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Delhi - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Jaipur - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Bombay - Aurangabad - Bombay - Goa ( 26 Nights - 27 Days )
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Day
01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Delhi.
Day
02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast sightseeing tour of New Delhi where
ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in
the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab
Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s
House , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial , Also visit Laxmi Narayan
temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.
Day
03/ Delhi - Udaipur ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to
hotel. Afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple. Maharana Jagat
Singh built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost
of Rs 1.5 million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath,
is at a great height and can be approached by a long flight
of stairs. Later visit Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal
Ladies .Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar
Lake. Maharana Sangram Singh II designed this garden in the
early 18th century purely as a pleasure garden and a summer
palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part of the prince’s
dowry. It is also said that the garden was presented as a peace
offering from the Emperor of Delhi. The Maharanas entertained
themselves around the four ornamental pools and the five fountains.
These fountains were imported from England in 1889. Maharana
Bhopal Singh specially was very fond of this place and built
a rain fountain, so that it looked like rain dancing on the
dancing maids. Night stay in Udaipur.
Day
04/ Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built
in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as
the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James
Todd. Visit the City Palace museum, The City Palace, one of
the largest palaces in the world, can be approached through
the Bari Pol or the Great Gate (1600) with the royal drums and
then onto the Tripolia Gate (1725). Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir
( Folk art museum) The interesting collection exhibited by this
Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets,
masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings.
Also visit the Pratap Memorial. Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl
Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the
Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana
astride his favorite horse"Chetak".Night stay in Udaipur.
Day
05/ Udaipur - Jodhpur ( By road )
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Jodhpur.
Day
06/ Jodhpur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour
of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan,
was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort,
situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti
Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing
marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II
around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.
Day
07/ Jodhpur - Jaisalmer ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening
at leisure. Night stay in Jaisalmer.
Day
08/ Jaisalmer
Morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the
heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately
molded wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a
city of gilded magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the
12th century, when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa
and laid the foundation of a new city. Visit the magnificient
fort, the Patwon Ki Haveli ( Mansion) and Salim singh Ki Haveli,
with their carved balconies and brackets which are supreme examples
of the art. Evening camel ride to visit Sam Dunes. Night stay
in Jaisalmer.
Day
09/ Jaisalmer - Bikaner ( By road )
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel.
Later city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder
Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade
center on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s
dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine.
The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which
can be entered from 5 gate. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing
walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples
and 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 varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the
museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay
in Bikaner.
Day
10/ Bikaner - Jaipur ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening
at leisure . Night stay in Jaipur.
Day
11/ Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort. 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 it's ultimate expression.
Continue sight-seeing.
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.
Their five-storey structures 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. Night stay in Jaipur.
Day
12/ Jaipur - Agra
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son
and later abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the remains,
it fortifications within the city including Jama Masjid, Tomb
of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces. On arrival transfer
to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Agra.
Day
13/ Agra
Morning at sunrise visit the world famous Taj Mahal, built by
the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal
to enshrine her mortal remains, Also visit the Agra Fort, containing
the Pearl Mosque - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort
of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction
was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall
of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays
lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded
peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly
kingdoms. Also visit Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by Noorjehan
in memory of her father. Night stay in Agra.
Day
14/ Agra- Jhansi (By train) Jhansi-Orchha (By surface)
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi
, Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel.
Later tour of this historical site with magnificient temples
and monuments. Some of the palaces were decorated with painted
murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school
of painting. Night stay in Orchha.
Day
15/ Orchha - Khajuraho ( By surface )
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary
temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged
as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples
dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings
that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span
of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century
temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present
century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal
of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer to hotel.
Evening at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day
16/ Khajuraho
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of
love to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built
between 950 and 1050 A.D. The temples are grouped into three
geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern.
After breakfast explore the Western, eastern and southern temples
of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning
and legends behind each describable sculpture.
Western Group
Kandariya Mahadeo : This is the largest, and
most typical Khajuraho temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars
31 m high. The sanctum enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine
is ornately carved and depicts various gods, goddesses, apsaras
(heavenly maidens) in elaborate detail.
Chaunsat Yogini : The oldest surviving temple
in the group (900 A.D.), this is the sole granite temple dedicated
to Goddess Kali. Another Kali temple, which was originally dedicated
to Lord Vishnu, is the Devi Jagdambe temple.
Chitragupta Temple : Dedicated to the sun-god,
Surya, this temple faces eastwards to the rising sun. The inner
sanctum boasts of an impressive image of the presiding deity
- the majestic sun-god looming 5 feet high, and driving a chariot.
Vishwanath Temple : The temple enshrines a
three-headed image of Lord Brahma. Lions guard the northern
entrance to the structure, while elephants flank the southern
flight of steps that lead upto it. A Nandi bull faces the shrine.
Lakshamana Temple : The lintel over the entrance of
this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, shows the holy trinity
of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort.
The sanctum is adorned with a three-headed idol of Vishnu's
incarnations, Narasimha and Varaha. The latter, the boar incarnation
also appears as a nine-feet high statue at the Varaha Temple.
Matangeshwara Temple : This temple, which happens
to be outside the precincts of the western group, is dedicated
to Lord Shiva. It boasts of an eight feet high lingam. Eastern
Group
Parsavanatha Temple : The largest in the group
of three Jain temples, the Parsavanath image in this temple,
was installed in 1860. The sculptures on the northern wall depict
everyday activity, in awesome detail. Within the temple, a throne
faces the bull emblem of first tirthankara, Adinath.
Ghantai Temple : This Jain temple has a frieze
depicting the 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a Jain goddess
perched on a winged Garuda.
Adinatha Temple: The last of the Jain temples, is dedicated
to the Jain saint, Adinatha, and is gorgeously adorned with
sculptures of yakshis among others.
The three Hindu temples in this group are the Brahma temple,
which has a four-faced lingam, The Vamana temple which is embellished
with images of ravishing apsaras at their alluring best; and
finally the Javari temple, with its ornate gateway and lavish
carvings.
Southern Group
Duladeo Temple : Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the
highlights of this temple are the sensuous images of the apsaras,
and other exquisite sculptures. Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple
sports a huge, elaborately carved image of Vishnu in the sanctum.
Night stay in Khajuraho.
Day
17/ Khajuraho - Varanasi ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for
Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated
on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the
oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and
worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise
on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually
uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality
of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the
city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi
and transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony
on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.
Day
18/ Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of
life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms.
East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers
of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to
Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Today Sarnath is considered
as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka
period to the 12th century. The Dharmarajika stupa was also
built by Ashoka and it was surmounted by the pillar. This pillar
with four lions today forms the national emblem of India. Sarnath
has many more ruins of monasteries and stupas. The spot at which
the stupa stands is believed to be the place from where Buddha
gave his forts sermon. Sarnath has an extremely rich collection
of Buddhist statues. Visit the deer park and the museum, later
back to Varanasi . Night stay in Varanasi.
Day
19/ Varanasi - Bombay ( By flight )
After a relaxed breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight
to Bombay. Arrive Bombay & transfer to hotel. Night stay
in Bombay.
Day
20/ Bombay – Aurangabad ( By flight )
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering
Gateway of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett
in the 16th century Gujarati style, Prince of Whales Museum
, Chowpatty Beach, Dhobhi Ghat, Marine Drive. Later transfer
to the airport to board the flight to Aurangabad, the capital
of Aurangzeb, who was the last of the great Mughals. Arrive
Aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Aurangabad.
Day
21/ Aurangabad
Full day excursion to the world heritage sites – Ajanta
and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad – as recognised so by UNESCO
are renowned the world over for their uniqueness and ancient
value
Ajanta caves - offers a rich tapestry of images
that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday
life of ancient India. Long buried in the debris of time, these
30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks,
who lived, taught and performed rituals.
Ellora caves -Carved between fourth and fifth century,
the rock temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the three
major faiths of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Like
Ajanta, Ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples
with almost 34 caves with intricate interiors and ornamental
facades . Night stay in Aurangabad.
Day
22/ Aurangabad - Bombay ( By flight )
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Bombay. Arrive
Bombay and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the local markets.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Bombay.
Day
23/ Bombay - Goa
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive
Goa & transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay
in Goa.
Day
24/ Goa
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa,
visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of
Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at
leisure to relax on the beach. Laze on the beach, go for swim,
explore the shops for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear .Night stay
in Goa.
Day
25/26 Goa
Day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.
Day 27/ Goa-Departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the fligt to
Mumbai or Delhi to connect the fligt back home.
Cost
Per Person |
| |
|
16 Apr 07
to 31 Aug 07 |
01 Sep 06 to 15 Apr 07 |
| Royal |
Twin |
USD
3012 |
USD
3998 |
| Classic |
Twin |
USD
2281 |
USD
2685 |
| Economy |
Twin |
USD
1840 |
USD
1955 |
Cost
not valid if stay in Goa is between 21 Dec till 08
Jan
There will be a supplement for Christmas Eve & New
Year Eve. |
Cost
includes :
» 26 nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Jhansi-Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers, sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur ( Subject to availability), Boat ride in Varanasi/
Udaipur
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.
Cost
does not include :
»
Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Any meals except breakfast.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes.
Internal
flights
Delhi-Udaipur, Khajuraho-Varanasi-Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai
- Goa : USD 837
Goa-Delhi : USD 280.50 by Airsahara or Indian Airlines.
Goa -Delhi : USD 100 approx by Kingfisher or Spice jet (Airfares
are subject to change as it is advance purchase fare).
For Delhi-Udaipur, Khajuraho-Varanasi -Mumbai-Aurangabad-Mumbai-Goa
flights also we can try for cheaper fares which are advance
purchase basis once we know of your travel dates.
All airfares are subject to change any time without any prior
notice.
Hotels
Selected- Royal ( 5 * hotels)
Delhi : The
Park / Nikko / Radisson
Udaipur : Trident / Shiv Niwas
Jodhpur : Fortune the Ummed
Jaisalmer : Fort
Rajwada
Bikaner : Lall Garh Palace / Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur : Trident / Le
Meridien
Agra : Jay
Pee Palace/ Taj
View / Trident
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela
Varanasi : Radisson / Taj
Ganges
Mumbai : Hilton
Towers / Le Royal Meridien / Leela
Aurangabad : Taj Residency
Goa : Fort Aguada / Taj Holiday Village
Hotels
Selected-Classic ( 4 * Hotels )
Delhi : City
Park / The
Connaught / Marina
Udaipur : Shikarbadi / Uday Kothi/ Swaroop Vilas
Jodhpur : Balsamand Palace / Ajit Bhawan / Shree
Ram Internatrional
Jaisalmer : Rang Mahal / Gorbandh Palace
Bikaner : Lall Garh Palace / Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur : Alsisar
Haveli / Jaipur
Palace / KK
Royal Days / Clarks
Amer
Agra : Agra
Ashok / Clarks
Khajuraho : Clarks
Varanasi : Clarks/ Hindustan
Mumbai : Fariyas /
Godwin
Aurangabad : Ambassador Ajanta
Goa : Nizmar Resorts / Goan Heritage / Verca Beach Resort/Marquis
Beach resort
Hotels
Selected-Economy ( Moderate Hotels )
Delhi : Dream
Inn / Apra / Pablas
Udaipur : Vishnupriya
Jodhpur : Days Inn
Jaisalmer : Narain Niwas
Bikaner : Basant Bihar
Jaipur : Aashish
Palace / Royal Palazu
Agra : Deedar-e-Taj /
Royal Residency
Khajuraho : Green wood
Varanasi : Meradan Grand / Kashika / India
Mumbai : Supreme
Aurangabad : Ravi Raj
Goa : Santa Monica / Beira Mar
Special care is taken while selecting the hotels , As you may be aware that prices for same category of hotels are NOT the same , we select the hotels based on the quality & services & not just because it is a 4 * or 5 * hotel, Thatswhy some hotels listed in our classic catergory ( 4 * ) are actual 5 * hotels but we use them in 4 * categories. Hotels are subject
to availability, please note that due to peak season starting
from Oct onwards, most of hotels in 4 * - 5* category remains
full, Once you finalise the booking, we shall start booking
the hotels. It may be possible that we may have to go for
a higher / lower category of hotels/ rooms in any place & we shall advice you of any supplement / reduction in the price. For Luxury Hotels Suppliment charge 16 nov. to 30th nov., 20 Dec. to 5th jan 2008.and 1st feb. to 29th feb.
