Best of India tour

11 Nights/ 12 Days

Detailed Tour Itenerary

Delhi – Samode – Jaipur - Agra – Gwalior – Jhansi – Khajuraho – Varansi – Delhi

Day 01 - Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi
Transfer to the hotel
Overnight at hotel

Your Tour begins with an arrival into Delhi, where you will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to the hotel and assisted with check in formalities.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02 - In Delhi Full Day Visit

Breakfast at hotel
Full Day City Tour of Old and New Delhi
Evening free.
Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast you will visit Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Old Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. You visit 300 year old Chandni Chowk market. A maze of lanes crowded with shops selling an extraordinary variety of items and food, the noise and crowds are a quintessential part of any Indian market. From here you continue to the Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. This is India's largest mosque designed by Shah Jahan, and was his last architectural legacy. Originally it was called Masjid-I-Jahanuma, which means "mosque commanding a view of the world". In complete contrast to the noise and crowds of Old Delhi, is Raj Ghat a simple and stunning memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India's independence. You pass through the Red Fort that dominates this area is the landmark. Built in the mid 17th century by Shah Jahan, it was plundered by the marauding armies of Nadir Shah and later by British soldiers.

Afternoon, we take our tour of New Delhi, visit Qutab Minar, the tapering monument begun in 1199 was built to symbolize the supremacy of Islam. This structure was eventually the prototype of all minars or towers in India. Our next stop is Humayun's tomb, built by his senior wife and mother of emperor Akbar. This is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. It is believed that it was this mausoleum, which inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. We drive pass the India Gate, Presidential Palace and Parliament House.

Evening Free.

Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 03 - Delhi – Samode – Jaipur (Drive: 5 hours approx.)

Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from hotel
Drive to Jaipur
Enroute visit Samode.
Check-in at hotel in Jaipur
Evening free

After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Jaipur, enRouté visit Samode. Samode. Nestled among Aravali ranges, about 42Kms north-west of Jaipur, Samode Palace comes into view like a mirage rising above cobbled streets and stone houses of the Samode Village. We take a stroll in the village. Visit the extravagant florid hand painted Durbar Hall and the overlooking gallery which forms the breathtaking Sheesh Mahal or the hall of mirrors built in the middle 19th century is worth visiting. Samode Palace today is one of the finest palace hotels in Rajasthan.

After visit continue drive to Jaipur.

Evening free to visit local market.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 04 - In Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel
Excursion to Amer Fort
City Tour of Jaipur
Evening free
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast we leave for excursion to Amber Fort. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride (subject to availability) all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. En route to Amber Fort from your hotel, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.

In the afternoon, we tour the city of Jaipur. We first visit the Maharaja's city Palace, the former Royal residence part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. The main entrance leads to the courtyard at the center, which is the Mubarak Mahal. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. On the first floor is the Textile and Costume Museum, which is the fine example of fabrics and costumes from all over India.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 05 - Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (Drive: 5 hours approx.)

Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from hotel
Drive to Agra
Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri
Check-in at hotel
Evening free
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast we drive to Agra en route visit Fatehpur Sikri, located 40 Km from Agra, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. The emperor used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.

Continue drive to Agra.

Upon arrival in Jaipur check in at the hotel.

Evening free to visit local Markets in Jaipur

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 06 - In Agra

Visit of Taj Mahal
Breakfast at hotel
Visit of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
Afternoon free.
Overnight at hotel

At sunrise, We take our Tonga to visit the world famous Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday) built by Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the sill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. After breakfast we check-out from hotel and drive to Agra.

After visit return back to Hotel.

After breakfast you will visit Agra Fort and Itmad –ud – daulah.

Agra fort, built by Emperor Akbar, reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. This fort palace was begun by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel and was subsequently completed by two successive generations that added the delicate mosaic and magnificent marble palaces. The fort is the history of Mughal life in Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal. Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometres up-stream. Belonging to the age of Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of the parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan, queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astute administrator.

Afternoon free.

Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast)

Special Note:- Taj Mahal remains closed on every Friday.

Day 07 - Agra – Gwalior (By Train) (Train # 12002 - 0805 Hrs / 0930 Hrs)

Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from hotel
Board the train
Arrive in Gwalior
Checkin at hotel
Half day city tour.
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast transfer to railway station to board the train to Gwalior

Gwalior Fort - The Gwalior Fort is the most significant structure of the city of Gwalior. The fort elegantly stands on a mass sandstone. The Mughal emperor Babur was enchanted by the splendour and magnificence of the fort and described it as " the pearl among the fortresses of Hind". The outer walls of the fort are no less wonder for the onlookers. The wall runs 2 miles in length and soars up to a height of 35 feet.

The Gujari Mahal - The Gujari Mahal symbolises the brilliance of medieval architecture. The Mahal was erected by Raja Mansingh as a tribute to his beloved Gujar queen Mrignayni. The palace houses an Archaeological Museum that exhibits a collection of antiquities. The statue of Shalbhanjika from Gyraspur is worth seeing.

Man Mandir Palace - Man Mandir Palace was built by Raja Mansingh between 1486 and 1517. Traces of the tiles that were once the pride of the exterior still remain to the amazement of the viewers. There are vast chambers inside the palace. These chambers were once in use of the royal ladies who would learn music from the masters of the time. The circular dungeons below were used by the Mughals to imprison culprits. Murad, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's brother, was also imprisoned here before being executed.

Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 08 - Gwalior Jhansi – Orchha - Khajuraho (Drive: Approx 4 Hrs)

Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from hotel
Board the train
Arrive in Jhansi
Drive to Khajuraho
EnRouté visit Orchha
Continue drive to Khajuraho
Check-in at hotel
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast we transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi, on arrival in Jhansi you will meet and greet on arrival by your representative and drive to Khajuraho, Optional enroute you can also visit

Orchha, a medieval temple town situated on the Betwa River in the state of Madhya Pradesh. We explore the 16th and 17th century palaces and temples built by the Bundela rulers; most of them still in their pristine perfection. We visit the fort complex consisting of palaces, temples, cenotaphs, and memorials.

After visit you will continue your drive visit to Khajuraho.

Evening free.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 09 - In Khajuraho

Breakfast at hotel
Visit of Eastern and Western group of Temples.
Afternoon free.
Overnight at hotel

After Breakfast we visit Eastern and Western Group of Temples.

Western Group of Temples. The most important temple is the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples. Our next stop is the Chaunsat Yogini Jain Temple-dedicated to the 64 "Yoginis" or attendants of Goddess Kali. This temple stands apart from the rest. Also see the Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely sculpture of Lord Vishnu in his 11-headed form.

Eastern Group of Temples. you will visit to the Eastern Group of temples in the morning includes the Ghantai Temple dedicated to the "Vamana" or dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the Javari Temple. There are also three Jain Temples with beautiful carvings and non-erotic sculptures.

After noon free.

Overnight at hotel.(Breakfast)

Day 10 - Khajuraho - Varanasi (By Flight)

Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from Hotel
Transfer to airport
Check-in at hotel
Evening aarti ceremony and rickshaw ride.
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast check-out from hotel and in time you will be transfer to airport to board the flight to Varanasi.

Upon arrival in Varanasi you will be meet and greet by our representative and transfer to the hotel.

Evening you will witness the Aarti ceremony on river Ganges. Every evening, as dusk descends, it's time for the Ganga Aarti to be performed at the three holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi in India. It's a very powerful and uplifting spiritual ritual.

The aarti takes place facing the river. The lamps are lit and circled around by the pandits (Hindu priests) in a clockwise manner, accompanied by changing or songs in praise of Mother Ganga. The idea is that the lamps acquire the power of the deity. After the ritual is complete, devotees will cup their hands over the flame and raise their palms to their forehead in order to get the Goddess's purification and blessing.

We return to the hotel for overnight. (Breakfast)

Day 11 - In Varanasi

Breakfast at hotel
Visit to Sarnath
Temple tour in Varanasi
Evening free
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast you will visit Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, ‘turned the wheel of the law’) after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century A.D. Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and erected a pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adorsed Lions, which today forms the national emblem of India. Among other structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple; the DhamekhStupa, adorned with delicate floral carvings; the Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society’s Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple. We also visit the Archeological Museum, with an extremely rich collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images.

In the afternoon we visit the Vishwanath temple, also called the golden temple because of the gold-plating on its roof and drive pass Bharat Mata Mandirand Benaras Hindu University - is a premier Central University and a world class educational institution located in Varanasi. It is regarded as the largest residential university in Asia. The fully-residential campus has more than 128 independent teaching departments in its 1350 acre campus.

We return to the hotel for overnight. (Breakfast)

Special Note:- Sarnath Museum remains closed on every Thursday

Day 12 - Varanasi - Delhi (By Flight)

Boating on the Ganges
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out from Hotel
Transfer to airport
Arrival in Delhi
Arrive in Delhi
Board the flight for next destination

Early morning today we leave for a boat ride on River Ganges. The western banks of Ganges has a string of Ghats -the chain of stone steps, all built with pavilions, palaces and terraces, most of which are mainly used as Dharamsalas where the pilgrims stay during their visit to the holy city. At dawn, the Ghats are a buzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the rising sun and performing other religious rituals. A boat ride along the Ghats gives you vantage views of this activity. The sunrise on the Ganges is a soul-lifting experience.

After boat ride we return to hotel for breakfast.

After noon you will be transfer to airport to board the flight to Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi you will be meet and greet by our representative and board the flight for onwards destination.