Embark on a 17-day cultural and heritage journey across India, exploring iconic cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient caves, majestic forts, grand palaces, and sacred temples. Experience the rich history, architecture, and spiritual traditions from Mumbai to Delhi, including highlights like Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Sanchi Stupa, Khajuraho region, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, and the capital city of Delhi.
Assistance on arrival by our tour representative at Bombay International airport, transfer to
hotel, relax & overnight at the hotel.
Morning take a city tour visiting Gateway of India – The imposing stone archway in IndoSaracenic architecture built in 1911, later cruise by motor boats to Elephanta island lies 9 km
north-east to Apollo Bunder or Gateway of India. The island which was known as Gharapuri
earlier is the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. This island was renamed, Elephanta by the
Portuguese who landed here, after they saw the majestically carved elephant on this island.
Spread over an area of 500 sq mt is the cave temple of Elephanta. A flight of 100 steps takes
you to the top of the hill where it is set. The temple houses large pillars that seem to hold the
ceiling which is made of cross beams. The picturesque presentation of the 9 marvelous
sculptured panels, set on the walls are awe-inspiring. The most famous of the panels is the
Trimurthi, or triple-headed Shiva, where the God is depicted as the destroyer, the preserver
and the creator. Later in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway of India. Later visit Prince of
Wales Museum, Afghan Church, Parliament House, Marine Drive, Jain Temple, Hanging
Gardens, Towers of Silence which is Symmetry of Parsi and next to Hanging Gardens you
can have a look from outside but not allowed inside the Tower of Silence besides Parsi
Community, Later visit Mani Bhawan, Mahalaxmi Temple and Haji Ali Shrine. Evening free
for leisure, overnight in Bombay.
Morning transfer to the airport to board the flight for Aurangabad at 0700 hrs, assistance on
arrival in Aurangabad at 0800 hrs, transfer to hotel. The city – named after Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb, is now more renown for its close proximity to Rock hewn caves of Ajanta and
Ellora. In the afternoon visit Bibi-ka-Maqbara. Return to Hotel. Overnight in Aurangabad.
Morning visit Ellora Caves carved between 7th & 11th century AD. Carved in sickle shaped
hill, spread north to south in a area of 3 kms. Of these caves 12 are Buddhists, 17 are Hindus
and 5 are Jains. The most remarkable of the carved shrines at Ellora is the Kailasa Temple,
chiseled out by hand from single rock with Gateway, Pavilion, Courtyard, Assembly Hall,
Vestibule, Sanctum and Tower-hall. Thereafter return to Aurangabad. Overnight in
Aurangabad.
Morning checkout and drive to Dhar enroute visiting Ajanta caves. Dated back to 200 BC and
650 BC. These 30 Buddhist caves hewn painstakingly are cut into the scrap of a cliff are
Chaityas (Chapels) & Viharas (Monasteries). These caves are known for their architectural
beauty and for their remarkable frescoes- paintings with infinite charm , which speak about
the civilization of more than 2000 years. Painting in the caves and sculptures outside speak of
some kind of transformation from Hinayana in the earlier caves to Mahayana in the latter
caves where Buddha is shown in an human form. Later continue your journey towards Dhar.
Upon arrival at Dhar check in at hotel and overnight.
Morning excursion tour of Mandu which has over 40 monuments to choose from. For
convenience, these are divided into three broad groups: the Central Village Group, the Royal
Enclave Group, and the Rewa Kund Group. You can easily spend all day in Mandu,
wandering in and out of palaces, pausing to admire the beauty of the Champa Baoli, the
former baths, and the huge 15th-century Jama Masjid, the finest example of Afghan
architecture in India. Then there are the beautiful Jahaz Mahal (ship palace), where the
architectural illusion is completed by the two surrounding lakes; the Hindola Mahal, or swing
palace; the romantic Baz Bahadur’s Palace and Roopmati’s Pavilion; and Hoshang Shah’s
Tomb, the final resting place of the founder of Ghuri Dynasty. Besides, there are many
palaces, pavilions, and reservoirs where you can spend a leisurely day taking in the city’s
rather turbulent history, which is not revealed by the monuments that speak of luxurious royal
lifestyles. Later drive back to Dhar for overnight, as good hotels are not available in Mandu.
This day filled of rich visits on the course towards Indore with a first stop at Maheshwar is
one of the most beautiful palace-temple- city located on the banks of river Narmada.
Maheshwar temples are known for their carved overhanging balconies and their intricately
worked doorways. This city is also famous for its silk saris. Thereafter we continue towards
Omkareshwar, the sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, ‘Om’, Shri
Omkareshwar Mahadeo temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located at the confluence of
Narmada and Kaveri . The devout Hindus come here to kneel before the Jyotirlingams – one
of the 12 in India, proceed Indore on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free to relax overnight
in Indore.
In the morning, visit Indore on the banks of the rivers Saraswati , built by Ahilyabai, the
brave Holkar queen, visit the archaeological museum and the temple of Digamber Jains,
Kanch Mandir. Later departure towards Ujjain situated on the right bank of River Shipra,
Ujjain is, one of the oldest and holiest of Indian cities, it is one of the venues of the Kumbh
Mela. Visit of Mahakaleshwara temple. Continuation towards Bhopal, on arrival transfer to
hotel. Evening free to relax, overnight in Bhopal.
After breakfast take an excursion tour to Sanchi, Vidisha & Udyagiri. Located about 46 km
northeast of Bhopal, the town of Sanchi is famous for the Buddhist works of art dating from
the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD. The ancient stupas, monasteries, temples, and
pillars form a major source of attraction here. Of these, the most famous is the Sanchi Stupa
1, originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. Later drive to Vidisha 10 kms from
Sanchi, Vidisha or Besnagar as it was known then, was an important trade centre in Emperor
Ashoka’s time. On his way to Ujjayani, when he was still a viceroy, he stopped here and
married the daughter of a wealthy local businessman. The ruins of a 2nd century BC Brahmin
shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu, show traces of lime mortar – the earliest use of cement in
India. Located at the confluence of the Betwa and Beas rivers, Vidisha was renamed Bhilsa
by the Muslims, who built the now ruined Bija Mandal, a mosque constructed from the
remains of Hindu temples and the Gumbaz-ka-Maqbara. Vidisha later passed on to the
Malwa Sultans, the Mughals and then the Scindias. Later proceed to UDAIGIRI CAVES Just
5 kms from Vidashi is Udaigiri Groups of rock cut sanctuaries carved into the sandstone
hillside form the Udaigiri Caves, There are 20 caves, out of which 18 are Hindu and the other
2 are Jain. An inscription in one of the caves indicates that they were produced during the
reign of Chandragupta II, between 382-401 AD. The caves have been numbered, probably in
the sequence in which they were excavated. Cave 5 depicts Lord Vishnu in a beautiful
carving in his Varaha (boar) incarnation holding the earth goddess Prithvi on one tusk.
Another large sculpture is that of a reclining Lord Vishnu. Cave 20 is particularly interesting,
with detailed Jain carvings. On top of the hill are the ruins of a 6th century AD Gupta temple.
Later early evening drive back to Bhopal for overnight
Morning take an excursion tour to Bhojpur & Bhimbhetka. Bhojpur known for the remains of
a Shiva temple, sometimes referred to as the “Somnath of the East” and its dams. Later
proceed to famous Bhimbetka caves surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhyan
ranges, are believed to have provided shelter to the primitive man. The caves or the rock
shelters belonging to the Neolithic age number more than 600. Inside most of these caves are
the paintings that depict, in vivid panoramic detail, the life of the pre-historic cave dwellers.
The oldest paintings are believed to be up to 12,000 years old. Drive back to Bhopal in the
evening. Overnight at the hotel.
In time transfer to railway station to board the Shatabdi Express train for Jhansi, assistance on
arrival drive to Orchha, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free to explore Orchha on own.
Overnight in Orchha.
Morning sight seeing tour of Orchha visiting Jehangir Mahal – the largest of the palaces, the
Raj Mahal with its murals and the Raj Praveen Mahal built near a garden ,You would also
visit Dinman Hardaul`s palace with its interesting story. The temples of Orchha are highly
preserved. The two main temples are the Ram Raja Temple with its lofty spires and the
Chaturbhuj temple. Later in the afternoon drive to Gwalior, on arrival transfer to hotel.
Evening free to relax, overnight in Gwalior.
Gwalior is called, the pearl of Hindustan, old princely state of the family of Rajput Sindhia.
for the visit the imposing and magnificent Gwalior Fort made of sandstone, visit Man Mandir
a six-towered palace. In the afternoon visit the enormous, 19th century Jai Vilas Palace. This
Palace is famous for its ornate chandeliers & crystal. Also visit the, Gujari Mahal, the Tomb
of Muhammad Ghaus, a saint worshipped by the Mughals & the Tomb of the famous
musician Tansen. Afternoon drive to Agra, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening visit Taj
Mahal to see it over the sunset. Overnight in Agra.
In the morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal, whose eternal beauty will astonish and
mesmerize the visitors. The Taj Mahal, was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of
his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631. Thereafter visit the Visit the beautiful
mausoleum of the tomb of Itam-Ud-Daulah, the first monument in India to feature Persian
mosaic style inlay work or “Pietra Dura” Greatly resembling the Taj in its use of inlay on
white marble, and is known as the “mini-Taj”. Also visit Agra Fort comprising of Durbar
Halls. Later in the afternoon drive to Jaipur, enroute visiting the Mughal Dynasty of Fatehpur
& Sikri, visit Panch Mahal, Bulund Darwaza & Shrine of Shaikh Salim Chisti. Later proceed
to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free to relax, overnight in Jaipur.
Morning take an excursion tour to Amber Fort – 11kms, and enjoy elephant ride to ascend/
descend this great fort. Later take sight seeing tour of Jaipur visiting City Palace, Hawa
Mahal made for the ladies of Royal Family to see the Processions from this Palace and
without being seen from the people and Jantar Mantar Observatory all within the vicinity of
City Palace. After lunch the day is kept free for shopping or individual activities.
Morning checkout and drive to Delhi, on arrival transfer to hotel. Later in the day visit Old
Delhi to see majestic Red Fort, the historical Chandni Chowk and Raj Ghat the Memoir of
Mahatma Gandhi. Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.
Morning take a sight seeing tour of New Delhi, visit the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the one-time
imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the
Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war; the Laxmi Narayan Temple, built by the
Birlas, one of India’s leading industrial families; Qutab Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek
of the Slave Dynasty; and the lotus-shaped Baha’i Temple. Later afternoon is kept free for
last minute souvenir shopping if wish to or individual activities. After farewell dinner
checkout & transfer to International airport to board the flight back home
