Sacred North Tour - Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & More

Arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, meet & greet with Traditional Indian welcome. Transfer to the hotel.

Delhi stands as the capital of Modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the Old and New India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which have left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast visit Old Delhi. It was an ancient walled city. Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in 1650 switched the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. Shah Jehan possessing an exquisite talent, especially in architecture, created the seventh city and in the process brought about Delhi's glorious renaissance. Here you will see Red Fort, the most opulent Fort and Palace of the Mughal Empire. The fort is Shah Jehan's symbol of power and elegance, built behind red sandstone walls. Its main gate (Lahore Gate) faces Chandni Chowk, the perpetually congested avenue heading west from the Red Fort, is filled with twisting lanes, small streets and crowded bazaars. If you peer through a portico you may see a man getting shaved, silver being weighed, or any other conceivable form of intense commerce.

Also take a Cycle Rickshaw Puller Ride through the bustling and colorful market of the old city is filled with twisting lanes, small streets and crowded bazaars. If you peer through a portico you may see a man getting shaved, silver being weighed, or any other conceivable form of intense commerce. Also visit Raj Ghat, the memorial site of the Mahatma Gandhi.

In the afternoon visit New Delhi. It was designed and built by the British in the 1920's-it's a city of wide boulevards impressive Government buildings, green parks and gardens. In 1911 King George V announced the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. The King's architects, Lutyens and Baker, set in motion the Design and construction of Delhi's eight cities - New Delhi. Lutyens designed an "Imperial City" having palatial-sized buildings set amid broad tree-lined avenues punctuated by Mughal style gardens, complete with fountains and shallow pools. It took 20 years to complete this immense undertaking only to have the British pack up and relinquish the subcontinent in 1947. You will visit two monuments from Delhi's past - Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar. drive pass through the Raisina Hill, ceremonial avenue past the imposing India Gate, Government Buildings, President House and Parliament House. Also visit Sikh Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to see the worship etc. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning transfer to the airport to board the flight for Varanasi. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Varanasi: It is one of the oldest cities in the world. Also known as Banaras, this city has been the center of the Hindu faith for all of recorded history. Kashi, Banaras or Varanasi is the oldest living city in the History of Mankind. This City is acknowledged as the cultural Capital of the Oriental part of the Globe. This is treated as an embodied diving. India, the nation with diversified culture has one unity or common that is Varanasi where cultures from all the walks of this country congregated and accepted this city as their spiritual Destiny. For more than two thousand years, people have been coming from different states of India to Varanasi with their cultural heritage & lineage. This amalgamation of Oriental cultures and life styles of west made this colossal city a panorama. In the evening, watch “Aarti” on the River Ganges. Aarti can be watched at Dashawedh Ghat from 6:45 pm for one and a half hours. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today enjoy the Sunrise Boat excursion on the Holy River Ganges to see the bathing Ghats and crimination sites. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the Ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India.

Later, visit Sarnath – 10 kms from the holy city of Varanasi, is the blessed locale where more than 2,500 years ago Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon, after attaining Nirvana. Gautam Buddha with his five disciples formed the first Sangha along with Yasa of Varanasi and his 54 friends. The beginning of the celebrated Mantra, “Buddham Sharanam Gachhami” owes its origin to Sarnath. The three jewels “I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to the Wheel of Law, and I go for refuge to the Sangha” first laid down here, have remained unchanged ever since. Hence rightly, every Buddhist Pilgrim after Bodhgaya endeavors to be blessed with a visit to Sarnath in his lifetime.

Return to Varanasi and walk to the Ghats of Ganges. Depart by boat for Ramnagar, superb fort facing the Ganges (2 hrs by boat). At sunset, you will attend the "PUJA". The Brahman priests, oil lamps in their hands, pray in front of the GANG, then bless the pilgrims. Back to Varanasi. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After Breakfast at the hotel, depart to Allahabad, en route visit Jaunpur, known for its perfumes and mosques. Visit the fort, the Akbar bridge and the Atala Masjid and Jama Masjid erected in the 15th century. Our drive continues to Allahabad, one of the seven holy cities of India, located on the site of the ancient Hindu city of Prayag.

Visit the castle of AKBAR, huge fortress built in front of the ganges, near the Sangam at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna. This is place where hundreds of millions of people gather at Kumbh Mela (every 12 years). Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Chitrakoot, a small and peaceful town located on the banks of the sacred Mandakini River. This "small Benares", far from the tourist circuits is a pleasant stop on the road to Khajuraho. You will discover the "Ramghat", place of life and Puja of the city where gather a large number of pilgrims. Boat trip on the river to observe the ghats to the holy place Janaki Kund. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Free morning to enjoy the ghats and attend the Puja on the banks of the Mandakini. After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho – the temples of Khajuraho represent some of the most exquisite specimens of Hindu architecture and sculpture in medieval India. Built between 950 AD and 1050 Ad, only 22 temples out of 85 now survive. A thousand years ago, the robust Chandela of the warrior Rajput clan lived and loved here, fought and triumphed and having reached the peak of their power, built temples to their gods with all the religious fervor of a virile race. Visit the temples of Indo-Aryan architectural style, built between 950 and 1050, by the Chandelas Rajpoute clan, in honor of the gods. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore temples of Khajuraho. The sculptures illustrate various aspects of Indian life as it was perceived millennia ago: gods, goddesses, musicians, warriors, but also real and mythological animals. The worldwide renown of the site is due to erotic sculptures. There are still 22 temples, oriented from east to west and whose entrances are always towards the east.

The temples can be divided into 2 big groups: those dedicated to Visgnu, god of the preservation and, to Shiva, god of the destruction. One can also see traces of Buddhism, Jainism and other cults. Statues of stone the "apsaras" or "celestial girls", appear on all the temples. The theme of the woman is present in all the temples. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Orchha, en route, visit the ancient city of Dhubela, famous for its mausoleums and its ancient fortress. Our drive continues to Orchha, which was the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of central India. Founded in the 15th century by a Rajput prince named Rudra Pratap, it reached its peak in the 16th century under the reign of Mughal Bir Singh Deo. From this glorious time remains a set of palaces and temples very well preserved and scattered along the banks of the river Betwa in a beautiful setting. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, day is free in Orchha. You can easily reach the palaces and temples on foot, at your own pace. Transfer to the train station at the end of the afternoon. In the afternoon transfer to Jhansi station to board the train to Delhi. On arrival, meet and greet  by our correspondent and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Say good bye to this fascinating land and Memorable Tour. Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport to board the flight for onward destination.

The above itinerary can be further customized as per your travel requirements.