AROMA OF CENTRAL INDIA
- Day 01: Delhi
- Day 02: Delhi
- Day 03: Delhi - Bharatpur
- Day 04: Bharatpur - Agra
- Day 05: Agra - Gwalior
- Day 06: Gwalior - Khajuraho
- Day 07: Khajuraho - Orcha
- Day 08: Orchha - Jhansi - Bhopal
- Day 09: Bhopal
- Day 10: Bhopal - Ujjain
- Day 11: Ujjain - Mandu
- Day 12: Mandu
- Day 13: Mandu - Indore
- Day 14: Indore - Aurangabad
- Day 15: Aurangabad - Bombay
- Day 16: Bombay - Abroad
Tour Highlights:
- Taj Mahal
- Qutab Minar
- Chandela Dynasty Temples
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
Tour Schedule - AROMA OF CENTRAL INDIA
DAY 01: Arrive Delhi by International Flight
- Welcome to India- a land of million dreams and 5000 years of history, culture and religions, culminating in a unique blend of tolerance and is today the largest democracy in the World. New Delhi, India’s capital and fastest growing city, stands on the West bank of the Yamuna river.
- Meeting and assistance at the airport upon arrival and transfer to HOTEL
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02: DELHI
- Morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to The Jama Mosque built in 1650 AD, followed by a visit to the breathtaking Red Fort (1639-48), built by the Shah Jehan, creator of The Taj Mahal.
- Then we proceed on to Raj Ghat, which is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Afternoon, sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting Humayun’s Tomb (1565 AD), aptly called the predecessor of The Taj Mahal. Drive past Safdarjang’s Tomb (1753 AD).
- Visit the Qutab Minar (72 m high) – the most perfect of towers of the Persian world. Within the Qutab complex, amidst the ruins of Quwat-ul-Islam mosque, stands the Iron pillar which has stood the variances of weather and has not rusted over 1500 years.
- The drive through New Delhi includes the Embassy area (Diplomatic enclave), Government buildings and Connaught Place, New Delhi’s main shopping area.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03: DELHI-BHARATPUR
- Drive from Delhi to Bharatpur (250 kms/6 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon bird watching.
- Bharatpur (Ghana), once the former hunting preserve of the royal family of Bharatpur, the sanctuary is now home to storks and nearly every other kind of bird imaginable.
- You’ll see more than 250 different species nesting on the tops of trees and along the roadside, as well as snakes, lizards, exotic fish and monkeys. Lucky visitors can spot the rare Siberian Crane that migrates to this preserve annually.
- Also found are chital, black buck, deer and other varieties of animals.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04: BHARATPUR-AGRA
- Drive from Bharatpur to Agra (56 kms/1.5 hours) enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri. This deserted, red sandstone city, built by Emperor Akbar, now glows in its magnificent past. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza (The Gate of Victory), set in the south wall.
- Continue your drive to Agra and upon arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon, experience the TAJ MAHAL (closed on Fridays) – one of the seven wonders of the world. This beautiful mausoleum in pure white marble, took 22 years and 22000 craftsmen to build it. This monument was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal,
- Also visit Agra Fort, whose maze of courtyard, mosque and private chambers reflect the grandeur of the Mughal Empire.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 05: AGRA-GWALIOR
- Drive from Agra to Gwalior (118 kms/3 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon, the sightseeing tour of Gwalior includes visit to the great Fort, one of the oldest in India, situated on an isolated hill of sandstone, 300 ft above the plain.
- Visit Man Mandir, a six towered palace which forms the eastern wall of the Fort and is one of the classic sights of India.
- Proceed to Gujari Mahal, a turreted palace of stone and now an archaeological museum. A few kilometers away is the tomb of Mohammed Ghaus, a Muslim saint worshipped by the Mughals, as well as the tomb of the famous musician Tansen.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06: GWALIOR-KHAJURAHO
- Drive from Gwalior to Khajuraho (365 kms/8 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 07: KHAJURAHO-ORCHA
- Morning, sightseeing tour of the famous Chandela Dynasty Temples which are set in a lovely grassy park.
- These temples are really amazing – rising in many peaks and spirals, intricately carved and designed with statues and friezes.
- These temples are also known for their renowned erotic carvings.
- Afternoon drive from Khajuraho to Orcha (170 kms/4 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Later visit Orcha. Overlooked by the modern era, this beautiful medieval town, was once the capital of Bundela Kings. Built along the banks of the river Betwa, through a rugged century side, it still retains the captivating air of a bygone era.
- Amongst the various imposing edifices, of particular interest are the Jehangiri Mahal, built by Raja Bir Singh Deo to commemorate the visit of the Moghul Emperor Jehangir, the Raj Mahal and the Laxminarayan temple, both noted for their fine frescoes and mural paintings.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08: ORCHHA-JHANSI-BHOPAL
- Transfer from Orchha to Jhansi (15 kms) Railway Station in time for:
- Lv: Jhansi at 1035 hours by SHATABDI EXP
- Ar: Bhopal at 1400 hours
- Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer from Railway Station to HOTEL
- Full Day excursion to Sanchi. Sanchi is an important centre of Buddhist pilgrimage. The great Stupa, built by King Ashoka (who abandoned war and embraced the Buddhist faith) , is a grey-brown hemisphere of massive proportions. The form of the four gateways guarding the stupa is derived from bamboo fences. They are carved with scenes from the Buddha’s life and previous incarnations and are amongst the finest specimens of early Buddhist Art.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 09: BHOPAL
- Morning excursion to Bhimbetka Caves and Bhojpur temple.
- The village of Bhimbetka is surrounded by the northern range of Vindhya Mountains. The range is covered by huge rocks, which house over 600 rock shelters (the largest group in the World) bearing paintings the date back to the early stone age.
- Bhojpur – is the abode of probably the largest single stone Shivalingam in the World.
- The 11th century Shiva temple and lake built by Raja Bhoj Paramara is known as the Somnath of the North India. The Temple has many exquisite Shiva images and engraved on its walls. The architectural drawings can be seen engraved on the rocks very well preserved by archeological survey of India.
- Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Bhopal. Half hidden among mountains and nestling in rich foliage, Bhopal lies in the heart of Malwa and is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Outstanding features of Bhopal are its two picturesque lakes. The sunset on the lakes and a view of the festive city lights from the two high points of Idgah and Shamla are a must for every tourist.
- Visit Sadar Manzil, Taj-ul-Masjid, Secretariat, Vidhan Sabha, Fatehgarh Fort, Moti Masjid, etc.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10: BHOPAL-UJJAIN
- Drive from Bhopal to Ujjain (188 kms/4.5 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon sightseeing tour of Ujjain, one of the greatest cities of ancient India, Ujjain links with its glorious past have endured into the present day, making it a city renowned still for its traditions of spiritually, learning and culture.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 11: UJJAIN-MANDU
- Drive from Ujjain to Mandu (120 kms/3 hours) via Dhar.
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon free for independent activities.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 12: MANDU
- Full day sightseeing tour of Mandu.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 13: MANDU-INDORE
- Drive from Mandu to Indore (97 kms/3 hours).
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Indore. The country’s fourth largest textile centre – Indore was also one of the first cities to join Mahatma Gandhi’s campaign towards providing the Harijans with a better way of life.
- Tour Kanch Mandir, a Jain shrine with an interior of mother-of-pearl and glass beads. Visit Lalbagh Palace and New Palace.
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 14: INDORE-AURANGABAD
- Drive from Jalgaon to Aurangabad (400 KMS/9-10 HOURS) enroute visiting Ellora Caves:
- Visit the extraordinary cave temples of Ellora (MONDAY CLOSED) which are about 30 kms from Aurangabad. The sculptures are remarkable and the main feature of interest is the Kailasa Temple. Chronologically, the Ellora caves start where the Ajanta caves finish. In all there 34 caves at Ellora: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu & 5 Jain.
- On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
- Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 15: AURANGABAD-BOMBAY
- Full day excursion to Ajanta (MONDAY CLOSED).
- Ajanta Caves: You will visit most of the thirty temples, which have been carved out of a cliff by Buddhist monks between the 2nd century BC and 7th century AD. Although the Ajanta paintings are particularly notable, there are many interesting sculptures as well. Many of the caves are dark, and without a light, the paintings are hard to see.
- Evening transfer from hotel to the airport in time for:
- Lv: Aurangabad at 2055 hours by 9W-104
- Ar: Bombay at 2140 hours
- Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer from Domestic to International airport in time to connect flight for :
DAY 16: BOMBAY-ABROAD
- Transfer from hotel to the airport in time for:
- Lv: Bombay by International Flight
*Note: All flight details and timings are subject to change.
