WILDLIFE
TOURS ---› Wildlife, Classical & Beach Holiday
Wildlife, Classical & Beach Holiday
Duration : 18 Nights / 19 Days
Destination Covered : Delhi - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Orchha - Jhansi
- Agra - Bharatpur - Ranthambhore - Jaipur - Udaipur - Mumbai - Goa - Delhi
Day
01 Delhi: Arrival at Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport. Transfer to your hotel.
Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with
a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope
- that is India.
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Start a tour of Old & New Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat
- the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest
mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of
the Moghul Empire.
Enjoy a Cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit
to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue
- Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence
and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Also visit the LOTUS
TEMPLE & BIRLA MANDIR.
Overnight will be in Delhi.
Day 02 Delhi - Varanasi:
By Air
Flight : 9W 333 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Stopover : Nil
Departure : 1040 hr
Arrival : 1150 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi,
you will be met and transferred to hotel.
Picturesquely situated onthe crescent shaped left bank of the holy River Ganges,
Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning in India, is said to be a compound
of the names of two streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which still flow in the
north and south of the city respectively. This name seems to have been corrupted,
in medieval times to Varanasi, which was in use till May 1956, when it was changed
to Varanasi, by an order of the Government of India.
Varanasi is probably one of the most ancient living cities in India. From time
immemorial it has been a great religious center for Hindus and one of their
most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every
year. To every visitor Varanasi offers a breathtaking experience. The rays of
the dawn shimmering across the Ganges; the high-banks; the temples and shrines
along the banks bathed in a golden hue …soul stirring hymns and mantras
along with the fragrance of incense filling the air…and the refreshing
dip in the holy waters gently splashing at the Ghats.
Varanasi - The land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss.
Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education.
Some of the world - renowned exponents India has produced in these fields were
schooled in Varanasi's cultural ethos.
Luminaries
apart, Varanasi abounds in the art of silk weaving, an exotic work of art which
manifests itself in precious Banarasi silk sarees and silk brocades which are
cherished as collector's items across the world today.
Visit Sarnath ? 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest
Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermonin 590 BC.
Here he revealed the eight fold path that leads to the attainment of inner peace,
Enlightenment and Ultimate Nirvana. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing
Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection
of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.
Spend the evening shopping in the lanes of Varanasi. Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 03 Varanasi: Drive early morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat
ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living
traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start
at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable
city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises.
Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at
sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the
banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in
tiers from the water's edge. Then return for a walk through the cobblestone
streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place
now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going. Also
visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel.
Proceed for day guided tour of Varanasi including the Bharat Mata Temple, which
features a big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble. Also visit the
18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the huge
population of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi Manas Temple, crafted from white
marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed on its walls. Also visit
the BHU considered as the biggest residential university in Asia. The University
Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 04 Varanasi - Khajuraho:
By Air
Flight : 9W 334 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Stopover : Nil
Departure : 1220 hr
Arrival : 1330 hr
In the morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river
Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of
the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for
the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll
transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a
boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise
the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks
to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers
from the water's edge. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along
the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes
a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Return to hotel for a sumptuous breakfast. Proceed for a guided tour of Varanasi
in the afternoon including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque, Benaras
Hindu University and other important monuments.
Transfer to airport for flight to Khajuraho.
Situated in the
northernmost part of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is famous for its enchanting
temples and its legendary Khajuraho dance festival. The name Khajuraho is derived
from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which is grown abundantly in the region.
The Khajuraho Temples are dedicated to a celebration of womanhood, her myriad
moods and facets. Famous for its erotic architecture, the carvings include,
women writing a letter, applying eye makeup, combing her tresses, dancing &
playing with her child. Her innocent, blushed, charming, seductive, ardent beauty,
all depicted in exquisitely sculptured details. These temples have been designed
and carved to lead the eyes from ground level upward till you seem to be looking
at heaven.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Visit the FAMOUS TEMPLES. Overnight
will be at Khajuraho.
Day 05 Khajuraho - Orchha - Jhansi - Agra:
By Road 170 km in 4 hr
By Train
Number : 2001
Departure : 1755 hr
Arrival : 2010 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a short tour of the EXOTIC TEMPLES to complete the tour started
previous afternoon.
Proceed by surface to ORCHHA.
ORCHHA - A medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with Palaces and temples
of the 16th and 17th century which have remarkable withstood the onslaught of
time. The city is picturesquely flanked by the River Betwa.
Proceed for sightseeing of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex.
Lunch will be at Orchha and then proceed to the station (12 km away) for train
to Agra. {This is a superfast train with airline type seats and snacks / mineral
water is served on board)
Reach Agra and transfer to hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little
village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving
it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is
caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble,
narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite
city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still
reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 06 Agra: Visit TAJ MAHAL at sunrise.
TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory
of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while
accompanying her husband in Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after
giving birth to their 14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor that all
his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months. When
Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor:
first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that
he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death
anniversary.He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631
and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work
on it. An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the
architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it.
It is a "symbol of eternal love".
Having
buried her down at Behrampur, it was time for the emperor to keep his promise
and build a tomb there itself. But by and by, it was felt that it was virtually
impossible to transfer all the marble there, as it would cost an entire fortune
and an entire lifetime. So, when Agra was chosen as the only alternative, astonishingly
her grave was uprooted and brought to Agra, only to be finally transferred to
the monument, completed twenty-two years later.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Proceed to visit FATEHPUR SIKRI - The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor
Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating
experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine
condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like
in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway
in the world.
Proceed to Agra and visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In 1525 AD.
After Agra Fort we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are considered
better than the Taj.
Visit TAJ MAHAL at sunset. Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 07 Agra - Bharatpur - Ranthambhore:
By road from Agra to Bharatpur
60 km/1 hr.
By train from Bharatpur to Ranthambhore 3 hr (approx) Drive to Ranthambhore
after breakfast visiting Bharatpur en-route.
Bharatpur is the eastern gateway to Rajasthan. Bharatpur is popular for its
bird sanctuary-the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - finest in Asia rich avian
variety. Every year the rare Siberian cranes come to spend the winter in the
warmer climate of Bharatpur.
Drive around the National Park in a rickshaw and view the different species
of birds. A naturalist will accompany you to help spotting the rare species.
Proceed to station for train to Ranthambhore and on arrival check-in at Hotel.
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas,
is a unique example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously
in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers
from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for a luxury holiday in the heart
of the jungle. Ranthambhore - perhaps the best place in the world to sight a
tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National Park has had more Tiger sightings
than any other National Park in the country. It has come to be known as "The
land of the Tiger", where most of the documented footage of this majestic
beast has been recorded.
It spreads over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep
slopes; from flat topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp
ridges of the Aravalis, from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An
important geological feature the 'Great Boundary Fault' where the Vindhya plateaus
meet the Aravali Hill Ranges meanders through the Reserve. The National Park
is bound by the rivers Chambal in the south and Banas in the north.
Overnight will be at Ranthambhore.
Day 08 Ranthambhore: 
Breakfast
will be at hotel. Enjoy two private jungle safaris at Ranthambhore.
Overnight will be at Ranthambhore.
Day 09 Ranthambhore: Breakfast will be at hotel. Enjoy two private jungle
safaris at Ranthambhore.
Overnight will be at Ranthambhore.
Day 10 Ranthambhore - Jaipur:
By Road
180 km / 3 hr
Proceed for the morning safari into the National Park.
Proceed to Jaipur after breakfast.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to the
eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber
throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of
growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is popularly known
as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered
stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria.
Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite
temples and lush gardens.
Reach Jaipur and check in at hotel.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 11 Jaipur: Breakfast will be at hotel. Proceed for a morning excursion
will be taken to the Amber Fort. Enjoy the fort ascent on elephant back in a
royal manner.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its
construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent
Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful
fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.
Proceed for city sightseeing after lunch. The sites to include:
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture,
the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It
houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories
built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting
of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a
prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered
pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has
953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal
grandstand for the palace women.
Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 12 Jaipur - Udaipur:
By Air Flight : 9W 709
Airlines : Jet Airways
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Stopover : One
Departure
: 0700 hr
Arrival : 0745 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Udaipur. Reach Udaipur and relax.
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in
by the lush hills of the ARAVALLIS. A vision in white drenched in romance and
beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blendof sights, sound and experiences and inspiration
for the imagination of poets, painters and writers.
Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes
strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and
chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the LAKE PICHOLA is an enticing
sight. Udaipur is the jewel of MEWAR -a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty
for 1200 Years.
Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola.
From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically
above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir
Palace - the other island palace in the middle of the lake. Spend some time
at the Jag Mandir Palace.
Overnight will be at Udaipur.
Day 13 Udaipur: Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur, stopping first at City Palace. Here
you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass
windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.
Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and the Royal
Cenotaphs.
Overnight will be in Udaipur.
Day 14 Udaipur - Mumbai:
By Flight : 9W 3401
Airline : Jet Airways
Aircraft : ATR Jet
Departure : 0840 hr
Arrival : 1025 hr
Mumbai - Goa:
By Flight : 9W 458
Airline : Jet Airways
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1200 hr
Arrival : 1300 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai and then
connecting flight to Goa.
Reach and transfer to hotel.
Overnight will be in Goa.
Day 15 - 18 Goa: Daily breakfasts will be in the hotel. Relax in the
beach. Stay will be at a nice beach Resort.
Day 19 Goa - Delhi:
By Air
Flight : S2 118
Airline : Air Sahara
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Stopover : Nil
Departure : 1500 hr
Arrival : 1725 hr
Breakfast will be in the hotel. Transfer to airport for evening flight to Delhi.
Reach and transfer to hotel for relaxation. Transfer to the international airport
for flight on the early hours of the next day. (20th day)
TOUR ENDS
Wildlife, Classical & Beach Holiday
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