ENLIGHTEN INDIA

Arrive into international Indira Gandhi Airport by (flight TBA)
Meeting & assistance on arrival at Delhi airport by our representative later transfer to
the hotel in air-conditioned car for check-in.
We welcome you in the capital city of India, for a journey across the fascinating historymarkers
of medieval north India. Wars were fought and rulers changed in Delhi but
ordinary lives were lived in relative continuity. Glimpses of these can be seen even
today as the character of the city underwent massive changes in the last decades. In the
lands fabled to have seen seven cities, signs of the old are continuously jostling with the
new, presenting an ever-fascinating panorama. We welcome you to its chaos and
stability, into its steadfastness and its impatience and into a delightful rainbow of
amalgamation, producing a world completely its own.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Old Delhi
Begin your day with an exploration starting in Old Delhi, visiting the Jama Masjid, the
royal mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. It is one of the largest
and most beautiful mosques in the world and is constructed in red sandstone and white
marble. The main prayer hall has a seating capacity of more than 20,000 worshippers.
Combined with old Delhi Tour on a tricycle rickshaw in the Indian metropolis of Delhi,
where fast-paced, cell-phone toting characters out of Monsoon Wedding live side by
side with barefoot rickshaw wallahs cycling past roaming cows in the road, you will visit
the largest spice market in all of Asia, the bustling Khari Baoli bazaar. At once, all your
senses will be over-stimulated to an amplified level. Open air shops on both sides of the
road displayed sackcloth bags filled with pungent spices, bushels of fragrant flowers,
nuts and sticky dried fruits, mountains of bright orange turmeric, mouth-watering
sweets, gallons of gooey ghee and enough tea to steep the Indian ocean. The intense
combination of indiscernible aromas oscillated our insides between gagging nausea and
voracious hunger.
Carried along by the throngs of merchants corralled on the sidewalks, you will watch
businessmen from all over India testing quality with a sniff and marking a deal with a
head waggle.Shopkeepers weighing out goods the old-fashioned way, with iron weights on a balance
scale. In the street, thin men carried burlap sacks bigger and heavier than their own
bodies, loading them onto hand drawn wooden carts. Whether you need 5 grams or
500 kilos, goods are sold in bulk at rock-bottom wholesale prices. We walked away
with precious clear gift boxes filled with delicate red saffron strands from Kashmir. This
is the ideal place to look at some of the spices used to make masala chai, and their
medicinal properties.
Red Fort (From Outside)- The largest of old Delhi’s monuments is the Lal Quila, or the
Red Fort, the thick red sandstone walls of which, bulging with turrets and bastions,
have withstood the vagaries of time, and nature. The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry
moat, in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. Its walls extend
upto two kilometre, and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on
the city side.
Late afternoon, explore New Delhi by visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully
hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the
ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years. Visit the mausoleum of emperor
Humayun – a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture and the imposing modern
Lakshminarayan temple.
Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the
Indian soldiers), the president’s residence – formerly the Viceroy’s Palace, parliament
House and the Secretariat buildings, – an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th
century architecture.
And then visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (the temple of the followers of the Sikh
religion). The Sikhs, which means “disciples”, are one of the country’s most
recognizable groups. Beards and turbans give them a distinctive look. Unlike Hinduism,
they believe in one God, and that everyone, regardless of their station in life, should do
“seva” or rendering social services. This resulted in the “Langar” or community kitchen,
where every member of the religion considers it an honor to come and put in a couple
of hours cooking thousands of Indian breads, making huge vat loads of curry, to feed
the poor and underprivileged. The food served at the Langar is simple, but fresh and
wholesome.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Jaipur (approx. 05 – 06 hours)
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and be assisted for check in at the
hotel.
Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, because of the terra-cotta-colored lime plaster that
coats the old part of the city’s walls, buildings, and temples. The reasons for painting the
town pink are unknown, some say it is because Maharaja Jai Singh II’s being a devotee
of Lord Shiva and as pink was his favourite. The most popular reason is that pink is the
traditional color of hospitality, and the old part of the city was freshly painted and
paved with pink gravel to warmly welcome Edward VII for his visit here in 1876.
Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, embark on your day of sightseeing in Jaipur.
Visit the Amber Fort, we recommend getting there early before the hoards descend.
This is one of the most fascinating of the Indian forts comprising the Palace of Mirrors,
Hall of Public Audience and the beautiful gardens, all of which give a glimpse into the
majesty of days gone by.
The fort can either be reached by Jeep, on foot or, subject to availability, on elephant
back.
Then visit the City Palace who’s several courtyards and gardens provide wonderful
contrast to its many palatial structures including Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Badal
Mahal and the Sri Govind Dev temple. The huge silver water vessels displayed at the
Diwan-e-Khas recorded in the Guinness Book as the largest in the world are a must see.
Also visit Jantar Mantar- the Observatory. It incorporates multiple buildings of unique
geometrical forms, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement.
And then visit of Moti Dungri (Ganesh temple). The temple is surrounded by a beautiful
palace which resembles a Scottish castle.
And then visit also Lakshi Narayam Temple is commonly known as the Birla Temple and
is located beneath the Moti Dungri Fort. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord
Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra (approx. 240 kms/ 05 – 06 hours) en-route visiting
Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri – The political capital of India’s Mughal Empire under Akbar’s reign from
1571 until 1585 and regarded as the crowning glory of his architectural legacy, this
majestic ancient palace/fort had to be deserted shortly after its completion because of
lack of water supply. To this day, its grand edifice as well as delicate decorations are
almost intact.
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and be assisted for check in at the
hotel.
Agra is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in
addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that epitomize the high point of
Mughal architecture. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the
capital of India. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first
formal Persian garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson
raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jahangir built rosered
palaces, courts and gardens, and Shah Jahan embellished it with marble mosques,
palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble. The crowning glory of the city is
obviously the Taj, a monument of love and imagination that represents India to the
world.
Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning, visit Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan as an eternal symbol of his love for
his favourite wife, whom he called Mumtaz Mahal (“Jewel of the Palace”). The
monument has immortalized him forever as one of the great architectural patrons of
the world. The structure took 20,000 laborers and 22 years to complete.After the visit, return hotel for Breakfast.
And then visit the Agra Fort, occupying a dominant site on the bend of River Yamuna,
the high walled red-sandstone structure was built by Akbar between 1565 and 1573
and thereafter structures within it were added by successive emperors
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, in time transfer to Delhi airport (approx. 04 hours’ drive) to
board for your flight to Varanasi (Flight TBA)
On arrival, met and transfer for check-in at the hotel.
A crumbling maze of a city that rises from the ghats (steps) on the western banks of the
Ganges, Varanasi is in many senses the quintessential India. With an ancient history –
Mark Twain famously described it as “older than history, older than tradition, older even
than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together” – it is also one of the
most sacred cities in the world today. Named after the confluence of two rivers, Varuna
and Asi, the city is centered on the ghats that line the waterfront, each honoring Shiva in
the form of a linga – the rounded phallic-like shaft of stone found on every ghat. Cruise
the waterfront at dawn and you will witness the most surreal scenes rr even come at
sunset, when pundits (priests) at Dasashwamedh Ghat perform arti (prayer ritual) with
complicated fire rituals, and pilgrims light candles to float along the sacred waters.
Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning, proceed for boat ride at river Ganges. At dawn-the Ghats are abuzz with
activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the
rising sun and performing other religious rituals. A boat rides from the dasaswamedh
ghat along the Ghats gives you vantage views of these activities. After the boat cruise
on the Ganges walk through the narrow lanes of city visiting various temples.After breakfast, proceed for a visit of Sarnath, which bears testimony to its great past
where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon expounding the principals of Buddhism.
Visit the art collection at the Archaeological museum (closed on Fridays).
Late afternoon proceed for the visit of Mother India Temple- a unique temple
dedicated to Mother India carved with a single piece of marble. Later proceed to the
parking area from where we take you on Rickshaw ride to the ghats to witness
the Aarti Ceremony (Hindu ritual /prayer of river Ganges at Sunset). You will be passing
through the crowded bazaars and galis (old part) of this ancient city, small shops
illuminated with lights followed by a short boat ride on Ganges witnessing the Aarti
ceremony amidst jingling of bells, floating of diyas (traditional lamps) and chanting
of mantras give you a never forgettable life time experience.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
And in time transfer to airport to board for your flight to Delhi.
Upon arrival, meet & assist for transfer to international terminal to board your onward
destination (Flight TBA)