Cultural North India
Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur
- Pushkar - Jaipur - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi
Day
1: Delhi
Arrival at Delhi.
On arrival, 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. It is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope -
that is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 2: Delhi - Udaipur
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Udaipur.
Reach and check in at hotel.
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in
by the lush hills of the Aravallis. A vision in white drenched in romance and
beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and
inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers.
Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes
strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and
chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the Lake Pichola is an enticing
sight.
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar -a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200
Years.
Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur in the afternoon, stopping first at
City Palace. Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors,
colored glass windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.
Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and the local
folk Museum.
Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola.
From he boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically
above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir
Palace - the other island palace in the middle of the lake. Spend some time
at the Jag Mandir Palace.
Overnight will be at Udaipur.
Day 3: Udaipur - Jodhpur
After
breakfast drive to Jodhpur.
En-route, visit the Ranakpur Temples, dating back to the 15th century. 200 pillars,
none of which are alike, support its 29 halls. The Temple abounds with intricate
friezes and sculptures. Includes visits to two more Jain temples and the Temple
of the Sun God with its erotic sculptures.
Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with
tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of the Marwar
state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs
who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic hero of the Ramayana. The massive
15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125
Mts. Above the plains. The city is encompassed by a high wall -10 km long with
8 gates and innumerable bastions.
Check in at Jodhpur. Relax in the hotel and visit the museum of Umaid Bhawan
Palace.
Overnight will be at Jodhpur.
Day 4: Jodhpur
Morning
go for a village safari in the jeep and have a rare glimpse into the rich culture
and true essence of India. Abundant wildlife (game) and memorable moments of
the great desert landscape fascinates one while driving along the countryside.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jodhpur - gateway to the desert beyond, home of
the Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, rising up a hilly scarp, built
on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the city in the image of a long sentinel.
Inside the Fort are a number of palaces added by successive rulers. In this
palace you would see different miniature paintings & cradle room. After
this you would visit Jaswant Thada Memorial.
Overnight will be at Jodhpur.
Day 5: Jodhpur - Pushkar
Proceed for Pushkar after breakfast. Reach Pushkar by noon and relax.
PUSHKAR - Amongst the grandeur of Rajasthan, discover a unique gem - Pushkar.
Lord Brahma - The creator of the world in a search for his abode on earth, performed
the supremely spiritual Vedic Yagna at Pushkar. It is thus the site of the only
Brahma Temple in the world. Blessed with cultural blends, it is the venue for
the famous Pushkar Fair, with people coming from all over Asia to buy and sell
cattle of breeds from across the world. The consecrated mausoleum of Khawaja
Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer attracts pilgrims from all over the world. A city
of Pilgrimage from time immemorial with over 500 temples and Ghats Pushkar begets
a legacy of timeless architectural heritage. Pushkar radiates an ambience of
peace and spirituality that casts a lure to visit again and again. The Pushkar
fair is amongst the largest cattle fairs in the world and amongst the oldest
cities in India, with references in mythology and the Mahabharat. There are
52 bathing Ghats, which are linked to the lunar calendar, enclose the lake.
Each Ghat has its own miraculous qualities and powers of healing and this city
of temples has over 500 temples built over different eras with varied architectural
styles. The rose garden of Rajasthan - the essence of the famous Pushkar rose
is exported the world over. Pushkar has the most varied terrain in Rajasthan
with sand, rock, hills, and proximity to a number of heritage properties in
the area and a number of fairs and festivals - especially on the new and full
moon days.
Visit the mausoleum, Anasagar and Akbar's Palace.
Overnight will be at Pushkar.
Day 6: Pushkar - Jaipur
After
breakfast drive to beautiful Pink City - Jaipur.
Reach and check in at hotel.
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 it's character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. 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.
Explore the city markets. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 7: Jaipur
Breakfast to be served at the hotel.
Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. 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.
Proceed for sightseeing of the city.
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. Its 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.
Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the intricate work or a gem factory
and see the gem cutting and polishing process.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 8: Jaipur - Agra
After
breakfast drive to Agra.
Stop at 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 it's grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in
the world.
Reach Agra in the afternoon.
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 proceed for sightseeing of Itmadullah's Tomb built by
Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered
better than the Taj). Proceed to visit Taj at sunset. Enjoy battery van ride
to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is
always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah
Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal.
This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by
Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect
symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately
carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen. Proceed for sightseeing
to the 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.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 9: Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho
Breakfast
will be at hotel. Transfer to the station for train to Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and transfer to Orchha, 12 km away.
Orchha - A medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with Palaces and Temples
of the 16th and 17th century - which have remarkably withstood the onslaught
of time. The city is Picturesquely flanked by the river Betwa.
Proceed for sightseeing of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex. Enjoy your
lunch at Orchha.
Continue drive 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 civilaisation.
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 millenium destinations of the World.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Evening will be free. You can
go out for a stroll.
Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 10: Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast
will be at hotel. Proceed for a guided tour of the exotic temples of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi.
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.
Proceed to the hotel. Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 11: Varanasi - Delhi
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. 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.
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a day-guided tour of Varanasi including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple,
Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu University and other important monuments.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach and transfer to hotel.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 12: Delhi
Breakfast
at hotel.
Proceed for a full day tour of Old & New 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.
Take a cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit
to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue
- Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence
and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 13: Delhi - Home
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Morning will be free to explore the city and finish last minute shopping.
Transfer to the airport for flight home with sweet memories of India.
