Highlights of the Trip:

Explore North India’s famous Golden Triangle which offers a great feast to the visitor's eye. It is the saga of royal magnificence and architectural legacies. Visit of the world renowned Khajuraho’s temples with erotic sculpture and holy city of Varanasi where a stunning boat ride at dawn exposes us to the river’s soothing powers and the lives of millions that it evolves. Experience the rich history of the Palaces, Cruise on Lake Pichola & Visit Jain temples in Ranakpur.

Detailed Itinerary:

Namaste! Welcome to India.
 

Day1 Arrive Delhi -

Arrive Delhi airport and included transfer to your hotel. You can arrive at any time on Day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting as per your itinerary. Your tour leader (in case of group) / Glorious India Tours representative (for Private Tours) would have a meeting with you and discuss the itinerary in detail. 

On arrival in Delhi you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.

Day2 Delhi / Varanasi -

Following breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Varanasi (Flight not included). On arrival you are met and taken on a tour of Sarnath which symbolizes the birth of Buddhism with sculptures dating back as far as the 3^rd century BC. In the evening you visit the banks of the Ganges where the temples will be lit with oil-lamps and candles. This light, combined with the aromas of incense sticks, oil lamps and flowers filling the air, makes the experience magical as you watch hundreds of little lamps float out onto the Ganges River as offerings during the Arti Ceremony (collective prayer). After this spiritual experience you return to your hotel for the night.

Day3 Varanasi / Khajuraho -

You witness an incredible scene on your early morning boat ride, as thousands of pilgrims and other devotees immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges River to pay their homage to the revered sun god. This is followed by a late breakfast at your hotel before undertaking a visit of Varanasi City before being taken to the airport for your flight to Khajuraho (Flight not included). In the realm of architecture, Khajuraho holds a unique position! The temples here were built between 950 and 1,050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, who claims descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Hemavati, with whom the god fell in love. After freshening up in your hotel you undertake a comprehensive tour of the Eastern & Western Group of temples containing some of the finest examples of Chandela Art to be found.

Day4 Khajuraho / Agra -

You start the day with a final visit to the Khajuraho temples. Later you are taken to Jhansi by road with a visit to Orchha en-route. Once the capital of its own state, Orchha is made up of three joined palaces in the same style as the palace in Udaipur. On arrival in Jhansi you board the Shatabdi Express train to Agra. On arrival this evening you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.

Day5 Agra -

Early today you visit what is one of the absolute highlights of the tour: the Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved empress, Mumtaz Mahal, by Emperor Shah Jahan. This marble mausoleum is the greatest gesture of love known to mankind. It is breathtakingly beautiful with many precious stones used in its inlays. Timed to correspond with the sunrise, you have ample time to explore this memorial.

Later in the day you visit the Agra Fort and Sikandra, a beautiful tomb built for the Mughal Emperor Akbar the great.

Day6 Agra / Jaipur -

Today you travel by road to Jaipur, the Capital of Rajasthan and often referred to as the ‘Pink City’. En-route you visit Fatehpur Sikri, also known as the ‘Deserted’ or ‘Ghost City’. It was the capital of the Moghal emperor Akbar.

Day7 Jaipur -

You undertake a comprehensive full day tour of Jaipur taking in the highlights this interesting city has to offer. They include the Hawa Mahal, or the ‘Palace of Winds’, the Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Observatory) and the ornately decorated Amber Fort, located just outside the city. This was the seat of power before the City Palace was built, which is visited on your return to the city.

Day8 Jaipur / Jodhpur -

After breakfast you are driven to Jodhpur, also called the “Blue City”, which is located on the edge of the Thar Desert. This afternoon your tour takes you to the Mehrangarh Fort. Towering over the city, it contains a number of grand palaces, each of which is an impressive example of architectural excellence. Before returning to the hotel you visit Jaswant Thada where a number of cenotaphs erected in 1899 are to be found.

Day9 Jodhpur / Udaipur -

After breakfast you are driven through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan to the Jain Temples of Ranakpur. Noted for the grandiose scale of their architecture, the resident priests are still continuing the construction to this day. After viewing the temples you continuing on to Udaipur also known as the “Lake City” because of its two most beautiful sites, the dream-like Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jag Mandir marble palaces, which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichhola.

Day10   Udaipur -

Today you undertake a morning excursion to the Eklingji and Nagda Temples, some of which date from the 16^th century. In the afternoon you visit the famous City Palace. It is actually a collection of palaces all surrounded by the royal palace walls, which stretch over a mile on the eastern side of the lake. Following your tour of the palace you undertake a short boat ride on the lake.

Day11   Udaipur / Delhi -

Following breakfast you are taken to the airport for your flight to Delhi (Flight not

included). This afternoon you undertake a comprehensive tour of Old and New Delhi in which you get to see India Gate, the Houses of Parliament, Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. Your also visit Qutab Minar, a 1500 year old tower which is still standing.

Day12   Depart Delhi -

Following breakfast your tour comes to an end as you check out of the hotel. Airport transfer included in tour.

Note : Tour Cost on request.

                                                                *************** TOUR ENDS *****************

Included Activities: Sight Seeing Varanasi  – Sarnath and Museum, Sunrise Boat Ride on River Ganges,  Visit Varanasi City, Sight Seeing Khajuraho – Eastern and Western Group of Temples, Sight Seeing  Orchha – Orchha Fort Complex , Sight Seeing Agra – Visit Taj Mahal, Agra Fort , Sikandra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Sight Seeing Jaipur – Amber Fort with Uphill Elephant Ride and Downhill by Jeep, City Palace, Rickshaw Ride on the Bazar Roads, Jantar Mantar , Sightseeing Jodhpur – Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada, Sightseeing Ranakpur – Jain Temples, Sightseeing Udaipur – Jag Mandir, Boat Ride at Lake Pichola, Visit City Palace, Excursion to Eklingi and Nagda, Sightseeing Delhi – Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, India Gate (Drive Past), and Lotus Temple.