Central India Historical Tour

Day 01 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi by International flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 – Delhi
Morning sightseeing tour of Delhi visiting the Raj Ghat – the memorial at the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, Jama Mosque – the largest Mosque in India and the Red Fort – Once the most opulent fort and palace of the Mughal Empire.

Afternoon, sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting the Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutab Minar, drive along the ceremonial avenue – Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House and President’s Residence and end the tour with a drive through Diplomatic Enclave. Evening is free for individual activities or shopping. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 – Delhi – Agra
Morning after breakfast, drive to Agra (Approx. 210Kms / 04 hours). Upon arrival in Agra, check-in at the hotel. Afternoon visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan, in the later years of his life, was imprisoned by his son to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal.

Later visit one of the best known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday). Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 – Agra – Gwalior
Today morning after early breakfast, we will board train for Gwalior. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room.

Later visit the majestic Gwalior fort is one of the largest and mightiest forts in India. Also visit Sas-Bahu Temples are 11th-century temples of Lord Vishnu while Teli-ka-Mandir is a 300-metre-high Vishnu temple of the 9th century. Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 – Gwalior – Jhansi – Khajuraho
Today morning after breakfast, we will board train for Jhansi. Upon arrival at Jhansi, drive directly to Khajuraho (Approx. 180kms / 04hours). Upon arrival proceed for sightseeing of the temples in Khajuraho includes Eastern & Western temples, the tour of 09th to 13th century erotic Hindu temples. Well preserved the sculptures depict gods, goddesses, warriors, animals and amorous couples. Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 – Khajuraho – Orchha
Morning after breakfast, drive to Orchha (Approx. 175Kms / 04 hours). The medieval city of Orchha, situated on the banks of Betwa River. Founded by Bundela rulers in 16th Century, the palaces and the temples built by its rulers retain much of their pristine perfection. Orchha has three beautiful palaces within the fort complex, Raj Mahal, Rai Praveen Mahal and Jahangir Mahal.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and visit Sunder Mahal, Ram Raja Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Phool Bagh and Shahid Smarak. Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 – Orchha – Bhopal
Today morning after breakfast, we will board train to Bhopal from Jhansi station. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and afternoon proceed to witness the fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, historicity and modern urban planning of the historic city of Bhopal which include Bharat Bhawan, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya and Laxmi Narayan. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – Bhopal
After breakfast excursion to Sanchi which is founded in the third century by Emperor Ashoka to house relics of Buddha. Visit the archaeological site, the Mecca of Indian Art: Main Stupa, magnificent monument in the shape of a half-sphere on recounting his torana (carved porticoes) the life of Buddha museum with remarkable statues of Buddha, stupas and other Buddhist monasteries.

Post visit return to Bhopal city and visit the Museum, the Taj-ul-Masjid a huge unfinished mosque built in the nineteenth century, the Birla temple and the Jama Masjid mosque in the other nineteenth century located near the bazaars. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – Bhopal – Ujjain – Indore
Today morning after early breakfast we will drive to Indore (Approx. 255kms / 05hours) en-route Ujjain which includes Mahakaleshwar Mandir, Vedha Shala (Observatory), Navgraha Mandir and Kal Bhairav Mandir.

Continue you drive to Indore and upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Later proceed for sightseeing tour of Indore city which includes Lal Baag Palace which is in 28 hectares and one of the imposing testimonials of the Holkar dynasty. An expression of their culture and opulence, the ancestral palace of the great regime. Later visit Bada Ganapati, Kuch Mandir exhibits complicated patterns of glass paintings, which are painted with utmost devotion. The paintings display unique talent and try to depict the various aspects of Jainism and Krishnapura Chhatris (cenotaphs). Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – Indore – Mandu
Today morning after breakfast we will drive to Mandu (Approx. 95kms / 02hours). Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and later proceed for sightseeing tour of Mandu which includes magnificent Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Houshang’s Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal and Rupmati’s Pavilion.

Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Mandu – Maheshwar – Jalgaon
Today morning after breakfast we will drive to Jalgaon (Approx. 275kms / 06hours) en-route visiting Maheshwar. It was a glorious city at the dawn of Indian civilization when it was Mahishmati, capital of king Kartivarjun. This temple town on the banks of the river Narmada finds mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Maheshwar’s temples and mighty fort-complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below. Temples of Maheshwar are famous for the unique overhanging balconies.

Continue you drive to Jalgaon. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 – Jalgaon – Ajanta Caves – Aurangabad
Today morning after breakfast we will drive to Aurangabad (Approx. 175kms / 05hours) en-route visiting famous Ajanta Caves (Closed on Monday). These 2nd century caves are fine achievements by Buddhist monks. Beautiful frescoes, wall paintings and vivid sculptures reflect the park of ancient Indian art and architecture. The horse shaped gorge has 30 caves built in two phases spread over a period of 900 years and contain some of the finest Buddhist mural art and sculpture in the world. The walls tell the life story of Buddha and mirror the culture of that period.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and afternoon visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is the tomb of Begum Rabia Daurani, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb. The monument is an excellent example of Persian Architecture. The arched alcove surmounted by a swelling dome, the idea had acquired its own reputation in India. Bibi Ka Maqbara is considered to be a poor imitation of Taj Mahal in Agra. The layout and surrounding of the tomb is very much similar to that of Taj but somehow the architecture fails to produce the magic of Taj. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 – Aurangabad – Mumbai (By Flight)
Morning excursion to Ellora caves (Closed on Tuesday). The World Heritage site is one of the fines examples of rock cut caves. There are 34 caves – 12 Buddhist (600 – 800 AD), 17 Hindu (900 AD) and five Jain (800 – 1000 AD). Cave 16 is the most famous and has Lord Shiva sculpted on the rocks. The largest monolith in the world it is said to have taken 7000 laborers, working in continuous shifts and 150 years to build. The other popular cave is No. 32 where a shrine contains the seated Lord Mahavir, last of the 24 tirthankars of Jainism.

Evening transfer to the airport to board flight for Mumbai. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 – Mumbai – In night transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Today morning after breakfast visit Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat and The Gateway of India. Later drive through the Crawford Market, Flora Fountain and panoramic view of Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach. Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities.

In night transfer to the airport for your departure flight for onward destination.