Impressions of India
15 Day Trip

After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing of Delhi including the following.

Red Fort (From Outside)
Red Fort is the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's elegant citadel in red sandstone, built on the western bank of the River Yamuna. Shah Jahan started the construction of this massive fort in 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. The Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort rise 33 metre above the clamour of Old Delhi, as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughals. Inside the fort lies a veritable treasure trove, of buildings which includes the Drum House, the Hall of Public and Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of Colour. IMP: It remains closed on Mondays.

Enjoy Rickshaw Ride around Jama Masjid
Enjoy the Rickshaw Ride (Paddy cab) around Jama Masjid. We will ride on a rickshaw through the narrow streets of Old Delhi. The humble cycle rickshaw is not only the common man’s beast of burden but also generates a considerable amount of employment.

Drive past the Govt. Buildings
New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences, reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Today we will drive past a few of them, like The Parliament House (designed by Baker and 173m in diameter), the Rashtrapati Bhawan (once the Viceroy’s residence), now an official residence of the President of India, etc. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles of architecture.

Photo stop at the India Gate
At the center of New Delhi, stands a 42 metre high - India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triumph" like archway, in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates 70,000 Indian soldiers, who lost their lives fighting for the British Army, during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers, killed in the North-western Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

Humayun Tomb
Humayun's Tomb is one of the most innovative and experimental monuments of its time, incorporating within it, an Indo-Islamic architectural style. This magnificent garden tomb is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India. It was built in 1565 AD, nine years after the death of Humayun, by his senior widow Bega Begam. Inside the walled enclosure, the most notable features are, the garden squares (Charbagh) with pathways and water channels, centrally located well proportional mausoleum topped by double dome.

Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab ud-Din Aybak. The tower has five distinct storey’s, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base, to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storey's are made of red sandstone; the fourth and the fifth story are made of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwat ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. Also, a 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that, if you can encircle it with your hands, while standing with your back to it, your wish will be fulfilled.

Overnight at the hotel.

After Breakfast, morning free or you can roam around Karolbagh market.

Later in afternoon, transfer to the New Delhi Railway station to bord the Train for Varanasi.

“Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”, wrote the American novelist Mark Twain.Referred to as the oldest living city in the world, Varanasi, situated between Rivers Varuna and Assi, in Uttar Pradesh derives its name from its location.A city of thousand temples, it is also known as Kashi which stands for “the city of light”.According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi is the cosmic center of the universe. The British referred to Varanasi as Benaras or Banaras and the Banarasi sari of this region is as popular as its temples and traditions.

On arrival in Varanasi, transfer to hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing of Varanasi including the following.

Bharat Mata Temple - Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated this temple of Bharat Mata (Mother India) which lies about 3 km west of Godaulia, outside the old city. The most noteworthy feature of this temple is, instead of idols of Gods and Goddesses (usual of every Hindu temple), here you will find a huge relief map of the whole of the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau, in marble. The map is said to be perfected to scale both vertically and horizontally with all mountains, rivers and the holy Tirthas (pilgrimage centres) clearly visible.

Tulsi Manas Temple - Built in 1964, the Tulsi Manas Temple stands about 150 m south of Durga Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is situated at the place where Tulsidas, the great medieval seer, is believed to have lived and written the great epic "Shri Ramcharitmanas". The two-tier walls of the temple are engraved with the verses and scenes from this great epic.

Banaras Hindu University - Banaras Hindu University was built in 1917 and considered as one of the oldest educational university in India. It was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, as a centre for the study of Indian art, culture, music, and Sanskrit. The university campus is spread over 5 sq. km and houses the Bharat Kala Bhavan. The Bhavan has a fine collection of miniature paintings, sculptures from first to fifteenth centuries, old photographs of Varanasi and brocade textiles. This university is highly reputed and attracts students from every corner of India and the world. Also see the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the university

In the afternoon, enjoy excursion to Sarnath - Visit the Archaeological Museum locally known as Sarnath Museum, this splendid building houses the capitol from the Ashoka pillar, the symbol which has been adopted as the state emblem, of modern India. The museum contains a large collection of figures and sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushana and Gupta periods, discovered during the excavations at Sarnath. You can have a look at the earliest Buddha image found at Sarnath and many images of Hindu Gods, dating from the 9th to 12th centuries. (IMP: Museum remains closed on Fridays)

In the evening, Enjoy Aarti Ceremony on River Ganges.
Celebrated in mainstream songs, Varanasi is a city of winding alleys with bustling markets, each specializing in something and just as famous as its temples.

Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning enjoy Boat ride on river Ganges - Experience the life of this ancient city early morning. See the beauty of the rising sun on the River Ganges. Enjoy the boat ride and witness the early morning rituals of the Hindus being performed. A perfect click will be the view of thousands of people taking a bath in the holy water of River Ganges, believing that they will be free from the circle of rebirth. It is interesting to see the pilgrims offering sweets, flowers, and holy water to the Sun God.

Return to the hotel for breakfast (Rooms will be available till 12:00 hrs.)

After checkout from hotel enjoy an optional walk to local markets - The bazaars are colorful and best explored on foot and by cycle-rickshaw. This tour starts at the Town Hall (Maidagin). From here, we walk through a colorful fabric and saree market to visit a Goshala (a charitable sanctuary for stray cows). At the Goshala, you can understand more about the "sacred cow" and see how Varanasi's bovine are cared. From the Goshala, take a cycle-rickshaw ride through the central market thoroughfare of the city to reach Chowk. From Chowk, walk again covering: the wedding market (Kinari Bazaar), Kachori Galli (lane filled with deep-fried snacks trendy in Varanasi), Khoa Galli (lane that sells milk products including cottage cheese and condensed, sweetened milk), and Vishwanath Galli (the most famous of all streets in Varanasi).

Later transfer to the Tundla Railway Station to board the Train Poorva Express 1855 / 0248 Hrs for Agra

Overnight at the Train

Early morning arrival in Agra, pickup at station and transfer to hotel.

Agra: Located in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra is a slow paced, quiet town. Also known as the city of the Taj Mahal—one of the seven Wonders of the World—Agra’s significance as the political centre of the Mughal Empire ended when Shah Jahan transferred his capital to Delhi. However, Agra’s architectural legacy has found it a place in the pages of history. The architectural splendour of the fort, mausoleums, and the palaces here are a reminder of the opulence and artistic taste of the Mughal Empire. Agra is also famous for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by craftsmen, who are descendants of those who worked under the Mughals.

After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing of Agra including the following.

Taj Mahal
Muted but Soulful, Taj Mahal popularly known as Crown of Palaces is a white marble mausoleum and a UNESCO world heritage site. As a testament to his love, the magnificent structure was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Situated in the Mughal city of Agra, Taj Mahal looks the same from all the four sides and endorsed as "The Jewel of Muslim art in India". Commissioned in 1632, it took approximately 22 years in the making of this marvellous structure and an estimated 20,000 workers to build this masterpiece that reflects different colours under the canopy of sun. Purely ecstatic and iconic, it attracts (7 to 8) million annual visitors every year. (It remains closed on Fridays). Note: Taj Mahal is a World Heritage Site and hence requires some maintenance and restoration work routinely.

Agra Fort
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, before the capital was shifted to Delhi from Agra. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise as it comprises of several exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khaas – the audience halls, Musamman Burj - where Shahjahan died in 1666 A.D., Jahangir's Palace; Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. The massive Agra fort is considered as the predecessor of the Red fort in Delhi.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, Drive to Ranthambore.

Ranthambore - Ranthambore One of the largest and most popular national parks in North India, Ranthambore National Park is named after the historic Ranthambore fortress that is located within the park’s premises. With the Banas River to its north and Chambal River to its south, Ranthambore lies at the edge of a plateau and covers an area of 392 square kilometres. A visit to Ranthambore National Park can be a rewarding experience for a wildlife enthusiast. Home to several fascinating wildlife species, one can spot leopards, striped hyenas, chitals, chinkaras, sambars, langurs, civets, and sloth bears in the park.

On arrival in Ranthambore transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Dinner & Overnight at the hotel

Early morning, enjoy a shared safari in the national park.

Game ride in Ranthambore National Park is a rewarding experience for wildlife enthusiasts and for the nature lovers. The national park is surrounded by Aravalli’s hills and is home to several fascinating wildlife species. One can spot leopards, striped hyenas, chitals, chinkaras, sambars, langurs, civets, and sloth bears in the park. The park’s pride, however, lies in the number of tigers that can be found prowling in their natural habitat.

After safari drive back to the hotel for breakfast.

After lunch, enjoy another shared safari in the National Park.

Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, Drive to Jaipur.

JAIPUR - The fascinating capital of the marvellous state of Rajasthan.
Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City, thanks to the colour of its buildings. It was built in 1727 A.D by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, followed a grid system, which made it the only planned city of its time. A young Bengali architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya designed the city in accordance with Shilp Shastra - an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. There are innumerable sagas and stories of culture, traditions, practices, and valour. This diverse land of rich cultural heritage is a royal treat for tourists all over the world.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing of Jaipur including the following.

Amber Fort (Enjoy Jeep ride) The Amber Fort set in picturesque and rugged hills is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh, the fort was made in red sandstone and white marble. Amber is the classic and romantic fort-palace with a magnificent aura. The interior wall of the palace depicts expressive painting scenes with carvings, precious stones, and mirror settings. Built mainly for the warring enemies as a safe place, the heavily structured walls could defend the residents within the ramparts of the fort.

Photo stop at the Hawa Mahal Palace
Enjoy Photo stop at Hawa Mahal. It is the most well-known landmark of Jaipur city, built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. This five-storied building overlooking the busy street is a fascinating example of Rajput architecture and artistry with its delicately honeycombed 953 pink sandstone windows known as 'jharokhas'. It was originally built for the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their veiled comfort as they had to obey the rules of "purdah.

City Palace
Located in the heart of the Pink city and a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, it was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as part of his ambitious city project. His successors continued to ornament and add to the elegant buildings up until the 20th century. It is a unique complex of several courtyards, buildings, pavilions, gardens, and temples. The most prominent and most visited structures in the complex are the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, and the City Palace Museum.

Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734. He constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations which includes one at Delhi and another at Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved out of these and inscribed on the World Heritage List as "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period".

Also enjoy evening cooking class and dinner with local Family.

Overnight at the hotel.

Early Morning breakfast, drive to Jodhpur by Surface.

Jodhpur - Known as the “Blue City”, Jodhpur was founded by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rathore clan of the Rajputs, on the edges of Thar Desert in 1459 CE. The second largest city in Rajasthan, it is surrounded by a high, 10-kilometer-long wall. Flanked by the Mehrangarh Fort on the western side and the stately Umaid Bhawan Palace on the eastern side, the monuments, temples, and gardens of Jodhpur represent a multi-faceted splendor.
The historic grandeur and the colourful culture of the people lend a vibrant aura to the city.

On arrival in Jodhpur, transfer to hotel.

Proceed for visit of Mehrangarh Fort and Jasawant Thada

Mehrangarh Fort - Located at about 5 km from Jodhpur town and built by Rao Jodha in around 1459, it is one of the largest forts in India. Standing sentinel to the city below, it overlooks the rugged and rocky terrain and houses a palace intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows, exquisitely wrought from red sandstone. Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana with a richly varied collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniature paintings of various schools, folk music, instruments, costumes, furniture, and an impressive armoury, within the fort are magical. The display of cannons on the ramparts near Chamunda temple is among the rarest in India. As you climb up, folk musicians revive the grandeur of a bygone era.

Jasawant Thada - Popularly known as the "Taj Mahal of Marwar", it is a graceful marble cenotaph located adjacent to Mehrangarh Fort. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in the loving memory of his father Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and serves as the cremation ground for the royal family of Marwar. The main memorial is built like a temple with intricately carved marble stone.

Later walk through the Clocktower market and old town (No Guide services included). Try " Lassi", famous Jodhpur sweets like " Mawa ki Kachori" and savouries like "Piyaz Kachori" and "Mirchi Wada".

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Udaipur.

En-route visit Ranakpur, the wonderful 3 temples of the Jain sect dating back to the 14th/15th century. The unforgettable main temple is dedicated to Adinatha, the first Tirthankar (1439) built-in marble that took 65 years to complete.

On arrival in Udaipur, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel. .

After breakfast proceed for visit of Udaipur including following:

City Palace - City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. The construction of this palace was initiated by Maharana Udai Singh, but successive Maharanas added several palaces and structures to the complex while retaining remarkable uniformity in the design. The entry to the massive Palace is from the Hathi Pol, the Elephant Gate. The Bari Pol or the Big Gate brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple Gate. It was a custom to weigh the Maharaja under this gate in gold and silver, which was distributed to the populace. Balconies, cupolas, and towers of the palace give a wonderful view of the Lake Pichola.

Later, take a delightful stroll down the road, passing via the renowned Jagdish Temple, a prominent Hindu temple in the area, capture some beautiful photographs of the temple from the outside before continuing your walk towards the Clock Tower. Along the way, you will encounter a variety of fascinating local shops offering everyday essentials and unique items.

SAHELION KI BARI - You will walk through different markets like silver, cloth, vegetables, cooking oil and staples etc.

In the evening enjoy sunset Boat Ride on Lake Pichola - Fringed with hills, gardens, havelis, ghats and temples, Lake Pichola is the scenic focus of Udaipur. The picturesque boat ride on Lake Pichola not only provides the best scenic view of the lake and the mountains in the city, but also presents some of the most important historical monuments dotted along the lakeside or submerged within the lake.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Airport and connect the flight to Delhi.

On arrival in Delhi, transfer to hotel.

Transfer to the international airport to board the flight back home.