India 8.1.16.Ai
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INCREDIBLE INDIA MARCH 3 - MARCH 14, 2017 w/3 day optional extension to Dubai EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER. INDIA: THE LAND OF DIVERSITY What better way, than to travel to the sub-continent for the ultimate vacation. There is perhaps no other place on earth, with such a gamut of variety and long history of civilization. As you go through the pages of our history books, it will unveil different stories on culture and romance with tales of Kings and Queens, warriors and princesses etc. that have lived through the ages. Get ready for an exciting interlude in India; discover the delights across exotic & incredible India. Marvel at the architectural masterpieces, the warm hospitality of Indian people, be spellbound at kaleidoscope of colours, and not to forget -mesmerize your- self with the soul stirring cuisine of the land. At Asian Vistas, we understand the value of your vacation with our seamless handling, by our Concierge, who remains at your beck & call 24x7 for the entire duration of the trip. Savour the finer nuances of life of the maharaja's, exquisite settings of your carefully chosen Hotels. Right from the time you arrive into Delhi, the capital of India, you will be treated as a royal. DAILY ITINERARY DAY 1 MARCH 4: ARRIVE DELHI Arrive in Delhi at Indira Gandhi International airport. After immigration and customs formalities as you step into the ‘Meet & Greet Hall’, you will meet our airport representative waiting for you, who will give you a warm welcome with fresh flower garlands. You will then be escorted to your chauffeur driven vehicle to your hotel. At the hotel, our concierge will assist you with the necessary check-in formalities. Delhi remains one of the oldest surviving cities in the world today. It is, in fact, an amalgam of eight cities, each site being built in a different era by a new dynasty/ruler. through its 1000-year-old history. It has evolved into a culturally secular city – absorbing different religions, diverse cultures, both foreign and indigenous, and yet functioning as one organic entity. Overnight at Le Meridien Hotel DAY 2 MARCH 5: IN DELHI After a leisurely breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of historical Delhi, beginning with a stop at Qutub Minar- a UNESCO world heritage site, one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in India by Qutab-ud-Din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent and the inspi- ration for several monuments including the Taj Mahal, followed by a drive to India Gate – a memorial raised in the honor of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war. Drive past the tree-lined area of the plush Lutyens Delhi and explore the government buildings, and photo stop at the President’s House and Parliament House. Lunch at an INDIAN HOME with Cooking Demonstration. After lunch visit the Akshardham, one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed. A visit to this monument is a journey though the gateway to the essence of ancient India and the best of Hindu culture and Vedic civilization. The monument is a fusion of pink stone and pure white marble, where pink stone symbolizes bhakti in eternal bloom and white marble represents that of absolute purity and eternal peace. Return back to your hotel for dinner & overnight stay DAY 3 MARCH 6: DELHI-AGRA After buffet breakfast check out from the hotel and drive a little over 3 hours to arrive at the city of Taj Mahal- Agra. Agra is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jehangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and Shah Jahan embellished it with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble. On arrival check in at hotel ITC Mughal Lunch at ITC Mughal-Peshwari serving Mughali Cuisine Post lunch visit the Mehtab Bagh The place is an ideal spot for it provides picturesque view of Taj Mahal. The name Mehtab Bagh means 'Moon Lit Garden' and the same was testified by the beautiful reflection of Taj Mahal in the pool at night in Mahtab Bagh. The place has a history of its own. It is believed that the great emperor Shah Jahan who built Taj Mahal for his queen wanted an identical one for himself at Mehtab Bagh. However the archaeological findings have proved the existence of garden complex. Whatever the popular beliefs be, the place is worth a visit as it provides bewitching image of Taj Mahal. Celebrating Real Heroes – Sheroes Hangout-Agra Visit a unique café in the city of Taj Mahal – a café run by 5 acid attack survivors or should we say fighters? This is the first time in India that survivors of such attacks have come forward, breaking society’s stereo- types which have tried to force them to live their lives in a closet. Sheroes Hangout is located on the road leading to Taj Mahal and includes a café which serves some wonderful snacks, a library that has been set up with contributions, a section for handicrafts and a boutique where one of these survivors will stitch her dreams. The café has been set up entirely through crowd funding as the campaign behind this initiative believe in the power of humanity. This café is a centre for activism for various types of campaigns related to sale of acid or creat- ing awareness for issues concerning acid attacks and other kind of discussions based on feminism, women empowerment, personality development, skill enhancement, and different kind of youth oriented and cultural events are organised here. Dinner & overnight at the hotel. DAY 4 MARCH 7: IN AGRA Visit Taj Mahal at SUNRISE when Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow, or reflect the sun, its colour changes from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah who is never represented in anthropomorphic form. Return to hotel for breakfast. Later visit the Agra Fort, built by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the fort are a number of exquisite buildings includ- ing the Moti Masjid, Jahangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal, Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a prisoner. Lunch at local Bon Bar-Be-Que serving unlimited Kebabs menu. Evening watch Watch ‘Mohabbat-the-Taj’ – a series of plays depicting the saga of love. The true and immortal love of Shajahan for Mumtaj Mahal- his beautiful wife; the lavish lifestyle of mughal era; immaculate hardship of the artisans for 22 years that created the most precious specimen of craftsman- ship ‘Mohabbat-the-Taj’ at ‘Kalakriti is exceptionally inviting. The effort to hold up the cultural and historical legacy of India is worth a glance. So, be with us to witness the Indian heritage come alive. Dinner & overnight at the hotel. DAY 5 MARCH 8: AGRA-FATEHPUR SIKRI-ABHANERI-JAIPUR After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Jaipur, enroute stopping at Fatehpur Sikri- which was the political capital of India’s Mughal Empire under Akbar’s reign from 1571 till 1585. It is regarded as the crowning glory of his architectural legacy. Continue your drive to Abhaneri-the wonder of Wells-.The first visual effect on setting sight of the stunning architecture is that of jaw dropping awe- an Egyptian pyramid turned upside down! Chand Baoli is a stepped well built by Raja Chand in the 8th/ 9th century AD for harvesting rainwater. Built on a square plan, the stepped well comprises incred- ible 3,500 plus symmetrically laid out steps going all the way down to the pit. The steps surround the well on three sides, having 13 stories while the fourth side has set of pavilions built one on top of another. It is a 100 feet deep. Water was drawn by means of a Persian wheel rotated by an ox from within a pavilion. A relic from our glorious past, Abhaneri is truly a destination worth a visit. Lunch at Abhaneri Village Safari Camp. Time permitting explore the village and sight of rural India where life still continues at the pace with which it has been for thousands of years. On arrival in Jaipur you will be met by our representative and be assisted for check in at the hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel Taj Jai Mahal Palace DAY 6 MARCH 8: IN JAIPUR After breakfast at the hotel, we head to visit the Amber Fort. This is one of the most fascinating of the Indian forts comprising the Palace of Mirrors, Hall of Public Audience and the beautiful gardens, all of which give a glimpse into the majesty of days gone by. The fort can be reached by riding on an Elephant’s back or by Jeep.. On your way back to the city stop by at Jal Mahal for a photography opportunity followed by Lunch at a local restaurant. Post lunch visit to the City Palace to visit its many palatial structures.