Day
01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and meet the SITA representative at the
arrival hall and transfer to Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi.
Day 02: In Delhi
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of New & Old Delhi. Visit the 12th Century Qutab Minar; gracefully fluted and hand carved for its entire height of 234 feet. Near it stands the Iron Pillar which has withstood the ravages of time and hasn’t rusted in 1500 years. Also, visit the graceful mausoleum of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and the modern Birla Temple. Drive past the President's House, the Parliament House and the Secretariat buildings. The Red Fort, which was built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and the Jama Masjid, which is one of the largest mosques in India are other places of interest. The Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana are the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru respectively and make for a peaceful retreat. Besides these, visit Chandni Chowk for a unique shopping experience at Old Delhi.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi.
Day 03: To Udaipur (By Flight)
Morning transfer to airport to board flight for Udaipur.
Afternoon free to take a walking tour on your own through
the narrow lanes and back streets of Udaipur up to the Washing
Ghats at the lake Pichola.
Overnight at Hotel in Udaipur.
Day 04: In Udaipur
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Udaipur. Visit
The City Palace and Museum, considered to be the largest
palace complex in Rajasthan. The Pichola Lake, with an area
of 12 sq km, is situated in the heart of the city whereas
the Udai Sagar Lake was constructed to secure regular water
supply to the city of Udaipur in case of war. Also visit
the Pratap Memorial, which has the bronze statue of Maharana
Pratap, the legendary warrior king of Udaipur. Other places
of interest are the Jagdish Temple; situated near the City
Palace and Saheliyon Ki Bari; a small ornamental garden.
Later in the day enjoy a two hour boat-ride on Lake Pichola
visiting many Ghats (banks) of washing, bathing etc.
Overnight at Hotel in Udaipur.
Day 05: To Jodhpur – 275 Kms – 06
hours drive
Morning drive to Jodhpur. En-route visit the Ranakpur
temples. Ranakpur, home to the beautifully sculptured
Jain temples, lies in the tranquil valley of the Aravalis.
The main ‘Chaumukha
Temple’ is dedicated to Tirhankara Adinath and has
29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, all distinctly carved. Two
Jain temples dedicated to Neminath and Parsvanath and the
Sun Temple a little distance away, are also noteworthy.
After sightseeing continue drive to Jodhpur. Arrive Jodhpur
check-in at Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Jodhpur.
Day 06: To Jaisalmer – 290
Kms - 06 hours drive
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. This
includes a visit to The Mehrangarh Fort, situated at an altitude
of about 125 metres; it is spread over an area of 5 sq. km
and has seven gates. The Jaswant Thada is a white marble
memorial built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant II in 1899.
The Umaid Bhawan is a majestic building that presently functions
as a hotel and museum. The Mandore Gardens, situated about
8 km from Jodhpur, have cenotaphs of the Jodhpur rulers.
The Government Museum and Zoo are located in the pleasant
Umaid Gardens. Later drive to Jaisalmer. Arrive Jaisalmer
and check-in at Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Jaisalmer.
Day 07: In Jaisalmer
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer.
Jaisalmer; rising from the heart of the Thar Desert is like
a golden mirage. Bhati Rajputs of Jaisalmer were feudal chiefs
who lived off the forced levy on the caravans laden with precious
silks and spices that crossed the territory en-route to Delhi
or Sind. These caravans earned the town great wealth. A commanding
fort etched in yellow sandstone stands with its entire awesome
splendor, dominating the amber–hued city. The
Fort is golden-hued and forms a sentinel to the bleak deserts
from its 80 metre-high perch on the hill, while housing the
entire township within its ramparts. It has an enchanting
cow-web of narrow lanes dotted with some lovely havelis,
three beautifully sculptured Jain temples from 12th to 15th
century A.D. and five interconnected palaces. Jaisalmer is
an architectural dream in the heart of the desert. Evening
proceed for an excursion to sand dunes to view the sunset
and enjoy camel rides. Throbbing in the heart of the Thar
Desert, the Sam Sand Dunes is an intricately moulded wonderland
of burnished sandstone.
Overnight at Hotel in Jaisalmer.
Day 08: To Bikaner – 333
Kms – 07 hours drive
Morning drive to Bikaner. Arrive Bikaner and check-in at
Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Bikaner.
Day 09: To Mandawa – 170
Kms - 03 hours drive
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Bikaner.
Bikaner, the royal fortified city has a timeless appeal.
Lying in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted
with many sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval splendor
that pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly
called the 'Camel Country', Bikaner is renowned for the
best riding camels in the world. An architectural masterpiece
in red sandstone, the Lalgarh Palace was built by Maharaja
Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh.
The palace has beautiful latticework and filigree work.
Junagarh Fort was built in 1593 A.D by Raja Rai Singh,
a General in the army of Emperor Akbar.
This fort is a formidable structure encircled by a
moat and has some beautiful palaces within. These palaces,
made in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble
of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all
over the structure. The city of Bikaner is bolstered by
imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old
palaces, temples and a mosque founded by Raja Rai Singh.
The fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions,
a line of balconies and aerial windows of various designs.
An enormous doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal
Chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were
once celebrated. Later you will be driven to Mandawa. Arrive
Mandawa and check-in at Hotel. Mandawa was founded in the
18th century. This medieval fort dominates the town with
its painted arched gateway, which is adorned with images
of Lord Krishna and his cows. The Chokhani and Ladia Havelis
along with the Saraf Havelis are some of the splendid examples
of this region’s
havelis. The Shiva Temple with a rock crystal ‘lingam’ is
also worth a visit. The fort is now converted into
a heritage hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Mandawa.
Day 10: To Jaipur – 170 Kms – 03
hours drive
Morning drive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check-in at
Hotel. Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, painted
in the tone of an autumnal sunset, literally blushed
pink when Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria,
stepped on its soil in 1883. Interspersing the play of red and pink were
white borders and motifs, painstakingly outlining the architectural
highlights of Jaipur’s buildings. Jaipur has been
like that since 1727 when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II had
it built.
Overnight at Hotel in Jaipur.
Day 11: In Jaipur
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Amber
Fort and Jaipur city. Amber Fort was the ancient capital
of the State until 1728. Visit the Temple of Kali, the Hall
of Victory or Jai Mahal and Jagmandir. You can also experience
a unique ride on an elephant’s back to and from the top of the
hill on which the Fort is situated. Afternoon visit
City Palace, which is at the heart of Jaipur and is known
for its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Not
far away is the Central Museum. Jantar Mantar is the largest
of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. The Hawa
Mahal or the Palace of Winds was constructed for the royal
ladies to watch the royal processions without being seen.
Overnight at Hotel in Jaipur.
Day 12: To Sariska – 110
Kms – 02 hours drive
After breakfast drive to Sariska. Arrive Sariska
and check-in at Hotel. Afternoon proceed for the Jeep Safari.
Sariska is probably one of the most visited wildlife parks
in India. Like many other wildlife parks, Sariska too was
the hunting reserve of the royal family in the area. In
this case, it was the Royal family of Alwar. The reserve
was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and came under
the "Project
Tiger" as a tiger reserve in 1979. The park covers
a large area of 800 square kilometres, 480 square kilometres
of which form the core area of the national park.
Overnight at Hotel in Sariska.
Day 13: To Agra – 210 Kms – 4
hours drive
Morning drive to Agra. En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur
Sikri is an impressive fortified city, which was built by
Emperor Akbar. In spite of being a capital city, it was hardly
ever inhabited because of shortage of water. Even today it
stands magnificent, with majestic palaces, the five-tiered
Panch Mahal and the tomb of Salim Chisthi, a saint who had
predicted the birth of Akbar's son. Arrive Agra and check-in
at Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Agra.
Day 14: In Agra
Morning proceed for a visit to Taj Mahal, which is
the epitome of Shah Jahan’s monumental testimony of
love for his empress, Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum
has become synonymous not only with this city but with India
as a whole. The construction of Taj Mahal is believed to
have taken 18 years (1631-1648) with over 20,000 craftsmen
working around the clock. Also visit the Agra Fort, which
is on the banks of the river Yamuna and is almost in the
centre of the town. This Fort represents the architecture
of the period during the reign of three great Mughal emperors;
Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The conspicuous structures
within this complex are Jahangiri Mahal, Anguri Bagh, Khas
Mahal and Moti Masjid.
Overnight at Hotel in Agra.
Day 15: To Khajuraho (By
Train)
Morning transfer to Railway Station to board Shatabdi
Express for Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi and drive to Khajuraho
visiting Orchha en-route. Orchha's grandeur has been captured
in stone and frozen in time, and has become a rich legacy
to the ages. The hand of time has rested lightly on this
medieval city and the palaces and temples built by its
Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries retain much
of their pristine perfection. Orchha was founded in the
16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain Rudra Pratap
who chose this stretch of land along the Betwa River as
an ideal site for his capital. Of the succeeding rulers,
the most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the
exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful
chhatries. From here the view of soaring temple spires
and cenotaphs is spectacular. Complementing the noble proportions
of the palace’s exteriors, the
interiors represent the finest flowering of the Bundela School
of painting. In the Laxmi Narayan temple, vibrant colors
encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes bring
the walls and ceilings to rich life. Strewn around the area
are little shrines and memorials, each with its own poignant
history, each contributing to the nostalgic beauty that is
Orchha! Arrive Khajuraho by late afternoon and check–in
at Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Khajuraho.
Day 16: To Varanasi (By Flight)
Morning proceed for the tour of Khajuraho Temples. Khajuraho
combines history, architecture, culture and environment
with delectable charm. It is a town that takes you away
from the noise and pollution of the city, with its fresh
air and scenic countryside. For convenience, the temples
of Khajuraho are divided into the Western & Eastern groups. The Western
Group, situated opposite the Government of India Tourist
Office, has 14 temples. The Chaunsath Yogini, Lalguan Mahadev,
Parvati, Varaha, Matangesvara, Lakshmana, Vishvanath and
Nandi, Chitragupta, Devi Jagdamba and Kandariya Mahadeo temples
belong to this group. The Eastern Group, 2.4 km from the
Tourist Office, consists of seven temples (four Jain and
three Hindu). The Parsvanath, Adinath, Shantinath, and Ghantai
temples belong to the Jains while the Vamana, Javari and
Brahma are Hindu temples. Afternoon transfer to airport to
board flight for Varanasi - the oldest city in India. Arrive
Varanasi and transfer to Hotel. En-route visit Sarnath, where
Buddha preached his message about the ‘middle way’ in
order to achieve nirvana.
Overnight at Hotel in Varanasi.
Day 17: In Varanasi
Early morning enjoy a boat cruise on River Ganges,
which is the most important facet of Varanasi along with
the ghats lining its southern bank in the city. From dawn to dusk
the ghats are thronged by thousands of devotees, who perform
their holy rituals in the hope of attaining eternal salvation,
the 'Nirvana'. The ghats, thus, always bustle with activity. Later
visit The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas; it was
planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata
Temple houses, instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief
map in marble of the whole of Indian subcontinent. The
Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964, is dedicated to Lord
Rama.
Overnight
at Hotel in Varanasi.
Day 18: To Kathmandu (By Flight)
Late morning transfer to airport to board flight for Kathmandu.
Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Day free for independent
activities.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 19: In Kathmandu
Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Kathmandu.
This includes a visit to the Residence of the Living Goddess
near the Durbar Square. This is the residence of Kumari, the
Living Goddess (Virgin Goddess). It was built in 1960 by
King Jaya Prakash Malla and has intricately carved wooden
balconies and windows. Also visit Swaymbhunath, said to be
2000 years old and one of the world’s oldest Buddhist
chaityas. The stupa forms the main structure and is
composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting
a cornice of copper and gilt. Painted on the four-sided
base of the spire are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.
Afternoon visit Pashupatinath, which stands on the banks
of the sacred river Bagamati. This temple, with its two-tier
golden roof and silver doors is famous all over the world
for its superb architecture. For many, it is a centre of
annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri. Though only Hindus
are allowed to go inside the courtyard of the temple, tourists
and visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities
from the eastern bank of the Bagamati River. Visit Boudhnath,
the colossal and ancient stupa, which is one of the biggest
in the world. Four pairs of Buddha’s eyes in four cardinal
directions are believed to keep an eternal watch over the
people and their doings.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 20: In Kathmandu
Morning proceed for the tour of Bhadgoan, Changu Narayan
and Patan. The ancient name of Patan was Lalitpur. It
is indeed a city of beauty and grace. Planned on a
circular format with Buddhist stupas on the four points of
the compass, the city is a few miles south-east of Kathmandu,
across the southern bank of the river Bagamati. Another important
sightseeing place in Patan is Durbar Square, a palace complex
and the focal point of the city’s attraction; it is
a cluster of nine pagoda temples and stone statuaries. Also
visit Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, which is a three-storied pagoda-styled
golden temple of Lokeshwar (Lord Buddha). Built in the 12th
century A.D, Kumbheshwar, a five-storied pagoda style temple
of Lord Shiva is a must-see. It is said that the source of
the natural spring inside the courtyard is the famous glacial
lake of Gosainkunda. Jagat Narayan, Krishna Mandir, Ashokan
Stupas, Rudra Varna Mahavihar are other places of interest
in Patan.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 21: To Delhi (By Flight) Depart
Delhi
In-time transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Meet
the SITA representative on arrival in Delhi and transfer
to International airport to board the flight to onward destination.
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