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Day 01:
Arrive Delhi
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Arrive at New Delhi's International airport. Welcome with garlands, and then transfer to hotel where welcome drinks await the group members. One picture post card with postage stamp to each group member with our compliment for the first mail home. After lunch, leave for visit of New Delhi including visits to Qutab Minar, Humayun`s Tomb, India Gate, Presidents`s House, The Parliament & other government buildings, Lakshminarayan temple, & Connaught Place (the main commercial & Shopping centre of New Delhi). Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 02:
Delhi/Jaipur
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Morning visit Old Delhi including visit to Raj Ghat, Shanti Vana, The Mosque,
Red Fort & Chandni Chowk (the main commercial & Shopping centre of old Delhi). Return to hotel for an early lunch and then leave by bus for Jaipur. On arrival check in at hotel Dinner & overnight at hotel. |
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Day 03:
Jaipur
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After breakfast, leave for visit to
Fort Amber, the ancient capital of Rajasthan since 1728, where the ascent to the top of the fort is on elephants & visit the temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. Return to hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit the `pink` city of Jaipur. Dinner & overnight at hotel. |
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Day 04:
Jaipur/Agra
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After breakfast, leave by bus for Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal enroute stopping to visit Fatehpur Sikri with lunch enroute. On arrival in Agra, check in at hotel. In the evening magic show at hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. |
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Day 05:
Agra |
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Full day sight seeing of Agra including visit to Taj Mahal, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula, Agra Fort & Sikandra, and Dinner & Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 06:
Agra/Khajuraho
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Early morning visit Taj Mahal at sun rise. Return to hotel for breakfast, etc. Later in the morning transfer to airport for flight to Khajuraho. On arrival at Khajuraho, transfer to hotel. After Lunch proceed for visits of the temples. Dinner & Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 07:
Khajuraho/Varanasi |
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Breakfast at hotel. Later in the morning, transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi. On arrival in Varanasi, transfer to hotel. After lunch, visit the city of Benaras. Dinner & overnight at hotel. |
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Day
08:
Varanasi/Puri
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Early morning, after morning tea, transfer by bus to the 'ghats' for a boat ride on the holy river Ganges at sunrise. Return to hotel for breakfast, etc. and then leave for visit to Sarnath. Return to hotel for lunch. Evening free for independent activities, etc. In the evening transfer to railway station for train `Nilanchal Express` to Puri, departure at 20:05 hours. Overnight on board the train. |
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Day
09:
Puri
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Spend day on board the train. Arrival Puri at 19:05 hours.Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight. |
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Day
10:
Puri |
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Morning leave for a visit of the town: Puri is a hindu religious centre famous for the massive chariot cars used in the annual `Rath Yatra` procession. Puri is also a popular beach resort. Evening free to relax on the beach. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |
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Day
11: Puri/Bhubaneshwar
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After breakfast, leave for Bhubaneshwar by bus (about 62 kms away) enroute visiting Konarak, famous for it's Sun Temple built symbolically like the chariot of the sun. After an early lunch at Konark, continue the drive to Bhubaneshwar stopping enroute at the village of Pipli, where applique handicrafts are made. Arrive Bhubaneshwar and check in at hotel, after which commence sight seeing of the city. Bhubaneshwar, the well-planned capital of Orissa, ancient Kalinga, is a city of temples. It had 7000 temples at one time of which about 500 remains today. These temples going back to over 1000 years reflect the grandeur & high quality of workmanship of Kalinga temple art. It was here that in 261 B.C.,
Emperor Ashoka, after waging the bloodiest of wars, foreswore war for all time & converted to Budhhism. Ashok then spread the Budhha's message in India & abroad. It is also from here (and from South India) that Indian art and culture was carried to Indonesia and the Malayan Archipelago, where it survives to this day. Visit Lingaraja temple (9th c.), which dominates the landscape rising to a height of 46 mts. It is the finest representation of
Kalinga art. Mukteswar temple (10th c.) with its profusion of wall carvings. Parasurameshwar temple (7th c.) famous for its latticed windows. Rajarani temple (11th c.) with its exquisite carvings of the feminine form. Brahmeswar temple (11th c.) typical of the Orissan temple. Return to hotel for dinner & overnight. |
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Day 12:
Bhubaneshwar/Kolkata
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Morning leave for an excursion to the nearby caves at Udaigiri & Khandagiri (8 kms). Going back to the 2nd c. B.C. they were the abode of Jain monks. Transfer to airport for flight to Kolkata. On arrival in Kolkata, transfer to hotel for overnight.
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Day
13:
Kolkata/Departure
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Morning leave for half day city tour including visit to Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Jain Temple,
Rabindra Sarobar and Marble
Palace. Afternoon free at your disposal for last minute shopping etc. Farewell dinner and then transfer to the airport for flight back home.
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