Itinerary:
Day One:
- Arrive Delhi
- Transfer to the hotel
- Overnight at hotel
Assistance on arrival at airport by our office representative, later you will be transfer to hotel. On arrival in hotel you will complete the check-in formalities.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Two: In Delhi - Visit to Old and New Delhi
- Breakfast at hotel
- Full Day City Tour of Old and New Delhi
- Evening free.
- Overnight at hotel.
Old Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. You visit 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market. A maze of lanes crowded with shops selling an extraordinary variety of items and food, the noise and crowds are a quintessential part of any Indian market. From here you continue to the Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. This is India's largest mosque designed by Shah Jahan, and was his last architectural legacy. Originally it was called Masjid-I-Jahanuma, which means "mosque commanding a view of the world". In complete contrast to the noise and crowds of Old Delhi, is Raj Ghat a simple and stunning memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India's independence. You pass through the Red Fort that dominates this area is the landmark. Built in the mid-17th century by Shah Jahan, it was plundered by the marauding armies of Nadir Shah and later by British soldiers.
Afternoon, we take our tour of New Delhi, visit Qutab Minar, the tapering monument begun in 1199 was built to symbolize the supremacy of Islam. This structure was eventually the prototype of all minars or towers in India. We drive pass the India Gate, Presidential Palace and Parliament House.
Evening Free.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Three: Delhi - Jaipur (Drive: 5.5 hours)
- Breakfast at hotel
- Checkout from hotel
- Drive to Jaipur
- Check-in at hotel in Jaipur
- Evening free
After breakfast you will check-out from hotel and drive to Jaipur approx.4hrs.drive from Delhi. Upon arrival in Jaipur our representative will assist you to complete the check-in formalities in the hotel.
You have entire afternoon free to relax in the hotel. (Optional you can visit Local Market of Jaipur).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Four: Jaipur
- Breakfast at hotel
- Excursion to Amer Fort
- City Tour of Jaipur
- Evening free
- Overnight at hotel
After breakfast we leave for excursion to Amber Fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. En route to Amber Fort from your hotel, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.
In the afternoon, we tour the city of Jaipur. We first visit the Maharaja's city Palace, the former Royal residence part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. The main entrance leads to the courtyard at the center, which is the Mubarak Mahal. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. On the first floor is the Textile and Costume Museum, which is the fine example of fabrics and costumes from all over India.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Five - Jaipur - Abhaneri - Agra
- Breakfast at hotel
- Check-out from hotel
- Drive to Agra
- Check-in at hotel
- Evening free
- Overnight at hotel
After breakfast we drive to Agra, en route visit Chand Abori in Abhaneri. Upon arrival in Agra check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Six: Agra - Varanasi (Overnight train)
- Visit of Taj Mahal
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit of Agra fort and Itmad-ud-daula.
- Afternoon free.
- Transfer to railway station
- Overnight in the train
At sunrise, we visit the world famous Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday) built by Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the sill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. After breakfast we check-out from hotel and drive to Agra.
After visit return back to hotel.
After breakfast Agra Fort. Agra fort, built by Emperor Akbar, reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. This fort palace was begun by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel and was subsequently completed by two successive generations that added the delicate mosaic and magnificent marble palaces. The fort is the history of Mughal life in Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal.
Itmad –ud – daulah.
Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometers up-stream. Belonging to the age of Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of the parents of the powerful MughalEmpress Nurjahan, queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astute administrator.
Afternoon free. (Check-out time 1200 Hrs. however we will extend checkout till 1500 hrs. but the same will be subject to availability)
Later in time you will transfer to railway station in Agra or in Delhi (Subject to seat availability) to board the train to Varanasi.
Overnight stay in the train.
Special Note: - Taj Mahal remains closed on every Friday.
Day Seven: Arrive in Varanasi (By train)
- Arrive at Varanasi railway station
- Transfer to hotel
- Check-in at hotel
- Evening aarti ceremony and rickshaw ride.
- Overnight at hotel
Upon arrival in Varanasi you will be meet and greet by our representative and transfer to the hotel.
Evening you will witness the Aarti ceremony on river Ganges.Every evening, as dusk descends, it's time for the Ganga Aarti to be performed at the three holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi in India. It's a very powerful and uplifting spiritual ritual.
The aarti takes place facing the river. The lamps are lit and circled around by the pandits (Hindupriests) in a clockwise manner, accompanied by changing or songs in praise of Mother Ganga. The idea is that the lamps acquire the power of the deity. After the ritual is complete, devotees will cup their hands over the flame and raise their palms to their forehead in order to get the Goddess's purification and blessing.
We return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day Eight: Varanasi - Delhi (Overnight Train)
- Boating on the Ganges
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit to Sarnath
- Temple tour in Varanasi
- Evening free
- Transfer to railway station
- Board the train to Delhi
- Overnight in the train
Early morning today we leave for a boat ride on River Ganges. The western banks of Ganges has a string of Ghats -the chain of stone steps, all built with pavilions, palaces and terraces, most of which are mainly used as Dharamsalas where the pilgrims stay during their visit to the holy city. At dawn, the Ghats are abuzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the rising sun andperforming other religious rituals. A boat ride along the Ghats gives you vantage views of this activity. The sunrise on the Ganges is a soul-lifting experience.
After boat ride we return to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast you will visit Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, ‘turned the wheel of the law’) after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century A.D. Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and erected a pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adorsed Lions, which today forms the national emblem of India. Among other structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple; the DhamekhStupa, adorned with delicate floral carvings; the Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society’s Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple. We also visit the Archeological Museum, with an extremely rich collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images.
In the afternoon we visit the Vishwanath temple, also called the golden temple because of the gold-plating on its roof and drive pass Bharat Mata Mandirand Benaras Hindu University - is a premier Central University and a world class educational institution located in Varanasi. It is regarded as the largest residential university in Asia. The fully-residential campus has more than 128 independent teaching departments in its 1350-acre campus.
Special Note: - Sarnath Museum remains closed on every Thursday
Later in time you will transfer to railway station to board the train to Delhi.
Overnight stay in train.
Day Nine: Delhi (By train)
- Arrival at railway station
- Transfer to hotel.
- Check-in at hotel
- Overnight at hotel.
On arrival our representative will meet you at railway station and transfer to hotel. (Normal Check-in time at hotel 1200 hrs.) breakfast will be on direct payment basis.
On arrival in hotel, full day free. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10: Delhi
- Free day.
- Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast free day in the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11: Departure delhi
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Check-out from Hotel
- Transfer to airport
After breakfast in time you will be transferred to airport to board the flight for onwards destination.
Inclusions:
- Meeting and assistance on arrival / departure at the airport by our office representative.
- 08 night’s accommodation on sharing twin room Breakfast Basis at below mentioned hotels or similar available alternates at all the place.
- All transfers, sightseeing excursion as per program using private air conditioned Vehicle.
- English speaking local guide for all the visits as per program.
- Elephant ride (One way ride for ascending only) at Amer Fort. 02 pax on each elephant.
- Rickshaw ride in Varanasi.
- 02 overnight trains from Agra (Delhi) to Varanasi and Varanasi to Delhi.
- Aarti Ceremony in Varanasi.
- Sarnath Excursion in Varanasi
- Boat Ride on river Ganges in Varanasi.
- One time monument entry fee at all monuments mentioned in the program.
- 01 additional breakfast in Varanasi on arrival on day 06.
- Packed dinner from Varanasi during train Journey from Varanasi - Agra.
- Government Service Taxes
Exclusions:
- Any visa fee, airport taxes.
- Any meal (Lunch/Dinner) Apart from mentioned above.
- Visa charges & Airport taxes
- Still or video camera fees
- Any tips to drive/guide/escort/restaurants etc
- Any porter-ages on arrival and departure at the hotel.
- Any extras like table drinks, telephone calls, any tips, laundry etc or any other items of personal Nature
Standard Accommodation
- Delhi: Mapple Exp
- Jaipur: Hyphan Ujjwal
- Agra: Siris – 18
- Varanasi: Meadows
- Delhi: Mapple Exp
Superior Accommodation:
- Delihi: Holiday Inn Mayur Vihar
- Jaipur: Sarovar Portico
- Agra: Sarovar Premier
- Varanasi: The Ammaya
- Delhi: ITC welcome Dwarka