Golden Triangle & Khajuraho Varanasi Tour

Distant India Journeys representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi. Transfer to your hotel. Relax. DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land.  A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

After breakfast, start a half day sightseeing of Delhi.

A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the drive past to Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughal Empire.

A sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President’s Residence, and a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Later drive to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur, check into your hotel and relax.

Overnight will be in Jaipur.

Proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort after breakfast. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.

Amber Fort Palace - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace.  Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I.  Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.

Continue sightseeing.

City Palace- A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city.  It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

Jantar Mantar - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country.  This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

Hawa Mahal - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur.  It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. In the evening visit a textile block printing factory and the gems cutting and polishing centre.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Drive to Fatehpur Sikri after breakfast. The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its  "ruins" are in pristine condition...  it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Continue drive to Agra and reach by late afternoon.  Upon arrival proceed for the local bazaar in Agra.

Overnight will be in Agra.

Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}.

Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.  A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.

Taj Mahal: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.   

Proceed for visit to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Itmadullah’s Tomb with English speaking guide.

Return to hotel and relax in the evening.

Overnight will be in Agra.

After breakfast transfer to railway station to board your train for Jhansi. On arrival in Jhansi railway station, you will be driven to Khajuraho via Orchha.

Visit Orchha with its imposing Jahangiri Mahal and the cenotaphs of the Bundela Rajput warriors. Orchha is a medieval village where time has stopped. You feel the timelessness of this spot. Orchha is a medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces and temples of the 16^th and 17^th century – which have remarkably withstood the onslaught of time. The river Betwa picturesquely flanks the city. See the beautiful Palace Complex – Jahangiri Mahal and the Raja Mahal. Closely study the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja Mahal. Visit the laxmi Narayan temple.

Continue journey to Khajuraho which is 180km and takes 4 hours to reach. On arrival in Khajuraho, check into your hotel and relax.

In the evening witness the Dances of India Show in a nearby auditorium.

Overnight will be in Khajuraho.

After breakfast, proceed for a guided sightseeing tour to Khajuraho. Sightseeing shows us the temples built during the 9^th to the 11^th centuries by the powerful dynasty of Chandela Rajputs. The temples with their erotic sculptures are a feast to the eyes. The Chandelas built 85 temples in all but today only 20 temples stand intact. Visit the Kandariya Maheshwar temple and the Laxmana Temple along with Varaha temple and then onto the Jain group of temples.

Later transfer to airport to board your flight for Varanasi. On arrival in Varanasi, visit Sarnath – the sacred Buddhist city where Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon to his 5 disciples under the Bodhi tree. Visit the site and the temple attached to it. See the frescoes related to the life of Buddha inside the temple. Also visit the archaeological museum that houses artifacts from the 3^rd century BC.

Continue drive to hotel and check into your room.

In the evening Witness the AARTI at holy Ghat. Return to your hotel and relax.

Overnight will be in Varanasi.

Early in the morning (0500hrs) we take you to banks of the river Ganges where we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika Ghat along the sacred Ganges. Don’t forget to see the sun rise along the Ganges. See the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvyapi Kund and the mosque attached to it. Also visit the Benares Hindu University the largest residential university in India with more than 3000 residential students. Also worth a visit is the Bharat Mata Mandir (Mother India temple) where you see the undivided India – Mahatma Gandhi’s Dream.

Return to your hotel for breakfast.

Transfer to airport to board your flight for Delhi followed by boarding a flight back home...