Day 01: Arrive Delhi.
Meet and greet upon arrival, with transfers to your hotel. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi.
The beloved city of Delhi has now been a ‘capital’ city for nine centuries. This is cold established fact. In this city, legend, lore ad history are wrapped together in a unique amalgam. Where one begins and the other ends is difficult, perhaps even impossible, to decipher. Here history brushes shoulders with modernity quite casually, and this endows the modern city with an ancient soul with a unique appeal.
Full day guided tour of New Delhi and Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort and Jama Masjid in old Delhi. Take a Rickshaw ride through by lanes of old Delhi. Drive past India Gate, Parliament House and President’s residence in New Delhi. Visit Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi to Agra.
This morning, proceed to Agra en route visiting Emperor Akbar’s mausoleum at Sikandara. On arrival in Agra check in to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Agra.
Day 04: Agra.
The city was the Mughal capital from 1526, established by Emperor Babur on the banks of the Yamuna River, and for the next century Agra witnessed a remarkable spate of architectural activity as each emperor tried to outdo the grandiose monuments built by his predecessor – leaving behind a remarkable collection of Mughal masterpieces.
Morning visit the Agra Red Fort. Once the imperial city of successive Mughal dynasties, Agra Fort served as the center of government, the state treasury and the state mint. Within this sprawling complex are numerous palaces and beautiful mosques and pavilions, dating from the 1600s.
Afternoon visit to Itmad-ud-Daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal mausoleums. A highly ornate edifice, this mausoleum is considered as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as elaborate carvings and inlay work are concerned.
Evening visit the inimitable Taj Mahal. Perhaps no other historical monument has evoked as much awareness and admiration from tourists and travellers alike, as the magnificent Taj Mahal – fondly called by people as the ultimate requiem of love, from a great Mughal Emperor to his beloved. Overnight in Agra.
Day 05: Agra to Gwalior.
Morning drive to Gwalior. Afternoon visit the historic Gwalior Fort along with the Archaeological Museum. Overnight in Gwalior.
Day 06: Gwalior to Orchha.
Morning drive to Orchha en route visiting Datia and Jhansi. Arrive in Orchha. Orchha was the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India. Orchha possesses an imposing fort, dating from the early 17th century, which contains a number of palaces and other historic buildings.
Afternoon excursion to view the archaeological marvels of Orchha. Overnight in Orchha.
Day 07: Orchha to Sanchi.
Morning drive to Sanchi en route visiting Deogarh and Chanderi. Arrive at Sanchi. Overnight at Sanchi.
Day 08: Sanchi.
North of Bhopal (capital of Madhya Pradesh), on a small hilltop is some of the oldest and most interesting Buddhist sites in India – the monuments of Sanchi. According to history, when emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism he built his first “stupa” at Sanchi and later several more, as well as other religious structures.
Morning visit the famous Great Stupa No 1 at Sanchi. Later vist to Vidisha. Evening drive back to Sanchi. The gates to the stupas – the “toranas” are the real highlight of Sanchi. Absolutely brilliantly carved stone depicts episodes of Buddhas life and it is said that the toranas are possibly the best and finest Buddhist art in India. Overnight at Sanchi.
Day 09: Sanchi to Bhopal.
Morning drive to Bhopal en route visiting the Udaigiri Caves, best known for a series of rock-cut sanctuaries and images excavated into hillside in the early years of the fifth century CE. Arrive in Bhopal. Overnight at Bhopal.
Day 10: Bhopal to Bhimbetka Rock Shelters and back.
Morning half day excursion to the Bhimbetka rock shelters located 46 km south of Bhopal. In this rocky terrain of dense forest and craggy cliffs, over 600 rock shelters belonging to the Neolithic age were recently discovered. Here, in vivid panoramic detail, paintings in over 500 caves depict the life of the pre-historic cave-dwellers making the Bhimbetka group an archaeological treasure and an invaluable chronicle in the history of man.
Afternoon city tour of Bhopal. Overnight at Bhopal.
Day 11: Bhopal to Ujjain.
Morning drive to Ujjain. Arrive in Ujjain. In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini. As per epic Mahabharata, Ujjayani was the capital of Avanti Kingdom. It has been the first meridian of longitude for Hindu geographers since the 4th century BCE. It is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Ujjain.
Day 12: Ujjain to Omkareshwar.
Morning, drive to Omkareshwar en route visiting Indore, a city with a rich cultural heritage.
Omkareshwar, the sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, ‘Om’, has drawn to it hundreds of generations of pilgrims. Here, at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the devout gather to kneel before the Jyotirlinga (one of the twelve throughout India) at the temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata. On arrival at Omkareshwar visit the famous temples. Overnight at Omkareshwar.
Day 13: Omkareshwar to Mandu.
Morning drive to Mandu en route visiting Maheshwar, a small town located on the banks of river Narmada. The hallmarks of this atmospheric town are the fort with its lovely ramparts, the striking Shiva temples, ghats (banks) along the river, all carrying Ahilya Bai’s stamp-a purposeful elegance of style. Proceed to Mandu for overnight stay.
Day 14: Mandu.
Day trip of Mandu. The pervading spirit of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals. Each of Mandu’s structures is an architectural gem; some are outstanding like the massive Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah’s Tomb. Overnight in Mandu.
Day 15: Mandu to Dhar.
Morning drive to Indore en route visiting Dhar. Overnight at Indore.
Day 16: Indore to Delhi. Depart Delhi.
After breakfast transfer to the airport for a flight to Delhi. Evening transfer to the International airport for flight to your onward destination.
Date and price to suit individual arrangements based on 2 people sharing. Breakfast included. Private air-conditioned car and driver with English speaking guides for sightseeing.
