Delhi /Tajmal tour itinerary - 8 nights/9 days
Day 01: Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. Morning tour of Delhi visiting Raj Ghat & Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi & Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight Delhi.
Day 02: Drive to Mandawa. Rest of the day visit the Shekhavati villages of Dundlod, Mandawa, etc. Mandawa was founded in 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his descendants. Mandawa houses a collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820, ancient coins, nmismatic collection and many other interesting items preserved in a museum. The whole area of Shekhavati has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions and is called the open air gallery. Overnight Mandawa.
Day 03: Morning drive to Jaipur. On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 04: Morning visit Amber Fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince and ever since, it has retained this colour. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 05: Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Overnight Agra.
Day 06: Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Overnight Agra. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays)
Day 07: Morning transfer to the railway station to board a train for Jhansi. Arrive and drive to Khajuraho and check in at hotel. Later visit the world famous Khajuraho temples. These Temples were built by the Chandelas between 950 AD & 1050 AD. The important ones are Chaunset Yogini Kali Temple, the Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath & Nandi Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple of Shiva, which is the largest & most typical of temples. Visit the Eastern group of Temples. Parasvanath Temple is the only existing Jain Temple at Khajuraho and has excellent sculptures on the outer walls of the Sanctum. The Javeri Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. The other temples in this group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath. Overnight in Khajuraho.
Day 08: Transfer to the airport to board a flight for Varanasi. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Varanasi.
Day 09: Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from ghat to ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Later transfer to the airport for Delhi flight. Arrive and transfer to the airport to board a flight for onward journey.
