DAILY ITINERARY Day 1 Arrive Delhi Early
morning arrival and transfer to hotel. Day at leisure to rest after
your long flight. Welcome dinner and evening briefing to learn about
the wonderful events ahead. B/D The Claridges Hotel Day 2 Delhi City
tour exploring the city of two faces - the old and the new. In New
Delhi visit the Secretariat Building, Parliament House, the
Presidential Palace, Qutab Minar and Birla Temple. In Old Delhi visit
the historic Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial site, the
marketplace of Chandni Chowk, and India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid. B/L/D The Claridges Hotel Day 3 Delhi/Varanasi Today
you fly to Varanasi, the holy Hindu city located on the left bank of
the Ganges. Visit the museum in nearby Sarnath, where relics from the
magnificent stupas of Ashoka's Empire are displayed. B/L/D The Clarks Hotel Day 4 Varanasi/Khajuraho Enjoy
a glorious sunrise cruise down the sacred river of the Ganges passing
the burning ghats and bathing pilgrims. Afternoon take a short flight
to Khajuraho. B/L/D Holiday Inn Khajuraho C... Day 5 Khajuraho Today
you explore this "City of the Gods" where the powerful Chandela kings
built eighty-five extraordinary temples to their gods, twenty-two of
them remain today. You will also visit the eastern groups of temples to
view the spectacular Indian art from the medieval period. B/L/D Holiday Inn Khajuraho Day 6 Khajuraho/Agra Depart
for Agra by road. Afternoon guided tour of Agra city visiting the world
famous Taj Mahal built in 1630 by Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine
the mortal remains of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Visit historic Agra Fort
and the city bazaar. B/L/D Taj View Hotel Day 7 Agra/Jaipur Depart
for Jaipur by road visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted one-time
capital city of Emperor Akbar, en route. This nearly intact Moghul city
is a masterpiece of Muslim architecture unique in India. B/L/D Jai Mahal Hotel Day 8 Jaipur Morning
guided tour of the Pink City visiting Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds),
the Observatory, City Palace and colourful bazaars. Afternoon excursion
to the Amber Fort where we ride on decorated elephants to reach the top
of the fort. At Amber Fort, visit Jagmandir, the chamber of glittering
mirrors, Jai Mahal and the Temple of Goddess Kali. B/L/D Jai Mahal Hotel Day 9 Jaipur/Jodhpur Morning
at leisure. Later in the day drive to Jodhpur, a resplendent city in
the Thar Desert with many palaces and handicraft shops. B/L/D Taj Hari Mahal Palace Hotel Day 10 Jodhpur Guided
tour to the nearby old capital of Mandore. In the afternoon visit the
famous Meharangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum and Jaswant Thada. B/L/D Taj Hari Mahal Palace Hotel Day 11 Jodhpur/Jaisalmer Today
drive across the Thar Desert to Jaisalmer. Once the capital of the
Bhati Rajputs, Jaisalmer was founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal. Visit the
exquisite Jain temples and the elaborate merchants’ residences know as
havelis. B/L/D Fort Rajwafa Hotel Day 12 Jaisalmer Drive
into the rolling sand dunes of the desert and experience overwhelming
hospitality in a local village. Return to the city after the sunset. B/L/D Royal Orchid Park Hotel Day 13 Jaisalmer/Jodhpur Drive
to Jodhpur, located on the edge of the great Thar Desert. Among all the
cities in India, this is one of the most fascinating. Enjoy its exotic
lively bazaars composing a veritable photographer's dream. B/L/D Taj Hari Mahal Hotel Day 14 Jodhpur/Udaipur Morning
departure for Udaipur, an enchanting city. En route visit the famous
Jain Temples of Ranakpur. Remainder of day at leisure in Udaipur, whose
rugged fortresses and palaces are straight out of fairy tales. B/L/D Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel Day 15 Udaipur Morning
guided tour of Udaipur visiting the city Palace, Eklingji, a complex of
108 temples chiseled out of sandstone and marble, and the temples of
Nagada. B/L/D Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel Day 16 Udaipur/Aurangabad This
morning, fly to Aurangabad and visit the Ellora Caves. These are an
impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples built
between the 6th and 10th centuries AD near the ancient Indian village
of Ellora. It is a World Heritage Site and the most visited ancient
monument in Maharashtra State. B/L/D Taj Residency Hotel Day 17 Aurangabad Today
we will take an excursion to the Ajanta Caves. These caves are a series
of 29 Buddhist cave temples, some of which date from the 2nd
century BC. Encompassing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist
traditions, the Ajanta Caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of
Buddhist art in India. Afterwards take a city tour of Aurangabad. B/L/D Taj Residency Hotel Day 18 Aurangabad/Mumbai Transfer to Aurangabad airport for flight to Mumbai. City sightseeing tour visiting Marine Drive,
the Gateway of India, the Hanging Gardens on Malabar hill, the Parsi
Towers of Silence, and the Prince of Wales Museum. Farewell dinner. B/L/D Taj Residency Hotel Day 19 Depart Mumbai Morning transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B Note: - Hotels are subject to change to equivalent ones due to availability at the time of the booking. - Schedule is subject to change. |