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DAY
01 : ARRIVE
DELHI
Arrive Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall
met & assisted with your baggages at the airport
by our executive and transferred to prebooked 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 citys’ past.
DAY
02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi.
Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.
Built by Shah Jahan, 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 Rajghat - the cremation site
of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns
Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early
example of Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive
past India Gate, President House, Connaught Place.
The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple. |
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DAY 03 :
DELHI - AGRA
(203 KMS, 04-05 HRS)
After breakfast, drive to Agra. Enroute visit Sikandra
- the Mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Arrive Agra
& check-in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Agra : Visit Red fort, which
was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions
were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah
Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private
audiences amongst many other beautiful structues;
Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan
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 Jahan in memory of his
wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in
1631 and was not completed until 1653.
DAY 04 :
AGRA - FATEHPUR
SIKRI - JAIPUR (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Jaipur. Enroute visit 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. Continue drive to Jaipur.
Arrive Jaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure
DAY 05 :
JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. 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. Visit 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 façade of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 06 :
JAIPUR - PUSHKAR
(135 KMS, 02-03 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Pushkar. the holy lake
of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord
Brahma himself. It is as important as Banaras or Puri.
Devout Hindus believe that it is essential to visit
Pushkar at least once in their lifetime. No pilgrimage
is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar
lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats
and the only temple in the country that is dedicated
to Brahma is to be found here. While Pushkar is a
heaven for the religiously inclined, it is also the
venue of one of the country's most colorful cattle
fairs - the Pushkar Fair.
Arrive Pushkar and check-in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, explore Pushkar on your own.
DAY 07 :
PUSHKAR - JODHPUR
(220 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Jodhpur. On arrival in
Jodhpur, check-in at prebooked hotel.
In the afternoon, city tour of Jodhpur : visit the
Mehrangarh Fort which literally means “Majestic
Fort”, located at the very centre of the city.
There are ,in all , three gates , each built to commemorate
a particular victory, as well as to reinforce the
fort. It has a collection of musical instruments,
palanquins, furniture & cannons on the forts’
ramparts are well preserved. Jaswant Thada : Close
to the fort complex lies this white marble cenotaph,
built in 1899, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant
Singh II. Rare portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are,
also, to be seen at Jaswant Thada.
DAY 08 :
JODHPUR - RANAKPUR
- UDAIPUR (275 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Udaipur. Enroute visiting
the Jain temples at Ranakpur : The cluster of temples,
made of intricately sculpted white marble, come across
as a marvellousfeat of architecture. It would take
anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in
1460, so well preserved & sparkling is the marble.
The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars –
none of which is similarly carved. After the visit,
continue drive to Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
DAY 09 :
UDAIPUR
After breakfast, visit the romantic city of Udaipur.
Visit the City Palace which is the largest palace
complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish temple, a fine Indo
Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion ki Bari or Garden
of the Maids of Honour, which is a small garden with
its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants & lotus
pool.
Afternoon, free. In the evening, boat ride on Lake
Pichola.
DAY 10 :
UDAIPUR - MUMBAI
(FLIGHT, 9W 3401, 0840-1020 HRS)
Early morning, transfer to the airport to board flight
for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked
hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Mumbai - Located on the west
coast of India, the group of islands which has grown
into the city of Mumbai.
The city was called Bombay for much of the last four
hundred years. The origin of the name is obscure,
but is often said to come from the Portuguese phrase
bom bahia meaning "good bay". The name Mumbai
has been used in the main local languages for as long,
and is ascribed to the local goddess, Mumba (ai means
mother in Marathi). The name of the city was changed
to Mumbai by an act of the parliament in 1997.
DAY 11 :
MUMBAI - AURANGABAD
(FLIGHT, 9W 3109, 1825-1925 HRS)
After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta caves. Afternoon,
transfer to the airport to board flight for Aurangabad.
Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra,
the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut
out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the
most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural
heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves
at Ajanta, were remained shrouded in obscurity for
over a millennium, till John Smith, a British Army
Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on
a hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated
as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic
legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives
of generations to come.
DAY 12 :
AURANGABAD
After breakfast, excursion to Ajanta caves : It was
only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of
caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into
the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river,
were discovered. They depict the story of Buddhism,
spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD. The 29 caves
were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks,
who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and
Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve
- centers of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using
simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved
out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these
structures. Many of the caves house panels depicting
stories from the Jatakas, a rich mine of tales of
the several incarnations of the Buddha. Images of
nymphs and princesses amongst others, are also elaborately
portrayed.
Return to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
DAY 13 :
AURANGABAD-MUMBAI
(FLIGHT, IC 888, 1720-1805 HRS)
After breakfast, excursion to Ellora caves - 34 in
number, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill,
30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave
- temple architecture, they house elaborate facades
and exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures
representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism
and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700
AD period. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist,
the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the
5 caves to the north are Jain. The sculpture in the
Buddhist caves accurately convey the nobility, grace
and serenity inherent in the Buddha. Caves 6 and 10
house images from the Buddhist and Hindu faith, under
the same roof, the latter dedicated to Vishwakarma,
the patron saint of Indian craftsmen. The Vishvakarma
cave is both a Chaitya and a Vihara, with a seated
Buddha placed in the stupa. Its two - storied structure
sports a colourful pageant of dwarfs, dancing and
making music.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight
for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked
hotel.
DAY 14 :
DEPART MUMBAI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.
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