INDIA WITH NEPAL - 16 nights/17days

Destinations Covered Delhi - Kathmandu- Varanasi- Khajuraho- Orchha - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Mumbai

Day 01 Arrival at Delhi
Arrive at Delhi's International Airport, Upon clearing customs and immigration, you will be met and escorted to your hotel for check-in. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Delhi - Located on the banks of the River Yamuna in the NCT of India, Delhi has been continuously inhabited since long. After the rise of the Delhi Sultanate, Delhi emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city along the trade routes between northwest India and the Indo-Gangetic plains. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains.

In 1639, Mughal Emperor Shahjahan built a new walled city in Delhi which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire (1649 to 1857). After the British East India Company gained control of much of India, Calcutta became the capital. A new capital city, New Delhi, was built to the south of the old city during the 1920s. When India gained independence from British rule in 1947, New Delhi was declared its capital. As such, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India.

Day 02 In Delhi
Spend the day discovering the vibrant city of Old and New Delhi. Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi includes a visit to, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat (cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi). Also, drive past Chandni Chowk and Red Fort, the shopping epicenter of Old Delhi.
Afternoon visit to New Delhi includes a visit to Qutab Minar, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), drive past President's House, Parliament House and other Government Secretariat Buildings. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 Delhi - Kathmandu / Sightseeing of Kathmandu
This morning, fly to Kathmandu. On arrival, you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel.

Afternoon visit to Kathmandu City, Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is one of the popular places liked by many visitors due to its exquisite architecture and artistic embellishment. The complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built in 1200 to 1768 A.D. with hundreds of erotic carvings used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu which epitomizes the religions and cultural life of the people. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 04 In Kathmandu
Morning visit to Patan City, Tibetan Refugee Centre.

Patan likes to recall its old name LALITPUR ("City of Beauty "), and although now largely absorbed by greater Kathmandu, this once powerful independent kingdom still maintains a defiantly distinct identity. Compared to Kathmandu, it's quite, less frenetic and more Buddhist (there may be a correlation). Above all, it remained a proud city of artisians. Enroute, visit Tibetan refugee camp where you can see the spinning, dyeing and weaving of Tibetan carpets.

Afternoon visit to Bhaktapur --the third largest city in the Kathmandu valley, located at 14 km east of Kathmandu. The city was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom from the 12th to the 15th century. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05 Kathmandu - Varanasi / Sightseeing of Varanasi
This morning, fly to Varanasi--the melting point of culture, customs and tradition. On arrival, you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

Afternoon visit with Bharat Mata Temple. The Bharat Mata Temple at Varanasi is the only temple dedicated to Mother India. The Bharat Mata Temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The statute of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting the mountains, plains and oceans.

In the evening, don't miss the grand 'Aarti' at Dasaashwamedh Ghat, conducted every sunset by five white-robed priests. These five young men sway in choreographed movements, worshiping the river goddess with incense, camphor, flowers and earthen lamps. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06 Varanasi - Khajuraho
Enjoy an early morning boat ride on the Holy River Ganges, which presents an incredible scene, as multitudes of devotees come to the river to pay homage to the Sun God. Pass the bathing ghats where thousands of pilgrims immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges River and the burning ghats where cremations are conducted. After boat ride back to hotel for breakfast.

Transfer to airport to board flight to Khajuraho. Khajuraho is a UNESCO world heritage site and the city that gave birth to the art of 'Kamasutra'. On arrival in Khajuraho, you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

This afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Khajuraho. The capital of Chandela Kings, Khajuraho is famous for its magnificent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain saints. The most important are the Chausath Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev Temple, and the Chitragupta Temple with an 11-headed statue of Vishnu depicting his ten incarnations. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07 Khajuraho - Orchha - Agra
After breakfast, drive to Jhansi Railway station to board the train for Agra, the city of the world famous Taj Mahal, en route visiting Orchha, a medieval riverside town, known for its palaces and temples. On arrival in Agra, you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08 In Agra
This morning, experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the eternal symbol of love and witness the sunrise view of Taj Mahal. This masterpiece in marble on a sandstone base is a monument of love and beauty. Built by Shah Jahan as a symbol of love for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal is often referred to as a poem in white marble. Taj Mahal is a fine example of fusion of many architectural styles.

Later, visit to the Agra Fort, which is built in red sandstone and has magnificent palaces, halls of public and private audience and beautiful gardens. This is where Emperor Shahjahan was kept under house arrest by his third son Aurangzeb and spent the last year of his life viewing the Taj Mahal from the little octagonal tower in the Fort.
Rest of the day free. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09 Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
After breakfast, embark on a leisurely drive to Jaipur, en route visit Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost city, 35 Kms from Agra. Fatehpur Sikri built in red sandstone in honor of Saint Salim Chisti (who foretold the birth of 3 sons to Emperor Akbar), is an example of robust stability combined with originality. Each important edifice here represents a type in itself. On the way to Jaipur, 80 Kms before, you can have a spectacular view of 7th - 8th Century Abhaneri Stepwell. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10 In Jaipur This morning, after breakfast visit the Amber fort, which was built in the 16th century. An elephant ride will help you ascend to this hilltop fort. Alternatively, you could choose to walk or drive up to the fort.
Then visit the Hawa Mahal (Place of the Winds), built in the 18th century. This palace, with its innumerable windows and screened balconies, was especially built for the royal women to view the city and processions from behind their purdahs. Afternoon tour also includes a visit to the City Palace complex with its museums and Jantar Mantar, the ancient astronomical observatory. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11 Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur
After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur en route visiting The Brahma Temple at Pushkar. It is the only temple in India dedicated to Lord Brahma. The Temple is marked by a red spire and over the entrance gateway is a beautiful statue of a "Hans" or goose - the celestial carrier of Lord Brahma.

Later, proceed with drive to Jodhpur. On arrival, check-in at your Hotel and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 12 Jodhpur
Morning enjoy a half-day tour of Jodhpur City visiting the imposing Mehrangarh Fort that has fine views over the city and Jaswant Thada, the white marble memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Also visit the museum at Umaid Bhawan Palace. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13 Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur
After breakfast, drive to Udaipur en route visiting the Jain Temples at Ranakpur. Built in the 15th century, the extremely beautiful Ranakpur temple complex lies in a remote and peaceful valley of the Aravali Range. The temples are known for their grand structures and exquisite sculptures. The main temple in the complex is the Chaumukha Temple or Four-Faced Temple, dedicated to the Jain apostle Adinath. This huge and beautifully crafted marble temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, no two alike. Other temples in the complex are Neminath, Parasnath, Amba Mata and Sun Temple.

Continue drive to Udaipur and transfer to hotel. Romantic and serene, this capital of Mewar nestles in the scenic valley of the Aravalli hills, surrounded by three lakes Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 14: In Udaipur
After breakfast, take a tour of Udaipur City, visiting the City Palace with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies and cupolas, the City Palace Museum, Saheliyon-Ki-Bari or the Garden of the Maids of honour, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir -- a folklore museum, Jagdish Temple and Pratap Smarak memorial.

In the evening, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola, surrounded by splendid hills, palaces, temples and bathing ghats. Visit the island Palace of Jag Niwas which is beautifully set in the middle of the lake. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 15: Udaipur - Mumbai
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the flight for Mumbai. On arrival, you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel. Evening free for activities on own. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 16: In Mumbai.
After breakfast, visit the Elephanta Caves, located across the sea from the Gateway of India and accessible by a short ferry ride. After returning from the Elephanta caves, visit Gateway of India - the landmark of Mumbai, one of the former principal ports when visitors came to India by ship. Also visit the Prince of Wales Museum and drive past Mumbai's famous Marine Drive. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 17: Depart Mumbai
After breakfast at hotel, check-out at 1200 Hrs and departure transfer to airport to fly onward to your destination.