North And Center India With Nepal

Additional Details

Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Destinations : Delhi-Udaipur-Ranakpur-Jodhpur-Pushkar-Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-AgraJhansi-Khajuraho-Varansi-Kathmandu-Delhi

DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
 On arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked hotel.

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.

DAY 02 : DELHI
 After breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658; Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

 Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns Tomb; built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir) or Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (Sikh temple).

DAY 03 : DELHI-UDAIPUR (FLIGHT, 9W 3317, 1105-1335 HRS)
 After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur and transfer to prebooked hotel.
 Later, excursion to Nagda & Eklingji.

DAY 04 : UDAIPUR
 After breakfast, visit the romantic city of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish temple, a fine Indo Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion ki Bari or Garden of the Maids of Honour, which is a small garden with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants & lotus pool.

 Afternoon, free. In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.

DAY 05 : UDAIPUR - RANAKPUR - JODHPUR (275 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
 After breakfast, leave for Jodhpur. Enroute visiting the Jain temples at Ranakpur : The cluster of temples, made of intricately sculpted white marble, come across as a marvellousfeat of architecture. It would take anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in 1460, so well preserved & sparkling is the marble. The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars ? none of which is similarly carved.

 After the visit, continue drive to Jodhpur. Arrive Jodhpur in the evening and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 06 : JODHPUR - PUSHKAR (225 KMS, 04-05 HRS HRS DRIVE)
 After breakfast, city tour of Jodhpur. fatehpur sikri agraVisit the Mehrangarh Fort which literally means ?Majestic Fort?, located at the very centre of the city. There are ,in all , three gates , each built to commemorate a particular victory, as well as to reinforce the fort. It has a collection of musical instruments, palanquins, furniture & cannons on the forts? ramparts are well preserved. Jaswant Thada : Close to the fort complex lies this white marble cenotaph, built in 1899, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen at Jaswant Thada. Also visit the Clock Tower ? the city centre.

 Afternoon, leave for Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 07 : PUSHKAR-JAIPUR (135 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE)
 After breakfast, visit Pushkar. Afternoon, leave for Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 08 : JAIPUR
 After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.

 Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons; Jantar Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.

DAY 09 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)

 After breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri - built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory.

 Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening and checkin at prebooked hotel.

 After breakfast, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653.

 Afternoon, free for individual activities.

Note : Taj Mahal closed on Fridays.

DAY 11 : AGRA - JHANSI (BY TRAIN, SHATABDI EXPRESS, 0815-1025 HRS) JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO (178 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
 After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board train for Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi and board our car/coach which awaits you to drive you to Khajuraho.

 Enroute visit Orchha : Once the capital of Bundelas, Orchha is a village, set amongst a complex of well preserved palaces and temples. Though Orchha was founded in 1531, it's golden age was during the first half of 17th century. When Jahangir visiting the city in 1606, a special palace, the Jehangir Mahal was built for him. Visit the Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal & Ram Raja temple which also dates back to the 17th century.

 Continue drive to Khajuraho. Arrive Khajuraho and check in at hotel.

DAY 12 : KHAJURAHO - VARANASI (FLIGHT, 9W 724, 1330-1410 HRS)kahjuraho india
 After breakfast visit Khajuraho : Built by the warrior Chandela dynasty that rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th centuries, the 25 odd surving temples display different facets of life, including the sensual. These erotic carvings on some panels have given rise to much speculation since Khajuraho?s re-discovery by a British officer in 1838. To preserve it for posterity, Khajuraho has been declared a World Heritage Site.

 Visit the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings between 950 AD & 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji temple with lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishwanath & Nandi temples, Lakshmana temple, Visha temple dedicated to Shiva, which is the largest & most typical of temples.

 Afternoon, transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to prebooked hotel.

DAY 13 : VARANASI
 Early morning, 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. Formerly known as Kashi ? the city that illuminates. The religious capital of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living city of India & one of the worlds? most ancient. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi. Visit the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery & the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.

 Afternoon, excursion to Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this one is seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of Benares still resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar Hall) and the royal museum housing collections of palanquins, elephant saddles, arms, furniture, costumes, etc., are a must see at the Ramnagar fort. Return by boat in the evening, enroute witness the religious ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges.

DAY 14 : VARANASI - KATHMANDU (FLIGHT)
 After breakfast, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where Buddha preached his first sermin. 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 or 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 India's national emblem.

 Later, transfer to the airport to board flight for Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked hotel.

DAY 15 : KATHMANDU
 In the morning, visit the valley of Kathmandu ? the capital city of Nepal, Swayambhunath & Museum. Afternoon, excursion to Patan & Tibetan Handicraft centre

DAY 16 : KATHMANDU
 After breakfast, visit Bhaktapur, Boudhnath & Pashupatinath. Afternoon, excursion to Dhulikhel to witness the beautiful sunset. Return to Kathmandu after sunset.

DAY 17 : KATHMANDU - DELHI (FLIGHT, F5 603, 1600-1800 HRS)
 After breakfast, free for individual activities. Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to prebooked hotel.

DAY 18 : DEPART DELHI
 Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.