Culture of colourful India
Delhi - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Jaipur - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai - Goa (24 Nights / 25 Days)
Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Welcome to India! Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport by our tour executive & then transfer to hotel. Overnight at Delhi.
Breakfast in Hotel, after a leisurely breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House, also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Overnight at Delhi.
Day 03 / Delhi - Udaipur ( By flight )
After leisurely breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed foe sightseing tour, Maharana Jagat Singh built Jagdish temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5 million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Later visit Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies. Maharana Sangram Singh II designed this garden in the early 18th century purely as a pleasure garden and a summer palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part of the prince’s dowry. It is also said that the garden was presented as a peace offering from the Emperor of Delhi. The fountains in the garden were imported from England in 1889. Maharana Bhopal Singh specially was very fond of this place and built a rain fountain, so that it looked like rain dancing on the dancing maids. Overnight at Udaipur.
Breakfast in hotel, after breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace museum, The City Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world, can be approached through the Bari Pol or the Great Gate (1600) with the royal drums and then onto the Tripolia Gate (1725). Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum) The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Also visit the Pratap Memorial. Overnight at Udaipur.
Day 05 / Udaipur - Jodhpur ( By road )
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at Jodhpur.
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill within the fort, visit Phool Mahal & Moti Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Overnight at Jodhpur.
Day 07 / Jodhpur - Jaisalmer ( By road )
Breakfast in Hotel, morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at Jaisalmer.
After a leisurely breakfast proceed for city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Visit the magnificient fort, the Patwon Ki Haveli ( Mansion) and Salim singh Ki Haveli, with their carved balconies and brackets which are supreme examples of the art. Evening camel ride to visit Sam Dunes. Overnight at Jaisalmer.
Day 09 / Jaisalmer - Bikaner ( By road )
Breakfast in Hotel, after breakfast drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later proceed for city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Overnight at Bikaner.
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening free at leisure . Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 11 / Jaipur
Breakfast in Hotel, after breakfast proceed for sightseeing & visit the majestic Amber Fort, is one that cannot be easily described. The Amber Fort - set in picturesque and rugged hills is a fascinating blend of Mughal Architecture, construct by Raja Mann Singh in 1592 and completed by Swai Jai Singh, the fort is made in red sand stone and white marble. The rugged forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise with a beautiful of art and architecture. Amber Fort is the classic and romantic fort palace with a magnificent aura. The interior wall of palace depicts expressive painting scenes with carvings, precious stones and mirror settings. The City Palace located in the heart of the world city. The City Palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family still lives in a part of the Palace. The building now forms the Maharaja Swai Man Singh II Museum and on display here are a wide array of royal costumes, some vary exquisite and precious pashmina (kashmiri) shawls, Benaras silk sarries sauganeri prints and folk embroidery. Overnight at Jaipur.
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town" which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at Agra.
Day 13 / Agra
Breakfast in Hotel, after breakfast proceed for city tour of Agra. Taj Mahal - A white marble Tomb building 1631 – 1648 in Agra, seat of the Mughal Empire by Shah Jahan for his wife, Arjuman Banu Begum, the monument sums up many of the formal themes that have played through Islamic architecture. Its refined elegance is a conspicuous contrast both to the Hindu architecture of pre – Islamic India, with its thick walls, corbelled arches and heavy lintels and to the Indo Islamic styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with an electric assortment of motifs from Persian and Turkish sources. The Agra fort – situated on the banks of Yamuna river, north west of the Taj Mahal, this majestic fort was started by the Emperor Akbar and it developed as a strong hold of the Mughal Empire, under successive generations. This majestic fortness of red sandstone encompasses with in its 2.5 km long endosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. Overnight at Agra.
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel. Later tour of this historical site with magnificient monuments & temples. Overnight at Orchha.
Day 15 / Orchha - Khajuraho
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho- the legendary temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer to hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at Khajuraho.
Day 16 / Khajuraho
After breakfast explore the Eastern and Wetern temples of khajuraho. Overnight at Khajuraho.
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Overnight at Varanasi.
Day 18 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. Sarnath has many more ruins of monasteries and stupas.The spot at which the stupa stands is believed to be the place from where Buddha gave his forts sermon. Sarnath has an extremely rich collection of Buddhist statues. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Today Sarnath is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century. These sculptures are the images of Buddha and Bodhisatva. Visit the deer park and the museum, Aurangazeb’s Mosque and one of the biggest university of India, later back to Varanasi. Overnight at Varanasi.
After a relaxed breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai & transfer to hotel. Overnight at Mumbai.
Day 20 / Mumbai – Aurangabad ( By flight ) After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering Gateway of India, Prince of Whales Museum, Chowpatty Beach, Dhobhi Ghat, Marine Drive. Later transfer to the airport to board the flight to Aurangabad, the capital of Aurangzeb, who was the last of the great Mughals. Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Aurangabad.
Day 21 / AurangabadAfter breakfast full day excursion to the world heritage sites – Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad. Ajanta caves- offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient India. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals. Ellora caves-Carved between fourth and fifth century, the rock temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the three major faiths of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Like Ajanta, Ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with intricate interiors and ornamental facades. Overnight at Aurangabad.
Day 22 / Aurangabad - Mumbai ( By flight )
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the local markets. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at Mumbai.
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive Goa & transfer to hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at Goa.
Day 24 / Goa
After breakfast proceed for a half day city sightseeing tour of Goa, visit Basilica of Bom Jesus, Miramar Beach and the city of Panjim. Afternoon free at leisure to relax on the beach. Overnight at Goa.
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the fligt to Mumbai or Delhi to connect the fligt back home.
