Luxury
Holidays » India Extensive Tour with Darjeeling
India Extensive Tour with Darjeeling
| Duration:
18 Nights / 19 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling - Jalpaiguri
- Siliguri - Bagdogra - Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur - Mumbai - Goa - Mumbai
- |
Day One Delhi: Arrival at Delhi
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international
airport in Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
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 Two Delhi:
Start a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi after breakfast.
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 Mogul Empire.
Enjoy a 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 Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through
the Diplomatic Enclave.
Spend night at Delhi.
Day Three
Delhi - Bagdogra:
By Flight
Flight Number : 9W 601 or 9W602 (Depending
on the day of the week)
Departure : 1010 hr
Arrival : 1345 hr or 1215
hr (Depending on the day of the week)
Bagdogra - Darjeeling
By Road
90 km / 2 hr Arrive at Bagdogra. Meet and assist at the airport
and drive to Darjeeling.
Proceed for the sightseeing covering Padmajan.
Zoological Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tibetan Refugee Self-help
Center and visit to the all and Local Market (City Life).
Spend the
night in Darjeeling.
Day Four Darjeeling Proceed to
Tiger hill very early morning to watch the spectacular sunrise and its amazing
effects on Mount Kanchendzonga. (World's 3rd highest peak)
Day will
be free to explore the hills and the town.
Overnight will be at Darjeeling.
Day Five Darjeeling - Jalpaiguri:
By
Toy Train
Departure: 0915 hr
Arrival: 1545 hr
Jalpaiguri - Siliguri:
By Road
4 km / 10 min Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.
Later on transfer to the railway station to board the Historical Toy Train.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is lovingly called the "Toy Train".
The journey to Darjeeling is regarded as among the most spectacular in the world.
Travelers are awed by both the scenery as well as the railway line which is truly
an engineering masterpiece and without doubt one of the wonders of the world.
The history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is equally fascinating.
Enjoy the ride.
Arrive at Jalpaiguri. Meet and assist at the railway
station and drive to Siliguri (4 km) for the over night stay.
In the
evening visit the TIBETAN market and overnight stay will be at SILIGURI.
Day Six Siliguri - Bagdogra:
By Road
90 km / 2 hr
Bagdogra
- Delhi:
By Flight
Flight Number : 9W 602 or 9W601 (Depending on the day
of the week)
Departure : 1250 hr or1430 hr (Depending on the day of the week)
Arrival : 1635 hr
Delhi - Agra:
By Road
201 km / 4 hr
After Breakfast drive to Bagdogra to board the flight for Delhi. Meet
and assist at the Delhi airport and then proceed straight to Agra.
AGRA:
Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village
of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name
Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in
a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys
and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the
Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its
Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of
the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Reach Agra and Check in at Hotel. Overnight will be at Agra.
Day Seven Agra: 
After Breakfast proceed for the sightseeing Tour.
Visit the TAJ MAHAL
- one of the Seven Wonders of the World was built by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD and
was completed in 1651AD. Taj Mahal - The symbol of Love was built in the memory
of Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan's second Wife).
AGRA FORT - Built by the
famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone.
Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist
attraction.
After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ - The interiors of
which are considered better than the Taj.
Shopping or relax in the evening.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day Eight Agra - Jaipur:
By road
221 km in 5 hr Breakfast will be at hotel.
Drive
to Fatehpur Sikri.
The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built
that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience.
It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition
... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days
of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Continue drive to Jaipur.
Jaipur is the capital of the state
of Rajasthan a romantic realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal
Maharajahs that lies in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India.
Proudly belonging to the KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the
Rajput princes made fearsome foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain
their wealth and authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to
the central power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors
and also the British Raj that followed.
The bustling Rajasthan capital
of Jaipur takes its name from its venerated founder Jai Singh II, who was given
the title Sawai Maharaja by the Mughal. Literally translated this would mean 'one
and a quarter', suggesting that the Mughal thought this emperor to be more valuable
than just 'one'. Jaipur is known as the 'Pink City' on account of the distinctive
colour of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the original plan,
but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State
Visit from Prince Albert.
This evening, visit the Birla Temple to learn
more about the fascinating religious life of Jaipur. The marble structure, built
as recently as 1985, houses ornate statues including one of Lakshmi (goddess of
Wealth and Beauty) and Narayan dressed in gaudy robes, representing a Hindu vision
of heavenly luxury. Carvings in the temple and on pillars supporting the covered
walkways include images of the Hindu pantheon, as well as Jesus, the Blessed Virgin
Mary and St Francis of Assisi. Your visit will coincide with the AARTI Ceremony,
which involves oil lamps being lit and waved, in order to awake and invoke the
deity. Enjoy the experience and spend night at Jaipur.
Overnight will be in Jaipur.
Day Nine Jaipur: Proceed
for a morning excursion to Amber Fort after breakfast. 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 its ultimate expression.
Continue sightseeing.
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. It is a five-storey structure 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.
Relax in the evening or visit the markets.
Overnight
will be at Jaipur.
Day Ten Jaipur - Udaipur:
By Flight
Flight
Number : 9W 709
Departure : 0700 hr
Arrival : 0745 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer to the airport for the flight departure to
Udaipur.
Arrive at Udaipur. Meet and assist at the airport and transfer
to the Hotel.
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the
azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravallis. A vision in white drenched
in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences
and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers. Its kaleidoscope
of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls,
carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry. Their reflection
in the placid waters of the Lake Pichhola is an enticing sight.
Proceed
for sightseeing tour of Udaipur in the morning, stopping first at City Palace.
Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass
windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.
Visit
the
300-year-old Jagdish Temple and the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rajput kings.
Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Udaipur.
Day Eleven
Udaipur Breakfast will be at Hotel.
Relax at the hotel
and visit the small rustic town. You could also take an excursion to Nagda and
Eklinji Temples.
Overnight stay will be at Udaipur.
Day
Twelve Udaipur - Mumbai:
By Flight
Flight Number : 9W 709
Departure
: 0820 hr
Arrival : 0935 hr Breakfast will be at Hotel. Proceed
to the airport for flight to Mumbai.
Reach and proceed to the Hotel.
MUMBAI: Its young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents
and cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic
city of India. The capital city of Maharashtra State formerly known as Bombay
lies in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site originally
composed of seven islets lying off the KONKAN COAST of western India. Oozing with
the cocksure self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass"
(carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial and commercial hub and
has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.
Yet, there's another face of
Mumbai too that is of the most densely populated cities in the world. Mumbai is
located on a site of ancient settlement and took its name from the local Goddess
"Mumba" - a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the principal
Gods of Hinduism - whose temple once stood in what is now the southeastern section
of the Mumbai city.
Proceed for the half day sightseeing Tour in the
afternoon.
Mumbai Fort: The area north of Colaba is known
as Mumbai Fort, since the old British fort was once located here. There are a
lot of impressive buildings from Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church,
dedicated to the soldiers, who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of
1838, and the first Afghan war of 1843, is also worth a visit.
Marine
Drive in Mumbai: Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built in
the 1920s and 30s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare.
It is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of the dramatic line of
street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come to known as Netaji Subhashchandra
Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar
on the other.
Gateway of India: Mumbai's principal landmark,
the Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It
is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city.
This
famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch,
King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.
Chowpatty Beach: Chowpatty
beach situated at the end of Marine Drive has a moderate expanse of sand and is
the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. One can witnesses many Hindu religious
ceremonies taking place at Chowpatty like the Annual Thread-Tying Ceremony initiating
young boys into the Brahmin caste, 'Nariel Purnima' towards the end of the monsoons
and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' immersions.
Flora Fountain/ Hutama Chowk:
This fountain situated in the heart of the city was erected in 1869 in honour
of a British Governor of Bombay. Sir Brtle Frere. Flora Fountain marks a junction
of five streets and known as the 'Picadilly Circus 'of Mumbai, which is decorated
at its four corners with mythological figures, the Fountain is a structure in
dull stone with a figure the Roman Goddess of flowers, at the top.
Juhu Beach: Juhu is one of the largest and frequently visited beaches of India.
Located 18-km north of the city centre, it's a beckoning beach on the shores of
Arabian Sea and is one of the posh localities of Mumbai where one can find the
bungalows of the famous film personalities. Many shootings are held here too.
Hanging Gardens in Mumbai: Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens,
the Hanging Gardens were built in 1880 and renovated in 1921. These gardens are
popularly known as Hanging Gardens, because of their location on the slope of
a hill. The terrace garden looks south from Malabar Hill towards Colaba, and affords
a panoramic view of the city or a breathtaking sunset. It is built over three
reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for cleaning before
being supplied to the town.
Kamala Nehru Park: The Malabar hill
offers superb views of Mumbai. On top of the Malabar hills are the Hanging Gardens
and Kamala Nehru Park. Built in 1952 and named after the wife of India's first
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, this park covers an area of 4,000 sq. yards and
from here one enjoys a magnificent view of Marine Drive 'Queen's Necklace'.
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus/Western Railway Station)
At the site of the Koli's original temple to Mumba Devi now stands Chatrapati
Shivaji Terminus - one of Mumbai's most prominent buildings and architecturally
one of the finest stations in the world. It is built in a style that combines
Gothic and Indian influences. It was completed in 1885. Designed by F.W. Stevens
the building commenced in 1878. This Italian gothic Building has a frontage of
over 15,00 feet. The administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing
an ornamental garden, the entrance gate guarded by a massive stone Lion and Tiger.
The most prominent feature of this building is the high 160 feet dome crowning
the centre. On top of the giant dome is a figure of a women with a torch held
aloft to symbolise progress.
Enjoy shopping in the afternoon. Overnight
stay will be at Mumbai.
Day Thirteen Mumbai: Breakfast
will be at the hotel.
Proceed to the ELEPHANTA CAVES for sightseeing.
The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves,
containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord
Shiva. These caves are located in the sea 11 km from the coast and are now designated
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Elephanta, being a commercial,
military and religions centre for centuries has traces of early Buddhist culture.
The
Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging to the
period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the Brahminical resurgence during the
reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these great cave dedicated to Lord Shiva
exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends and history suggest that the great
warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin ll raised the shrine to celebrate
his victory. Some historians also suggest that these caves were built by the Kalchuri
King Krishnaraja in 6th century AD.
As the worship of the figure of
the Buddha began to be encouraged with rise of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism,
a shrine was introduced to house Buddha's image, replacing the cells at the centre
of the back wall. The Monasteries of Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta.
Return to the mainland in the afternoon and relax at the hotel. Later in
the evening proceed to enjoy shopping at the local markets or in the fashion malls.
Overnight will be at Hotel.
Day Fourteen Mumbai - Goa:
By Flight
Flight Number : 9W 458
Departure : 1200 hr
Arrival : 1300
hr Breakfast will be at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the
flight departure to Mumbai to take a connecting flight to Goa.
Arrive
at Goa. Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to the Hotel.
Goa,
variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise"
and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western
coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty
and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses have made
Goa a firm favorite with travelers around the world. Nestled on the slopes of
the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges), Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg
district of Maharasthra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar Districts
of Karnataka, and on the west by Arabian Sea.
Legends from Hindu mythology
credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa.
Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas,
Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers
of Goa. Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonization on 19th
of December 1961 and became a Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman
and Diu. On 30th of May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state
of the Indian Republic. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this
is a place where people really know how to relax.
Relax at the Beach.
Overnight will be at Hotel.
Day Fifteen Goa Breakfast
will be at the hotel.
After
breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of Goa.
Situated on the
Mandovi River, it still shows a strong Portuguese heritage in its plazas, cathedrals
and architecture. Although it is best known for its 65 miles/105 km of magnificent,
palm tree - lined beaches along the Arabian Sea, Goa has other attractions of
significance. Among them are the Portuguese Catholic Church of Old Goa and the
Basilica of Bom Jesus (most of the mummified body of St. Francis Xavier is exhibited
there on occasion.) The tour includes visits to Mapusa town, Mayem Lake, Vagator,
Anjuna, Calangute beaches and Fort Aguada in North Goa and the South Goa tour
covers Old Goa Churches - Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Margao, Colva and Mormugao.
Relax at the beach in the evening. Overnight will be at Hotel.
Day Sixteen - Eighteen Goa Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Relax at the Beach. Overnight will be at Hotel.
Day Nineteen
Goa - Mumbai:
By Flight
Flight Number : 9W 472
Departure : 1405 hr
from Goa
Arrival : 1505 hr at Mumbai Enjoy a leisurely breakfast
at the hotel.
Relax at the beach during the day and in the afternoon
proceed to the airport for the flight departure to Mumbai. Arrive at Mumbai. We
will transfer you to the international airport for the flight departure to the
next destination with sweet memories of the Tour.
(If there is too much
of time in-between the flights then you could take up a room close to the airport
in a hotel and freshen up)
TOUR ENDS
India Extensive Tour with Darjeeling Reservation
Form 
