Tour 7. Classic Nothern India+Hinduism. Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, Chitrakoot, Varanasi. 11 days.

In this tour: In this tour: India as we saw in classic movies and read in classic books. We will pass territories of ancient kingdoms and visit beautiful and monumental sights of history: palaces, forts, tombs, temples, famous Taj Mahal and others. We will see typical landscapes and modern life of simple Indian people. And we will taste Indian culture: food, street life, bazars, traditional dances and ceremonies in temples. In addition, we will visit very special cities for Hindu people. The cities, situated on the bank of Holy Rivers. Here we will see pilgrims, ceremonies, cremations, deep devotion and other sides of deep Hinduism.

Program.

Day 1. Delhi.

Pick-up from airport. Depends on time of your flight you can sleep in Delhi hotel or start program straightly from the airport.

Today we will visit the best places in Delhi:

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – beautiful temple of Sikh people with holy lake and canteen where everyone can have free food.

Colonial center with government buildings (Parliament, President Palace) and Indian Gate.

Qutub Minar – historical place with first mosque of India made from the pieces of 27^th hindu temples and highest minaret.

Lotus temple – famous futuristic temple for meditation and pray for all religions followers.

Akchardham –white temple, one of the biggest and most beautiful temples with numerous amount of sculptures

or

Cycle-rickshaw tour by the streets of one of the most interesting bazars in Delhi – Chandi-chowk, where you can see the real Indian life.

Night in Delhi hotel.

Day 2. Delhi-Jaipur.

Transfer to the capital of Rajasthan – Jaipur city (4-5 hours way).

After check-in in hotel and short rest, we will start sightseeing: the City Palace where currently raja’s family live, Jantar Mantar – ancient observatory and famous Palace of Winds – Hawa mahal (from the side).

Then we will have a walk by the streets of the Pink-city with ancient buildings, alive bazars, rickshaws, animals and all colors of Rajasthan daily life.

Night in Jaipur hotel.

Day 3. Jaipur- Agra.

After breakfast, we will visit the Amber Fort with beautiful maharaja palace inside. If we are lucky, we will find fakirs with cobras and street musicians. To the fort, you can come up by elephants.

Then we will see narrow streets of old city Amer and visit there the ancient Step-well.

On the way back to the Jaipur, we will make a stop near the beautiful lake to have a walk and take a photo of the water-palace – Jal-Mahal.

Lunch and last walking hour in beautiful Jaipur, and we are moving to Agra (4-5 hours way).

Night in Agra hotel.

Day 4. Agra.

Today we have to wake-up early morning – to see beautiful Taj Mahal – symbol of great love in the morning light.

After breakfast and rest, we are moving to other interesting places of Agra: Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah called by locals as a Baby Taj, Akbar’s tomb, Jama Masjid Mosque and show-room-workshop where we can see ancient technologies used to work with marble.

In the evening you can see Kalakriti show of Agra.

Night in Agra hotel.

Day 5. Agra-Gwalior-Orchha.

After breakfast we are leaving Agra and around 2,5-3 hours after arriving to Gwalior.

Here we are visiting one of the most beautiful forts of Central India – Gwalior fort. Also we will see monumental Jain statues.

After Gwalior sightseeing – 2-3 hours drive to Orchha.

Night in Orchha hotel.

Day 6. Orchha-Khajuraho.

After breakfast – Orchha sightseeing. Orchha was a capital of Bhundelkhand kingdom. Here we will see palaces, temples, tombs, royal building on the bank of river surrounded by fields and forests. Orchha is the one of the most quiet, beautiful, atmosphere and charming places in the North India.

Late afternoon – drive to Khajuraho (4 hours).

Night in Khajuraho hotel.

Day 7. Khajuraho.

Khajuraho is famous by numerous temples covered by masterpieces statues of gods, animals, everyday life and, of course – kamasutra scenes.

We will see the best of the temples.

Then we will visit the old village of Khajuraho where people used to live by cast system.

Late afternoon we will have countryside tour to see real life of Central India: villages, fields, farmers, nature. We will climb Teeth Mountains to see the sunset and beautiful view from there.

In the evening, you will have opportunity to see Indian traditional dance with alive music.

For dinner you will have Indian traditional food and even can take part in the cooking process if you wishJ

Night in Khajuraho hotel.

Day 8. Khajuraho – Chitrakoot.

Early morning we will visit the park with wild nature. Optionally it can be the small park with beautiful canyon – Renehfall or serious safari to Panna National park where you have chance to see tigers.

After launch will be the transfer to holy Chitrakoot city – the places of Ramayana (around 4 hour’s way).

In the evening, we will ride the boat by the Mandakini holy river and will see the ceremony of Mandakini-Ganga aarti on the Ram ghat.

Night in Chitrakoot hotel.

Day 9. Chitrakoot-Varanasi.

After breakfast, we will explore Chitrakoot city.

Indian literature say that the Lord Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman were leaving here for more than 11 years during the exile. There are many places related to them – in mountains, caves, forests, near the river. A lot of Hindu people come here to pray and create very special atmosphere.

We will visit the colorful museum showing the story of Ramayana.

Then we will climb 360 steps up to the Hanuman Dhara. Here, the waters of a natural spring cascade over an image of Lord Hanuman and beautiful views is an additional bonus.

We will make the 5-kilometers pilgrimage walk around the Kamad Giri – a forested hill of prime religious significance.

Before leaving the Ramayana places, we will seat at the bank of Mandakini River outside of the city – in Sati Anasuya place. A beautiful ashram is located here.

Transfer to Varanasi city (5-6 hours way).

Night in Varanasi hotel.

Day 10. Varanasi.

After breakfast, we will start to explorer the city: streets, temples, bazars. We will visit Sarnath – the important pilgrimage site with Buddhism stupa outside of Varanasi city. Here Lord Buddha first taught his followers.

In the evening, we will see one of the most interesting ceremony in India: Ganga aarti when priests pray to the Holy Ganga River.

Night in Varanasi hotel.

Day 11. Varanasi-Delhi.

Today we wake up early to see sunrise from the boat sailing the Ganga.

We will see from the boat all Ghats including Burning ghat where cremation process takes place.

After boating, we will walk by Ghats and spend time in narrow streets of old Varanasi to see the daily life and reality of Hinduism.

Transfer to the airport for Delhi flight. Other option – to go to Delhi by train.

In Delhi, we will provide you transfer to the hotel and then to the airport – timing depends on your future plans.