Day 1 Delhi
Fly from your country to New Delhi , you will be greeted & assisted by our Representative upon arrival. Transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2 Delhi
After breakfast sightseeing of Old and New Delhi .
Visit the 7 th city of Delhi , Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi . Red Fort - the 17 th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite marble palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India 's largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can pray together. Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words "Hey Ram". An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Afternoon visit New Delhi .
Visit the Humayun's Tomb , built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutub Minar - the landmark of Delhi , a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles - the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chattris Hindu and the graceful colonnades very British. It has 340 rooms. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and south gateways are Mughal in design. The northern building has an inscription with " Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed". The Parliament House , designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. Inside is the library and chambers for the council of state, chamber of princes and legislative assembly. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1 st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces' losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi .
Day 3 - Delhi - Khajuraho
After Breakfast Fly to Khajuraho. After lunch, visit Classical Temples from Chandella Style illustrated with remarkable sculptures from the KAMA SUTRA.
Day 4 - Khajuraho - Orchha
Morning drive to Orchha. Visit Jahangir Mahal Palace and spend some time near clear bluish water of River Betwa . Drive to Jhansi to take a train to Agra . After arrival in Agra , check in Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5 - Agra - Taj Mahal
Sunrise visit Afternoon visit the world famous monument of India, The Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal, who died after giving birth to their 14th child. It employed 20,000 workers from the Central Asia and Europe for 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones.
After breakfast visit Agra Fort which was built by three emperors, Akbar & Jahangir in red sand stone & Shah Jahan in white marble. The Fort is 2.5 Km long and during Mughal rule one third of the Fort was occupied by the army. When British ruled India , they repeated same tradition and now traditionally Indian army has occupied the same. Afterwards visit Itma-ud-ullha known as baby Taj.
After lunch visit Crematory of Akbar at Sikandra which he had started building himself and after his death, it was finished by his son Jahangir.
Day 6 - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur . Enroute sightseeing of Fatehpur Sikri .
40 km (1 hour) before Agra, lies the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16 th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. It was mysteriously abandoned 13 years later due to scarcity of water. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city built at the height of the empire's splendor.
Proceed to Jaipur. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and is world famous as the Pink City . Jaipur was built in the 18 th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. It was made attractive with the pink wash - a traditional colour of welcome in 1853 in honour of the visit of Prince Albert .
On arrival in Jaipur check in at the hotel. Afternoon visit busy markets of old Pink City to watch daily life. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7 - Jaipur
After breakfast, half-day excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort. En route, make a photo stop at the palace of winds the Hawa Mahal . A 5 stored building with 25cm thick facade from the 18 century having 953 windows and niches so that ladies of royal family could see the procession and events in the city without being visible to the people. Proceed to the Amber City Fort situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037. Enjoy an Elephant ride to the top of the Palace fort.
Afternoon visit the " Pink City " of Jaipur. Visit City Palace which occupies the center of Jaipur. It now houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armoury, manuscripts, paintings etc.
Also visit Jantar Mantar (Observatory) (1728-34) by king astrologer Jai Singh II. This observatory is only of its kind in the whole world. The instruments are built of stone with marble facing on the important plains for measuring the harmony of the heavens. Each instrument serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.
Day 8 - Jaipur - Udaipur Today fly to Udaipur . Udaipur , founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559 AD, (Maha means great & Rana means warrior, so Maharana means a great warrior ). Udaipur is a beautiful city of lakes at the altitude of 577 MSL surrounded by Aravalli Hills. It is also known as 'City of Lakes '. Arrive and check in at for overnight stay.
Day 9 - Udaipur Visit the City Palace and its Museum. Introduction to the world of miniature paintings; boat ride on Pichola Sagar Lake . Visit Saheliyon Ki Bari, Ladies Garden . Special dinner and presentation of old Mughul, Rajput, Jain, Deccani paintings.
Day 10 - Udaipur (Ranakpur Temples)
Excursion to the Ranakpur Temples, 15th century Ranakpur Jain Temple built in pure white marble with 80 doms supported by 1444 different carved pillars . Lunch at Maharani Bagh (Mango Orchard of the Maharaja of Jodhpur) near the Temples .
Day 11 - Aurangabad
Fly from Udaipur-Mumbai-Aurangabad. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 12 - Ajanta
Full day excursion to Ajanta , visit of the Buddhist and Brahmanical caves.
Day 13 - Ellora
Visit the most extraordinary free standing monolithic temple (there are only two of these in India), the Kailashanatha Temple, with unique carvings of the Ramayana and Vishnupurana. Fly to Mumbai. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 14 - Mumbai
Morning visit Prince of Wales Museum, the largest Fine Art Museum in India and Hanging Gardens . Afternoon cruise to Elephanta Caves .
Day 15 - Mumbai
Day at Leisure. Optional visit to Crawford Market or Chor Bazaar. After lunch, join Mumbai Heritage Walking Club (art & architecture students /professionals). They organize a 2 hr. walk through the old part of Mumbai and also interact with the local people. Dinner & evening transfer to airport for flight home.
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