India's Majestic Heritage and Spiritual Splendor
15 days in India
Inclusions
- Lodging: 14 nights in hotels, as indicated in the itinerary.
- Meals: All meals as indicated in the Itinerary.
- Beverages: Bottled soft drinks/water during meals and in the units during excursions.
- Transportation: All ground transportation in air-conditioned vehicles.
- Train Jhansi - Agra
- Flights: Internal economy class flights - Delhi/Jodhpur + Udaipur/Jaipur + Khajuraho/Varanasi/Delhi.
- Guides: Guide services (English speaking)
- Activities: All tours/activities as described in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees to visits
- All applicable taxes
Exclusiones
- International flights (Mexico - India - Mexico)
- Indian Visa
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Everything that is not indicated in the inclusions.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
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Today, arrival in Delhi. After completing the formalities and immigration formalities, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, approximately 35 minutes drive.
India's historic capital is one of the world's most inhabited cities, with a mix of old and new amidst a panorama of cities spanning nearly two millennia of expansion. From the busy bazaars of Old Delhi surrounding the giant Jama Masjid mosque, to the imperial grandeur of British Delhi radiating from its most iconic buildings; the capital is an irresistible mix of chaos and order.
- Day 2: Delhi
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Morning walk through Old Delhi starting at Rajghat, where the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi is located, but first a trip by bicycle cab "rickshaw" through the streets of Chandni Chowk Market, a place more than 350 years old, which today still retains its authenticity of medieval times with its streets crammed with small stores, restaurants, mansions and places of prayer.
We will pass by the spice market at Khari Baoli, as well as the jewelry market at Dariba Kalan. We will end the morning at Jama Masjid, the largest medieval mosque in India.
We will cross the Yamuna River to Akshardham, a unique center of Hindu culture. This modern complex and its impressive temple were established by the Swaminarayan sect in 2005; with enormous proportions and scope, it showcases ten millennia of Indian culture with a religious emphasis.
We recommend lunch today at Indian Accent - India's number one restaurant serving innovative Indian cuisine by complementing traditional Indian flavors with global ingredients and technology.
After sunset we will visit Nizamuddin for an evening Sufi style, a medieval neighborhood which is highlighted by several shrines and in particular the tomb of Nizamuddin Auliya.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 3: Delhi
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This morning, we will visit the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib which is the main Sikh temple, an important shrine with its gold-covered domes.
Then we will go to the Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Continue to Qutab Minar, the world's tallest brick minaret dating back to the 12th century, the oldest Islamic monument in Delhi. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Continue the visit to the recently restored Humayun's Tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal emperor in the second half of the sixteenth century. Of great magnitude and set amidst gardens, this building is an icon, heralding the arrival of Mughal architecture. Some consider it to be the forerunner of the Taj Mahal.
Lunch at a local restaurant with traditional Indian food, famous among the locals.
Afterwards we will take a walk to Lutyens, a memorial to the war dead. We will visit the North and South Secretary's Block, the Rashtrapari Bhawan (Presidential Palace), the parliament and the diplomatic enclave.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 4: Delhi/Jodhpur
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Morning free time to enjoy the hotel.
Then at 11h00 hrs, transfer to Delhi airport for flight to Jodhpur (Vistara Airlines UK683 - 1:50PM/3:00PM).
You will be met and transferred upon arrival at the hotel, approximately 25 minutes away.
Later, visit the city's old bazaars, known for their handicraft stores that make and sell silver jewelry, lacquer ware, fabrics, puppets and camel skin leather goods. Jodhpur is also known for its antique shops selling a wide variety of items.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 5: Jodhpur
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Today, we will visit the monumental Mehrangarh Fort which rises vertically from a rocky hill overlooking Jodhpur. Its enormous size, dizzying walls and canyon walls make this fortress one of the most majestic in India.
Its interiors are artistic and delicate, with palaces magnificently carved in red sandstone adorned with elaborate paneling and lattice windows, and a museum that features a vast collection of royal artifacts including royal elephant cradles and mounts.
A thorough and recently completed restoration makes Mehrangarh Fort one of the finest examples of restoration and conservation architecture.
The Chokelao Bagh, a terraced garden adjacent to the fortress, was also restored. Over two hundred years old, it was once the venue for royal gatherings, theatrical and musical performances.
Free time to enjoy shopping at local stores and relax.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 6: Jodhpur/Ranakpur/Udaipur
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This morning we will depart Jodhpur, and drive to Udaipur (266 km / 5 hours with stops). We will stop at Ranakpur - site of the legendary Jain temple dedicated to Adinatha dating back to the 15th century. It has 1,444 columns carved in marble, and with exquisite detail and variety of designs.
After lunch we will continue to Udaipur, also known as Mewar; it was a principality of India and at one time the capital of the medieval kingdom. It is known as the City of Lakes or the Venice of the East, being one of the most beautiful places in India. It consists of a mosaic of artificial lakes surrounded by the Aravali hills and in some sections on the shores of Lake Pichola can be seen palaces, pavilions and elegant old mansions. The Mewar dynasty, claims descent from the sun so their palaces generally tend to face east.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 7: Udaipur
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The city of Udaipur and its eastern lake shores are dominated by the City Palace, an amalgam of several interconnected marble and granite palaces that are linked by staircases and passages revealing battlements, decorated interiors, ornamental gardens, terraces, and private chambers.
The Bhim Vilas Palace displays an excellent collection of miniature paintings of the Mewar school. In another section, you will see the Durbar Hall (Durbar Hall - royal assembly hall) and the unique Crystal Gallery. In the vicinity of the palace you will see the royal collection of antique cars, some of which were custom-designed.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Pichola offering spectacular views as well as panoramic views of the city. We will also walk through the old city, very different from any other, especially for its narrow winding streets that are filled with activity and excitement. Udaipur is famous for its miniature paintings, puppets and marionettes and wooden toys with lacquer finishes, so we will have the opportunity to visit the artisans' workshops.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 8: Udaipur/Jaipur
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After breakfast. Transfer to Udaipur airport for flight to Jaipur (Spice Jet SG6635 - 01:00PM/02:10PM). Upon arrival transfer to hotel.
OPTIONAL - visit Galtaji (The Monkey Temple), one of the most interesting and little visited sites in Jaipur, which is located in a valley on the outskirts of the city. It is a temple complex with seven spring-fed ponds which are considered sacred as they are believed to have healing powers.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 9: Jaipur
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This morning visit Amber a short distance to the north. It is what was the capital during the 10th century that preceded Jaipur. We will visit Amber Fort, one of the most impressive fortresses in India, built on a hill in the 16th century by the Rajputs. The architecture of the fort is a mixture of Rajput and Mughal designs, which was initially a palace complex.
Later we will continue to an exclusive elephant camp, which is located on the Aravali Range. We will have time to spend with the elephants and enjoy lunch.
Return to the hotel and afternoon free to visit the stores or go shopping.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 10: Jaipur
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In the morning, visit the old city of Jaipur which is the first planned city of India, also known as the pink city. Built around the City Palace in a grid pattern of streets and lanes on either side of which many are old world residences, stores and markets highlighting the design style adapted by its architect Samuel Swinton Jacob.
The public areas of the City Palace, are defined by elegant courtyards, pavilions and gates around which are located some private museums exhibiting a rich collection of royal memorabilia such as armaments, art, books, carpets, fabrics, paintings and portraits.
Adjacent to the City Palace is the Jantar Mantar observatory - one of the five astronomical observatories built in India by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728. It is a legacy of the ancient realm of astronomy whose curious implements in shape and size are astonishingly accurate to this day.
Despite advances and modernity, astrology continues to exert a profound influence on all aspects of daily life whether in business, marriage, travel, in civil and residential construction - just to name a few - as there is an auspicious date and time to be observed for every project.
Food: Breakfast
- Day 11: Jaipur/Fatehpur Sikri/Agra
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After breakfast, depart by road to Agra (256 kms- 5 hours). On the way, visit the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, a sumptuous Mughal city built by Emperor Akbar the Great in the late 16th century in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The city was used for 17 years and abandoned for lack of water. It is considered a perfect synthesis of well-preserved Hindu, Islamic and Persian architecture which reminds us of the majesty and romanticism of the era.
We will spend the day experiencing the grandeur of the Mughal empire, established in 1526 by a visionary immigrant ruler from Central Asia which lasted for almost 300 years. Agra, crowned by the Taj Mahal, was the culmination of his artistic achievements.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 12: Agra
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At dawn, visit the Taj Mahal. An emperor's tribute to his late wife, it has been described as a poem, a vision, a wonder, a dream and an earthly replica of paradise. Twenty-two years in the making (1631-1653).
After lunch, continue to Agra Fort, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. Built by three generations of Mughal emperors. It is a walled palace, enclosing within it an impressive set of palaces and buildings with different architectural styles.
Across the river is the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, also known as the small "Taj"; some consider it as the sketch of the Taj Mahal, built in the early seventeenth century. You can appreciate the walls built in marble inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, as well as the geometric drawings in the Persian decorative style.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 13: Agra/Jhansi/Orchha/Khajuraho
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In the morning we will be transferred to the railway station to take the train to Jhansi (Bhopal Shatabdi Express - 08:02AM/10:43AM).
Upon arrival in Jhansi, we will drive to Orchha, 12 km away. The medieval city of Orchha is known for its Chattris, a collection of magnificent royal tombs or cenotaphs of the Maharajas. Its palaces and temples still retain their original splendor and it is a pleasure to walk through its history. It is famous for its huge palace-fortress located on a temporary island in the Betwa River.
We will continue our journey to Khajuraho. In the evening we will attend the sound and light show at the temples of Khajuraho.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 14: Khajuraho/Varanasi
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We will take a tour of the city to enjoy one of the most incredible artistic spectacles in India. Today you can see 22 temples out of the original 85. The erotic temples of Khajurajo are known for the large number of erotic scenes where you can see figures of Hindu deities, dances, rituals, geometric, floral and animal figures that coexist in a very long series of sculptures and postures of the Kama Sutra which represent human love to the divine.
Afterwards we will head to the airport to take the flight to Varanasi city (Vistara Airlines UK622, 02:20PM/03:25PM
Upon arrival we will be transferred to the hotel which is approximately 45 minutes away.
Upon arrival we will meet Dr. Tripathi; an archaeologist, priest and scholar of Vedic astrology who loves to showcase the vast legacy of India. He has immense knowledge of the city of Varanasi or Varanasi. While Dr. Tripathi takes us thousands of years into the past with his knowledge of destinies, he can also access palm reading at night.
No wonder he was invited to be part of the Hindu wedding ceremony of legendary model Heidi Klum and world-famous singer and songwriter Seal, in Costa Careyes.
In the afternoon we will travel by rickshaws through the old city with its characteristic sounds of temple bells, lights, glitter, Bollywood movie songs and devotional music, as well as the tantalizing aroma of street food.
We will stroll through the traditional markets before returning to the ghats (steps beside the Ganges) to participate in evening prayer. We will join with the other devotees in placing kerosene candles on natural leaves in the water; a deeply moving ritual that marks the end of the ceremony.
To end the day we will take a cruise on the Ganges to view from the river the activities taking place on land, activities that will take you to experience the city of Varanasi more intensely and deeply.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 15: Varanasi/Delhi; Departure from Delhi
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We will wake up before dawn to visit the Ganges River, sailing on a local boat to observe the morning prayer where thousands of worshippers perform their purifying baths while paying tribute to the Sun God.
According to Hinduism, anyone who dies in this city is freed from the cycle of reincarnations and bathing in the river is considered purifying of sins.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and free time in the morning.
Later, we will visit the Bharat Kala Bhawan, a university museum exhibiting a collection of Gujarati, Rajasthani and Pahari miniature paintings. As well as pottery, handicrafts, ivory items and various jewelry.
In the afternoon, drive to the airport for flight to Delhi (Vistara Airlines UK955 - 03:20PM/4:55PM).
Transfer to Delhi International Airport to complete all necessary immigration formalities and connect with international flights to your final destination.
Meals: Breakfast
Restrictions
** We recommend considering major medical insurance coverage: Insurance is not included, so we suggest that passengers consider coverage for medical expenses, lost luggage, personal belongings, flight cancellations/delays, and travel-related contingencies.
Contact us at
Contact us at the following telephone numbers where we will gladly assist you:
In Mexico City:
55 1328 4800