DEPART AMERICA

West Coast passengers board your flight for your first segment of your Exotic North India Tour.

ENROUTE

East Coast passengers depart today. Relax and enjoy the in flight service en route to India. West Coast passengers cross international date line and lose a day.

MUMBAI

On arrival at Mumbai this evening, you will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to the hotel. Mumbai, a cluster of seven islands, derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, the oldest inhabitants.

MUMBAI TOURING

Afternoon tour includes the British-built Arch Gateway of India, Mumbai’s landmark, built in commemoration of King George V’s visit in 1911; Dhobi Ghat, open air laundry, Jain Temple, Marine Drive, Hanging Gardens; Malabar Hills and Prince of Wales Museum.  BL

MUMBAI/ AURANGABAD- Ellora caves

Breakfast at the hotel and board the early morning flight to Aurangabad, named after Aurangzeb, the last Mughal emperor, is your base to explore the famous Ajanta and Ellora cave temples. Transfers and check into your Hotel. Explore the magnificently sculptured caves of Ellora in the afternoon. These caves illustrate a resurgence of Hinduism, reflected by the creation of 17 caves with Hindu themes, sculpture, and art; The awe-inspiring Kailash Temple, like all of the other Cave temples was created out of one rock. However, the significance of that fact changes when you put it in perspective of its enormous structure.

AJANTA CAVE TEMPLES

Spend your day exploring Ajanta. Buddhist monks and other craftsmen began excavating, sculpting, and painting at Ajanta in the 2nd century BC. The incredible variety of paintings and sculpture were created in hard rock by using elaborate and ingenious lighting, tools, and materials. The 28 caves are a testimony to the devotion of the Buddhists, as well as the talents of their skilled craftsmen. Ajanta's incredible paintings are even more amazing considering that the color and texture you're admiring today was created by artists about two thousand years ago.

UDAIPUR & RANAKPUR

This morning we drive to Ranakpur for sightseeing of the fabulous 500 -year old Jain Temples. The temples are superbly preserved in near perfect condition. The most distinctive feature are the 29 halls of the main temple, some octagonal and many more than one story high, are dissected by 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique designs which no two are the exactly alike. The carving on the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. On return back tour of Udaipur includes, the City Palace, the huge palace towering over the lake, Saheliyon-ki-Bari a small ornamental garden, with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants and delightful lotus pool.

UDAIPUR / JAIPUR

Travel by air to Jaipur this morning. The city owes its name, foundations and careful planning to the great warrior, astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Afternoon, tour the City Palace, once the formal residence of the royal family, built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Continue to Jantar Mantar, the largest of Jai Singh's remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments, whose setting and shapes are scientifically designed, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy. 

AMBER FORT EXCURSION

Visit the ancient capital of Amber, ascending the Palace Fortress on the back of a gaily caparisoned elephant. Tour the intricate chambers and hallways of the palace. En route to Amber, photograph the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) built in 1799 AD. Afternoon is at leisure to explore a shopper’s paradise.

JAIPUR/FATEHPUR SIKRI/ AGRA

Travel overland to Fatehpur Sikri, an imperial capital frozen in time, was constructed by Akbar the Great around 1570. Continue to Agra where no other historical monument has evoked as much awareness and admiration as the Taj Mahal. Time permitting visit Taj Mahal by sunset.

KHAJURAHO

Morning, visit the Western Group of Temples, the largest and loveliest temples including Kandariya Mahadev, Chandela art at its best with intricately carved erotic figures, representing life in heaven. Also visit the principal eastern group of temples this afternoon. The temples are noted for their exquisitely carved sculptures. This afternoon is at leisure.

KHAJURAHO/VARANASI

After a morning at leisure a short flight brings you to Varanasi, a city that cannot be described but only experienced. This religious city is crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets with their throngs of people is exciting and enticing. This afternoon's tour includes an excursion to Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, after enlightenment. Here he revealed the eight-fold path, the Buddhist doctrine. Visit the museum and many stupas, ruins and Mulagandhakuti Vihara, containing relics found during the early excavations. 

KATHMANDU/DELHI

Morning is at leisure. Fly to Delhi, India's bustling capital city, where you will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to the hotel. New Delhi reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the segregation between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively.

DELHI

Enjoy a day of leisure to explore Delhi on your own.

ARRIVE HOME

Board your international flight, filled with wonderful memories of India and Nepal.