ETERNAL INDIA - TAJ MAHAL & BENARAS

A classic journey across Northern India which highlights the many contrasts of this fascinating land. Proud Jaipur, the state capital of Rajasthan with its hilltop fort, to the immortal Taj Mahal at Agra. Gwalior, Orcha & Khajuraho noted for their art & architecture and to Varanasi the 'eternal city' on the banks of holy river Ganges. We also give a choice of visiting the mountain kingdom of Nepal.

Day 1 ARRIVE IN DELHI   Arrive into the capital of India or 'Hindoostan'. It is also known as Lutyens Delhi here we will drive past the stately government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India Gate & the Presidential Palace. The city is divide into two parts Old & New Delhi - here we have some great monuments from 8th to 11th Century and also some great Moghul masterpieces.   Day 2 DELHI TO JAIPUR (260 Kms)   Morning drive to the intriguing 'Pink City' of Jaipur, enclosed in battlemented walls built from local rose-pink coloured stone. Jaipur is noted for its arts, crafts & handicrafts. It is the Gem capital of India.   Day 3 JAIPUR   Drive out to the hills beyond the city to Amber the ancestral hill fortress of Jai Singh. Take an elephant ride up to the fort which is well known for its lavish architecture. Return to Jaipur to see the City Palace, a blend of Mughal & Rajasthani design, it now contains many treasures from Jaipur's princely past. Nearby is the ornate Hawa Mahal - decorated with delicate screens carved from pink stone and Jantar Mantar observatory containing immense brick and mortar instruments.   Day 4 JAIPUR TO AGRA (240 Kms)   Drive to Agra, stopping enroute at the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Empror Akbar, tiring of Agra, built a new capital here only to abandon it a few years later due to shortage of Water. Continue to Agra.   Day 5 AGRA   Strategically located on the river Yamuna, it was once the capital of Moghul India and the centre of great power & glory. Moghuls built many beautiful monuments here - Taj Mahal , an incredible 20,000 workman laboured on it, day and night, for over 20 years. Agra Fort with its superb views of the taj across the Yamuna river and the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula a masterpiece of refined craftsmanship.   Day 6 AGRA TO GWALIOR   Drive to Gwalior noted for its very old and a large fort which is said to be finest in India. Within the walls of the fort you will find many interesting temples and palaces.   Day 7 GWALIOR TO KHAJURAHO via ORCHA   Drive to Orcha and visit Datia hilltop palace enroute. Arrive to the village of Orcha which was once a capital of the region, here an old fort on an island in the river contains several exquisite palaces. Continue to Khajuraho - world famous for its magnificent temples built by the rich and powerful Chandela emperors. The temples present the best examples of Indian art and architecture.   Day 8 KHAJURAHO   Visit the temples where forthright sculptures celebrate the joy of life and love for which there is no equivalent in the world.   Day 9 KHAJURAHO TO VARANASI   Take a noon flight to Varanasi - considered to be the holiest Hindu city in India and one of the oldest surviving cities in the world. Situated on the bank of River Ganges, it has been centre of learning for over 2000 years. The old age names of this city has been Benaras and Kashi, but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers, Varauana and Asi. Evening visit the ghats to see the puja ceremony.   Day 10 VARANASI   Early morning boatride to see the sunrise over the Ganges and to see the rituals that take place along the ghats (waterside steps). Later drive outside the city to Sarnath where the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment 25 centuries ago. Here you will find Chinese and Buddhist temples.   Day 11 VARANASI TO DELHI OR KATHMANDU   Transfer to airport for your return flight to Delhi or alternatively an extension to the mountain kingdom of Nepal.