Combination

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Detail Itinerary of Combination

Day 01 : Delhi
Upon arrival at the airport / train station you will be met with our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi – Varanasi ( By flight 1 hr )
In the morning you will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival you will be met by our representative at the airport and then transferred to your hotel in the pious city of Varanasi. Later visit Sarnath (11km) – the sacred Buddhist City where Buddha is said to have preached his first sermon to his 5 disciples under the Bodhi tree. Visit the site and the temple attached to it. Also visit the archaeological museum that houses artifacts from 3rd century BC. Adjacent to the museum is the ancient seat of learning from the 2nd century BC in ruins. See the Dhamek Stupa where lots of Buddhist pilgrims offer prayers by the day.

Return to your hotel in Varanasi.

Day 03 : Varanasi – Khajuraho ( By flight )
Early in the morning (0500hrs) we take you to banks of the river Ganges where we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika Ghat along the sacred Ganges. See the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvyapi kund and the mosque attached to it. Also visit the Benares Hindu University the largest residential university in India with more than 3000 residential students.

Return to your hotel for breakfast. In time transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Khajuraho – the millenium destination of India. Witness the DANCES OF INDIA SHOW in a nearby auditorium.

Overnight in Khajuraho.

Day 04 : Khajuraho – Orchha ( 182km 4hrs )
Morning sight seeing shows us the temples built during the 9th to the 11th centuries by the powerful dynasty of Chandela rajputs. The temples with their erotic sculptures are a feast to the eyes. The Chandelas built 85 temples in all but today only 20 temples stand intact. Visit the Kandariya Maheshwar temple and the Laxmana Temple along with Varaha temple and then onto the Jain group of temples.

Later carry on towards Orchha. Visit Orchha with its imposing Jehangiri Mehal and the cenotaphs of the Bundela Rajput warriors. Orchcha a medieval village where time has stopped. You feel the timelessness of this spot. Orchha is 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 river Betwa picturesquely flanks the city. See the beautiful Palace Complex – Jahangiri Mahal and the Raja Mahal. Closely study the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja Mahal . Visit the visit the Laxminarayana Temple during the prayer time in the evening to witness the Hindu devotees offering prayers in the temple.

Overnight in Orchha.

Day 05 : Orchha – Gwalior – Agra ( 250km 5hrs )
After breakfast at your hotel leave for Agra on route visiting the Scindia capital of Gwalior. A trip to Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the fort, Scindia Palace and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen. Also visit the Gurjari Mahal the palace of the Gurjar queen Mrignayani today housing an archaeological museum. Also see the Teli ka mandir and the Saas bahu ka mandir inside the fort.

Continue towards Agra a short distance away.

Day 06 : Agra
Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of 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 anywhere in the world.

Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar that houses many fabulous palaces built in Indo Islamic style. See the marble palace of Shahjehan that was built with the remaining and rejected stones from the Taj Mahal – Mussamman Burj.

Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah – it is the first mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.

Day 07 : Agra – Jaipur ( 230km 5hrs )
Leave early morning for Jaipur and enroute visiting the phantom city of Fatehpur Sikri : the erstwhile capital of the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great.

Visit the diwan-i-am - the hall of public audiences where the emperor used to give justice to the oppressed subject of his. See Jodhabai’s palace (Akbar’s hindu wife) that is even bigger than his own private palace. Later visit Salim Chisti’s tomb at the nearby mosque. Salim chisti was a sufi saint who blessed Akbar and his Hindu wife with a long awaited son. Akbar was so overwhelmed that he built a mosque in his remembrance to thank the Sufi saint.

Continue towards the Pink City - Jaipur.

Upon arrival check into your hotel.

Day 08 : Jaipur
Visit the Amber forts and palaces in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Sheesh mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens.

After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician, an astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold latticed work. The city palace houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery.

Day 09 : Jaipur – Kishangarh – Udaipur (455km 7hrs )
Leave Jaipur in the morning after breakfast to reach Udaipur visiting Kishangarh palace on route. See the mural paintings of this region that touched the epitome of art and culture during the reign of Maharaja Sawan Singh and master painter Nihalchand.

Continue towards Udaipur and arrive by early evening.

Day 10 : Udaipur
After breakfast leave for the magnificent city tour of Mewar – Udaipur.

Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See the Peacock Square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises. Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature art schools in the country under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur.

After lunch visit the temple complex of Eklingji and Nagda.

The temple at Eklingji is a temple that belongs to the Maharana of Mewar (royal family) as he is often there to pray. The temple complex of Nagda is a group of temples of which only two remain intact and those are that of Saas and Bahu: the temples of Shiva and of Vishnu both from the 7th century.

Return to the city and visit Sahelion ki Bari a garden with fountains and a small palace inside it. Sahelion ki Bari is a garden complex where Maharana Sangram Singh build this garden complex with fountains and lakes for his beautiful daughter.

In the evening we take a lake cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichhola by sunset and visit the island palace Jagmandir where according to legends the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan lived and got inspired to build the Taj mahal later.

Evening in store for you is a sunset cruise on lake Pichhola. Visit the island palace Jagmandir where the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan was staying as a guest of honour of the Maharana of Mewar in the early 17th century. It is believed that Shah Jehan got inspired by the dome here to build the Taj Mahal later on.

Day 11 : Udaipur – Ranakpur – Jodhpur ( 292km 6hrs )
Leave Udaipur in the morning and reach Ranakpur a big pilgrimage for the Jains. Jains are a community that developed during the 3rd century under Lord Mahavira (a contemporary of Lord Buddha) and they are strict vegetarians by religion. They eat nothing that grows below the earth like carrots, radish, potatoes etc. Their food consists of rice, wheat, lentils and green leafy vegetables.

Admire the workmanship from the 16th century. The temples are built out of marble and the main shrine of Adinath with 1444 columns is awe-inspiring and none of these are similar. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus.

After lunch in Ranakpur continue towards Jodhpur – the eternal blue city.

In the evening proceed towards Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur. Retire to your hotel and relax.

Day 12 : Jodhpur – Pokaran – Jaisalmer ( 275km 5hrs )
In the morning drive to the Mehrangarh fort the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking.

Post lunch continue towards the desert kingdom of Jaisalmer. On route visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by evening to witness the sunset over the desert with the most imposing edifice of the town behind you.

Day 13 : Jaisalmer
Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila.. The Jains are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit the citadel’s palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli with intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external world. Also see the Gadisar Lake.

Later, we go to Sam or Khuri village. Here we have loads of excitement in store for you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby sunset point on the dunes to see the sunset by camel carts. Return to the village after sunset where your dinner is arranged in mud huts. In the evening listen to the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians. A lifetime experience. Dinner in the desert mud huts.

Day 14 : Jaisalmer – Bikaner ( 330km 4hrs )
By road and then by overnight train.

After breakfast we set towards our journey across the Thar Desert to reach Bikaner by lunch-time See the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. Later visit the camel-breeding farm, a unique experience. In the evening free time to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner city centre.

At 1950 hrs transfer to the train station to catch your train (Bikaner Mail) to Delhi.

Overnight on board the Bikaner Mail.

Day 15 : Delhi
Arrival in the morning at 0640hrs. In the morning you would be introduced to the city tour of the imperial British capital of the 20th century. Visit the Qutub Minar – the tallest free standing minaret in stone in the world; then onto Humayun’s tomb – the first Mughal construction in India from 1565 AD.

Also see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India Gate built in the earlier half of the 20th century.

Drive through the old city past the Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid – the biggest of its kind in India. Here take a rickshaw through the winding streets of the old city to see the life of the people in this part of the world. A perfect introduction of your tour.

The rickshaw puller pulls you through the imperial avenue the Chandni Chowk where you will find each and every small business under the sky.

Finally, reach Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where your chauffeur is waiting for you to take you to your next stop the Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple in activity.

TOUR ENDS
The tour will include:
• Daily breakfasts
• All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary
• Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur
• Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned
• Air conditioned car with chauffeur
• All arrival / departure transfers by air-conditioned car
• All applicable taxes
• Rickshaw ride in the old city of Delhi
• Sunset cruise on Lake Pichhola in Udaipur
• Early morning boat rides on river Ganges in Varanasi
• English speaking local guides wherever required
• Puppet show in Jaipur
• Dances of India show in Khajuraho
• Airfare for sectors : Delhi – Varanasi ; Varanasi – Khajuraho
• Train fare for sectors: Bikaner – Delhi