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Splendours of North India
Destinations Covered: Delhi -
Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi
Duration - 11 Nights / 12 days
Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival at International airport &
transfer to hotel. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at
the 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 city?s past.
Day 2: Delhi
Morning city tour of Old Delhi visiting Jama Masjid, the largest
mosque in India. Built by Shah Jehan, 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 Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi visiting Humayuns Tomb: built in
mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutub Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught
Place. The city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla
Mandir). Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Delhi - Jaipur (By Surface 260 Kms, 05 Hrs Drive)
Morning drive to 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 check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort with 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 visiting 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 fa?ade of Hawa Mahal. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Jaipur ? Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (By Surface 240 Kms, 06-07 Hrs
Drive)
Morning drive to Agra en route visiting 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.
On arrival in Agra, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Agra ? Gwalior (By Surface - 120 Kms, 02-03 Hrs Drive)
Morning city tour of Agra visiting Red fort, which was built by
Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of
his grandson, Shah Jehan. It contains the hall of public and private
audiences amongst many other beautiful structures; Itmad-ud-daulah,
which was constructed by Nur Jehan 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 Jehan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Construction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until
1653. (TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS)
Later drive to Gwalior. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 7: Gwalior - Orchha (By Surface - 110 Kms, 02-03 Hrs Drive)
Morning 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.
Afternoon drive to Orchha: Once the capital of Bundelas, Orchha is a
village, set amongst a complex of well preserved palaces and
temples. Though Orchha was founded in 1531, its golden age was
during the first half of 17th century. When Jehangir visiting the
city in 1606, a special palace, the Jehangir Mahal was built for
him.
On arrival in Orchha, check in at hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Orchha ? Khajuraho (By Surface - 178 Kms, 04-05 Hrs Drive)
Morning visit Orchha. Visit the Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal & Ram Raja
temple which also dates back to the 17th century.
Later, drive to Khajuraho: Built by the warrior Chandela dynasty
that rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th centuries,
the 25 odd surviving temples display different facets of life,
including the sensual. These erotic carvings on some panels have
given rise to much speculation since Khajuraho?s re-discovery by a
British officer in 1838. To preserve it for posterity, Khajuraho has
been declared a World Heritage Site.
On arrival in Khajuraho, check in at hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Khajuraho / Varanasi (By Flight)
Morning visit the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the
Chandela Kings between 950 AD & 1050 AD. The most important are the
Chaunset Yogini temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev
temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji temple with lovely image of 11
headed Vishnu, Vishwanath & Nandi temples, Lakshmana temple, and
Visha temple dedicated to Shiva, which is the largest & most typical
of temples.
Afternoon, transfer to airport to board flight for 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.
On arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Varanasi
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.
Morning 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, en route witness
the religious ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges. Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 11: Varanasi / Delhi (By Flight)
Morning 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 India?s national emblem.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. On
arrival in Delhi, transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Depart Delhi
Early morning, transfer to International airport to connect flight
back home/onward destination.
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