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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, full day city tour of Old & New 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 ; witness the Red Fort; Visit Humayun's Tomb : built in mid
16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture ; Visit
Qutab Minar, witness the India Gate, President House. The city tour
ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI - VARANASI (BY FLIGHT)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Varanasi,
scheduled to depart at 1040 hrs.
Arrive Varanasi at 1150
hrs. and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Varanasi : formerly known as Kashi – the city that illuminates.
The religious capital of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living
city of India & one of the worlds’ most ancient. The present
name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence
of the rivers Varuna & Asi.
Afternoon, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where
Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment
at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he
preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the
'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this
place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Sarnath
was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century
AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum
(closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its
four guardian lions, used as independent Indias’ national emblem
DAY 04 : VARANASI - AGRA (OVERNIGHT TRAIN)
Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing
Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront,
as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life
on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing
aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated
visitors from all over the world. Return to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi - Visit the Bharat
Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple,
Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery
& the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.
Afternoon, excursion to Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this
one is seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of
Benares still resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar
Hall) and the royal museum housing collections of palanquins, elephant
saddles, arms, furniture, costumes, etc., are a must see at the
Ramnagar fort. Return by boat in the evening, enroute witness the
religious ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges.
Evening, transfer to the railway station to board Overnight Train
scheduled to depart at 2240 hrs, for Agra
DAY 05 : AGRA
Arrive Agra at 0703 hrs., transfer to prebooked Hotel
Afternoon, city tour of Agra.
Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions
were made up until 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.
DAY 06 : AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI - JAIPUR
(240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
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 the prebooked hotel.
Morning, 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. On arrival
in Jaipur, checkin at prebooked hotel. Rest of the day at leisure
DAY 07 : 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 observatory
built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa
Mahal.
DAY
08 : JAIPUR - DELHI
(260 KMS, 05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast free. Afternoon, leave for Delhi. Upon arrival,
check-in at your prebooked Hotel.
DAY
09 : DEPART DELHI
Morning, Transfer to the airport to board your flight for onward
destination.
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