Exotic India & Nepal
Durations : 14 Nights / 15 DaysTour Destination : Kathmandu - Delhi - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Jhansi - Agra - Jaipur - Sariska - Delhi
Day 01 : Arrive Kathmandu
After our arrival, we are welcomed in Kathmandu - capital of the Kingdom of Nepal, a spiritual land isolated by the high Himalayas. Overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 02 : Kathmandu
In the morning we visit the various towns in the Kathmandu Valley, all designated World Heritage Sites. Included are: the famous Gilded Copper Gate in Bhadgeon, the Hindu Temple of Shiva and the Buddhist shrine of Boudhnath. Later we drive through the countryside to Patan to see more beautiful art and architecture. We also visit the Tibetan Refugee Craft Centre and explore the temples, pagodas and palaces of Kathmandu's Durbar Square. Evening is free to browse through the bazaars and get an opportunity meeting the many different ethnic groups who call Kathmandu. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 03 : Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a mountain town that offers an excellent venue for soul searching and this is your day to do so while exploring this fascinating valley. Alternatively, you may embark on an optional scenic mountain flight over the breathtaking Himalayas to see Mount Everest. A farewell dinner, Nepali style, will be our goodbye to the Himalayas. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 04 : Kathmandu / Delhi
We bid farewell to Kathmandu and Himalayan Nepal as we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Delhi. Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, after immigration and custom formalities, we are assisted and driven through the city to our hotel. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 05 : Delhi
The capital of India is a true reflection of the old and new of India. We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit first the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and the Qutb Minar - a perfect minaret towering 102 meters / 112 yards into the sky. New Delhi is a blend of Moghul India, Hindu India, British India and, certainly, modern independent India. Our afternoon concentrates on Old Delhi, starting with the famous Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort of the Moghul Empire. Next we visit another Moghul majesty, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, followed by the Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. We end our tour with a bazaar experience at Chandni Chawlk, the street of silver and goldsmiths.
Day 06 : Delhi / Varanasi (flight)We take a short flight to the holy city of Varanasi - one of the oldest living cities on the Sub Continent. We start our Varanasi experience with a visit to the old part of the city and visit Bharat Mata Temple, home to a massive marble relief map of India. Varanasi is famous for its many temples and we cover the Durga temple, the Tulsi Manas Mandir beside the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb. The city is famous also for its Banarasi silk sarees and we visit some of the houses where such silk sarees are woven. Evening is free to enjoy this 5000 years old city. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 07 : Varanasi / Khajuraho (flight)
A serene experience begins as we take a sunrise cruise on the River Ganges. One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges and every morning scores of pilgrim and priests fill the riverbanks performing the holy dip and other rituals. This is a site that has to be seen and experienced, as it is so different from anything else in the world. Later we tour Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon after attaining enlightenment. At Sarnath we meet many Buddhist monks and followers before visiting local homes to see in-home silk weaving and soak up some local customs, culture and hospitality. Later we drive to airport in Varanasi in time to connect our flight to Khajuraho. On arrival we are transferred to our Hotel in Khajuraho. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 08 : Khajuraho
Our Khajuraho visit starts with the temples that have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The temples were built during the apogee of the Chandella dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. Today only about 20 temples remain and they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions - Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. The most important ones include the Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath and Nandi Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple that was dedicated to Shiva, which is the largest and most typical of temples. Afternoon is free to wander in the traditional bazaars of Khajuraho.
Day 09 : Khajuraho / Jhansi (drive about 7 hours)
Khajuraho / Jhansi (drive about 7 hours) and Jhansi / Agra Train # 2001 New Delhi Shatabdi Express Dep: 17.55 Arr. Agra 20.10. In the morning we drive to Jhansi and continue to visit Orchha, an amazing medieval fortress-city located on the shores of the Betwa River. After our visit to Orchha we proceed to the Railway Station in Jhansi to ride the rails on the luxury first class train to Agra. This is a very comfortable train journey lasting just over 2 hours with four brief stops en route. It offers air-conditioned "business class airline" seating with meal services on board. We are welcomed in Agra and transferred to our Hotel. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 10 : Agra
After breakfast we enjoy a city tour of Agra and visit one of the most well known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son in the later years of his life to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on the black echo of the Taj Mahal. Evening free to explore the city of the Taj.
Day 11 : Agra / Jaipur (Drive 230 km / 143 mil)A short drive gets us to Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1640 by the Moghul King, Akbar the Great and later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Moghul architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir, the builder of the Taj. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 12 : Jaipur
A royal experience awaits us as we take an elephant ride uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. After the tour and enjoying a panoramic view, we return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical observatory built by the founder of the city, Jai Singh. We also visit the majestic Palace, home to a rare collection of Indian art, and the colorful bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink Sendstone and one of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal, Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. Evening is free to enjoy both shopping and a cultural experience in the bazaars of Jaipur.
Day 13 : Jaipur / Sariska (Rajasthan) (Drive 111 km / 69 mi).
An interesting countryside drive brings us to Sariska. On our way we will explore the wildlife of the region. Sariska, the erstwhile royal preserve of the rulers of Alwar, became a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi - Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometers, with a core area of approximately 474 sq. kilometers. The beautiful Siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint lodge overlooking it. Overnight stay will be at the Hotel.
Day 14 : Sariska
In the morning we visit the famous Wildlife Sanctuary. At last count in 1985, 35 tigers were reportedly living there. Other carnivores of the area are the panther, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include the sambar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines. The birdlife comprises of the pea fowl, gray partridge, quail, Send grouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden - backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and great Indian horned owl.
Day 15 : Sariska / Delhi (Drive 239 Km / 148 miles)
After our cultural and wildlife experience we drive back to Delhi to connect with our flight home.
