| Route | Arrival – Delhi (02) – Jaipur (02) – Agra (02) – Jhansi – Orchha – Khajuraho (01) – Varanasi (02) – Kathmandu (03) – Delhi (01) – Departure |
| Duration | 13 Nights / 14 Days |
DAY 01: ARRIVAL DELHI
Tonight, arrive New Delhi, the capital city of India. Upon your arrival, you will be met by our representative at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. After a warm welcome, transfer to your hotel for 2 nights stay.
Overnight Stay in Delhi
DAY 02: DISCOVER DELHI
Today, enjoy the day discovering Delhi, pacing through the city which is as historic as modern, like 2 sides of the same coin!
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, which includes a visit to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; a rickshaw ride through narrow alleys and lanes in Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and largest trading markets of the country; and drive past Red Fort, the place that marked the announcement of India’s freedom from the British Raj.
Later in the afternoon, discover the modern city of New Delhi, visiting the Qutab Minar, a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture and the world’s tallest brick minaret and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the largest Sikh temple of Delhi, with a gold dome, still in active worship. Drive past President's House, Parliament House and other Government Secretariat Buildings, the most imposing features of Lutyen’s Delhi and take a photo stop at the iconic war memorial arch, the India Gate.
Overnight Stay in Delhi
DAY 03: DRIVE DELHI – JAIPUR [260 KMS / 6 HRS]
After breakfast, embark on a leisurely drive to Jaipur - land of the Rajputs. Jaipur is an exuberance of colour, dance and traditional arts and crafts. Known, as the 'Pink City', Jaipur is home to ancient forts and palaces and is one of India's most well planned cities. Upon arrival check in at your hotel for 02 nights stay.
This evening explore the many facets of Jaipur crafts such as semi-precious jewels, pottery, colourful embroidered fabrics with mirror work, woven carpets etc – watch artisans at work and enjoy souvenir shopping in this colourful city of Jaipur.
Overnight Stay in Jaipur
DAY 04: DISCOVER JAIPUR
Rise early this morning to visit Jaipur’s famous Amber Fort. Enroute, take a guided walk through the flower market of Jaipur seeing the beautiful yellow and orange marigolds and other seasonal flowers being traded. In close vicinity is also the wholesale vegetable market where farmers bring fresh produce to begin the day’s trading. Walking through the markets brings you to a junction where you will find the interesting and unusual milk traders of Jaipur, who bring their cattle’s fresh milk to be tested for quality, priced and traded on the spot. Be amazed at the primitive technique of testing quality of milk by dipping hands into large metal milk containers and evaluating the creaminess of milk supplied!
After a brief walk through the local trading markets, drive onwards to visit Amber fort, built in the 16th century. The fort is a mesmerizing blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The Amber Fort was used by the Rajputs for the dual purpose of defense and private residence. The fort encompasses charming gardens and magnificent palaces made from marble and precious stones, richly decorated with intricate stonemason works and paintings, which represented royal splendor and luxury of the Rajput era. To ascend up the fort, you may choose to walk, drive or take an elephant ride.
This afternoon take a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds, with its unique layer-cake honeycomb windows designed to enable erstwhile women of the royal court to observe passing life without being seen; Jantar Mantar, the largest astronomical observatory built in stone, and the City Palace complex with its impressive gardens and museums.
Overnight Stay in Jaipur
DAY 05: DRIVE JAIPUR - AGRA [240 KMS / 5 HRS]
After breakfast, embark on a leisurely drive to Agra, city of the world famous Taj Mahal. En route to Agra, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the capital city of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. Continue drive to Agra, and upon arrival, check in at your hotel for 02 nights stay
Overnight Stay in Agra
DAY 06: DISCOVER AGRA
This morning witness the surreal views of the Taj Mahal. Step inside this eternal symbol of love and appreciate the intricate designs and symmetries that rhyme as a poem written in marble. Taj Mahal is an extravagant display of love, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. You may choose to wake up early to witness the glistening white marble beauty at sunrise.
Later visit the splendid Agra Fort, built in red sandstone, encapsulating magnificent palaces, halls of public and private audience and beautiful gardens.
Overnight Stay in Agra
DAY 07: TRAIN AGRA TO JHANSI DRIVE JHANSI - ORCHHA – KHAJURAHO [195 KMS / 4.5 HRS]
Rise early this morning, to catch your train to Jhansi.
Depart Agra 0815 Hrs
Arrive Jhansi 1045 Hrs
Shatabadi Express (AC Chair Car)
Upon arrival in Jhansi, embark on a short drive to Orchha, a medieval riverside town known for its palaces and temples. Apart from the famous landmarks like Jahangir Mahal and Laxmi Narayan Temple, the town is peppered with fascinating little shrines and memorials. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Orchha.
Continue your drive to Khajuraho – a UNESCO world heritage site in central India, famous for its erotic sculptured temples. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel.
Overnight Stay in Khajuraho
DAY 08: FLY KHAJURAHO - VARANASI
This morning visit the enchanting temples of Khajuraho with sculptures that draw their inspiration from the ancient art of Kama sutra. Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD.
This afternoon, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India (also known as Kashi and Benaras).
Upon arrival in Varanasi, check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Overnight Stay in Varanasi
DAY 09: DISCOVER VARANASI
Rise early to enjoy a sunrise boat cruise on the Holy River Ganges. See the ‘bathing ghats’ where thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Sun God by immersing themselves in the holy water of River Ganges, and the ‘burning ghats’ where cremations are conducted. The ghats of River Ganges in Varanasi are believed to be most sacred, engulfing the entire circle of life and death.
Follow the boat cruise with a guided walk through the old city, seeing morning life in the historic and ancient bylanes of Varanasi. You get an opportunity to closely observe some morning rituals at the various small street temples along the way. The most sacred and important temple here is Kashi Vishvanath temple. Return back to hotel for breakfast and freshen up.
This afternoon, visit Bharat Mata Temple, the only temple in India that is not dedicated to a God or Goddess. This unique temple is dedicated to Mother India, and features aunqiue relief map of India, carved out of marble, the largest of its kind in the world.
Then visit Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 6th century BC to 12th century AD. The lion capital of Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is the national emblem of India. Visit the ruins, stupa, Buddhist temple and the Sarnath Museum.
This evening, experience a rickshaw ride to the ghats to enjoy the grand ‘Aarti’ ceremony at Dasaswamedh Ghat, conducted every day at sunset by white-robed priests. Spiritually enlightening and fantastically photogenic, this evening aarti ceremony is a spectacular show with young priests in traditional Indian clothes swaying in seemingly choreographed movements, worshiping the river goddess with incense, flowers and earthen lamps.
Overnight Stay in Varanasi
DAY 10: FLY VARANASI TO KATHMANDU
Today take your flight for Kathmandu, the beautiful capital city of Kingdom of Nepal. Upon clearing airport formalities, transfer to your hotel, take some rest in the cozy comfort room.
Overnight Stay in Kathmandu
DAY 11: DISCOVER KATHMANDU
Today post breakfast visit Boudhanath Stupa, meaning the ‘Lord of Wisdom’. This Tibetan Buddhist monument is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world.
Also visit Pashupatinath Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, on the banks of Bagmati River. Although only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed inside, from the eastern bank of Bagmati River.
Later in the evening visit the best garden of Nepal “Garden of Dreams” a neo classical historical garden, is situated in the midst of Kathmandu city. The Garden was famous as the garden of Six Seasons which was created by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana (1892-1964) in early 1920.
Garden of Dreams was restored in cooperation with Austrian Government during the period of 2000 to 2007. The Garden of Dreams became a place of peaceful oasis with full of unique architect and varieties of flowers and fauna brought from the different countries. Garden of Dreams has proved itself that we can develop and restore monuments and palaces as touristic junctions which lie dormant for many years.
Overnight Stay in Kathmandu
DAY 12: DISCOVER KATHMANDU
Today have breakfast at leisure in the morning and proceed for Bhaktapur which was the former capital of the valley, and was once a flourishing city on the trade route to Tibet.
Today, Bhaktapur is like an open air museum with large areas open to pedestrian access - it is a store house of mediaeval art and architecture. Interesting places to explore include the renowned Durbar square, Golden Gate at the Palace of 55 Windows, Potters square which houses the elephant headed Lord Ganesha temple who is believed to be the patron of potters in Nepal. Bhaktapur houses a variety of Hindu and Buddhist temples including Nepal’s largest Shiva Linga. You may also see artisans engaged in Bhaktapur’s traditional crafts of pottery and weaving.
On your way back to Kathmandu, visit the Patan Durbar Square. Patan is known for its museum, temples and superb craftsmanship of its artisans. Patan Durbar Square has been acclaimed as one of the finest urban streetscapes in the world.
Later today evening visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, the historic seat of Nepalese royalty built between the 12 - 18 centuries. The Durbar square is famous for its exquisite architecture, museums, temples and artistic embellishments. You also get an opportunity to buy some interesting souvenirs here.
Overnight Stay in Kathmandu
DAY 13: DISCOVER KATHMANDU; FLY DELHI
Post breakfast proceed for Swayambhunath Stupa, one of the world’s oldest Buddhist chaityas, acclaimed to be more than 2500 years old. Situated on a hillock, 3 kms west of Kathmandu this is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal.
Later in time transfer to airport to take your flight back to Delhi, upon arrival Delhi transfer to your hotel in aerocity for overnight stay
Overnight Stay in Delhi
DAY 14: DISCOVER KATHMANDU; FLY DELHI
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch your flight for onward destination.