Taj & Ganges Tour

Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destinations Covered: Mumbai - Delhi, Rishikesh - Jaipur - Fathepursikri - Agra & Varanasi

Day 01: Mumbai by flight (Kindly asdvise)
Arrive Mumbai International airport. After clearing your custom & immigrations you shall be met by our representative outside the exit gate of the arrival hall. After meeting/assistance at the airport transfer to hotel. Rest of the day/night at leisure to overcome jet-leg of the long flight & to recuperate to our weather conditions.  Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: Mumbai
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0900 hrs leave for half a day city tour of Mumbai visiting Gateway of India, Prince Of Whales Museum, Dhobi Ghat (open laundry), Malabar hill, Hanging garden, Kamla Nehru Park, Tower of silence, Chowpaty, Marine drive (Queen's necklees), Rest of the day at leisure or free for independent activities.  Overnight stay at hotel. 

Day 03: Mumbai/Delhi by flight
Morning breakfast at hotel. Intime meeting/assistance at hotel and transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi, meeting/assistance at airport and transfer to hotel.  Evening at leisure or free for independent activities.  Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: Delhi
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0900 hrs leave for combined city tour of old and new Delhi.

New Delhi
An extensive sightseeing tour of  New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, 12th century Minaret- Qutub Minar graceful and well sculptured and stands 75 meters, Lotus Temple, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, The President House, once the House of British viceroys and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Old Delhi
A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort-once the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughal Empire.

Day 05: Delhi/Haridwar/Rishikesh (225 Kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0900 hrs drive to Rishikesh. Enroute city tour of Haridwar visiting Pawan Dham - A beautiful temple made of colourfull glasses, also visit famous Mansa Devi Temple by cable car.  Evening offer prayer to The river The Ganges at famous Har Ki Pauri and than leave for Rishikesh.  Upon arrival direct transfer to hotel.  Rest of the day at leisure or free for independent activities.  Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Rishikesh
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0800 hrs leave for city/temple tour of Rishikesh visiting Laxman Temple, Laxman Jhoola, Ram Jhoola, Bharat Mata Mandir, Geeta Bhawan, Swarga Ashram, Parmarth Niketan and various other Ashrams. Enjoy boat ride on the Ganges.   Overnigh stay ata hotel.
 
Day 07: Rishikesh/Delhi (225 Kms)
Morning breakfast at the hotel at 0900 hrs drive back to Delhi.  Upon arrival in Delhi check in at hotel.  Overnight stay at hotel

Day 08: Delhi/Jaipur (265 KMS)
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0900 hrs drive to Jaipur - The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, built by the warrior-astronomer Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727, it is full of formidable Forts, enchanting Palaces and lovely temples.

Jaipur
The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains it's character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity.  Popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.

Upone arrival in Jaipur check in at hotel.
Evening optional visit to Rajmandir cinema hall famous for its beautiful interiors or "Chokhi Dhani" - A five star ethnic village resort for dinner on direct payment basis. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09: Jaipur
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0800 hrs proceed to city tour of Jaipur.
 
Amber Fort Palace
Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Enjoy ride the hill on the back of decorated elephant ascent to the fort and feel like Maharaja. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.

City Palace
A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. Complex which houses the rare and rich colection of ornaments, arms, royal costumes, carpets and decorative art objects of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art andarchitecture

Jantar Mantar
A 18th century Observatory. This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

Hawa Mahal
The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the intricate work or a gem factory and see the gem cutting and polishing process. Also visit Birla Temple. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Jaipur/Fathepursikri/Agra (250 Kms)
Morning breakfast at hotel and at 0800 hrs drive to Agar - The Royal seat and capital of the province of yesteryears, Agra the City of Mughals. Upon arrival check in at hotel.
 
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 contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its 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. 

Fatehpur Sikri
The city of victory beautifully preserved.  The sandstone mansions of Sikri are experiments in art and architecture and to a great extent uphold Akbar's ideals and visions. The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of it's grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
 
Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri
The city of victory beautifully preserved.  The sandstone mansions of Sikri are experiments in art and architecture and to a great extent uphold Akbar's ideals and visions. Thereafter continue your drive to Jaipur. upon arrival check in at hotel.

Afternoon leave for city tour of Agra.  Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj.
 
Taj Mahal
One of the seven wonder of the world. A pristine monument of undying love. Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder, which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it's stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
 
Agra Fort
The first of the great mughal buildings where three Mughal emperor left there foot prints. Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction
Itmadullah's Tomb - Built by Empress Noor Jahan in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj).
Overnight stay at hotel. 

Day 11: Agra/Varanasi by overnight train or flight
Morning breakfast at hotel. Intime meeting assistance at hotel and transfer to train station to board your overnight train to varanasi.

Day 12: Varanasi
Arrive varanasi railway station and transfer to hotel.

Varanasi
The holiest of Indian cities. Also known as Kashi or the city of light, the abode of Lord Shiva where, according to Hindu religious legends, the first rays of light fell after creation. It is here, in Varanasi, that the Hindu world converges to partake in an endless cycle of birth and death, life and salvation. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is paralleled only by Damascus in terms of antiquity. 

Afternoon leave for temple/city tour of Varanasi, about 2,000 odd temples along the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi and bathe in the river.  The temples in Benares is the goal of the thousands of pilgrims that visit this ancient pilgrimage site. Visit the Bharat Mata temple, the exteriors of Vishwanath temple and the Durga temple in the holy city of Varanasi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Varanasi/Delhi by flight or overnight AC sleeper train
Early morning leave for boat ride in the river Ganges to apprise you of the various Hindu rituals taking place at the bathing ghats, also witness the wonderful sunrise from the river Ganges. Thereafter come back to hotel for breakfast. Intime meeting assistance at hotel & transfer to board flight for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi meeting assistance at airport and transfer to International aiport to board your flight to your onward destination.


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