAY 02. ARRIVE DELHI
Early morning arrive Delhi, after meet and greet by tour
manager, transfer to hotel, and rest of the morning at leisure.
Afternoon half day guided tour of New Delhi includes drive
past Parliament house, visit India Gate, the memorial arch,
Humayun’s tomb built in 1565 AD and the 13th century
Qutab Minar, 72 meters high.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 03. IN DELHI
After breakfast half day guided tour of Old Delhi previously
called Shahjehanabad, the 300 year old walled city built
by Shah Jehan as his capital. Begin with a visit to Raj
Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the nation was
cremated in 1948. Thereafter proceed to the magnificent
Red Fort (outside view only) (closed on Mondays) built of
red sandstone dating from the very peak of the Mughal power.
Opposite the fort stands Jama Masjid, the largest and most
elegant mosque in India. Afternoon at leisure.
Option for mutiny and war
site Lovers: |
After breakfast, most of the day
will be spent around old Delhi to explore the war / mutiny related
sites. We will visit Battlefield of Badli-ki-Serai, built by an
old king as traveler’s shelter; single pillared memorial
of Gordon Highlanders, Mutiny Memorial – an octagonal, tapering
tower built to commemorate the British and the Indians who fought
on their side in 1857, John Nicalson’s Grave, Kashmiri Gate
area - Built in 1835, it was raised as a defense against any attack
from the direction of the Ludlow Castle, which was towards the
north-west of the city, brief look at St James Church, then explore
Jama Masjid and drive past by Red Fort (Outside only) which stands
along the eastern edge of the walled city, on the west bank of
the Yamuna River.
In between sightseeing, take a break for lunch.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 04. DELHI – JAIPUR Drive 258 Km
After breakfast depart and drive to Jaipur the ‘Pink City’. Arrive and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Jaipur founded in AD 1727 by Sawai Jaisingh II, the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The original city light grey, edged with white border and motifs. In honor of the visit in 1983 of prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, it was order to be painted the traditional color of welcome, which has been retained since.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 05. IN JAIPUR
After breakfast visit Jai Singh’s Observatory built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. This is an architectural feat, drive past the Hawa Mahal an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from behind which the royal Zanana, could view the world outside, the City Palace now a museum exhibiting fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armory
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 06. JAIPUR – AGRA Drive 232 Km
Morning depart and drive to Agra, en route visit Fatehpur Sikri, an epic poem in red sandstone, it was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and deserted 14 years later due to lack of water. Legend has it that Akbar who was without a male heir, made a pilgrimage to this spot to visit the saint Sheikh Salim Chisti The saint predicted the birth of a male heir and in gratitude, after his son Jehangir was born, he built Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate the birth. The Diwan-e- Khas, Hall of Private Audiences has a unique interior design. The Diwan-e-Am or Hall of Public Audience is an open courtyard surrounded by cloisters and adjoining it is the Pachisi courtyard arranged like a gigantic game board, where the Emperor played chess using slave girls as pawns. Arrive Agra by late afternoon.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 07. AGRA – GWALIOR Drive 118 Km
After breakfast visit Taj Mahal, (closed to visitors on Fridays.) the most extravagant monument ever built for love. On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan built her this memorial over which 20,000 men labored for 22 years to create a masterpiece in white marble inlaid with semi precious stones; the art is called pietra dura. Agra Fort where Shah Jehan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The most impressive part of the Fort are the Dewan-e-Am, Hall of Public Audience and the Dewan-e-Khas Hall of Private Audience where he received foreign dignitaries. After Agra sightseeing drive to princely State – the Gwalior, It was established in the 18th century A.D. and named after saint Gwalipa. The city is dominated by its hill-top fort, one of the most redoubtable in the world. Arrive and check in at hotel.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 08. GWALIOR – JHANSI Drive 97 km
JHANSI – ORCHA Drive 16 Km
After breakfast sightseeing tour includes: The Fort, one of the most redoubtable in the world. Rajput Vallor and Chivalry are redolent in the stone of 15th century palace of Raja Mansingh, located in the citadel. The Fort also houses the Teli Ka Mandir, an ancient temple. Jai Vilas Palace and Museum built from 1872 to 1874 is one of the fines in the world. Tansen’s Tomb, he was a great classical musician and one of the nine jewel of emperor Akbar.
After exploration of Gwalior sites, drive on to Jhansi and explore, the Jhansi Fort, Built by Raja Bir Singh in 17th Century on a hilltop as an army strong hold, the fort also houses a museum of sculpture collection which provides insight into the history of Bundelkhand. Jokan Bagh - On 8th June 1857 The British officers agree to leave the town fort under a promise of safe passage by the rebels but just outside Jhansi, in the Jokan bagh one of the rebel leader ordered their death.
Late afternoon a short drive to Orcha (In Madhya Pradesh), a medieval township with beautiful temple complex and Jehangir Mahal Palace, a fine example of architecture from Bundela dynasty (16th to 18th centuries). Arrive and check in at hotel. Late afternoon explore the town.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 09. ORCHA – KHAJURAHO Drive 170 Km
Morning depart and drive to Khajuraho, arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit the Western group of Temples. Chausath Yogini - is one of the three granite temples in Khajuraho. Dedicated to Kali, it is also unique in being quadrangular. Only 35 of the original 65 cells remain. Kandariya Mahadeo - is the largest and most typical Khajuraho temple. Perfectly symmetrical, it soars 31m high. Devi Jagdamba Temple - another Kali temple, originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Chitragupta Temple - north of Devi Jagdamba temple and facing eastwards to the rising sun, dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The idol, an imposing 5 feet in height, is driving a seven-horsed chariot.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 10. KHAJURAHO – VARANASI Fly
After breakfast visit the Eastern Group of Temples. Brahma Temple, Vamana Temple and Javari Temple - a double row of celestial nymphs adorn the outer walls of the Vamana temple in a variety of sensuous attitudes. Granite was used in the construction of the Brahma temple. Parsvanath Temple - the largest Jain temple in this group. Sculptures on the northern outer wall make this timeless, of a woman bending thoughtfully over a letter, a damsel removing a thorn from her foot. Ghantai Temple - bearing evidence of its original splendors, particularly arresting is a frieze depicting the dreams of Mahavir's mother and a multi armed Jain goddess riding on the winged Garuda.
Early afternoon fly to Varanasi, arrive and transfer to the Hotel.
Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world, prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrivalled. Mark twain, the English author and litterateur, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote: "Beneras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together ".
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 11. IN VARNASI
Morning explore the city and its temples. After lunch visit the buried Buddhist city of Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha-Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, 'turned the wheel of the law') after his enlighten. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century AD.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 12. VARA NASI – DELHI
Early morning boat ride on the River Ganges, whose holy waters draw thousands of pilgrims. This remarkable tour shows the cleansing baths and burning cremation ghats of Hindu Funeral Rituals, followed by an in-depth tour of Hindu Temples. Return to Hotel for Breakfast. Afternoon fly to Delhi, arrive and transfer to hotel.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 13. DELHI – DEPARTURE
Transfer to international airport for homeward journey.
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