Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of
New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the
Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab
Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s
House , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial. Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple
popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 03 / Delhi - Udaipur ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to
Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to
hotel. Afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple. Maharana Jagat Singh
built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5
million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is at a great height
and can be approached by a long flight of stairs. Later visit Saheliyon
ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies .Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath
the Fateh Sagar Lake. 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 Maharanas entertained themselves around the four
ornamental pools and the five fountains. These fountains 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. Night stay in Udaipur.
Day 04 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built in 1559
A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most romantic
spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. 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. Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill,
overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero
Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his
favorite horse"Chetak".Night stay in Udaipur.
Day 05 / Udaipur - Jodhpur ( By road )
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jodhpur.
Day 06 / Jodhpur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour
of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was
founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a
low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal.
Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory
of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night
stay in Jodhpur.
Day 07 / Jodhpur - Jaisalmer ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Jaisalmer.
Day 08 / Jaisalmer
Morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the
heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded
wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a city of gilded
magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century, when Rawal
Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the foundation of a
new city. 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. Night stay in Jaisalmer.
Day 09 / Jaisalmer - Bikaner ( By road )
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later city
sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in
1488. But long before this, the city was trade center on the caravan
routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are
rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation,
enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which can be entered from 5 gate. 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. Night stay in
Bikaner.
Day 10 / Bikaner - Jaipur ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening at leisure . Night stay in Jaipur.
 Day 11 / Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
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. Its forbidding exterior belies
an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles
finds it's ultimate expression.
Continue sight-seeing.
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. Their five-storey structures 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.
Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 12 / Jaipur - Agra
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and later
abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the remains, it fortifications
within the city including Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch
Mahal and other palaces. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at
leisure. Night stay in Agra.
Day 13 / Agra
 Morning
at sunrise visit the world famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal
Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her
mortal remains, Also visit the Agra Fort, containing the Pearl Mosque -
the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks
of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in
1566. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble
pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat
on his gem-studded peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers
of friendly kingdoms. Also visit Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by
Noorjehan in memory of her father. Night stay in Agra.
Day 14 / Agra - Jhansi ( By train ) Jhansi - Orchha ( By surface )
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 temples and monuments. Some of
the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the
finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay in
Orchha.
Day 15 / Orchha - Khajuraho ( By surface )
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho 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
at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day 16 / Khajuraho
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of
love to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between
950 and 1050 A.D. The temples are grouped into three geographical
divisions : western, eastern and southern.
After breakfast explore the Western, eastern and southern
temples of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and
legends behind each describable sculpture.
 Western Group
Kandariya Mahadeo: This is the largest, and most typical
Khajuraho temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars 31 m high. The
sanctum enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine is ornately carved and
depicts various gods, goddesses, apsaras (heavenly maidens) in
elaborate detail.
Chaunsat Yogini: The oldest surviving temple in the group
(900 A.D.), this is the sole granite temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.
Another Kali temple, which was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is
the Devi Jagdambe temple.
Chitragupta Temple: Dedicated to the sun-god, Surya, this
temple faces eastwards to the rising sun. The inner sanctum boasts of an
impressive image of the presiding deity - the majestic sun-god looming 5
feet high, and driving a chariot.
Vishwanath Temple: The temple enshrines a three-headed image
of Lord Brahma. Lions guard the northern entrance to the structure,
while elephants flank the southern flight of steps that lead upto it. A
Nandi bull faces the shrine.
Lakshamana Temple: The lintel over the entrance of this
temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, shows the holy trinity of Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva with Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort. The sanctum is
adorned with a three-headed idol of Vishnu's incarnations, Narasimha and
Varaha. The latter, the boar incarnation also appears as a nine-feet
high statue at the Varaha Temple.
Matangeshwara Temple: This temple, which happens to be
outside the precincts of the western group, is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It boasts of an eight feet high lingam. Eastern Group
Parsavanatha Temple: The largest in the group of three Jain
temples, the Parsavanath image in this temple, was installed in 1860.
The sculptures on the northern wall depict everyday activity, in awesome
detail. Within the temple, a throne faces the bull emblem of first
tirthankara, Adinath.
Ghantai Temple: This Jain temple has a frieze depicting the
16 dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a Jain goddess perched on a winged
Garuda.
Adinatha Temple: The last of the Jain temples, is dedicated
to the Jain saint, Adinatha, and is gorgeously adorned with sculptures
of yakshis among others.
The three Hindu temples in this group are the Brahma temple,
which has a four-faced lingam, The Vamana temple which is embellished
with images of ravishing apsaras at their alluring best; and finally the
Javari temple, with its ornate gateway and lavish carvings.
Southern Group
Duladeo Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the highlights of
this temple are the sensuous images of the apsaras, and other exquisite
sculptures. Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple sports a huge, elaborately
carved image of Vishnu in the sanctum.
Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day 17 / Khajuraho - Varanasi ( By flight )
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. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a
quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the
city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and
transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night
stay in 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. 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. The
Dharmarajika stupa was also built by Ashoka and it was surmounted by the
pillar. This pillar with four lions today forms the national emblem 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. Visit the deer park and the museum, later back to
Varanasi . Night stay in Varanasi.
Day 19 / Varanasi - Bombay ( By flight )
After a relaxed breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to
Bombay. Arrive Bombay & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Bombay.
Day 20 / Bombay – Aurangabad ( By flight )
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering Gateway
of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th century
Gujarati style, 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. Night stay in
Aurangabad.
Day 21 / Aurangabad
Full day excursion to the world heritage sites – Ajanta and Ellora
Caves in Aurangabad – as recognised so by UNESCO are renowned the world
over for their uniqueness and ancient value
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 . Night stay in Aurangabad.
Day 22 / Aurangabad - Bombay ( By flight )
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Bombay.
Arrive Bombay and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the local markets.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Bombay.
Day 23 / Bombay - Goa
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive Goa
& transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Goa.
Day 24 / Goa
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of
Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of
Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to
relax on the beach. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops
for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear .Night stay in Goa.
Day 25 / Goa
Day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.
Day 26 / Goa
Day at leisure . Night stay in Goa.
Day 27 / Goa - Departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the fligt to Mumbai or Delhi to connect the flight back home.
Hotels Selected- Royal ( 5 * hotels)
Delhi: The Park / Metropolitan The Nikko / Radisson
Udaipur: Trident / Shiv Niwas
Jodhpur: Fortune the Ummed
Jaisalmer: Fort Rajwada
Bikaner: Lall Garh Palace / Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur: Trident / Le Meridien
Agra: Jay Pee Palace/ Taj View / Trident
Orchha: Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho: Taj Chandela
Varanasi: Radisson / Taj Ganges
Mumbai: Hilton Towers / Le Royal Meridien / Leela
Aurangabad: Taj Residency
Goa: Fort Aguada / Taj Holiday Village
Hotels Selected-Classic ( 4 * Hotels )
Delhi: The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Udaipur: Shikarbadi / Uday Kothi/ Swaroop Vilas
Jodhpur: Balsamand Palace / Ajit Bhawan / Shree Ram Internatrional
Jaisalmer: Rang Mahal / Gorbandh Palace
Bikaner: Lall Garh Palace / Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur: Alsisar Haveli / Jaipur Palace / KK Royal Days / Clarks Amer
Agra: Agra Ashok / Clarks
Khajuraho: Clarks
Varanasi: Clarks/ Hindustan
Mumbai: Fariyas / Godwin
Aurangabad: Ambassador Ajanta
Goa: Nizmar Resorts / Goan Heritage / Verca Beach Resort/Marquis Beach resort
Hotels Selected-Economy ( Moderate Hotels )
Delhi: Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold/ Hotel Sunstar / Pablas
Udaipur: Vishnupriya
Jodhpur: Days Inn
Jaisalmer: Narain Niwas
Bikaner: Basant Bihar
Jaipur: Aashish Palace / Royal Palazu
Agra: Deedar-e-Taj / Royale Residency
Khajuraho: Green wood
Varanasi: Meradan Grand / Kashika / Hotel India
Mumbai: Supreme
Aurangabad: Ravi Raj
Goa: Santa Monica / Beira Mar |
