Ancient Caves, Forts, Taj & Temples 14 days

Day 1 Arrive Mumbai

On arrival at Mumbai airport, assistance & transfer to the hotel (check in/out time 12 pm).

Mumbai is disciplined by no time frame, neither day nor night. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sports activities, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre, music & gourmet restaurants offer visitors a heady mix of all this and more. Rest time is free for personal activities. O/n at the hotel.

Day 2 Mumbai (B)

Morning excursion to Elephanta caves (Monday closed). Later, city tour visiting CST, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan & Dhobhi Ghat. O/n at the hotel.

Day 3 Mumbai - Aurangabad (B)

Transfer to the airport to board the flight for Aurangabad.

Arrival, transfer to the hotel. Later visit Bibi ka Maqbara, built in 1678, is a son's loving tribute to his mother, Panchakki, which discharged water on the wheel to power the flourmill and grind grain for the pilgrims & Aurangabad Caves, artificial caves that were dug out of soft rock during the 6th & 7th centuries.

Day 4 Aurangabad (B)

Excursion to Ajanta (Monday closed). The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while hunting tigers. The Ajanta Caves were first mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, who visited India between AD 629 and 645. The caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora, which date from about 200 BC to 650 AD. Thirty beautiful Buddhist caves with mesmerising sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha`s life as well as the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (places of worship) while the other twenty-five are Viharas (monasteries). The Ajanta Caves are divided into two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves. Drive back to Aurangabad for an overnight stay.

Day 5 Aurangabad - Ellora (36km) / Flight to Delhi (B)

Excursion to visit Ellora Caves. It houses 34 monasteries and temples with some exclusive uninterrupted sequence of monuments that date back from 600 to 1000 AD. Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. On the way back, visit Daulatabad Fort, one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. Also visit Bibi ka Maqbara, a son's loving tribute to his mother.

Later, transfer to the airport to board the flight for Delhi. On arrival at Delhi airport, assistance & transfer to the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 6 Delhi - Jaipur (265km) (B)

City tour of Delhi. In Old Delhi, visit the majestic Red Fort (closed on Monday), the residence of the Mughal emperor for nearly 200 years until 1857. Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world built by Shah Jahan. Cycle Rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk & Khari Baoli Spice Market, a busy shopping area with markets full of spices, dried fruit, silver jewellery and vivid saris, while the narrow side streets are crowded with tiny shops selling essential oils, stationery and traditional Indian sweets. Raj Gath is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where he was cremated after his assassination.

In New Delhi, visit Humayun Tomb, the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent and an early example of Mughal architecture, commissioned by Humayun`s first wife, Empress Bega Begum, in 1569-70. Qutab Minar, a 73-metre tall minaret that forms part of the Qutb complex a fine example of Afghan architecture. The Lotus Temple, a Bahai House of Worship notable for its flowerlike shape. Also, drive past the President's House, Parliament & India Gate, etc.

Later, drive to Jaipur, check in & O/n at the hotel.

Day 7 Jaipur (B)

Visit Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Sisodia Rani Garden, City Palace, Observatory, Hawa Mahal & Birla temple. Further explore the local market of Pink City. O/n at the hotel.

Day 8 Jaipur - Agra (245km) (B)

Drive to Jaipur en route visit Abhaneri step wells & Fatehpur Sikri Fort & Palace complex. Arrive in Agra, check in at the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 9 Agra - Orchha (220km) (B)

Sunrise visit the Taj Mahal, Agra & Baby Taj.

Drive to Orchha en route visit Gwalior Fort, situated on top of a hill, is one of the best fortresses of India, known for its great architecture and rich past. The fort complex includes several temples, palaces and water tanks. Siddhachal Caves and Gopachal rock-cut Jain monuments are the two areas, complete with thousands of Jain Tirthankar idols defaced during the Mughal invasion. Teli Ka Mandir and Sas-Bahu Ka Mandir are the two architecturally rich Hindu temples here. Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor is another holy place built inside the fort complex. Man Mandir Palace, Gujari Mahal, Assi Khamba Ki Baoli, and Suraj Kund are other important monuments found in the complex. Jai Vilas Palace has the largest carpet in the world and the two largest chandeliers in the world that weigh close to 3.5 tonnes.

Arrive Orchha, check in & O/n at the hotel.

Day 10 Orchha - Khajuraho (178km) (B)

City tour of Orchha, a historical town known for its grand palaces, intricately carved temples adorned with classic mural paintings, frescos and cenotaphs that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers. Visit the Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments. These are Raja Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, a temple, gardens and pavilions. Chaturbhuj Temple is a multi-storied structure noted for having one of the tallest Vimanas among Hindu temples. Chattris (Cenotaphs) situated on the banks of the Betwa River are magnificent royal tombs of the Maharajas, placed on a platform and supported by pillars.

After sightseeing, drive to Khajuraho, check in at the hotel. Evening light & sound show. O/n at the hotel.

Day 11 Khajuraho - Varanasi (B)

Visit a well-maintained UNESCO World Heritage Site, exploring the eastern, western & southern groups of temples adorned by erotic and sensuous carvings. The architecture of these temples depicts the erotic forms of love, and the carvings on the walls display passion in the most sensuous yet aesthetic ways. Built between 950 to 1050 AD by the Chandela dynasty, the temples of Khajuraho are India`s unique gift to the world, representing, as they do, a paean to life, to love, to joy, perfect in execution and sublime in expression. Of the 85 original temples, 22 have survived till today to constitute one of the world`s great artistic wonders.

Transfer to the airport to board the flight for Varanasi. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Evening attend Holy Ganga Aarti, a magical ritual held every evening at sunset on the banks of the Holy Ganges. The entire Ghat gets illuminated with a divine light that can be felt strongly. The magnificent ritual involves huge brass lamps lit with oil, and the priests chant the holy mantras that reverberate in the entire location. The entire Ghat gets illuminated with a divine light that can be felt strongly. The magnificent ritual involves huge brass lamps lit with oil, and the priests chant the holy mantras that reverberate in the entire location. O/n at the hotel.

Day 12 Varanasi (B)

Early morning boat ride & Ghat visit along the Ganges, and catch the scene of devotees bathing and praying in the sacred water.

Later city tour will visit Banaras Hindu University. With a 5.3 sq km campus and 30,000 resident students, it is the largest residential university on the continent. Bharat Mata Temple, built in 1936, houses a relief map of undivided India, carved out of marble. Tulsi Manas Mandir is one of the most famous temples in Varanasi. The temple has beautiful images of Lord Rama, Mother Sita, Lakshman and Lord Hanuman. The walls of the temple are adorned with verses from Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the epic Ramayana. Continue to Sarnath, it was here that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The great Dhamekh Stupa and glistening pillar established by Emperor Ashoka in 273-232 B.C. stand testimony to the importance the place enjoyed at that time.

If time permits, visit Ram Nagar Fort located on the eastern bank of the River Ganga. The Fort includes an eccentric museum boasting a royal collection of vintage cars, swords, palanquins, ivory works, an old weaponry section and an extremely unusual astrological clock. O/n at the hotel.

Day 13 Varanasi - Mumbai (B)

As per the flight schedule, transfer to the airport to board the flight for Mumbai.

On arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Rest time is free and easy to relax. O/n at the hotel.

Day 14 Mumbai - Departure (B)

As per the flight schedule, transfer to the airport to board the flight for the onward destination.