Breakfast in the Hotel.

Full day guided tour of Old & New Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India comprises of conspicuously contrasting Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries and one can find mosques, monuments and forts related to Muslim history. New Delhi is the imperial city created as India’s capital by the British intricately planned and comprises of imposing buildings displaying various modern style of architecture.

Red Fort (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE – Red Fort was built by the mughal emperor famous for its architectural wonders one of which is Taj Mahal – Shah Jahan. Red Fort is famous for its delicately carved inlaid and Royal chambers) – Monday closed.

Stop at Jama Masjid – the Great Mughal Mosque (It is the largest mosque in India. Located in Old Delhi, the mosque has the capacity to accommodate 25000 devotees. Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD and it again the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is behind this architectural masterpiece. Close to some 5000 craftsmen were  in the construction of the mosque)

Then visit Raj Ghat (The cremation ground of the father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi)
 After the visit of Old Delhi you will move ahead to visit Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE – Humayun’s tomb is believed to have been designed in 1565 AD by the widow of Mughal emperor Humayun. Its plan is based on the description of Islamic paradise garden and is known to have inspired the Taj Mahal and many later Mughal tombs. This type of garden is known as a charbagh and is based on a grid)

Continue your tour with Qutab Minar (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE – Qutab Minar is 73 meters high which tapers from a 15 m diameter base to just 2.5 m at the top. The walls consist intricately carved quotations from Koran. The tower  is one of the most perfect towers of the Persian world). The tour would also include a drive through the Lutyens Delhi and a photo stop at India Gate (The war memorial) as well drive past President’s Palace & Parliament House.

Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning transfer to Delhi train station in time to board Shatabdi Express (Travel in AC Chair Car) to Agra

Meet/Assist on arrival and transfer to hotel

Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world – The Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the Moslems, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. While it’s significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jaha, it’s architectural wealth has secured it’s place on the international map.

Afternoon you will be taken on a half day sightseeing tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday) (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)

After Taj visit  AGRA FORT (sometimes called the Red Fort), was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565, and is another of Agra’s World Heritage Sites. A stone tablet at the gate of the Fort states that it had been built before 1000 but was later renovated by Akbar. The red sandstone fort was converted into a palace during Shah Jahan’s time, and reworked extensively with marble & Pietra  dura inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque, the Diwan-e’Ām and Dīwān-e-Khās (halls of public and private audience), Jahagir Palace, Khās Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (mirrored palace),

Also visit local market and a marble factory where you can actually see the inlay work being done on marble like it was done for Taj in the past.

Overnight at Hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Rantahmbhore en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri

The Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fatehpūr Sikrī about 35 km from Agra, and moved his capital there. Later abandoned, the site displays a number of buildings of significant historical importance. A World Heritage Site, it is visited by most tourists. The name of the place came about after the Mughal Emperor Barbar defeated Rana Sanga in a battle at a place called Sikrī . Then the Mughal Emperor Akbar wanted to make Fatehpūr Sikrī his head quarters, so he built a majestic fort; due to shortage of water, however,

Continue your drive to Ranthambhore and check in at hotel

Overnight at hotel

Morning & late afternoon visit the park for game viewing

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

Overnight at Hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Shivpuri and check in at hotel

Rest of the day is free to relax

Overnight at hotel

Today morning visit Madhav National Park

Madhav National Park –  A drive through the park watching animals is very exhilarating experience. The Park is haven for wildlife and wildlife – buffs. The park remains open throughout the year and boasts of large numbers of chinkara, Indian gazelle and chital.
The nilgai, sambar, chausingha, blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the common langur are the other inhabitants of the sprawling park. The national park is equally rich in bird life; Chandpata, the artificial lake, is the winter abode of migratory geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. Other residents include the cormorant, laggar falcon, paradise flycatcher and golden oriole. Loud cracking notes of whitebrested kingfisher flying past,harsh crocking of grey heron or quacking of spotbill duck and numerous lesser whistling teals resting at the bank of lack with a leg tucked away and head folded back in to the body; and cheetal grazing here or nilgiri browsing there in the forest, add to the charm.The dynamism of the dry deciduous forest at the Park is unbelievable. Soothing lush green, impenetrable vegetation all over during the monsoon wither to desolate brown and Grey in summer, It nevertheless remains full of life Indeed, Madhav National Park is an oasis in the midest of habitation and cultivation.

Afternoon excursion to Suryargarh Fort

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Khajuraho en route visiting Karera Bird Sanctuary & Orchha Temple

Continue your drive to Khajuraho and check in at hotel

Khajuraho is a small town located in the Bundelkhand region (Chhatarpur District) of Madhya Pradesh and is famous for groups of Hindu and Jain temples. These temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their beautiful and erotic rock carvings.
Khajuraho has the Vindhya range of mountains as its beautiful backdrop. This makes Khajuraho a more fascinating destination

Overnight at Hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for half day sightseeing tour of Eastern or Western Group of Temples of Khajuraho.

Western Group of Temples
Lakhmana Temple – The oldest and finest of the western group of temples, named after the ruler that built the temple. The A horizontal beam over the entrance of this beautiful Vaishnavite temple shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Lakshmi, Vishnus consort.
Kandariya Mahadeo Temple – This temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.
Devi Jagdamba Temple – Dedicated to the Goddess (devi), this is smaller and much more delicately proportioned temple and is home to some of the finest sculptures of Khajuraho.The garbha griha has a huge image of the Devi of the Universe (Jagdambi), though it appears to have started as a Vishnu temple. It has the usual three bands of sculptures, but the third and most uppermost of these houses some of the most erotic sculptures.
Chaunsat Yogini – The only granite temple in the Khajuraho group
Chitragupta Temple – is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya), it faces eastward to the rising sun
Matanageswara Temple – A temple dedicated to Shiva, a huge 8ft Lingam adorns the temple.

Eastern Group of Temples
Parsvanath Temple – Largest among the group, with exquisite carvings in detail. The sculptures on the northern outer wall are the highlights of this temple. The image was installed in 1860.
Ghantai Temple – This Jain temple has a frieze which depicts the 16 dreams of Mahavira’s mother, and a jain goddess on a winged Garuda.
Adinath Temple – Dedicated to Jain saint, adinath, the temple is lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, including yakshis.
Hanuman Temple
Brahma Temple – considered to be one of the oldest temples of Khajuraho made entirely in granite and sandstone, is dedicated to Vishnu.
Vamana Temple – is the dwarf form of Lord Vishnu, located in a secluded place and is known for its simple architecture.

Afternoon visit Panna National Park

Panna National Park is situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho. The region, famous for its diamond industry, is also home to some of the best wildlife species in India and is one of the most famous Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope. Due to its closeness to one of the best-known Indian tourist attraction in India, Khajuraho, the park is recognized as an exciting stop-over destination.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Bandhavgarh and check in at hotel

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian stateMadhya Pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhawgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here.  The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest known in India. The park has a large breeding population of Leopards and various species of deer

Rest of the day is free to relax

Overnight at hotel

Morning & Evening Jeep Ride into the park for game Viewing into the park

The forests of Bandhavgarh are the white tiger jungles of the yesteryears. However, no white tigers have been reported from the wild in the last 50 years, and it is believed that less than a dozen have been seen in India in about a hundred years. And yet when white tigers were sighted, it was right here in Bandhavgarh Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the famous  WHITE TIGERS  of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Kanha National park is located in Banjar and Halon valleys in the Mandla / Balaghat districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Kanha National Park is one of the India’s finest tiger reserves. It is spread more than 940 sq km in a horse shoe shaped valley bound by the spurs of the Mekal range the park presents a varies topography. Kanha national park is more famous for its wildlife, the natural beauty of its landscape is just as fascinating. One of the best locations to enjoy that bounty is Bammi Dadar, also known as the sunset point

Rest of the day is free to relax

Overnight at hotel

Morning & Evening Jeep Ride into the park for game Viewing into the park

Kanha boasts of about 22 species of mammals. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the largest of the world’s cattle; the sambar,the largest Indian deer; and the chausingha, the only four-horned antelopein the world. Other frequent visitors include the Nilgai antelope, thesloth bear, the dhole, or Indian wild dog, and an occasional panther. Some 200 species of birds inhabit the park, which include the cattle egret, blackibis, hawk eagle, and the red-wattled lapwing. Shravantal is an old, earthen bound tank in the central Kanha meadows, which happens to be an important watering hole, for a large number of water fowl in winter. Bamni Dadar, known as Sunset Point, is the most beautiful section of the park, and the view ofthe sunset from this spot is absolutely mesmerising. Quite a few animals can be sighted around this area which include the sambar, gaur, the four-horned antelope and the barking deer

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Nagpur airport in time to connect flight to Mumbai.

Bombay, is the capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra. The city  is the second most-populous in the world; with approximately 14 million inhabitants along with the neighbouring cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane it forms the world’s 4th largest urban agglomeration, with around 19 million people. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour.

Meet/Assist on arrival and transfer to hotel  

Overnight at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Elephanta Cave
Excursion by motor launch to Elephanta Caves – 9  kms in the sea. These 7th century rock cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are situated on top of a hill on the island.

The Elephanta Caves are caves located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, contain Shaivistic high reliefs in stone of Hindu Deities important to worshipers of Shiva. The sculptures were created beginning in the late Gupta Empire, or sometime after, and at later dates. Elephanta Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork. The original name of this epitome of temple art is Agraharpuri, Agrahar. Agrahar is the necklace or most important neck ornament. The Agraharpuri slowly became Gharapuri; still retaining the original meaning as the focal point of Gharapuri Island, which was renamed Elephanta Island by the Portuguese and is located in Mumbai Harbour off the coast of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay).

Afternoon half day sightseeing tour of Mumbai

Gateway of India
Mumbai’s most famous monument, this is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Ironically, when the Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England left from the Gateway. Today this symbol of colonialism has got Indianised, drawing droves of local tourists and citizens.

Drive past Marine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a ‘C’-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. This is a windswept promenade, flanked by the sea and a row of art deco buildings. Looped between the concrete jungle of Nariman Point, Mumbai’s Manhattan, and the leafy green slopes of Malabar hill, Marine Drive was once called the queen’s Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like an enormous strand of imperious jewels. It is also one of Mumbai’s busiest roads, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. Like other seafronts, this is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air.

Crawford Market
Crawford Market is one of the prominent markets of Mumbai. It is located in South Mumbai, to the north of Victoria railway station and opposite the Police headquarters. The market is called so, after the City’s Municipal Commissioner Arthur Crawford. Though it is now officially known as the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market, it is still popular by its former name. The construction of the market building was completed in 1869. One of the main features of the building is the Clock Tower, which is adorned with beautiful Victorian carvings.

Mani Bhavan in Mumbai is a must visit for all those who are curious about knowing Mahatma Gandhi, the torchbearer of Ahimsa or Non-violence. The memorial is dedicated to this legendary freedom fighter of India & the Father of the Nation, who stayed here between 1917 and 1934 during India’s freedom struggle.
Dhobi Ghat
The Dhobi is a traditional laundryman, who will collect your dirty linen, wash it, and return it neatly pressed to your doorstep.  The “laundries” are called “ghats”: row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone. The clothes are soaked in sudsy water, thrashed on the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of boiling starch and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled into neat bundles. The most famous of these Dhobi Ghats is at Saat Rasta near Mahalaxmi Station where almost two hundred dhobis and their families work together in what has always been a hereditary occupation.

Hanging Garden
Perched at the top of Malabar Hill, where the elite have built their plush modern palaces is Kamala Nehru Park, the hangout of the bourgeois middle class. It has little to offer by way of entertainment, apart from a “Old Woman’s Shoe” relegated to a distant corner, but the view of the city is spectacular and should not be missed. For most Mumbaiites, Kamala Nehru Park is to Mumbai what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris — a vantage point that casts a proud eye on the entire city.

After finishing the tour transfer to Mumbai International airport in time to connect flight to your next destination