Day 1: Delhi

Flight to Delhi. Transfer to the hotel. Check in time is 1200 hrs.

Day 2: Delhi

In Delhi’s 3000 years of existence, seven cities stood where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary - where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist besides a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored.

After breakfast sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.

Visit the 7th city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. Red Fort – the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. An eternal flame burns 24 hours. Afternoon visit New Delhi.
Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Hajji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutub Minar – the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the Buddhist Stupa, the Chhattris Hindu and the graceful colonnades very British. It has 340 rooms. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and south gateways are Mughal in design. The northern building has an inscription with “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed”. The Parliament House, designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. Inside is the library and chambers for the council of state, chamber of princes and legislative assembly. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.

NOTE: RED FORT is CLOSED ON MONDAY.

Day 3: Delhi – Agra

Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an enshrined romance. A town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughal for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world. On arrival in Agra visit Taj Mahal. Today, afternoon visit the world famous monument of India, the Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. It employed 20,000 workers from the Central Asia and Europe for 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones. Overnight stay at the hotel in Agra.

Note: TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY.

Day 4: Agra - Khajuraho

After Breakfast At Hotel, Checkout From Hotel And Drive To Khajuraho Via Jhansi.Arrive Khajuraho And Check into Hotel. Later Visit Enjoy The Eastern And Western Temple Tour At Khajuraho. (O/N At Hotel)

The Temple Tour: - The Largest Temple Of The Western Group, And The Most Magnificent, Is The Kandariya Mahadev Temple Dedicated To Lord Shiva.

Built During The Reign Of King Vidyadhara, Of The Chandela Dynasty, The Temple Soars To An Impressive Height Of 31 Metres Above The Main Platform, And Has Lavish And Elaborate Sculptures, Representing Chandela Art At Its Very Zenith.

Do Take Along A Guide Who Will Explain Everything In Detail And Make Your Visit Really Interesting. Other Temples In The Group Are Chausath Yogini, Chitragupta, Vishwanath, Lakshmana, Matangeshwara, Devi Jagadamba, Parvati, Lakshmi And Varaha Temples, Each With Its Own History, Presiding Deity And Points Of Interest.

The Eastern Group Is A Short Rickshaw Ride Away And Consists Of Three Jain Temples In An Enclosure And Four Others Scattered Around The Old Village Of Khajuraho. Don’t Miss Seeing The Famous Sculpture Of The Damsel Removing A Thorn From Her Foot – In The Parsvanath Temple (Jain Group). The Southern Group Has Two Temples – The Duladeo, Which Is Fairly Close To The Jain (Eastern) Group, And The Chaturbhuj Temple, Adorned With A Huge, Intricately Carved Image Of Lord Vishnu

Day 5: Khajuraho - Orchha

After Breakfast Drive To Orchha.

Orchha, 11km From Jhansi, Is Highly Picturesque & Is Set On An Island On A Bend In The Betwa River. You See The Beautiful Old Fort Palace Raised On A Rocky Promontory Above The Wooded Countryside. The Raj Mahal With Its Hall Of Private Audience And Public Audience And Royal Chambers With Beautiful Painted Murals On The Walls And Ceilings Of Religious And Secular Themes. The Rai Parveen Mahal, Named After The Musician Courtesan (1592-1604). A Low Two-Storey Brick Palace With Cool Underground Chambers Beautifully Carved Stone Niches Built To Scale With Surrounding Trees And The Anand Mahal Gardens. The Jahangir Mahal, (7th Century) Palace Built to Commemorate the Emperor’s Visit. The 7 Storey Chaturbhuj Temple Laid Out In The Form Of A Cross Symbolic Of The Four-Armmed God Krishna. It Was Built To House The Image Of Rama Brought From Ayodhya. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple A Square Temple Has Excellent Murals (Religious And Secular) On The Interior Walls And Ceilings Of The Four Cool Galleries Around The Temple. The Paintings Portray Hindu Deities, Scenes From Epics, Historical Events Including The Early British Period. Overnight At The Hotel In Orchha.

Day 6: Orchha – Gwalior via Datia

After Breakfast Drive To Datia. Datia Is Mentioned In The Mahabharata As “Datiyavakra”. The Seven Storey Palace Of Raja Bir Singh Deo Built A Top Of A Hill, Is A Great Example Of 17th Century Hindu Architecture. There Is A Profusion Of Arches, Chhattris, Ornamental Jali Screens, Colored Tiling, Balconies And Oriel Windows That Open Up Delightful Views. A Few Km North Of Datia, Just Off The Main Road Is Sonagiri, 77 White Jain Temples On A Hill Reached By A Paved Path Dating Back To The 17th Century. Late Afternoon Arrive Gwalior. Check-In In The Hotel. Overnight At The Hotel.

Day 7: Gwalior

After Breakfast Visit The Majestic Hill Fort Of Gwalior Standing On A Sandstone Precipice 100 M High, 2.8 Km Long And 200 To 850 M Wide.

Gujari Mahal (15th Century) On The Foot Of The Fort, Today A Archaeological Museum With Rich Hindu And Jain Sculptures. The Palace Was Built By Raja Mansingh Tomar For His Loving Wife Mrignayani. Pass By Sas Bahu (Mother-In-Law And Daughter-In-Law) Temple Dedicated To Vishnu The 11th Century. The Old City Has The Jama Masjid (1661) With The Tomb Of Mohammad Ghaus, An Afghani Saint And Teacher Of Tansen. Tansen Was The Famous Musician And One Of The Nine Gems At The Court Of The Mughal Emperor Akbar. One Can Also See The Tomb Of Tansen Close By. Next Visit The Jai Vilas Palace, The Residence Of The Scindia Family. About 35 Rooms Of The Palace Have Been Converted Into A Museum. In The Durbar Hall Approached By A Crystal Staircase In It Hang The World’s Largest Crystal Chandeliers In The World, Each Weighing Three And A Half Tons. The Rooms Are Furnished With Golden Walls, Huge Persian Carpets, Antique Furniture From France And Italy. The Battery Operated Silver Train Set Transported Cigars, Dry Fruit And Drinks Round The Table After Dinner. Overnight At The Hotel.

Day 8: Gwalior - Bhopal

Early Morning Transfer To Railway Station To Connect Shatabdi Express Train To Bhopal, The Capital Of Madhya Pradesh State Founded In The 11th Century By Raja Bhoj.

Bhopal Is Surrounded By Two Lakes Laid By Raja Bhoj. It Was Ruled By Women From 1857 To 1926, First By Sikander Begum (1857-1901) And Then By Shah Jahan Begum (1901-1926).

Afternoon Visit The Pink Taj-Ud-Masjid (10th Century), Built By The Empress Shah Jahan Begum, Is One Of The Largest Mosques Of India, But Was Left Unfinished For Over A Century. It Has Three White Domes , Two Massive Minarets And An Impressive Hall With Attractive Pillars. The Moti Masjid (1860) Built By The Daughter Sikander Begum, Based On The Jama Masjid In Delhi. The Shaukat Mahal, Built In Renaissance And Gothic Style By A Frenchman. The Sadar Manzil, The “Hall Of Public Audience” Of The Former Rulers Of Bhopal. The City Museum Houses Sculptures, Antiquities And Tribal Handicrafts, Stone Sculptures And An Interesting Collection Of 87 Small Jain Bronzes Of The 12th Century. Overnight At The Hotel.

Day 9: Bhopal- Full Day Excursion to Sanchi (56 Kms)

After Breakfast An Excursion To Sanchi, A Peaceful Hill Crowned By A Group Of Abandoned Stupas And Monasteries Together, Is One Of The Most Important Buddhist Sites In India. The First Stupa Was Built Under King Ashoka In The 3 Century Bc, Using Bricks And Mud Mortar. Over A Century Later It Was Doubled In Size With A Balcony And Railing Added. The Gateways Were Added 75 Years Later, And Finally In 450 Ad Four Images Of Buddha Were Placed Facing Each Of The Gateways. The Great Stupa (37 M In Diameter And 16 M High. The Stone Carving Work Describes The Life Of Lord Buddha And Buddhist Mythology In A Fascinating Way. One Can See More Stupas Around. The Monastery Reached By Steps Opposite The West Gateway Is Well Preserved With Thick Stone Walls. The Gupta Temple (5th Century) Built Of Stone Slabs With A Flat Roof. Temple 18 (7th Century) Has Only Nine Of The 12 Pillars Which Resemble Those Found In The Buddhist Cave Temples Of Western India. The Museum Exhibits From the Site (Caskets, Pottery, Parts Of Gateways, Images) Dating From The Ashoka Period.

Afternoon Excursion To Bhimbetka Hill, Surrounded By Thick Jungle. These Were Rock Shelters Of The Stone Age Men. To Prove Their Presence They Left Behind Marvelous Paintings On The Rock Surfaces Generally Depicting War Scenes, Animals, Men And Women. The Area Extends Over 20 Sq. Km. To See Same Of The Best Paintings Follow The Drawing. One Can Follow The Innumerable Paths Leading To Different Shelters And Discover The Old Of The Lost World. Overnight At Hotel In Bhopal.

Day 10: Bhopal - Indore (186 Kms)

Today After Breakfast Drive To Indore Via Ujjain. One Of The Best Known Cities Of Ancient India And One Of Hinduism’s Seven Sacred Cities, And One Of The Four Centers Of The Kumbh Mela Attracting About Three Million Pilgrims Every 12 Years. Situated On The Bank Of Shipras River, There Are 7 Holy Hindu Temples. You Will Visit The Mahakaleshwar Temple Dedicated To God Shiva. The Temple Lingam Is One Of The 12 Jyotirlinga Believed To Be Swayambhunath – Born Of Itself. The Vedha Shala Observatory Built By The Founder Of Jaipur Maharaja Jai Singh Ii Around The 17th Century. Continue Drive To Indore. Check Into The Hotel. Overnight At Hotel.

Day 11: Indore - Mandu (97 Kms)

After Breakfast Drive To Mandu. This Wonderful City Was Fortified In The 6th Century. It Was Occupied By Khalji Muslim Rulers From Delhi – In 1305. The Afghani Dilawar Khan, Governor Of Malwa Established His Kingdom In Mandu, And The Golden Period Of Mandu Started. His Son Hoshang Shah Transferred His Capital From Dhar To Mandu.

Mandu Impresses You Through Its Magnificent Buildings And Offers One Of The Best Examples Of Afghani Architecture In India. You See The Jahaz Mahal Or “Ship Palace”, (Late 15th Century) Built By Ghiyas-Ud-Din, To House His Harem. It Is Built Between Two Artificial Lakes. Probably The Most Famous Building Of Mandu In The Form Of A Stately Ship. The Hindola Mahal Or “Swing Palace” (1425) Built On A` T ‘ Plan. The Champa Baoli A 6.5 M Deep Underground Well. Its Water Is Said To Have Smelt Like The Champak Flower, With Its Cool Vaulted Thykhanas, Must Have Been Preferred As A Retreat During The Summer, A Hammam (Hot Bath) And A Water Pavilion. The Huge Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), Built By Hoshang Of Marble In 1454, On A Large Scale Built On A Raised Plinth With A Large Domed Porch Ornamented With Jali Screen Sand Bands Of Blue Enamel Tiles. The Hoshang Shah Tomb In The Bazar Is India’s First Marble Monument, A Refined Example Of Afghan Architecture. The Ashrafi-Mahal, (Palace Of Gold Coins) (1436-40). Now A Ruin, Was Conceived As The First Madrasa Of Persian Studies. The Palace Of Bhaj Bahadur (1509), The Palace Was Built Before Bhaj Bahadur The Last Sultan Of Malwa Came To Occupy It. It Consists Of A Spacious Open Court With Halls And Rooms On All Sides And A Beautiful Cistern In Its Centre, It Has A Curious Mixture Of Rajasthani And Mughal Architecture. Finally To Rupmati Pavilion, Originally Built As A Military Observation Post But Later Modified Into A Palace, So That Baz Bahadur’s Mistress Could Have Her Darshan Of The Sacred Narmada River; Seen 305 M Below Like A White Serpent Across The Plains. According To The History Rupmati Was A Beautiful Hindu Singer. Baz Bahadur Convinced Her To Leave Her Country And Built Her This Pavilion. Overnight At The Hotel.

Day 12: Mandu - Maheshwar

Depart From Mandu Post Breakfast And Proceed On A Road Journey To Maheshwar. En Route, Stop At Another Famous Pilgrimage Center Of Omkareshwar For Sightseeing. Visit The Magnificent Omkar Mandhata Temple Here That Is Home To One Of The 12 Most Powerful Jyotirlinga Shiva Shrines, An Old Palace And An Akhara (Headquarters Of A Sect Of Mendicants). Continue Drive To Maheshwar And Transfer To Hotel On Arrival. Later, Leave For Sightseeing Visiting Maheshwar Temple Is One Of The Oldest Constructions That Unveil The History To The Recent Times. The Temple Bears The Carved Overhanging Balconies. This Place Is Wonderfully Decorated With Stone Carvings, There Are Intricately Worked Doorways And All This Splendid Carvings Are Ideal For The Showing The Rich Past And Their Taste In Work Of Art Later After Visit Return Back To The Hotel For The Overnight stay.

Day 13: Maheshwar – Indore - Mumbai

After breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive to Indore for your flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai, on arrival you are met and transferred to your prebooked hotel. Later proceed for A Short Tour Mumbai City, Rich Blend of East and West. The Tour Includes The 26 Mtr High British-Built Arch “Gateway Of India”, Mumbai’s Landmark Built To Honour The Visit Of George V And Queen Mary In 1911. Marine Drive Dubbed as the Queen’s Necklace Is Mumbai’s Most Popular Promenades and a Favorite Sunset Watching Spot. The Kamla Nehru Park From Where You Have A Picturesque View Of The City, Hanging Gardens Are So Named Since They Are Located On Top Of A Series Of Tanks That Supply Water To Mumbai. Pass By The `Towers Of Silence’ The Crematorium Of The Parsis. Also Visit Mani Bhawan A Private House Where Mahatma Gandhi Used To Stay When He Visited Mumbai. It Is Now A Museum And Research Library With 20,000 Volumes. After visit return back to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Mumbai – Excursion to Elephanta Caves + Fly Back home

Morning An Excursion To The Rock-Cut Temples On The Elephanta Island, 10 Kms Across The Sea, North-East From Mumbai’s Harbour. The Island Houses The Temples Wonders Of The 7th Century Dedicated To Lord Shiva As The Creator, Preserver, And Destroyer. Afternoon free at leisure or you can go to watch Indian Bollywood Movie. Later Intime you are transferred to Intl. Airport for your back home flight.