Romantic North India & Nepal

AM visit New Delhi, where you shall visit Qutab Minar a UNESCO World Heritage which is a five storeyed Victory Tower to announce the advent of Muslim sultans. Later visit Lotus temple or the Baha’I House of worship, designed by Iranian architect Fariburz Sahba.  The Baha’I sect originatedin Persia and is based on a view of humanity as one single race, a world where silence and order prevails.

Later visit Humayun's tomb. After breakfast visit New Delhi, where you shall visit Humayun's tomb. Built in 1565 by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the first great example of Mughal garden tomb and inspiration for several later monuments. This type of garden is known as a charbagh and is based on a grid. Continue visit of the Parliament Buildings including North & South block which house several ministries as well as the Prime Minister's Office.

Later visit India Gate. A massive red sandstone arch, built to commemorate the Indian and British soldiers who died in World War I.

PM visit Old Delhi. Here you shall visit the Jama Masjid. This grand mosque was built by Emperor Shah Jahan, with three imposing black and white marble domes, and twin minarets framing its great central arch.

Later enjoy Rickshaw ride through streets of Chandni Chowk. Its most elegant boulevard laid out in 1648 and is lined with grand shops and mansions.

Also visit Raj Ghat, site of Mahatama Gandhi's cremation. It’s a sombre, black granite platform. 

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Qutab Minar a UNESCO World Heritage. It is five storeyed Victory Tower to announce the advent of Muslim sultans. Later visit Lotus temple or the Baha’I House of worship, designed by Iranian architect Fariburz Sahba.  The Baha’I sect originatedin Persia and is based on a view of humanity as one single race, a world where silence and order prevails.

PM visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomizes 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind.

Overnight at the hotel.

Delhi – Jaipur (265 Kms & 5 Hrs) 

Morning leave for Jaipur. On arrival check into your hotel. PM visit City Palace and Jantar  Mantar.

City Palace is a sprawling complex is a superb blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, with open airy Mughal - style public buildings leading to private apartments. Its treasures, which include miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes and weaponry, provide a splendid introduction to Jaipur's princely past, and it’s fascinating arts and crafts.

Jantar Mantar, translated into 'Instruments of Measuring the Harmony of the Heavens', it was built by Sawai Jai Singh II between 1728 and 1734. Jantar Mantar is a grand celebration of astronomical science and each instrument here perform a particular function and gives an accurate reading.

Overnight at the hotel.

AM excursion to Amber fort. En-route photostop at Hawa Mahal known as “the Palace of winds”, with its ornate pink facade has become an icon for the city. The tiered Baroque like composition of projecting windows and balconies is five storeys high.

Amber Fort a UNESCO World Heritage which is at a short distance of 11 kms from Jaipur. The old capital of the Kachhwahas stands atop a range of craggy hills. You can take elephant ride from the base of the fort to the hilltop. Fort offers panoramic view of Maota Lake and the historic old town at the base of the hill. Embark on an Elephant ride to the top of the Fortress.

Later visit the markets of Jaipur famous for their exquisite carpets, clothes, jewelry etc.

Overnight at the hotel.

Jaipur – Agra  (235 Kms & 5 Hrs)

Morning leave for Agra. En-route visit the stepwell at Abhaneri & the fort at Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri's BULAND DARWAZA, built by Emperor Akbar in honour of Salim Chisti a famous sufi saint. Its architecture is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. The Buland Darwaza, erected by Akbar to mark his conquest over Gujarat is a huge gateway.

Check into your hotel & overnight at the hotel.

AM visit the Taj Mahal a UNESCO World Heritage, Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It’s an image of the Islamic Garden Paradise, an enduring monument of love continually fulfilling beauty in white marble. To the poet Tagore it was " A Tear Drop in the face of eternity". Pietra dura has been extensively used to translate naturalistic forms into decorative patters that complement the majesty of its architecture.

Later visit the Agra Fort a UNESCO World Heritage. It’s built on the banks of the river Yamuna. Its imposing red sandstone ramparts form a crescent along the river front and encompass an enormous complex of courtly buildings, ranging in style from the early eclecticism of Akbar to the sublime elegance of Shah Jahan. Visit the gloriously inlaid Musamman Burj, a double-storeyed octagonal tower with clear views of the Taj.

Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Agra = Jhansi – Orchha (245 Kms & 5 Hrs)

Early morning transfer to Agra railway station to board train for Jhansi. Upon arrival meet, assist & transfer to Orchha. Check into your hotel.

Founded in 1531, Orchha is dramatically positioned on a rocky island, enclosed by a loop of the Betwa river. The many layered palace has 132 chambers off and above the central courtyard and an almost equal number of subterranean rooms. The square sandstone palace is extravagantly embellished with lapis lazuli tiles, graceful chhatris and ornate jail screens.

Overnight at the hotel.

Orchha – Khajuraho (175 Kms & 4 hrs)

Morning leave for Khajuraho. Upon arrival check into your hotel.

PM visit the Eastern and Western group of magnificent temples at Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were built between the 9^th & the 10^th centuries by the Chandela dynasty. The impressive Kandriya Mahadev temple, which represents the pinnacle of North Indian temple art and architechture, with over 800 sculptures depicting gods & goddesses, beasts & warriors, sensuous maidens, dancers, musicians and, of course erotic scenes for which the Khajuraho temples are famous.

Overnight at the Hotel. 

AM free at leisure. Later transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival meet, assist & continue visit of Sarnath. To Buddhists, Sarnath is as sacred as Varanasi is to Hindus. This is where Buddha came to preach the Dharmachakra or the Wheel of Law, his first major sermon after gaining enlightenment.

Varanasi also known as Kashi, “The City of light”, is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to 2600 years at the very least.

Later check into your hotel. Visit the evening aarti at the Dashashvamedh ghat, named after the ten simultaneous horse sacrifices performed by Brahma the Creator. The daily prayers “aarti” with people chanting vedic hymns, lighting lamps and praying with the priests.

Overnight at the hotel.

A sunrise boat-ride on the river Ganges is the highlight of a trip to Varanasi. With people performing yoga, offering flowers and incense to the river, and take a ritual dip along the river front, bathed in soft light.

Later visit the city & temples on the ghats of the Ganges. Evening transfer to the domestic airport for connect flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival meet, assist and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is one of the world's oldest cities. The old part of the city, with narrow medieval streets and lovely little shrines, centers on the Durbar Square. One can find distinctive pagoda-roofed temples, stone sculptures, old monasteries and historic monuments in Durbar Square. Visit Pashupati temple, Boudhnath, Patan & Swayambhunath.

Pashupati Temple: According to a folklore, a Bhaktapur native who was a great devotee of Lord Pashupati, had a dream in which lord Shiva told him to build a temple for him so that he could move into it. He obeyed this command and thus the temple came into existence.

Bouddhanath Stupa, the biggest stupa in Nepal, lies about 7 km east of the capital. The Bouddhanath stupa, also called by many as Khasti Chitya, is one of the oldest stupas in the country. After 1959, many Tibetans arrived and settled in Bouddhanath area. The stupa, a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site, is included in World Heritage Cultural site list by UNESCO.

Patan Durbar Square complex, situated in the center of Patan city, also known as Lalitpur, houses the residence of the former Patan royal family. Patan Square and its surroundings are good specimen of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards in the palace: Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk, the oldest one, is at the centre of Patan square.

The Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath, situated on the top of a hill, west of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular, holy and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal. The temple is colloquially known as the 'monkey temple' because of the large tribe of roving monkeys who guard the temple.

Overnight at the hotel.

Morning leave for Chitwan. On arrival check into your jungle resort.

Chitwan which means the ‘Heart of the jungle’ is among the last surviving example of the continuous band of forests and grasslands, which once extended from the Indus River in Pakistan to the Burmese border. The main attraction here is the Chitwan National Park, one of the largest forests regions in Asia teeming with wildlife such as the rare great one-horned rhinoceros, several species of dear, sloth bear, leopard, wild boar, fresh water, dolphin, crocodile, more than 350 species of birds and the elusive Bengal tiger. Chitwan National Park is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site (natural) list.

Embark on a jungle safari on elephant backs. Overnight at the hotel. 

AM jungle Safari in the Park. Later drive to Kathmandu. On arrival check into your hotel.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Morning transfer to Kathmandu international airport for connect flight to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi international airport connect to your flight for home destination.