Inquest of Spirituality
11 days and 10 nights
Delhi - Rishikesh - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Agra - Jaipur
Old Delhi : The Red Fort, or Lal Quila, was built under Shah Jahan's rule and has become symbolic of the capital of India. It is so called because of the red stone with which it is built. It is one of the most magnificent palace in the world, and reveals the past pomp of Moghul culture. Visit of Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948, which is a beautiful and simple park. Visit of Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India.
New Delhi : Humayun's tomb. It is worth a visit, for this edifice was a trend setter as all later Mughal monuments, including the Taj Mahal of Agra, followed its design. The Qutub Minar is one of the oldest monument of Delhi, built in 1209. Lunch in town in a city restaurant.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Rishikesh is located on the west bank of the Ganges. It's a great place to study Yoga ,Meditation and other aspects of Hinduism The holy Ganges is clear here and many travelers join the Sadhus for a dip in the morning. For Indian pilgrims, Rishikesh is the most important place as the starting point for the Char Dham pilgrimage to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath,and Badrinath.
Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Varanasi the city of Shiva and the cradle of Hindu spirituality, is situated on the bank of the holiest river in India, Ganges. Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the water of Ganges, a ritual which washes away all sins. The city is an auspicious place to breathe the last breath, since expiring here offers moksha - liberation from the cycle of birth and death . In the past the city has been known as Kashi and Benares but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name meaning two rivers - the Varuna and Assi. It is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the Hindus in India.
Visit to Sarnath: Situated at a few kilometers from the town of Varanasi, Sarnath is the haven of serenity. It was here that the Buddha preached his first sermon to his five disciples. Buddhists from all over the world visit the Stupa here as it is one of the most important centers of Buddhist pilgrimage. Near to the Sarnath park is the National museum which boasts of exquisite stone statues of Buddha, some of which are more than 2000 years old.
Dinner and ovenight at hotel.
Early in the morning, boat-tour on the river Ganga, where one can see the pilgrims offering salutations to the sun. Return to hotel for breakfast followed with a city tour , the ghats, the Chowk, the mosques, Jai Singh observatory and Vishwanath , Bharatmata and Durga temples.
Varanasi is said to be more than 3000 years old, a contemporary of Nineveh, Babylon and Thebes. Its name derives from the rivers Varuna and Assi, between which lies the city. The attraction of the city lies in more than mere religious curiosity. Its famous silks and brocades are well-known over the world, as well as jewellery, carpets and various handicrafts. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Visit of the temples which represent some of the most wonderful specimens of Hindu architecture. From the original 85 temples, only 22 are still standing. They were built and decorated with fine sculptures of sand stone between 900 A.D. and 1250 A.D. by a clan of Rajput kings called the Chandelas. They were devoted to Hindu and Jain cults, and prove the religious tolerance of the Chandelas.
The magnificient stone sculptures on the temples comprise of statues of the Apsaras, the divine nymphes, in different moods and postures in stunning grace and elegance. The panels depicting figures and figurines in explicit erotic acts which adorn the exterior walls of the temples are famous wordwide, although a few know the Tantric cult of detatchment from the worldly life is the influence behind this form of art. Besides the temples, one may also visit the Archeological Museum with sculptures and stone panels, among which a clossal statue of Buddha.
Lunch at hotel and later,departure by surface to the Jhansi Railway station. Journey by train to Agra. Arrival and check-in at hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Agra Fort was built in 1565 by Akbar, and completed by his grandson Shah Jahan. It was first a military structure, but became a palace. The Tomb of Itman-ud-Daulah is a magnificent monument with very fine carvings, built by Empress Nur Jahan in memory of her father. Lunch at hotel. Departure by road for Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri.
Tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a magnificent deserted capital built in 1571 by Akbar on a small hill called Sikri. It is a town complete with gardens, country yards and bath houses. It is a remarkable place from the point of view of art and architecture. Continuation to Jaipur. Arrival, and check-in at hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
It was the capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs, six centuries before Jaipur was built; it is a witness of the period splendours. The palace and the fort form a complex amidst wooded hills and the ride up to the fort is on elephant back. The Amber Palace has a number of audience halls like the Sheesh Mahal, hall of mirrors, the Sukh Nivas or the hall of pleasures, which are marvels of the 17th century architecture.
Lunch at hotel.
Visit of Jaipur, the pink town, surrounded with hills and rocks, built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a magnificent town where the exotic outburst of colours and magnificence of building is riveting. The City palace is well known for its collection of textiles, costumes and armours. Around Jaipur, three kilometers from the centre of the city, is Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, with its big facade of five storeys of screened windows. It was used by the ladies of the court to watch festivities and processions passing below without being seen by the people.
Jantar Mantar : another amazing construction, a few steps from the City Palace, was built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, who had an enormous interest in astronomy. He built seven such observatories in various parts of the country, but the Jaipur one is the finest and largest. Its instruments measure with great accuracy the time, declination of the sun, altitude and azimuth, position of constellations in the sky for the Day, eclipses and other astronomical phenomena. Jaipur bazaars are very animated. One can meet there various craftsmen like potters, carvers, jewellers, dyers, weavers etc. Free time for shopping.
Dinner and night at hotel.
Lunch at hotel.
OPTION II
Dinner & overnight at hotel.