North India with Varanasi Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, we proceed to the exquisite and truly picturesque town of Mandawa, which was settled in the 18th century. Upon arrival at Mandawa, we check-in at the hotel.

We later visit this breathtakingly beautiful town by entering it through a painted arched gateway (adorned with images of Lord Krishna and his herd of cows) which leads us to the Main City Market.

You may wander at your will, through the narrow streets of this town around the Market area, to discover and admire some truly fabulous mansions of the rich merchants, each one adorned with elaborate, lively and bright frescoes which depict and catalogue the regional lifestyle, the customs, the traditions and the local attires of the Marwari community.

This riotously beautiful architectural style found in Mandawa and the other nearby towns such as Mukundgarh, Dundlod and Nawalgarh of the Shekhawati region, confer upon them the title of ‘Open-Art Galleries’.

After breakfast, we drive down to Bikaner and we check-in at the hotel. The City of Bikaner was founded by Rao Bika in the year 1488. He was the first son of Maharaja Rao Jodha (of the Rathore Clan), who was the founder of the Kingdom of Jodhpur. Not wanting to inherit anything from his father nor acquire any royal title, he decided to found his own kingdom in the vast and large arid regions of Jangladesh in the north of Rajasthan. The founder’s name ‘Bika’ is found in the word ‘Bikaner’, meaning ‘The Settlement of Bika’. Although located in the middle of the Thar Desert, Bikaner survived as an important stop-over on the ancient trade route between the coast of Gujarat and Central Asia, because of its numerous and adequate spring-water resources.

The most important places to discover in this town today are, of course, the original impressive Fort of Bikaner, the Junagarh Fort (situated a little outside the town), as well as the Lalgarh Palace. Bikaner is also a good base to visit the near-by world famous and extraordinary “Karni Mata Temple”, where thousands of holy rats are worshipped.

We start the day’s sightseeing trip, by first visiting the Junagarh Fort, also known as the ‘Impregnable Fort’, because it carries the distinction of having remained uncaptured by any enemy force in its history. It was constructed between 1588-1593 by Raja Rai Singh, who was a General in the army of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar.

It is surrounded by moats on all sides and within its precinct you can admire many remarkably beautiful palatial constructions, pavilions and temples. Most of these edifices are built with either marble or red sandstone, and they showcase intricate carvings on the walls, the windows and the balconies.

The ‘Lalgarh Palace’ was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh [1881-1942]. The architectural style of this palace reflects a great craftsmanship with some very dexterous sculpting of figures in red stone. It also houses a marvelous collection of hunting trophies and vintage photographs, all of them well-preserved and exhibited in an interesting way.

After breakfast, we take the route in direction of Jaisalmer, located in the vast desert land to the west of Rajasthan. En route, we first make a halt at the Camel Breeding Farm, which is located just 8km outside the City of Bikaner. This farm is the remnant of the ‘Camel Corps’  and the ‘Regiment Camp’ dating back to the British era. It was re-established as The National Camel Research & Breeding Farm in 1984 and it one of its only kind in the whole of Asia, wherein you can find a staggering number of more than 250 different breeds of camels.

We also recommend a visit to the Camel Museum which will be very worthwhile. Here you can shop for a variety of unique handicraft items made of camel skin, hair and bone,   all of them very reasonably priced. A ‘must-try’ here is the ice cream made of camel milk, an item not available anywhere else in the country!!

The second part of the day’s programme is a visit to the unique and world-famous Karni Mata Temple, in the village of Deshnok, situated about 30km south of Bikaner.

The consecration of this temple is linked to a very interesting legend involving Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga and Yama, the God of Death in the Hindu mythology.

This temple has the distinction of being the only one which is dedicated exclusively to the rats. Once you are inside the temple, you are in the domain of hordes of small, black rats. You can easily find around 20,000 of them, at any time, scampering all over the premises. They are well-fed, protected and worshipped as divine creatures. Keep your eyes peeled for an elusive and rarely-sighted white rat, because it is considered good fortune if you spot one.

Fortunately, and yet intriguingly, their numbers seem to remain more or less the same (there is never ever an over-population) and unlike other rat-infested areas, which could easily invite diseases, such as the dreaded plague, this temple has never seen an outbreak of any disease in its history, Arrive Jaisalmer check in at hotel.

Jaisalmer is a city located in the Indian state of Rajasthan about 575km to the west of the state capital, Jaipur. It was built in the year 1156 AD by the Bhatti Rajput ruler, Rawal Jaisal. The town stands on the Meru Hill, a mountain ridge of yellow-coloured sandstone and it is crowned by the very ancient and magnificent Jaisalmer Fort.

‘Jaisalmer’ means the ‘Hill Fort of Jaisal’. The precincts of this fort contain the Royal Palace and several splendid and beautifully ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples, both within the fort and in the town below, are built using the yellowish sandstone, often intricately carved. This enchanting landscape produces a magnificent and magical display of colours, with hues of golden and yellow shades, in constant play with the sunlight of the day. It is for this reason, that Jaisalmer is also called ‘The Golden City’ of India.

The town of Jaisalmer lies in the heart of The Great Indian Thar Desert and it has a population (including the residents of the Fort) of about 80,000. It is also the adminstrative headquarters of the Jaisalmer District.

The jewel-pieces of Jaisalmer, which we shall visit today, are the three following ‘havelis’:

[The impressive mansions built by the wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are known as ‘havelis’, and several of these finely sculpted sandstone buildings are still in very good condition].

Nathmal-ki-Haveli:
This late 19th-century haveli has a very intricate architectural style executed with superb craftsmanship. The left and the right wings of the building were carved by two brothers, and although, very similar in nature, they are not identical. The interiors of this splendid mansion are ornate with some remarkable and exquisite miniature paintings. Incidentally, this late-19th century haveli was also the official residence of the ‘Prime Minister’ of the erstwhile Kingdom of Jaisalmer.

Patwon-ki-Haveli:
This most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer ‘havelis’ stands in a narrow lane. It was originally built between the years 1800 and 1860 by five Jain brothers who made their fortune in trading jewellery and fine brocades. It has extensive corridors with exquisitely carved pillars and some well-appointed chambers. One of the apartments of this 5-storey haveli has some very beautiful murals.

Salim Singh-ki-Haveli:
This private haveli (the oldest of the three) was built about 300 years ago and part of it is still occupied. Salim Singh was the Prime Minister when Jaisalmer was the capital of a princely state and his mansion has a beautifully arched roof (in the form of a ‘cupola’ in blue colour) with some superbly carved brackets in the form of peacocks.

We shall then visit ‘Gadi Sagar’, which is situated to south of the city walls. This place was originally designed as a tank and a water-body, which used to serve as the source of water supply to the city. There are numerous small temples and shrines around it. A wide variety of waterfowl flock here during the months of winter.

In the latter part of the afternoon, and towards early evening, we shall proceed to ‘Sam Dunes’, situated about 45km to the west of Jaisalmer.
Here you will get to watch an absolutely breath-taking view of the sunset from atop the sand dunes. You also have the option of taking a camel ride or a vehicle-trip (by jeep) to reach the sunset point located not far away.

We have lined up for you the evening’s programme with some enchanting music, folkloric songs and dances accompanied with the traditional and delicious food of this region with other culinary Rajasthani delights.

After breakfast, we drive down to Jodhpur and upon arrival, we check-in at the Hotel. Later we shall proceed for sightseeing of Jodhpur, is the second largest city of Rajasthan. It is also known as “The Blue City” of India. It was the traditional capital of the larger Kingdom of Marwar and particularly the Kingdom of Jodhpur. It was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 who built the grand and majestic Fort of Mehrangarh, which covers an area of nearly 2000 acres. This edifice is built in red sandstone and has intricately adorned large carved panels and latticed windows with exquisite designs. (Although the original fort complex was built in the middle of the 15th century, most of the present-day existing structures date from the 17th century).

The present City of Jodhpur is essentially built around the Mehrangarh Fort which is bounded by a fortified wall with several gates. This township features several other  popular destinations such as many smaller and minor fortifications, palaces and temples, all of them set in the stark landscape of the Thar Desert.

Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre or the heart of Rajasthan and this makes it a central and convenient base for travel to other major touristic destinations such as Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Jaipur.

Another very interesting spot to be discovered is the “Jaswant Thada”, a very graceful marble Cenotaph built in 1899 by Maharaja Sardar Singh in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. This cenotaph features carved gazebos and a tired (layered) garden built around a small lake. The areas surrounding this cenotaph also serve as the cremation ground for the members of royal family and the Rulers of Marwar. It also has a very interesting display gallery of the Rulers and the Maharajahs of Jodhpur.

We then visit the immense and imposing Umaid Bhawan Palace. Built of marble and pink sandstone, it is also known as the ‘Chhittar Palace’, because of the local Chhittar sandstone used. Begun in 1929, it was designed by the President of the British Royal Institute of Architects for Maharaja Umaid Singh, and it took 15 years to complete. It is considered as one of the world’s largest private residences and it has 347 rooms. A portion of this palace continues to remain the principal domicile of the former Jodhpur royal family, although a major portion of it has now been converted into a luxurious 5-star hotel.

We also get to see the iconic ‘Clock Tower’, a landmark construction, because it was the sole manner of tracking time for the local residents in former days. You can get an amazing, panoramic view of the City from the top of this Tower.

After breakfast, we take the route in direction of Udaipur, situated about 250 kms. to the south of Jodhpur. The day’s programme is divided into two parts, the first being a visit to Ranakpur in the former half of the day and then in the second half, a visit and halt of our destination for the night, the magical City of Udaipur.

The exceptionally beautiful Ranakpur Complex, 60 km. north of Udaipur, is one of the largest and most important  Jain temples in the whole of India. It is situated in a remote valley of the Aravalli Mountain Range and is certainly worth seeing.

The main temple is the ‘Chaumukha’ Temple or the ‘Four-Faced’ Temple, dedicated to Adinath, one the 24 ‘Thirtankaras’, in and of the lineage of the past spiritual masters and teachers who have laid down the proponents of the philosophy of the Jain religion.

Built in 1439 AD, this huge, superbly crafted and well-kept marble temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, each one of them unique in its design and execution and you have no two pillars which look alike! There are two other Jain temples within the complex as well the ‘Sun Temple’ and a little away, the ‘Amba Mata Temple’.

After lunch, we proceed to Udaipur and upon arrival, we check-in at the Hotel. In the evening, you will take a boat-ride on the Lake Pichola, an inseparable part and parcel of the landscape of the City of Udaipur. To the north of the lake, and along the east bank, you can get to view some interesting ‘ghats’ (=the banks of a lake or a river) used for bathing or doing the laundry (=the ‘dhobi’ ghats; ‘dhobi’ =washerman or launderer). All along the ride, we will get to see some excellent views of the scintillating City Palace and its surrounding areas in the horizon.

After breakfast at the hotel, we start our day’s programme with a visit to the famous and iconic City Palace, the most-visited location in the whole of Udaipur. It is situated along the eastern bank of Lake Pichola.

This truly beautiful and awe-inspiring palace is also the largest palace complex in the entire State of Rajasthan and its construction was started by Maharaja Udai Singh II, the founder of the City of Udaipur (circa 1568 AD).

Actually a conglomeration of buildings, (such as other minor palaces and luxurious mansions, added by the successive rulers over the next 300 years), it still manages to retain a surprising uniformity of design. The palace is surmounted by ornate balconies, towers and cupolas, and there are fine views over the Lake and the City from the upper terraces.

The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum which houses a breath-taking collection of mosaics, glass and mirror-work, ornamental tiles, rare miniature paintings, fine sculptures, as well as an armoury section, displaying an  interesting array of ancient weapons and battle-gear of the valiant Rajput warriors.

Another unique and mesmerising feature of this city is the ‘Lake Palace Hotel’, situated on Jagniwas Island of Lake Pichola. This remarkable edifice, of sheer magical construction, appears to be literally floating in the middle of the lake. It was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh II in 1754 AD, and it formally served as the Summer Palace for the Royal Family of Udaipur. It was later converted into a high-end holiday residence-cum- resort, and it is now admittedly considered as one the world’s most spectacular hotels.

In addition to the main attraction above, we shall also be discovering two other interesting locations:

Saheliyon-ki-Bari, or the ‘Garden of the Maids of Honour’ which is located in the north of the City. This small and quaint ornamental garden has fountains, kiosks, marble elephants and a delightful lotus pool.

Jagadish Temple, located only 150m North of the City Palace, is a fine example of Indo-Aryan architectural style. It was built Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1651 AD. It enshrines a black stone image of Vishnu, as ‘Jagannath’, the Lord of the Universe.

(Traditional folklore propounds a belief that the illustrious Mewar Rulers descend from what is believed to be the oldest ruling dynasty in the world, spanning over 76 generations..!!)

A leisurely promenade has been planned in late evening around Lake Pichola to soak in the alluring charm and the enchanting atmosphere of this beautiful city.

After breakfast, we drive down first to Jaipur en route we stop at AJMER, which is located just 11 km. from the town of Pushkar.

Ajmer, a burgeoning town on the shores of the Ana Sagar has always been a town of strategic and historical importance, right from the times of Mohammad of Ghori who has sacked it, at least once, on of his periodic and plunderous forays from Afghanistan. Much later, and from the times of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, it became a favorite residence for the mighty Mughals.

It must be noted that one of the first contacts between the Mughals and the British occurred in Ajmer, when Sir Thomas Roe, the English envoy, met with Emperor Jehangir here in 1616.

Today, Ajmer is  a world-famous pilgrimage centre for the Muslims (as well as for the people of other religious faiths) who visit the holy shrine of the Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chisti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192 AD. He is also popularly known as ‘Hazrat Khwaja Garib-e-Nawaz’, abbreviated to ‘HKGN’, which is often found inscribed on the transport vehicles owned by the Muslims.

This ‘dargah’ (=mausoleum) has the distinction of being the most-visited Muslim shrine in the whole world and it is recorded that the mighty Emperor Akbar used to make the pilgrimage to this place every year, during the annual ‘Urs’ held to mark the anniversary of the saint’s death.

PUSHKAR:
Pushkar, a bewitching little town, sits on the edge of the desert and it is separated from Ajmer by the ‘Nag Pahar’ or the ‘Snake Mountain’.

This town is perhaps best known for its annual Camel Fair, a massive congregation of camels, cattle and livestock which takes place on the full-moon night of the ‘Karthik’ month of the Hindu calendar.

Another special feature of this town is  the ‘Brahma Temple’, said to be one of only temples in the world, dedicated to ‘Brahma’, the Creator and the Lord of the Universe. It is marked by a red spire, and over the entrance gateway, is the ‘hans’, (=a swan, the symbol of Brahma), who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as its site and location.

After our visit to Ajmer and Pushkar, we proceed to Jaipur, the Capital City of the State of Rajasthan, and upon arrival we check-in at the Hotel.

Later in the evening, we have lined up for you a unique experience of culinary delights and live-preparation of traditional Rajasthani dishes. If you wish, you could even try your hands at rolling a ‘chappati’, (also called a ‘roti’), made of wheat flour, the traditional staple food of northern India, or preparing a regional vegetable curry. You also have an option of a photo-session with an entire group of family members, all attired in typical and traditional Rajasthani costumes.

After breakfast, we proceed on an excursion to Amber Fort which is located about 12 kms. from Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhwaha Rajput rulers. This unique wonder is
a must on every tourist itinerary of Rajasthan. Construction of the fort-palace was begun in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar’s army. It was later extended by the Jai Singhs, before they moved their capital to Jaipur.

The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake. You will really cherish the ascent to the Palace on the back of brightly caparisoned elephant. We shall visit the multiple chambers and the hallways of this Palace which are famous for their designs and decorations.

In the afternoon, we proceed for a tour of the city’s iconic structures. First comes the Jantar Mantar, a magnificent stone observatory, built by Raja Jai Singh in 1728 known for his passion for astronomy. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of the five he built, the other four being in Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain and Muthura.

We then visit the opulent City Palace, the former Royal residence, built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal style. The Palace contains fabulous museums displaying an excellent collection of miniature paintings, traditional costumes and armory.

Later, we drive past the intriguing Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), which is one of Jaipur’s major landmarks. Constructed in 1799, this five-storey building is a stunning example of Rajput artistry. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and processions of the city.

After breakfast, we drive down to visit the Ranthambore National Park, situated near the town of Sawai Madhopur, mid-way between Bharatpur and Kota. This park is one the prime examples of Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in Rajasthan.

The Park covers an area of about 1334 sq. km. and it is home to the famous Bengal tigers, leopards, bisons, deer, crocodiles and other exotic, wildlife fauna.

Ranthambore is very scenic and it is blissfully located in a truly idyllic and natural environment. A system of small lakes and rivers is hemmed-in by steep, high crags and on top of one of these hills, is the imposing and yet charming Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century AD. The lower ground alternates between open bushland and fairly dense forest and is peppered with ruined pavilions and ‘chhatris’ (=domed kiosks). This area was formerly a preserve and hunting-ground of the Maharajas and members of the royal entourage.

Other places of interest in this park are the ‘Ganesh Mandir’, a temple dedicated to the elephant-headed deity, Ganesh (the elder son of Lord Shiva), as well as ‘Padam Talao’, a serene and beautiful lake which is known for its abundance of water lilies.

You can look forward to an exciting jungle safari that has been planned for morning & late Afternoon.

[The park is open only during the months of March-June and October-February. It remains closed, for three months, during the monsoon period of July-September].

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive down to Agra, but en route we stop over at Abhaneri, situated about 162 kms. from Ranthambore. This little village has one of Rajasthan’s most awesome ‘baoris’ (= stepwells). It is around 30 metres deep and among the largest stepwells in India. It not only stores water but is also very effective for groundwater harvesting. This stepwell, famous for its distinctive construction and a truly unique design, is one-of-a-kind and considered as the most picturesque in the world, which therefore naturally attracts a lot of attention from the visitors.

Fatehpur Sikri: This magnificent fortified ghost city was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Although brilliant from an architectural point of view, Akbar’s city was erected in an area that was plagued by water shortages and it was abandoned shortly after Akbar’s death because of this.

Fatehpur Sikri’s beautiful and magnificent Jama Masjid (now brilliantly restored) is said to be a copy of the mosque at Mecca. The main entrance is through the impressive 54 metre-high Buland Darwaza (Victory Gate), considered as the tallest gateway in the world. It was constructed to commemorate Akbar’s victory in Gujarat.

In the northern part of the courtyard is the superb white marble ‘dargah’ or tomb of the sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti, who Akbar credited with bringing him a heir. The carved marble lattice screens (‘jalis’) are probably the finest examples of such work you will see anywhere in the country.

This amazing courtyard has many other wonders, such as the Palace of Jodh Bai, Birbal Bhavan, Panch Mahal and of course, Diwan-i-Khas (The Hall of Private Audiences) and ‘Diwan-i-Am’ (The Hall of Public Audiences). All these structures reflect the glory and the grandeur of the Mughal Empire. Upon arrival at Agra, we check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we shall visit the world-famous Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, this poignant Mughal mausoleum has become the ‘de facto’ tourist emblem of India.
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his second wife, Mumtaj Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. Construction of this edifice, built with pure white marble, began in the same year and it took 22 years to finish the same. In total, a total of about 20,000 people, sculptors and craftsmen, both from India and Central Asia worked to build this memorial site.
The semi-translucent white marble, the exquisite screens, the fabulous carvings and ‘pietra dura’ inlay-work (with thousands of semi-precious stones in beautiful patterns) are the most striking features of this spectacular mausoleum. Despite the effects of pollution and overexposure, a visit to the Taj Mahal is still an overwhelming experience and the monument seems as immaculate today, as when it was first constructed.
In the latter part of our day’s programme, we shall visit The Agra Fort, a massive and formidable structure, built of red sandstone.
It is situated on the bank of river Yamuna. The original city of Agra fell into the hands of the Mughals, when Emperor Babur defeated the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty at the famous Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD. It is believed that Humayun, the son of Babur, was crowned as the second Mughal Emperor at this place. Construction of this very impressive Fort was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565 AD and it was built primarily as a military structure.
The auricular fort’s colossal double walls rise over 20m. in height and measure 2.5 km. in circumference. They contain a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. The most impressive building to survive is the ‘Moti Masjid’ (Pearl Mosque), regarded by some as the most beautiful mosque in India. Other places of importance within the precincts of the Fort, are ‘Diwan-i-Khas’, ‘Diwan-i-Am’, ‘Musammam Burj’ and Jehangir’s Palace.

After an early morning breakfast, we proceed to the railway station to catch the Shatabdi Express Train leaving at 8 am and we reach Jhansi at around 10.45 am.
Jhansi:
Jhansi is located 101 km. south of Gwalior. There is not much to see in Jhansi and for most visitors it is simply a convenient transit point for Khajuraho, and increasingly for Orchha, located just 18 km. away. We continue our drive towards Orchha, was once the capital city of the ‘Bundelas’, a powerful Rajput Kingdom until 1783, when the seat of power was shifted to the nearby town of Tikamgarh.
Orchha is believed to have been founded by Rudra Pratap Singh towards the beginning of the 16th century. One of most famous rulers of the ‘Bundelas’ dynasty, King Bir Singh Deo reigned from Orchha between 1605 and 1627. It is he who built the Fort of Jhansi.
[The word ‘Bundelas’ is at the root of the name of the region, ‘Bundelkhand’, a vast expanse of territory straddling the northern Madhya Pradesh and the southern Uttar Pradesh].
It would be interesting to note that the word ‘orchha’ means ‘the hidden place’ and today this town is just a village, set among a wonderful complex of well-preserved palaces and temples, which were all protected inside fortified walls on an island in the Betwa River.
Places of interest in Orchha are:
The ‘Jehangir Palace’, built in 1606 AD, specially and exclusively for the first-ever visit of the Mughal Emperor to the Kingdom of Orchha.
The ‘Raj Mahal Palace’, which has some superb murals and a smaller ‘Raj Praveen Mahal’, a palace built near a garden.
The famous and impressive temples of Orchha date back to the 16th century. The notables among them are the ‘Ram Raja Temple’, the nearby ‘Chaturbhuj Temple’ and the ‘Lakshmi Narayan Temple’.
After our day’s visit to Orchha, we drive down to Khajuraho for over-night stay at the Hotel.

Distance: 398 km. / Travel Time Approximately 6 hours.
After breakfast, we shall proceed for the sightseeing of Khajuraho temples which are main touristic attractions. Once a great capital of the Chandela Dynasty, Khajuraho is now just a quiet village which now proudly boasts of some of the finest heritage structures built in a unique architectural style, almost a 1000 years ago.
Khajuraho’s temples were built during the reign of the Chandelas, a dynasty that survived five centuries before falling to the Mughal onslaught. Most of the temples date back from a period of one century-long burst of creative genius and construction frenzy from 950 to 1050 AD.
Fortunately, Khajuraho is located a long way from anywhere else around and therefore, it remains as secluded today, as it did nearly a thousand years ago. It is precisely for this reason and the remoteness of this place, that helped preserve it from the desecration which the Muslim invaders were only too ready to inflict on ‘idolatrous’ temples elsewhere in India.
The whole conglomeration of these jewel-pieces, can be divided into 3 distinct enclosures such as the Western, the Eastern and the Southern Group of Temples.
The temples are superb examples of the nascent and early-period Indo-Aryan architecture, but it is the decorations with which they are so liberally embellished that have made Khajuraho world-famous.
Around the temples are bands of exceedingly artistic stonework showing many aspects of Indian life, a millennium (1000 years) ago – gods and goddesses, men and women, warriors and musicians, real and mythological animals. One could also pay attention to other details, such as the clothing/attire, the hairstyles, the jewellery and ornaments of that period.
But only two elements appear over and over again and in greater detail than anything else: women and sex. In addition to this, multiple stone figures of the ‘apsaras’ (=the celestial maidens) and the ‘mithunas’ (=the erotic figures) present an awesome and really ‘graphic’ depiction of the whole Art and Science of love-making and sexual intercourse, as well as other practices and activities related to it. Basically, what you will get to see here is the whole gamut of intense moments of enjoying sex, running through a series of positions and possibilities, as expounded in the grand ‘Kamasutra’ (=Treatise on the Art of Love-making).
After a day-long visit of this famed village of Khajuraho, we drive down to Varanasi and upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we shall proceed for the sightseeing of Varanasi, which has been a centre of Indian learning and civilisation for over 2000 years now and this place claims to be one of the oldest cities in the world. The first historical references about Varanasi date back to around 14th century BC.
[It is to be noted that this is only 100 years after the beginning of the Aryan incursions into the gangetic-plains of the Indian sub-continent which started around 1500 BC, after the mysterious and unexplained disappearance, and eventual extinction of the Indus Valley Civilisation, of which the major settlements to visit are the sites of Mohenjadaro and Harappa].
Varanasi’s principal attraction is the long string of ‘ghats’ (‘ghat’ =a river embankment) that line the western bank of the River Ganges. Most of these ‘ghats’ are used for bathing purposes but there are also several other ‘burning ghats’ which are used for the cremation of the dead bodies.
There are around 100 ‘ghats’ in Varanasi, but the most important of them is the ‘Dasaswamedh’ Ghat, which is from where we begin our riverine trip. All along the ride, and on the horizon, you will see the other contiguous ‘ghats’, each with an interesting origin, anecdote and purpose.
After this invigorating, early-morning trip, we return to the Hotel for a sumptuous and well-deserved breakfast.
In the afternoon we proceed on a trip to Sarnath, which is situated only 10 km. north-east of Varanasi.
Sarnath is one of the most important holy sites in the Buddhist religion, because Gautam Buddha came to this hamlet to preach his very first sermon or message of the ‘middle-path’ to gaining ‘nirvana’, after having attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Years later, the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka erected some magnificent ‘stupas’ (‘stupa’ =a buddhist burial or memorial site) and other beautiful monasteries here.
We shall also visit the excellent and impressive Archeological Museum, which houses the superb and iconic ‘Capital’ (the top-most, crown piece) from the Ashokan Pillar. This ‘Capital’, once a symbol of the mighty empire (depicting the conjoined figure of four lions, each of them facing the four directions or the cardinal points) is now the National Insignia and Emblem of State and Republic of India.
This museum displays some fabulous figures and sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta periods. It also contains many images of the Hindu gods dating from the 9th to 12th century, most of them excavated in the surrounding areas of Sarnath.
We return to the Hotel after this afternoon trip, and later in the early part of the evening, we shall get to witness and participate in a bright, spectacular and luminous ‘Maha Aarti’ (=a grand and elaborate ritual of adulation, devotion and prayers) on one the banks of the River Ganges.
[Return to the Hotel, Dinner and Over-night stay in Varanasi].

After an early morning wake-up, which shall be followed by some hot morning beverages (tea, coffee, etc.) and light snacks, before starting the day’s excursion.
We are now ready to embark on an early-morning boat ride on the river Ganges. The best time to cruise along this mighty river, is at dawn when it is bathed in a magical light and where you get to see pilgrims, worshippers and devotees performing ‘puja’ (‘puja’ =ritualistic prayers) to the rising sun by taking a dip in the waters of this holy river. We return to the hotel and after breakfast you will be transferred to Varanasi airport to take our flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, we check-in at the Hotel.
We then begin our half day excursion with a visit the ‘Bahai Temple’, which is otherwise, and more commonly known as the ‘Lotus Temple’. It lies about 12 km. to the south-east of Delhi. This temple owes its moniker to the fact that it is built in the shape of a blooming lotus flower and it is made of pure, white marble.
Completed in December 1986, the Lotus Temple is set among beautiful pools and gardens. The unique feature of this ‘Prayer Hall’ is that it offers an environment of total peace, calm and serenity, and that it is open to one and all. The adherents of any faith are free to visit the Temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion. It has now become a popular visiting spot and a prominent edifice in the landscape of Delhi.
We then visit the ‘Bangla Sahib Gurudwara’, a very important and holy shrine for the Sikhs, because of its association with the eight Sikh Guru, Har Krishan [1656-1664] who died of smallpox at an extremely young age of less than 8 years. There is also a holy pond inside the temple complex, which is known as the ‘Sarovar’.
This Gurudwara is also renowned and largely frequented by people because of its permanent ‘langhar’ (=a full-fledged kitchen run entirely by benevolents), which provides free food and meals to all: the poor, the hungry, the visitors, the devotees or anybody else for that matter.

*a ‘gurudwara’ =a shrine and holy place of worship for the Sikhs.
*guru =the teacher/guide/mentor
*dwar(a) =the door (or the access)
*Thus, the word ‘gurudwara’ means:
=the door/access to the temple and abode of the teachings of the ‘Gurus’.

After breakfast we shall proceed for sightseeing of Old and New Delhi. The sightseeing of Old Delhi begins with a visit to Jamma Masjid, the largest mosque in India. It was built in the year 1650.

This is followed by a drive-past the Red Fort, built during the years 1639-1648, by the Moghol Emperor Shah Jahan, the creator of the famous Taj Mahal.

We later proceed to Raj Ghat, the memorial site dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, who was cremated here following his assassination in January 1948.

After visiting Old Delhi, we proceed for a sightseeing trip of New Delhi which begins with a drive-past the Safdarjang’s Tomb, built in 1753-54, by the Nawab of Avadh for his father, Safdarajang. It is one the last exemples of Mughal architecture before the final remnants of the great empire collapsed.

We then reach the famous Qutub Minar (construction started in 1193 & completed in 1368). This striking medieval, soaring tower of victory is nearly 73 metres high and has five distinct storeys. Within the Qutub Minar Complex, and amidst the ruins of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, stands the famous Iron Pillar, which has stood the vagaries of centuries and has not rusted at all for nearly 1600 years!!

We then proceed to Humayun’s Tomb (World Heritage Monument), built in the mid-16th century by his Persian-born senior wife, Haji Begum.

We later drive through the Diplomatic Enclave, which houses the Embassies of most of the foreign countries.

We shall make a short stop for a quick photo shoot at the India Gate and the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, which was formerly the domicile of the last Viceroy of India. Finally we shall visit Connaught Place, the main and upmarket shopping area of New Delhi.

At the end of this visit, You have the time to refresh yourself after which dinner will be served. We then leave to arrive at the Delhi International Airport to catch your flight back to your country.

We thank you profoundly for availing our services and we hope that you were satisfied with our commitment of providing the best care and attention to you, our honoured guests.

We would like to believe that this visit was a wonderful vacation and we are certain that you will carry back cherished memories for a lifetime.