Detail
Itinerary
Saturday, 11/08/08
Day 01 New Delhi
Arrival in Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport.
Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires
is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend
of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land and a
window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Morning: FREE to relax. After lunch New Delhi sightseeing
that includes Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Baha'i
Lotus Temple and drive past government buildings in
New Delhi like President's Mansion, Ministries, Parliament
House and India Gate.
Overnight will be in Delhi.
Sunday, 11/09/08:
Day 02 Delhi / Samode By Road in 6 hrs
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Start tour of Old
Delhi.
OLD DELHI : A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi
would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial
site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid
- the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once
the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
Enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to
Chandni Chowk
After lunch drive to Samode.
Samode Bagh is a garden paradise situated 4 km from
Samode Palace, nestled on 20 acres of beautiful grounds
combines warmth and luxury, an atmosphere that is
quiet, relaxed & elegant. It is a romantic hideaway
where you can be as active or comtemplative as you
wish. Samode Bagh offers a unique experience of an
air-conditioned tented camp where the dune coloured
tents are luxuriously furnished with every comfort.
The garden is about three blocks long and is enclosed
by a 15 foot high stone wall.
Overnight will be at Samode
Monday, 11/10/08:
Day 03 Samode/Pushkar By Road in 3 hrs
After breakfast drive about 3 hours to India's
and perhaps the world's most colorful folk festival
- the Pushkar Fair. Observe, explore and photograph
the colorful Fair. Enjoy a camel ride, enjoy the festivities
and many interesting events or visit the many temples
along the Pushkar Lake including the famous Brahma
temple.
Overnight will be in deluxe tents in fair grounds.
Tuesday, 11/11/08:
Day 04 Pushkar
Full day to enjoy the festival atmosphere at the colorful
Pushkar Fair
Overnight will be in deluxe tents.
Wednesday, 11/12/08:
Day 05 Pushkar
Another full day at the Pushkar Fair
Overnight will be in deluxe tents.
Thursday, 11/13/08:
Day 06 Pushkar/ Jaipur
Drive to the city of Jaipur through rustic villages.
Reach and check in at hotel by afternoon.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city
of Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century,
during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the
Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the
spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling
metropolis, it still retains its character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity.
Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City because
of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink
plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit
of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills
the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces,
exquisite temples and lush gardens.
This evening, visit the Birla Temple to learn more
about the fascinating religious life of Jaipur. The
marble structure, built as recently as 1985, houses
ornate statues including one of Lakshmi (goddess of
Wealth and Beauty) and Narayan dressed in gaudy robes,
representing a Hindu vision of heavenly luxury. Carvings
in the temple and on pillars supporting the covered
walkways include images of the Hindu pantheon, as
well as Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Francis
of Assisi. Your visit will coincide with the AARTI
Ceremony, which involves oil lamps being lit and waved,
in order to awake and invoke the deity. Enjoy the
experience and spend night at Jaipur.
Overnight will be in Jaipur.
Friday, 11/14/08:
Day 07 Jaipur
Proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort afterbreakfast.
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 its ultimate expression.
Continue sightseeing.
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. It is a five-storey structure 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.
Relax in the evening or visit the markets. Overnight
will be at Jaipur.
Saturday, 11/15/08:
Day 08 Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra By Road in 7
hrs
After breakfast drive to Agra.
En route visit Fatehpur Sikri.
The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built
that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century
is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale
city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition
... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must
have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit
the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Reach Agra and transfer to hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and
Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra
into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire
- giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the
Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in
a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone
and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies,
and that irresistible charm that this favorite city
of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising,
that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage
most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling
streets of the city will introduce the visitor to
the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Check in at hotel and relax. Overnight will be at
Hotel.
Sunday, 11/16/08:
Day 09 Agra
Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the
TAJ MAHAL - one of the Seven
Wonders of the World was built by Shah Jahan in 1631
AD and was completed in 1651AD. Taj Mahal - The
symbol of Love was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal
(Shah Jahan`s second Wife).
AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor
Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red
sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect
Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ - The
interiors of which are considered better than the
Taj.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Monday, 11/17/08:
Day 10 Agra/Jhansi/Orchha/Khajuraho
After breakfast transfer to Agra Cantonment train
station to board the air-conditioned chair car compartment
of Shatabdi Express to Jhansi in central India.
On arrival transfer to a hotel for lunch, then visit
the Orchha Fort and very interesting Hindu temples
on the way to Khajuraho.
Proceed further to Khajuraho.
Situated in the heart of india, in the state of Madhya
Pradesh, Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a
quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage,
honoured by the world as india's unique contribution
to human civilisation. the chandela dynasty built
eighty-five temples here. twenty remain as embodiments
of indian architectural and sculptural art at its
most evolved state. even ten centuries after they
were constructed, the temples of khajuraho reflect
an eternal philosophy relevant to all mankind. the
temples of khajuraho is a world heritage site and
belong not just to india but to the world. Khajuraho
is one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Visit
the Western set of Temples and enjoy Sound and Light
Show.
Overnight will be at Hotel.
Tuesday, 11/18/08:
Day 11 Khajuraho/Varanasi By Air
After Breakfast, visit the world famous Hindu and
Jain temples of Khajuraho that are profusely carved
from red sandstone.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi.
Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met and transferred
to hotel.
VARANASI IS THE WORLD'S MOST ANCIENT LIVING CITY.
SUNRISE ON THE RIVERFRONT, AS SEEN FROM A BOAT, CAN
BE SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTING SIGHT. CROWDED WITH TEMPLES,
AND ITS LABYRINTH OF STREETS, THE CITY ATTRACTS THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TOURISTS. THE RELIGIOUS CAPITAL
OF HINDUISM, VARANASI IS THE CARPET MANUFACTURING
PLACE OF INDIA. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS KASHI -
THE CITY THAT ILLUMINATES. THE PRESENT NAME IS DERIVED
FROM THE FACT THAT THE CITY IS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF
THE RIVERS VARUNA AND ASI.
Visit Sarnath 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion:
One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where
Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness
the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery
and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent
collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at
the site.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Wednesday, 11/19/08:
Day 12 Varanasi
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride
on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats
and witness the living traditions of one of the world's
oldest and most important religions. (To start at
0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you
to appreciate this remarkable city, we`ll transfer
you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun
rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to
the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight
unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily
to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background,
temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water`s
edge. Then return for a walk through the cobblestone
streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops
are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity
as the faithful are coming and going. Visit the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Proceed for day guided
tour of Varanasi.
Visit
Bharat Mata Temple, which features a
big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble.
Also visit the 18th century Durga Temple, commonly
known as the Monkey Temple due to the huge population
of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi manas Temple,
crafted from white marble which features the entire
Ramayana inscribed on its walls. Also visit the BHU
considered as the biggest residential university in
Asia. The University Campus houses an Art Gallery
and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Overnight stay will be at hotel.
Thursday, 11/20/08:
Day 13 Varanasi/Delhi By Air
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the birthplace of Buddhist religion, Sarnath.
Lord Buddha meditated for many years in the dear park
at Sarnath. After enlightenment at Bodhgaya, he returned
to Sarnath to preach the "Dharmachakra"
or the "wheel of religion sermon". This
was his first sermon to his initial five disciples.
Mauryan Emperor Ashoka built a Stupa at the site where
Lord Buddha's ashes were preserved along with a massive
monastery and university complex. We will view the
archeological ruins of this historic site and also
visit a very interesting site museum of archeology.
Transfer to airport to board flight to Delhi. Reach
and take a flight back home with sweet memories of
India.
| City
|
Suggested Hotels or
Similar
|
Nights
|
Delhi
|
Taj Mahal
|
02 |
Samode
|
Samode Palace
|
01 |
Pushkar
|
Swiss Camp Tents
/ Cottages
|
03 |
Jaipur
|
Taj Jai Mahal Palace
|
02 |
Agra
|
Imperial Palace
|
02 |
Khajuraho
|
Radisson Jass
|
01 |
Varanasi
|
Taj Ganges / Ramada
|
02 |