|
DAY
01 : ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive
Delhi in the evening.
Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted with your baggages at
the airport by our executive and transferred to prebooked hotel.
Delhi : India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its
fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one
of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their
seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left
behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction
between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively.
So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’
past.

DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama
Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the
construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658;
Red Fort, which was also built
by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni
Chowk and Rajghat - the
cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns
Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of
Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate,
President House, Connaught Place. The city tour ends with a visit
to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY
03
: DELHI - JAIPUR
After breakfast, leave for Jaipur
: The city owes its names, foundation and its careful planning to
the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with
Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his
hillside fortress at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He
laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and six rectangular
blocks, according to the principles of town planning set down
in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture.
Afternoon, at leisure.
DAY 04 : JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from
the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort
: At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital
of Jaipur state.
Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput
commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which
has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel
ware and weapons; Jantar Mantar - the observatoy
built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 05 : JAIPUR
- FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
After breakfast, leave for Agra.
Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri
: built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which
was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful
buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch
Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original
glory. Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening
and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
06 : AGRA - GWALIOR
After breakfast, city
tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor
Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his
grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private
audiences amongst many other beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah,
which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very
similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near
Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal,
which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz
Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed
until 1653.
Afternoon, drive to Gwalior.
On arrival in Gwalior check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 07 : GWALIOR
- DELHI
(By TRAIN : SHATABDI EXPRESS)
After
breakfast, visit the Gwalior Fort -
The Mughal emperor Babar referred
to the Gwalior Fort as “the pearl amongst fortresses in India” and
although you may beg to differ, you will probably agree that this,
the dominating feature of Gwalior’s skyline, is definitely a citadel
worth seeing. With a turbulent and pretty eventful past, the Gwalior
Fort spreads out over an area of 3 square km, bounded by solid walls
of sandstone, which enclose three temples, six palaces and a number
of water tanks. Regarded as North and Central India’s most
impregnable fortress, the Gwalior Fort was built by Raja Man Singh
Tomar in the 15th century. In the five hundred years
since then, the fort has changed hands many times- it has been held
by the Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and British, who finally handed
it over to the Scindias. Today it’s a must-see sight on any Gwalior
itinerary, and just the ride up to the fort gives you a taste of
what’s coming: the southern path is bounded by rock faces with intricate
carvings of the Jain tirthankars. As you enter the fort,
you’ll see lots more to impress and interest you: palaces and temples,
impressive gates and historic water tanks. Of the temples in the
Gwalior Fort, the most famous are the Teli-ka-Mandir- a 9th
century Dravidian-style shrine which is notable for its profusely
sculpted exterior; the Saas-Bahu Temples- two pillared temples which
stand next to each other, one larger than the other; and the Chaturbhuj
Mandir, a Vaishnavite shrine dating back to the 9th century.
Among the fort’s most prominent palaces is the amazingly ornate
Man Singh Palace, built by Man Singh in the 15th century.
Embellished with a vivid pattern in tile and paint, the palace spreads
over four levels, and despite its picture-pretty appearance, has
a somewhat gory history: Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned and
later murdered his brother Murad here. Equally grisly is the Jauhar
Kund, which marks the spot where the women of the harem burnt themselves
to death after the defeat of the king of Gwalior in 1232. Other
palaces within the Gwalior Fort which are worth seeing include the
Karan Palace, the Jahangir Mahal, the Shahjahan Mahal and the Gujri
Mahal (the latter built by Man Singh for his favourite queen, Mrignayani).
Afternoon,
transfer to the railway station to board train for Delhi. On arrival
in Delhi meet and assist at the railway station and transfer to
prebooked hotel.
DAY 08 :
DEPART DELHI
Early Morning,
transfer to airport to board flight back home/onward destination.
|