Discover India Tour (12 Days and 11 Nights)
Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Delhi
1
You will be received at New Delhi International Airport by our tour guide. Drive to a hotel for check-in. There will not be any excursions during the day to allow you to rest and recover from travel fatigue.
2
After breakfast, visit India Gate – an arch built in memory of all Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in World War I. This 42-meters-tall monument was dedicated to the nation in 1931. Catch a glimpse of the President’s House, then head for Birla House where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. A museum inside the building complex shares detailed information about his life and his contribution to the freedom struggle of India. Visit the famous Sikh shrine Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, associated with the life of the eighth Sikh Guru, Sri Harkrishan. The museum inside the shrine complex shares an in-depth pictorial history of Sikhism in India.
Post lunch, visit Qutub Minar – one of the tallest minarets in the world. Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim conqueror of Delhi, laid the foundation of the Qutub Minar in 1192 AD. The height of the Qutub Minar is 72.5 meters, and there are 379 steps to reach its top. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Post lunch, visit Qutub Minar – one of the tallest minarets in the world. Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim conqueror of Delhi, laid the foundation of the Qutub Minar in 1192 AD. The height of the Qutub Minar is 72.5 meters, and there are 379 steps to reach its top. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
3
After breakfast, visit Akshardham Temple, an architectural marvel. The temple management, through well-conceived exhibitions, educates visitors about India’s magnificent spiritual and cultural heritage. Followed by lunch, drive to Jaipur (270 KM, 5.5 hours) where you will check-in at a hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
4
After breakfast, visit to the magnificent Amer Fort (also known as the Amber Palace) located outside the city over a hilltop. The fort was home to the Hindu Rajput kings. The construction of the fort was started by the orders of the king Mansingh and it was completed in 1592 AD. His descendants added many portions to the fort later. Made of pink sandstone and white marble, the Amer Fort has a lofty structure.
Later in the day, visit to the Central Museum which is located inside the Albert Hall Complex. The foundation of the building was laid by the Prince of Wales in 1886 AD, and the construction was completed in a year. The museum has an impressive collection of artifacts spread over fifteen categories.
In the evening, visit to a government owned outlet where you can shop for handcrafted products such as textiles, furnitures, terracotta pottery, paintings, silver and lac jewelries. These products are made in various districts of the state of Rajasthan by traditional artisans. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Later in the day, visit to the Central Museum which is located inside the Albert Hall Complex. The foundation of the building was laid by the Prince of Wales in 1886 AD, and the construction was completed in a year. The museum has an impressive collection of artifacts spread over fifteen categories.
In the evening, visit to a government owned outlet where you can shop for handcrafted products such as textiles, furnitures, terracotta pottery, paintings, silver and lac jewelries. These products are made in various districts of the state of Rajasthan by traditional artisans. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
5
The day’s excursion will begin with a visit to the City Palace. The founder of Jaipur, king Sawai Jai Singh II, laid the foundation of the palace in 1729 AD. Later, his descendants also contributed towards the expansion of the palace complex. One can explore the reception hall of the palace, where the king would meet guests and his subjects. A section of the palace is converted into a museum, where the royal garments and the weaponry are on display. The royal family continues to live in a section of the palace complex, which is restricted for the visitors. The carved marbles, lattice work, and attractive paintings give the palace a unique identity.
You will then visit the Jantar Mantar, which is located close to the palace. Built in the 18th century, it was an observatory for viewing astronomical positions with the naked eye. There are twenty fixed instruments, some of which are the largest in their category, making them unique.
After lunch, visit the Hawa Mahal. This five-storey palace was built for the women of the royal family, allowing them to watch religious and cultural processions, as well as other street activities. The women from the royal family had little freedom to go outside and experience the world beyond the palace walls. Thus, the Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799 AD by King Sawai Pratap Singh. Hawa Mahal literally means the Palace of the Winds. The palace is made of red and pink sandstones and boasts 953 windows. Conclude the day with dinner at a restaurant and then an overnight stay at the hotel.
You will then visit the Jantar Mantar, which is located close to the palace. Built in the 18th century, it was an observatory for viewing astronomical positions with the naked eye. There are twenty fixed instruments, some of which are the largest in their category, making them unique.
After lunch, visit the Hawa Mahal. This five-storey palace was built for the women of the royal family, allowing them to watch religious and cultural processions, as well as other street activities. The women from the royal family had little freedom to go outside and experience the world beyond the palace walls. Thus, the Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799 AD by King Sawai Pratap Singh. Hawa Mahal literally means the Palace of the Winds. The palace is made of red and pink sandstones and boasts 953 windows. Conclude the day with dinner at a restaurant and then an overnight stay at the hotel.
6
After breakfast, drive to Ranthambore (190 km, 3.5 hours) where you will check in at a hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a Jeep Safari in Ranthambore National Park. Established in 1955 as a sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park spans over 109 square miles and is renowned for its tiger population. The park is also home to spotted deer, macaques, langurs, boars, sloth bears, blue bulls, mugger crocodiles, hyenas, and leopards. Inside the park, there are over 300 species of plants and birds. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
7
Jeep Safari in Ranthambore National Park will be conducted both in the morning and afternoon. There will not be any other sightseeing activities during the day. Overnight stay at the hotel.
8
Check out from the hotel and drive to Agra (300 km, 6 hours). After checking in at a hotel, visit the Agra Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The original fort was a brick structure made by a Hindu king. It was the Mughal emperor Akbar, and later his son Shah Jahan, who gave the fort its present shape. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
9
After breakfast, you will explore the magnificent Taj Mahal – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum of white marble. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 16 years to complete the work on the main structure. Artisans from all over India, Central Asia, and Iran were involved in the construction of this masterpiece. Check out from the hotel and drive to Orchha (260 km, 5 hours). Check in at a hotel in the historic town of Orchha. The erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Bundelkhand – Orchha transports one to medieval times. With a backdrop of the picturesque Vindhya mountains, the artistically crafted palaces, forts, and temples tell the tale of the bygone era.
10
Visit the Orchha Fort Complex, which includes three prominent architectural masterpieces: the Raja Mahal, the Jahangir Mahal, and the Sheesh Mahal. The Raja Mahal is a 15th-century AD palace constructed by King Rudra Pratap Singh. Although the external appearance of the Raja Mahal is modest, it boasts fascinating mural work on its inner walls and ceilings. The Jahangir Mahal was built in the 17th century AD by King Bir Singh Deo to welcome the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The palace is renowned for its latticework and is an exquisite representation of Mughal and Bundela architecture. After lunch, visit the Laxmi Narayan Temple, Royal Cenotaphs, and Chaturbhuj Temple. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
11
Drive to the heritage town of Khajuraho (180 km, 3 hours) where you will check in at a hotel upon arrival. After lunch, you will explore the fascinating Eastern and Western Groups of Temples in Khajuraho. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these groups of temples are unique architectural marvels, built under the reign of the Chandela Rajputs during the period of 950-1050 AD. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, the Lakshman Temple, and the Matangeshwar Temple are the most popular among the Western Group of Temples. The Adinath Temple and the Javari Temple are quite popular and most visited among the Eastern Group of Temples. Out of the 85 temples, only 22 have survived the tests of time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
12
Post breakfast, you will continue your exploration of the Groups of Temples in Khajuraho. After lunch, you will be driven to Khajuraho Airport to fly to New Delhi. From New Delhi Airport, you will then head for your onward journey. The memorable trip comes to an end.
