North India Vacation

---

Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destination : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

---

Major Attraction

- Visit to Old & New Delhi. - Ricksaw Ride in Old Delhi. - Safari at Sariska Tiger Reserve Park. - Elephant ride at Amber Fort. - Visit to Rug Factory. - Visit to Marble Factory. - Sightseeing of the world famous erotic    temples of Khajuraho. - Morning sunrise boat cruise on the ganges. - Evening farewell dinner at a Indian restaurant.

Day 01 : Arrival at Delhi
Namaste, the Indian way of greeting with folded hands and a warm smile. Our representatives will receive you at the Delhi international airport where a luxury car will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. A traditional Indian welcome ceremony at the reception follows. Check in at the hotel and relax a while to get over your travel fatigue and be ready in time to commence a journey through Incredible India.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02 : Delhi
Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel dining room, after which you will be picked up from the hotel and proceed for a full-day excursion of Old & New Delhi.
Delhi can be perfectly summed up as the blend of opposites, a fact particularly visible with an extensive tour of the city.

OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.

Cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.

NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Evening would be free to relax besides the hotel swimming pool or other leisure activities.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast start for the pink city of Jaipur and reach there by noon.
Jaipur is situate at a distance of 260 km from Delhi. The 5 hour enchanting jaunt is an experience in itself, passing through mesmerising countryside. The swaying green fields turn into barren brown sand as we enter the desert state of Rajasthan. Enjoy a sumptuous Indian meal enroute.

Welcome to Rajasthan! check in at the hotel.

Jaipur - Originally called Sawai Jaipur after its founder Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur is an exquisitely romantic city clad with stories of chivalry, bravery and courage in the face of adversities. It is a fascinating place where you will concoct your own fantasies and may sometimes be misled into believing yourself to be a part of some period drama in the midst of old world setting. Visitors to the city are spoilt for choice as sightseeing options galore. A visit to the numerous forts, palaces, gardens and temples may prove to be especially rewarding and can keep you absorbed for long hours.

Roam in the city and explore every nook and lane of Jaipur.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04 : Jaipur
Enjoy your breakfast and be ready in time for an extensive sightseeing tour of the pink city.
Jaipur, also known as the pink city, is one of the most picturesque and historically significant cities in India. We begin our junket of the desert city at Amber. The former capital of Jaipur, Amber is a treasure trove of information with its wealth of historical structures, most of which have disappeared with time and stand studded into the pages of history books.

Amber Fort Palace - mount an Elephant and enjoy the one and a half kilometre ascent to the hilltop fort. The beautiful carvings and stone structures inside the palace have lost much of their novel charm but still manage to mesmerise many a visitor with their sheer magnificence.

After a visit to Amber we head back to Jaipur city in our air-conditioned car and continue with the sightseeing.

City Palace - located in the heart of the city, the palace occupies about one-seventh of the total area of the pink city. At the heart of the complex is the huge Chandra Mahal, a part of which is still used as residence by the royal family.

Jal Mahal - one of the most romantic places in Jaipur, it is a tiny palace located in the middle of a lake.

Hawa Mahal - resembling a film set, the most famous landmark of the city can be best viewed from the street outside.

Other places to see include Jantar Mantar, Gaitore, Galtaji, Govind Devji Temple and Sisodia Rani ka Bagh among numerous others.

Evening will be free for relaxation. Overnight at Jaipur.

Day 05 : Jaipur - Agra
After having breakfast at the hotel, we bid farewell to the pink city and move on to the erstwhile kingdom of dynasties, Agra. Agra is located at a distance of 222 km from Jaipur, a four hour journey by road.
The famed former Mughal capital Agra came into limelight when it became the capital of Sikandar Lodi in 1501, but it aspired to its height of magnificence under Mughal Emperor Akbar, who turned this little village into one of the most picturesque places in the country. Agra is included in the itinerary of every tourist visiting India, simply because of the glorious Taj Mahal. The city has been home to three generations of the mighty Mughals, a fact visible in some of the finest architectural marvels of the medieval era. An extensive sightseeing tour of Agra would entail a visit to the world famous Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-daulah's tomb and Akbar's Mausoleum.

Taj Mahal - The monumental symbol of love, Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The incredible monument took 22 years and more than 20000 workers to build and even benefited from the services of Frenchman Austin de Bordeaux and Italian Veroneo of Venice.

Agra Fort - Another major landmark in the city, the Agra Fort was commissioned by Emperor Akbar in 1565, mostly for military purposes. Additions continued to be made to the palace right through to the time of Shah Jahan when it was converted into a residential palace.

Itmad-ud-daulah's Tomb - The tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg was built by his daughter Noor Jehan. Resembling the Taj in many ways, its interiors are sometimes considered better than the world famous monument.

Evening will be free for relaxation or leisure activities.

Overnight will be at the hotel in Agra.

Day 06 : Agra
Mouth watering Mughlai delicacies will be served for breakfast, after which relish a gratifying drive to the Taj Ganges parking place. A galloping Tonga ride from here will take us to the World famous monument of love, Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World was built by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD and was completed in 1651 AD. Taj Mahal - The symbol of Love was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan' s second Wife).

After Taj we will visit Agra Fort- constructed by Akbar in 1525 AD, it consists of a huge red sandstone wall and several buildings inside, most of which were erected by Shah Jahan.

Next, we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are considered even one notch better than the Taj. Also visit Sikandra, Jama Masjid, Chini ka Roza, Mariyam's Tomb and Ram Bagh.

Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 07 : Agra - Khajuraho
Treat your taste buds to a range of Mughlai delicacies for breakfast.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho.

By Air
Flight : CD 7407
Airlines : Indian Airlines
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1335 hr
Arrival : 1415 hr
Stopovers : Nil
Class : Economy

The flight time for the 400 km journey from Agra to Khajuraho is around 45 min. Reach and transfer to hotel.

Situated in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage, honored by the world as India's unique contribution to human civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five structures, of which only twenty remain standing as embodiments of Indian architectural and sculptural art in its most evolved state. Even ten centuries after their construction, the temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to mankind. The temples of Khajuraho are a world heritage site that belong not just to India but to the world. The nearby Panna national park is a project tiger reserve making the domain an unequalled combination of outstanding cultural and natural heritage - one of the few millennium destinations of the world.

Explore the village in the evening.

Dinner and overnight will be at Khajuraho.

Day 08 : Khajuraho
Savour some of the finest local cuisine for breakfast after which we will proceed for a visit to the Khajuraho temples.
The group of sandstone temples have been roughly divided into three distinct groups according to their geographical location, the western, eastern and southern. The most spectacular, however , is the western group with some of the most delightful architectural wonders that often draw an awe from the visitors. Witness the light and sound show with the voice of Indian film star Amitabh Bacchan narrating the fascinating story of the temples.

Take some time for lunch and rest. After about a 2 hour dose at the western group we move on to the eastern group which looks majestic with the backdrop of the setting sun. Visit the shantinath temple, parsvanath temple, adinath temple, ghantai temple and the vamana temple.

Overnight will be at Khajuraho.

Day 09 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast at the hotel.
A luxury chauffeur driven car will be ready to transfer you in time to the airport for flight to Varanasi.
By Air
Flight : CD 7407
Airlines : Indian Airlines
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1445 hr
Arrival : 1525 hr
Stopovers : Nil
Class : Economy

Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met by our representatives and transfer to hotel. Check in at the hotel.

Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the river front, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts a large number of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is also the carpet-manufacturing industry of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that the city lies at the confluence of rivers Varuna and Asi.

Overnight at Varanasi.

Day 10 : Varanasi
Start the day early with a visit to one of the most ancient and sacred places in Varanasi, the Manikarnika Ghat. It is believed to be the most auspicious place in the world for a Hindu to be cremated. Witness cremation ceremonies being held on the ghats...a morbid sight in the silence of the early morning. Take some more time to observe the sacred rituals as sun rises and a lot more people start to pour in. The ghats now become a beehive of activity, people doing all sorts of things as exercising, bathing, pandas performing puja. Carrying a camera along at this point can be a great idea to capture some priceless shots. Return to the hotel.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Proceed for a day guided tour of Varanasi entailing sights like the Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu University, Asi Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Annapurna Temple and Alamgir Mosque. Overnight at Varanasi.

Day 11 : Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for excursion to Sarnath.
One of the holiest places for the followers of Buddhism, Sarnath is the spot where Buddha preached his first discourse after being enlightened at Bodh Gaya and thus set in motion, the Wheel of Dharma. Some of the prominent tourist attractions at the place include Chaukhandi Stupa - Built by emperor Ashoka, it is a huge mound of brick work very close to the entrance of Sarnath, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar - The temple built by the mahabodhi society is a fascinating piece of architecture, Sarnath Museum - the place houses a vast collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising a number of Buddha and Bodhissatva images.

By Air
Flight : 9W 724
Airlines : Jet Airways
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1445 hr
Arrival : 1605 hr
Stopovers : Nil
Class : Economy

Reach Delhi and check in at the hotel. Overnight at Delhi.

Overnight at Delhi.

Day 12 : Delhi
Relish an array of sumptuous Indian delights at the buffet breakfast. Next, an air-conditioned car will be ready to take you for an extensive sightseeing tour of the city.
We have the rest of the day at our disposal to roam the streets of Delhi and absorb in as much as we can of the traditional and modern India. Visit the fascinating rail museum which provides insight into one of the oldest and largest rail networks in the world, the Indian railways.

In the evening, join other guests and tourists from across the country and the globe to watch traditional Indian dancers perform at the Dances of India show.

After having your dinner, return to the comforts of your hotel and unwind for the night.

Day 13 : Delhi - Home
Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Serving you was a pleasure, we hope you enjoyed our company.