Tour to India & Nepal
Colors of India & Nepal - 11 Night Tour
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| Delhi |
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Jaipur |
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Agra |
| Khajuraho |
|
Varanasi |
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Kathmandu |
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Delhi |
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Day 1 -
Arrive in Delhi: This evening arrive at New Delhi’s Indira
Gandhi International airport. Our representative will
meet you outside the customs gate and escort you to your hotel in
an air-conditioned car.
Meals included: None
Day 2 - Delhi: This morning enjoy an orientation
tour of Delhi.
The city consists of two parts - Old & New Delhi. Old
Delhi was the capital of Muslim India
between 17th and 19th century and has many mosques, monuments and
forts.
New Delhi, the
imperial city was created by the British as the capital of India.
In 1911, Edwin Lutyens, the most
renowned English architect of the day, was chosen to design New Delhi
which flaunts a surprising
Number of impressive monuments related to its conquests by the Mughals,
Turks, Persians and
ultimately the British. Lutyens designed some of the most striking
landmarks including a lovely
broad avenue lined with stately residences and lavish neoclassical
creations that lead up to the
magnificent Presidential Palace and Parliament buildings.
Begin your day with an exploration starting in Old Delhi, visiting
the Jama Masjid, the royal
mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. It is one
of the largest and most
beautiful mosques in the world and is constructed in red sandstone
and white marble. The main
prayer hall has a seating capacity of more than 20,000 worshippers.
Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni
Chowk, the spine of Old Delhi.
Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan designed this commercial
place in 1648. Continue
to Red fort. Built in red stand stone by Shah Jahan in 1648, this
magnificent monument is laid out
along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon. The main entrance
to the fort is the Lahori Gate
which was once a royal market where jewellers, painters and craftsmen
sold their wares. Within
the walls of the fort is ‘Diwan-E-Am’ for public audiences, ‘Diwan-E-Khas’,
where private
audiences were granted. It is this hall that contained the famous
peacock throne, which was later
plundered by Nadir Shah. The Red Fort Museum has on display armory,
textiles, jeweler, artifacts
and manuscripts belonging to the Mughal era.
Later visit New Delhi. Drive through the majestic boulevards of
New Delhi. The Rashtrapati
Bhawan (Presidential Palace) is where the Viceroy once lived and
now is the official residence of
the President of India. It is an imposing structure with 340 rooms,
constructed high up on Raisina
Hill. View India Gate, a war memorial arch built in honor of 90,000
Indian soldiers who lost their
lives in World War I.
Post lunch visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first great example
of Mughal architecture in India, it
developed to become the hallmark of the Mughal Dynasty. The squat
building of white marble
and red sandstone, with a dome and high arched entrances, surrounded
by formal gardens, is
generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Agra.
Huyamun’s wife is buried in
the red-and-white sandstone, black-and yellow marble tomb.
Next on the itinerary visit Qutab Minar, a soaring tower of victory,
72.5meter high with five
distinct stories. The construction of this minaret commenced in 1193
and was completed in 1368.
Built on the foundation of a Hindu temple, many elements of the construction
reflect their Hindu
and Jain origins. Within the complex, there are myriad monuments
that combine both Islamic
calligraphy and Hindu motifs.
Return to hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 - Delhi - Jaipur: This morning leave for
Jaipur covering a distance of 250kms in approx 5 hours.
Jaipur, "The City of Victory", was first intended to be "Sawai
Jaipur", named after the boy Prince
who commissioned it - Maharaja Jai Singh II - a warrior, astronomer
and politician who reigned
over the Mughals from 1699 to 1743. Today's Jaipur is pink, visually
described as the city shaded
with the autumn colors of a sunset. Although originally the walls
were render set and pigmented
the color of red sandstone, Jaipur's universal coat of pink only
came in 1876 to coincide with the
visit of the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII). Almost the entire
city was given a coat of pink
paint, thus giving it the name "The Pink City".
Arrive in Jaipur and check in at your hotel. Remainder of the afternoon
will be at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 - Jaipur: This morning enjoy an excursion to the magnificent
Amber Fort.
Tour the chambers and hallways of the palace, famous for the excellence of
its design and
decoration. Within the complex is Ganesh Pol, an imposing gateway painted with
the images of
the elephant-headed god, Ganesh. The merging of Rajput and Mughal architectural
styles is
captured in the Sukh Niwas and Jas Mandir apartments, and the Charbagh garden
with its
perfectly proportioned landscaping. Pierced screen windows offer views from
different vantage
points & shimmering mirrors encrust walls of Sheesh Mahal.
Post lunch continue your sightseeing tour of Jaipur.
Visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Built in the 1700s but still appears to
be futuristic. It
houses unique instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens! Continue
to City Palace to witness the Maharaja’s private collection
of textiles and armory. Culminate the tour with a
photo stop at Hawa Mahal also known as the "Palace of the Winds." This
beautiful façade is
probably the most-photographed in Jaipur, with its ornately carved windows
designed so the
ladies of the palace could look out onto the streets unobserved. Return to
hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning leave for Agra covering a distance of 265kms in approx 6 hours.
Day 5 - Jaipur - Agra: Agra - Two great
Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra
into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat
{seat of
the Emperor}. Today, a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of ontrasting
edifices of red
sandstone and white marble, narrow gallies and quaint buggies, and that irresistible
charm that
this favourite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that
modern Agra still reflects it’s
Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the
narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor
to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
En-route, visit Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri - the deserted red sandstone city was built
by Emperor Akbar as his capital and Palace in the late
16th century. It is a veritable fairy tale city and its ruins are
in pristine condition. It is not hard to imagine what the court
life must have been like in the former days of its grandeur.
Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, which is the largest
gateway in the world.
Arrive in Agra and check in to your hotel.
Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 - Agra: Early morning visit Taj Mahal.
The 17th century Taj Mahal is often called a poem in stone. If so, the mausoleum
is a love poem -
created by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. It
took 22 years to
be completed and was designed and planned by a Persian architect Ustad Isa.
Apart from its
stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted for its
elegant domes,
intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen. (Taj
Mahal remains closed
on Fridays).
Return to hotel after the visit and proceed for breakfast.
Later in the day, visit Agra Fort. An imposing structure with
walls of red sandstone, almost two
miles long and contains palaces, audience halls and mosques. The fort presents
a good sampling
of Islamic and Hindu architectural styles. It was built by the third Mughal
Emperor, Akbar.
Subsequent additions were made to the fort by his son Jahangir and grandson
Shahjahan.
Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure for independent/spa activities.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 - Agra- Jansi - :Khajuraho: This morning an AKORN representative
will escort you to railway station for your train to Jhansi:
Leave: Agra at: 08:20 hrs by: Shatabdi Express
Arrive: Jhansi at: 10:50 hrs
Arrive in Jhansi and transfer to Khajuraho covering a distance of 170kms
in approx 4 hours.
Khajuraho is world renowned for its temple architecture. The famous sculptures
in the sandstone
temples of Khajuraho are truly beautiful, executed with a joy, fluidity and
lack of inhibition that is
rarely to be found in modern India. They are widely acknowledged as some of
the most exquisite
temple art in India. The 22 temples were built by the Chandela dynasty that
died out in the 10th
century, are in three distinct groups - the westernmost has a nightly son et
lumière.
Arrive in Khajuraho and check-in at your hotel.
Late afternoon visit the Western group of temples that constitutes some of
the finest examples
of Chandela art at its peak. The largest being the Kandhariya Mahadev dedicated
to Lord Shiva,
followed by a granite temple - Chaunsath Yogini.
Return to hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 - Khajuro - Varanasi: This morning visit Eastern
Group of Temples that comprise of two historic Jain temples - the
Adinath Temple lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, and the Parsvanath
Temple, the
largest Jain temple, sculpted with charming detail.
Later an AKORN representative will escort you to airport for flight to Varanasi:
Leave: Khajuraho at: 13:30 hrs by: Jet Airways Flight 9W 724
Arrive: Varanasi at: 14:10 hrs
Varanasi is probably the place in India that has the most profound impact
on visitors. Formerly
known as Benares, it sits on a bend of the Ganges, and its spiritual significance
comes from its
status as a "crossing place", where Gods and Goddesses can descend
to earth. It has been a
pilgrimage site since the sixth century BC; Hindus try to visit at least once
in their lifetime to pray
and bathe in the holy river. The Old City, a maze of tiny alleys, has several
temples, including the
Golden Temple - which is only accessible to Hindus - and many cows, which have
traffic priority!
Arrive in Varanasi and check-in at your hotel.
Late afternoon visit Sarnath where Lord Buddha
had preached his first sermon and which is now a
spiritual place of mainly stupas, shrines and
temples. Also visit the museum which houses a
collection of valuable ancient scriptures & artifacts
related to Buddhism. (Sarnath museum is closed
on Fridays).
Later in the evening witness a Hindu prayer
ceremony ‘aarthi’ on the Ganges River. You will
be escorted to Dhaswashmedh Ghat from where
you will embark on a boat to witness the aarti for
approximately 20- 30 minutes. The river banks ‘ghats’ and temples
are lit with oil-lamp and candles which create a magical effect. Devotees
float the oil lamps in the water as an offering to the
holy river.
Return to hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 - Varanasi - Kathmandu: Early morning, enjoy a boat
cruise on River Ganges. The ghats - hundreds of stone steps
flanking the riverbank - are an incredible sight, particularly at sunrise when
thousands of pilgrims
bathe in the spiritually cleansing waters. Funeral pyres smoke on the riverbank,
which is lined
with colorful temples. The boat ride is one of the best ways witness the ceremonies.
After the boat ride, return to hotel for breakfast.
Later an AKORN representative will escort you to airport for your flight to
Kathmandu. The flight
operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday only.
Leave: Varanasi at: 12:10 hrs by: Air India flight IC 751
Arrive: Kathmandu at: 13:20 hrs
It is difficult to match Nepal for dramatic scenery: home
to the world-famous, 8,848m high Mount
Everest, it is a completely dominated by the Himalayan range. There are seven
UNESCO World
Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley alone; most of them ancient temple or
palace complexes
that display extraordinary craftsmanship. The Nepalis' complex blend of religious
beliefs and
traditions is reflected in the exquisite thangkas, gold-painted stupas and
intricate carvings seen at
every turn.
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. Meet & greet by an AKORN representative
who will
escort you to your hotel.
Rest of the day will be at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 - Kathmandu: This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour
of Kathmandu. The highlights include the courtyards and
chambers of the Royal Palace, Durbar Square with its highly-detailed wooden
temples and the
Red Towers for a view of the city and the surrounding mountain peaks. There
are various
interesting sights in the outlying area around Kathmandu such as Swayambhunath,
a 2,000 year
old Buddhist stupa supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a copper-gilded
pinnacle and
Bhaktapur, an enchanting ancient city with winding alleyways and a stunning
palatial complex
brimming with architectural gems. The altitude of Kathmandu is 1,370m.
Begin your tour with a visit to Kasthamandap, or “the Wooden Pavilion” situated
at the southern edge of the city’s Durbar Square. Its three-tiered
pagoda rises some 50 feet above its long veranda.
Its creation is said to be attributed to King Lakshmi
Narasimha Malla, who is said to have built it in
1595 AD, however historians state that he was not
the ruler of Kathmandu in 1595, and that there is
already a reference to Kasthamandap in 1143 AD.
Legend is that the entire structure was built out of
a single tree.
Continue to Durbar Square which is
the historic seat of Royalties. "Durbar" means the
Palace - This Durbar Square with its old temples
and a palace epitomizes the religious and cultural
life of the people. It is the same place where Kings
of Nepal are crowned and their coronations
solemnized. Stop at Kumari Temple, the home to
the worlds only living Goddess. Kumari is also
known as Virgin Goddess.
Next visit
Swayambhunath Stupa, the oldest Buddhist
shrine. It is said to be 2,000 years old. Painted on
the four sides of the spire’s base are the allseeing
eyes of Lord Buddha. It is situated on a
hillock about 77m above Kathmandu and
commands an excellent view of the valley. This
Stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal. It is a
UNESCO World Heritage Monument.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 - Kathmandu: This morning visit Bhaktapur. Also known
as Bhadgaon, Bhaktapur is perhaps the most popular
of the three cities of Kathmandu. Newari art and architecture here reveal the
best craftsmanship
of the Malla period (from the 12th to the 18th century). Bhaktapur, literally
translated means the “city of devotees”, and was founded by King
Ananda Deva in AD 889. The narrow walkways
inside the city are dotted with centers of art and craft. The Potter’s
city and the Nyatapala (5-
storey pagoda temple) are definitely worth a visit.
Other attractions include an art gallery at the Royal Palace, the famous Golden
Gate that forms
the entrance to the 55 Window Palace, and the stone sculptures and 12 temples
of Durbar
Square.
Later return to Kathmandu. En-route, visit Boudhanath Stupa that was built
in 5th century A.D.
by Lichchhavi King Mana Dev. It is on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels.
The colossal
and ancient Stupa is one of the biggest in the world. This massive structure
stands tall with four
pairs of eyes each facing the four cardinal directions, watching for righteous
behavior of mankind
and for human prosperity. The spherical Stupa is held in great veneration both
by the Lam as of
Nepal and Tibet.
Later return to the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12 - Kathmandu - Delhi: Morning will be at leisure.
Our representative will escort you to airport for your flight to Delhi:
Leave: Kathmandu at: 15:45 hrs by: Jet airways flight 9W 261
Arrive: Delhi at: 17:15 hrs
Our representative will meet you on arrival at Delhi’s international
airport and will assist with
departure formalities for your onward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13 - Leave Delhi
