Exotic India

Arrive in Bombay, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

In the morning, enjoy a half-day excursion across the harbor to the world famous 1,200 year-old Elephanta caves, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The famous tribute sculpture signifying the trinity of the creator, the preserver, and destroyer is located here (Note: the Elephanta Caves are closed on Mondays). In the afternoon, you will tour the city, visiting the Gateway of India, the Prince of Wales Museum, the Fish Aquarium, Jain Temples, the hanging gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills that offer a nice view of Marine Lines, Chowpatty Beach, Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan (where Mahatama Gandhi used to stay) and then finally the Dhobi Ghat. You will also be driven past the Afgan church, Flora Fountain (the Bombay nerve center), and the colorful Crawford Market and Marine Drive.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Jodhpur where you are met and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, there will be a tour of the city visiting the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. You will also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum located in the Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, you will depart Jodhpur for Udaipur, visiting Ranakpur on the way. The cluster of temples in Ranakpur, made of intricately sculpted white marble, are marvelous feats of architecture. It would take anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in 1460 since they are so well preserved and sparkling in marble. The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars - none of which are similarly carved. The four beautifully carved main domes look down upon you inside this temple. The Jain Temples house statues of Mahavira and other Jain saints.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, visiting the city palace and Jagdish temple, and then drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion Ki Bari and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Pichola Lake and see the Jag Niwas Palace, which is beautifully set in the Lake.

Meals: Breakfast

You will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Jaipur. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, you will visit the Maharaja’s City Palace and the Observatory. Drive past either the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), and then through the rose-pink residential and business areas of Jaipur.

Meals: Breakfast

There is a morning excursion to Amer Fort, the ancient capital of the state until 1728. You have the option of ascending the hill to the fort on elephant back (on request and not guaranteed). Visit Jai Mahal, the Temple of Kali, and the Jagmandir or the Hall of Victory that glitters with mirrors. Later, visit Tiger Forts, also known as Jaigarh Fort.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, you will be transferred to Agra, visiting Fatehpur Sikri on the way. The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and later abandoned due to scarcity of water. The graceful buildings within this city are remarkably well preserved, including the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, and Panch Mahal. The red sandstone palaces are in such a perfect state that it seems as if Emperor Akbar left yesterday.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, there is a half day sightseeing tour that takes you to one of the most fabled sights in the world. The Taj Mahal, the legendary monument dedicated to love, was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1630 to enshrine the mortal remains of his Queen Mumtaj Mahal. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble. It stands testimony to the skill of craftsmen brought in from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy and to 17 years of labor by 20,000 workers. Also visit the Agra Fort, where the evolution took place within three Mughal Emperors. Here you will see the transition from the military might of the stern citadel raised by Akbar to the lavish beauty of shimmering white marble palaces built by Shah Jehan. Within the fort are palaces and the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Later, visit the Itmad-ud-Dalha.

Meals: Breakfast

You will travel from Agra to Jhansi by Shatabdi Express (ETD: 8:00 am/ETA: 10:40 am) with a stop in Orchha to see its interesting complex of well preserved palaces and temples. Some of the temples still receive Hindu devotees. Upon arrival in Khajuraho, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings between 95AD and 1050 AD. The most important are: the Chaunset Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev Temple and the Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with lovely images of 11 headed Vishnu, the Vishvanath and Nandi Temples, the Lakshmana Temple, and the Visha Temple dedicated to Shiva, which is the largest and most typical of temples.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning is free for you to use as personal time to enjoy Khajuraho. In the afternoon, you will take a transfer flight to Varanasi. After you have been transferred to your hotel, spend the afternoon touring the city visiting such places as the Bharat Mata Temple, which has a big relief map of India in marble, the Durga temple, and the Tulsi Manas Mandir. Banaras Hindu University has an art gallery that you will visit, and a visit to the Mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb is also scheduled in your tour.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy an early morning boat excursion on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing Ghats and cremation site. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the Ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and leave for the airport. On the way, you will visit Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was renowned for its school of learning around 6th century BC to 12th century AD. Here, you will visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple and the Museum. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for a connecting flight for Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Today you have all morning to experience Delhi on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy a combined sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Qutab Minar, the India Gate (War Memorial), Lakshmi Narayan Temple-Modern, Hindu Temples, and Jama Masijid. Also visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana – the cremation sites of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. On the road, you will drive past the President’s House, the Parliament House and Secretariat buildings, the Red Fort, and Chandni Chowk. After the tour you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast