DELHI-MATHURA-AGRA-ALLAHABAD-VARANASI
Day 01 :
Abroad / Delhi
Arrive
late evening at New Delhi International airport.
On arrival the guest will be met by our representative
and transferred to hotel. Upon arrival at hotel
the guests will be provided with the traditional
Indian welcome consisting of aarti-tikka and garlands.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
Morning
sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi.
This
morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former
centre of Moghul Power, Old Delhi offers ancient
monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars.
Visit the vast Red Fort, built
in 1648, the Jama Masjid, the greatest
mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan
who also built the Taj Mahal, and the Raj
Ghat, the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Drive past the stately government buildings of the
British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India
Gate & the Presidential Palace.
Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns tomb of the
Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous
Taj Mahal.
Afternoon
tour of the temples.
Visit
to the Laxmi Narayan Temple, popularly
known as the Birla Mandir, is a
large Hindu temple built in 1938. People of all
faiths can enter and worship, but one must walk
barefoot into the courtyard and further on.
A
visit to the Baha'i Temple situated
atop the Kalkaji Hill. This distinctive lotus shaped
marvel, surrounded by a landscaped garden, has been
dubbed the Taj Mahal of the 21st Century.
Also,
visit the beautiful Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
temple, the most important site of worship
for both sikhs and Hindus in Delhi.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
03 : Delhi - Mathura
Breakfast
at the hotel Drive to Mathura.
On arrival
in Mathura - check into the hotel.
Visit the
temple. Mathura is an ancient cultural
and religious centre. It is also known as 'Brij
Bhoomi' as Krishna, the popular incarnation
of Vishnu is believed to have been born in Mathura.
Whereas, the surrounding area is closely linked
with his childhood. Nearby to Mathura is Vrindavan
where Krishna indulged in adolescent pranks like
flirting with his gopis 'milkmaids' in the forests
and stealing their clothes while they bathed in
the river. The famous 'Hare Krishnas'
also have their headquaters situated here.
Lunch at
the hotel.
Later in
the evening return to the Temple for evening aarti.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
04 : Mathura - Agra - Allahabad
Early
morning visit the temple for aarti.
Return to
hotel for breakfast thereafter drive to Agra.
On
arrival in Agra directly proceed for sightseeing
- visit the Taj Mahal is the mausoleum
of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah
Jahan, who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises
a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming formal
Mughal garden with canals and a central tank with
a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached
mosque on the west and its symmetrical counterpart
on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect
proportion and rich pietra dura, with minute details
executed with great skill. The building, often styled
"a dream in marble" is said to have taken
at least 22 years (1631-1653) to build.
Lunch at
the hotel.
Visit
Red Fort which lies on the bend of the river Yamuna,
almost in the heart of the town. It was built by
Akbar as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the
finest architectural style. It has imposing gates
and walls of red sandstone and a moat.
Transfer to the Railway Station for overnight train
to Allahabad.
Leave :
Agra by Express Train at 1900 hrs (Packed dinner
on board).
Overnight on train.
Day
05 : Allahabad - Varanasi
Arrive :
Allahabad by at 0500 hrs
Upon arrival
met and transferred to hotel.
Allahabad
is known as a holy city as it is the meeting point
of India's two most sacred rivers, the Ganges and
the Yamuna. This meeting point of the rivers, the
Sangam, is believed to have great soul changing
powers and is an important pilgrimage site.
Lunch at
the hotel afternoon, drive to Varanasi.
On arrival
in Varanasi - check into the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
06 : Varanasi
Early
morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat 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. Visit some of the many Hindu temples
that line the river Ganges. Stroll along the narrow
lanes and bazaars full of shops selling, among other
things, the world famous Benaras Silks.
Tour
of Benaras - as it is also called, is one
of the oldest cities of the world and a microcosm
of Indian life. Since it was also an ancient center
of learning, the Benaras Hindu Univesity
is worth a visit as are the silver and gold brocade
shops, for which Benaras is world famous.
Visit
Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi - one
of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where
Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 B.C. Here
you will 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.
Leave
for a special evening cruise on the Ganges
on candle lit country boats to the accompaniment
of musicians. See the Hindu devotees performing
the "Puja" with lighted lamps. The view
is very mesmerizing and the ambience is spectacular.
Later return to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
07 : Varanasi - Delhi