The
amazing journey starts from Capital Delhi from where
various emperors have ruled India, on to Sikhism
(Amritsar), Buddhism (Dharamshala + Sarnath, Varanasi)
and Islamism (Agra).
The
programme takes you first to the land of Golden
Temple, Amritsar (Mecca for Turban clad Sikhs) to
witness spectacular ceremony of changing guards
and lowering of flag at Wagha Border and then
proceeding on to the foot hills of Himachal Pradesh
to see & experience village life in India. And
see the Tibetan Kingdom in exile. Later visit one
of the Seven Wonders of the World – The Taj Mahal
at Agra followed by erotic temples of Khajuraho
and at the end Varanasi the Holy city for Hindus
and nearby Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first
sermon and also attained nirvana.
Delhi- Amritsar – Paaragpur – Dharamshala – Agra – Khajuraho
– Varanasi - Delhi
Day 01- Arrive Delhi - Meeting and assistance on arrival at airport and transfer to
Hotel Imperial / Taj Mahal. Delhi is two cities in one - the Old Delhi of the Mughals,
a conglomerate of medieval palaces, forts, mosques
and bazaars; and the New Delhi built by the British,
an elegant metropolis of broad avenues, stately
homes and landscaped gardens. Overnight at 5 star
deluxe Imperial Hotel / Taj Mahal
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Day
02 - Delhi / Amritsar - Transfer to New Delhi railway station / airport in time
to board train to Amritsar
Meeting and assistance on arrival at railway station / airport
and transfer to Mrs.Bhandari’s Guest House
Amritsar (Pool of the Nectar of Immortality) is named aftethe sacred pool in the Golden Temple,
the holiest of the Sikh sites. The atmosphere is
particularly powerful from before dawn to early
light, when the surrounding glistening white marble
pavement is still cold under the foot and the gold
begins to shimmer on the lighting water. Afternoon
visit The Golden Temple
- the spiritual nerve centre of the Sikh faith and
Jallianwala Bagh which is noted for the most notorious
massacre under British rule. Later visit
Wagha Border to witness changing of the guards
and the ceremonial lowering of the flags ceremony
at sundown, which
is carried out with great show and rivalry, is quite
a spectacle. Stay at Mrs.Bhandari’s Guest House
- A family run place with nine air conditioned rooms
and a swimming pool.
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Day
3 - Amritsar / Paragpur - Morning drive ( 4 to 5 hrs) to Paragpur. Paragpur is a heritage village where the local
community is trying to promote village tourism by
preserving their heritage. The Paragpur
village was founded about 3 centuries ago. It still
retains the essence of
an earlier era - unchanged shops, cobbled streets,
ornamental village tank, mud plastered and slate
roofed houses. On arrival stay at The Judges
Court, a Country Manor located in the medieval hamlet
of Pragpur, at an elevation of 2000 ft. in the Kangra
Valley. Its ambience is reminiscent
of the turn of the 20th Century. Afternoon explore
the village and its surroundings - Visit the
village tank, interact with the locals and
visit their home and farm.
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Day
4 - Paragpur / Dharamshala - Morning excursion to Dada Siba (15 kms) to see Kangra wall paintings
Afternoon drive to Dharamshala (2 hours) en route visiting
Kangra Fort. It
guarded the strategic route to the plains of upper
India from the mountain of the North west.
Dharamsala was originally built by the British as a hill station
in 1840's. Its colonial monuments and public buildings
include a church in the
Victorian gothic style and a cemetery with carvings
and funeral tributes. With the exodus of
the Dalai Lama and many of his countrymen after
the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1960 it has become
the Tibetan capital-in-exile with a large community
of lay people and monks. Dharamsala is also the
home of Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetan
Buddhists, who is now headquartered at McLeodganj.
Also known as the ‘Little Lahsa’, McLeodganj is
an enchanting world in itself where the spinning prayer wheels and fluttering prayer
flags spread the message of peace and universal
harmony. Stay at Cloud’s End Villa as special guest
of the Raja and Rani of Lambagraon-Kangra
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Day
5 – Dharamshala - Morning visit Mcleodganj, the Tibetan
town, with its library and Buddhist temples,
markets. Afternoon excursion to Norbulingka
Institute.The Norbulingka Institute is a
major centre for Buddhist teaching and practical
working for survival of Tibetan Buddhis’s cultural
heritage.
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Day
6 - Dharamshala / Chakki Bank / Agra - Early morning drive to Chakki Bank (4 – 5 hours) in time to
board train to Agra Malwa Express at 1035
hrs / 2215 hrs .It
is a beautiful journey through the vast fertile
plains of Punjab and Haryana. You will get
to see life in rural India. Meeting and assistance on arrival at Agra railway station and
transfer to Hotel Howard Park Plaza.
Agra is the home of the Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The city of Agra, the quintessence of the grand
Mughal era, reigns to this day in the public mind
as the embodiment of royal grace, imposing architecture
and power. At an additional cost stay at Taj View
or Trident Hilton or the Luxurious Amarvilas only
hotel over looking the Taj Mahal.
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Day
7 - Agra / Khajuraho - Early morning visit to Taj Mahal at Sunrise
(Option at additional cost to be paid directly).
Morning visit Taj Mahal - A mausoleum for Empress Mumtaz Mahal,
which was built by her beloved husband Shah
Jehan, is often described as a ‘dream in marble’
& Red Fort, Akbar’s magnificent fort dominates the
centre of the city. Later transfer to airport
to board flight to Khajuraho. Alliance Air: CD 7407
at 1335 hrs / 1415 hrs Meeting and assistance on
arrival and transfer to Jass Radisson.
Khajuraho is known for the erotic temple sculptures -
The Temples at Khajuraho were built under later
Chandela kings between 950 and 1050 AD in a truly
inspired burst of creativity. Later visit Eastern
and Western Group of Temples
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Day
8 - Khajuraho / Varanasi - Morning visit Southern Group of Temples. Afternoon transfer
to airport in time to board flight to Varanasi.
Alliance Air: CD 7407 at 1445 hrs / 1525 hrs Meeting
and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel
Best Western Kashika.
Varanasi is situated in the plains of north India on the sacred
river of Ganga, is the
holiest of the Hindu cities, and is one of the oldest.
It
is probably the oldest living city in the world,
a contemporary of Babylon, Themes and Nineveh.
This is a city of colourful bazaars, exquisite and
bright silks, festivals, temples, mosques and palaces
- all centering around the teeming ghats of the
Holy Ganges. Varanasi is also famed
for woven silk with excellent gold and silver embroidery
work, and many of its artisans can be seen
at their looms.
At
additional cost stay at Taj Ganges
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Day
9 – Varanasi - Early morning boat ride on River
Ganges to see the Bathing ghats and cremation site.
Watching people bathing and worshipping at the ghats
is one of the most extraordinary experiences of
a visit to India. After breakfast visit Sarnath,
which has a history spanning 2500 years. It was here that Gautam Buddha delivered his first
sermon and also attained nirvana. Afternoon
take sightseeing tour of city. Visit the Bharat
Mata Temple which has a big relief map of India
in marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and
the Mosque
of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb built on the site of
an ancient Hindu Temple.
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Day
10 - Varanasi / Delhi - Afternoon transfer to airport in time to board flight to Delhi.Indian
Airlines: IC 805 at 1600 hrs / 1815 hrs. Meeting
and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel
Ashok Country Resort - a three star. Convenient
to stay here before international departure at odd
hours as it is located just 4 Kms from the Indira
Gandhi International Airport
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Day
11 - Delhi Departure - Departure transfer to international airport in time to board
onward flight
End
of tour
