Cultural Highlights of Northern India 10 Days

This private luxury tour features Northern India's most beautiful landscapes, atmospheric towns, and renowned cultural destinations, including ancient temples, British colonial treasures, and an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its an ideal tour for first-time travelers to India who want a broad range of fascinating experiences in some of the countrys most intriguing places.

Itinerary Details

Destinations Covered : Delhi - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Agra - Delhi - Goa - Delhi - Depart

Day 01: ARRIVAL DELHI
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.

DELHI: the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight stay at Delhi,

Day 02: DELHI SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast our company guide will meet you at hotel lobby and proceed to sightseeing tour of New and Old Delhi,

Breakfast at Hotel, Start a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi,

OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.

Enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.

NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, and Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Evening Proceed to see the DANCES OF INDIA show in the evening,

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 03: DELHI - VARANASI
Morning breakfast at hotel, afternoon transfer to airport to catch flight to varanasi,

VARANASI: Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet-manufacturing place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and ASI. It is also called CITY OF TEMPLES. The shimmering red and golden water of the Ganges when rays of dawn falls on them, the high banks, the temples, the Ashrams, the pavilions all are an experience in themselves.

Visit Sarnath ? 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.

Spend the evening shopping in the lanes of Varanasi.

Overnight will be at Varanasi.

Day 04: VARANASI
Drive to Daswamedh Ghat early in the morning and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises.

Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge.

Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.

Proceed for day guided tour of Varanasi including the Bharat Mata Temple, which features a big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble. Also visit the 18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the huge population of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi Manas Temple, crafted from white marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed on its walls. Also visit the BHU considered as the biggest residential university in Asia. The University Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Overnight stay at Varanasi,

Day 05: VARANASI - KHAJURAHO
Morning breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport to catch flight to Khajuraho,

KHAJURAHO: Situated in the northernmost part of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is famous for its enchanting temples and its legendary Khajuraho dance festival. The name Khajuraho is derived from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which is grown abundantly in the region. The Khajuraho Temples are dedicated to a celebration of womanhood, her myriad moods and facets. Famous for its erotic architecture, the carvings include, women writing a letter, applying eye makeup, combing her tresses, dancing & playing with her child. Her innocent, blushed, charming, seductive, ardent beauty, all depicted in exquisitely sculptured details. These temples have been designed and carved to lead the eyes from ground level upward till you seem to be looking at heaven.

Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Watch the SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW at the Western Temples.

Overnight will be at Khajuraho.

Day 06 : KHAJURAHO - JHANSI - AGRA
Proceed for a tour of the FAMOUS WESTERN & EASTERN TEMPLES of Khajuraho.

Transfer to jhansi railway station to catch train to agra, On arrival Agra, transfer to hotel, check in hotel and relax,

AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-al-Khalifa {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.

Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 07 : AGRA - DELHI - GOA
Proceed for day sightseeing of Agra after breakfast.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. 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 - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Evening drive to Delhi by road, on arrival Delhi transfer to airport to catch flight to goa,

On arrival transfer to hotel, check in hotel and relax,

Morning breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for flight to Goa,

GOA: Goa, variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers around the world. Nestled on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges), Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharasthra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar Districts of Karnataka, and on the west by Arabian Sea.

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa. Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa. Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonization on 19th of December 1961 and became a Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and Diu. On 30th of May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the Indian Republic. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax.

On arrival Goa airport, transfer to hotel check in hotel and relax, overnight stay at hotel,

Day 08 : GOA
Morning breakfast at hotel and start full day sightseeing tour of Goa,

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 09 : GOA
Morning breakfast at hotel and start full day sightseeing tour of Goa,

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 10 : GOA - DELHI - DEPART
Morning leisurely breakfast at hotel, and afternoon transfer to airport to catch flight to delhi,

On arrival in delhi transfer to airport to catch flight to home country with sweet memories of tour to India,

TOUR END