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Day 1: Depart USA |
En Route |
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Depart the USA today on your British Airways flight for India. |
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Day 2: Transit London/Arrive Delhi |
Grand Hyatt |
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Transit London's Heathrow International Airport connecting with your onward flight to Delhi arriving in the late evening. After clearing immigrations/customs formalities, you are met and transferred to your luxury hotel near the airport. |
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Day 3: Delhi/Aurangabad |
Taj Residency |
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Morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Aurangabad. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel. (BD) |
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Day 4: Aurangabad |
Taj Residency |
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Early morning departure for Ajanta Caves (127 miles roundtrip), a symbol of India's pre-history and antiquity and one of the world's greatest art treasures. They were cut from the volcanic lavas of the Deccan Trap in a steep crescent-shaped hillside in a forested ravine of the Sahyadri hills. After the 7th century, they jungle took over and they languished unnoticed for centuries until 1819, when a party of British army officers from Madras noticed the top of the façade of Cave 10 while tiger hunting. The masterpieces retell the life story of the Buddha and reveal the life and culture of the people of the times, royal court settings, family life, street scenes and superb studies of animals and birds. Return to Aurangabad by mid afternoon for time at leisure. (BD) |
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Day 5: Aurangabad/Bombay |
Oberoi Bombay Hotel |
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Morning excursion to the magnificent fortress of Daulatabad and the Ellora Caves (total: 43 miles roundtrip), the latter highlighted by the sublime monolith in the form of Kailasa Temple. Afternoon transfer to airport for your flight to Bombay. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel, the Oberoi Bombay Hotel, in deluxe sea faxing room. (BD) |
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Day 6: Bombay |
Oberoi Bombay Hotel |
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A full day tour of the country's commercial capital, beginning with a motorboat trip from the Gateway of India and across the bay to the Elephanta Caves. The caves, excavated in the volcanic lava high up the slope of a hill by Hindu craftsman over 1000 years ago, express spiritual truths in massive carvings of extraordinary grace. Lunch is arranged at the Taj Mahal Hotel's Shamiana restaurant. This afternoon, tour the Prince of Wales Museum and the warm and welcoming Gandhi Museum. View British period architectural sites, the sea front and the Dhobi Ghat, a huge open-air laundry where clothes are hand-washed. (BLD) |
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Day 7: Bombay/Udaipur |
Lake Palace |
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Early transfer to the airport for your flight to Udaipur, a beautiful city regarded by many as the most romantic in India. In stark contract with its desert neighbors, it presents an enchanting image of white marble palaces, placid blue lakes, attractive gardens and green hills. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to the Lake Palace Hotel in lake-facing room. This afternoon explore one of the country's most timeless and magnetic cities, visiting the City Palace and Museum, the Folk Art Museum and the crowded lanes and markets of the old city, before a delightful motorboat excursion on the lake. (BD) |
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Day 8: Udaipur |
Lake Palace |
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A morning's drive into the scenic and wooded hills of the Aravalli range to Ranakpur (124 miles roundtrip), site of the Adinatha Jain temple whose 1,444 intricately carved pillars are all different from one another. Lunch is arranged at the delightful Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat, before your drive back to Udaipur (BLD) |
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Day 9: Udaipur/Jaipur |
Rambagh Palace |
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Transfer to the airport for your flight to Jaipur, the colorful capital of a richly colorful state of Rajasthan, and popularly known as the "Pink City" because of the rose-colored wash that adorns most buildings in the old quarter. Transfer to your incredible hotel, the Rambagh Palace in superior room. This afternoon visit to the City Palace. Wander through the vast courtyards around which are clusters of museums housing rare collections of textiles, carpets, paintings and antique weapons of war. Continue to the Jantar Mantar, a medieval observatory with curiously shaped and oversized instruments, which even today, are astonishingly accurate in their astronomical measurements. You also see the Palace of Winds façade and the wonderfully animated streets of the old city. (BD) |
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Day 10: Jaipur |
Rambagh Palace |
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Morning tour of the Amber Fort (7 miles/30 min by car), dominating the rocky hills that surround Jaipur and guarding one of the many defiles that lead to the city. Ride on elephant back to the top of the Fort's ramparts. Once the capital of the Rajput rulers of this area, the fortress is riddled with narrow passages and alleyways. There are magnificent halls with mirror-work embedded in the ceilings and polychromatic paintings on the walls. Afternoon at leisure for independent exploration. (BD) |
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Day 11: Jaipur/Fatehpur Sikri/Agra |
Amarvilas |
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Drive to Agra (140 miles), taking lunch at a charming village haveli (mansion). En route visit Fatehpur Sikri, the 16th century imperial medieval capital of the Mughals, subsequently abandoned due to lack of water. It is now in a near perfect state of preservation. Continue to Agra for late afternoon check-in to your hotel, the Amarvilas, in deluxe Taj facing room. (BLD) |
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Day 12: Agra |
Amarvilas |
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A full day of sightseeing begins with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, the superlative expression of emperor Shah Jahan's undying love for his queen. Due to the luminescence of the white marble used in construction, the best way of viewing the monument is at different times of the day and year. In the unique beauty of the Taj Mahal, subtlety is blended with grandeur and a massive overall design is matched with immaculately intricate execution. Afterwards, continue to grand Agra Fort, a huge complex constructed out of red sandstone. See the exquisite marble palaces, testimony to the power and artistic sense of successive Mughal emperors. The exquisitely detailed Tomb of I'timad-ud-daulah, know as the 'Baby Taj', was built for Ghiyas Beg and his wife, Nur Jahan. Later in the day, return to the Taj Mahal, perhaps extending your stay here in order to view the monument in the soft light of the setting sun. (BD) |
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Day 13: Agra/Khajuraho |
Taj Chandela |
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Transfer to airport for your flight to Khajuraho. Afternoon tour of Khajuraho's unique and celebrated temples -- masterpieces that epitomize human love for the divine. Unravel the mystique of this unusual site that, despite the passage of time, retains its rural aura. During the 10th century AD, the roving Chandela Rajpurt dynasty established a kingdom including Khajuraho. It is said that 85 significant temples were constructed during that time, of which 22 remain today. Generally tall stone structures, built on high platforms, the marriage of massive proportions with almost infinitely intricate detail give the temples a cerebral balance. Although each temple is dedicated to a different deity, the central theme is "Shakti", the manifestation of female energy associated with Lord Siva. In Hinduism, sexual union is a metaphor for human love for the divine. In the evening, attend a performance of the Son-et-Lumiere. (BD) |
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Day 14: Khajuraho/Varanasi |
Taj Ganges |
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Morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, journey the short distance to Sarnath, one of Buddhism's most sacred places. It was here that the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment. Walking through its serene environs, pause at the very spot where the Buddha preached and view the ancient 6th century AD Dhamekh Stupa, the tranquil Deer Park, and the 3rd century AD Dharmarajika Stupa. Nearby is the splendid Archaeological Museum, whose prehistoric sculptural treasures include the Lion Pillar, the official symbol of India. In the late afternoon, tour Varanasi, a city already considered ancient when the Buddha visited around 500 BC. Contemporary of Nineveh, Thebes and Tyre, Varanasi is the citadel of Hinduism. Somewhat in tune with its local name, Kashi, which means "City of Light", Varanasi is a revelation - divinity and decay, prosperity and poverty, serenity and squalor - of the extremes, often defying description. Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, it is here that its inhabitants and pilgrims congregate in numbers to bathe in the waters to clean away their sins and free themselves from the cycle of rebirth. Drive through the chaotic streets to the "ghats", a long stone stepped embankment built on the riverbank. Here, watch the evening "aarti" ceremony, a deeply moving spectacle where devotees release leaf borne lamps on to the water at sunset. Leaving the ghats, walk through the tumultuous lanes to look at the traditional sari - Varanasi is justly renowned for it's rich silks - and brass markets before returning to your hotel. (B) |
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Day 15: Varanasi/Delhi |
Oberoi Delhi |
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Return to the ghats very early today for a short trip by country boat on the Ganges to watch the dawn prayers. As the light gradually brightens, the sight of the innumerable numbers of reverent devotees standing waist deep in water, with cremations sometimes taking place a short distance away, is one of the world's most awesome spectacles. Return to your hotel for breakfast and a morning at leisure. Depart for the airport and your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to the elegant Oberoi Delhi Hotel in premium room. (BD) |
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Day 16: Delhi |
Oberoi Delhi |
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The day is spent visiting Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat, the Jama Masjid mosque, the pre-medieval Qutab Minar tower, Humayun's Tomb - forerunner of the Taj Mahal, and the superb Crafts Museum. You also view the Presidential Palace, Parliament House, government secretariat and elegant Diplomatic Enclave. Rooms are held until your late evening transfer to Delhi International Airport (BD) |
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Day 17: Depart Delhi/London/USA |
En Route |
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Depart Delhi on your British Airways flight to London, connecting with your return flight to the USA. Welcome Home! |
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NEPAL EXTENSION |
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Day 17: Delhi/Kathmandu |
Dwarika's Hotel |
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Transfer to the Delhi International Airport for your flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel in deluxe room. Afternoon tour of the revered Buddhist site of Swayambhunath, and the Kathmandu Durbar Square, replete with medieval palaces, temples, homes and markets. (B) |
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Day 18: Kathmandu |
Dwarika's Hotel |
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Morning excursion into the mountain countryside of Dhulikhel (44 miles roundtrip) where, weather permitting, you see spectacular views of the Himalayan range and, perhaps, take a gentle walk before lunch at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort. Return to Kathmandu visiting the ancient town of Bhadgaon, well known as a living museum. (BL) |
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Day 19: Kathmandu/Delhi |
Grand Hyatt |
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The morning is at leisure for independent exploration, or, take the optional mountain flight over the Himalayas before transferring to the airport for your afternoon flight to Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel near the airport where day rooms are provided. Late evening transfer to the airport. (BD)
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Day 20: Depart Delhi/London/USA |
En Route |
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Depart Delhi on your British Airways flight to London, connecting with your return flight to the USA. Welcome Home! |
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INCLUDED IN YOUR PROGRAM |
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India Land Program |
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SORRY, NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR PROGRAM |
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• Visas as required and airport departure taxes at Delhi/$25-30 pp. |
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