Glimpses
of India Tour
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Duration :14 Nights / 15 Days
Places to Visit : DELHI – BIKANER – POKARAN – JAISALMER
– JODHPUR – LUNI – PUSHKAR – AJMER – JAIPUR –
FATEHPUR SIKRI – AGRA – GWALIOR – ORCHCHA – KHAJURAHO –
SARNATH – VARANASI
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Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Meet
and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then drive
to your hotel with your driver and car.
Day 02 Delhi
In the morning take a city tour covering Laxmi Narayan Temple - The Place
of Gods, India Gate - The memorial of martyrs, Parliament House - The Government
headquarters. In the afternoon take a city tour of Old Delhi covering Jama
Masjid - The largest mosque in Asia, Red Fort - The red stone magic, Gandhi
memorial - The memoir of father of the nation. Also enjoy the sound &
light show in the evening. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 Delhi - Pushkar – Ajmer 320km
Today cross the entire stretch of desert to reach the most holy cities of
Pushkar and Ajmer.
Pushkar happens to be the holiest places according to the Hindus as it is considered
that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the godess of learning
and music) performed a ritual in the lake. Here we visit the only Brahma temple
of the world before intermingling with the local colours in the local bazaar.
Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each year in the month
of October/November. Proceed towards Ajmer.
Ajmer is the pious city for the Muslims. Surprisingly both the cities are
at distance of 11km from each other. Visit the Durgah built in fond remembrance
of Khwaja Muin ud Din Chisti where the Muslim pilgrims from all over India
throng during the festival times. Later visit Mughal emperor Akbar’s
Palace where his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe to grant him the permission
of trade to East India Company with India, that changed the history of India
completely and slowly and steadily India became colony of the British Empire.
Day 04 Ajmer – Jodhpur 200km
Today
we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon and drive up to the majestic
Mehrangarh fort, the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the
superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city
from the rampart walls is breath taking.
Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the
2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the
spices filling the air around you. Then go to Mandore gardens the then capital
of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes
of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present
residence of the king of Jodhpur. Retire to your hotel and relax.
Day 05 Jodhpur – Pokaran – Jaisalmer 280km
After breakfast we set towards our journey across the Thar Desert to reach
Pokaran for lunch. Visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor,
Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village
is very colourful and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards
Jaisalmer and arrive by evening to witness the sunset over the desert with
the most imposing edifice of the town behind you.
Day 06 Jaisalmer
Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila.. The Jains
are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit
the citadel’s palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes
and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli
with intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external
world. Also see the Gadisar Lake.
Later,
we go to Sam or Khuri village. Here we have loads of excitement in store for
you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby sunset point
on the dunes to see the sunset by camel carts. After sunset return to the village
where your stay is arranged in mud huts. Evening listen to the haunted tunes
of the desert by the local artists and musicians. A lifetime experience. Dinner
and night in the desert mud huts.
Day 07 Jaisalmer – Bikaner 330km
Leave Jaisalmer after breakfast and reach Bikaner by lunch time. See the Junagarh
Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction
that dates back to the 16th century. Later visit the camel breeding farm, a
unique experience.
In the evening time is free to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner city
centre.
Day 08 Bikaner – Jaipur
In the morning leave Bikaner and reach Fatehpur. See this beautiful village
of Shekhawati that used to be an important caravanserai of the yesteryears.
See the many havelis of this quaint little town built by the rich and the famous
merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. These havelis have been painted with
activities of daily life and of deities to break the monotony of the desert
life. Continue towards Jaipur.
In the afternoon visit the local bazaar of Jaipur that is so colourfull and
interesting. Also visit the many precious stone cutting and polishing ateliers
of this city.
Day 09 Jaipur
Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber
fort. See the marvelous Shish mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style
of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja
Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens.
After
lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar built
in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician , an astronomer
an astrologer and a great musician of his era. He built five observatories throughout
India – Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only the one at
Jaipur is functional.
Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection
of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold lattice work. The City Palace
houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course
a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery. Dinner at your
hotel.
Day 10 Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra 250km
Leave the Pink city after breakfast and reach Fatehpur Sikri by early afternoon.
Visit this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the second half
of the 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife
bore him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned sufi saint Salim
Chisti blessed Jodhabai Akbar’s hindu wifewith a son. Also visit Jodhabai’s
palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor’s
palace himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne. Continue
towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel or go to the
local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.
Day 11 Agra
Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising
sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built
by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of his
beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and
was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning
design, balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for
its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work
ever seen anywhere in the world.
Then
see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his own son
Aurangzeb.
Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah – it is the first mughal building built
out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor
of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.
Day 12 Agra – Gwalior – Orchha 219km
Today we drive to go to Gwalior the erstwhile stronghold of the Scindia rulers.
Reach Gwalior by early afternoon and after lunch start your visit. A trip to
Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the fort, Scindia Palace and the tombs
of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen. Also visit the Gurjari Mahal the palace of the
Gurjar queen Mrignayani today housing an archaeological museum. Also see the
teli ka mandir and the Saas bahu ka mandir inside the fort. Later continue towards
Orchha.
Day 13 Orchcha – Khajuraho 282 km
Orchha is a medieval village where time has stopped. You feel the timelessness
of this spot. Orchha is a medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces
and temples of the 16th and 17th century – which have remarkably withstood
the onslaught of time. The river Betwa picturesquely flanks the city.
See the beautiful Palace Complex – Jahangiri Mahal and the Raja Mahal.
Closely study the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja Mahal and
visit the Laxminarayana Temple.
Post lunch continue towards Khajuraho about 182 km away by road and check
in to your hotel. After a brief refreshing time you will be taken to the near
by auditorium to witness the cultural heritage of India through the medium
of dances.
Day 14 Khajuraho – Varanasi By flight
Morning
sight seeing shows us the temples built during the 9th to the 11th centuries
by the powerful dynasty of Chandela rajputs. The temples with their erotic sculptures
are a feast to the eyes. The Chandelas built 85 temples in all but today only
20 temples stand intact. Visit the eastern and western group of temples before
being transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi. (1525hrs)
Upon arrival (1605hrs) in Varanasi transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day
free.
Day 15 Varanasi – Delhi By flight
Early in the morning (0500hrs) we take you to banks of the river Ganges where
we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security
of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika
Ghat along the sacred Ganges. See the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvyapi
kund and the mosque attached to it. Also visit the Benares Hindu University
the largest residential university in India with more than 3000 residential
students.
Return to your hotel for breakfast. Later visit Sarnath the sacred city for
the Buddhist all over the world. It was here that Lord Buddha preached his first
sermon to his first five disciples. Also worth visiting is the museum with artifacts
dating back to 3rd century BC. Visit the nearby ruins of the ancient seat of
learning in Sarnath. In time transfer to the airport to return back to Delhi.
Upon arrival in Delhi you will be taken out for a farewell dinner and then transferred
to the international terminal for your flight back home.
Tour Ends
Included on this tour are:
* Daily breakfasts
* All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary
* English speaking local guides in every city
* Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur
* Rickshaw ride in the old city of Delhi
* Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned
* Air conditioned car with chauffeur
* All applicable taxes
* Early morning boat rides on river Ganges in Varanasi
* Airfare for sectors : Khajuraho – Varanasi
Varanasi / Delhi
* Camel rides on the dunes in the desert in Jaisalmer.
* Local music and dance by local village artists on the dunes in Jaisalmer
* Farewell dinner on the last day in Delhi before departure to international
airport.
* Puppet show in Jaipur
* Sunrise/ sunset visit of Taj Mahal in Agra
* Battery bus / battery auto rickshaw ride in Agra.
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