Heart and Soul of India (18 Days)

Heart and Soul of India (18 Days)

Witness 5,000 years of spectacular history and a colorful kaleidoscope of cultures, religions and landscapes. From the spectacle of Mughal monuments in Delhi, visit the sacred city of Varanasi and the River Ganges. Fly onward to the flourishing commercial city of Mumbai, and move on for a taste of the life of the Maharajas at the forts and palaces of Udaipur, Jodhpur & Jaipur. Finally reach the Imperial city of Agra to see the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
On arrival at IGI airport assistance and transfer to hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.



Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi

Stop At: Mehrauli/Qutub Minar, Mehrauli/Qutub Minar, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Delhi. Visit Old Delhi which include Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni chowk & Khari Baoli Spice Market. Enjoy Cycle Rickshaw ride. After lunch visit New Delhi which includes Qutab Minar, Humayun Tomb, Lotus Temple. Drive thru VVIP areas which includes President House, Parliament house, India Gate & War Memorial within India Gate.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Delhi - Varanasi (flight)

Stop At: Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Dashashwamedh Ghat Rd, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India
Breakfast at hotel transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi one of India's oldest and holiest cities. Evening boat ride to witness the the magical Aarti Ceremony performed at Dasashwamedh Ghat.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Varanasi

Stop At: Ganges River, Varanasi India
Early morning boat ride and Ghat visit along the Ganges and catch the scene of devotees bathing and praying in the sacred water. Breakfast at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ramnagar Fort, Kila Road Ramnagar Crossing, Varanasi 221008 India
City tour of Varanasi visit World famous Benaras Hindu University, The Ramnagar Fort Palace. Afternoon excursion to Sarnath one of the three holiest sites for Buddhists where the Buddha delivered his first sermon in 528 BC. There are many temples here, representing the many cultures where Buddhism is the dominant religious philosophy.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Varanasi - Mumbai (flight)

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai the commercial capital of India. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel. Rest time free for personal activities relax, you can take a walk to have a glance of the city, visiting local markets and restaurants.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Mumbai

Stop At: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, DN Road Mumbai CST Area, Mumbai 400001 India
Breakfast at hotel. Drive thru Marine Drive one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in the city. Parliament House, the Maharashtra State Assembly (view from outside), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), formerly Victoria Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (view from outside). Visit Dhobhi Ghat to see the city's famous open-air laundry in action, Prince of Wales Museum (Monday closed), a heritage museum comprises of a number of ancient artifacts, Mani Bhawan, also known as Gandhi Museum, here Gandhi laid the foundation for many independence movements. Mount Mary Church, an ancient church, built in 1640 and then rebuilt in 1761, The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is also an important religious place in Mumbai. In the evening, visit Iskcon Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, the architectural splendour of the ISKCON Temple is adorned with murals and sculptures.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Mumbai – Aurangabad (flight)

Stop At: Panchakki (Water Mill), 1 Km From Main City, Aurangabad India
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board the flight for Aurangabad. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel. Later visit Bibi ka Maqbara Built by Azam Shah in 1678, a son's loving tribute to his mother. Also visit Panchakki - which literally means 'Water Mill'. It receives water from an underground channel, with its source being 6 km away in the mountains.

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel

Day 8: Aurangabad – Ajanta (105kms/ 2 hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Ajanta Caves Road, Ajanta 431001 India
Breakfast at hotel. Full day excursion to Ajanta Caves (Monday closed). The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while tiger hunting. The Caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora, which date from about 200 B.C to 650 A.D. Thirty beautiful Buddhist Caves with mesmerizing sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha's life as well the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (Place of worship) while the other twenty-five are Viharas (monasteries). Ajanta Caves are divided in two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Evening back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.

Day 9: Aurangabad – Ellora (36kms/ 1 hrs approx one way) / Mumbai (flight)

Stop At: Daulatabad Fort, Daulatabad, Daulatabad India
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Ellora, a UNESCO World heritage sites (Tuesday closed). It houses 34 monasteries and temples with some exclusive uninterrupted sequence of monuments that date back from 600 to 1000 AD. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. On way back visit Daulatabad Fort one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
After sightseeing transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai airport assistance and transfer to hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Mumbai - Udaipur (flight)

Stop At: Lake Pichola, Udaipur India
Breakfast at hotel transfe to airport to board flight for Udaipur. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel. Evening boat ride on Lake Pichola followed by folk dance show "Dharohar" at Bagore ki Haveli.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Udaipur

Stop At: Udaipur, Udaipur, Udaipur District, Rajasthan
Breakfast at hotel full day city tour of Udaipur, visiting Fort, Palaces, Havelis, Gardens, Temples. Evening boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight at hotel Taj Lake Palace or The Oberoi Udaivilas Palace.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Udaipur - Jodhpur (265kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Ranakpur, Ranakpur, Pali District, Rajasthan
Breakfast at hotel drive to Jodhpur. En route visit either Ranakpur Jain Temple or Kumbhalgarh Fort as per your interest. Continue drive to Jodhpur, check in at hotel. Rest time free to relax and personal activities.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Jodhpur

Stop At: Mehrangarh Fort, Fort Rd., Jodhpur 342006 India
Breakfast at hotel full day city tour visiting the attraction like Mehrangarh fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace visiting area & Museum. Later excursion to visit Mandore temples, Chhatris & gardens.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Jodhpur - Pushkar - Jaipur (330km/ 6hr approx)

Stop At: Pushkar, Pushkar, Ajmer District, Rajasthan
Breakfast at hotel drive to Jaipur via visiting Pushkar. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest time free mnd easy to relax and visit the local market with your driver. As per your interest wrap up your day by watching Bollywood movie at the opulent Rajmandir Cinema. Overnight at hotel Taj Rambagh Palace or The Oberoi Rajvilas Palace.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 15: Jaipur

Stop At: Jaigarh Fort, Cheel ka Teela, Jaipur 302013 India
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the majestic Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort. Enjoy Jeep ride at Amber Fort. Later visit the city monuments including City Palace, Observatory, Palace of Winds, Albert Hall Museum and Birla Temple.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 16: Jaipur - Abhaneri - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (245kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Fatehpur Sikri, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra District, Uttar Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel drive to Agra enroute visit Abhaneri a small village popular for the amazing step wells and Hindu Temple. Further drive and visit Fatehpur Sikri the 16th century ghost town. On arrival check in at hotel. Evening watch live show Mohabbat the Taj.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 17: Agra - Delhi (204kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Taj Mahal, Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra 282001 India
Sunrise visit Taj Mahal followed by breakfast at hotel. Later visit Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb. Afternoon drive to Delhi check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 18: Delhi - Departure (flight)

Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Breakfast at hotel as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.