North India & Nepal

New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.

Day 02: Delhi
Have a healthy breakfast at the hotel and embark on sightseeing tours of Old & New Delhi.

In Old Delhi drive past Red fort, built in Red Sand stone this imposing fort is 3 Kms in perimeter with the height of the wall varying from 18 to 30 meters at places.

Visit Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques not only in Delhi but also in India. Completed in 1658 this Mosque has three gateways, four angle towers and two 40 m high minarets. Also visit Raj Ghat -Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial.

In New Delhi, drive past Janpath, Rashtrapati Bhawan (Hindi for presidential palace) and India Gate is perhaps one of the most impressive structures built in the capital of India. This historic monument was built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers killed in the First World War.

Visit Humayun's Tomb: built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture.

Also visit Qutab Minar. It is a one of the finest monuments in India and is 238 feet in height. Qutab Minar is 47 feet at the base and tapers to nine feet at the apex. The city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).

Overnight will be at hotel.

Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Drive to Jaipur - Jaipur was established by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743) and painted pink by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. The Royal heritage of Jaipur lives in its architecture and culture. The city in pink is symbolic of the hospitality that reigned in the Rajput culture.

On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. It is a beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The Mughals later abandoned this city for lack of water. Fatehpur Sikri had a short life of splendor. Once Akbar left it in 1585, it never regained its lost importance and has remained the most magnificent and well-preserved ghost city of India.

Overnight will be at hotel in Jaipur.

Day 04: Jaipur
After breakfast, have excursion trip to Amber Fort with Jeep / elephant ride.

En route, make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal). Hawa Mahal is a sample of the perfection of the architecture. Hawa Mahal was built with the pink & red sandstone, beautifully carved and outlined with white border and motif

Amber Fort is situated on the crest of a hill seven miles north of Jaipur is Amber, capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1037 to 1728. Man Singh I built it in a style to rival Mughal grandeur and opulence.

In afternoon visit City Palace, a combination of conventional Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. City Palace complex has more than a few palatial structures. City Palace is a huge complex, which houses many courtyards, gardens and buildings.

Also visit Jantar Mantar, built between 1716. It is located within the city palace. Jantar Mantar contains a collection of instruments for observing the movements of sun, moon, planets and stars. It was built to develop the interest of the people in Astronomy.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Jaipur - Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra - The city of Mughals offers you an opportunity to explore the massive monuments, majestic buildings, and the popular arts and crafts. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries.

En route visit Fatehpur Sikri - the birth story of this beautiful city is interesting. There, in a grotto in Sikri, lived a Muslim Saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti by name. Akbar hearing of his renown, asked of the blessings of a son, and when a son was born, not only was the child named Salim, the site for a mighty and ambitious project - a city - was chosen near the residence of the saint erected in 1569.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Agra
Visit Taj Mahal (Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. It took twenty-two years and hard toil of more than twenty thousand workers to construct Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is enchanting and it reflects the marvelous beauty of architecture. Taj Mahal symbolize the richness of art and architecture of the Mughal period.

After Taj Mahal visit Agra Fort; built by Emperor Akbar on the west bank of the river Yamuna and beautified with palaces and gardens by Jehangir, Agra Fort today dominates the centre of the city. The crescent-shaped fort with its 20-metre high, 2.4-km outer walls contains a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Agra - Khajuraho
Transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho - Situated in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage, honoured by the world as India's unique contribution to human civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Twenty remain as embodiments of Indian architectural and sculptural art at its most evolved state. Even ten centuries after they were constructed, the temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to all mankind. The temples of Khajuraho is a world heritage site and belong not just to India but to the world. Khajuraho is one of the few millennium destinations of the world.

On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Khajuraho
Breakfast will be at hotel. Proceed for a full day tour of the Exotic Temples (Eastern & Western) of Khajuraho. The temples are superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture and depict images of gods and goddesses, warriors and musicians, real and mythological animals and in great detail - women and sex.

PM - proceed to the Shilpa Gram for seeing the local artisans at work. You can also see the colorful Dances show. Overnight will be at hotel.

Day 09: Khajuraho - Varanasi
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to hotel.

Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet manufacturing place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and Asi.

Visit Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Varanasi
In the morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.

Return to hotel for a sumptuous breakfast. Proceed for a guided tour of Varanasi in the afternoon including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras Hindu University and other important monuments.

Day 11: Varanasi - Kathmandu
Transfer to the airport for flight to Kathmandu - the capital of Nepal, is the largest city in the country. Nepal capital city is in shape of Khukuri knife and its glorious history dates back to two thousand years. Located in the bowl shaped Kathmandu Valley, the city is the cultural hub of the country and probably the most sought after tourist destination. The home town of Newaras is the meeting point of various ethnic groups.

Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Kathmandu
Morning half-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu also called the 'City of Glory'. Visit includes, Durbar Square, Kasthamandap - said to be constructed from a single piece wood. Kumari Ghar - home to the World's only living Goddess. A short visit to Bhairab - the God of destruction, Taleju Temple - built in 1549 AD and Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Thereafter visit Swoyambunath Stupa, said to be one of the oldest Buddhist Stupas in the World, which is majestically set high on a Hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley. It is nicknamed as the monkey temple after the tribe of monkeys that look after the hill and often amuses the visitors.

Afternoon - half-day sightseeing tour of Patan, the "City of Fine Arts". Visit Durbar Square, Krishna Temple, built in 1637 AD, which holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan, it is the only temple in Nepal that has 21 spires and is entirely made of stone, Hiranyavarna Mahavira - the Golden Temple of Lord Buddha and the Tibetan Handcrafts Center.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13: Kathmandu
Morning half-day sightseeing tour of the medieval city of Bhaktapur, also called the "City of Devotees" where you will meander down narrow lanes past centuries old homes and temples. The tour will begin with a vist to Durbar Square, The Golden Gate, Places of 55 Windows, Lion's Gate. The Nyatpola Temple, the tallest of its kind in Nepal, Bhairab Temple, the Pottery Centre and Dattratraya Temple.

Afternoon half-day sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This massive temple complex sits alongside the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the courtyard of the temple, whereas tourists can see the temple from the eastern side of the Bagmati River. Afterwards, visit Boudhanath, a Buddhist Stupa said to be one of the largest in the world. This massive structure stands tall with four pairs of eyes each facing the four cardinal directions, watching for righteous behaviour of mankind and for human prosperity.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 14: Kathmandu - Delhi
Transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi Assistance on arrival and connect flight for onward destination.