India Extraordinaire Trip

Arrive Delhi, met and greet at the airport. You will be assisted at the time of check-in & briefed about your tour. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight Delhi.

Post breakfast, proceed for Full Day Guided Sightseeing of Old & New Delhi.

Start your Day with Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the Royal Mosque, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1656. Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, the old colorful shopping bazaar. Later drive past Red Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Continue to Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

In the afternoon, visit New Delhi – the imperial city created by British architect Edwin Lutyens as the capital of India. Drive through the diplomatic enclaves of Delhi Rashtrapati Bhawan, now the official residence of the President of India, Parliament House etc.  Visit India Gate, a war memorial arch built in honor of 90,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first great example of Mughal architecture in India. Conclude tour at Qutab Minar– a 72.5 meters high and has five distinct storeys Mughal Tomb. Overnight Delhi.

Post breakfast, check out and drive towards ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur (260Kms / 5-6Hrs approx.) . Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in at hotel and spend rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Jaipur.

Following breakfast, start with excursion to Amber fort, buit by Raja Man Singh. Climb up to the fort on Elephant’s back the Fort.  Later visit Hawa Mahal which is known as Palace of the Winds.  This palace was built of red and pink sandstone. It has many Jharokhas or windows; the main aim to construct the Mahal was to ease the royal women to view the everyday life through the windows, at that time there were not allowed to appear in public. City Palace, which is located in the heart of the Pink City Jaipur.  Enjoy photography in front of Jal Mahal – A water palace & visit Jantar Mantar – an astronomical observatory. Overnight Jaipur.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Agra (250Kms / 5-6Hrs approx.). En-route, stop at Fatehpur Sikri. It is the political capital of India’s Mughal Empire under Akbar’s reign from the year 1571 until 1586 when it was abandoned ostensibly due to the lack of water. We will visit Emperor Akbar’s Residential complex, Mosque, and Tomb of Salim. Later proceed towards Agra. On arrival in Agra, check in at hotel and rest of the day is free. Overnight Agra.

Optional: Sunrise Visit to Taj Mahal.

Post breakfast enjoy guided tour of Agra city covering the historic fort of Agra – Agra fort which was constructed with red sand- stone.  The fort is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna. This fort was constructed by the third Mughal emperor Akbar.  Later visit Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. It’s a Mughal mausoleum, often described as a “jewel box”, also called ‘Baby Taj’ & often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal.

Later proceed to visit Taj Mahal at Sunset. Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world.  Taj Mahal is the tomb of the emperor’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal.  20,000 labour worked to construct this monument. Taj Mahal was constructed in the memory of Shan Jahan’s beloved wife Mumtaz. Overnight Agra.

After an early breakfast, check out and transfer to railway station to board the Shatabadi  / Gatiman train to Jhansi.

On arrival in Jhansi, met and short transfer to Orchha (30Min approx.). Later proceed for city tour covering Chaturbhuj Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Fort Palace, cenotaphs ” Chhatries” on the bank of river Betwa. Evening, attend soulful Aarti at the famous Raja Ram temple. Overnight Orchha.

Post breakfast, drive towards Khajuraho. Arrive & check in at hotel . Later explore the Khajuraho group of temples which have been listed as UNESCO World heritage site. Visit the great erotic temple complex which is known as Eastern & Western group of temples. Overnight Khajuraho.

After breakfast, check out and flight to Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi & check in at hotel. Early evening proceed to ghat to witness majestic festival of Dev Diwali. Known as the ‘Diwali of the Gods’ Dev Diwali is a very auspicious day. Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali is an auspicious day in Kartik, the seventh month in the Hindu calendar. Dev Diwali is often referred to as the “Diwali of Gods”. Devotees do ‘Kartik Snana’ (holy dip) in the Ganges, light earthen lamps and pray to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.  Overnight Varanasi.

Early Morning Boat ride on the River Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from Ghat to Ghat. People bath early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation Ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns day & night.  Visit ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple; walk through the narrow streets and alleys of the city leading to various hidden and popular market areas as well as other attractions.

Return to hotel for breakfast.

Later drive to Sarnath (10Kms approx.). Varanasi is where the Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon in a Deer Park. It makes Sarnath one of the most venerated Buddhist places. Besides Buddhism, Sarnath is also connected with Jainism. There are many Buddhist monuments and edifices at Sarnath.

Evening, you will attend the popular Ganga Aarti on the banks of the River Ganges. During the Aarti, you will see well-choreographed traditional worship rituals done by Hindu priests where they chant holy Sanksrit prayers and sway huge brass lamps in their hands and blow conch shells to produce divine music. Later retire to the hotel. Overnight Varanasi.

Note: You can add on an extra night into Varanasi’s Stay if you wish.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to airport for your flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai, met and transfer to hotel. Check in at hotel and spend rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Mumbai.

This morning, begin your tour at the Gateway of India in Mumbai Harbour in 1911 to commemorate King George V’s visit to India. Then, enjoy a ferry ride on the Arabian Sea to the Elephanta caves, the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. Built in the sixth century, the caves have various rock-cut temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and his many avatars.

Later this afternoon, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, built in 1923 to commemorate King George V’s visit to India. From here drive past the Marine drive. This is a beautiful 3-kilometre-long drive along the natural bay of the Arabian Sea. Continue our drive along some noteworthy Government Buildings like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus), which is the city’s most extravagant Gothic building and the high court. On the way back to hotel, walk through the bustling Crawford market selling wholesale fruit, vegetables and poultry and an absolute treat for the senses. Overnight Mumbai.

Today you will be transferred to airport in time to catch your flight back home or to onward destination. Bid farewell to Incredible India with wonderful memories.