Luxury
Holidays » Best of North India with Gwalior
Best of North India with Gwalior
| Duration:
10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior -
Jhansi - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi |
Day 01 Delhi:
Arrival at Delhi You will be met on arrival at the International
airport. 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. Delhi is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an
ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope -
that
is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02 Delhi:
Start a Full day tour of Old & 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 Moghul 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 Houseand
the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 03 Delhi - Jaipur:
By Road
260 km/6 hr Breakfast will be at hotel. Drive to Jaipur.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced
back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended
the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite
of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is popularly known as
the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered
stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria.
Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite
temples and lush gardens.
Reach Jaipur and check in at hotel. Shopping
and relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 04 Jaipur:
Proceed for morning excursion will be taken to the Amber Fort. Ride
to the Fort on elephant back in a royal manner.
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.
Afternoon sightseeing
tour of Jaipur visiting...
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.
Free in the evening or roam the city.
Overnight will
be at Jaipur.
Day 05 Jaipur - Agra:
By Road
221 km/6 hr
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri en-route after breakfast.
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
your drive to Agra and on arrival check-in at Hotel.
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.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 06 Agra: Proceed for sightseeing of Agra after breakfast.
TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in
1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess.
She died while accompanying her husband in Behrampur in a campaign to crush a
rebellion, after giving birth to their 14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor
that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months.
When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor:
first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that
he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death
anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631
and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on
it. An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the architecture
and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a "symbol
of eternal love".
Having buried her down at Behrampur, it was time
for the emperor to keep his promise and build a tomb there itself. But by and
by, it was felt that it was virtually impossible to transfer all the marble there,
as it would cost an entire fortune and an entire lifetime. So, when Agra was chosen
as the only alternative, astonishingly her grave was uprooted and brought to Agra,
only to be finally transferred to the monument, completed twenty-two years later.
After Taj we will visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In 1525
AD. After Agra Fort we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are considered
better than the Taj.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 07 Agra - Gwalior:
By Road
110 km/3 hr Proceed to Gwalior after breakfast. Reach and transfer
to hotel.
Gwalior's colorful history, going back to the eight century,
is a mosaic of Rajput clans of the Pratihasas, Kachwahas and Tomars, each leaving
their marks on the city's magnificent monuments. A trip to Gwalior is incomplete
without a visit to the fort, Scindia Palace and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and
Tansen.
Proceed for sightseeing after lunch.
Visit the historic
GURJARI MAHAL, MAN MANDIR PALACE, SAS BAHU KI MANDIR, ROYAL PALACE, THE SURAJ
KUND IN THE FORT AND ALSO THE SCINDIA PALACE AND CENOTAPHS.
Overnight
will be at hotel.
Day 08 Gwalior - Jhansi - Khajuraho:
By Train
Train Name : Bhopal Shatabdi Express
Train No. : 2002
Departure : 0920
hr
Arrival : 1024 hr Breakfast will be at hotel. You will be
transferred to station for train to Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and proceed
to Orchha, 12 km away.
Reach Jhansi and transfer to Orchha, 12 km away.
It is a medieval city founded by the BUNDELA rulers with palaces and temples of
the 16th & 17th century - which has remarkably withstood the onslaught of
time. The town is known for its CHATTRIS which were built in the memory of the
kings and the place is flanked by the river BETWA.
Proceed for sightseeing
of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex. Enjoy your lunch at Orchha.
Continue
drive to Khajuraho.
Situated in the northernmost part of Madhya Pradesh,
Khajuraho is famous for its enchanting temples and its legendary Khajuraho dance
festival. The name Khajuraho is derived from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree)
which is grown abundantly in the region. The Khajuraho Temples are dedicated to
a celebration of womanhood, her myriad moods and facets. Famous for its erotic
architecture, the carvings include, women writing a letter, applying eye makeup,
combing her tresses, dancing & playing with her child. Her innocent, blushed,
charming, seductive, ardent beauty, all depicted in exquisitely sculptured details.
These temples have been designed and carved to lead the eyes from ground level
upward till you seem to be looking at heaven.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred
to hotel and relax. Evening will be free or you can go out for a stroll. Overnight
will be at Khajuraho.
Day
09 Khajuraho - Varanasi:
By Air
Flight : 9W 334
Airline : Jet Airways
Departure : 1330 hr
Arrival : 1410 hr Breakfast will be at hotel.
Spend the morning sightseeing the FAMED AND EXOTIC temples of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at
Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to hotel.
Picturesquely situated
on the crescent shaped left bank of the holy River Ganges, Varanasi, one of the
ancient seats of learning in India, is said to be a compound of the names of two
streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which still flow in the north and south of the
city respectively. This name seems to have been corrupted, in medieval times to
Varanasi, which was in use till May 1956, when it was changed to Varanasi, by
an order of the Government of India. Varanasi is probably one of the most ancient
living cities in India. From time immemorial it has been a great religious center
for Hindus and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by
millions of people every year. To every visitor Varanasi offers a breathtaking
experience. The rays of the dawn shimmering across the Ganges; the high-banks;
the temples and shrines along the banks bathed in a golden hue …soul stirring
hymns and mantras along with the fragrance of incense filling the air…and
the refreshing dip in the holy waters gently splashing at the Ghats. Varanasi
- The land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss. Varanasi is
also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education. Some
of the world - renowned exponents India has produced in these fields were schooled
in Varanasi's cultural ethos. Luminaries apart, Varanasi abounds in the art of
silk weaving, an exotic work of art which manifests itself in precious Banarasi
silk sarees and silk brocades which are cherished as collector's items across
the world today.
Visit Sarnath ? 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion:
One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first
Sermon in 590 BC. Here he revealed the eight fold path that leads to the attainment
of inner peace, Enlightenment and Ultimate Nirvana. Witness the ruins of a once
flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent
collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.
Overnight
will be at Varanasi.
Day 10 Varanasi: Drive to Daswamedh
Ghat early in the morning and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see
the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest
and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience)
For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of
the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed
to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands
of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background,
temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Return for a walk through
the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening,
the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Proceed for day guided tour of Varanasi including the Bharat Mata Temple,
which features a big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble. Also visit
the 18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the
huge population of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi Manas Temple, crafted from
white marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed on its walls. Also visit
the BHU considered as the biggest residential university in Asia.
The
University Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Spend night at Varanasi.
Day 11 Varanasi - Delhi:
By Air
Flight : 9W 334
Airline : Jet Airways
Departure : 1440 hr
Arrival : 1600 hr Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Relax in the morning and finish last minute shopping. Explore the city or visit
the GHATS once more. Proceed to the airport for flight to Delhi.
Reach
Delhi and take connecting flight home.
Tour Ends
Best of North India with Gwalior
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