Magestic North India Tour

Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Delhi

Meeting, assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel. DELHI: New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. Check in time 12 noon. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02: In Delhi

Morning sightseeing of Old Delhi drives you past the Red Fort - a marvel in red sandstone, built on the banks of River Yamuna by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Drive past Red Fort, visit Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi), Jama Masjid, - The largest mosque in India. A cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, once an imperial avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city. Stop by & visit Gurudwara Seesh Gung Afternoon sightseeing of New Delhi, visit the 12th century Qut ab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years, the mausoleum of emperor Humayun. Drive past India Gate (memorial to the Indian army soldiers who died in the World War I) the Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the viceroy's residence) and the Parliament House. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Fly Delhi - Udaipur

Morning transfer to airport to connect your flight for Udaipur: Meeting, assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel. UDAIPUR: Lies in the Girwa valley amidst the Aravali hills of south Rajasthan. It is considered a romantic city - with its lakes, gardens, temples and palaces - an Oasis in the Thar desert. The old city is a traditionally planned fortified walled city, a maze of narrow winding lanes flanked by houses with doorways decorated with Mewar folk art, windows with stained glass or jali screens, massive havelis with large inner courtyards and shops. The legendary Ranas who ruled, traced their ancestry to the Sun Dynasty. Evening enjoy a boat cruise on lake Pichola. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: In Udaipur

Moring city tour visiting the City Palace built on the bank of the Pichola Lake, built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1570. The impressive complex of several palaces is a blend of Rajput and Mughul influences. Half of it is still occupied by the Royal family, and part converted into a museum. The Jagdish Temple (1651) was built by Maharana Jagat Singh. A fine example of the Nagara style of temple architecture. A brass Garuda stands outside and stone elephants flank the entrance steps Inside is a black stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. Afternoon spend some time with an India chef as for a cooking demo followed by a curry lunch. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05: Udaipur - Jaipur

Morning transfer to airport to connect your flight for Jaipur: Meeting, assistance of arrival & transfer to hotel. JAIPUR: Was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. It was made attractive with the pink wash - a traditional colour of welcome in 1853 in honour of the visit of Prince Albert. Evening attend an ‘aarti’ ceremony at Birla Mandir. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: In Jaipur

Morning Amber Fort with elephant ride: 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. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal – a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds. Evening enjoy a cycle rickshaw (pedi-cab) ride through the narrow alleys & bazaars of the old part of the town. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: In Jaipur

India is a true land of colors. See, feel & experience this at the Holi (festival of colors) festival at Diggi Palace. Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country it is known with different names. The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a day worth rejoicing. Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer. Late afternoon drive the outskirts of Jaipur to Dera Amer to experience the elephant village followed by dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Drive Jaipur - Agra

Post breakfast check out & drive to Agra (230kms/6-7hrs) en route visiting Fatehpursikri: Fatehpursikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power. Post your visit continue your drive to Agra. On arrival check in at hotel. AGRA : Perhaps no other historical monument has evoked as much awareness and admiration from tourists and travelers alike, as the magnificent Taj Mahal - fondly called by people as the ultimate requiem of love, from a great Mughal Emperor to his beloved. Agra - has been immortalized as the City of the Taj. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09: In Agra

Morning we drive across the river to the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula. The tomb is known as the 'Baby Taj'. It was the first Mughal structure totally built from marble with extensive use of pietra dura. We cross over & visit the Agra fort, built alongside the Yamuna river stretching almost 2.5 km. The fort’s colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure 2.5 km in circumference. The fort is surrounded by a moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor. The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront. Afternoon ‘henna’ tattoo session followed by lunch. There on visit the Taj Mahal: The monument of love was built by Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remain. 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 year to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Train Agra to Jhansi & Drive Jhansi to Khajuraho

Your day starts early today with an in time transfer to railway station to board your train for Jhansi: On arrival drive to Khajuraho (200kms/6-7hrs) en route visiting Orchha. Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy of the ages. For this medieval city, the hand of time has rested and the palaces and the temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th century retain much of their pristine perfection. Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful Chhatries, commands a spectacular view of soaring temple-spires and cenotaphs. Freshen up & enjoy a buffet lunch followed by a cycle rickshaw ride through the village. There on continue your drive to Khajurhao. On arrival check in at hotel. KHAJURHAO: In the temple architecture of India, the Khajuraho complex remains unique. One thousand years ago, under the generous and artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings of Central India, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly carved, came up on one site, near the village of Khajuraho. The amazingly short span of 100 years, from 950 AD - 1050 AD, saw the completion of all the temples, in an inspired burst of creativity. Today, of the original 85, only 22 have survived the ravages of time; these remain as a collective paean to life, to joy and to creativity; to the ultimate fusion of man with his creator. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: In Khajurhao

Start your day with a session of Yoga with a local ‘guru’. Post breakfast sightseeing of eastern and western group of temples. Visit the Western Group of temples, the most important temple being the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple-dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples. Visit the Chaunsat Yogini Jain Temple -dedica ted to the 64 "Yoginis" or attendants of Goddess Kali. This temple stands apart from the rest. Also seethe Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely sculpture of Lord Vishnu in his 11-headed form. The sculptures that adorn the temples, carved in stone depict gods, goddesses and amorous couples. Later visit the Eastern Group of temples including the Ghantai Temple, Vamana Temple dedicated to the "Vamana" or dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the Javari Temple. There are also three Jain Temples with beautiful carvings and non-erotic sculptures. Although these are Jain temples, they also contain numerous Vaishnav deities. Afternoon is future dwelling time with a local astrologer followed by free time at the Spa if you would wish on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Fly Khajurhao - Varanasi

Late morning transfer to airport to connect your flight for Varanasi: Meeting, assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel. VARANASI : Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Many names have been given to Varanasi, a name which probably derives from the two rivers that flank the city, the Varuna to the north and the Asi to the south. Many still use the Anglicized forms of Banaras or Benares, while the Hindu pilgrims refer to Kashi. Evening tour to downtown area in a rickshaw. Experience Varanasi intimately when you go on a leisurely rickshaw, ride through the narrow streets and alleys of Varanasi. In the evening the Ghats and temples are lit with oil-lamp lights or candles. Participate in an `aarti’ Ceremony (collective prayer) and watch the floating Diyas (lamps) on the river Ganges. Overnight at hotel

Day 13: In Varanasi

Early morning boat cruise 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 buzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering p rayers to the rising sun and performing 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. Afternoon tour of Sarnath: 10-Kms away from Varanasi is the fabled place, which bears testimony to its great past where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples, expounding the principles of Buddhism. The remains date back to as far as the 3rd-Century BC when Emperor Ashoka founded various institutions, stupas, monasteries and pillar Edicts. Visit the art collection at the Archaeological Museum. The main attraction is the superb Capital from Ashokan Pillar - the Ashokan symbol of four back-to-back Lions which has been adopted as the state symbol Independent India. Also visit the Mahabodhi Buddha temple and walk around the Deer Park. Later see the Monastery ruins area, Dhameka Stupa. Farewell dinner tonight with live India instrumental artist in attendance. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Fly Varanasi - Delhi

Morning transfer to airport to connect your flight for Delhi: Meeting, assistance on arrival & transfer to international airport to connect you flight for onward destination. Our services ends with this drop at airport.