Experience North India

Places to See : Delhi - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Udaipur - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi - Orcha - Kahjuraho - Aurangabad - Goa - Mumbai
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days

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Day 01 : ARRIVAL DELHI

Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi late in the evening. 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. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02 : DELHI – JODHPUR

After breakfast you will be transferred to domestic airport to take the flight for Jodhpur upon arrival at Jodhpur proceed for Jaisalmer.

Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with its awesome splendor, dominating the amber-hued city.

The city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to which, Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in 1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a descendent of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new capital -Jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta Hill.

Reach and check in at hotel. Overnight will be at Jaisalmer.

Day 03 : JAISALMER

After a relaxed breakfast proceed for full day sightseeing tour of The Golden City - Jaisalmer. It is in the heart of the Great Indian Desert. Its temple, fort and palaces are all built of yellow stone. The city is a mass of intricately carved buildings, facades and elaborate balconies. Visit the JAISALMER FORT – The oldest living Fort in the world. (This is the highlight of the tour)

See the Patwon-Ki-Havelies, Salim-Singh-Ki-Haveli and Gandhi Sagar Tank. Also visit Barabagh Hill.

In the afternoon, proceed to the SAM SAND DUNES for visiting the typical Rajasthani Desert Village. View the sunset from the dunes, as the sky is set on fire. Return to the village for dinner amidst Rajasthani musicians playing haunting tunes.

Stay overnight at Hotel.

Day 04 : JAISALMER – JODHPUR

After breakfast proceed for Jodhpur.

JODHPUR: Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic hero of the Ramayana. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts. Above the plains. The city is encompassed by a high wall -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable

Upon arrival proceed for sight seeing visit the Mehrangarh Fort, rising up a hilly scarp, built on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the city in the image of a long sentinel. Inside the Fort are a number of palaces added by successive rulers. In this palace you would see different miniature paintings & cradle room. After this you would visit Jaswant Thada Memorial.

Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Day 05 : JODHPUR – RANAKPUR – UDAIPUR

Morning breakfast at hotel and proceed by road to Udaipur by road, en-route visit Ranakpur,

The RANAKPUR TEMPLES, dating back to the 15th century. 200 pillars, none of which are alike, support its 29 halls. The Temple abounds with intricate friezes and sculptures. Includes visits to two more Jain temples and the Temple of the Sun God with its erotic sculptures.

Continue drive to Udaipur,

The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the ARAVALLIS. A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers.

Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the LAKE PICHOLA is an enticing sight.

Udaipur is the jewel of MEWAR -a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years.

Relax in the evening.

Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Day 06 : UDAIPUR

Breakfast will be at hotel.

Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur, stopping first at City Palace. Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.

Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and the local folk Museum.

Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - the other island palace in the middle of the lake. Spend some time at the Jag Mandir Palace.

Overnight will be at Udaipur.

Day 07 : UDAIPUR – JAIPUR

After breakfast proceed 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 its character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is 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.

Upon arrival check in hotel and relax.

Overnight stay will be at Jaipur.

Day 08 : JAIPUR

Breakfast will be at hotel.

Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. 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 its ultimate expression.

Proceed for sightseeing of the city.

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. It is a 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.

Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the intricate work or a gem factory and see the gem cutting and polishing process.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Day 09 : JAIPUR – FATHEPUR SIKRI – AGRA

After breakfast at hotel proceed by road to Agra, en route visit Fatehpur Sikri,

Fatehpur Sikri: 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 Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Continue drive to Agra,

AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-al-Khalifa {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.

Upon arrival check in hotel and relax.

Overnight stay will be at Agra.

Day 10 : AGRA

After breakfast proceed to visit Taj. Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to 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.

Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Visit Itmadullah’s Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj).

Evening relax in the hotel.

Overnight stay will be at Agra

Day 11: JHANSI – ORCHHA – KHAJURAHO

After breakfast you will be transferred to railway station to take the train for Jhansi. Upon arrival Proceed by surface to ORCHHA after breakfast.

ORCHHA – A medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with Palaces and temples of the 16th and 17th century which have remarkable withstood the onslaught of time. The city is picturesquely flanked by the River Betwa.

Proceed for sightseeing of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex.

Lunch will be at Orchha and then proceed to Khajuraho.

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 civilisation. 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. Visit the Western set of Temples and enjoy Sound and Light Show in the evening. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.

Day 12 : KHAJURAHO – JHANSI – AURANGABAD

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Start sightseeing of the TEMPLES.

The remote location of Khajuraho meant that the temples were unharmed by Muslim invaders and as a result, the intricately fine carvings are in very good condition and are said to represent life in heaven. They were built during the mighty Chandela dynasty, the majority were constructed in a sudden burst of creative and religious energy, between the mid-10th and 11th centuries. After ruling for about 500 years the Chandela dynasty fell to the might of Islam and consequently the religious centre of Khajuraho was abandoned. The temples remain as a reminder of a society that believed in the full enjoyment of life, with all the senses being a path to nirvana. Of the eighty-five original temples only 22 remain, but many are in very good condition including the Kandariya Mahadeva, the Chatrabhuj, Parswanath and Ghantai Temples, each remarkable for its beautiful design and architecture

Early evening proceed for Jhansi railway station to take the overnight train for Aurangabad.

Overnight will be at Train.

Day 13 : AURANGABAD – AJANTA – ELLORA – AURANGABAD

Morning breakfast at Train upon arrival, go for the excursion of Ajanta & Ellora. Ajanta caves is 110 kms away from Aurangabad. The Ajanta Caves date back to the 2nd century BC. The 30 rock caves are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and frescoes. The rock-out Caves of Ajanta nestle in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the Caves depict incidents from the life of the Buddha and the various Buddhist divinities. The cave at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 29 km north of Aurangabad which encompass 34 rock cut shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century AD. Ellora has been designed as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

Evening back to Aurangabad city, check in hotel and relax.

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 14 : AURANGABAD – GOA

After breakfast you will be transferred to airport to take the flight for Goa. Upon arrival check in hotel and relax.

GOA: Goa, variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers around the world. Nestled on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges), Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharasthra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar Districts of Karnataka, and on the west by Arabian Sea.

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa. Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa. Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonization on 19th of December 1961 and became a Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and Diu. On 30th of May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the Indian Republic. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax.

On arrival Goa airport, transfer to hotel check in hotel and relax, overnight stay at hotel,

Day 15 : GOA

Full day relax on beaches of Goa, and enjoy beach activities of Goa,

Overnight stay will be at Goa.

Day 16 : GOA

Full day relax on beaches of Goa, and enjoy beach activities of goa,

Overnight stay will be at Goa.

Day 17 : GOA – MUMBAI

Morning breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport to catch flight to mumbai,

MUMBAI:
Its young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city of India. The capital city of Maharashtra State formerly known as Bombay lies in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site originally composed of seven islets lying off the KONKAN COAST of western India. Oozing with the cocksure self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass" (carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial and commercial hub and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.

Yet, there's another face of Mumbai too that is of the most densely populated cities in the world. Mumbai is located on a site of ancient settlement and took its name from the local Goddess "Mumba" - a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the principal Gods of Hinduism - whose temple once stood in what is now the southeastern section of the Mumbai city.

Upon arrival proceed to start the tour of ELEPHANTA CAVES. For this you would need to take the ferry service to the caves island.

The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These caves are located at a distance of 11 km from Mumbai and are now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Elephanta, being a commercial, military and religions centre for centuries has traces of early Buddhist culture.

The Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the Brahminical resurgence during the reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these great cave dedicated to Lord Shiva exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends and history suggest that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin ll raised the shrine to celebrate his victory. Some historians also suggest that these caves were built by the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja in 6th century AD.

After noon back to Mumbai city continue your sightseeing.

Mumbai Fort: The area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort, since the old British fort was once located here. There are a lot of impressive buildings from Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church, dedicated to the soldiers, who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838, and the first Afghan war of 1843, is also worth a visit.

Marine Drive in Mumbai: Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built in the 1920s and 30s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare. It is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come to known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.

Gateway of India: Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.

Flora Fountain / Hutama Chowk: This fountain situated in the heart of the city was erected in 1869 in honour of a British Governor of Bombay. Sir Brtle Frere. Flora Fountain marks a junction of five streets and known as the 'Picadilly Circus 'of Mumbai, which is decorated at its four corners with mythological figures, the Fountain is a structure in dull stone with a figure the Roman Goddess of flowers, at the top.

Victoria Terminus / Western Railway Station: At the site of the Koli's original temple to Mumba Devi now stands Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus - one of Mumbai's most prominent buildings and architecturally one of the finest stations in the world. It is built in a style that combines Gothic and Indian influences. It was completed in 1885. Designed by F.W. Stevens the building commenced in 1878. This Italian gothic Building has a frontage of over 15,00 feet. The administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing an ornamental garden, the entrance gate guarded by a massive stone Lion and Tiger. The most prominent feature of this building is the high 160 feet dome crowning the centre. On top of the giant dome is a figure of a women with a torch held aloft to symbolise progress.

Evening transfer to hotel and relax, Overnight stay at hotel

Day 18 : AURANGABAD – GOA

Today as per your flight timings you will be transferred to the airport for flight home with sweet memories of India.

Tour Ends

Trip Details

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