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|| Glimpses of India
Glimpses of India
DESTINATION : DELHI - BIKANER - POKARAN - JAISALMER -
JODHPUR - LUNI - PUSHKAR - AJMER - JAIPUR - FATEHPUR
SIKRI - AGRA - GWALIOR - ORCHCHA - KHAJURAHO - SARNATH
- VARANASI
DURATION : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Day
01 Arrive Delhi
Meet and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then
drive to your hotel with your driver and car.
Day 02 Delhi
In the morning take a city tour covering Laxmi Narayan Temple - The Place
of Gods, India Gate - The memorial of martyrs, Parliament House - The Government
headquarters. In the afternoon take a city tour of Old Delhi covering Jama
Masjid - The largest mosque in Asia, Red Fort - The red stone magic, Gandhi
memorial - The memoir of father of the nation. Also enjoy the sound &
light show in the evening. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 Delhi - Pushkar - Ajmer 320km
Today cross the entire stretch of desert to reach the most holy cities of
Pushkar and Ajmer.
Pushkar happens to be the holiest places according to the Hindus as it is
considered that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the godess
of learning and music) performed a ritual in the lake. Here we visit the only
Brahma temple of the world before intermingling with the local colours in
the local bazaar. Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each
year in the month of October/November. Proceed towards Ajmer.
Ajmer is the pious city for the Muslims. Surprisingly both the cities are
at distance of 11km from each other. Visit the Durgah built in fond remembrance
of Khwaja Muin ud Din Chisti where the Muslim pilgrims from all over India
throng during the festival times. Later visit Mughal emperor Akbar’s
Palace where his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe to grant him the permission
of trade to East India Company with India, that changed the history of India
completely and slowly and steadily India became colony of the British Empire.
Day
04 Ajmer - Jodhpur 200km
Today we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon and drive up to the
majestic 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 session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur
the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours
of the spices filling the air around you. Then go to 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 05 Jodhpur - Pokaran - Jaisalmer 280km
After breakfast we set towards our journey across the Thar Desert to reach
Pokaran for lunch. 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 06 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. After sunset return
to the village where your stay is arranged in mud huts. Evening listen to
the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians. A lifetime
experience. Dinner and night in the desert mud huts.
Day
07 Jaisalmer - Bikaner 330km
Leave Jaisalmer after breakfast and 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 time is free to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner
city centre.
Day 08 Bikaner - Jaipur
In the morning leave Bikaner and reach Fatehpur. See this beautiful village
of Shekhawati that used to be an important caravanserai of the yesteryears.
See the many havelis of this quaint little town built by the rich and the famous
merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. These havelis have been painted with
activities of daily life and of deities to break the monotony of the desert
life.
Continue towards Jaipur.
In the afternoon visit the local bazaar of Jaipur that is so colourfull and
interesting. Also visit the many precious stone cutting and polishing ateliers
of this city.
Day 09 Jaipur
Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber
fort. See the marvelous Shish 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. He built five
observatories throughout India - Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi
but only the one at Jaipur is functional.
Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection
of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold lattice 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. Dinner at
your hotel.
Day
10 Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra 250km
Leave the Pink city after breakfast and reach Fatehpur Sikri by early afternoon.
Visit this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the second half
of the 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife
bore him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned sufi saint Salim
Chisti blessed Jodhabai Akbar’s hindu wifewith a son. Also visit Jodhabai’s
palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor’s
palace himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne.
Continue towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel or
go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.
Day 11 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 where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his
own son Aurangzeb.
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 12 Agra - Gwalior - Orchha 219km
Today
we drive to go to Gwalior the erstwhile stronghold of the Scindia rulers. Reach
Gwalior by early afternoon and after lunch start your visit.
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. Later
continue towards Orchha.
Day 13 Orchcha - Khajuraho 282 km
Orchha is 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 and visit the
Laxminarayana Temple.
Post lunch continue towards Khajuraho about 182 km away by road and check
in to your hotel. After a brief refreshing time you will be taken to the near
by auditorium to witness the cultural heritage of India through the medium
of dances.
Day 14 Khajuraho - Varanasi
By flight
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 eastern and western
group of temples before being transferred to the airport to catch your flight
to Varanasi. (1525hrs)
Upon arrival (1605hrs) in Varanasi transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day
free.
D
ay
15 Varanasi - Delhi
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. Later visit Sarnath the sacred city for
the Buddhist all over the world. It was here that Lord Buddha preached his
first sermon to his first five disciples. Also worth visiting is the museum
with artifacts dating back to 3rd century BC. Visit the nearby ruins of the
ancient seat of learning in Sarnath
In time transfer to the airport to return back to Delhi.
Upon arrival in Delhi you will be taken out for a farewell dinner and then
transferred to the international terminal for your flight back home.
Tour Ends
Included on this tour are:
1. Daily breakfasts
2. All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary
3. English speaking local guides in every city
4. Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur
5. Rickshaw ride in the old city of Delhi
6. Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned
7. Air conditioned car with chauffeur
8. All applicable taxes
9. Early morning boat rides on river Ganges in Varanasi
10. Airfare for sectors : Khajuraho - Varanasi
11. Varanasi / Delhi Camel rides on the dunes in the desert in Jaisalmer.
12. Local music and dance by local village artists on the dunes in Jaisalmer
13. Farewell dinner on the last day in Delhi before departure to international
airport.
14. Puppet show in Jaipur
15. Sunrise/ sunset visit of Taj Mahal in Agra
16. Battery bus / battery auto rickshaw ride in Agra.
