Incredible India Tour
Duration: Duration: 19 Nights / 20 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Khajuraho - Agra - Jaipur - Jodhpur - Udaipur
- Aurangabad - Mumbai - Madurai - Chettinad - Tanjore - Trichy - Madras
Day 01: Delhi 
Arrive at Delhi where you would be met and escorted to the hotel. In the afternoon
you will be taken to National Museum where you will see the finest collection
of Indian antiquities and artifacts. Tonight you will be hosted a welcome dinner
when you will also be familiarized with the tour.
Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-- a book which narrates the history
of India. The city was built and destroyed seven times and has been witness
to the various events which has brought India through the history books. Seven
times this city went through the pain of being built and rebuilt.
Today as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the
monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there. These icons are
testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists.
With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood.
The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally.
It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with
heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of
Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
Delhi with its Old and New parts - each with its specific charm and glory
- makes a very interesting city for its sustenance to medieval and modern
cultures at the same time and space. Today, you will explore the capital of
India in a full-day tour - including buildings of early Turkish structure
to Mughal buildings to Lutyen's Delhi.
Day 03: Khajuraho
This morning you will take a flight to Khajuraho. Khajuraho: In the afternoon
you will explore the little town known the world-over for its Nagara style
of temple architecture and erotic sculpture. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Khajuraho, once the great Chandela capital, is today a village of about a
few thousand people in the interiors of central India, in Chhatarpur district
of Madhya Pradesh. Tradition records the existence of eighty five temples,
of which only twenty five, strewn amidst lakes and fields, have survived.
The temples at Khajuraho, brilliant examples of medieval Indian architecture,
were built under later Chandela kings between AD 950 and AD 1050. Each ancient
structure in India has a fascinating story to tell. But few match the temples
of Khajuraho.
Day 04: Agra 
Your day starts in the morning when you will be driven to Jhansi railway station
for your train to Agra. En route to Khajuraho you will visit sleepy medieval
town of Orchha, which is littered with medieval Bundelkhand buildings bearing
fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. You will arrive in Agra in the evening
and retire for the day.
Day 05: Agra
Today you will do sightseeing tour of Agra. In the first half of the day you
will visit Sikandara and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah or the 'Baby Taj'. In
the afternoon you will visit Agra Fort and will end the tour with a visit
to the Taj Mahal at sunset. Agra buildings are some of the first examples
of extensive marble usage in Indian building style.
Taj Mahal
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the
memory of his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum took
22 years to complete with a work force of 20,000 craftsmen and master builders,
who came from all over Asia to join in this great work from Baghdad, Shiraz,
Delhi, Samarkand and Turkey. The marble, India s finest; was quarried at Makrana
near Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious stones were imported from distant
lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from
Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrysolite from Egypt, Amethyst
from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda
and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Jaipur
After a leisurely morning you drive to Jaipur - en route visit Fatehpur Sikri,
a perfectly preserved Mughal city built at the height of the empire's splendor.
You will arrive in Jaipur in the noon and will be at leisure for the rest
of the day.
Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the ' Pink
City ' because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on
a dry lake bed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted
by forts and crenellated walls. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place
of wild contrasts and a feast for the eyes. All through, Jaipur has retained
its strong Rajputana flavour tempered by several influences - the mughal being
the most prominent. The region's strong cultural heritage is distinctly evident
even today. The city is a visitor's delight. From the intricate, delicate
looking Hawa Mahal to the graphic forms of the Jantar Mantar - an open air
observatory of outsized astronomical instruments, the Badi Chaupar lined with
shopsand business establishments on both sides to the majestic fort-palace
at Amber; from the colorful fountains of life to the sublime Birla Temple;
from the architectural delight of the City Palace to the serene Jal Mahal.
Day 07: Jaipur
In the morning, you visit the Amber Fort - one of the most fascinating of
Indian forts. You will reach the fort majestically atop an elephant; once
inside the fort, you visit the Palace of Mirrors, Hall of Public Audience
and the beautifully manicured gardens.
Day 08: Jodhpur
Proceed to Jodhpur. Overnight will be at Jodhpur.
Jodhpur: Located on the periphery of the Thar desert, Jodhpur is second
largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. According to one fable when Lord Rama,
hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana wanted to cross the ocean to rescue his wife
Sita, who had been abducted by the demon-king Ravana, he was turned back by
the Sea-God. Furious, Rama mounted his arrow to dry up the ocean forcing the
Lord of the Sea to retreat. However the arrow once mounted had to be discharged,
and Rama fired it into another body of water located in western Rajasthan, thus
drying it up. This is the area known as Marwar or Marusthali or the land of
the dead.
Day 09: Jodhpur
This morning you explore the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort-Museum, one of the
largest in India, unsurpassed in beauty and grandeur - and a perfect example
of desert variant of Rajput architecture. A variety of deer roaming freely
is the attraction of these villages.
Day 10: Udaipur
Today, you drive to Udaipur. En route you will visit Ranakpur - the largest
and most beautifully preserved Jain Temples in India. After visiting Ranakpur
you will proceed to see the fort of Kumbalgarh. If Ranakpur is beauty and
grace, Kumbalgarh is all about power. You will arrive in Udaipur late in the
afternoon. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
Udaipur : The city of Lakes, Located in the Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan,
the city of Udaipur is situated at a distance of about 405 km from the state
capital Jaipur. The City of Dawn, surrounded by the ancient Aravali Mountains
and set on the edge of three lakes, is a brilliant kaleidoscope of narrow
lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples. The city
is famous for its palaces, lake, museums, temples, and gardens and much more.
Day 11: Udaipur
The day begins with a visit to the City Palace, which is largest in Rajasthan.
You will also see lovely medieval Jagdish Temple and Sahelion-Ki-Bari or the
"Gardens of the Maids of Honour".The tour of Udaipur will end with
a lunch at the beautiful Gallery Restaurant at Fateh Prakash Palace. The day
will end with a relaxing boat ride on Lake Pichola. From the lake you will
get unmatched views of the gardens surrounding the fascinating Lake Palace
Hotel and the two islands in the lake.
Day 12: Aurangabad
Today, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Bombay where
you will arrive to connect to your flight for Aurangabad. You will arrive
Aurangabad late in the evening and check into the hotel to retire for the
day.
Day 13: Aurangabad
Today you will explore the caves of Ajanta, which offer a rich tapestry of images
that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient
India. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built to offer
seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals. If
you have seen the Taj Mahal in Agra, come to Aurangabad to see an imitation
of it. It is Bibi ka Maqbara, a mausoleum built in 1679 for Aurangzeb's wife,
Rabia-ud-Daurani. Although it pales in comparison before the original, typical
grace and elegance of Mughal architecture mark it too. Apart from its own tourist
attractions, Aurangabad serves as the base to explore the World Heritage Sites
of Ajanta and Ellora. So you never run short of reasons to come to Aurangabad.
Day 14: Mumbai
This morning you will be taken to explore Ellora caves. Carved between fourth
and fifth century, the rock temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the
three major faiths of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.Like Ajanta,
Ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with
intricate interiors and ornamental facades. Later in the evening you will
take your flight for Bombay where you spend the night before starting your
tour of South India.
Day 15: Madurai
Continuing your tour to South India you will fly in the morning to Madurai
where you arrive before noon. All activity in Madurai is centered round Sri
Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the told town. A riotously baroque example
of Dravidian architecture, you visit the temple in the afternoon.
Day 16: Chettinad
After a leisurely start today you drive to Chettinad, which is known for its
artistic houses. Spend the afternoon exploring the palace and around for its
unique architecture. Overnight will be at Madurai.
Day 17: Tanjore / Trichy
This morning you will drive to Tanjore. Also called a city of temples, Tanjore
is dotted with no fewer than 74 temples - the most famous of which is the
Brihadeeshwara temple. You visit this fascinating temple and the Thanjavur
Palace before continuing your drive to Trichy. The town of Trichy is another
small place of South India, which is littered with innumerable evidence of
the region's excellence in art and architecture. In the evening you explore
the city including spectacular Rock Fort Temple.
Day 18: Madras
This morning you take a train ride to Madras - your last destination of the
tour. Madras is a fascinating city with its ancient temples and unique culture,
golden sandy beaches and a marvelous tradition of music and dance. You explore
this lovely city in the afternoon, immediately after arriving at the station.
After the short city tour you will check into your hotel, which is a beach
hotel outside Madras city.
Day 19: Madras
Today will be spent in visiting two of the finest examples of ancient South
Indian architecture - Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.
Day 20: Madras
The day will be spent in leisure. In the evening you will be hosted a farewell
dinner before being escorted to the domestic terminal for flight to Delhi
for return.
