Taj Mahal with Ghats of Varanasi Tour

ITINERARY
DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI

Arrive Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met& assisted with your baggage's at the airport by our executive and transferred to pre-booked hotel.

Delhi: India's capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the city's' past.

DAY 02: DELHI

After breakfast, full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India – Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658 ; witness the Red Fort; Visit Humayun's Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture ; Visit QutabMinar, witness the India Gate, President House. The city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).

DAY 03: DELHI – VARANASI (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Varanasi, scheduled to depart at 1040 hrs.

Arrive Varanasi at 1150 hrs. And transfer to pre-booked hotel.

Varanasi: formerly known as Kashi – the city that illuminates. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the oldest living city of India & one of the worlds' most ancient. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi.

Afternoon, excursion to Sarnath: the buried Buddhist city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum (closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions, used as independent Indias' national emblem

DAY 04: VARANASI – AGRA (OVERNIGHT TRAIN)

Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world. Return to hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi – Visit the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, TulsiManasMandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery & the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.

Evening, transfer to the railway station to board Overnight Train, for Agra

DAY 05: AGRA

Arrive Agra transfer to prebooked Hotel

Afternoon, city tour of Agra: Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by NurJahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day – The TajMahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife MumtazMahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653.

DAY 06: AGRA – FATEHPUR SIKRI – JAIPUR (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast, leave for Agra: Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of FatehpurSikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of SalimChisti, PanchMahal& other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory. Then proceed to Jaipur,On arrival in Jaipur, checkin at prebooked hotel. Rest of the day at leisure

DAY 07: JAIPUR

After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort: Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort: At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.

Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur: Visit the City Palace which has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons ; JantarMantar – the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of HawaMahal.

DAY 08: JAIPUR – DELHI (260 KMS, 05 HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast free, Afternoon, leave for Delhi. Upon arrival, check-in at your pre-booked Hotel.

DAY 09: DEPART DELHI

Morning, transfer to the airport to board your flight for onward destination.