Day 1: Delhi : Arrive Delhi
Traditional welcome on arrival at Delhi international airport by our
Representative to transfer to hotel for immediate check-in. Day 2: Dehil :
After breakfast, guided tour of historic city of Delhi. The city where
one can experience the influence of the many rulers who ruled this
region, a city built and destroyed and
re-built over seven times. The guided tour takes to the monuments that
depict the different eras. The tour includes the magnificent Red Fort,
the Jama Masjid, on of Asia's largest mosque, Rajghat - the memorial to
Mahatma Gandhi - the "Father of the Nation". Afternoon tour of New Delhi
to
include Humanyun Tomb, Birla Mandir, Bahai
Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate, President'' House and drive through
Connaught Place. Evening, see Son-et-Lumerie at Red Fort (optional).
Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Delhi - Jaipur : After
breakfast, drive in air-conditioned tourist car to Jaipur - the Pink
City of Rajasthan. Upon arrival in Jaipur, transfer to the hotel for
wash 'n' change. Later, a guided half-day city tour of Jaipur covering
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), City Palace, Jantar Mantar (Royal
Observatory).
Evening at leisure for enjoying the real
charm of this royal city to stroll in the local bazaars to see some
handicrafts and artisans. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Jaipur - Agra : Enjoy a
royal breakfast at hotel. Then guided excursion to the majestic Amber
Fort - the erstwhile capital of the Kachwahas Rajputs before they moved
to their newly built capital in Jaipur. This is the only fort where one
can still go by the elephant back even today like a Maharaja. Afternoon
drive
to Agra via Fatepur Sikri; a World Heritage
Site. Assisted by a guide visit this world famous complex of monuments
and temples built in a uniform architectural style. Proceed to Agra.
Agra is a treasure trove for all the tourists from India and abroad.
Even though Agra is synonymous with the Taj, the city stands in
testimony to
the great amount of architectural activity
of the Mughals. Evening visit bazaar (shopping area). Overnight at
hotel.
Day 5: Agra - Orchha : After
breakfast, visited the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. The Taj Mahal of
Agra is a monument built by emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of her wife
Mumtaz Mahal while the Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar. Built with
red sandstone the Fort is a mixture of the Islamic and Hindu styles of
architecture. After Lunch proceed to Orchha.
Check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Khajuraho : Breakfast
followed by a guided tour of Chandela dynasty temples famous for their
spectacular sculptures and carvings. Visit the Northern, Eastern and
Southern group of temples. Evening for leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Khajuraho - Varanasi :
Breakfast. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to catch a flight to
Varanasi. On arrival, check into hotel. Spend the evening on the ghats
of the Ganges. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Varanasi - Patna :
Breakfast. Transfer to the railway station to catch a train to Patna.
Arrive Patna in the evening, check into hotel. Evening free. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 9: Patna : After breakfast
take a guided excursion to Vaishali where Lord Buddha preached his last
sermon announcing his approaching Nirvana. Visit stupas holding urns
containing ashes of Buddha and Ashok pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka to
mark places sanctified by Buddha. The place is also known now for
famous
Madhubani paintings. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Patna - Kolkata :
Breakfast. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to catch a flight to
Kolkata. On arrival, check into hotel. In the evening, drive around
this once colonial city built in the 18th century. Like Mumbai and
Chennai, which we later visit, Kolkata originated largely due to the
expansionist
ambitions of the European powers, especially
the British Raj. Little wonder, Kolkata has some of the finest Raj
edifices built in a variety of styles. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Kolkata - Chennai :
Breakfast followed by a full-day guided tour of Kolkata visiting the
Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Fort William, Kali Mandir and Belur
Math, in the evening transfer to the airport to catch a flight to
Chennai. On arrival, check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Chennai : Breakfast at
hotel. Then a full day guided visit to Fort St. George, War memorial,
St. Mary's Church, the Basilica of Saint Thomas, believed to have been
built by St. Thomas, the apostle, Snake Park ending the day on Marina
Beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram : After
breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram (1 hr.) the erstwhile capital of the
Pallavas and Cholas. Visit the temples dedicated to various gods and
goddesses. Also visit the shopping area, as it is also home of weavers
of the famed Kanchipuram silks. Lunch at Kanchipuram.
Evening drive to Mahabalipuram
(Mamallapuram), a World Heritage Site and check into the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry :
Breakfast at hotel. Mahabalipuam, too was part of the Pallavas dynasty
and exhibits some of the most outstanding examples of the Dravidian
style of art and architecture. A full day guided tour of Arjuna’s
Penance, the rock cut caves, the Krishna Mandapam, the famous rathas and
the
Shore Temple. Afternoon drive to Pondicherry
and enjoy this quaint French town. Evening free on own to explore the
city on your own. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Pondicherry : Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour visiting Auroville and Aurobindo Ashram. Overnight at hotel.
Day 16: Pondicherry - Madurai : Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Madurai. On arrival, check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 17: Madurai - Trivandrum :
Breakfast followed by a half day guided program of Meenakshi temple
built in the Dravidian style and Teppa Kulu, a tank with an island
temple and Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Afternoon, drive to Trivandrum. Check
into a beach resort. Overnight at resort.
Day 18: Trivandrum - Mumbai - Aurangabad :
Breakfast. Morning free to spend time on the beach. Afternoon transfer
to the airport to catch a flight to Mumbai and an evening flight to
Aurangabad. Overnight at hotel.
Day 19 - Aurangabad : Breakfast.
Followed by a full day guided excursion of the ancient Ajanta and Ellora
Caves, a world heritage site. The 30 odd Buddhist caves at Ajanta are
full of sculptures and frescoes of life of Lord Buddha. The Ellora
Caves, is where one can see Buddhist, Jain and Hindu shrines dating back
to 4th
to 9th century A.D. Overnight at hotel.
Day 20: Aurangabad - Mumbai :
Early breakfast. Catch a flight back to Mumbai. On arrival, check into
hotel for wash-n-change followed by a full-day guided sightseeing of
Mumbai covering Hanging Garden, Marine Drive, Dhobi Ghat, Vidhan Sabha,
Malabar Hill and Prince of Wales Museum. Evening free. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 21: Mumbai - Onward destination : Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to connecting destination.
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