In the morning, we will have an orientation walk of Old Delhi, visiting Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid and the Great Mosque. We will also walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest local markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at the important Gurduwara, which is a Sikh place of worship. In the afternoon we will fly to legendary Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city, where millions of Hindus travel for pilgrimage. The city has been a cultural and religious center in northern India for thousands of years. We will walk the narrow twisting alleys, poke around some of the thousands of temples and shrines, and experience the energy of the dawn rituals of bathing and burial as we float past the famous ghats of the Ganges.
In the morning, we will have an old city orientation walk along the ghats, and in the afternoon we will visit the ruins and monasteries of Sarnath, the site of Buddha's first sermon. Later in the day, we will take boats out onto the sacred Ganges River at sunset. During our stay in Varanasi we will have time to shop, wander and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city.
Day Four: Khajuraho
In the morning, we will take a sunrise boat trip along the Ganges River and then continue to Khajuraho to visit the Western Temples, and in the evening, enjoy a local Kandariya Dance Show. Khajuraho is home to India’s largest group of medieval Hindu temples. These are famous for their erotic sculptures depicting scenes from the Kama Sutra. Khajuraho was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries.
Day Five and Six: Bandhavgarth National Park
Today we will travel to Bandhavgarth National Park to begin our two-day safari and view some of India’s finest wildlife. In the afternoon, we will take our first safari with a local safari guide. This park has the highest density of tigers in all of India, and is full of many other exotic animals.
Day Seven: Sleeper Train to Agra
Today we will visit a local village to learn a little more about the rural way of life in India. We will meet with local artisans and observe weaving and pottery making, as well as a cooking and tasting demonstration. In the evening, we will board our overnight train to Agra.
Day Eight: Agra
Today we will take a cycle-rickshaw ride and visit the Red Fort. We will also have some free time to wander around and take in views of the Taj Mahal. The Muslim city of Agra is best known as the site of India’s most famous landmark, and testament to love, the Taj Mahal.
Day Nine: Agra/Jaipur
This morning we will visit the Taj Mahal as well as Fatephur Sikri. In the afternoon we will proceed onwards to Jaipur. Constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22,000, the Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife.
Day Ten: Jaipur
Today we will explore the city of Jaipur (also known as the Pink City), the capital of Rajasthan, with visits to the City Palace, Palace of the Winds and the Amber Fort. We will also visit the ruined city of Amber, former capital of Jaipur state.
Day Eleven: Pushkar
We will travel to the Holy town of Pushkar, where we will have an orientation walk, including the lake, ghats and also the 14th century Brahama temple. No pilgrimage of Hindu places is considered complete until the pilgrim bathes in sacred waters of Pushkar Lake. The city is so sacred that no meat, alcohol or eggs are allowed within the city. Rajasthan is rightfully famous for its textiles, jewelry and handicrafts, and few places in the country are better for shopping than the bazaars of Pushkar.
Day Twelve and Thirteen: Udaipur
We will continue on to Udaipur, famous for its lakes and Raj-era palaces. Most famous of these, and certainly the most photographed, is the Lake Palace. The Lake Palace is an island-palace where the white marble buildings, now a hotel, entirely cover a small island in Lake Pichola. We will have an orientation walk which will include a visit to Lake Pichola and Lake Palace. We will also journey out to the hilltop Monsoon Palace, the summer resort of the Maharajas. We will also tour the amazing City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India, and visit Jagdish Temple, built in 1651.
Day Fourteen: Delhi/Gurgaon
We will take an afternoon flight back to Delhi, and stay in the modern area of Gurgaon where our only obligation will be to relax over a final delicious meal.
Day Fifteen: Depart Delhi
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