Temples, Tigers and The Taj     

Tour Duration: 11 nights/12 days

Places Covered: Delhi, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Varanasi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur.

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrival at Delhi airport you are met outside the International Arrivals Hall by our representative and transferred to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: In Delhi
After breakfast, spend the day exploring India’s capital. In Old Delhi, visit the Red Fort, built in 1648 during the reign of Shah Jehan in red sandstone, which gave the fort its name. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque, built of red sandstone and white marble in the middle of the 17th century. Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), once the imperial avenue down which Shah Jehan rode at the head of lavish cavalcades, is today bustling with shops, stalls and silversmiths' ateliers.

In the afternoon, sightseeing of New Delhi includes a visit to India Gate, built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War. Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy is today the official residence of the President of India and Parliament House, an unique circular building with huge colonnades, houses the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Connaught Circus is the commercial hub of New Delhi. One of Delhi’s most striking monuments is the 70-meter high Qutb Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03: Delhi –Khajuraho (flight)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho. You are met on arrival and transferred to the hotel. After lunch, take a tour of the temples. Khajuraho is renowned the world over for its fine temples, built between 950 and 1050 AD, which are among the most creative examples of Indian architecture. Only 22 of the original 85 temples survive today. The most popular theme is woman: reflective, playful, amorous. The carvings also depict gods in cosmic evolution, griffins, nymphs, beasts, demons in revolt and the several emotions of man - fear, doubt, jealousy, ardent love and consummate passion.
The western group, contained within a fenced enclosure, is well maintained as a park. The large Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is one of the earliest of the western enclosure temples, dating from 930-950 AD. It is also one of the best preserved, with a full five-part floor plan and four subsidiary shrines. The Vahara Temple, dedicated to Vishnu’s boar incarnation (Vahara avatar) faces the Matangesvara Temple and has a huge solid and intricately carved figure of the boar incarnation, dating from around 900 AD. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple is not only the largest but also artistically and architecturally the most perfect. Build between 1025 and 1050 AD, it represents Chandela at its finest. The Mahadeva Temple is small and mainly ruined. However, it houses one of Khajuraho’s best sculptures - a fine sardula figure caressing a lion. The Devi Jagadamba Temple was probably originally dedicated to Vishnu, but later changed to Parvati and then Kali. The Chitragupta Temple is unique in being dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. The Matangesvara Temple, standing next to the Lakshmana Temple, is not within the fenced enclose, because it is still in everyday use, unlike all the old temples. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 04: Drive Khajuraho-Bandhavgarh (199 kms)
After breakfast depart for Bandhavgarh National Park. The 6- to 7-hour drive is interesting, passing through forested and agricultural land. The road crosses the Ken River, a tributary of the Ganges. Some stretches of the river have been declared a sanctuary for the gharial - a rare fish-eating crocodile. Also pass through the small town of Panna, famous for its diamond mines. From Satna, the mid-way point, turn off on a subsidiary road across the ridges of the Vindyachal to Bandhavgarh National Park. On arrival check in at the Hotel/Resort.  In the evening there is a slide show or lecture on the park and its flora and fauna, with resident naturalists always on hand to answer any queries you may have. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 05: Bandhavgarh
Early morning visit to the Park take a jeep ride in the park in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger and other game view some of the game found here: Cheetal (Spotted deer), Sambar, barking deer, Chowsingha (four-horned antelope), wild boar, Nilgai (blue bull), wild boar, langur, Rhesus macaque, Dhole (Asian wild dog) and a variety of birds. Bandhavgarh is renowned, and justly so, for the relatively easy sighting of tiger, especially by daylight. Before returning to the Hotel for breakfast, you can visit some of the ancient monuments found here, including a huge 10-meter status of Vishnu, reclining on a bed of serpents. There are also several ancient cave dwellings in the area - the inscriptions on their walls have yet to be identified. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Lunch at the Hotel.
In the afternoon take another jeep drive in the Park. With a road network of over 200 km, it is possible to cover every habitat type in the park. Return to the Camp for dinner. Overnight at Hotel/resort.

Day 06: Bandhavgarh –Khajuraho (surface)-Varanasi (Flight)
Early morning after breakfast, leave for Khajuraho.Transfer to the airport for flight to Varanasi. Board the flight to Varanasi on arrival transfer to hotel for check in. In the evening we will take you to Dasaswamedh Ghat for live Ganga Aarti a well synchronized performance. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07:Varanasi-Agra (By overnight train)
In the early morning take sunrise Ganga cruise for early morning activities at Ghat. Return to the Hotel proceed for sightseeing of Banaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple. Later in the afternoon visit to Sarnath 10 kms way from main centre is a place where lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. Visit to Museum & return to the hotel check in & transfer to Railway station to board the train to Agra/Tundla. Overnight at train.

Day 08: In Agra
On arrival at Station you will met & assist by our representative followed by transfer to Agra hotel. Check in & proceed for day sightseeing of  visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted sandstone city, which was the glorious but short-lived imperial capital of Akbar, the greatest of Mughal emperors. Lying on a rocky ridge, it is today a haunting complex of empty palaces, forts and mosques. A variety of architectural styles are found, since craftsmen representing many schools were employed. Return to Agra by lunchtime.

In the afternoon visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna river, enclosed by forbidding 20-m high walls, with a 12-m moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan - helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture.

The highlight of your trip will probably be a visit to the Taj Mahal, surely the greatest monument to love and one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Marble was brought from Makrana, near Jodhpur and precious stones of onyx, amethyst, malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade, crystal and mother of pearl were carried to Agra from Persia, Russia, Afghanistan, Tibet, China and the Indian Ocean. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09: Agra-Ranthambore (250 kms)
After an early breakfast proceed to Ranthambore en route covering the sightseeing of  Fatehpur Sikri- a city envisaged by Emperor Ashoka later abandoned due to scarcity of water. Continue your drive to Ranthambore. This is situated at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Since becoming one of the original 11 areas under Project Tiger in 1973, the park has recovered much of its previous natural glory. The blend between nature and history is strong in this park - the fort, temples, tanks and other relics are a constant reminder of man's involvement in the area. The fort commanded a large region and up to the late 13th century was the centre of a Hindu kingdom. During the 18th century the area was protected as a hunting area for and by the Maharajas of Jaipur and it is thanks to an extension of this protection that the park exists today.  On arrival check into the resort. Dinner and overnight at Hotel/Resort.

Day 10: Ranthambore
In the early morning visit to game viewing by Jeep or Open Canter Safari. Return to the hotel breakfast free time for leisure activities. After lunch proceed for another round of afternoon safari. Return to the hotel for Bar Be Que dinner with live cultural music & dance show. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 11: Ranthambore-Jaipur (155 kms)
After breakfast proceed to Jaipur, one of the best-planned cities in India, built of rose-pink sandstone by the great astronomer-king Jai Singh II in 1727. On arrival hotel check in. Later visit to the City Palace, which stands in the centre of the city. Part of it is still the Maharaja's residence, while most of the complex has been developed into a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings, royal apparel and an armory. Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is the landmark of Jaipur. It stands on one of the main streets, a curious building, elaborate and fanciful, built of pink sandstone with a delicate honeycomb design. Rising five storey’s high, it is composed of semi-octagonal overhanging windows, each with its perforated screen, which allowed the ladies of the court to look onto the main street without being seen. Jantar Mantar observatory, built by Jmaharaja ai Singh II, has huge stone instruments devised to study the movements of the sun, moon and planets and are incredibly accurate. There is time to wander through the colourful bazaars, a veritable collector's paradise where you can watch ancient craft forms. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12: Jaipur-Delhi
After breakfast drive to Delhi en route covering Amber Fort- 11 kilometres from Jaipur it is one of the principal tourist attractions in the Jaipur area, located high on a hill. Amer Fort was made by Meenas king Raja Alan Singh Chanda later occupied by Kachhawa rajput . Amer Fort is known for its artistic style, blending both Hindu Rajput elements. The fort with its large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths, overlooks the Maota Lake, at its forefront. Continue your drive to Delhi. On arrival you will e transferred to Airport for onward flight.