Day 1:
Arrival / New Delhi
Late night arrival, Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our
representatives welcome you and escort you to your van. Whilst the
room keys and check-in is organized, our representative would
introduce the tour to you and hand over the documents to you. Welcome
to India, or as we say 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest is an
incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve
you!
Overnight Stay in Hotel
Day 2: Delhi to Agra
Visit beautiful Taj Mahal, Agra fort, night stay at Agra.
TAJ MAHAL- Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble
memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took
22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by
Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design
balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly
for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of
the best inlay work ever seen.
AGRA FORT- Fort built in red sandstone with its magnificent
palaces, halls of public and private audience and the beautiful
gardens. This is where Emperor Shah Jahan was kept under house
arrest by his third son Aurangzeb and spent the last year of his
life viewing the Taj Mahal from across the river Jamuna.
Afternoon drive to Jaipur enroute visiting FATEHPUR SIKRI -the
deserted red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his
capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating
experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in
pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court
life must have been like in the days of it's grandeur.
Arrive Jaipur & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 3: Agra / Varanasi
Full Day Sightseeing Agra and after lunch drive to the Agra Cant station to board an
overnight train to Varanasi.
Overnight : 1st Air-Conditioned Sleeper Accommodation
Day 4: Arrival / Varanasi
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to Hotel
After breakfast we proceed for the sightseeing tour. First stop would
be the Bharat Mata (temple of Mother India). Inaugurated by Mahatma
Gandhi, it features a huge marble map of India on the ground floor.
Next up, the Durga Temple. Known for its bright red color and the
playful, if sometimes aggressive, monkeys that run amok there, the
Durga Temple is one of the most imposing architectural monuments in
Varanasi.
The university, which occupies a large piece of land at the southern
end of town, is also home to the New Vishwanatha Temple. The New
Temple is modern in design and open to Hindus and non-Hindus alike.
Surrounded by palm trees, it is a splendid white marble structure that
shines in the afternoon sun against a pale blue sky. Inside, the
temple is spacious and airy. The interior walls are covered with Vedic
art above inscriptions from the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. In the
center of the first floor is the Shiva linga.
Overnight Stay in Hotel
Day 5: Varanasi
Day free at Varanasi.
Day 6: Varanasi / Bodhgaya
At dawn we visit the sacred Ganges for a boat ride. Every morning at
dawn hundreds of worshippers can be seen bathing in the sacred waters.
The great river banks are lined with an endless chain of stone
steps-the ghats-that stretch from one end of the city to the other.
The Ghats form an impressive part of the religious landscape of the
city. Proceeding downstream at a leisurely pace, you would be pointed
out the significant temples and buildings as well as the changing
architectural style. Life and death go hand in hand in Varanasi. While
young people seek prosperity and protection from harmful influences,
the older generation comes to Varanasi to cleanse their souls in the
forgiving waters in preparation for their ultimate dissolution.
Believing that anyone who dies in the river of life in Varanasi gains
freedom from the cycle of birth and death, the City of Light has
become a haven for the sick and aged waiting out their final days. The
smoke that billows from the crematoriums on the edge of the river
gives testimony to their final release from life's earthly confines.
We would docked our boat at Manikarnika (Cremation) Ghat. On any given
day, anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred corpses are cremated
here, The ghat is assiduous with activity as the cremated bodies threw
up smoke and fire. Later we drive to Bodhgaya. Upon arrival check into
your Hotel. Overnight Stay in Hotel
Day 7: Bodhgaya
Full day touring of Bodhgaya. One of the holiest of holy pilgrim
places for the Buddhists of the world is Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya
The Mahabodhi Temple built on the east of the sacred tree stands
majestically 17 feet high on a base 5 feet square, and consists of a
soaring pyramidal tower surmounted by a stupa. The Vajrasan or Diamond
Throne lying between the Bodhi Tree and the temple marks the actual
spot where Buddha sat in meditation and attained supreme knowledge. A
gilded Buddha smiles upon the visitors from a niche in the wall of the
temple, and his footsteps carved in stone hold flower offerings from
the devout. Unbelievable peace pervades the atmosphere giving credence
to legend
Day 8 : Bodhgaya
Day free at bodhgaya on your own.
Day 9: Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna Patna / Delhi (Magadh Exp:
185/1145 hrs)
Morning we drive to Patna en-route we visit Rajgir & Nalanda.
Rajgir is a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here on
Griddhakuta or Vultures Peak the Buddha set in motion his second Wheel
of Law and for three months every year during the rainy season
preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples. The Buddha Sangha of
Japan have constructed a massive modern stupa, the Shanti (peace)
stupa at the top of the hill in commemoration. The view from the top
is breathtaking. One can climb up to the top along a bridle path.
However, the aerial chairlift is far more exciting.
Twelve kilometres from Rajgir is Nalanda which was in Buddha's time a
lovely resort of Saints and ascetics. Lord Buddha visited Nalanda
several times and delivered some important sermons. It emerged as a
university in the 5th century A.D. and remained the greatest seat of
learning for 7 years. Great thinkers like Nagarjuna, the Mahayana
Buddhist Philosopher. Dharmapala the Brahman scholar, Aryadeva, and
Padmasambhava taught here.
After sightseeing we drive to Patna Train Station in time to board
overnight train for Delhi.
Overnight : 1st Air-conditioned Sleeper Accommodation
Day10: Arrival / Delhi Delhi / Departure
Meeting and assistance on arrival in Delhi and transfer to the hotel,
Rest of the day is at leisure for your independent activities Delhi
today is truly the melting pot of India, and the main gateway to one
of the most fascinating cities in the world and late night transfer to
the International airport in time to board flight back home. |
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