Treasures of India
India has been attracting travelers from far and wide with its wealth of culture and tradition. Its people are a harmonious blend of castes and creed. A traveler coming to India never goes back home unsatisfied. There is always a place to match your tastes and liking. Some of the many sights on this packed journey include a visit to the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi, Raj Ghat, in Delhi; Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism; the holy River Ganges in Varanasi; and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Pricing
Private tour starting at $4,125* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
13 Days – Delhi to Mumbai
Your package includes
- 12 night accommodation in double occupancy
- Domestic flights as per itinerary: Delhi-Varanasi-Khajuraho & Udaipur-Mumbai
- Train ticket Jhansi-Agra in air-conditioned chair car compartment
- Return airport transfers to/from hotels.
- Ground transportation in air conditioned vehicle (Toyota Innova or similar)
- English speaking local guides (private guide)
- 11 buffet breakfasts
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Entrance fees to sights – as per itinerary
- One rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
- Shared boat ride on Ganges in Varanasi
- Sound and light show in Kharjuraho
Not included
- International airfare and airport taxes
- Gratuities to hotel personnel, guides, drivers
- Optional sightseeing tours
- Beverages
- Visa for India ($)
- Camera fees for certain sites
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Delhi
Meals
Description
Arrive in Delhi and after entry formalities transfer by our local representative to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Taj Palace Delhi (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 2
Delhi
Breakfast
A full day city tour will include Old and New Delhi. Visit 2 monuments from Delhi’s past: Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. Drive past the imposing India Gate and the Parliament House. Visits in Old Delhi include the Red Fort and the Palace of the Mughal Empire, the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi-Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and Chandni Chowk, the bustling and colorful market of the old city.
Day 3
Delhi – Varanasi
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. In the afternoon proceed to Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 4
Varanasi
Breakfast
Early this morning, leave your hotel for a sunrise boat excursion on the holy River Ganges. See Varanasi come alive along the banks of the river. Varanasi will be one of the most extraordinary experiences of your visit to India. On the return, visit the bazaars and Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the evening, return to the Ganges to witness the Arti ceremony.
Day 5
Varanasi – Khajuraho
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport and flight to Khajuraho. Arrive and visit the famed temples where part of the carvings were influenced by « Kama Sutra », the famous treatise of erotic arts written by Vatsyayana.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel (or similar)
Day 6
Khajuraho – Orcha – Agra
Breakfast
This morning depart for Jhansi railway station (4hrs), en route visiting the fascinating temples of Orcha. Board your train to Agra. Arrive and transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Taj Hotel Convention Centre (or similar)
Day 7
Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur
Breakfast
At sunrise, visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Friday), built by an emperor in memory of his beloved queen. Visit the Agra Fort and continue to Jaipur. Stop to visit Fatehpur Sikri. A fort palace that was the onetime capital of the Mughal Empire and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The deserted red sandstone city, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Continue the drive to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan province which is known for its arts and crafts, jewelry, hand-painted fabrics and stone sculptures; it is one of North India’s finest examples of a planned city embodying the best of Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Accommodation: Trident Jaipur (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 8
Jaipur
Breakfast
This morning head out to visit Amber Fort. Before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. The Fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and overlooks the Moat Lake. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room. Visit the City Palace Museum housing an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal Art, and the awe inspiring Jantar Mantar, an accurate observatory built in 1726 AD. Make a stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) for a photo. Five stories in height and built of red and pink sandstone, it is thought that the women of the royal harem used the many casements to observe everyday life without being seen.
Day 9
Jaipur – Udaipur
Breakfast
This morning after breakfast, drive to Udaipur. Dotted with marble palaces, hibiscus laden gardens and fountain pavilions, Udaipur appeals to the imagination of poets and painters, travelers and writers like no other city in the country. The city’s inherent romance and beauty and its remarkable past redolent with episodes of heroism and splendor continue to enthrall the visitor even today. Udaipur, the City of Dawn, looms up like a vision in white. It is a truly enchanting city.
Accommodation: Trident Udaipur (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 10
Udaipur
Breakfast
Start the day on a city tour, beginning with the opulent City Palace. Standing on a crest overlooking Lake Pichola, this majestic palace is a stunning blend of medieval European and Chinese architecture, surmounted by balconies, towers, cupolas and terraces with wonderful views of the city and lake. Stop off next at the three-storey Jagdish Temple, a wonderful Indo-Aryan temple built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. Climb up stone steps flanked by sculpted elephants and admire the intricate pillars, carved ceilings, stunning frescoes and the massive black, stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. In the evening, take a boat-cruise (non-exclusive) on Lake Pichola, covering the City Palace and Jag Mandir – a refuge of the rebel Mughal prince Shah Jahan, soon to be the creator of the incomparable Taj Mahal.
Day 11
Udaipur – Mumbai
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Mumbai. Bombay also known as Mumbai is the economic powerhouse of India. It is young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city of India. Mumbai is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million. Mumbai is also the country’s financial and commercial hub and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea. It is also the hub of Indian film industry, which has played a pivoted role in the development of cinematography. “Bollywood”, as it is called, produces the second most number of pictures in the world every year, next only to Hollywood, U.S.A. Mumbai claims to be the world’s largest production centre for films. In the afternoon, visit the Prince of Wales museum, the Jain temple, Mani Bhawan where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay, and Dhobi Ghat, the outdoor laundry. Drive past the Flora Fountain, the colourful Crawford Market and Victoria Terminus train station.
Accommodation: The Gorden House (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 12
Mumbai
Breakfast
After breakfast proceed on a guided tour of the Elephanta Caves. An hour away from Mumbai by ferry, the Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island or Gharapuri (meaning the city of caves) in Mumbai Harbour. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves – the first is a large group of 5 Hindu caves, the second a smaller group of 2 Buddhist caves. The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries. Return to the hotel with afternoon at leisure to relax or take a stroll along the Colaba Causeway; the everyday carnival at the market here is a shopping experience like no other in Mumbai.
Day 13
Mumbai
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
*Hotel rooms are subject to availability and are confirmed by the supplier at time of booking; they may be replaced by other hotel rooms of similar category at the sole discretion of the supplier.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Treasures of India” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.