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North India & Nepal
Duration : 13 Days / 12 Nights
Destination : Delhi - Jaipur - Fathepur Sikri - Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho
- Varanasi - Khthmandu
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Upon your arrival in Delhi you will be met, assisted and transferred to your
hotel. Check-in at hotel is after 1200 hrs. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 02 : In Delhi
After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Old Delhi which will take you to
Jama Masjid, - the largest mosque in India. Drive past the magnificent Red Fort,
- a marvel in red sandstone, built on the banks of River Yamuna by the Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan. Then, visit Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial).
In the afternoon, proceed for sightseeing of New Delhi, the city created to
reflect the might of the British Empire. New Delhi consists of tree-lined avenues,
spacious parks and somber government buildings. Visit the 12th century Qutab
Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft. Visit the mausoleum
of emperor Humayun - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. Drive
past the India Gate (World War I memorial), The Presidential Palace, Parliament
House and the Secretariat buildings - an interesting blend of the Victorian
and 20th century architecture.
The evening is free to visit the emporiums and markets of Delhi.
Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur
After an early breakfast at the hotel drive to Jaipur. On your arrival, you
will be assisted with the check in at your hotel. Afternoon is at leisure.
Day 04 : In Jaipur
After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Jaipur. Visit the Amber Fort which
is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace, with its rugged, time-ravaged
walls and fascinating palaces inside. Visit the enchanting palaces and gardens
inside the fort palace to complete your tour. The highlight of the tour is the
elephant ride.
On your way back, stop at Hawa Mahal - Palace of Winds for a brief stop for
photographs and as it is in the heart of Jaipur’s shopping district, to
buy souvenirs.
In the afternoon, visit the City Palace, the former residence of the royal family,
a part of which is converted into a museum. Built in the style of a fortified
campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the old city. One of
the major attractions in the museum is the Armory Museum housing an impressive
array of weaponry. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone
and marble crafted observatory in the world. The observatory has 17 large instruments,
many of them still in working condition.
Evening, explore the markets and emporiums of Jaipur. It is an ideal place to
hunt for souvenirs and memoirs.
Day 05 : Agra - Jaipur via Fathepur Sikri
about 20 Miles from Agra, this was the erstwhile capital of the great Mughal
ruler - Emperor Akbar. This magnificent fort palace had to be abandoned after
just 15 years of occupation due to lack of potable water.
On arrival in Agra and you will be assisted with the check – in at the
hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 06 : In Agra
Post breakfast; visit the seventh wonder of world – The Taj Mahal. (CLOSED
ON FRIDAYS). Built by Emperor Shah Jehan as a tribute to his favourite wife
Mumtaz Mahal, this is the ultimate tribute to love ever transcribed in architecture.
This great monument, completed in 1653, took almost 22 years and 20,000 workers
to build. Later visit the Agra Fort located nearby to the Taj Mahal. This fort
was started by Emperor Akbar in 1565. The high red stone monument stretches
for around 02½ kms. The palace is a notable for its smooth blending of
Hindu and central Asian architectural styles.
Evening, explore the markets and emporiums of Agra.
Day 07 : Agra – Jhansi – Khajuraho
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Railway Station to board train
for Jhansi.
On arrival in Jhansi you will met at the Railway station and will continue to
drive to Khajuraho. On arrival you will be assisted at the check in process
at the hotel.
Evening is at leisure.
Day 08 : Khajuraho – Varanasi
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for a visit to the Western Group of Temples.
The most significant of them is the Kandariya Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord
Shiva. It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples. After
this visit, transfer to the airport to connect flight for Varanasi.
You will be met on arrival, escorted to your hotel and assisted with checking
in.
In evening, witness the Aarti (Prayers) ceremony held on the bank of Ganges.
Day 09 : In Varanasi
Take an early morning boat cruise on the Holy River Ganges. Return to the hotel
for breakfast
Later enjoy a city tour of Varanasi which includes a visit to some important
temples like the Bharat Mata Mandir and the Durga Temple. Drive past the beautiful
Tulsi Manas temple and take a walk down Vishwanathji Ki Galli – the ancient
alley which is home to some beautiful temples. Here you will find shops that
sell every conceivable thing required in a temple.
This afternoon, we take you for a sightseeing tour of Sarnath – a small
Buddhist town, just 6miles from Varanasi. Here visit the Archeological museum,
Mahabodhi Buddha Temple and take time to walk in the deer park, where Buddha
meditated. (CLOSED ON FRIDAY).
Day 10 : Varanasi – Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel, late morning you are escorted to the airport, to board
the flight for Kathmandu. (Currently this flight is operating only on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays).
Day 11 : In Kathmandu
After breakfast, proceed for a city sightseeing tour visiting the Durbar square,
which is a concentrated mass of temples and Monuments like Kasthamandap- a building
from which Kathmandu has derived its name. Ashok binayak - a small pagoda temple
dedicated to elephant headed god Ganesha, Maju Deval - A temple with five tire
plinth popular for basking and for fixing informal appointments with friends,
Shiva Parvati Temple - Temple with an image of Shiva with his Consort Parvati
on a open window watching world go by below them, Kumari Bahal - house of leaving
goddess, Krishna Temple - Octagonal stone temple eight corner signifying the
eight incarnation of God Vishnu, Jaggannath Temple - Temple with erotic carving
on its roof struts, Kala Bhairab - A huge stone image with six arms tramples
the corps is the fearsome manifestation of Shiva, which represent human ignorance.
Taleju Temple - A huge magnificent pagoda temple dedicated to goddess Taleju,
goddess from the south India but later she became the tutorial goddess of Royal
family. Hanuman Dhoka - Ancient Royal seat guarded by Hanuman - monkey headed
God, in this Palace no longer Royal family lives; it has been retained for the
ceremonial purpose.
A short drive from Kathmandu city will lead us to Swoyambhunath Stupa - 2500
years old stupa is a symbolic representation of Buddhahood. In afternoon a short
drive to the ancient city Patan - the city of beauty is also known as Lalitpur,.
Visit the Patan Durbar square with Royal Palace, the place which still displays
the stunning Newari architects. Bhimsen Temple dedicated to Bhimsen the god
of trade & business, Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Shiva, Krishna Mandir
dedicated to Krishna eighth incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna Temple is the eight
corner stone temple is also the masterpiece that is to be found in Nepal also
know as Chyasin Deval means eight corner, Golden Temple is unique monastery
few minutes walk from the Durbar Square. Mahaboudha is the temple of 1000 Buddha
is another fascinating Shikhara type temple. Rudra Varna Mahabihar is one of
the best known monasteries in Patan. Enjoy the drive back to Kathmandu.
Day 12 : In Kathmandu
After breakfast, drive to Bhaktapur the third major town in the valley was founded
in the ninth century. Literally "The city of Devotees", it is renowned
for its ancient pottery and traditional weaving industries besides exquisite
temple architecture, as in the case of Kathmandu and Patan. Visit Bhaktapur
Durbar square - is much spacious than Kathmandu and less crowded than Patan,
this is a city of pedestrian. Continue to visit various temples - Vatsala Durga
Temple, besides the King's statue and directly front of the palace is the stone
Vatsala Durga Temple; Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Shiva and is the
replica of main Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Nayatapola Temple is the
highest temple in Kathmandu valley and Dattatraya Temple is the oldest structure
in Bhaktapur. Pujari Math is house for the priests from the same sect, which
is similar, to Buddhist Monastery. Royal Palace - 55 windows palace when built
had 99 courtyards but due to the devastating earthquake in 1934, out of which
only seven remains. Golden Gate -the magnificent golden gate is the entrance
to 55 windows palace. After the sightseeing tour of Bhaktapur a short panoramic
drive to Panauti, a small Newari village that still retains the traditional
value. Continue the drive to Kathmandu.
Day 13 : Depart Kathmandu
Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, check-out at 12noon. You will be transferred
to the Airport to board flight for onward journey.
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