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Cultural Indian Romance |
19 Nights / 20 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi -Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi
Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive at Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay back in Delhi.
Day 02 / Delhi
After having a leisurely breakfast sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. You can 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 back in Delhi.
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Day 03 / Delhi - Udaipur (By flight)
After having breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Udaipur. Arrive at Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple.Here, Maharana Jagat Singh built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5 million. The temple was dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is at a great height and can be approached by a long flight of stairs. Later on visit Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies.The Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar Lake.You know, 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. 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 back in Udaipur.
Day 04 / Udaipur
Morning sharp city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. This 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. Now 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). You can visit the Tripolia is a triple gate made of marble arches. Between these two gates are eight carved toranas or archways under which the maharanas were weighed against gold and silver which was later distributed to the poor subjects. The popular entertainment like elephant fights took place in the court beyond the Tripolia Gate. The 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. You can 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 back in Udaipur.
Day 05 / Udaipur - Jodhpur (By road)
After having breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Night stay back in Jodhpur.
Day 06 / Jodhpur (By road)
After having a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. The Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Now visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Here within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. You can also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night stay back in Jodhpur.
Day 07 / Jodhpur - Jaisalmer (By road)
Morning sharp drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay back in Jaisalmer.
Day 08 / Jaisalmer
Morning sharp city sight seeing 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. You can 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 back in Jaisalmer.
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Day 09 / Jaisalmer - Bikaner (By road)
Morning sharp drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later on city sight seeing tour. The 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. This 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.
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Also visit Lallgarh Palace, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay back at Bikaner. |
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Day 10 / Bikaner - Jaipur (By road)
Morning sharp drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening at leisure . Night stay back in Jaipur.
Day 11 / Jaipur
Morning sharp excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Man Singh I was started its construction 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 one of 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. It has five-stories about sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. It was built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Night stay backa in Jaipur.
Day 12 / Jaipur - Agra
Morning sharp 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. You can 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 back in Agra.
Day 13 / Agra
Morning sharp 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. Visit 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.You can also visit Itmad-up-Dau's tomb, built by Noorjehan in memory of her father. Night stay back in Agra.
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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 on tour of this historical site with magnificient temples and monuments. Here some of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay back in Orchha.
Day 15 / Orchha - Khajuraho (By surface)
After having breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary temples of khajuraho
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are an incomparable experience. It was 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.It was 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. The Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive at Khajuraho and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay back in Khajuraho. |
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Day 16 / Khajuraho
Visit 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 divine sculptures in these temples, are a tribute to Life itself, embodying everything that is sublime and spontaneous about it. The murals depict the life and times of the Chandelas, and celebrate the erotic state of being. They not only testify to the mastery of the craftsman, but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose reign, these temples were constructed. The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern. After having 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.
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.
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.
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.
Visit 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 back in Khajuraho.
Day 17 / Khajuraho - Varanasi (By flight Dep 1330 Arr 1410)
After having 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 one of the oldest living city in the world. Famous 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 one of the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive at Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay back in Varanasi.
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Day 18 / Varanasi
Morning sharp boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later on excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism's major centers of India. Visit after attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Today you can visit Sarnath is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century. Sarnath has many more ruins of monasteries and stupas.Here 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. These sculptures are the images of Buddha and Bodhisatva. Now visit the deer park and the museum, later back to Varanasi. Night stay back in Varanasi. |
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Day 19 / Varanasi - Delhi (By flight)
After having breakfast sight seeing of Varanasi (the oldest and holiest city of India) covering Temples, Aurangazeb's Mosque and one of the biggest university of India. In the afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive at Delhi & transfer to hotel. Night stay back in Delhi.
Day 20 / Departure
Transfer to airport to board the onward flight.
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Cost includes:
» 19 nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Jhansi-Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers , sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur (Subject to availability), Boat ride in Varanasi/ Udaipur
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.
Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Any meals except breakfast.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes
Internal flights
Delhi-Udaipur, Khajuraho-Varanasi -Delhi : USD 403
All airfares are subject to change any time without any prior notice.
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