INDIA
13 Days/12 Nights (North India)
Itinerary
DAY
1, Canada - Delhi
Depart to Delhi with Etihad Airways
*Chance to add on ABU DHABI stop over*
DAY 2, Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival to Dehli airport, you will be met
and assisted and then transferred to your
hotel. Overnight in your hotel (B)
DAY 3, Delhi
In the morning we’ll visit New Delhi, a city
designed and built by the British in the
1920s. Take an afternoon tour of Old Delhi,
exploring the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid mosque
with its marble domes and splendid minarets,
Raj Ghat (where Gandhi was cremated), the
Ashoka Pillar and Chandni Chowk Bazaar,
where craftsmen sell their wares. This
evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner
with entertainment. Overnight in your hotel (B)
DAY 4, Delhi - Mandawa
After buffet breakfast, you will be driven
from Delhi to Mandawa (280 Km), a remote feudal principality
in the centre of Shekhawati region. The Rajput ruler of Mandawa
built a fort in 1755 to protect
this trading outpost that fell in the ancient caravan routes
from China and Middle East. Due to this, the traders created
business empires in other parts of the country, but returned
to Mandawa to build mansions in their hometown. This afternoon,
you will explore this storybook town
of Mandawa known for its colourful frescoes.
Every home here is adorned with daily-painted
murals that illuminate the arid landscape.
Overnight at the hotel at Mandawa (B)
DAY 5, Delhi - Jaipur
After buffet breakfast, you will be driven
to Jaipur (151 Km). The rest of
the day is given to leisure, providing a chance to see the
lifestyles of the people at the "pink city".
Time to explore Jaipur's bazaars or add
Optional tours. Overnight at our hotel at
Jaipur (B)
DAY 6, Jaipur
Take an early morning ride by elephant up to
the Amber Fort, a spectacular fortress that protects
a complex of palaces, temples, and exquisite
marble and mirror halls and apartments. You
will see the “Hava Mahal” (Palace of the
Winds), a high and intricately carved wall,
behind which women of the court were
sequestered while watching processions. You
will also visit the City Palace, which contains
an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes,
miniatures and an armoury of Rajput weapons.
Overnight in our hotel (B)
DAY 7, Jaipur - Bharatpur
After buffet breakfast, you will be driven
to Bharatpur (180 Km). Upon
arrival there will be check-in at the hotel. Later you will
proceed to visit the Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary which many consider to be the
house of a great variety of bird species and the ornithologist's
paradise.
It is 57 km from Agra on Delhi-Jaipur
highway. Upon arrival at Bharatpur, hop on your
bicycle to visit the sanctuary.
Overnight at the hotel (B)
DAY 8, Bharatpur - Agra
After buffet breakfast, you will be driven to
Agra (55 Km), en-route visiting
Fatehpur Sikri, to see the deserted red
sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal
Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the
late 16th century. After your visit, continue
your drive to Agra. Upon arrival, proceed for
check-in at your hotel. Later you will enjoy
a sightseeing tour of Agra, where you will visit the Taj Mahal
(Closed on Fridays.) Midway, Tonga’s “horse carriages”
will be waiting for you and will
drop you at the gates of the Taj Mahal. After
a visit to the Taj, you will be returned to the
hotel. Later you will visit the Agra Fort - the seat
and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire. In
the evening you will be taken to the residence
of an Indian Family for Hi-tea.
Overnight at hotel (B)
DAY 9, Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho
By: Train/Surface
After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will
transfer to the Railway Station for your
train to Jhansi (Depart Agra at 0810
hours, Arrive Jhansi at: 1025 hours). Upon
arrival to Jhansi you will be driven to
Khajuraho (170 Km) en-route
visiting Orchha, a city frozen in time,
founded by the Bundela chieftain, Rudra
Pratap Singh, who built this new capital.
Places of interest in Orchha include the multi-tiered Jehangir
Mahal, the Raj Mahal noted for its fine murals, and the Rai
Praveen Mahal, a palace set in
the gardens of Anand Mahal. Orchha has
tall-spired temples that are certainly
worth a visit. Notable among them are the
Ram Raja Temple, Laxminarain Temple
with its exuberant frescoes, and the
Chaturbhuj Temple. After your visit, continue
your drive to Khajuraho and upon
arrival, proceed for check-in at your hotel
where the remainder of the day will be at
leisure to enjoy and explore on your own.
Overnight at the hotel (B)
DAY 10, Khajuraho - Varanasi
After buffet breakfast at the hotel, visit the
Chandela Temple Complex. In the afternoon, you will be transferred
to the Airport for
your flight to Varanasi (Depart Khajuraho at 1330 hours and
arrive at Varanasi by1410 hours). Upon
arrival at the airport, you will be transfered
to your hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure. Overnight at the hotel at Varanasi (B)
DAY 11, Varanasi
Very early in the morning you will take a boat
on the Holy River Ganges. You’ll be able to
view some of the Hindu faith as you continue cruising on the
Ganges river. After sunrise you will visit some of the Temples
in the surrounding area.
Visit "Bharat Kala Bhavan" at Banaras Hindu
University. In the afternoon, you will proceed
for an excursion to Sarnath, a major Buddhist
center in the world. **Evening a lecture by a
renowned Hindu scholar, who will explain the
philosophy of Hinduism. Hinduism is also
referred to as Vaidika Dharma, meaning "religion
of the Vedas", (for group 10 People and
more)**. Overnight at the hotel (B)
DAY 12, Varanasi - Delhi
Morning at leisure. Transfer to airport to board
flight for Delhi. Departure Varanasi at 14:40 hours
by 9W 724, arrive Delhi at 16:00 hours.
Overnight Hotel at Delhi (BD)
DAY 13, Depart Delhi - Home
NOTE: Flights back to North America normally
leave in the early morning hours on this day.
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