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• MAJESTIC INDIA This tour will give you the chance to explore some of the most historic elements of India with travel to the impressive forts and grand palaces of cities like Jaipur and Udaipur, and also have time to enjoy the beautiful havelis (private mansions with beautiful architecture) and intimate palaces in quaint villages like Nawalgarh, Bundi and Orchha . You will have the opportunity to visit India's most famous monument to love, the Taj Mahal, a grandiose site that cannot be missed. You will see love's material side while marvelling at the unique and impressive erotic sculptures of the temples of Khajuraho. And to complete the Indian experience you will visit the holy lake of Pushkar and the magical city Varanasi. As well as visiting these majestic sites, your tour will have you staying mainly in magnificently renovated havelis and quality hotels at superb locations. The best time to visit North India is September to April. |
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THE ITINERARY BASICS 1. Delhi 2. Delhi 3. Shekhawati 4. Shekhawati 5. Pushkar 6. Udaipur 7. Udaipur 8. Bundi 9. Bundi 10. Jaipur 11. Jaipur 12. Agra 13. Agra 14. Orchha 15. Alipura 16. Khajuraho 17. Khajuraho 18. Varanasi 19. Varanasi 20. Varanasi (and visit to Sarnath) 21. Varanasi / Overnight train to Delhi 22. Delhi — Delhi / End
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• A LOOK AT EACH OF OUR 22 DAYS:
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1. Arrival in Delhi
2. Day in Delhi This may be too much to visit in one day, especially considering this is your first day in India. As goes for the entire trip, this is your adventure so you can decide which places to visit, but if you choose you can also allow your experienced guide to make those choices. If you cannot see everything you want today, at the end of your stay in India you will again have time in Delhi to visit some more sights.
3. Shekhawati The Shekawati region used to be an important stop on the trade routes between North India and the Arabian Sea. The landlords of this semi-arid area did very well for themselves from the mid-18th century to the mid-20th century. For their families they built beautiful mansions with traditionally painted frescoes on the walls. These buildings are known as havelis.
4. Shekhawati Today you will have plenty of time to visit some well-kept havelis, where you can see how people still go about their daily life as if time has stood still for centuries. When walking around the welcoming village, treat yourself to a hot cup of chai (sweet milky tea) on the village square and check on the latest gossip with the approachable local population. We can arrange for a guide to accompany you.
5. Pushkar Pushkar is popular with Indians and Westerners alike, and you'll find an eclectic mix of people when you wander around town or walk on the ghats (steps to the lake). From poor dark-skinned beggars and groups of white Westerners dutifully following their guide to orange-clad sadhus with dreadlocks and musicians playing tabla and sitar on the edge of the lake - people from all walks of life are attracted to magical Pushkar! This afternoon you can visit the Brahma Temple, the Pushkar Lake and walk along the bazaar. Watch out for the many cows. And for their dung! It is also possible to do a puja on the ghats leading to the holy lake. Your guide will know a trustworthy priest to perform the rituals on your behalf. During the world famous Pushkar Camel Fair a city of tents is constructed next to Pushkar to accommodate the 200.000 people who converge on this otherwise small town. The dates for 2012 are 18 to 27 November and the dates for 2013 are 7 to 16 November. As Pushkar is a very holy place please show respect for local customs. You will need to refrain from smoking and take off your shoes when you step onto the ghats. Showing physical affection between men and women is not accepted behaviour in Indian culture, particularly in sacred sites. Eggs, meat and alcohol are not allowed in Pushkar town.
6. Udaipur You'll be sleeping in a haveli situated right on the lake. It has a very romantic restaurant with prima donna views on the lake and the surrounding Aravalli Hills:
7. Udaipur This evening at 7 pm you could visit the interesting 1 hour traditional Rajasthani dance show at the captivating Bagore-ki-Haveli.
8. Bundi
9. Bundi Bundi and the surrounding area are home to many interesting temples, cenotaphs, water-tanks and palaces. In the vegetable market of this endearing village you might see the chef haggling down prices of the ingredients for the sumptuous meal he will prepare for you tonight. Sunset is the best time to visit the crumbling Taragarh (Star) Fort to enjoy romantic vistas on Bundi and the surrounding countryside where pink poppies flower from January to March.
10. Jaipur Today you could ask your driver to take you to the marble Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, also known as the Birla Temple after the renowned family who built it. Also worth a visit is the SRC Museum of Indology, which has a very interesting display of many different historical artifacts. For a sweeping view on this 3 million strong city walk up the steep 200 meter path to the Surya Mandir (Sun Temple).
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11. Jaipur The circuit of Jaipur continues in the afternoon with the chance to see the great City Palace, which houses several palaces within its walls and also a museum, an armory and a display of the miniature paintings Rajasthan is famous for. Next door is Jantar Mantar, an amazing observatory built in 1728 which shows the exact time precisely. Your guide will explain how these geometric devices for measuring time work, even after all this time! You should have enough time left to visit the Hawa Mahal again in the different light of afternoon. From inside you can look down to the street from where you were taking pictures at the start of the day. Jaipur is reputed for gems and carpets. Do remember that this is your trip and so only you decide whether you want to visit a "factory" or not. If you want to shop, your guide and driver will be all too happy to show you the best place to do so. If want to, you can also be given a brief explanation on how to make jewellery and/or carpets.
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12. Agra After lunch it is just one and a half hours drive to your hotel in Agra. Very interesting to visit tonight is a live multi-media show at the Kalakriti Centre on the life of Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal for his deceased wife and love of his life Mumtaz Mahal. Headphones will provide translation in your language of what the elegantly dressed actors on stage are saying. This (biased) take on the tragic history that lead to the creation of what has been called the most beautiful building in the world, is accompanied by vibrant colours, smoke, cinema, song and dance sequences and lots of light. You cannot get it more Indian than this!
13. Agra After lunch you will continue to visit the Agra Fort. Building was started by Akbar in 1565 but substantial additions were made by his successors, which has resulted in many distinctly different styles of architecture. It grew so large it basically became a city in itself. Nowadays the Indian military still has a base within the walls of this enormous fort.
14. Orchha Today afternoon you can visit several of the interesting temples of Orchha and see the Jehangir Mahal (Palace). You could also rent a bicycle and cycle in the surrounding countryside.
15. Alipura
16. Khajuraho At present the western group of temples is best preserved and it is this group of temples you will get to visit today.
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17. Khajuraho Among other possible trips are a visit to the Raneh Falls (1/2 day) or to the peaceful Panna National Park, where you have a good chance of spotting crocodiles and leopards. Recommended is a 3 to 4 hours bicycle tour through the country side. Friendly guide Bilal will show you a traditional farm house, a local school and a tribal village. Bilal is great company and will explain how the Indian Government is trying to improve the quality of life for the less fortunate of India.
18. Varanasi Location of hotels is important to Indian Rose Tours, especially in a city like Varanasi. You will be staying right on the ghats in a hotel where most rooms offer views of the river Ganges. Of course we do not make any concessions when it comes to quality and cleanliness of accommodation. The hotels have all the amenities you have come to expect from us.
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19. Varanasi The many steps leading to the river are called ghats. The most important ghat in Varanasi is the Dasaswamedh Ghat. For as long as people can remember devotees celebrate the Ganga Aarthi here every night around 7pm. This set of rituals for Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges) is accompanied by music, incense and many vibrant colours. To witness this age-old ceremony is an experience you will not easily forget! During the recommended excursion this afternoon your guide will walk you through the bustling narrow market streets and alleyways of Old Town to reach Manikarnika Ghat (The Cremation Place on the Ganges). You will hop on a boat from where you can observe the cremation-rituals happening on the ghats while your guide will explain the deeper meanings and intricacies of this age old custom. See our blog for more on this excursion and more on Varanasi and India in general:
20. Varanasi On the outskirts of Varanasi is the place where the Buddha held his first sermon after reaching Enlightenment in Bodhgaya, in present-day Bihar. Sarnath is one of the four most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists along with Bodhgaya, Lumbini (in present-day Nepal where Gautama Buddha was born) and Kushinagar (in present-day Uttar Pradesh where Buddha died). Sarnath attracts Buddhists from all over the world. During this half-day trip to Sarnath you will get the chance to see two classic stupas and a modern Buddhist temple. You will be able to walk around the bodhi tree planted at the same place where Buddha held his first sermon around 2500 years ago! You can also visit the Archeological Museum in Sarnath, which houses many superbly crafted ancient statues.
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21. Varanasi / Delhi You will then take an evening transfer to the railway station, where you will board your overnight train to Delhi. A representative of Indian Rose Tours will assist you at the railway station. The Shiv Ganga train journey is scheduled to take about 13 hours. Again, you can also decide to book a flight. If you prefer to fly, do not forget to mention this when booking your trip with Indian Rose Tours.
22. Delhi / Departure
Most flights to the West leave late evening or early morning. This evening your car will bring you to the airport in time to catch your flight. You will arrive back home with a bag full of new experiences and a lot of great memories! |
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Please send us an e-mail if you would like to know more about the suggested accommodation. We are happy to change the itinerary to suit your personal wishes. The tour can be adjusted to fit your budget and to accommodate any specific needs you may have (e.g. add domestic flight(s), upgrades of hotels, changes in itinerary, include more excursions, etc). If you so wish, we can arrange for a knowledgeable and experienced Tour Leader to join you for the duration of the tour. If Micha is available you can request him to lead your tour. This will definitely be worthwhile in case your travel party consists of 6 or more people. The price will depend on your choice of accommodation, the number of people in your travel party, when you are travelling, which excursions you would like to see included, and how many train journeys and/or flights you would like us to book for you. We have earned a reputation for having the most competitive prices in the market combined with the best and most personalized service.
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