Heritage Tour To India

Overview
Heritage is an important term and it has a deep connection with the ancient land of India. Bestowed with a 5,000 years old history, India is known all over the world for its rich cultural heritage. Even today after several thousand years you can experience India's cultural heritage in its cities and small towns. India's capital Delhi itself has an old history, you can find the glimpse of the bygone era in forts and monuments of Delhi. Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Old Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar are few structures which present a glimpse of India's old culture. Apart from Delhi, on this tour package you will visit the historic destination of Mandawa, Bikaner, Pokharan, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Ranakpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Pushkar, Ajmer, Jaipur, Agra, Gwaloir, Orchha, Khajuraho and Varanasi. All these destinations are home to a number of historic structures and have some interesting legends associated with them. Hence, book this tour, visit India and enrich yourself with India's centuries old history and its rich culture.

Inclusions
Accommodation, Meal, Transport, Services of local guides for sightseeing and wildlife tours, Jeep Safari at Ranthambore National Park, Elephant Safari at Amber Fort, Camel Safari in Jaisalmer.

Exclusions
Shopping and other meals apart from breakfast.

Detailed Itinerary
Namaste - We welcome you with folded hands

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
On your arrival at the airport you will be received with a warm and traditional welcome by a representative of the tour agent. You are then driven to your hotel. Welcome to India, or as we say 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!

Overnight : At hotel in Delhi.
Day 02 : Delhi - Mandawa
After breakfast you will set off for a sightseeing tour of Delhi. You visit the famous monuments of the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Qutub Minar. The greenery around Rajghat and the India Gate will surely soothe your weary eyes. The splendour of the Mughal Gardens, in the Rashtrapati Bhawan complex, will take your breath away. You are also taken to the splendid Lotus Temple as well as the Birla Mandir (Laxmi Narayan Mandir). Afternoon you drive to Mandawa and upon arrival check in at your hotel.

Overnight : At hotel in Mandawa.

Day 03 : Mandawa - Bikaner
In the morning, the guide takes you to the beautiful village of Shekhawati, an important caravansary of the years gone by. Here, you will be delighted at the sight of the numerous havelis built by the rich and the famous merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. The havelis are embellished with paintings reflecting the daily life of the desert of deities whom the people worship.

Thereafter, you head towards Bikaner on arrival check into your hotel. After some rest proceed on sightseeing tour of Bikaner. Here you see the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction dating back to the 16th century. Later, you have a unique experience at the camel breeding farm. In the evening you are free to wander in the busy market area of the city centre.

Overnight : At hotel in Bikaner.

Day 04 : Bikaner - Pokharan - Jaisalmer
After breakfast you will invariably drive across the Thar Desert to reach Pokharan. You visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The colourful market in the middle of this village is full of local flavours. After lunch at Pokharan, you continue towards Jaisalmer. By evening, you arrive at Jaisalmer to see the beautiful sunset over the sands of the desert.

Overnight : At hotel in Jaisalmer.

Day 05 : Sightseeing in Jaisalmer
Today after breakfast the morning hours will be spent in a fabulous visit to the Jain temples inside the Sonar Quila. The palace inside this bastion houses a museum displaying a rich collection of robes and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Afterwards, you are guided to the Patwaon ki haveli, which is characterized by intricately designed latticed windows. The Gadisar Lake will offer you some memorable views.

In the later half of the day, you will be visiting the exciting Sam or Khuri village. Upon arrival in the village you embark upon a camel cart ride to reach the nearby sunset point on the dunes to see the sunset. After sunset you are back in the village where your stay is arranged in mud huts. In the evening the performance of the local artists and musicians will surely enthrall you.

Overnight : At hotel in Jaisalmer.

Day 06 : Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
By early afternoon you are in Jodhpur. After lunch, as you take a walk along the flourishing spice market here, you are left spellbound by the aroma of the rich variety of spices. You are then taken to Mandore gardens, the erstwhile capital of Marwar. The view of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars is quite impressive. You drive back to Jodhpur to savour the grandeur of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur.

Overnight : At hotel in Jodhpur.

Day 07 : Jodhpur - Mount Abu
Following breakfast we set out to explore the contrast of the desert- Mount Abu- the lone hill station in Rajasthan. Situated at an altitude of 1,200metres, it is home to a number of Jain temples and is an important Jain pilgrimage. We pay a visit to the Dilwara Jain temple complex, which houses temples dating back to the 11th century. Later see picturesque Nakki lake and then enjoy the sunset from the sunset point.

Overnight : At hotel in Mount Abu.
Day 08 : Mount Abu - Ranakpur - Udaipur
Early in the morning we bid goodbye to Mount Abu and reach Ranakpur after a 4hr drive. This is another great Jain pilgrimage centre. You can't help admiring the temples, built out of marble. The main shrine of Adinath, with its 1,444 columns, will certainly leave you wonderstruck. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus. Then we drive towards Udaipur and make a stopover at the fields to see the local way of farming and irrigation. By late evening you reach Udaipur and check in at your hotel.

Overnight : At hotel in Udaipur.

Day 09 : Sightseeing in Udaipur
After breakfast at the hotel, you are guided to the exquisite City Palace, the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. Inside the palace premises, you see the peacock square and visit the miniature painting school. Later, we pay a visit to the temples of Nagada and Eklingji. Also enjoy the boat ride across the Lake Pichola and some shopping in the evening.

Overnight : At hotel in Udaipur.

Day 10 : Udaipur - Chittorgarh
Today in the morning we head towards Chittorgarh, the erstwhile capital of the Maharanas of Mewar. Here, you will be charmed by the Kumbha Palace and the Meera temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna. You also make a worthwhile visit to the tower of Victory, erected by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century after winning a series of battles. Later visit Maharani Padmini's Palace.

Overnight : At hotel in Chittorgarh.

Day 11 : Chittorgarh - Pushkar - Ajmer - Jaipur
Early in the morning we start our journey towards the holiest cities of Rajasthan- Pushkar and Ajmer. Pushkar holds its sanctity on account of the legend that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the goddess of learning and music) performed a ritual in the lake here. We pay a visit to the lone Brahma temple of the world and thereafter intermingle with the local colours in the local bazaar. Besides, the cattle fair of Pushkar, held every year in the month of November, has received world wide renown.

We then drive for another 11 kms to arrive at Ajmer, the holy city for the Muslims. First you visit the Dargah or tomb of the great Sufi saint Khwaja Moin- ud- Din Chisti. This followed by a visit to Mughal Emperor Akbar's Palace where his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe to grant permission of trade to East India Company. By late evening we arrive at Jaipur and check in at the hotel.

Overnight : At hotel in Jaipur.

Day 12 : Sightseeing in Jaipur
On day 12 the morning hours is preoccupied with a visit to the Amber fort and elephant ride inside the fort. The Shish Mahal, built in the 17th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art, will surely mesmerize you. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh's Palace who had twelve queens.

After lunch, we head for the Pink city to see the 18th century astronomical observatory, Jantar Mantar and the splendiferous City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Inside the palace you are bound to be awestruck by the collection of exquisite paintings, royal costumes, jewellery and arms and ammunitions.

Overnight : At hotel in Jaipur.

Day 13 : Jaipur - Ranthambore
After breakfast we set out for Ranthambore National Park and check in at the hotel in Sawai Madhopur. From there you are taken on a jeep safari to spot the tigers in this park. Apart from tigers you will also see a number of other wild species like monkeys, langurs and alligators along with motley of birds.

Overnight : At hotel in Sawai Madhopur.
Day 14 : At Ranthambore
You will spend the entire day in breathtaking views of nature's splendour as reflected in the variety of flora and fauna. Today also spot the tigers and many other variety of wildanimals inside the Ranthambore National Park.

Overnight : At hotel in Sawai Madhopur.

Day 15 : Ranthambore - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
In the morning we leave Ranthambore and buzz off towards Fatehpur Sikri. By early afternoon we are in this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The city is a virtual poetry written in red sandstone. The sights of the Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Diwani-aam and Jodha Bai's palace will inspire awe in you. After this we continue towards Agra and reach the city by early evening. Relax at your hotel or go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people and buy leather goods, handicrafts, marble items etc.

Overnight : At hotel in Agra.

Day 16 : Sightseeing in Agra
The morning holds immense charms for you. You will be besmirched at the sight of the Taj Mahal basking in the rays of the morning sun. The intricate designs and elegant domes of this monument of love will certainly cast a spell on you. Then you will be guided to the Agra Fort, another architectural marvel of the Mughals. After lunch you are right in front of the tomb of Itimad ud Daulah - the first mughal building built out completely of marble, a precursor to the Taj. Finally, you visit Sikandra, the tomb of the Akbar the Great. You are back in your hotel to spend the night.

Overnight : At hotel in Agra.

Day 17 : Agra - Gwalior
After breakfast we move to the railway station to catch the Shatabdi Express which departs for Gwalior at 0800hrs. We reach this erstwhile bastion of the Scindias at 0920hrs and check in at the hotel. Immediately after lunch you start your tour of the city. Among the sights seen, the Gwalior Fort, the Scindia Palace, the Gurjari Mahal, and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen will certainly impress you.

Overnight : At hotel in Gwalior.

Day 18 : Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho
In the morning we board the Shatabdi Express to go to the timeless medieval village of Orchha. By 1130 hrs we arrive at this village and see the beautiful Palace Complex - Jahangiri Mahal and the Raja Mahal. A close study of the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja Mahal reveals its true worth. Then we pay a visit to the Laxminarayana Temple. After lunch, we fare towards Khajuraho by road. After a drive of about 180kms we arrive at our destination and check in at the hotel.

Overnight : At hotel in Khajuraho.

Day 19 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
On day 19 in the morning you will visit the Khajuraho temples to have that elusive view of the world famous erotic sculptures. By a mere sight of these amorous sculptures you will be able to decipher the unparalled aesthetic value of these works of art. After visiting both the eastern and western group of temples you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi. You arrive at Varanasi just after 40 minutes and from the airport you are accompanied to your hotel.

Overnight : At hotel in Varanasi.
Day 20 : Varanasi - Delhi Departure
Just after sunrise, you are taken to the banks of the river Ganges where you will board a boat to see the Hindus taking dip in the holy waters of the river. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika Ghat along the sacred Ganges. You will pay a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the Gyanvyapi kund, and the mosque attached to it. Afterwards, you are taken to the Benares Hindu University, the largest residential university in India.

Later in the day, you visit Sarnath- the city of Buddhist pilgrimage- the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon to his first five disciples. You are then guided to the museum, which displays artifacts dating back to 3rd century BC. After visiting the nearby ruins of the ancient seat of learning in Sarnath you are transferred to the airport to return back to Delhi.

You arrival at Delhi is followed by a visit to the shopping hubs of the city. A sumptuous farewell dinner awaits you at night. You are finally transferred to the airport to catch your flight of departure.

End of Service
Thank You for Giving Us an Opportunity to Serve You!

Feedback
Heritage Tour to India was an informative tour, we knew a number of facts related to India. We never imagined that India would be such a great country. We visited a number of tourist destinations during our tour and saw dozens of impressive forts and monuments. We will remember this tour forever.


Wow! This was a superb trip. We enjoyed plenty of sightseeing, safaris and extensive travelling as well. Amongst the attractions we liked the trip to Taj Mahal, Red Fort, City Palace of Jaipur. Elephant Safari at Amber Fort was an exciting experience.


I can't express my personal experience about this tour in words, in one sentence it was marvellous. Although this was my first trip to India but I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend this tour package to all who want to visit India.