8 Nights/9 Days

India's history goes back at least five thousand years making it oldest culture in the world. Its chequered fortune are reflected in the infinite verities of its monuments - Forts, Palaces and Temples. In this tour we will take you some of the classical and best-known sites of India including The Capital City -Delhi where every crumbling wall has a story to tell. The city has lived through wars and resurrection, repeatedly rising from the ashes. The city of Royal Splendor -Jaipur with its magnificent fort - Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal - The landmark of this beautiful Pink city. Agra -City of love and home to one of the seven wonders of the world-the Taj Mahal. The temples of Khajuraho, where Life, in every form and mood, has been capured in stone. Varanasi - Oldest city in the world, the city of Nirvana and Ghats where people stiilare having their daily prayers and rituals and Temples and centuries old culture. The mix of all these attractions makes a perfect blend of Classical Journey "

DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
You will be met on arrival by our executive and taken to your hotel. In the afternoon our guide will take you to explore the sights of Delhi - a multi - layered city. Our first stop is the red fort built by the great Mughal emperor Shah Jehan when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. A short drive brings us to the great mosque - the Jama Masjid built by shah Jehan . We then walk around the lanes of Chandni Chowk the 'Silver street" imbibing an ambiance of a bygone era. Now we drive on to see the memorial built for Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before continuing on to our hotel. Overnight stay.

DAY 02 DELHI
Today you will explore other sights of Delhi.Contemporary history unfolds as we see the Qutab Minar - the tallest stone tower in India built in 1191 AD. Close by are the cloisters of one of the first mosque built in India, the Quwwatul - Islam mosque. In the centre of its courtyard is an amazing 2000 year old iron pillar erected in 4 AD, cast of such pure iron that it has never rusted. We continue to Hamayun's tomb built by the widow of the Mughal Emperor Humayun (some say the inspiration for the Taj Mahal). A drive through Delhi's broad tree-lined avenues brings us to India Gate- a memorial to the "unknown soldier", Rashtrapati Bhawan (residence of the president of India), past Rajpath and leading to Connaught Circus a shoppers paradise, you can bargain and get the best price ever.
Afternoon free for leisure / shopping, overnight stay.

DAY 03 DELHI - JAIPUR …..by surface
Morning proced for Jaipur by road (265 kms/ 6 hrs.), on arrival check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit The City Palace, a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture is now a museum, containing all the paraphernalia of Jaipur's princely past. Jai Singh, notable astronomer, built for himself the curious Jantar Mantar, an observatory of immense brick and mortar instruments of astonishing accuracy. Not far from the Jantar Mantar, Is the beautiful HawaMahal (palace of winds), tall and pink, faced with delicate pierced stone, it is not really a palace. The queens of Jaipur and the royal ladies once used this decorative facade to watch, unobserved, numerous festive processions winding through the streets of their city.

DAY 04 JAIPUR
In the morning excursion to Amber Fort and enjoy an elephant ride on the ramparts of the fort, for six centuries the capital of the state. The pavilions and courtyards of the palace ascend in successive levels up the hill The Sheesh Mahal, or pavilion of mirrors, the finest of its kind, is studded with small mirrors which reflect flame in a thousand flickering lights.
Afternoon free for leisure / independent activities, overnight stay.

DAY 05 JAIPUR - AGRA …..by surface
After breakfast proceed to Agra by road (235 km / 6 hrs) en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri - a fascinating Ghost town, lies a little before Agra. Emperor Akbar, wearying of Agra built a new capital here, only to abandon it a few years later for lack of water. And there it remains, its fortifications, massive gateway and palaces, in a wonderful state of preservation. Set like a jewel in a courtyard of pink sandstone is the marble tomb of the saint Salim Chisti, enclosed by delicately carved marble screens.

Arrive Agra and check-in at hotel, later in the day visit Taj Mahal - built by a grief-stricken emperor, Shah Jahan, as a memorial of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, retains its pristine beauty. Agra Fort - perhaps the most moving view of the Taj Mahal is from a little octagonal tower in the Agra Fort across the River Jamuna. Overnight stay

DAY 06 AGRA - KHAJURAHO …..by flight
After breakfast in the morning transfer to airport for flight to Khajuraho, assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Afternoon sight seeing tour of temples, the Khajuraho temples were built in the short span of a hundred years, from 950 - 1050 AD, in a truly inspired burst of creativity. Of the 85 original temples, 22 have survived till today to constitute one of the world's great artistic wonders.
Some of the famous temples are, Kandariya Mahadev temple, Chausath Yogini temple, Chitragupta Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Lakshamana Temple, Duladeo Temple, Chaturbhuj and Parsvanath Temple. Overnight stay.

DAY 07 KHAJURAHO - VARANASI …..by flight
Morning transfer to Khajuraho airport for flight to Varanasi, assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel, overnight stay.

DAY 08 VARANASI
Sunrise Boat Ride on the river Ganges and later city tour of Varanasi, rarely does any place influence the life of a religious community in such totality as Varanasi, ultimate pilgrimage, this is a city dedicated to the gods, visit Vishwanath Temple, The gold plating on the shikharas was a gift of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. On account of this it is popularly known as Golden Temple. Bharat Mata Temple, a novel temple dedicated to Mother India, And drive through the Bazaar.

Afternoon excursion to Sarnath, here in this peaceful Deer Park, the Lord Buddha preached his first sermon more than 2500 years ago. The site is marked by the massive Dhamek stupa which is believed to date back to 500 AD. The remains of the great Ashoka Pillar still stand before the main shrine. The capital can be seen at the nearby Sarnath Museum. This has now been adopted as the state emblem of modern India. Overnight stay.

DAY 09 VARANASI - DELHI
Assistance and transfer for flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi …..by flight

END OF TOUR
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