Day
01 / Arrival Delhi
Welcome to India! Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport
& transfer to hotel. Overnight at Delhi.
Day 02 / Delhi
Breakfast in Hotel, after breakfast proceed for sightseeing
tour of Old & New Delhi: Breakfast in the hotel,
after breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old
& New Delhi:
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail
visiting:-
Red Fort - The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, the
Red Fort, extend for two km and vary in height from
18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city
side. Shah Jahan started construction of the massive
fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648.
Jama Masjid - Jama Masjid The splendid mosque built
by Muhammad Ali Shah in the typical Mughal style with
two minarets and three domes, lies to the west of the
Hussainabad Imambara, Raj Ghat - the memorial site where
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi
would include a visit:-
Humayun's Tomb - Built in the mid 16th century by Haji
Begum, senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor,
Humayun's Tomb is an early example of Mughal architecture
built in Delhi.
Qutub Minar - 13 km to the south of Connaught Circus
at Lalkote of 8th century Tomor Rajputs, the 72.5 m
high Victory Pillar stands as a victory stand of a Muslim
King Kutub-ud-din-Aibak in India, a drive along the
ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India
Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, Lotus
Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave. Overnight at Delhi.
Day 3: Delhi - Patna
- Bodhgaya
Morning, transfer to airport to board morning flight
southeast from Delhi to Patna, then transfer to our
luxury coach for a drive south through rural central
Bihar State to Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya is the place where
the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the most important
Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. After hotel check-in,
you will have a full-day guided tour of the area as
we follow in the steps of the Buddha. In this large
working Buddhist center, you will see the descendant
of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat, as well
as numerous international Buddhist monasteries built
in their respective country’s styles. Overnight
at Hotel.
Day 4: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
After breakfast, drive west from Bodhi Gaya into Uttar
Pradesh state and to Hinduism’s holiest pilgrimage
city, Varanasi, the "City of Light." Also
known as Bewares or Kashi, Varanasi is the oldest continuously
inhabited city in the world. It is here that all Hindus
aspire to come once in their lifetimes to bathe in the
Ganges River from the ghats, or landings, all along
the river. This act of worship releases the soul from
earthly samsara, or the cycle of life, death and rebirth,
caused by ignorance. We will have the opportunity to
perform this ritual release as we take a holy dip in
the Ganges River. We will also enjoy an inspiring sunrise
boat ride along the river’s edge to view the temples
and the ancient rituals of the thousands of pilgrims
who worship here daily. Free time will be given to roam
this ancient city independently.
Afternoon you will also have the opportunity to visit
the Buddhist sacred site of Sarnath, where the Buddha
taught his first sermon about the Four Noble Truths
in Deer Park. During our evenings in Benares, we will
meet with scholars in fields such as Sanskrit, Ideology,
Buddhism and Tantra. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 5: Varanasi
Day in Varanasi to explore the city and temples. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 6: Varanasi - Khajuraho
On the afternoon take a short flight westward to the
world-famous temple city of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh
state. The erotic sculptures of these 22 temples date
back to the Chandela Dynasty of the 10th century AD.
They have been linked to everything from Tantric cults
to Kama Sutra instruction to a carved depiction of the
marriage party of Shiva and Parvati. Regardless of their
origins, they depict a joyful ode to the source of all
life, and are India’s unique gift to the world.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 7: Khajuraho - Agra - Mathura
Morning free for independent activities. In the afternoon,
take a short flight to the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh
state to visit the legendary Taj Mahal, one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. This tastefully ornate and architecturally
perfect mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in
memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is said
to be the most extravagant monument ever built for love.
In addition to the Taj, we will visit Agra Fort, the
Old City, and the nearby city of Mathura, the birthplace
of Krishna. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 8: Mathura
Day to visit the temples.
Day 9: Mathura - Vrindivan - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri -
Bharatpur
In the morning leave for the deserted city of Fatehpur
Sikri, Built between 1569 and 1585 by the great Moghuls
emperor Akbar, this unusual ghost city fuses both Hindu
and Muslim artistic traditions, in reflection of the
unique tolerance of this Muslim emperor. It was abandoned
after 16 years due to a shortage of water. In the afternoon,
continue a short distance west into Rajasthan state
to arrive in the traditional town of Bharatpur, where
we will stay in a beautiful heritage hotel, formerly
owned by a royal family of Jaipur. This small town is
also home to the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, a World Heritage
site, and one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the
world. In the evening, walk down to the town to visit
with the village inhabitants as they create hand-woven
carpets. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10: Bharatpur - Jaipur
At dawn on the morning, enjoy a cycle rickshaw safari/boat
ride in the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. The 29 square kilometers
of swamps and lakes here constitute one of the most
important heronries in the world, with such species
as the dazzling purple heron, the common grey and the
tiny brown pond heron. Other species include orange-headed
painted storks, snake-like darters, spoonbills, white
ibis, egrets, coots, shovelers, widgeons, kingfishers,
and grey pelicans. From October to March, the 120 species
of Indian birds who live in the park year-round are
joined by another 130 species from as far afield as
the Russian steppes and Central Asia, including the
rare Siberian crane, only 125 of which are estimated
to survive in the entire world. Along with birds, other
species present include wild boar, mongoose, spotted
deer, blue bulls, antelope, jungle cats, hyenas, jackal’s
otters, pythons and Indian black buck. This is definitely
a sanctuary that even non-birders will enjoy!
After a relaxed breakfast, drive west to the traditional
Rajasthani city of Jaipur and check into hotel, In the
afternoon, take a guided city tour of Jaipur, the "Pink
City," to include the honeycomb pink and white-faced
"Palace of the Winds," the magnificently ornate
City Palace, and the incredible sherbet-yellow astronomical
observatory, which operates through the use of the sun’s
shadows to identify the positions of the planets. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 11: Jaipur - Delhi
In the morning, take a guided excursion through the
Amber Fort and Raj Mahal Palace complex. Built by Raja
Man Singh beginning in 1592, this ancient capital is
a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly
situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake, which
reflects its terraces and ramparts. Enjoy a sturdy uphill
ride to the palace atop a colorfully decorated elephant.
In the palace, visit the Shila Mata Temple, dedicated
to Goddess Kali in her aspect as the Goddess of War.
Later in the afternoon, drive back to Delhi in Uttar
Pradesh state, and check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Delhi
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to airport on time to board
flight for home with sweet memories of India or onward
journey. |
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