Day 01- Arrival Delhi

Arrive in Delhi & transfer to hotel for overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 02- Delhi 

The first half of the day will be spent exploring New Delhi, also known as Lutyens Delhi, in the name of a British architect who was largely responsible in designing India Gate, Presidential House, Secratariat, Parliament House and many other buildings in that area. Visit the lotus Temple and then drive on to see the tallest tower in Delhi, known as Qutub Minar, which declared the arrival and rise of Islam in India.

The afternoon can be spent exploring Old Delhi which will include a visit to the Red Fort, nearby Jama Masjid- the citys most important & grandest mosque, Rajghat and other historical landmarks. In the evening enjoy a Sound & Light Show at the Red Fort (optional) or walk through the hustle and bustle of the Chandni Chowk markets. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03- Delhi-Jaipur (265 km/5 hrs )

Morning drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival check-in at hotel and later proceed for Jaipur sightseeing.

Just 7 miles north of Jaipur is Amber with its a honey-coloured fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills which can be mounted by elephant. It has been described as the sleeping beauty of Rajasthan. The sombre exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments which open on to striking views of the gorge. It also possesses a Chamber of Mirrors. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art - panels of alabaster with fine inlay work of the tenderest hues. Overnight at hotel.
 

Day 04- Jaipur

City tour of Jaipur- a city which has the tone of the autumn sunset. Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could view the world outside. Jai Singhs Observatory built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. City Palace now a museum contains fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armoury. Overnight at hotel.
 

Day 05- Jaipur-Agra (235 km/ 5 hrs)

Leave Jaipur for Agra by road en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the now deserted city built by Emperor Akbar. Though the city took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years because the water supply was unable to sustain the growing population. The surviving palace and mosque are a tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its glorious courtyards and palaces conjure up dreams of the mysterious past. Buland Darwaza, the victory gate looms 134 feet high. Theres the imperial Jami Masjid, the tomb of Shaik Salim Chisti who predicted the birth of Akbars son Jehangir, the Panch Mahal, a strange building which resembles a Buddhist Temple, a cloistered courtyard which was the Hall of Public Audience, and the Pachchisi paved with black and white where the Emperor played chess using slave girls as figurines.

In Agra you will be taken to the Taj Mahal -The world famous mausoleum of Shah Jahans wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj has been aptly described by the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as A teardrop on the face of time. Overnight at hotel.

Day-06- Agra-Jhansi- Khajuraho (By Train & Surface )

Transfer to the Railway station. Leave Agra for Jhansi by the superfast Shatabdi Express.
Arrive in Jhansi & proceed to Khajuraho by road. En route Visit the medieval city of Orccha. Lunch at Orccha & proceed to hotel upon arrival in Khajuraho. Overnight at hotel.
 

Day 07- Khajuraho- Varanasi (By Air)

The next day indulge in a City tour of Khajuraho Temples-
Khajuraho was the capital of the Chandela kings and its temples were built in the short span of a hundred years, from 950-1050 AD. Most of them were destroyed by Muslim invaders. Adorned with exquisite sculpture, only 22 temples remain of the original 85. They are the strange works of a long dead people. Khajurahos temples are covered with hundreds of sculptured figures - a galaxy of gods and goddesses, beasts and serpents, and a multitude of erotic couples which represent a paean to life, to love and to joy. The most famous are the Kandariya Mahadev, the Chaturbhuj, the Paraswanath and the Ghantai - the summit of Hindu sculpture: voluptuous forms; human and divine, throbbing with life and sublime in expression. In the evening you depart for Varanasi by air.
 

Day 08- Varanasi

The day begins with a visit to the ghats by dawn, when out of the morning mist, forms descend the steps, their numbers increasing by the minute until a solemn silent multitude, lit by the suns first rays, moves in the same direction to immerse itself in the holy stream and to salute the sun. During this particular sightseeing no monuments are visited. See the Bathing Ghats, Cremation Ghats, The Gyanvapi Mosque built in the 17th century when the fanatical Emperor Aurangzeb pulled down the original Vishwanath Golden Temple and on its site raised a mosque. After the boat ride visit the Golden Temple and walk through the narrow lanes of Varanasi.

Following this you will enjoy a 30 km drive lasting 3 hours to explore the city of Varanasi. You will see the Bharat Mata Temple, dedicated to Mother India, which, instead of gods and goddesses, houses a relief map of India carved out of marble. Emperor Aurangazebs Mosque built in the 17th century on the site of a Hindu Temple. The rear of the mosque reveals specimens of the ancient temple art of India. Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) erected by Rani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1776. The shikharas of the temple are gold plated. Visit Varanasi Hindu University, a great seat of oriental learning. It started as a centre of education in Sanskrit, Indian art, culture and music. Visit the Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple popularly known as the Monkey Temple because of hundreds of monkeys in the courtyard.

The final destination for the day will be Sarnath which is 10 kms from Varanasi.

The Buddha preached his first sermon to five disciples at the Deer Park here, enshrining the principals of his teaching into laws. The Dhamek Stupa marks the location of a once resplendent monastery. A large complex of ruined monasteries cover the area north of the stupas. Some of the buildings belong to the Kushan and Gupta period. The first monk communities probably settled here in the 3rd century BC. Near the Dhamek Stupa is a new monastery built by the Buddhist Mahabodhi Society. The major events of Buddhas life are depicted here in wall paintings by a Japanese artist. Sarnath has an interesting archaeological museum which has preserved the famous Sarnath pillar whose capital forms Indias national emblem. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09- Varanasi Delhi (By Air)

Transfer to airport (Domestic) & flight to Delhi. Evening at leisure in Delhi. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10- Delhi

Transfer to international airport