Golden Triangle with Khajuraho & Varanasi tour

Day 1 : Arrive New Delhi - The capital city.

Traditional welcome - Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is god) by garlanding on arrival at Delhi international airport by Travel Pals executive. Transferred in your exclusive air-conditioned car to your hotel for immediate check-in. Day free to relax and acclimatize.

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Day 2 : New Delhi

For all those fitness freak, an early morning walk along the colonial lanes of Lutyens' Delhi can be quite refreshing and for more adventurous one's, an extension to the Rajpath can be quite enthralling. Breakfast at the hotel followed by a guided tour of historic city of Delhi. The city where one can experience the influence of the many rulers who ruled this region, a city built and destroyed and re-built over seven times. The guided tour takes you to the monuments that depict the different eras. The tour includes visit to the magnificent Red Fort (exterior), the Jama Masjid - one of the Asia's largest mosque, enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride in the narrow by lanes of Old Delhi visiting Chawri Bazar, Dariba Kalan (silver market) witnessing the century old business markets. It is the largest wholesale market of Asia. Later visit Rajghat - the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi - the "Father of the Nation". Afternoon tour of New Delhi to include Humayun's Tomb, drive past through Rashtrapati Bhawan (Viceroy's House), Parliament Building and halt for a photo stop at India Gate - war memorial. Lastly end your tour with visit to Qutab Minar - 73 mt. tall minaret.

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Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur (By Road - 260 Kms / 5 hours)

Breakfast at hotel and later drive around 0800 hours to south of Delhi to the 'Pink city of India' - Jaipur.

On arrival at Jaipur, assisted and checked in your hotel with evening at leisure.

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Day 4 : Jaipur

An early breakfast to proceed for a visit to the grand Amer Fort. Ascend the fort on a decorated elephant back, the way the kings use to travel at that time. You may also choose to walk uphill or with your driver in the car.

Experience the palace buildings and the mesmerising views of the ancient capital of the royalty of Jaipur.

Later, visit the City Palace Museum Complex to witness the  grandeur of royal lifestyle by visiting the display galleries of textiles & fabrics, paintings & art work, arms & ammunition gallery.

Further, Jantar Mantar - the observatory having instruments from 1728 AD for measuring celestial planet & star positions. Drive past the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal).

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Evening enjoy walk through the colorful bazaars of the city. One can also experience the famous block printing at the nearby workshop. Jaipur is also famous for its Gems & Jewelry. One can shop endlessly as this place is a shoppers paradise on this tour.

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Day 5 : Jaipur  - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra  (By road - 250 Kms / 5 hours)

Today we drive to Agra, city of the seventh wonder of the world - Taj Mahal.

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Enroute, on the outskirts of Agra city we will visit the majestic Fatehpur Sikri. The erstwhile capital of the Mughal Empire built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. A beautiful complex of red sandstone buildings with varied architecture and interesting stories.

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By evening, arrive Agra for an overnight stay.

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Day 6 : Agra  - Jhansi - Orchha (By train)

Dawn visit to Taj Mahal, enjoy the spectacular views and witness the change in color while the sun rays falls on the white marble and glorifies the precious stones inlaid into the marble. One of the best views of Taj is during dawn with less people around. The unquestionable beauty of this piece of extravagance can only be treasured by visiting it. Return to hotel for breakfast.

Later, we continue with the guide to visit the grand Agra Fort - built in red sandstone by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. Further, board a short train journey to Jhansi railway station from where we will be transferred by road to Orchha town for overnight stay.

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Day 7 : Orchha - Khajuraho (By road - 175 kms / 5 hrs) 

Morning guided visit to the gorgeous cenotaphs & the Orchha Fort. Further, driven to Khajuraho​

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Khajuraho, anciently "Kharjurav haka", is derived from the Sanskrit words "kharjura" date palm and "vhaka" one who carries. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the "seven wonders" of India. It is not about religion and worshipping and deities. The temples of Khajuraho are instead famous for the eroticism etched on its walls in the form of sculptures. These temples were built by the rulers of the Chandela dynasty over a span of 200 years, from 950 to 1150. There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 25 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 20 square kms (8 sq mi). Today, the temples serve as fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity due to their explicit depiction of sexual life during medieval times.

Evening Light & Sound Show. This fascinating light & sound spectacle evokes the life and times of the great Chandela Kings and traces the story of the unique temples from the 10th Century to the present day. The 50 minutes sound and light show is conducted by tourism department in the garden of western group of temples. The show is entertaining and informative about the construction, history and importance of the temples.

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Day 8 : Khajuraho

Morning guided visit to the temples of Khajuraho. Eastern Group of temples in Khajuraho quite different from the other temples in Khajuraho is dominated by the Jain temples. Parsvanath temple the largest Jain temple in Khajuraho is located in the eastern group of temples. Adinatha temple and the Ghantai temple is near the Parsvanath temple and is also certainly worth a visit. Brahma Temple dedicated to Vishnu is the only temple built in granite here
Temples
The Khajuraho group of monuments (UNESCO WOrld Heritage Site) was built during the rule of the Rajput Chandela dynasty. The building activity started almost immediately after the rise of their power, throughout their kingdom to be later known as Bundelkhand. Most temples were built during the reigns of the Hindu kings Yashovarman and Dhanga. Yashovarman's legacy is best exhibited by Lakshmana temple. Vishvanatha temple best highlights King Dhanga's reign. The largest and currently most famous surviving temple is Kandariya Mahadeva built in the reign of King Ganda from 1017 1029 CE. The temple inscriptions suggest many of the currently surviving temples were complete between 970 to 1030 CE, with further temples completed during the following decades

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Day 9 : Khajuraho - Varanasi (By air)

Today Travel Pals representative will assist & transfer you to Khajuraho airport to board short flight for Varanasi .

VARANASI is situated between the rivers Varuna and Assi as they join the Ganges, Varanasi takes its name from its location. It is often referred to as the oldest living city in the world. It is also known as Kashi, the city of light, but the British, in an endeavor to simplify matters, had coined their own name for the place Benaras.

Varanasi is the city of a thousand temples. Its Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrivalled. According to Hindu belief, Varanasi is the cosmic centre of the Universe. The renowned American novelist Mark Twain once wrote "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

On arrival, we check-in hotel with time at leisure un till evening visit to river Ganges with the guide to witness the 'Aarti', worship of holy Ganges river with oil-lit lamps accompanied by holy chants and music. A totally mesmerizing moment.

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Day 10 : Varanasi

Early morning, we take a boat ride on the river Ganges with our guide to observe the riverside holy activities and a breathless view of the sunrise on river Ganges. We also visit the famous Manikarnika Ghat where Hindus cremate their dead bodies round the clock as it is believed that the life cycle of a Hindu completes with a holy dip in the Ganges at birth and immersing ashes after death.

On way back, walk through the narrow lanes of Kashi the oldest part of Varanasi or also the other name of this ancient Hindu city.

Afternoon, guided excursion to Sarnath where "Lord Buddha" delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, 2,500 years ago. Buddha came here after achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya (in eastern India). A visit to the famous Banares Hindu University (BHU), It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 12,000 students living on its campus. BHU was founded in 1916. The campus spread over 1350 acres (5.5 km) was built on land donated by the Kashi Naresh, the hereditary ruler of Banaras. Spend the evening on the Ghats of the Ganges.

Further transfer to Varanasi airport to board flight for Delhi. On arrival, met & transfer to designated place of stay for onward journey with sweet memories.

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Met on arrival and transfer to Delhi international airport to board flight for onward destination with sweet memories of your India trip.

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You may like to extend your visit by a night in Delhi before your flight. Ask us for our various extension programmes to choose from.