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Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive at Delhi by an international flight.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Check in time is 12 noon.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of old Delhi and New Delhi on the second day of the Classical India tour.
The historic city of Delhi stands proudly on the banks of the Yamuna River. Apart from being the capital of India, the city also doubles up as the soul of the country. Delhi boasts of a rich history that dates back to around 3000 years and is still alive in form the numerous relics that adorn the entire city. In fact, Delhi is an amazing blend of tradition and modernity that never fails to fascinate the mind.
Old Delhi boasts of a number of attractions including the Red Fort that was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638 AD, the Jama Masjid (largest mosque in India), Raj Ghat (cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi) and Shanti Van (cremation site of Jawaharlal Nehru). Drive past Chandni Chowk, a congested but lively shopping hub that is an indispensable part of Old Delhi.
A New Delhi sightseeing tour would include visits to the Qutub Minar that dates back to the 13th century, Humayun's Tomb and the India Gate. Drive past the Parliament House, regal Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's mansion), Secretariat Building, Laxminarayan Temple and the famed Connaught Place.
Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur drive, 260 km
Drive to the "pink city" of Jaipur in the morning and check in at a hotel on arrival.
Spend the remaining part of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay would be at the hotel.
Day 04: Jaipur
Enjoy a morning excursion to the grand Amber Fort that is set in a very picturesque location. It was built in the 16th century by Raja Mansingh and is a classic blend of Hindu and Muslim forms of architecture. Made up of red sandstone and white marble, the Amber Fort houses a number of interesting palaces and monuments like the Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas, Ganesh Pol and the Temple of Kali. Indulge in an exciting elephant ride up the steep road that leads to the entrance of the fort.
Afternoon city tour of Jaipur.
Jaipur was built by Maharaja Jai Singh who was also an astronomer of great repute. The city boasts of numerous attractions like the Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory, Ram Niwas Gardens and the Hawa Mahal. Drive past the old part of Jaipur that still reverberates with stories of its glorious past.
Day 05: Jaipur - Agra drive, 235 km / 6 hours
Drive to the historic city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh stopping to visit Fatehpur Sikri enroute.
The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri has an interesting story behind its foundation. It happened so that a renowned Muslim saint named Sheikh Salim Chisti used to reside in a grotto in Sikri. On hearing about his spiritual powers, Mughal Emperor Akbar visited him and asked for his blessings in form of a son. When the child was born, Akbar named him after the saint and decided to construct a grand city near the saint's residence as a tribute. This ambitious project was completed in 1569 AD but had to be deserted because of an acute shortage of water. Some of the famous sites to visit within the city include the mosque of Salim Chisti and the Panch Mahal among others.
Check in at a hotel on arrival at Agra and stay overnight.
Day 06: Agra
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Agra as part of the Classical India tour.
Agra's main claim to fame is the ethereal Taj Mahal that was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. This mesmerizing structure saw its completion in 1653 AD and is also counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Other attractions in the city include the Agra Fort that stands on the banks of river Yamuna and is a classic example of Mughal architecture. The fort also houses the Pearl mosque that was designed and built in 1565 AD by Emperor Akbar. Visit the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah built in 1622 AD by Empress Nur Jehan in memory of her father, Ghias-id-Din Beg.
The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 07: Agra - Jhansi - Orcha
Drive to the railway station to board a train to Jhansi (0810 - 1040 hours). Meet an India At Its Best representative at the station and transfer by car to Orcha. On arrival, indulge in a sightseeing tour around Orcha.
Orcha was once the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of central India. It was founded in the 16th century by a Bundela chieftain named Rudra Pratap. Today, Orcha boasts of some very magnificent examples of Bundela architecture that never fail to amaze visitors. They include the Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal, Raj Praveen Mahal, Ram Raj Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and the Sunder Mahal.
Day 08: Orcha - Khajuraho, 175 km / 4 hours
Drive to Khajuraho and check in at a hotel on arrival. Visit the famed Khajuraho temples in the afternoon.
Khajuraho was once the powerful capital of the Chandela kings. Today, this historic town boasts of its wonderful temples that were built during the Chandela period from 950 to 1050 AD. Distinguished by their sheer beauty and size, the temples of Khajuraho are a must visit attraction for anyone traveling to that part of the country. As superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, the Khajuraho temples are based on the themes of passion and eroticism. Mainly classified as the Western and Eastern group of temples, some of the important temples to visit at Khajuraho include the Lakshmi and Varaha temples, Kandariya Mahadev, Devi Jagdamba, Vishvanath Temple, Chausath Yogini and so on.
Day 09: Khajuraho - Varanasi flight (1330 - 1410 hours)
Drive to the airport to board a flight to Varanasi. On arrival, check in at a hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 10: Varanasi
Indulge in an early morning boat cruise on the Ganges as part of the Classical India tour. It is indeed a grand sight to watch thousands of pilgrims gather on the banks to offer their morning prayers or meditate. Observe the Brahmin priests and Pandas preside over the rituals. The boat ride on the Ganges covers a number of ghats including cremation sites. Hindus believe that if one dies in Kashi and is cremated on the banks of the Ganges, he / she attains release from the ongoing cycle of birth and death.
Afternoon sight seeing tour of Varanasi
Varanasi is believed to be one of the oldest living cities in the world that dates back to more than 3000 years. It was a flourishing trade center when Buddha preached his first sermon at Sarnath around 500 BC. Hiuen Tsang visited Varanasi in the 7th century and noted it to be a city of great wealth and religious importance. Some of the famous temples to visit in Varanasi include the Vishvanath Golden Temple, the abode of great God Shiva, Durga Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and the Tulsi Manas Mandir. The famous Banaras Hindu University is another attraction of Varanasi.
Day 11: Varanasi - Delhi flight
Visit Sarnath in the morning. Located 7 km away from the city, Sarnath is the very place where Buddha preached his first sermon around 2500 years ago. Have a look at the huge Dhamek stupa that dates back to 500 AD. Sarnath also boasts of a museum that houses a rare collection of manuscripts and other items associated with Buddha.
Transfer to the airport in the afternoon to board a flight to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to the international airport to continue with the onward journey.
India At Its Best offers online bookings for its Classical India tour. For details or to make a booking, please fill up the form given below.
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