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Essence of India
Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport and transfer to
hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of New
Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the
Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century
Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the
President’s House , Red fort , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial. Also visit
Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in
Delhi.
Day 03 / Delhi -
Udaipur ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to
Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to
hotel. Afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple. Maharana Jagat Singh
built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5
million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is at a great
height and can be approached by a long flight of stairs. Later visit
Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies .Saheliyon ki Bari
lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar Lake. Maharana Sangram Singh II
designed this garden in the early 18th century purely as a pleasure
garden and a summer palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part
of the prince’s dowry. It is also said that the garden was presented
as a peace offering from the Emperor of Delhi. The Maharanas
entertained themselves around the four ornamental pools and the five
fountains. These fountains were imported from England in 1889.
Maharana Bhopal Singh specially was very fond of this place and
built a rain fountain, so that it looked like rain dancing on the
dancing maids. Night stay in Udaipur.
Day 04 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built in
1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most
romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit
the City Palace museum, The City Palace, one of the largest palaces
in the world, can be approached through the Bari Pol or the Great
Gate (1600) with the royal drums and then onto the Tripolia Gate
(1725). Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum) The interesting
collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk
dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments,
folk deities and paintings. Also visit the Pratap Memorial. Atop the
Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the
memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of
the Maharana astride his favorite horse"Chetak".Night stay in
Udaipur.
Day 05 / Udaipur -
Jodhpur ( By road )
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Jodhpur.
Day 06 / Jodhpur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of
Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was
founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated
on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool
Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built
in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public
gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.
Day 07 / Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening
at leisure. Night stay in Jaisalmer.
Day 08 / Jaisalmer
Morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the heart
of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded
wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a city of gilded
magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century, when
Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the
foundation of a new city. Visit the magnificient fort, the Patwon Ki
Haveli ( Mansion) and Salim singh Ki Haveli, with their carved
balconies and brackets which are supreme examples of the art.
Evening camel ride to visit Sam Dunes. Night stay in Jaisalmer.
Day 09 / Jaisalmer -
Bikaner ( By road )
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later
city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao
Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade center on
the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant
features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands
on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which can be entered from
5 gate. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th
century fort housing old palaces, temples and mosque. Founded by
Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37
pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying
designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain
and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay in Bikaner.
Day 10 / Bikaner - Jaipur ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening
at leisure . Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 11 / Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort. 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 it's ultimate expression.
Continue sight-seeing.
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. Their five-storey structures 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. Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 12 / Jaipur - Agra
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, built by
Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and later
abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the remains, it
fortifications within the city including Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim
Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Evening at leisure. Night stay in Agra.
Day 13 / Agra
Morning at sunrise visit the world famous Taj Mahal, built by the
Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to
enshrine her mortal remains, Also visit the Agra Fort, containing
the Pearl Mosque - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of
Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction
was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of
private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an
ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock Throne
and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Also
visit Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by Noorjehan in memory of her
father. Night stay in Agra.
Day 14 / Agra - Jhansi ( By train ) Jhansi - Orchha ( By
surface )
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi ,
Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel. Later tour of
this historical site with magnificient temples and monuments. Some
of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent
the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay
in Orchha.
Day 15 / Orchha -
Khajuraho ( By surface )
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary
temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as
one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the
Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to
life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the
Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they
were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame
for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho
and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day 16 / Khajuraho
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love
to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between 950
and 1050 A.D. The temples are grouped into three geographical
divisions : western, eastern and southern.
After breakfast explore the Western, eastern and southern temples
of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and
legends behind each describable sculpture.
Western Group
Kandariya Mahadeo: This is the largest, and most typical Khajuraho
temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars 31 m high. The sanctum
enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine is ornately carved and
depicts various gods, goddesses, apsaras (heavenly maidens) in
elaborate detail.
Chaunsat Yogini: The oldest surviving temple in the group (900
A.D.), this is the sole granite temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.
Another Kali temple, which was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu,
is the Devi Jagdambe temple.
Chitragupta Temple: Dedicated to the sun-god, Surya, this temple
faces eastwards to the rising sun. The inner sanctum boasts of an
impressive image of the presiding deity - the majestic sun-god
looming 5 feet high, and driving a chariot.
Vishwanath Temple: The temple enshrines a three-headed image of
Lord Brahma. Lions guard the northern entrance to the structure,
while elephants flank the southern flight of steps that lead upto
it. A Nandi bull faces the shrine.
Lakshamana Temple: The lintel over the entrance of this temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu, shows the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva with Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort. The sanctum is
adorned with a three-headed idol of Vishnu's incarnations, Narasimha
and Varaha. The latter, the boar incarnation also appears as a
nine-feet high statue at the Varaha Temple.
Matangeshwara Temple: This temple, which happens to be outside the
precincts of the western group, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It
boasts of an eight feet high lingam. Eastern Group
Parsavanatha Temple: The largest in the group of three Jain
temples, the Parsavanath image in this temple, was installed in
1860. The sculptures on the northern wall depict everyday activity,
in awesome detail. Within the temple, a throne faces the bull emblem
of first tirthankara, Adinath.
Ghantai Temple: This Jain temple has a frieze depicting the 16
dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a Jain goddess perched on a winged
Garuda.
Adinatha Temple: The last of the Jain temples, is dedicated to the
Jain saint, Adinatha, and is gorgeously adorned with sculptures of
yakshis among others.
The three Hindu temples in this group are the Brahma temple, which
has a four-faced lingam, The Vamana temple which is embellished with
images of ravishing apsaras at their alluring best; and finally the
Javari temple, with its ornate gateway and lavish carvings.
Southern Group
Duladeo Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the highlights of this
temple are the sensuous images of the apsaras, and other exquisite
sculptures. Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple sports a huge,
elaborately carved image of Vishnu in the sanctum.
Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day 17 / Khajuraho -
Varanasi ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for
Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the
western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living
city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with
hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as
seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a
fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a
timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be
described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel.
Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.
Day 18 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life
of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of
Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After
attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave
his first sermon. Today Sarnath is considered as one of the richest
place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century.
The Dharmarajika stupa was also built by Ashoka and it was
surmounted by the pillar. This pillar with four lions today forms
the national emblem of India. Sarnath has many more ruins of
monasteries and stupas. The spot at which the stupa stands is
believed to be the place from where Buddha gave his forts sermon.
Sarnath has an extremely rich collection of Buddhist statues. Visit
the deer park and the museum, later back to Varanasi . Night stay in
Varanasi.
Day 19 / Varanasi -
Bombay ( By flight )
After a relaxed breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight
to Bombay. Arrive Bombay & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Bombay.
Day 20 / Bombay –
Aurangabad ( By flight )
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering
Gateway of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th
century Gujarati style, Prince of Whales Museum , Chowpatty Beach,
Dhobhi Ghat, Marine Drive. Later transfer to the airport to board
the flight to Aurangabad, the capital of Aurangzeb, who was the last
of the great Mughals. Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Night
stay in Aurangabad.
Day 21 / Aurangabad
Full day excursion to the world heritage sites – Ajanta and Ellora
Caves in Aurangabad – as recognised so by UNESCO are renowned the
world over for their uniqueness and ancient value
Ajanta caves- offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of
palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient
India. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built
to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and
performed rituals.
Ellora caves-Carved between fourth and fifth century, the rock
temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the three major faiths
of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Like Ajanta, Ellora caves
too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with
intricate interiors and ornamental facades . Night stay in
Aurangabad.
Day 22 / Aurangabad -
Bombay ( By flight )
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Bombay. Arrive
Bombay and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the local markets.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Bombay.
Day 23 / Bombay - Goa
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive Goa
& transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Goa.
Day 24 / Goa
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa,
visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim-bustling
with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the
beach. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops for
cashewnuts, buy holiday wear .Night stay in Goa.
Day 25 / Goa
Day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.
Day 26 / Goa
Day at leisure . Night stay in Goa.
Day 27 / Goa -
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the fligt to
Mumbai or Delhi to connect the flight back home.