Best of India

Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi, India’s bustling capital city. It was from here that Hindu, Muslim and Moghul dynasties, as well as the British, ruled. Arrive and transfer to hotel for overnight.

Delhi
Morning tour of New Delhi includes the a visit to the Qutab Minar and the colourful Birla Mandir. Drive along Rajpath, where you will see such sights as the Parliament, Presidents Palace and India Gate. Afternoon Old Delhi Sightseeing Visit the spectacular Red Fort with its Pearl Mosque and exquisite audience halls; the Mahatma Gandhi memorial; Ashoka Pillar and the mile long Chandn Chowk bazaar and the Jama Masjid. Enjoy a tricycle ride on the narrow lanes of Old Delhi. Overnight at hotel.

Delhi/ Varanasi
Morning fly to Varanasi (Benares), India’s holiest city, located on the sacred Ganges River. Arrive and transfer to hotel, enroute visit the stupas, ruins and museum at Sarnath, scene of Buddha’s first sermon. This evening meet with an expert astrologer (optional visit) who will read your palm, if you so desire. Overnight at hotel.

Varanasi/ Khajuraho
Morning visit Ghats and city then fly to Khajuraho. Arrive & transfer to hotel . Khajuraho Dynasty.was the capital of the 9th to 13th Century Chandela. Visit the Western group containing the largest and loveliest temples, including Kandariya Mahadev, representing Chandela art at its best. The less ornate Eastern Group reflect the austerity of the Jains. Overnight at hotel.

Khajuraho/ Orchha/ Jhansi/ Agra
Morning drive to Jhansi enroute Orchha, a medieval city frozen in time and space, existing to this day as it must have in the 17th century. Continue drive to Jhansi Station to take a train for Agra. Arrive & transfer to hotel for overnight.

Agra/ Fatehpur Sikri/ jaipur
Morning we tour the Fort and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Drive to Jaipur enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri, India’s “Pompeii” once a glittering imperial capital, later mysteriously abandoned. Proceed towards Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, also known as the “Pink City.” Jaipur gained its colourful name after its buildings were painted pink for the visit of Prince Albert in 1876.. Arrive & chech-in at hotel for overnight.

Jaipur
Excursion to Amber Fort. You are transported back in time today, riding like royalty atop elegantly draped and
painted elephants, up into the high mountain fortress of Amber. A complex of palaces, temples, mirror inlaid public halls, this is an exquisite example of Rajput architecture. Afternoon visit the Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds,” City Palace and the ancient observatory. Overnight at hotel.

Jaipur/ Jodhpur
Morning free. Later transfer to Railway station to take the train for Jodhpur. Arrive & transfer to hotel for overngiht.

Jodhpur
Sightseeing this morning covers the invincible Mehrangarh Fort, the magnificent palaces within, containing marvelously carved panels, latticed windows, and housing a fabulous collection of Rajput art. Visit the Jaswant Thada, a graceful marble cenotaph built in 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II, and monuments to other Maharajahs of Jodhpur. Overnight at hotel.

Jodhpur/ Ranakpur/ Udaipur
This morning depart for Udaipu stop enroute and tour the beautifully sculpted Jain temples of Ranakpur. The intricately carved white marble is so well preserved it belies the temple’s 500 years. Arrive & check-in at hotel for overnight.

Udaipur
Morning Excursion to Kumbhalgarh, cradled in the cluster of thirteen mountain peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the formidable medieval citadel-Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to the past glory. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high from the sea level, the fort was built in 15th century A.D. by Maharana Kumbha (1419-63 A.D. ) and is the principal fortification lying 90 km north-west of Udaipur. The massive fort, encompassed by a 36 km long wall, has seven majestic gates and seven ramparts, one within the other. Rounded bastions and soaring watch towers strengthen the crenellated walls of the fort making it an impregnable structure.
Afternoon sightseeing tour the “City of Lakes,” known as one of the most picturesque and romantic cities of India. Visit City Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari or Garden of Maids; and the folklore museum where you can see a presentation of the string puppet show typical to this area. Overnight at hotel.

Udaipur/ Mumbai/ Aurangabad
Morning fly to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai & connect the onward flight for Aurangabad, site of the World famous rock-cut temples of Ajanta and Ellora. Three distinct group of temples relate the story of the evolution of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. These 2000 year old colossal rock-carved temples boast a myriad of finely-detailed sculptures. Transfer to hotel and overnight.

Aurangabad
Full day excursion of the Ajanta, one of India’s most impressive archaeological sites. Here Buddhist art attained the peak of its development, in frescoes and wall paintings revealing a fascinating lifestyle. Carved out of a rocky gorge, these 30 caves date back to the 3rd Century. The ornate facades and interior chambers at Ajanta are illuminated by a flood of natural light which pours into the caves at all times of the day. Overnight at hotel.

Excursion to Ellora Caves / Aurangabad / Mumbai
Tour to Ellora Caves, one of the finest sculpture sites in India. Kailashnath Temple, actually sculpted out of a mountain, was created as the residence of Lord Shiva. It is perhaps the largest monolith ever created, and bears lavish testimony of the excellence of Dravidian art. We return to Mumbai this evening by flight. Transfer to hotel and overnight.

Mumbai
Morning we take on to Elephanta caves excursion across the harbour to Elephanta Island and its famous caves, filled with the carvings and sculptures dating to 550A.D. Afternoon your tour of Mumbai includes the British-built arch “Gateway of India,” Mumbai’s landmark; the Hanging Gardens and the affluent community of Malabar Hills; the Prince of Wales Museum, Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Jain Temple. Overnight at hotel.

Mumbai / Overseas
Early morning transfer to the airport for your international flight for onward destination.