| Grand Tour of North India |
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| 14 Nights / 15 Days Tour |
Price Per Person £594 |
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India - Rich, varied, royal & mystic. There are more ways than one to describe the Indian Sub continent that has Traditions older than most of the civilizations & Culture richer than the goldmines.
This tour encompasses for you're the modern face of India with the Capital City of New Delhi still protecting the head spinning exotic flavour of the old world in the charms of the old City, the Royal Rulers & their legacies of forts and Palaces that are symbolic of a glorius past to the Town of Khajuraho where Tantra & Kamasutra are' nt taboos but just the way of life and then to the city of Benaras, where the beliefs instills life into the dead !!
The Grand Tour of North India weaves for you the essence of India & unfolds the mystic!! |
| Day 1: Delhi |
| Arrival at the New Delhi International Airport. Upon arrival meet & greet at the Airport with traditional garland welcome. You are not only our guests but a manifestation of gods; another belief of the culture in the Indian Subcontinent which ensures that a guest once is a friend forever. Our executive would escort you to your hotel. We would have done a pre check in for you at the hotel which for your convenience assures that you avoid the unwanted wait at the reception of the Hotel. |
| Day 2: Delhi |
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After Breakfast at hotel you proceed with your personal guide who takes you on a city tour to witness the contrasts between the two cities that makes for the spirit of the Indian Capital. The Divide between old and new Delhi is unassuming and striking.
In the evening we host you a welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town. |
| New Delhi |
| New Delhi begins with the drive past Safdarjang's Tomb (1753 AD) on the way to Qutab Minar (1193 AD) this striking medieval tower of victory of Persian World is 73 m high. Within the Qutab complex, amidst the ruins |
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| of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, stands the Iron pillar which has stood the vagaries of weather and has not rusted over 1500 years. Then drive through New Delhi including the Embassy area (Diplomatic enclave), Government buildings, India Gate, Sikh Temple (Bangla Sahib Gurudwara), Birla Temple and Connaught Place, New Delhi's main shopping area. Visit Humayun's Tomb - considered to be the fore runner of Taj Mahal.
In the evening we host you a welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.
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Day 3: Delhi - Udaipur |
| Early Morning transfer to the domestic airport to connect to the flight to Udaipur. Upon arrival check in at the Hotel. Rest of the day free for individual activities.
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| Udaipur |
| UDAIPUR is perhaps a unique pre-modern capital with no fortress. Coming to life after the final sacking of Chittaur , Udaipur saw an explosive of building activity- temples, palaces and Havelis. Lake Pichola with its two islands-Jagniwas(now the Lake Palace Hotel) and Jagmandir defines Udaipur . The City Palace towers over the lake & gives a very picturesque background to the lake Pichola . |
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| Day 4: Udaipur sight seeing + Boat Cruise |
After a relaxed breakfast you proceed to the City Palace to begin with the morning tour of Udaipur city including, Sahelion Ki Bari, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Jagdish Temple.
Later in the evening you take a boat ride in Lake Pichola and thereafter drive back to the hotel. In the evening your dinner venue is the famous Bagor Ki Haveli, on the banks of Lake Pichola. |
| Day 5: Udaipur - Jodhpur 250 Kms. 5 hours |
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After breakfast depart from the City of Lakes to Ranakpur. Lunch at Ranakpur and visit the famous Ranakpur Jain temples. Built in white marble. Its 29 halls spread over 40,000 sq. ft. and has 1,444 pillars, not one of which is alike in its carving. After visit continue driving to Jodhpur.
Rest of the day free for individual activities. |
| Day 6: Jodhpur |
| Jodhpur is a vibrant, strategically important city on caravan trade routes. Jodhpur came up in the 15th century on profits from opium, sandalwood, dates and copper combined with the might of Rao Jodha and Mehrangarh and became the most majestic fort of Rajasthan.
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| After the breakfast your tour begins by visiting the wonderful Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada (the royal cenotaphs of Maharaja Jaswant Singh). |
| Khajuraho |
The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandela dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions - Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandhria is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.
In the afternoon jeep safari to Bishnoi village to witness the opium ceremony, life of locals, potters house and wildlife.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 7:Jodhpur-Jaipur : 310 kms / 6 hrs |
| In the morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival in Jaipur , check in at the Hotel. Later in the evening we take you on a tour of Laxmi Narayan temple built in white marble, a heritage walk or a rickshaw ride through the illuminated bazaars of Jaipur. Overnight stay at the Hotel. |
| Day 8: Jaipur |
| The splendid Fort of AMBER was wrested by the Kachhwaha Rajputs in the mid-12th century who dominated the surrounding area for the next six centuries. Amber was also the prime site of the alliance between the Mughals and the Rajputs. The astronomer-King Sawai Jai Singh II, famous for his Jantar Mantar Observatory ascended the throne in 1699. He soon |
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| decided to build a new city in the plains: JAIPUR was designed according to the principals of the Shilpa-Shastra and the capital shifted here in 1727, the city attracted merchants and crafts-people that over time shaped its irresistible bazaar. The Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar characterizes the old city, while the forts of Nahargarh and Jaigarh, add to the spectacle of the city. |
| Jaipur City sight seeing + Amber with Elephant ride |
| After breakfast, excursion to Amber, the old capital of Jaipur rulers. The Ride from the foot of the Fort to the Main Entrance gates is an enchanting memoir of hoe the Rajput rulers ascended the Fort on the Elephants. Afternoon sight seeing tour of Jaipur including Maharaja's Museum City Palace and Jai Singh Jantar Mantar the Astronomical Observatory & Hawa Mahal which gives the city of Jaipur the character that it boasts of !!
(Overnight at hotel) |
| Day 9: Excursion to Samode |
| Late breakfast and than a drive to Samode. A neighboring village which comes across as an oasis to the thirsting eye! The Samode Palace was the residence of the late rulers of this small principality under the Kingdom of Jaipur dynasty. This well preserved palace was converted to hotel more than a decade back. Nestled in the Aravalli hills it is a great treat to nature lovers. We host you a lunch there followed by a visit to the durbar hall..truly charming, with it's windows and mirror embedded walls and ceiling it reflects a true mirror of the life of the Royals. Return to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for Individual activities. |
| Day 10 : Jaipur -Agra : 242 kms / 5 hrs |
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| After breakfast drive to Agra 250 Kms. 5 Hours. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri a 16th century deserted capital of the Mughals. We arrive at Agra late afternoon and check in at the Hotel. |
| Day 11: Agra - Taj Mahal |
| one of the Seven Wonders of the world built by Emperor Shah Jehan in the memory oh his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum took 22 years to complete with a work force of 20,000. Craftsmen and master builders who came from all over Asia to join in the great work - from Baghdad, Shiraz, Delhi, Samarkand and Turkey. The marble, India's finest; was quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious |
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| stones were imported from distant lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrosolite from Egypt, Amethyst from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean. |
| The day starts early as we offer you to visit the great monument by sun rise. After the visit you return to the hotel for breakfast. Later in the day your guide takes you to the other breath taking sites from the mughal era, including the Agra fort and itmad-ud-daulah, commonly known as baby Taj. |
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Day 12: Agra - Khajuraho |
After breakfast board the early morning luxury train Shatabdi Express till Jhansi. Upon reaching Jhansi you shall be brought to your car and you further drive to Orcha for Lunch. After lunch another 4 hours drive to the Khajuraho
This evening we offer you a dance performance at the kandharia auditorium where you view the regional dances from across the country. |
| Day 13: Khajuraho - Varanasi |
| The temples at Khajuraho were built by the Chandela dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different |
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| religions - Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. |
After Breakfast visit the enchanting temples of Khajuraho with sculptures that draw their inspiration from the ancient art of Kamasutra. Your guide unwinds the stream of tantra in Hinduism.
In the afternoon drive to airport for flight to Varanasi .
In the evening we take you for a rickshaw ride in the downtown area and then head to the ghats of river Ganges for a boat ride and witness the Ganga Aarti (the Brahmin priests offer prayers & perform rituals to the holy Ganges for bestowing them with life and wisdom.) |
| Day 14 : Varanasi ( the city of light / learning and cremation/ burning) |
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| The venerable and ancient city Varanasi is the religious centre of the world for Hindus. It is a magnificent city, with myriad attractions, both as an exalted place of pilgrimage and a microcosmic centre of faith. Thousands of pilgrims visit the city from all parts of India and from across the world. Varanasi is a unique city where the past and present, eternity and continuity lives side by side .It is considered to be the immortal abode of shiva. |
| The life and activities in the city revolve around the holy river. Life on the banks of the Ganga begins before dawn when thousands of pilgrims -men, women and children, come down to the river to wait for the rising sun. |
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Your day starts by a sunrise visit at river Ganges followed by a walk through the narrow lanes of the city to feel the life & culture of the holiest city of the country. Return back to the hotel for breakfast.
After lunch in the afternoon visit to Sarnath 10 Kms This fabled place bears testimony to its great past where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples expounding the principles of Buddhism. There are remains dating as far back as the 3rd century B.C. when Emperor Asoka founded various institutions, stupas, monasteries and pillar edicts. The ruins at Sarnath and the art collection in the Archaeological Museum are representations/ examples of the glorious past of Sarnath. |
| Day 15: Varanasi - Delhi |
| After a relaxed Breakfast & some more time for you to unwind and recollect your thoughts of a tour so unique and yet so memorable, you drive to the Airport to connect to your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi transfer to an Airport Hotel for rooms for wash & change. Later transfer to international Airport to connect to your Flight back home. |
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| Tour Cost on Per Person Basis in GBP : |
| All below mentioned cost is in GBP, Per Person, Inclusive of all applicable taxes, net payable to us on base category of rooms at mentioned or similar hotels valid from 16 April to
30 September’2010 |
| Category |
For
01 Pax |
For
02 Pax |
For
03 Pax |
For
04 Pax |
Child
with Bed |
Child
without Bed |
Single Room
Supplement |
| A |
£1719 |
£968 |
£926 |
£860 |
£328 |
£56 |
£442 |
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| B |
£1494 |
£837 |
£796 |
£736 |
£283 |
£44 |
£343 |
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| C |
£1215 |
£702 |
£663 |
£594 |
£202 |
£38 |
£208 |
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| Includes : |
1. 13 Nights accommodation in well appointed Standard rooms on Twin Sharing basis
2. Daily buffet breakfast at the Coffee Shop.
3. Transfers & tours by Air-conditioned Medium Car.
4. Local English speaking guide for the sight seeing as mentioned in the itinerary
5. Porterage / Parking / Assistance
6. Elephant (subj to availability) or Jeep ride at Amber fort in Jaipur.
7. Boat ride in Udaipur & Varanasi
8. All taxes including Government Service Tax. |
| Excludes : |
1. International/ Domestic airfares / airport tax.
2. Any items of personal nature viz laundry charges, telephone bills, drinks, shopping etc.
3. Any compulsory meal supplements for festive Occasions.
4. Any kind of Insurance
5. Any Monument entry fee & camera fee (wherever Applicable)
6. Any item that is not mentioned under Includes header. |
| Supplement Cost : |
Monument entry fee as per the itinerary (For one visit only) GBP 75 Per Person
Delhi-Udaipur airfare by Jetairways on Economy Class GBP 84 Per Person |
| Hotel Envisaged or similar if not available : |
| City |
A (Deluxe) |
B (Superior) |
C (Standard) |
| Delhi |
Lalit (5*) |
The Connaught(4*) |
New Woodland (3*) |
| Udaipur |
Trident (5*) |
Radisson(4*) |
Jagat Niwas (3*) |
| Jodhpur |
Ajit Bhawan |
Ajit Bhawan (Heritage) |
Ranbanka Palace(3*) |
| Jaipur |
Trident (5*) |
Shahpura House (Heritage) |
Sarang Palace (3*) |
| Agra |
Trident (5*) |
Howard Park (4*) |
Ganga Ratan (3*) |
| Khajuraho |
Radisson(5*) |
Ramada(4*) |
Usha Bundela(3*) |
| Varanasi |
Meraden Grand(4*) |
Meraden Grand(4*) |
Radisson (5*) |
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