ITINERARY

Day 1: LONDON HEATHROW

Depart from London Heathrow on the flight to Delhi.

Day 2: Arrive Delhi

On arrival in Delhi meet and greet by our representative in Indian traditional with garlanding and escorted to your Hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: OLD + NEW Delhi TOUR

After morning breakfast Proceed for a City tour of Old and New Delhi, Old Delhi – Drive past the magnificent Red Fort (closed on Mondays) and Aksahrdham temple. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century. Visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Drive through the old city subject to traffic restrictions, New Delhi - Drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate. Visit the Qutub Minar, the 72-meter-high Minaret. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 4: DRIVE DELHI JAIPUR (275 KMS/ APPROX. 6 HRS DRIVE)

Breakfast Breakfast at the hotel, later drive to Jaipur– Known as “Pink City” for its trademark building colour. On arrival at the hotel your check-in formalities will be completed by our representative while you enjoy your welcome drink. Rest of the day is free for leisure activities to explore the evening bazaars. Overnight stay at Jaipur.

Day 5: AMBER FORT + JAIPUR CITY TOUR

Today, enjoy a full day tour of the city of Jaipur, which has been declared a World Heritage Site due to its cultural heritage.
Our first stop is to view the magnificent Hawa Mahal (the "Palace of the Winds") designed in the form of the crown of the Hindu god Krishna. This five-storey frontage looks like a bee's honeycomb with 953 small windows, each decorated with intricate latticework so that the court ladies living in secluded purdah could watch royal processions, without being seen themselves. Built of red and pink sandstone, it is particularly striking early in the morning when lit by the sunrise.
We continue to the imposing Amber Fort - another World Heritage Site. This magnificent royal palace was built from pale yellow & pink sandstone and white marble and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. You will enter via the main courtyard (Jaleb Chowk), where returning armies would display their war booty and women could view them from the veiled windows of the palace. Once inside explore the amazing Palace of Mirrors and Hall of Public Audience
We then visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world and also a World Heritage Site. It is the best preserved of five observatories built by Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. It has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Our day finishes with a visit to the nearby City Palace, the former Royal Residence part of which is now a museum. One of the major attractions here is the armoury with its impressive array of pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers used by the Maharajas of Jaipur. The Textile and Costume Museum on the first floor is another fine display, with items from all over India. Overnight stay at Jaipur.

Day 6: DRIVE TO FATEHPUR SIKRI + AGRA (236KMS/APPROX 5 HRS DRIVE)

Drive to Jhansi (180 Kms / Approx. 5 hrs)Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi and transfer to railway station 15:05 hrs 12049 Gatimaan Express to Agra Cantt A 17:40 hrs Arrive Agra Cantt Railway Station and transferred to your hotel for check in.
Overnight: Stay at hotel.

Day 7: Agra CITY TOUR

Today morning we visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Friday), a magnificent white marble mausoleum that took 22 years to build. Apart from its stunning design and perfect symmetry, it is noted for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best marble inlay work ever done. Sunrise and sunset are particularly good times to visit and see the dome subtly change its colour.
We then visit Agra Fort, a massive structure with walls over 70-ft high and 1.5-miles long that encompasses an astounding collection of well-preserved buildings, many of them completed during the reign of Shah Jahan.
After he was deposed by his son, he was imprisoned in this fort where he remained until his death - spending the rest of his life looking out along the river to the final resting place of his beloved wife.
The balance of your day is free to relax at your hotel or explore further. Overnight stay in Agra.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 8: TRAIN AGRA – JHANSI (12002 BHOPAL SHATABDI 08:00 – 10:45HRS) DRIVE JHANSI – ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO BY DRIVE (200KMS/APPROX 4.5 HRS)

Early morning transfer to Agra railway station to board train to Jhansi, Arrive Jhansi railway station and proceed to Khajuraho. En-route visit Orchha - was founded in 1501 AD, by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, and built the Fort of Orchha.
After drive visit to Temple Town Khajuraho. On arrival check into the hotel. Overnight stay at Khajuraho

Day 9: TOUR KHAJURAHO TEMPLES

Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast visit beautiful temples of the Chandela Dynasty. The place has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Begin with Western Group of Temples: On the main road, beside the path leading to the Matangeshwar Temple is the A.S.I counter where you must purchase a ticket to visit the Western Group of temples and the museum on the opposite side. A boundary wall surrounds and protects the temples within this large rectangular complex and there is only one entry point. See some of the most sensational temples in the world.
Later visit Eastern Group of Temples: A kilometre to the east of the Western Group of Temples is the Khajursagar and the old village of Khajuraho. On one its paths is a modern whitewashed structure with a large orange - red statue of Hanuman, the monkey god. The statue is still worshipped and is one of the oldest images to be found in Khajuraho. The eastern group of temples comprises of the Brahma Temple, the Javari Temple, and the Vamana Temple. After visit return to hotel.
In the evening, enjoy a Sound and Light Show on the Western Group of temples. The show recounts the life and times of the great Chandela kings and the story of the amazing temples from the 10th century to the present day. The 50-minute show is held every evening in Hindi and in English. Overnight stay in Khajuraho.

Day 10 - TRAIN KHAJURAHO – VARANASI (395KMS/ APPROX 7 HRS DRIVE)

The morning after breakfast morning is free to relax. By noon check out and transfer to railway station for train to Varanasi. Upon arrival you will be met at Varanasi railway station and transferred to your hotel in this holy city, situated on the sacred River Ganges. Varanasi is regarded as the spiritual capital of India and is a holy city for both Jains and Hindus, who believe dying here can bring salvation. The Benares Gharana form of Indian classical music developed here, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers and musicians have made it their home. Overnight stay at Varanasi

Day 11 - RIVER GANGES + CITY TOUR + EXCURSION TO SARNATH

Rise early today for a very special experience - a boat ride on the River Ganges as the sun rises. View the remarkable colours on its waters as you pass the bathing ghats, a series of steps leading down to the river where the faithful come to bathe and pay homage to the sun god. Also see the cremation ghats.
Afterwards enjoy a walking tour of the temples of Bharat Mata, Durga and Vishwanath, Varanasi Hindu University.
Afternoon proceed on a visit to the ruins and museum at Sarnath - an important pilgrimage site where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Here you will see many stupas (shrines) including the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, a Tibetan Buddhist shrine containing a lifesized golden image of Buddha.
Late in evening your guide will walk with you to the bathing ghats (steps) on the River Ganges to witness the moving daily Aarti Ceremony, a religious ritual performed as an offering to the gods. It includes the lighting of hundreds of candles that are released in baskets onto the river, which will leave you spellbound. The ceremony lasts about 1.5 hours. Later return back to hotel. Overnight stay in Varanasi

Day 12 - VARANASI / DELHI DEPARTURE (BY FLIGHT)

Today check-out from the hotel and transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi to connect flight for onward destination.

Price Details
TOUR PRICE PER PERSON IN £ STERLING

Option 01: Based on 4 Star hotels

Hotel supplements may apply at certain times of the year

Cost Proposal:

Option 02: Based on 5 Star hotels

QUOTE INCLUDES:

• International and Domestic Flights
• Hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis inclusive of breakfast at all the places
• Meet & Greet services by representatives upon arrival and departure.
• Arrival and departure transfers by air-conditioned vehicle as mentioned in the cost slab.
• Local English Speaking guide for sightseeing as per the itinerary.
• Single entry to the monuments as per the itinerary
• Cycle rickshaw ride at Old Delhi
• Elephant ride (subject to availability) at Amber Fort.
• Common boat ride at river Ganges
• Mineral water in the vehicle for the complete trip.
• AC Chair car train tickets for Agra – Jhansi sector
• All taxes on hotel & transport
• Govt. service tax

QUOTE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Any additional meal.
• Any item of personal nature like telephone calls, room services, laundry, drinks etc.
• Any additional sightseeing/transport requirements.