From bustling Delhi, travel south to the desert oasis of Pushkar. The journey will include a village stay in Rajasthan, the palaces of Jaipur, the immortal beauty of the Taj Mahal, the medieval temple town of Orchha, the erotic statues of Khajuraho and sunrise over the sacred Ganges.
Places : Delhi - Pushkar - Pachewar - Jaipur - Agra - Orchha - Kajuraho - Varanasi - Kolkata
Duration : 13 Days
Day 01 : Delhi
Delhi sightseeing. Over the past millenniums, there have been at least 8 different cities in the site of the current Delhi. Many monuments display the intricate history of this area, reminding of the past times, the Mughal domination, the murder of Mahatma Gandhi... (Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Purana Qila, Humayoun's tomb, India Gate...)
Day 02: Pushkar
This is a major Hindu pilgrimage center: drive to Pushkar, a desert oasis by a holy lake.
Day 03 : Pushkar
Day at leisure to explore the bathing ghats and temples (Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple, Pap Mochani). Alternatively hike into the surrounding hills for superb views across the plains.
Day 04 : Pachewar
Drive to the small village of Pachewar where we stay in the 300-year-old fort. Afternoon to explore the village and relax in the serene gardens. Observe the flourishing agricultural and handicraft practices (toy makers, blue pottery kiln).
Day 05 : Jaipur
A short drive to the pink city of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan. Free afternoon.
Day 06 : Jaipur
Full day sightseeing. Discover the sandstone palaces (City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh). Elephant ride at Amber Fort. Shopping in the bazaars of the old city, a major center for handicrafts.
Day 07 : Agra
Drive to Agra. En route, visit Fatehpur Sikri, former Mughal Capital. Afternoon visit to Agra Fort and Taj Mahal.
Day 08 : Orchha
Early morning express train to Jhansi. From here it is a short drive to the medieval temple town of Orchha, situated on the Betwa River (Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal, Ram Raja Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple…). Relaxed afternoon in the serene village.
Day 09 : Khajuraho
Drive from Orchha to Khajuraho, a tiny village that is world renowned for its temples, richly adorned with erotic sculptures.
Day 10 : Khajuraho
Morning temple tour of Khajuraho. Observe the unique architecture and statues, which were designed and built at the end of the first millennium. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 11 : Varanasi
Travel by road and rail to Varanasi, the most important pilgrimage place for Hindus.
Day 12-13 : Varanasi
The old city is a maze of narrow alleyways leading to the holy ghats where pilgrims take a purifying dip in the river. Take an early morning boat trip on the Ganges, have a massage in Dasaswamedh Ghat, and wander around.
Sightseeing (Vishwanath Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple...).
Day 14-16 : Kolkata
Calcutta is far from the miserable cliché of slums we often evoke. Once the capital of British India, Kolkata has adapted to the modern trends and techniques of the world but has not shed the leisurely life style and the calm that it has accumulated since ages. It is a major center for Bengali culture (poet Rabindranath Tagore and cineaste Satyajit Ray).
Visit Indian Museum, Asiatic Society, Birla Planetarium, Eden Gardens, Nakhoda Mosque…
In the evening board the sleeper train back to Delhi.
Heritage North India
| Indian Images
| Tourism Jaipur to Calcutta
| Travel Road Ganges River
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