The Grand Heritage Tour

Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi

Duration

12 days

Tour Type

Private

Price From

£2,560 pp

Overview: The Grand Heritage Tour

Discover India’s extraordinary heritage, diverse cultures and magnificent architecture on this fascinating guided tour. From the historic streets of Delhi and the royal splendour of Jaipur to the Taj Mahal, ancient temples of Khajuraho and spiritual traditions of Varanasi, experience some of the country’s most remarkable cultural treasures.

Tour Highlights:

Explore Old and New Delhi, including Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar and India Gate
Discover Jaipur’s colourful markets and royal heritage, including Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and City Palace
Visit the magnificent Agra Fort and experience the unforgettable beauty of the Taj Mahal
Explore the medieval riverside town of Orchha and its remarkable palaces, temples and royal cenotaphs
Experience the evening Aarti ceremony at Ram Raja Temple alongside local worshippers
Discover the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Khajuraho, renowned for their intricate sculptures
Experience the spiritual heart of India in Varanasi with an evening Aarti ceremony on the River Ganges
Enjoy a sunrise boat cruise along the sacred Ganges and explore the ancient lanes and temples of Varanasi
Visit Bharat Mata Temple and explore Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon
Discover the rich architectural, artistic and religious traditions that have shaped India over centuries

From magnificent forts and palaces to ancient temples, sacred rivers and vibrant city streets, this guided tour offers a fascinating journey through the heritage, culture and spirituality of India.

Day 1 - UK departure

Depart the UK with international economy flight to Delhi. We can also arrange departures from your local airport at no extra cost.

Day 2 - Delhi Arrival

Day 2 - Delhi arrival

Today, arrive New Delhi, the capital city of India. Upon your arrival, you will be met by our representative at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. After a warm welcome, transfer to your hotel for 2 nights stay.

Day 3 - Delhi

Today, enjoy the day discovering Delhi, pacing through the city which is as historic as modern, like 2 sides of the same coin! Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, which includes a visit to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; a rickshaw ride through narrow alleys and lanes in Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and largest trading markets of the country; and drive past Red Fort, the place that marked the announcement of India’s freedom from the British Raj. While returning back to New Delhi make a brief stop at Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

Later in the afternoon, discover the modern city of New Delhi, visiting Humayun’s Tomb, the first tomb in India with beautiful gardens, continue visit to Qutab Minar, a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture and the world’s tallest brick minaret and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the largest Sikh temple of Delhi, with a gold dome, still in active worship. Drive past President’s House, Parliament House and other Government Secretariat Buildings, the most imposing features of Lutyen’s Delhi and take a photo stop at the iconic war memorial arch, the India Gate. Also visit Humayun’s Tomb and Rajghat (Cremation site of Mahatama Gandhi).

Day 4 - Delhi to Jaipur

After breakfast, embark on a leisurely drive to Jaipur – land of the Rajputs. Jaipur is an exuberance of colour, dance and traditional arts and crafts. Known, as the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur is home to ancient forts and palaces and is one of India’s most well planned cities. Upon arrival check in at your hotel for 02 nights stay.

Day 5 - Jaipur

Rise early this morning to visit Jaipur’s famous Amber Fort. Enroute, take a guided walk through the flower market of Jaipur seeing the beautiful yellow and orange marigolds and other seasonal flowers being traded. In close vicinity is also the wholesale vegetable market where farmers bring fresh produce to begin the days trading. Walking through the markets brings you to a junction where you will find the interesting and unusual milk traders of Jaipur, who bring their cattle’s fresh milk to be tested for quality, priced and traded on the spot. Be amazed at the primitive technique of testing quality of milk by dipping hands into large metal milk containers and evaluating the creaminess of milk supplied !

After a brief walk through the local trading markets, drive onwards to visit Amber fort, built in the 16th century. The fort is a mesmerizing blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The Amber Fort was used by the Rajputs for the dual purpose of defense and private residence. The fort encompasses charming gardens and magnificent palaces made from marble and precious stones, richly decorated with intricate stonemason works and paintings, which represented royal splendor and luxury of the Rajput era. To ascend up the fort, you may choose to walk, drive or take an elephant ride.

This afternoon take a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds, with its unique layer-cake honeycomb windows designed to enable erstwhile women of the royal court to observe passing life without being seen; Jantar Mantar, the largest astronomical observatory built in stone, and the City Palace complex with its impressive gardens and museums.

Day 6 - Jaipur to Agra

After an early breakfast, embark on your drive to Agra, city of the world famous Taj Mahal. Upon arrival in Agra, check in at your hotel and freshen up. This afternoon, visit the Agra fort, lying across the River Yamuna, built in red sandstone with magnificent palaces, halls of public and private audience and beautiful gardens.

Then, experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the eternal symbol of love, the Taj Mahal. Often referred to as a poem in white marble, Taj Mahal displays the saga of love between Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. You may wish to stay at the Taj Mahal, to see the glistening white marble beauty by sunset.

Day 7 - Agra to Orchha

Early this morning, catch your train to Jhansi. Upon arrival in Jhansi, embark on a short drive to Orchha, a medieval riverside town known for its palaces and temples. Upon arrival in Orchha, check in at your hotel for overnight stay.

In Orchha, we visit ruins of the domed and tiered Jahangir Mahal, the erstwhile palace of Emperor Jahangir, a fine example of medieval Indo Islamic architecture decorated with paintings and frescoes built in 17th century. Then visit Raj Mahal, the fort like structure featuring colourful murals and frescoes from the life of Lord Rama and Krishna and incarnations of Lord Vishnu. We also see the riverside spread of Bundela Chhatris (Royal Cenotaphs) of erstwhile rulers of Orchha. This evening, visit the popular Ram Raja Temple, characterised by its mustard yellow palace like domes, to see the evening aarti of Lord Rama. Gather in the central courtyard and chant with the locals amidst loud ringing bells, where you will also see one of its kind guard of honour to the Gods by the local police.

Day 8 - Orchha to Khajuraho

After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho – a UNESCO world heritage site in central India, famous for its erotic sculptured temples. Upon arrival in Khajuraho, check in to your hotel for overnight stay.

This afternoon visit the enchanting temples of Khajuraho with sculptures that draw their inspiration from the ancient art of Kama sutra. Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD.

Day 9 - Khajuraho to Varanasi

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India (also known as Kashi and Benaras). Upon arrival in Varanasi, check in to your hotel and freshen up.

This evening, experience a rickshaw ride to the ghats from where you take a boat ride to watch and enjoy the grand ‘Aarti’ ceremony at Dasaswamedh Ghat, conducted every day at sunset by white-robed priests. Spiritually enlightening and fantastically photogenic, this evening aarti ceremony is a spectacular show with young priests in traditional Indian clothes swaying in seemingly choreographed movements, worshipping the river goddess with incense, flowers and earthen lamps.

Day 10 - Varanasi

Rise early to enjoy a sunrise boat cruise on the Holy River Ganges. See the ‘bathing ghats’ where thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Sun God by immersing themselves in the holy water of River Ganges, and the ‘burning ghats’ where cremations are conducted. The ghats of River Ganges in Varanasi are believed to be most sacred, engulfing the entire circle of life and death.

Follow the boat cruise with a guided walk through the old city, seeing morning life in the historic and ancient bylanes of Varanasi. You get an opportunity to closely observe some morning rituals at the various small street temples along the way. The most sacred and important temple here is Kashi Vishvanath temple. Return back to hotel for breakfast and freshen up.

This afternoon, visit Bharat Mata Temple, the only temple in India that is not dedicated to a God or Goddess. This unique temple is dedicated to Mother India, and features a unique relief map of India, carved out of marble, the largest of its kind in the world. Then visit Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 6th century BC to 12th century AD. The lion capital of Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is the national emblem of India. Visit the ruins, stupa, Buddhist temple and the Sarnath Museum.

Day 11 - Varanasi to Delhi

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to the airport to catch your return flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, connect to your international flight back home.

Day 12 - UK arrival

Arrive back in UK.