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Golden Triangle with Khajuraho and Varanasi
Itinerary especially prepared for 11 Nights/12 Days
Places covered: Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Orchha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Delhi
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
On arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 02 : Delhi Sight seen
After breakfast proceed for full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, Red Fort; Humayun‘s Tomb,Qutab Minar, India Gate, President House. Later explore the local market etc. ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 03 : Drive Delhi to Jaipur (258 Kms/05 hrs)
After breakfast dive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check in to hotel Rest of the day at leisure. Evening visit chokhidhani an ethnic village where you can enjoy all village related activities like rajasthani folk dances, puppet shows, magic shows, rides follwed by traditional Rajasthani Dinner. ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 04 : Jaipur Sight seen
After breakfast proceed for the day excursion to Amber Fort, Amber Fort is the old capital of rulers of Jaipur. here one takes an elephant to ride to the palace situated on the hill. Afternoon visit city including City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Birla Mandir and Jai Singh‘s Observatory. ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 05 : Drive Jaipur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri (235kms/04hrs)
After breakfast dive to Agra, enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Mughals, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Later continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra check-in to hotel. ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 06 : Agra Sight seen
After breakfast, enjoy the architectural modern day wonder of the world, the incomparable Taj Mahal. this monument is a fine example of the fusion of many architectural styles is one of the wonders of the modern world. built in 1652 by Emperor Sahajahan. Agra the zenith of art and an enshrined romance. Taj Mahal a poem in white marble which took 22 years to build by 20,000 skilled artisans who inlaid the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones also visit the Agra Fort ( Overnight at hotel)
Day 07 : Drive Agra to Khajuraho Via Orchha (395Kms/07hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho enroute visit Orchha : A medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces & temples of the 16th & 17th century .Continue drive to Khajuraho, upon arrival, check in to hotel.( Overnight at hotel)
Day 08 : Khajuraho Sight seen
After breakfast, visit Khajuraho : Built by the warrior Chandela dynasty that rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th centuries, the 25 odd serving temples display different facets of life. Khajuraho has been declared a World Heritage Site. Visit the eastern & western group of temples famous for their erotic scultpures. Evening at leisure (Overnight at hotel).
Day 09 : Drive Khajuraho to Varanasi ( 415 Kms/07 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Varanasi. Upon arrival check in to hotel.Rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight at hotel).
Day 10 : Varanasi Sight seen
After breakfast, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the ‘Wheel of the Dharma‘. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha‘s teaching first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum (closed on FriDays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions, used as independent Indias’ national emblem.
Day 11 : Varanasi city tour
After breakfast leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world. Return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi - Visit the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras. Evening witness the religious ceremonies ( Aarati) along the banks of river Ganges.
Day 12 : Depart Varanasi to Delhi by Flight.
After breakfast you are free, on time you will be transferred to the airport to board flight to Delhi for your onward journey.
Tour Ends
Inroduction of Places
Delhi India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’ past.
Jaipur
The city owes its names, foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his hillside fortress at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture.
Agra
Agra was the capital of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his beautiful Queen Mumtaz Mahal. After she passed away in 1631, Shah Jahan created a mausoleum that is now known as a symbol of eternal love. See the Taj Mahal in all its splendor on tours to Agra Visit many more grand Mughal monuments on tours to Agra. This Taj city welcomes you to see the architectural wonders of Agra, including the enchanting Taj Mahal (A symbol of love)
Khajuraho
Khajuraho is Located in the Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh at a distance of 385 miles from Delhi is one of India‘s most popular tourist destinations next to the Taj Mahal. Derived from the Hindi word ‘khajur‘ meaning date palm, the quaint little temple town of Khajuraho is famous through out the world for its medieval Hindu temples and more so for its erotic sculpture. Built over a span of a hundred years, from 950 to 1050 AD, the Khajuraho temples represent the expression of a highly matured civilization and are the country‘s unique gift of love to the world.
Varanasi
The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.
Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives.
