Day 01: Friday, December 27, 2013 : Arrive Delhi :
Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. Following customs & immigration formalities and baggage collection, a Holiday Season representative will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building and driven through the city to your hotel.
New Delhi, the capital of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern India. It unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely carved architecture of British Raj. It generates a mesmerizing charm reflecting well-composed and spacious streets under the shade of beautifully lined avenues of trees and tall and imposing government buildings. Overnight: Hotel in Delhi - (2 nights)

Day 02: Saturday, December 28, 2013: Delhi :
We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit Birla House - The Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi spent his later years at Birla House before he was assassinated by Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948. Later we visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar - a perfect minaret towering 72.5 meters / 80.5 yards into the sky and there are 379 stairs inside the tower . New Delhi is a blend of Mughal India, Hindu India, and British India and certainly of modern independent India. Our afternoon concentrates on Old Delhi, starting with the famous Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort of the Mughal Empire. Next we visit another Mughal majesty, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. We end our tour with the visit to Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. (B)
India Gate - New Delhi

Activities/Sites Visited:

1. Guided Tour of Birla House - Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi and see the spot where he was assassinated.
2. India Gate with Guide
3. Humayun's Tomb with Guide - World Heritage Site
4. Qutub Minar with Guide - World Heritage Site
5. Red Fort with Guide - World Heritage Site
6. Jama Masjid with Guide
7.  Raj Ghat with Guide

Day 03: Sunday, December 29, 2013: Delhi - Jaipur - Drive 265 Kms/6 Hours
Morning after breakfast, we depart on an interesting countryside drive as we head for the colorful province of Rajasthan. This journey will give us our first exposure to the spectacular countryside and rural life in India. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel in Jaipur - (2 nights) (B)

Day 04: Monday, December 30, 2013: Jaipur
A royal experience awaits us as we take an elephant ride uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. After the tour we return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical observatory built by the founder of the city, Jai Singh. We also visit the majestic Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art and the colorful bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone and one of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal-Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. Evening is free to enjoy both shopping and a cultural experience in the bazaars of Jaipur. (B)

Activities/Sites Visited:-

1. Amber fort with Guide
2. Elephant ride at Amber Fort (subject to availability)
3. Hawa Mahal with Guide
4. The City Palace with Guide
5. Old Astronomical Observatory with Guide

Hawa Mahal - JaipurDay 05: Tuesday, December 31, 2013:Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (drive 232 km / 05 hrs)
Another interesting drive through rural India as we head for Agra-Home to the world-famous Taj Mahal. In order to understand the love and history that was there into creating the Taj, before reaching Agra we visit Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1640 by the Moghul King, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Moghul architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir, father of the builder of the Taj. On arrival we check in our hotel. In the evening we enjoy at Kalakriti Theater Mohabbat, a unique musical dance show based on story of Taj Mahal. Later we join the event of the New year - the New Years Gala Dinner at the hotel.(B, D)

Activities/Sites Visited:-

1. Fatehpur Sikri with Guide - World Heritage Site.
2. Enjoy Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti.
3. New Year Eve celebrations and Gala dinner at Hotel.

Day 06: Wednesday, January 01, 2014:Agra
The New Year and the Taj Mahal! We start our tour of Agra and visit the most well known wonders of the world. Built by Shahjehan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where his son imprisoned Shah Jehan in the later years of his life to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on the black echo of the Taj Mahal. Afternoon is free to explore Agra - ideal opportunity to look out for miniature marble built Taj.In the evening we enjoy Helium Teathered Balloon ride.(B)

Activities/Sites Visited:-

1. Visit to Taj Mahal with Guide - World Heritage Site.
2. Visit to Agra Fort with Guide - World Heritage Site.
3. Evening we enjoy Helium Teathered Balloon ride.

Day 07: Thursday, January 02, 2014:Agra / Jhansi (train) & drive to Orchha
A short rail journey gets us mid morning at Jhansi. From here we drive to Orchha - an amazing medieval fortress-city located on the shores of the Betwa River. We take tour of Orchha. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which are the Raja Mahal and the Jahangir Mahal. Overnight: Hotel in Orchha (1 night) (B)

Activities/Sites Visited:-

1. Train Journey to Jhansi by Superfast train.
2. Visit to Medieval Fortress at Orchha with Guide.

Day 08: Friday, January 03, 2014:Orchha- Khajuraho: (Drive)
Today we drive to Khajuraho, once the capital of a powerful dynasty of Hindu Kings called the Chandellas (950 AD). Today it is famous for its magnificent temples, considered to be among the most vibrantly original works of Hindu. In the afternoon we explore the Khajuraho Temples- recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The temples were built during the apogee of the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. Khajuraho, once the great Chandela capital, is today a village of about a few thousand people. Tradition records the existence of eighty-five temples, of which only twenty-five, strewn amidst lakes and fields, have survived. The temples of Khajuraho are a brilliant example of medieval Indian architecture. Rightfully acclaimed, each ancient structure in India has a fascinating story to tell, but few match the temples of Khajuraho. Overnight: Hotel in Khajuraho (1 Night) (B)

Activities/Sites Visited:

1. Visit to Khajuraho Temples with Guide - World Heritage Site.

Day 09: Saturday, Jan 04, 2014:Khajuraho-Varanasi: By Flight
Today we take a short flight to the holy city of Varanasi amongst the oldest living cities in the Sub Continent. On arrival in Varanasi we are transferred to our hotel. Later we visit the intriguing old city including the famous Bharat Mata Temple which houses a large marble relief map of India. Varanasi is famous for its many temples and historical buildings. Our tour will include visit of the Durga & Tulsi Manas Mandirs, the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb. In the evening we witness the Aarti ceremony on the Ghats of Ganges. Every evening at sunset, on the banks of the river Ganges, the devotional ceremony of Aarti is performed. Thousands of Hindus and tourists flock to the ghats, particularly in the pilgrimage town of Varanasi.Overnight: Hotel in Varanasi (1 Night) (B)
Varanasi Ghat
Activities/Sites Visited:

1. Flight to Varanasi.
2. City of Varanasi with guide.
3. Witness Aarti ceremony on the Ghats of Ganges with Guide.

Day 10: Sunday, January 05, 2014:Varanasi / Delhi (flight)
Early morning a serene experience begins as we take a sunrise cruise on the River Ganges. One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges and every morning scores of pilgrim and priests fill the riverbanks performing the holy dip and other rituals. This is a site that has to be seen and experienced, as it is so different from anything else in the world. After our first hand experience of Hindu Culture we come back to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we tour Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon after attaining enlightenment. At Sarnath we meet many Buddhist monks and pilgrims before visiting local Homes in Varanasi to see in-Home silk weaving and soak up some local customs, culture and hospitality. The city is famous for its Banarasi silk saris and the Home based industries. Afternoon flight to New Delhi gets us in time to enjoy the farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Delhi - 1 Night (B, D)

Activities/Sites Visited:-

1. Sunrise boat ride on the river Ganges with guide
2. Tour of Sarnath with guide
3. Flight to Delhi.
4. Farewell Dinner at Local Restaurant in Delhi.

Day 11: Monday, January 06, 2014 - Delhi / Home (flight)
The day is free for shopping and bargaining. Check out from the hotel is at 12 Noon. We are transferred to the airport for our departure flight back Home after bidding farewell to India. (B)

(B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner,



.