A19 – Exotic and Temples – 18 nights and 19 days

Delhi – Mandawa – Bikaner – Jaiselmer – Jodhpur - -Pushkar – – Agra – Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

Short itinerary

Day 01 :- Arrive Delhi, transfer to the hotel. Later enjoy city tour.

Day 02 :- Drive Delhi to Mandawa/. Visit Mandawa, Nawalgarh & .

Day 03 :- Drive Mandawa to Bikaner. City tour of Bikaner.

Day 04 :- Drive Bikaner to Jaisalmer

Day 05 :- City tour of Jaisalmer.

Day 06 :- Drive Jaisalmer to Jodhpur. City tour of Jodhpur.

Day 07 :- Drive Jodhpur to Udaipur visiting Ranalpur enroute.

Day 08 :- City tour of Udaipur.

Day 09 :- Drive Udaipur to Pushkar. City tour of Pushkar.

Day 10 :- Drive Pushkar to Jaipur.

Day 11 :- City tour of Jaipur and Amber Fort.

Day 12 :- Drive Jaipur to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute.

Day 13 :- City tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal and Fort.

Day 14 :- Agra to Jhansi by train. From Jhansi drive to Khajuraho.

Day 15 :- City tour of Khajuraho. Later night train to Varanasi.

Day 16 :- Enjoy the city tour of Varanasi

Day 17 :- Boat ride on River Ganges. Later night train to Delhi.

Day 18 :- Delhi

Day 19 :- Departure Detailed itinerary

Khajuraho Varanasi train presently operates on Tuesdays Wednesdays & Fridays

Day 01 :- Arrive Delhi Arrive Delhi and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the tour of Delhi.

In Old Delhi visit the Raj Ghat - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi , Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.

In New Delhi visit the Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, Gate and Lakshminarayan Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House and Government Secretariat Buildings.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 02 :- Delhi - Mandawa/Shekhawati. Drive to Mandawa. Visit the famous Shekhavati villages Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Dundlod, etc., full of beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions. This entire area is like an open air gallery. Overnight in Mandawa or one of the Shekhawati villages.

Day 03 :- Mandawa - Bikaner Drive to Bikaner. Afternoon city tour. Bikaner is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Overnight Bikaner.

Day 04 :- Bikaner - Jaisalmer Drive to Jaisalmer. Rest of the Day at leisure.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 05 :- Jaisalmer Morning visit Jaisalmer. Visit the Fort, bazzars and the old mansions known as "havelis".People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work. Afternoon free. Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 06 :- Jaisalmer - Jodhpur Morning drive to Jodhpur. Afternoon visit the Meharangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 07 :- Jodhpur - Ranalpur - Udaipur Morning drive to Udaipur visiting Ranakpur Temples enroute. Ranakpur - the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quiet and picturesque. There are 1444 pillars in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of light & shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 08 :- Udaipur Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Sahelion ki Bari, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir and drive around Fatehsagar Lake.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 09 :- Udaipur - Pushkar Drive to Pushkar. In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma Temple. Pushkar is one of the holiest places for Hindus.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 10 :- Pushkar - Jaipur Morning drive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and transfer to hotel. Rest of the Day at leisure.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 11 :- Jaipur Morning visit the Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Afternoon city tour. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, & the Observatory . Drive past Hawa Mahal& through the pink rose residential & business areas.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 12 :- Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 13 :- Agra Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Halls of Public and Private Audience

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 14 :- Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi and drive to Khajuraho. Arrive Khajuraho & transfer to hotel.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 15 :- Khajuraho - Varanasi Morning, temple tour of Khajuraho. The world famous Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, The Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath and Nandi Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple of Shiva, which is the largest & most typical of temples. Visit the Eastern group of temples that consist of the Parasvanath Temple - the only Jain Temple surviving at Khajuraho and has excellent sculptures on the outer walls of the Sanctum, the Javeri Temple dedicated to Vishnu. The other temples in this group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath. Later transfer to railway station to board the train to Varanasi. Night on board the train.

Day 16 :- Varanasi Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Rest of the Day free. Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 17 :- Varanasi - Delhi Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns Day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Later transfer to railway station to board the train to Delhi. Night on board.

Day 18 :- Delhi Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Rest of the Day free.

Stay at the hotel for the night

Day 19 :- Departure Transfer to airport to board the flight for onward journey.