Incredible South India
- South India With Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal & Tiger Trails
Duration : 12 Days / 11 Nights
Destinations : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh - Khajuraho
- Varanasi - Delhi
Day 01: Delhi
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international
airport in Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel.
Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis
with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect
introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to
the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi - Jaipur
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Proceed to Jaipur.
Reach and check in at hotel.
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 its character
and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It
is 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.
Proceed for sight-seeing of the city.
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.
JANTAR MANTAR - 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. Their five-storey structures 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.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 03: Jaipur - Agra
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant
ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace.
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 its ultimate
expression.
Drive to Agra.
Reach Fatehpur Sikri after a light lunch break. 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 its grandeur. Also
visit the Buland Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Continue towards Agra and reach by evening. 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.
Overnight stay will be at Agra.
Day 04: Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh
After breakfast proceed to visit Taj. Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: 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.
Proceed for sight-seeing to the AGRA FORT - 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.
Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her
father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj).
Take train to UMARIA. Overnight would be on board the train.
Day 05: Bandhavgarh
Reach Bandhavgarh and check in at hotel.
Bandhavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set among
the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq
km) it contains a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game,
including a large number of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country.
These have been found in the old state of Rewa for Many years. Maharaja
Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun
is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior
to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been
maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The
Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife was
well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to
shoot 109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers
by 1914.
There are 32 hills in this part of the park, which has a large natural
fort at its center. The fort's cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high,
1000 feet (300 meters) above the surrounding countryside. Over half the
area is covered by Sal forest although on the upper slope it is replaced
by mixed forest of sal, saj, dhobin, and saja. Winter temperatures (Nov-mid-February)
vary from almost freezing at night to around 68 degree Fahrenheit in the
daytime. Summer nights are also cooler than the daytime temperatures,
which rise to 104 degree Fahrenheit. This park is closed during the breeding
season, which coincides with the monsoon (July-October). Rainfall in the
park averages 50 inches (120 cm) per year.
Bandhavgarh has been a center of human activity and settlement for over
2000 years, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch
Ratra and the Shiva Purana. Legend has it that Lord Rama, hero of the
Hindu epic, the Ramayana, stopped at Bandhavgarh on his way back to his
homeland after defeating the demon King Ravana of Lanka. Two monkey architects,
who had engineered a bridge between the isle of Lanka and the mainland,
are said to have built Bandhavgarh's Fort. Later Rama handed it over to
his brother Lakshmana who became known as Bandavdhish "The Lord of
the Fort". Lakshmana is the particular God of the fort and is regularly
worshipped in a temple there.
Bandhavgarh is justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range
of other game. The undergrowth is not as dense as in some northern terai
forests, but the best time to see the park inhabitants is still the summer
months when water becomes more scarce and the undergrowth dies back.
Check in at the resort and overnight will be at Bandhavgarh.
Day 06: Bandhavgarh
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 07: Bandhavgarh
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 08: Bandhavgarh - Khajuraho
After breakfast proceed to Khajuraho.
Reach and transfer to hotel.
Situated in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho
is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural
heritage, honored by the world as India's unique contribution to human
civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Only
twenty remain as embodiments of Indian architectural and sculptural art
at its most evolved state. Even ten centuries after they were constructed,
the temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to mankind.
The temple of Khajuraho is a world heritage site and belongs not just
to India but to the world. The nearby Panna national park is a project
tiger park making the area a unique combination of outstanding cultural
and natural heritage - one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Explore the village in the evening. Visit SHILPAGRAM. Overnight will
be at Khajuraho.
Day 09: Khajuraho - Varanasi
Proceed for a guided tour of the famous temples of Khajuraho after breakfast.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi,
you will be met and transferred to hotel.
Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise on the riverfront,
as seen from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with
temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number
of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet-manufacturing
place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates.
The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence
of the rivers Varuna and Asi.
Spend night at Varanasi.
Day 10: Varanasi
Drive early morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred
river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions
of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at
0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this
remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before
the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle
of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands
of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background,
temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge.Then return for
a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga".
As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the
faithful are coming and going. Also visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
while returning to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel. Proceed for day guided tour of Varanasi
including the Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu University. Overnight
will be at Varanasi.
Day 11: Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast will be at the hotel at hotel. Proceed for sight-seeing of SARNATH.
Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest
Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in
590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and
then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist
art and sculptures found at the site.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and you will be
transferred to hotel.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 12: Delhi: Departure
Proceed for a full-day tour of Old & New Delhi after breakfast.
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing 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.
Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include
a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial
avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the
President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave.
Transfer to airport for flight home.
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