Best of North India Tour
Places to Visit: Delhi – Mandawa- Bikaner – Jaisalmer
– Jodhpur – Udaipur – Jaipur – Agra – Khajuraho –
Varanasi – Delhi
Duration: 19 nights/ 21 Days
Day 01: Departure for Delhi
Fly from USA to India
Day 02: Arrival at Delhi
Company
representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in
Delhi late in the evening. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay. DELHI, the
capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating
blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite
culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Day 03: Delhi
After breakfast, full day city tour of old & modern capital of India. Visit
Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction
was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658 ; visit Red Fort ( from
out side only, as it is not permitted to visit from inside due to security reason
), which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638
to 1648 ; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Witness the India Gate, the Presidents House & the Parliament. Visit Humayun's
Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutab Minar. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
Dinner & overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: Delhi – Mandawa ( Shekhawati)
Breakfast at hotel.
Drive to Mandawa ( Alsisar ), lunch n the way . On arrival, check in at hotel
. late afternoon visit the havelis around this area . overnight stay at hotel.
Shekhawati : - This is a semi desert region in north Rajasthan and it
is situated entirely in the triangle between Delhi-Bikaner-Jaipur. Shekhawati
is a region and not just a town or fort; it takes its name after its ruler Rao
Shekha. Shekhawati means the garden of Shekha. The towns of Shekhawati are eminent
for their amazing painted havelis. Such is the appeal of the havelis that this
region is dubbed as "open art gallery of Rajasthan". The plethora
of painted Havelis in rich artistic tradition makes it commendable and fascinating.
Most of the buildings are dated from 18th century to early 20th century.
Day
05: Mandawa – Gajner ( Bikaner )
Breakfast at hotel
Drive to Bikaner. On the way visit Fathepur and see some wonderful Fresco example
at here.
Arrive Bikaner.
BIKANER - The royal fortified city with a timeless appeal. Lying in the
north of the Desert State, the city is dotted with many sand dunes. Bikaner
retains the medieval splendor that pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly
called the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in
the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here. Be it
pulling heavy carts, transporting grains or working on wells, camels are the
prime helpers. The wells of Bikaner - an important source of water are other
attractions of the city. These are built on high plinths with slender minareted
towers on each of the Four Corners and can be noticed even from a distance.
After lunch proceed for sightseeing tour of Bikaner. Visit Junagarh Fort. Continue
drive to Gajner. A place just 19 KMS from the City … with Beautiful Palace
beside the Lake , A place that one can’t forget in his life after visited
once !!!! On arrival check in at hotel, see the Palace building which is itself
a sight seeing. Entire area is quite big , you might need to use Cycle to cover
the whole area !!!!! overnight stay at Gajner
Day 06: Bikaner – Jaisalmer
Breakfast at hotel.
Drive to Jaisalmer. Lunch at Midway at Pokran.
Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of
Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with its awesome
splendor, dominating the amber-hued city. The city has an interesting legend
associated with it, according to which, Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan,
foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom
atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in 1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal,
a descendent of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodurva
and founded a new capital -Jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta Hill. On arrival,
check in at hotel . If time permits , can visit the “Vays Chatri”
Overnight stay at Jaisalmer.
Day
07 : Jaisalmer
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for full day sightseeing tour of The Golden
City - Jaisalmer. It is in the heart of the Great Indian Desert. Its temple,
fort and palaces are all built of yellow stone. The city is a mass of intricately
carved buildings, facades and elaborate balconies. Visit the JAISALMER FORT
- The oldest living Fort in the world. (This is the highlight of the tour) See
the Patwon-Ki-Havelies, Salim-Singh-Ki-Haveli and Gandhi Sagar Tank. Also visit
Barabagh Hill. In the afternoon, proceed to the SAM SAND DUNES for visiting
the typical Rajasthani Desert Village. View the sunset from the dunes, as the
sky is set on fire ( A camel ride will be provided ) . Dinner will be arrange
by us in the middle of the Thar Desert , with live music & dance perform
by local musician . Return to hotel.
Overnight stay at Jaisalmer.
Day 08: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Jodhpur . On arrival , Check in & lunch at
hotel. Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes
with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of
the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodhachief of the Rathore
clan of Rajput who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic hero of the
Ramayana. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a
rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts. Above the plains. A high wall -10 km long with
8 gates and innumerable bastions encompasses the
city.
After Lunch proceed on sightseeing of Jodhpur- gateway to the desert beyond,
home of the Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, rising up a hilly
scarp, built on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the city in the image of
a long sentinel. Inside the Fort are a number of palaces added by successive
rulers. In this palace you would see different miniature paintings & cradle
room. After this you would visit Jaswant Thada Memorial.
Dinner & overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09 : Jodhpur – Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel, Drive to Udaipur Via Ranakpur
Visit the world famous Jain temple of Ranakpur. n the AD 1439.
After lunch Continue drive to Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur by late afternoon, Check
Inn at hotel. Overnight at Udaipur.
UDAIPUR : One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also
known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens
and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert. The founder
of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old
capital of Chittaurgarh had to face due to repeated attacks by the Mughal armies.
On the advice of a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of
Lake Pichola- the city was named Udaipur after him.
Day 10: Udaipur
Breakfast at Hotel . Morning visit the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around
Sahelion ki Bari (queen's resort for her friends), Fateh sagar Lake and. Afternoon
Boat ride at Lake Pichola and visit “Jag Mandir” .
Evening free at leisure. Overnight in stay at Udaipur.
Day 11: Udaipur – Jaipur (By Flight)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure transfer to Domestic airport to fly Jaipur.
Flight No : 9W 373 ( Jet airways )
Departure at Udaipur :07:40 AM
Arrival at Jaipur : 08 : 25 AM
On arrival at Jaipur , our representative will take you to hotel, Check Inn
.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back
to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the
Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite
of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains it's character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. Popularly known as the
Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered
stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria.
Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite
temples and lush gardens. Afternoon , proceed for sightseeing of the city.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani
architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled
city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace
Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five
observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This
observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds"
is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered
pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has
953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal
grandstand for the palace women. Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the
intricate work or a gem factory and see the gem cutting and polishing process.
Overnight stay at Jaipur.
Day
12: Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel.
Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride
ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace.
Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent
Jai Singh I. It's forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful
fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Jaipur is
considered as a shoppers paradise for Textile & Jewelers. Afternoon, free
time will be given for shopping .
Overnight stay at Jaipur.
Day 13: Jaipur – Agra
Breakfast at Hotel, drive to Jaipur en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri built by
emperor Akbar in 1569 and later abandoned due to scarcity of water. Lunch on
the way. On arrival at Agra , Check inn at hotel . Overnight stay at Agra.
Day 14: Agra
After breakfast the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal ( Please note that
Taj Mahal is closed on Friday), which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed
until 1653. later on proceed for remaining sight seeing of Agra , which include,
Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made
up until the 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 Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar
to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan;
Day 15: Agra – Khajuraho
Early Breakfast at Hotel. Departure Transfer to Agra Railway station to catch
the train to Janshi.
Train No. : 2022 ( Satabdi express, considered to be the fastest train in India
)
Departure at Agra : 08:05 AM
Arrival at Janshi : 10:25
On arrival at Janshi , our representative will pick you up from Railway station
and drive own to Khajuraho via Orcha . Sight seeing and lunch at Orcha.
Orcha: Was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain
Rudra Pratap. Orcha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time; a
rich legacy to the ages. For, on this medieval city, the hand of time has rested
lightly and the palaces and temple built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and
17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection. Complementing the noble
proportions of their exteriors are interiors which represent the finest flowering
of the Bundela school of painting. In the Laxminarayan Temple, vibrant murals
encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes, bring the walls and
ceiling to rich life. Continue drive to Khajuraho , on arrival at Khajuraho
check inn at hotel. Overnight stay at Khajuraho.
Day 16: Khajuraho
Breakfast at hotel, sight seeing of Khajuraho.
Khajuraho: The temple city of central India, is famous throughout the world
for its exquisitely carved temples in stones. Thousands of visitors and tourists
from all over the world flock together to envisage this immortal saga of Hindu
art and culture engraved in stone by shilpies (stone craftsmen) a millenia ago.
Today, apart from the temples, Khajuraho is a small village but a thousand years
ago it was a large city of the Chandelas, medieval Rajput kings who ruled over
Central India. Khajuraho is 595 km (370 miles) south-east of Delhi and can be
visited by air, rail or road. The visitor to Khajuraho cannot but be attracted
to the vivid erotic sculptures on the temples walls. The sculptures are mithunas
i.e. couple in various erotic poses. There have been many interpretations of
their existence and some have criticized them severely. According to one authority,
a man and woman in erotic
embrace typify the ultimate union of the soul such erotic figures save the temple
from beings struck by the lightening. The reason given for this is that Indra,
Lord of rainand thunder bolt who himself is a great connoisseur of Kama, will
not damage anything pertaining to that.
Day 17: Khajuraho – Varanasi ( Flight)
Breakfast at Hotel. Later on departure transfer to Airport to fly Varanasi.
Flight No : 9W 724 ( Jet airways )
Departure at Khajuraho :13:30 PM
Arrival at Varanasi : 14 : 10 PM
On arrival at Varanasi , our reperesentative will take you to hotel, Check Inn
. Later in the evening visit the Ganga river Ghat to see” Arti “ Puja.
Overnight stay at Varanasi.
Day
18: Varanasi
Morning boat ride tour at river Gangas, return to hotel for breakfast. Later
on Proceed for full day sight seeing and overnight stay at Varanasi. Varanasi
is an important and sacred pilgrimage center for Hindus and a major tourist
attraction. It is situated on the banks of river Ganga. The word Varanasi has
been derived from an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers - the
Varuna and Asi, which flow in the north and south of the city. Varanasi is also
known as Kashi and Benares. Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning in
India, is a center of learning even to this date. Glorified by myth and legend
and sanctified by religion, it has always attracted a large number of pilgrims
and worshippers from times immemorial.
Ghats: Pilgrims gather at the Ghats to have a ritual bath and worship the rising
sun. The most famous ghat is the Dasashvamedh Ghat, others being Asi, Panchganga,
Barnasangam and Manikarnika, Ghats.
Sarnath: 12 km from Varanasi lies Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached
his first sermon and revealed the eight fold path that leads to the attainment
of inner peace,and elightenment. Vishwanath Temple: This is one of the most
sacred temples in Varanasi and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The temple has skillfully been restored as the actual temple was destroyed by
Mughuls
Day 19: Varanasi - Delhi – Departure
Breakfast at hotel , later on transfer to domestic airport to catch the flight
to Delhi.
Flight No : 9W 724 ( Jet airways )
Departure at Varanasi :14:40 PM
Arrival at Khajuraho : 16 : 00 PM
On arrival at Delhi Chcek inn at Hotel. Overnight stay at Delhi. After farewell
dinner , departure transfer to International Airport to fly back home.
Day 20: Delhi – Departure
Breakfast at Hotel. Full day free to explore the local markets of Delhi .After
farewell dinner , departure transfer to International Airport to fly back home.
Overnight on board.
Suggested Hotels :- ( Few hotels are considered to be one of the best
hotels in India/ Asia) but we can work out a cost for you according to your
budget with different category of Hotels.
| Place |
Hotel |
Web Site |
| Delhi |
The Imperial |
www.theimperialindia.com |
| Mandawa |
Indira Vilas |
www.indravilas.com |
| Bikaner |
Gajner Place |
www.hrhindia.com/HRH_Properties/ghp.asp |
| Jaisalmer |
Fort Rajwada |
www.fortrajwada.com |
| Jodhpur |
Umed Bhawan Palace |
www.tajhotels.com |
| Udaipur |
Lake Palace |
www.tajhotels.com |
| Jaipur |
Raj Vilas |
www.rajvilas.com |
| Agra |
Amar Vilas |
www.amarvilas.com |
| Khajuarho |
Taj Chandala |
www.tajhotels.com |
| Varanasi |
Taj Ganges |
www.tajhotels.com |
Surface Journey ( approximate time takes by Car )
| From |
To |
Time Period |
| Delhi Airport |
Hotel |
45 Minutes |
| Delhi |
Mandawa |
6 hours |
| Mandawa |
Bikaner |
4 hours |
| Bikaner |
Jaisalmer |
5 hours : 30 minutes |
| Jaisalmer |
Jodhpur |
6 hours |
| Jodhpur |
Udaipur |
6hours :30 minutes |
| Udaipur |
Jaipur |
By flight |
| Jaipur |
Agra |
5 hours : 30 minutes |
| Janshi |
Khajuraho |
4 hours |
| Khajuraho |
Varanasi |
Flight |
| Varanasi |
Delhi |
Flight |
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