India and Nepal Tour
Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places to Visit : Delhi – Jaipur – Agra – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Kathmandu – Delhi
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Day 1 :
Arrive Delhi
Traditional welcome by our executive on your arrival at Delhi’s airport followed by transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Delhi.
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Day 02:
Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today morning explore and experience the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 20th centuries, the Old Delhi. We shall stop at the Red Fort for a photo shoot and then take a Rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of the Old Delhi up to the nearby Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India, has a courtyard that can hold 25,000 worshippers. The pay a poignant visit to Rajghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation and a memorial to this humble man who so changed the world.
In the afternoon we explore India’s bustling capital city the New Delhi visiting the Vijay Chowk, “Victory Square”, stopover at the Presidential Palace with its intriguing combination of classical and Indian design elements and the India Gate memorializing Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Then travel far back in time at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from 1570 AD and the first garden-tomb on the Indian sub-continent and lastly visit the Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world.
Overnight at hotel in Delhi.
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Day 03:
Delhi – Jaipur (By Surface: 260 kms / 06 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out and proceed with your journey to our next city Jaipur. Jaipur is also known as the “Pink City” for the striking pink stucco walls of Old Jaipur. On reaching Jaipur check-in to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Jaipur.
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Day 04:
Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel.
Start your city tour with the excursion to the splendid Amber Fort, an architectural masterpiece of great historical significance. Begun in the 16th century and built of red sandstone and marble, the seemingly rough exterior gives no hint of the warm and opulent ambiance of the interior, as you’ll discover this morning. Here you also get an opportunity to climb up to the fort on decorated elephant back.
In the afternoon visit the splendid City Palace & Museum which opens a door into the opulent world of the Rajput princes and the treasures with which they surrounded themselves. The City Palace complex is home to several palatial buildings constructed by influential rulers that reflect the blending of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jantar Mantar, the world’s biggest stone observatory, between 1727 and 1733 AD. You’ll be amazed by the “tools” he used to study the heavens – and that still provide accurate information today – during a tour. Further visit the Palace of Winds also known as Hawa Mahal, a five storeyed wonder with a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires.
Overnight at hotel in Jaipur.
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Day 05:
Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (By Surface: 240 kms / 4-5 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out and proceed with your journey to our next city Agra. En-route visit the old deserted town of Fatehpur Sikri. On reaching Agra check-in to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Agra.
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Day 06:
Agra
Breakfast at the hotel.
Then proceed for a guided tour of the city visiting the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most admired architectural masterpieces. This majestic marble-domed mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife to symbolize unending love, the Agra Fort, with splendid remains of sandstone and marble palaces. And finally on to Itmad ud Daulah, designed by one of the most powerful women in Indian history.
Overnight at hotel in Agra.
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Day 07:
Agra – Jhansi (By Morning Shatabdi Express)
Jhansi – Khajuraho (By Surface: 180 kms / 4-5 hrs)Early morning transfer to train station to board your train to Jhansi. From Jhansi station we start our drive for Khajuraho en-route visiting Orchha an old medieval town known for its Cenatophs. A cenotaph is a monument honoring the dead whose mortal remains lay elsewhere. The historic city of Orchha has fourteen magnificent cenotaphs commemorating deceased heroes and rulers. You’ll be able to admire them, along with the site’s impressive ruins of temples and palaces.
Late afternoon reach Khajuraho and check in to your hotel. Evening you can enjoy a Sound & Light show at temple complex that reminds the life and times of the great Chandela Kings and mark out the story of the exclusive temples from the 10th Century to the present day.
Overnight at hotel in Khajurhao.
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Day 08:
Khajuraho – Varanasi (By Flight)
Morning after breakfast we proceed for a guided tour of Khajuraho visiting the famous Western Group of Temples.
In time transfer to the airport to connect your flight to Varanasi, the “Holy City of India,” on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. Since the 6th century BC, devout Hindu pilgrims have flocked to Varanasi from all over India to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges in the belief that doing so washes away sins and cleanses one of all evil. At Varanasi airport our representative will meet and assist you for transfer to hotel.
Evening we take you to the Ganges to view the spectacle of evening prayers on the great “ghats,” stairways leading down to the river, and the ritual of “putting the river to sleep”. You’ll always remember the twinkle of numerous diyas (tiny lamps), as they are set afloat on the river.
Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.
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Day 09:
Varanasi
Breakfast at the hotel.
You’ll know that sunrise is a special time on the Ganges as, during an early Morning Cruise on Ganges, you view thousands gathering on the ghats to bathe in its sacred waters as the day begins performing their daily morning rituals. Return back to hotel for breakfast.
Later we proceed for the city tour visiting Benaras Hindu University – which is one of the largest and oldest university in north India and the New Vishwa Nath Temple in the university complex. Then we visit the Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple and the Bharat Mata Temple. Then in the afternoon we visit and discover Sarnath, one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, where Buddha is said to have to have preached his first sermon.
Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.
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Day 10:
Varanasi – Kathmandu (By Flight)
Breakfast at the hotel and free till check out. In time transfer to the airport to connect flight to Kathmandu.
On your arrival at Kathmandu airport our representative will meet and assist you for transfer to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
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Day 11:
Kathmandu
After breakfast sightseeing to Swoyambhunath Stupa crowns a hillock to the west of Kathmandu. A massive white dome surrounded by a 13 stage spire, the Stupa is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal. It is said to be 2000 years old. Its origin is linked to the founding of the Kathmandu Valley, draining the water out of the lake by bodhisattva Manjushree. Swoyambhunath Manifested in the lake as a brilliant light emanating from a lotus and Manjushree let the water out by slashing a passage through the surrounding hills to facilitate paying homepage to Swoyambhu, thus making the valley inhabitable. Next visit Pashupatinath It is one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and is built in the familiar Pagoda Style. Chronicies indicate the temple’s existence prior to 400 AD. This holy place is picturesque collection of temples and shrines. All the dying persons are brought to Pashupatinath for the cremation. Lunch and visit Patan Durbar Square: - It is an enchanting mélange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. This Square was the former Royal Palace Complex which was the center of Patan’s religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze status and religious monuments. One remarkable monument here is 17th Century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, built entirely of stone, free for shopping in Thamel area.
Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
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Day 12:
Kathmandu
Today after breakfast visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square: - It is an overwhelming frenzy of art and architecture. The medieval palace complex is erected in different styles at the right hand side of the Kumari temple. The house of Kumari (living goddess), the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the square! All wood carvings, statues and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine.
Breakfast and sightseeing to Boudhanath: It is the world’s biggest Stupa located about 2 kilometers to the north of Pashupatinath temple. The Colossal Stupa is known by the name of Boudhanath, the god of wisdom. It is difficult to assign a period to it, as some believe that it was built during the reign of either Shiva Dev or Anshu Verma in the 7th Century AD. Boudhanath attracts the Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world.
Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
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Day 13:
Kathmandu – Delhi (By Flight)
Breakfast at the hotel and free till check out. In time transfer to the airport to connect flight back to Dellhi.
On reaching Delhi you will change the terminal at the airport to connect for your late night flight back home.