Taj Mahal with North India & Nepal
Duration:
09 Nights / 10 Days
Destinations:
Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Kathmandu -
Dhulikhel - Kathmandu
Day
01: Arrive Delhi You will be met on arrival at the International
airport. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of
kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend
of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction to the
composite culture of an ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope - that
is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02:
Delhi Breakfast at hotel.
Full day tour of Old &
New Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would
entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was
cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once
the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughul Empire.
Cycle
rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An
extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the
Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue -
Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's
Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Enjoy the DANCES OF INDIA SHOW in the evening and retire early.
Overnight at Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Drive to Jaipur.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of
Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai
Singh II who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the
spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it
still retains it's character and history - A beautiful fusion of the
yesteryears and modernity. Popularly known as the Pink City because of the
extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in
honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills
the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and
lush gardens.
Reach Jaipur and check in at hotel.
Afternoon sight-seeing tour of Jaipur visiting...
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. Its five-storey structure
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.
Proceed for dinner at a VILLAGE THEME RESTAURANT. Overnight will be at
Jaipur.
Day
04: Jaipur - Agra Breakfast will be at the hotel. Morning excursion
will be taken to the Amber Fort. Climb the FORT on elephant back in royal
style.
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. It's forbidding exterior belies
an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds
it's ultimate expression.
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri
en-route.
The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built
that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating
experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in
pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must
have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Buland Darwaza,
the largest gateway in the world.
Continue your drive to Agra
and on arrival check-in at Hotel.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day
05: Agra Breakfast will be at the hotel. Proceed for the
sight-seeing of Agra.
TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah
Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a
Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in
Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their
14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard
were said to have grown snow white in a few months. When Mumtaz Mahal was
still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he
build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to
their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary.
He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was
completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it.
An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the
architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it.
It is a "symbol of eternal love".
Having buried her
down at Behrampur, it was time for the emperor to keep his promise and build
a tomb there itself. But by and by, it was felt that it was virtually
impossible to transfer all the marble there, as it would cost an entire
fortune and an entire lifetime. So, when Agra was chosen as the only
alternative, astonishingly her grave was uprooted and brought to Agra, only
to be finally transferred to the monument, completed twenty-two years later.
After Taj we will visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In
1525 AD. After Agra Fort we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are
considered better than the Taj.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day
06: Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to
station for train to Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and transfer to Orchha,
12 km away.
Orchha - 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 city is picturesquely
flanked by the river Betwa.
Proceed for sight-seeing of ORCHHA
sites within the Fort Complex. Enjoy your lunch at Orchha.
Continue drive to Khajuraho.
Situated in the heart of India, in
the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a
quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage, honoured by the world
as India's unique contribution to human civilization. The Chandela dynasty
built eighty-five temples here. Twenty remain as embodiments of Indian
architectural and sculptural art at its most evolved state. Even ten
centuries after they were constructed, the temples of Khajuraho reflect an
eternal philosophy relevant to all mankind. The temples of Khajuraho is a
world heritage site and belong not just to India but to the world. Khajuraho
is one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Reach
Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Evening free. Can go out for a
stroll.
Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 07:
Khajuraho - Varanasi Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for a guided tour
of the exotic temples of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport
for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met and
transferred to hotel.
Varanasi is the World's most ancient
living city. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be
spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of
streets, the city attracts the maximum number of tourists. The religious
capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet manufacturing place of India. It
was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates. The present name
is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers
Varuna and Asi.
Overnight at Varanasi.
Day
08: Varanasi - Kathmandu Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a
boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness
the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important
religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you
to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the
River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed
to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you.
Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the
background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Return
for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga".
As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the
faithful are coming and going.
Return to hotel for a sumptuous
breakfast.
Proceed for a half day-guided tour of Varanasi
including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu
University and other important monuments.
Visit Sarnath - 5
miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites
in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the
ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum
which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at
the site.
Transfer to airport for flight to Kathmandu.
Reach Kathmandu.
The Kathmandu Valley, the political,
commercial and cultural hub of Nepal, is the first for the majority of
visitors to Nepal. Once a separate kingdom in itself, it contains three
fabled cities - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Each is an artistic
exposition of graceful temples, elegant palaces, brick paved courtyards and
quaint streets. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in the valley.
Relax for the rest of the day. Overnight at Kathmandu.
Day
09: Kathmandu Breakfast at hotel.
Day tour covering
Swambhunath and Patan Durbar Square. Shopping and rest of the day will be at
leisure.
Proceed to Dhulikhel. Reach and check in at resort.
Dhulikhel offers a traditional atmosphere along with spectacular
views. Situated just 30 km east of Kathmandu, this is a magnificent place to
spend the night and awaken to the sun rising across the wide Himalayan
range. Once an important link in the ancient trade route to Tibet, Dhulikhel
has a glorious past, which can be witnessed in the lovely buildings and
intricate woodcarvings found along the shop-lined streets and in the
temples.
Overnight will be at resort with a panoramic view of
the HIMALAYAN RANGE.
Day 10: Dhulikhel - Kathmandu
Leave after breakfast and proceed to Kathmandu. Transfer to airport for
flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and will be received at international airport.
Take connecting flight to the next destination.
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