Delhi - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Jhansi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur - Devigarh - Udaipur - Mumbai- Aurangabad - Mumbai
| 1 |
Delhi |
Reception and welcome at Delhi airport followed by transfer to your hotel. Overnight at The Oberoi New Delhi |
| 2 |
Delhi |
Tour Old Delhi, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid India's largest mosque. Ride a rickshaw through the main street. Visit Chandni Chowk with its bustling jumble of shops, temples, mosques and craftsmen's workshops. Then to Raj Ghat, site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation, and on to New Delhi and the famous India Gate and the splendid Lutyens architecture of the government offices. End the day with a visit to Qutab Minar, a tower of victory, completed in 1368, and the Humayun Tomb of the second Mughal Emperor. Overnight at The Oberoi New Delhi. |
| 3 |
Delhi - Varanasi |
Morning flight to Varanasi, probably the longest continually inhabitated city in the world. En-route to the Taj Ganges hotel, visit the buried city of Sarnath, which remained an active center of Buddhism till the end of the 12th century AD. Early evening explore the heart of the city, where tri-shaws transfer you through the colorful markets to the most sacred of rivers, the Ganges, to witness the ancient Hindu ceremonial ritual called "Aarti" conducted by the Hindu Brahmin priestly class. Sunset cruise along the river Ganges. Overnight at the Taj Ganges in Varanasi |
| 4 |
Varanasi - Khajuraho |
Early morning return to the Ganges to witness the banks alive with the multitude of worshippers who come to immerse themselves as they face the rising sun. Fly to Khujaraho. Visit the Western & Eastern Group of temples which are dedicated to life, love, joy and are perfection in craftsmanship. Life in every form and mood has been captured in stone, testifying to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the candelas Rajputs under whose rule the temples were conceived and constructed. The temples were built in the short span of a hundred years, from 950 to 1050 AD. Of the 85 original temples, 22 have survived till today to constitute one of the world's great artistic wonders. Overnight at the Radisson Hotel. |
| 5 |
Khajuraho - Jhansi - Agra |
Drive to Orcha (about three and a half hours) to visit the beautiful 17th century palaces. Drive to Jhansi railway station (about 45 minutes) to board the Shatabdi express train to Agra. Overnight at The Oberoi ? Amarvilas. |
| 6 |
Agra |
Visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. (Taj Mahal is closed for visitors on Friday). Overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas. |
| 7 |
Agra - Jaipur |
Drive to Jaipur (about four hours), en route stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned 16th century sandstone city which is a World Heritage site. Proceed to Jaipur ( three hours) Overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas. |
| 8 |
Jaipur |
Visit the Amber Fort, the former seat of the Rajput rulers of Jaipur, and the Shiladevi temple, which continues to be the private temple of the Royal family, with its exquisite marble carving and silver door. Lunch at The Rambagh Palace,former Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur, then explore Jaipur, the famed "Pink City" and the Hawa Mahal, Palace of Winds. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas. |
| 9 |
Jaipur |
Visit The City Palace with its museums. The royal family still lives in part of the City Palace in the centre of town. then on to the 15th century open-air royal observatory,the Jantar Mantar, built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas. |
| 10 |
Jaipur - Udaipur - Devigarh |
Fly to Udaipur. Drive to Devigarh (45 minutes). Visit the ancient temples at Eklingji and Nagda. Overnight at the Devigarh Fort & Palace. |
| 11 |
Devigarh |
Drive to Udaipur (about 45 minutes) for a day excursion. Visit the City Palace and its museum across the lake, and the Crystal Gallery at the Shiv Niwas Palace which houses the crystal collection specially commissioned by the House of Mewar. Before returning to the hotel visit a local studio of miniature painting artists who have helped keep this fine tradition alive.Suggest Lunch either at the beautiful Lake Palace or at the beautfiul Oberoi Udaivilas. Explore the city and view the miniature painting artists before an evening cruise around Lake Pichola with its majestic backdrop of the City Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace, skirting the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir Island. Overnight in the Devigarh Fort Palace |
| 12 |
Devigarh - Udaipur - Mumbai |
Fly to Mumbai. After checking into hotel proceed on a city tour of Mumbai. Overnight at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai |
| 13 |
Mumbai - Aurangabad |
Fly to Aurangabad to visit the Ellora Caves and the Ajanta Caves, the World Heritage sites. (The Ellora are closed on Tuesday. The Ajanta are closed on Monday) Drive to Ellora Caves (40 minutes). The 34 caves date from 600 AD and are compared to the Pyramids for their amazing construction, sculptures and frescoes. Overnight at the Taj Residency. |
| 14 |
Aurangabad - Mumbai |
Day excursion to the amazing Ajanta Caves (three hour drive). The Ajanta Caves are closed on Monday. They are older than the Ellora caves, dating from 200 BC to 650 AD. Amazingly they are hewn from the volcanic rock of the Deccan Trap in a steep crescent shaped hillside. Lost to the world after the 7th century it was discovered by accident in 1819, by a party of British officers on a hunting expedition.Late afternoon flight to Mumbai. Transfer to Leela Kempinski near to the International Aiport. |
| 15 |
Departure |
Depart early hours for onward destination. End of Rajasthan Tour and World Heritage Sites tour. |
