Splendours Of North India

Today enjoy a full day private tour of modern New Delhi and the 17th century walled city of Old Delhi, which came to prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital here from Agra.
In Old Delhi enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market, a maze of lanes crowded with noisy shops selling an extraordinary variety of items and foods, and past the Jama Masjid (or Friday Mosque), the largest in India, and drive past the imposing walls & battlements of the Red Fort, once the most opulent palace in the Mughal Empire. We continue to the Raj Ghat – the simple but moving memorial on the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
In the afternoon our tour of New Delhi starts with a visit to the Qutub Minar, an ancient victory tower built of red sandstone and marble in 1199 and still the tallest minaret in India. With its imposing cylindrical towers and surrounding ruins, it is today a World Heritage Site. Our next stop is Humayun’s Tomb, the beautiful mausoleum of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, that inspired the Taj Mahal.
We drive along the Rajpath – the capital’s broadest avenue – where you will see the imposing arch of the India Gate war memorial, Parliament House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential residence built for the Viceroy of India, and the government buildings on Raisina Hill. Overnight stay at Delhi.
Note: The Red Fort is closed on Mondays.

Breakfast at the hotel, later drive to Jaipur– “known as Pink city. On arrival check into the hotel. evening at leisure on own for independent activities. Overnight stay at Jaipur.

Today enjoy a full day tour of the city of Jaipur, which has been declared a World Heritage Site due to its culturalheritage.
Our first stop is to view the magnificent Hawa Mahal (the “Palace of the Winds”) designed in the form of the crown of the Hindu god Krishna. This five-storey frontage looks like a bee’s honeycomb with 953 small windows, each decorated with intricate latticework so that the court ladies living in secluded purdah could watch royal processions, without being seen themselves. Built of red and pink sandstone, it is particularly striking early in the morning when lit by the sunrise.
We continue to the imposing Amber Fort – another World Heritage Site. This magnificent royal palace was built from pale yellow & pink sandstone and white marble and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. You will enter via the main courtyard (Jaleb Chowk), where returning armies would display their war booty and women could view them from the veiled windows of the palace. Once inside explore the amazing Palace of Mirrors and Hall of Public Audience
We then visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world and also a World Heritage Site. It is the best preserved of five observatories built by Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur.
It has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Our day finishes with a visit to the nearby City Palace, the former Royal Residence part of which is now a museum. One of the major attractions here is the armoury with its impressive array of pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers used by the Maharajas of Jaipur. The Textile and Costume Museum on the first floor is another fine display, with items from all over India. Overnight stay at Jaipur.

Early Breakfast at the hotel and depart by road to Agra En-route visit Fatehpur Sikhri – magnificent red
sandstone royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the emperor Mohammad Akbar as the capital of the Mughal Empire. The city was abandoned due to water shortage, when the capital was moved north to Delhi, and in more recent years the fort has provided a dramatic backdrop to several famous films. Check in at the hotel.

Today morning we visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Friday), a magnificent white marble mausoleum that took 22 years to build. Apart from its stunning design and perfect symmetry, it is noted for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best marble inlay work ever done. Sunrise and sunset are particularly good times to visit and see the dome subtly change its colour.
We then visit Agra Fort, a massive structure with walls over 70-ft high and 1.5-miles long that encompasses an astounding collection of well-preserved buildings, many of them completed during the reign of Shah Jahan. After he was deposed by his son, he was imprisoned in this fort where he remained until his death – spending the rest of his life looking out along the river to the final resting place of his beloved wife.
The balance of your day is free to relax at your hotel or explore further. Overnight stay in Agra.

Early morning transfer to Agra railway station to board train to Jhansi, Arrive Jhansi railway station and proceed to Khajuraho. En-route visit Orchha – was founded in 1501 AD, by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, and built the Fort of Orchha.

After drive visit to Temple Town Khajuraho. On arrival check into the hotel. Overnight stay at Khajuraho

Early Breakfast at the hotel and visit the Eastern Group of temples: Visits included are to Adinath Temple,
Parshvanath Temple and Shantinath Temple followed by visit of Western group of temples: Laxmana Temple, Khandariya Mahadeo Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Varaha Temple, Nandi Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, and Vishwanath Temple.
Later drive back to hotel and checkout from the hotel and drive to Varanasi, enroute have lunch. On arrival Varanasi checked into the hotel. Overnight stay at Varanasi

Rise early today for a very special experience – a boat ride on the River Ganges as the sun rises. View the
remarkable colours on its waters as you pass the bathing ghats, a series of steps leading down to the river where the faithful come to bathe and pay homage to the sun god. Also see the cremation ghats.
Afterwards enjoy a walking tour of the temples of Bharat Mata, Durga and Vishwanath, Varanasi Hindu
University.
Afternoon proceed on a visit to the ruins and museum at Sarnath – an important pilgrimage site where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Here you will see many stupas (shrines) including the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, a Tibetan Buddhist shrine containing a lifesized golden image of Buddha.
Late in evening your guide will walk with you to the bathing ghats (steps) on the River Ganges to witness the moving daily Aarti Ceremony, a religious ritual performed as an offering to the gods. It includes the lighting of hundreds of candles that are released in baskets onto the river, which will leave you spellbound. The ceremony lasts about 1.5 hours. Later return back to hotel. Overnight stay in Varanasi

Breakfast at the hotel. Hotel standards check out time:1200hrs. Later in time transfer to Varanasi airport to connect the flight for onward journey.