Places covered: | Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad , Varanasi , Agra, Mathura, Jaipur |
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Duration: | 10 Nights / 11 Days |
Category: | Heritage Packages |
Meeting & greetings at airport by representative. Transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, leave Delhi by 6.00 AM by road for Rishikesh (6hrs.)- 'The City of Nirvana'. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.Rishikesh is the most popular spiritual town in the Himalays, on the bank of the holy riger Ganga. Unlike other Indian holy cities, it offers a profound spiritual expedition of both body and mind. Afternoon tour of the city which include Laxman Jhoola, Ram Jhoola, Shivananda Ashram, Swargashram, Bharat Mandir, Geeta Bhavan and Triveni Ghat where the evening becomes solemn and gets spectacular, with "Sandhya Ganga Aarti" scenes which one must not miss. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast leave Rishikesh by 7.30 AM for Haridwar(25 kms) by road. The name Haridwar "Door of Vishnu" dates from about 1400 yrs. It is where legend has placed Vishnu's footprint on the bank of the holy river Ganga giving it its sanctity. One of the 7 holy cities of Hinduism, in Haridwar every 12th year The Kumbh Mela is held and every 6 years Ardha Kumbh. Visit Mansa Devi Temple & Hari-ki-Pauri, the place where Vishnu is believed to have left his footprint. Part of the Ganga has been diverted here and this later becomes the canal. Bathing here is believed to cleanse all sins. One can also offers rituals here at the ghat. Continue drive to Delhi & upon arrival, check-in at Hotel. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Delhi visiting Lakshmi Narayan Temple, India Gate, drive past the President's House, Parliament House, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Aksherdham Swaminarayan Temple, Jamma Masjid, Red Fort and visit Rajghat where Mahatma Gandhi were cremated. Evening transfer to railway station to connect train for Allahabad. Overnight in Train.
Arrive Allahabad early morning and transfer to hotel for breakfast. Allahabad, for Hindus is particularly a sacred because it is at the junction or 'Sangam' of the three Rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati - hence its other name is, Prayag (confluence). The purifying power of a sacred river is strengthened at a confluence just as the physical power is Bathing in the River at the Prayag is auspicious at all times of the year, more so at Magh Mela which occurs every year for 15 days (Jan/Feb). Here at Prayag, every 12th year The Kumbh Mela is held and every 6 years Ardha Kumbh. Out of 4 sites for Kumh Mela, Holiest of all is Allahabad, the site of the Maha Kumbh Mela. Also visit Anand Bhawan, the home of Nehru family, Allahabad University & Khusrau Bagh. Afternoon leave Allahabad by road for Varanasi (135 kms. 3 hrs.). Upon arrival in Varanasi, check-in at Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, morning city tour of Varanasi - also called 'Kashi' (The City of Light) and is India's most sacred city, it was probably already an important town by the 7th century BC. It is also said that Varanasi is the oldest living civilized city in the earth. Visit Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map of India in marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University. Varanasi is one of the 7 Sacrted cities of Hinduism. Afternoon visit Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon.Sarnath as a renowned school of learning from 6th century B.C. to 12th century A.D. Visit the ruins, the Stupa,the Buddhist Temple and the Museum. Later in the evening witness ' Sandhya Ganga Aarti ' at the river bank. Overnight at hotel.
Early morning boat excursion on the holy River Ganges to see the Bathing Ghats and the Cremation Site. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the Ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Thereafter, one can offer rituals at the ghat. After breakfast, rest morning free at leisure. Afternoon transfer to railway station to connect train for Agra. Overnight in Train.
Arrive Agra early morning and transfer to hotel. After breakfast, visit world famous Taj Mahal. Afternoon visit the Fort, Radha Swami Temple and marble factory. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, proceed for half day visit to Mathura - A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River Yamuna, emphasis the sacred character of the town of Mathura. The birth place of Lord Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of Lord Vishnu's manifestations" – Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage. The city stretches along the right bank of the Yamuna and the continuous line of ghats along the river makes a splendid spectacle when viewed from the opposite bank. Mathura is also one of the 7 holy Hindu cities. Return to Agra in hotel. Afternoon leave Agra by road for Jaipur (220 kms. 5hrs) enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and later abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces.Upon arrival in Jaipur in the evening, check-in at Hotel. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, morning half day city sightseeing tourvisiting Maharaja's City Palace, Observatory, Birla Temple and Ram Niwas Gardens. Also drive past Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds and through the Pink Rose residential and business areas of Jaipur. After lunch free time for shopping as Jaipur is Shopper's Paradise for Hand-printed textile, glazed pottery, jewellery, presious City Palace Jaipur Tours & Travelstones,decorative ware of brass, leather, ivory, sandalwood, marble & handwoven carpets and shawl.Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, leave Jaipur by road for Delhi (250 hrs. 5 hrs) enroute visiting Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the State until 1728. Visit the Jagmandir or the Hall of Victory glitering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and Temple of Kali. Ascend the hill on which the Fort is situated on the Elephant back. For return from the Fort, Jeeps shall be used. Thereafter, proceed for Delhi & on arrival Delhi, some free time for last minute shopping. Evening transfer to airport to connect flight for onward destination.