Spirit Of India & Nepal

Day 1: Departure

Arrival in Mumbai (By flight)

Upon arrival at Mumbai airport meet with our representative and then transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Mumbai – Aurangabad (By flight) – Ajanta Caves – Aurangabad

After Breakfast. Full Day visit Old and New Delhi:

We will begin our first visit to the magical country of India, we will begin touring New Delhi and its main monuments, among others:

Qutab Minar, a monument begun in 1193, marks the first place where the first Muslim kingdom was established in North India. This five-seater tower of victory was started by Qutbuddin Aibak and completed by his successor Iltutmish. It was built to symbolize the supremacy of Islam; Humayun’s Tomb, built by the eldest of his widows and mother of Emperor Akbar. This is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. It is believed that this mausoleum was what inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal.

New Delhi shines with its splendor, like a lone sentinel guarding the outpost of a bygone empire. It is a wealthy city, with ceremonious gardens, the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India.

The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls of the monument. Its construction was completed in 1931. Since 1971, an eternal flame, known as Amar Jawan Jyoti (the flame of the immortal warrior), has been under the monument since 1971, marking the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” and is dedicated to honoring the unknown soldiers killed in the clashes between India and Pakistan that took place that same year.

Old Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. We visited the 300 year old Chandni Chowk Market which is a maze of alleyways lined with shops selling an extraordinary variety of items, food, noise and crowds are an essential part of any Indian market. We walk through this market by cycle rickshaw.

From here we will continue to the Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. This is the largest mosque in India designed by Shah Jahan, and was his last architectural legacy, it was originally called Masjid-i-Jahanuma, which means “commanding a world view mosque”.

In complete contrast to the noise and The Raj ghat (royal courtyard) is a memorial to the Hindu Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India’s independence.

We then walk through the Red Fort, built in the mid 17th century, also by Shah Jahan, which was sacked by Nadir Shah’s marauding army and later by British soldiers. Overnight at hotel.

We then visit the India Gate, originally called the All Indian Wars Memorial is a monument built by architect Edwin Lutyens to commemorate Indian soldiers who died in World War I and the 1919 Afghan Wars. It was laid on February 10, 1921 by the Duke of Connaught.

Day 3

Aurangabad – Ellora Caves – Aurangabad

Breakfast. In the morning, excursion to the Ellora Caves (closed on Tuesday), located 20 km from Aurangabad. Carved into a 2 km long cliff, they are one of the most splendid examples of rock-cut architecture in India. We return to the hotel.

Then we will visit Bibi Ka Maqbara built by the son of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1679 AD in memory of his mother Rabia Durrani. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 4

Aurangabad – Mumbai (By flight)

Breakfast. In the morning, a 110 km tour to the Ajanta Caves (closed on Monday), the greatest example of cave art from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. 30 caves dug into a semicircular hillside by a community of Buddhist monks. They are divided into sanctuaries (Chatyas) and monasteries (Viharas). Ajanta has high-quality paintings that reflect the life of Buddha. After the visit, return to Aurangabad.

Then transfer to Aurangabad airport for a flight to Mumbai.

Day 5

Mumbai

Breakfast. In the morning around 10:30 AM visit to the Elephanta Caves (Closed on Mondays).

Shiva is not just another of the many Hindu gods. He has the triple role of creator, guardian of life and destroyer. That is why the impressive image of Shiva that stands in one of the caves shows him at the top of his six meters with three faces, one for each facet. The caves are on the island that the Portuguese travelers named Elephanta because of some stone sculptures that surprised them.

In the afternoon, visit the city of Mumbai, visiting its main attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe, Maní Bhawan (Gandhi’s house), Tower of Silence, Victoria Terminus and if you wish, Crowford Market (because you may have opted for this option the day before, they could offer you some other attraction, perhaps the Prince of Wales Museum). Accommodation in hotel.

Day 6:

Mumbai – Udaipur (by flight)

Breakfast. At the same time, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Udaipur.

By Flight: AI-643

Departure at 2:00 p.m. arrival at 3:45 p.m.

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon free for personal activities. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 7:

Udaipur

Breakfast. In the morning, a 22 km tour will be made northeast of Udaipur to visit the temples of Eklingji and Nagda. These temples are dedicated to the god Shiva. The complex The walled complex includes an elaborately painted hall under a huge pyramidal roof with a black marble image of a four-headed Shiva. Nagda, a three-temple complex, now in ruins, was the scene of frequent Muslim invasions.

Afternoon city tour. We circle the two lakes to visit the City Palace Museum, and the delightful Garden of the Maidens, Sehalion Ki Bari, Suraj Gokhada, Badi Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Bhim Vilas, Mor Chown (the turkey courtyard), the Jagdish temple and continue with a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Accommodation in hotel

Day 8:

Udaipur – Ranakpur – Jodhpur (275 km 05 hours approx)

Breakfast. Departure by road on a 278 km journey that will take around 6 hours to Jodhpur.

En route visit Ranakpur in the Aravali Hills, famous for its 500-year-old Jain temples housing intricate sculptures. The central temple called Chaumukha has 29 marble halls supported by 1,444 pillars.

Arrival in Jodhpur – known as the Blue City and overnight at hotel

Day 9:

Jodhpur

Breakfast. In the morning, you will climb up to the Meherangarh Fort, on top of a hill. It is one of the best preserved and impressive forts in Rajasthan. Inside the fort is the Moti Mahal Palace. You will continue the visit with the royal crematorium of Jashwant Thada made of white marble.

In the afternoon, you will leave by road on a short tour to visit the village of the Bishnoi.

The Bishnoi, great ecologists, are the followers of a 15th century sage, Jambeshwar, whose doctrine is summarized in 29 (Bishnoi) principles. Most of them focus on the protection of the environment and all living beings, even if you have to risk your life for it. Thus, the black antelope roams freely around these villages, knowing that no one will attack it. The Bishnoi believe that they will be reincarnated as deer.

Then visit Girdikot (Sardar) Bazaar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10:

Jodhpur – Jaipur (335 km / 07 hours approx)

Breakfast. Departure by road to Jaipur.

Jaipur- The capital of Rajasthan, with its characteristic dark pink buildings, the colour that represents hospitality for the Rajputs in Rajput culture. Founded by Raja Jai ​​Singh in the 18th century, it is surrounded by hills on top of which forts and palaces were built that inspired fairy tales. Camels walking slowly and the inhabitants dressed in bright colours reflect a desert heritage in Jaipur. Meanwhile the markets are full of wonderful souvenirs, hand-woven fabrics and crafts. We invite you to visit the city of love, legends and traditions.

Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11:

Jaipur – Amber Fort – Jaipur

Breakfast. At 0700 hours you will be picked up from your hotel for a visit to Amber Fort (you will ride up on elephants and come down by Jeep). Riding on elephants you will climb to the top of the hill where the Amber Fort and its ramparts are located. From there you will see the historic city of the kings of Amber next to Lake Maota, we are sure that this place will be one of the many great experiences of your trip to India, the place holds all the secrets of the life of the Maharajas. The majestic Amber Fort (pronounced “Amer”), a wonderful example of Rajput architecture,

rises above the rocky slope of a mountain located about 11 km north of Jaipur. Amber was once the capital of the state of Jaipur. The construction of the fort was started in 1592 by the Maharaja Man Singh, Rajput commander of the army of Akbar, the Mughal emperor. It was later enlarged by the Jai Singhs (I and II) before moving the capital to Jaipur. On the way, you will have a short stop to take the traditional photo of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). The five-storey palace was built in 1799 and is one of the best examples of the artistic talent of the Rajputs, who built it so that the ladies of the court could entertain themselves by watching the hustle and bustle of the city. Today it remains an excellent place to observe the hustle and bustle of the city. From the rooftop you can admire impressive views of the Jantar Mantar and the City Palace on one side, and the Siredeori Bazaar on the other.

Its construction was commissioned by Maharaja Sawaj Pratap Singh, and it is part of the City Palace complex.

In the afternoon, visit the City Palace of Jaipur. The Maharaja’s Palace (also known as the City Palace), a former royal residence converted into a museum, a small portion of which is still used by the royal family of Jaipur. One of its main attractions is the Armoury, with an impressive array of weapons – pistols, swords, daggers and rifles etc. – that the Royal family of Jaipur once used throughout history. On the first floor is the Textile Museum, which is a fine example of textiles and costumes from all over India. The palace covers almost one-seventh of the city’s area. The main entrance leads to the central courtyard, which is the Mubarak Mahal.

The visit will continue at the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest observatory in the world, built in stone and marble by Jai Singh from 1728 to 1734. Located near the city gate, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in perfect working condition.

Then we enjoy a Rickshaw ride through the local market before returning to our hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12:

Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (275 kilometers / 6 hours approx)

Breakfast. Departure by road to Agra en route we visit Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri, located 40 km from Agra, was built by Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585 in honor of the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and the birth of three sons. Its architecture, a fusion of Hindu and Islamic styles, reflects Akbar’s secular vision and his way of governing. The scarcity of water was the factor in the abandonment of this ghost town, where the elegant buildings speak of the beauty and splendor of the Mughal empire.

After the visit, continue to Agra. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 13:

Agra

Breakfast. During the day we visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) and Agra Fort.

Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631. This majestic mausoleum combines elements of Islamic, Persian, Indian and even Turkish architecture. It is estimated that around 20,000 workers from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy worked on it and it took 17 years to complete this Love Poem in Marble.

Later we will visit the Agra Fort, built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573, it reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. This palace fortress was started by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel and was later completed by two successive generations, delicate marble mosaic and magnificent palaces were added. The fort is the history of Mughal Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 14:

Agra – Jhansi (By Train) – Orchha – Khajuraho (178 Kilometers / 04 hours approx)

Breakfast. Transfer to the train station to take the train to Jhansi.

By Train: Shatabdi Express:

Departure at 08:02 hours Arrival at 10:45 hours.

Departure by road to Orchha. Visit Orchha.

Orchha, a city of medieval temples located on the Betwa River in the state of Madhya Pradesh. We will explore the temples and palaces that were built between the 16th and 17th centuries by the Bundela rulers and are considered the best example of Indo-Islamic architecture. We will visit the Fort complex, which consists of palaces, temples, cenotaphs, and memorials.

Lunch at the Orchha Resort.

After the visit, continue to Khajuraho. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in hotel.

Day 15:

Khajuraho

Breakfast. Visit to the temples of the Eastern and Western Groups of Temples

The temples of Khajuraho, the centre of a glorious, mystical and erotic kingdom. Khajuraho has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, built between the 9th and 10th centuries by the Chandela dynasty.

We will visit the western group where Kandariya Mahadeo is located, a temple dedicated to the God Shiva, the most impressive of the temples of Khajuraho. We will also visit the Chaunsat Yogini Jain temple, dedicated to the 64 “yoginis” or attendants of the Goddess Kali.

In the eastern group, we will visit the Ghantai Temple, dedicated to “Vamana”, a dwarf or incarnation of Vishnu and the Javari Temple, there are also three Jain temples with beautiful carvings.

Day 16:

Khajuraho – Varanasi ( by flight))

Breakfast. Departure transfer from hotel to airport catch flight to Varanasi.

Flight : 6E-5082 : Depart at. 1100 hrs. – Arrive at. 1155 hrs.

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 17:

Varanasi

Breakfast. In the afternoon, excursion to visit Sarnath.

During the boat ride on the Ganges River, we will see the pilgrims descend towards the river to immerse themselves and cleanse their souls, we will also see the “crematory ghats” which is the place where the corpses are cremated. At the end of the ceremony, we will walk through the old city of Varanasi, including Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga temple.

Later we will return to the hotel for breakfast.

Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon “Maha-Dharma Chakra Pravartan, or wheel of the law, after attaining enlightenment. Among other structures in Sarnath are the ruins of the temple representing the Mula gandha-Kuti, ruins of monasteries and stupas, among the most appreciated is the Dhamekh Stupa. Sarnath has also yielded a rich collection of Buddhist sculptures composed of numerous images of Buddha and Bodhisattva, which can be seen in the Sarnath Archaeological Museum.

Later transfer to the banks of the Ganges River to witness collective prayer.

The Aarti ceremony (collective prayer) on the Ganges River (sacred river in India) is impressive in the darkness of the night contrasting with the river, ghats and temples, illuminated with lamps and candles while people perform their prayers.

Return to the hotel and overnight in hotel.

Day 18:

Varanasi – Delhi (By flight).

Early morning around 10:00 am 0500 AM Pick up from hotel for boat ride on Ganges River.

Breakfast. At time Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi.

By flight AI – 405

Departure at 12:45 hrs Arrival at 14:25 hrs.

Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 19:

Delhi

Breakfast. Full day combined tour of Old and New Delhi:

Old Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. We visit the

300 year old Chandni Chowk Market which is a maze of alleys filled with shops selling an extraordinary variety of items, food, noise and crowds are an essential part of any Indian market. We tour this market by cycle rickshaw.

From here we continue to the Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. This is the largest mosque in India designed by Shah Jahan, and was his last architectural legacy, originally called Masjid-i-Jahanuma, meaning “a mosque commanding a world view”.

In complete contrast to the noise and the Raj Ghat (royal courtyard) is a memorial to the Hindu Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India’s independence.

We then stroll through the Red Fort, built in the mid-17th century, also by Shah Jahan, which was sacked by the marauding army of Nadir Shah and later by British soldiers.

Qutab Minaret, a monument begun in 1193, marks the first place where the first Muslim kingdom in northern India was established. This five-square victory tower was started by Qutbuddin Aibak and completed by his successor Iltutmish.

It was built to symbolise the supremacy of Islam; Humayun’s Tomb, built by his eldest widow and mother of Emperor Akbar. This is the first example of Mughal architecture in India. It is believed that this mausoleum was what inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal.

New Delhi shines in its splendour, like a lonely sentinel protecting the border post of a bygone empire. It is a wealthy city, with ceremonial gardens, the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India.

We then visited India Gate, originally called the All Indian Wars Memorial) is a monument built by architect Edwin Lutyens to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in World War I and the Afghan Wars of 1919.

The foundation stone was laid on 10 February 1921 by the Duke of Connaught. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls of the monument. Its construction was completed in 1931. Since 1971, an eternal flame, known as Amar Jawan Jyoti (the flame of the immortal warrior), has been located beneath the monument. It marks the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” and is dedicated to honouring the unknown soldiers killed in the clashes between India and Pakistan that took place that same year. Hotel accommodation.

Day 20:

Delhi – Kathmandu (By flight).

Breakfast. On time Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Kathmandu.

By flight : UK – 155

Departure at 14:00 hrs Arrival at 16:00 hrs.

On arrival transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon for personal activities. Overnight at hotel.

Day 22:

Kathmandu

Breakfast. Visit Pashupatinath, Boudhnath and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Pashupatinath Temple (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site): Dedicated to Lord Shiva it is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. It is located 5 km. east of the city on the bank of the holy Bagmati River. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple every year during Shivaratri, the birthday of Lord Shiva. Entry to the temple grounds is for Hindus only. The large, golden triple-roofed temple was built in 1696 AD, although 300 years before that a structure stood on this site.

Boudhanath (classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site): This is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world situated east of the valley. It was built by the Lichchhavi king Mana Revealer in the 5th century AD. The Rinpoches residing here have established Boudhnath as one of the most flourishing centres of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The ancient colossal stupa is 36 metres high.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: An ancient capital of the valley, it was once a flourishing town on the trade route to Tibet. It has preserved its traditional character better than the other two towns, due to its more isolated location. It is considered today as a classic showcase of medieval village life in Nepal. It is situated in the eastern Kathmandu Valley about 14 km away. It is today retains much of its beauty in ornate wood carvings and the famous Golden Gate. Overnight at hotel

Day 23:

Kathmandu – Onward Journey (by flight)

Breakfast. Transfer to Kathmandu International Airport for connecting flight to your next destination.