|
The Temple tours with Khajuraho
Duration : 08 Nights / 09 Days
Destinations : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi
- Orchha - Khajuraho - Delhi
 DAY
01 : ARRIVE DELHI
On arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to your prebooked hotel.
Delhi : India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient
& the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive
dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy
the British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction
between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever
the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’ past.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid,
the largest mosque in India - Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started
in 1844 and was not completed until 1658 ; witness the Red Fort; Visit Humayun's
Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture
; Visit Qutab Minar, witness the India Gate, President House.. The city tour
ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI - JAIPUR
Afternoon, leave for Jaipur : The city owes its names, foundation and its careful
planning to the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with
Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his hillside fortress
at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its
surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of
town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture.
Arrive Jaipur and check in at prebooked hotel.
Rest of the day free for individual activities.
DAY 04 : JAIPUR
 After
breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber
was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592
by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example
of Rajput architecture. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to
the fort entrance.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum having
an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons; Jantar Mantar
- the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade
of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 05 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
After breakfast, leave for Agra, enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of
Fatehpur Sikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the
Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the
graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal
& other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory.
Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the afternoon and check-in at prebooked
hotel.
DAY 06 : AGRA
After breakfast, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor
Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah
Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other
beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan between
1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband,
Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal,
which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction
of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653.
Afternoon, free for individual activities.
DAY 07 : AGRA - JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO
 After
breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board train for Jhansi at 0815
hrs. Arrive Jhansi at 1040 hrs and transfer to Khajuraho, enroute visit Orchha
: A medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces & temples of the
16th & 17th century – which have remarkably withstood the onslaught
of time. The city is picturesquely flanked by the river Betwa. Visit of the
surrounding fortress & local Ram Raja temple.
Continue drive to Khajuraho, upon arrival, check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 08 : KHAJURAHO - DELHI (FLIGHT)
After brekfast, visit Khajuraho : Built by the warrior Chandela dynasty that
rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th centuries, the 25 odd
surving temples display different facets of life, including the sensual. These
erotic carvings on some panels have given rise to much speculation since Khajuraho’s
re-discovery by a British officer in 1838. To preserve it for posterity, Khajuraho
has been declared a World Heritage Site. Visit the eastern & western group
of temples famous for their erotic scultpures.
Later, transfer to the airport to board flight 9W 724, scheduled to depart at
1330 hrs. for Delhi.
Arrive Delhi at 1600 hrs., transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 09 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home or onward destination.
|
All rights reserved by Swagatam Tours
