Explore India in 30 days

OVERVIEW: This tour will ensure You experience many things India has to offer: from the sandy deserts with exotic camel and elephant rides, spectacular forts and museums. We will take you to the tour around the famous tourist attractions such as one of the World’s Seven Wonders, Hanging Gardens and introduce to the biggest cities with their sight to the future tendencies as well as give a chance to explore rural and very local places, with the beauty of culture within and tradition around. There will be a great opportunity to stay over at the heritage forts as well as nights spent in the desert. The tour will take you through the big as much as through the smaller cities, deserts, rivers, lakes, sights and architecture, wildlife and shopping culture. There will be nights in the train-sleepers as well as local flights from one destination to another. This is how you will experience most of what India has got. The tour is great to explore the Big India.

DETAILS: DURATION 30 days / 29 nights HIGHLIGHTS A deep tour around India START CITY New Delhi END CITY Mumbai PLACES TO BE VISITED Delhi – Humayun’s Tomb, Raj Ghat, Akshardham Temple Complex, QutabMintar, India Gate, Raisina Hill, RashtrapatiBhawan, Lutyens Magnum Opus, Parliament House, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, The Bahá'í House of Worship (known as Lotus Temple), ChandiniChowk

Kangra - western part of Himalayas McLeod Ganj - Tsuklakhang Palace, Dalai Lama’s temple, Namgyal Monastery, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.Gompa Dip Tse-Chok Ling, Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung Monastery, Norbulingka Institute

Amritsar - Wagah border, Swarna Jayanthi gate, Golden Temple

Bodhgaya - Mahabodhi Temple Complex

Varanasi - River Ganges, with hindu rituals

Khajuraho - Lakshman Temple (known for Kama Sutra erotica)

Orchha – Betwa River, Rajmandir Mahal, Jahangir Mahal

Agra – Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Pearl Mosque, Hall of Public Audiences, Hall of Private Audiences, Octagonal Tower, Jehangir Palace

Fatehpur Sikri – Palace

Jaipur - Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall, Observatory, Jaipur’s Bazaars

Pushkar – Lord Brahma Temple, Pushkar’s shopping market, camel safari, Pushkar Lake (optional).

Chandelao – village, stay over at 300 years old Fort

Jodhpur - Mehrangarh Fort, Thar Desert, Jodhpur’s Bazaars

Ranakpur - Jain Temple, Sun Temple

Udaipur - City Palace Complex, Jagdish Temple, Lake Pichola, Udaipur’s Bazaars

Goa - Basilica of Born Jesus, St. Cathedral, St. Francis, St. Cajetan, Church of Rosary and Nunnery of St. Monica, Goa Beaches

Mumbai - Gateway of India, 7thcentury sculptures of manifestation of Shiva, Prince of Wales Museum, Fish Aquarium, Jain Temples, Hanging Gardens

TRANSPORTATION A/C vehicle, night train (sleeper), local flights PRICE INCLUDES Transportation and breakfast GROUP SIZE No limits

ITINERARY: DAY 1: Delhi Assisted arrival at Delhi International Airport. Check in to the hotel. Delhi is a Melting Pot of cultures, politics and religions of India’s colorful past in its monuments, its palaces, and in the faces of its people that narrate the story of their glorious past as well as foresight to India’s future. The day is free from the activities. Stay overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2: Delhi After breakfast at the hotel we will be visiting Humayun’s Tomb – UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the day is for your own exploration, overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 3: Delhi Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and later visit the museum. In the afternoon, we will go to Akshardham, a hindu temple complex, which displays centuries of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality and architecture. And for the last bit, we will see the highest tower in India, QutabMintar.The rest of the day will be for your leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 4: Delhi - McLeod Ganj (night train) After breakfast, check out from the hotel. We will proceed with driving along Delhi’s Diplomatic Enclave, which is characterized by the presence of diplomatic missions along with their staff compounds and major international schools. Our first stop will be at the India Gate, a war memorial arch. Then we will drive to Raisina Hill to the Viseroy’s House (now it is called Rashtrapati Bhawan – the official residence of the president of India) and Lutyens Magnum Opus, architectural fusion of Indian and Western design.Our next stop will be at the Parliament House, which Lutyen built in a circular coliseum design. Later in the day, we will visit the Old Delhi, where we will have a good opportunity to drive cycle-rickshaws and ride past the Red Fort, which is a palace citadel. The fort is a complex of marble buildings with balconies, filigreed windows, massive red sandstone walls, ramparts and gateways. Then we will visit Jama Masjid, the principal mosque of the old Delhi. We then proceed to the Chandini Chowk or the Moonlit Square. It is a medieval area in which we will recognize not just Cairo or Istanbul, but also Chester and Heidelberg. This is perhaps one of Delhi's most populated areas and the largest marketplace – jewelleries, spice merchants and food vendors. After Dinner we will proceed to the railway station where we will catch a train to Mclordganj.

DAY 5: McLeod Ganj / Kangra Reaching Maclordganj in the early morning. On our way we will have a stop at Kangra, the western part of Himalayas, we will have our breakfast. We will continue sightseeing to many ancient temples: Jawalaji, Brijeshwari Devi, Chamunda Devi, Chintapurni, Baba Baroh, Masroor and Baijnath temple. We will settle in McLeod Ganjat the hotel for overnight.

DAY 6: McLeod Ganj - Dharamsala McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district. We will be visiting the most important site in the town: Tsuklakhang Palace, Buddhist palacial Monastery, the Dalai Lama’s temple. We will also be visiting other Buddhist and Tibetan sites in McLeod Ganj: the Namgyal Monastery, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.Gompa Dip Tse- Chok Ling (a small monastery), the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Gangchen Kyishong, Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung Monastery, Norbulingka Institute. The rest of the day is for your leisure. We will overnight at the hotel in a nearby city, Dharamsala.

DAY 7: McLeod Ganj - Amritsar (Punjab) (6 hour drive) After breakfast we will drive to Amritsar (Punjab). In the evening we will be visiting Wagah border, a border between India and Pakistan. The international borderline between India and Pakistan, Wagah is always been in the news headlines of both countries. Convoluted buildings, barriers and roads mark both sides of the border. The fencing between the borders is electrified with a high voltage. The Swarna Jayanthi gate, which is the entry gate of the outpost, commands the magnificent scenery of verdant landscapes. Situated in between Lahore and Amritsar, evenings in this army post are very charming and colorful with the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. The pageantry and pomp, and the change of guard with in a short expanse make an appealing spectacle, which grabs large gathering. The most important segment of the ceremonial parade is the bringing down of the respective flags of both countries. Tourists and the locals throng near the border to witness the ceremonial parade of the Soldiers of the two countries. When the sun sets in the horizon, the soldiers take their departure amidst the beatings of the drums and beguiles. The entire ceremony nearly takes thirty minutes. The rest of the day you will spend for your leisure. We will be staying overnight at the hotel.

DAY 8: Amritsar We will start our sightseeing tour after breakfast at the hotel and head towards Golden Temple and have some time for our own exploration. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 9: Amritsar – Bodhgaya (whole day travel) After breakfast in Amritsar we will take a flight to Patna and then drive to Bodhgaya (180 km from Patna). This will take us another 4 hours of the day, therefore, we will reach the hotel in the evening. Time is for your own activities.

DAY 10: Bodhgaya

Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indianstate of Bihar. It is famous for being the place of Gautama Buddha's attainment of Enlightenment. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.

After breakfast we will have a full-day sightseeing tour to: Mahabodhi Temple Complex and we will get some time for meditation in a Buddhist monastery. The rest of the evening is for your own activity. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 11: Bodhgaya – Varanasi (5 hour drive) After breakfast at the hotel we will take a long drive. When we reach Varanasi, you will have an easy day for your own leisure.

DAY 12: Varanasi

Varanasi also commonly known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is regarded as a holy city by Buddhists and Jains, and is the holiest place in the world in Hinduism (and center of earth in Hindu cosmology). It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest of India.People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", and "the city of learning."

We will be taking a long sightseeing tour around the city monuments and Buddhist sights. Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000 years old. Varanasi was a commercial and industrial center famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.

We will spend overnight at the hotel.

DAY 13: Varanasi – Khajuraho (air transfer)

After breakfast at the hotel we will transfer to Khajuraho, which has an average elevation of 283 meters. Today, the temples serve as fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity due to their explicit depiction of sexual life during medieval times. Locals living in the Khajuraho village always knew about and kept up the temples as best as they could.

We will later visit Lakshman temple, also known as Kamasutra temple, due to the sexual nature of the carvings, they do not illustrate the meticulously described positions. Neither do they express the philosophy of Vatsyayana's famous sutra. The strategically placed sculptures are "symbolical-magical diagrams, or yantras" designed to appease malevolent spirits. This alamkara (ornamentation) expresses sophisticated artistic transcendence over the natural; sexual images imply a virile, thus powerful, ruler.

After the sightseeing tour you will have some time for your leisure activities.

DAY 14: Khajuraho - Agra

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Jhansi to catch train towards Agra.On the way will visit the small town Orchha known for palaces and temples.

On a seasonal island on the bank of the Betwa River, which has been surrounded by a battlement wall, stands a huge palace-fort. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which are the Rajmandir and the Jahangir Mahal. The Rajmandir is built on a square base and has an almost entirely plain exterior, relieved by projecting windows and a line of delicate domes along the summit. The Jahangir Mahal is built on a rectangular base and is relieved by a circular tower at each corner surmounted by a dome, while two lines of graceful balconies supported on brackets mark the central storey.

After sightseeing tour we will catch a train to Agra and have dinner at the hotel.

DAY 15: Agra

Agra city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery. It has witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan, all of whom lavished on this fabled city, their love and riches to transform the land into one of the greatest centers of art, culture, learning and commerce. Much of the city's impressive past lives in evidence even today, in the haunting presence inside the monuments and in the majesty of the buildings.

In the morning we will visit the Taj Mahal – often described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love. Later, we will return to the hotel.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Agra Fort. Where we will continue our tour to the Pearl Mosque built of marble, the Hall of Public Audiences, the Hall of Private Audiences where the famous "peacock throne" was kept, the Octagonal Tower, the Jehangir Palace built by Akbar for his son Jehangir and the Khas Mahal, a beautiful white marble structure used as a private palace.

We will stay overnight at the hotel.

DAY 16: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur (5 hour drive)

We will have breakfast at the hotel and drive to Fatehpur Sikri (37km), also known as “A City Frozen in Time”.Fatehpur Sikri was built as an affirmation of faith, hope and of joy. But 15 years later this dream city with its lofty mosque, pleasure pavilions, sunken gardens and multi-level courts were abandoned. Many believed that the city was abandoned due to a shortage of water; another reason was that Akbar found it impractical to maintain 2 establishments - at Agra and at Fatehpur Sikri - simultaneously. Walking through Fatehpur Sikri’s empty palaces, one can be transported back 400 years, and visualize the glory and the splendour that must have existed. Following our visit of Fatehpur Sikri, we proceed to Jaipur. On arrival, we check in to the hotel and the rest of the evening is for yr leisure.

DAY 17: Jaipur Jaipur was one of the first examples in the world of city planning. The 250 year old city is a startling blend of forts and palaces, of teeming markets, shops and transport of every kind, from cars to camels. The city is a living testament to one of the most remarkable men of his age - Jai Singh II was extremely talented politically as well as on the battle field. Indulging in his passion for science and the arts resulted in the creation of Jaipur. Jaipur is called the “Pink City”, for by law, all the buildings in the old city must be painted a deep saffron-pink..However, much of the pinkness of the city goes to the credit of Maharaja Mansingh who dressed up the city in the symbolic welcoming colour when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII visited Jaipur in 1876. Jaipur today, is the capital of Rajasthan with a population of over 1.5 million people. Apart from being an important administrative, commercial and educational centre, Jaipur has a variety of manufacturing industries. It is especially known for its arts and crafts: jewellery, enamel work, hand-painted fabrics and stone sculptures. Above everything, Jaipur is an extraordinary colourful place.

We will have breakfast at the hotel. After that, we will proceed for our visit to Amber Fort. Amber is the former capital of Jaipur, a state stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts situated about 11 km from Jaipur. Here we will ascend the hill on elephant back. On our way we will stop at the highly ornamented Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds built in 1799 which has no less than 953 little windows and balconies.

The rest of the day will be for your leisure.

DAY 18: Jaipur After breakfast we will visit the Albert Hall and the Observatory. The rest of the day you will have for shopping. You might take a cycle-rickshaw ride through Jaipur’s Bazaars, such as: Sireh Deorhi Bazaar, Johari Bazaar, Bapu, Nehru, Indira Bazaars, Kishanpol Bazaar and others. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 19: Jaipur – Pushkar After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Pushkar. In the evening, during the sunset we will have a desert camel ride. Here we will settle for the night.

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India where the famous Pushkar Camel Fair is held annually.

DAY 20: Pushkar - Chandelao After breakfast at the hotel we will have half day sightseeing in Pushkar and in the late afternoon drive to Chandelao, a village, situated nearby Jodhpur. Here we will have an evening walk through the city, to see the city-life. We will settle in Chandelao for overnight and stay in 300 years old Fort which belongs to the Takhur of Chandelao. Your host is the Takhur himself. He can trace his noble family roots back to the 1100-century, and he tells you about his family’s proud history while you wander around in his living museum.

DAY 21: Chandelao – Johdpur

After breakfast we will head to Jodhpur, the Blue City at the edge of the Desert.We will visit the Mehrangarh Fort, which stands sentinel over the doorway to the Thar Desert. We will later embark on an adventure of discovery of the markets of Jodhpur through the narrow and winding lanes.Look for the tie & dye textiles, embroidered leather shoes, lacquerware, antiques, carpets and puppets. Here one can buy exquisite Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic silver jewellery. We will later experience a typical "opium ceremony". This is a very traditional welcome given by the head of the village to a visitor. The rest of the day is for your own leisure. We will stay overnight at the hotel in Chandelao.

DAY 22: Chandelao – Ranakpur – Udaipur (6 hour drive)

After breakfast at the hotel we will have a long drive towards Udaipur. On our way we will stop at Ranakpur, to visit the grand Jain Temple as well as the old Sun Temple. After our little sightseeing in Ranakpur we will continue to Udaipur. After settling in the hotel for overnight, the rest of the day we will have for our leisure.

DAY 23: Udaipur

Udaipur is the most romantic city in the state of Rajasthan. Udaipur nestles like a gem in a valley surrounded by green hills, reflected smooth and white in the clear blue waters of Lake Pichola. The city is a kaleidoscope of narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples. Rest of the evening is for your leisure. We will stay overnight at the hotel.

DAY 24: Udaipur

After breakfast at the hotel we will set off for our visit to the City Palace complex which is a private residence of the Maharana of Mewar (a title which means “king of kings”) who belongs to the oldest royal lineage in the country. We will later visit the Shiv Niwas Palace is a Luxury hotel today, which is a private residence of the royal family. Later we will visit the City Palace where are several architectural and artistic highlights known for its stunning peacock mosaics and a series of wall paintings. Following our visit of the City Palace, we wander through the markets and bazaars to get a feel of the city situated close behind the City Palace. We also visit the Jagdish Temple which is decorated with excellent carvings and a bronze figure of the Garuda. Here we will proceed to the Garden of the Maids of Honor which was used as a venue for royal parties. In the later afternoon we will enjoy a relaxing boat ride along serene Lake Pichola. We will glide along the lake and enjoy the fantastic views of the legendry Lake Palace, the façade of the imposing City Palace as well as the magnificent Jag Mandir Island. The rest of the day is on your leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 25: Udaipur – Goa

We will have breakfast at the hotel and early morning transfer to the airport. Settle in the hotel in Goa and have a relaxfull evening for your leisure.

DAY 26: Goa

We will have our breakfast at the hotel and go for full-day-long sightseeing tour. We will visit: the Basilica of Born Jesus, most popular and most famous of all churches in Goa – St. Cathedral, St. Francis, St. Cajetan and Church of Rosary and Nunnery of St. Monica. The rest of the evening is for your own observations. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 27: Goa

Breakfast at the hotel. This day is free from any activities. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 28: Goa – Mumbai (night train)

After breakfast check out from the hotel and visit the South of Goa. Later, transfer to the railway station to catch a train for Mumbai.

DAY 29: Mumbai

Morning arrival at Mumbai. We will have breakfast on the way to the hotel. We will have an afternoon walk to the Gateway of India. Later we will take a motor launch to the 7thcentury sculptures of manifestation of Shiva. Evening is free for last day shopping. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 30: Mumbai

We will have our breakfast at the hotel, followed by full-day-sightseeing in Mumbai. We will visit the Prince of Wales Museum, Fish Aquarium, Jain Temples, Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills, here we will see a beautiful sight to Marine Lines and Chowpatty Beach. After farewell dinner transfer to International Airport for onward journey.

D-159, Gautam Marg, Nirman Nagar Jaipur - 302019, Rajasthan (INDIA)

Mobile: +91-98280-85429 || Tel. +91-141-5129425, 2812859 Web: www.topindianholidays.com || Email : [email protected]

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