16 Nights/17 Days
Delhi>> Varanasi>> Agra >> Khajurao>> Orchha>> Gwalior>> Shivpuri>> Ujjain>> Mandu>> Bhopal>> Sanchi>> Panchmarhi>> Jabalpur>> Mumbai
Explore some of the most aesthetic-architecture to be found in India, splendid natural scenery, as well as renowned pilgrimage sights, you are on a roll when you explore medieval India.
Day 01 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meet/transfer to hotel. Check-in. Rest of the day free to relax.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 – Delhi
In the morning take a city tour covering Laxmi Narayan Temple, India Gate, Parliament House,Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Connaught Place.
In the afternoon take a city tour of Old Delhi covering Jama Masjid, Chandni Chow, Red Fort, Raj Ghat.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 – Delhi – Varanasi
Morning, transfer to airport to catch flight for Varanasi. Meet/transfer to Hotel.
Afternoon, excursion to Buddhist town of Sarnath – The hallowed spot where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment.
Evening, cruise on boat to witness the Flaming Torch prayer of River Ganges.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 – Varanasi- Lucknow (305 kms/5-6 hrs approx)
At dawn boat ride at River Ganges,
Morning, city tour of Varanasi covering Alamgir Mosque or Beni Madhav Ka Darera, Dasaswamedha Ghat, Benares Hindu University & The Bharat Mata Temple.
Afternoon, leave Varanasi and drive to Lucknow, Lucknow, the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, a multicultural city that flourished as a North Indian cultural and artistic hub, and the seat of power of Nawabs in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Upon arrival, check-in. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 – Lucknow – Agra (330 kms/4-5 hrs approx using the expressway)
Morning city tour of Lucknow visiting Bara Imambara, Clcoktower, Rumi Darwaza, Museum, River Front etc..
Afternoon, drive to Agra and upon arrival, check-in at hotel.
Rest of the evening free to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 – Agra
Morning, visit Fatehpur Sikri, about an hours’ drive from Agra, the deserted capital of Emperor Akbar built by Red Sandstone.
Afternoon, city tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-daulah, shopping around the local market.
Evening, enjoy a Theatrical presentation, an hour’s show depicting the history behind the making of Taj Mahal and the famous lovestory of Emperor Shajehand and his Queen Mumtaz Mahal.
Over night at hotel.
Day 07 – Agra – Gwalior – Jhansi – Orcha. (240kms / 4-5 hours)
Morning, leave Agra and leave for Gwalior (about 125kms), a city in the Ccentral Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It’s known for its palaces and temples, including the Sas Bahu Ka Mandir intricately carved Hindu temple. Ancient Gwalior Fort occupies a sandstone plateau overlooking the city and is accessed via a winding road lined with sacred Jain statues.
Post visit, continue drive for another 100kms to reach Jhansi, a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. This place is famous for its Fort belonging to the warior Queen Laxmibai, the first lady to fight for India’s indepence war against the British rule.
After visiting the Fort, durther drive to 15kms to reach Orchcha, a town in Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of covering parts of Central & Nrth India, located on the bank of the Betwa River, which has been surrounded by a battlement wall, stands a huge palace-fort. The Fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which is the Raja Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Chaturbhuj Temple etc. Post sightseeing, check-in at the Resort.
Rest of the evening free at leisure/orientation drive around the town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08 – Orchcha – Khajuraho (175 kms /3-4 hours)
Morning, drive to Khajuraho and on arrival, check-in at hotel.
Rest of the afternoon visit the Khajuraho Temples – the world renounced Erotic Temple Complex, constructed between 9th to 11th Century. Though the Temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Jain Patriachs, all the temples – both internally and externally are richly carved with excellent sculptures that are frequently sensual and sexually explicit.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 09 – Khajuraho – Shivpuri (270kms / 5-6 hours approx.)
Morning, sightseeing of remaining Khajuraho Temples and then leave Khajuraho for Shivpuri, is a city of Lakes and Waterfalls, located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. On arrival, check-in at hotel. Rest of the day explore the area visiting the elegant chhatris or cenotaphs of Shivpuri. You also visit Bhadaiya Kund, a scenic spot noted for its natural mineral spring and finally a refreshing visit to Madhav National Park. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 – Shivpuri – Ujjain (350kms / 6-7 hours approx)
Morning, leave Shivpuri and drive to Ujain, one of the four sacred and religious towns in India for Hindus, which holds the famous Kumbh Mela on rotation basis.
On arrival, check in at hotel. Rest of the evening to relax/explore the vicinity.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 – Ujjain – Mandu (150kms/3-4 hours approx.)
After breakfast enjoy sightseeing trip of renowned pilgrim centre. Visit Mahakaleshwar Temple -The temple enshrines one of the 12 Jyotirlingams, Bada Ganeshji Ka Mandir – The largest ornate statue of Ganesha makes this temple a popular picnic spot, Kaliadeh Palace – The sacred river Shipra runs through this city of temples.
Afternoon, leave for Mandu, enroute driving through the cleanest city of India Indore and visiting the unusual Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) – the Jain Temple being very plain from outside but completely mirrored inside with picture from Jain Sculptures. Also visit the Museum as it has one of the best collections of Medieval and pre-Medieval Hindu sculptures in Central India.
On arrival Mandu, check-in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 – Mandu – Bhopal (275kms / 5-6 hours approx)
Mandu, The city of Joy, is full of legends of love and glory, specially those of Baz Bahadur and the beautiful Roopmati. In Mandu, you visit several noteworthy palaces and pavilions some of which are Ashrafi Mahal- The Palace of gold coins & was conceived as an academic institution, Rewa Kund Group – it includes Rewa Kund, and the Hindola Mahal (swinging Palace).
After the sightseeing, leave Mandu and drive to Bhopal – the capital of Central India.
On arrival, check-in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 – Bhopal – Udaigiri – Sanchi Bhopal
Morning, drive to Udaigiri Caves, about 60kms from Bhopal, the spurts of creative outpourings of the Guptas were legendary and served as the hallmark of the dynasty. These are a group of 20 rock-cut Cave Shrines believed to be the abodes of Buddhist Monks in 2nd Century BC.. Sculpted into a sandstone hill, they truly beautify the landscapes of the place. According to an inscription etched on one of the caves, they trace their origin to the imperial rule of Chandragupta II (382-401 AD.). These caves comprises of both Hinduism and Jainism faiths that run in sequence, one after the other.
Post sightseeing, drive back approx. 15kms to arrive at SANCHI STUPA, which has the singular distinction of having remarkable specimen of Buddhist art and architecture right from the early Mauryan period (3rd Century BC). Sanchi is world famous for its monolithic Asokan Pillar, Temples, Monasteries and sculptural wealth. It was Emperor Ashoka who laid the foundation of a religious centre at Sanchi, fascinated probably by the location of the hill or because of his bloved Queen Devi’s wish. The grand structure still inspires awe today and sits at the top of a hill, surrounded by the remains of smaller stupas, monasteries, and temples that were built as the religious community grew in the centuries after the site was founded.
Post sightseeing, drive back to Bhopal. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 – Bhopal- Pachmarhi (195kms / 4-5 hours approx.)
Morning, leave for Panchmarhi, enroute visiting Bhimbetka where paintings in over 500 caves depict the life of the pre-historic dwellers in vivid, panoramic detail.
On arrival Panchmarhi, check-in at hotel. The name Pachmarhi is believed to be derived from the Hindi words Panch (“five”) and Marhi (“caves”), a small hill station in Central Indi. According to a legend, these caves were built by five Pandava brothers of Mahabharatha era during their thirteen years of exile. The caves are situated on a hilltop and provide an excellent vantage point. It has been the location of a cantonment (Pachmarhi Cantonment) since British Raj, situated at a height of 1067 m in a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district.
Rest of the day explore the area. Overnight at hotel..
Day 15 – Pachmarhi
Relaxed morning and then go around the place which is surrounded by beautiful forests, full of breathtaking waterfalls, serene pools and quiet glades.
After a day’s sightseeing you behold the sunset at Dhupgarh, the highest point in the Satpuras.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 16 -Pachmarhi – Bhopal – Delhi (Shatabdi Express 1445/2245 hrs)
Morning, leave Panchmarhi and drive back to Bhopal.
On arrival Bhopal, drop at the Railway Station in time to connect Shatabdi Express Tourist train for Delhi. Meet upon arrival Delhi and transfer to Hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 17 – Departure Delhi
Morning, transfer to airport in time to connect flight for journey back home / onward destination.
