14 Nights / 15 Days

Bombay / Karla / Bhaja / Bombay / Aurangabad/ Ajanta / Aurangabad / Ellora / Aurangabad / Manmad / Bhopal / Sanchi / Bhopal / Gwalior / Datia / Orchha / Khajuraho/ Varanasi / Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna / Delhi

Day 1 – Your Country / Bombay

Late night arrival. 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! Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representatives welcome you and escort you to your car.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 2 – Bombay / Karla / Bhaja / Bombay

Visit Buddhist caves of KARLA and BHAJA
Karla caves are the ancient Buddhist caves and date back to 160BC. The exquisite carvings found in these caves leave one spellbound. At the entrance, there is a small temple of Ekvira Devi as well as lion pillars and huge elephant forms are carved which represent different forms of Gautama Buddha. The entrance gate is in the shape of a "Peepal" leaf through which one enters the huge Chaitya griha or hall. This large hall is full of stone pillars, which are carved with elephant and human forms. The roof is high and semicircular. The pillars are surprisingly very smooth. There are many resting rooms around here. These rooms carved in the rocks are calm and ideal for meditation. Water is available for drinking from the tanks around.
Bhaja caves are similar to Karla Caves but are on a much smaller scale. These caves are also in Chaitya style. The specialty of these caves is that the rays of the setting sun visit these caves. On the southern side, there is a place where one can see carved figures of Gods and Goddesses. The Bhaja caves about 1.6 km is to be covered on foot. Lesser-known than the Karla Caves, these caves are as old. There are 18 caves in this complex, of which cave 12 is the finest. Some sculptures and ornamental designs in the caves are exquisite. The least known of the three, the Bedsa caves date back to the first century AD. There are good carvings on the pillars.
Return back to Mumbai. Overnight at Hotel

Day 3 – Bombay / Aurangabad

Breakfast at hotel. Leave to visit Elephanta cave by Boat from Gateway of India, Mumbai. Rach Elephanta caves
Elephanta caves, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions in form of beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and temples dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Elephanta anciently known as Gharapuri, the island capital of Konkan Mauryas, is celebrated for its colossal image of lord Shiva, with three heads each representing a different form. Located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai, these caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE.  This rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock.
On entering the caves you can see heavy pillars carved from the rock. Slowly, once's your eyes become accustomed to the dim light; then you can make out marvelous representations from Indian mythology carved on the walls.
After visit Leave for City and Leave to catch a flight to Aurangabad. Arrive in aurangabad. Checkin at hotel and overnight at hotel.

Day 4 – Aurangabad / Ajanta / Aurangabad

After Breakfast Leave to visit Ajanta caves. It is a renowned name in the world of architecture. Amidst a picturesque landscape of Deccan basalt. It has 30 Buddhist rock-cut caves,unique sculptures,carvings and mural paintings. The Ajanta caves possess an invaluable treasure of Indian art which imbibes inspiration in the art-loving people of all generations.The facades of the Chaitya halls show intense ornamentation and carvings.Rocks were hewn out to make figures of classic qualities.The entire course of the evolution of Buddhist architecture can be traced in Ajanta. It was only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river, were discovered. They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve - centers of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures. Many of the caves house panels depicting stories from the Jatakas, a rich mine of tales of the several incarnations of the Buddha. Images of nymphs and princesses amongst others are also elaborately portrayed. Return to Aurangabad evening. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5 – Aurangabad / Ellora / Aurangabad

After Breakfast Leave to visit Ellora caves. The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave - temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The sculpture in the Buddhist caves accurately conveys the nobility, grace and serenity inherent in the Buddha. Caves 6 and 10 house images from the Buddhist and Hindu faith, under the same roof, the latter dedicated to Vishwakarma, the patron saint of Indian craftsmen. The Vishvakarma cave is both a Chaitya and a Vihara, with a seated Buddha placed in the stupa. Its two - storied structure sports a colourful pageant of dwarfs, dancing and making music. Return to Aurangabad evening. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 6 – Aurangabad / Manmad / Bhopal( Night in Train)

After the breakfast Leave to visit Aurangabad
Most of the monuments in Aurangabad are of the Nizam Shahi, Mughal and Maratha period. Bibi ka Maqbara, the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s queen. Inspired the Taj Mahal, it was built as the final resting place of Begum Rabi’a Daurani . A couple of km north of the Bibi ka Maqbara is a cluster of nine rock cut Buddhist caves which date back to the 4th - 8th century when the Vakatakas and Chalukyas ruled over the region. They are categorized into eastern and western caves but all belong to the Mahayana Vihara type except the 4th one, which is a chaitya or prayer hall of the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. The 6th is the most intriguing as it has a Ganesha (a Hindu god). They have their own story to tell and are certainly worth a visit. The Panchakki is an interesting water-powered flourmill built in the 17th century, an engineering masterpiece of its day. The water is pumped from a reservoir 6 km away into a tank, that today houses entire shoals of khol fish. It lies in the same complex as a memorial to the Sufi saint Baba Shah Muzaffar, Aurangzeb’s spiritual guide. Darwazas - There are four main darwazas, or gates leading into the city, which along with nine secondary darwazas formed part of the defense systems of the city. There are a number of important tourist spots just beyond the city limits of Aurangabad- the caves at Pithalkhora, the fortress of Daulatabad, Paithan, famed for its woven masterpieces, the pilgrim centre of Grishneshwar and Khuldabad, the final resting place of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Later Leave for Manmad. Leave for Bhopal by train. Overnight in train

Day 7 – Bhopal / Sanchi / Bhopal

Arrive at Bhopal.
Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, spreads over seven hills and around two lovely lakes. Named for its 11th-century founder, Raja Bhoj, it was devastated by succeeding invaders and rebuilt in the 18th century by Dost Muhammad, an Afghan general serving the Mughals. More recently the city was ruled by a succession of begums (queens), some of whom initiated innovations including a postal system, railways and waterworks. Today, evocative monuments are juxtaposed with contemporary buildings, teeming market-places in the old walled city give way to shaded avenues and residential complexes, and traditional lifestyles mingle with modern bustle.
Checkin at hotel. After Breakfast Leave for City tour
Taj-ul-Masjid, one of Bhopal's more recent monuments, began under Shah Jahan Begum, who ruled from 1868 to 1901, but was completed only in the 1970s. Among the largest mosques in the country, it has an impressive main hall, a striking façade and a huge courtyard. The Chowk area in the heart of the old city is crowded with gracious old homes, or havelis, mosques and little shops well stocked with traditional Bhopali crafts - beadwork, embroidered and sequined handbags and silver jewellery. A curious mixture of European architectural styles, Shaukat Mahal at the entrance to the Chowk is said to have been designed by a remote relative of the Bourbons of France. Sardar Manzil close by was once the hall of public audience of former nawabs. An important modern center for the arts, the officially sponsored Bharat Bhavan houses a museum of folk art, an art gallery, a fine library of Indian literature, and an active repertory theatre.
Later Leave for Excursion trip to Sanchi
Sanchi - The most elaborate and well known of the more than 50 magnificent Buddhist monuments that crown the hilltop of Sanchi, India, is Stupa Number One or the Great Stupa. It is part of an entire complex of structures, mostly stupas, built between the 3rd Century BCE and the 12th Century AD. The stupa is not a building in any traditional sense. Once a burial or reliquary mound, the stupa has become a purely symbolic object
It is unique, not only for having the most perfect and well preserved stupas, but also for offering the visitor a chance to see, in one location, the genesis, flowering, and decay of Buddhist art and architecture during a period of about 1500 years -- almost covering the entire range of Indian Buddhism. The stupa is the most characteristic monument of Buddhist India. The Great Stupa, with its majestic dome built over Buddhist relics, is India's oldest stone structure. An intricately carved railing encircles the stupa, and for magnificently sculpted toranas, or gateways, illustrates the Buddha's numerous lives with an intricacy that can only be described as an act of worship. The Buddha is here represented only by symbols: the lotus, the tree of life, foot-prints, and a throne. The unusually lustrous Ashoka Pillar near the southern gateway was originally inscribed with a religious ordinance and surmounted by a lion capital, now the national emblem of India. Of the other stupas in the vicinity, numbers 2 and 3 are of particular interest. Only a few ruined monasteries remain. The famous Begging Bowl, carved from a single huge boulder and used to collect food for the monks, is near one of these. A poorly designed modern monastery displays two glass caskets containing relics returned to the site by Britain in the 1950s. Other places of interest around Sanchi include the ancient settlement of Vidisha, Udaiygiri and Gyaraspur.
Later return to Bhopal. Overnight at hotel

Day 8 – Bhopal / Gwalior

After the breakfast depart by train to Gwalior.
Gwalior was the capital of the Scindias, who were one of the ruling families of the Marathas, who ruled over the Deccan, after the disintegration of the Mughal Empire. Gwalior has many historic monuments.
On Arrival Check in at hotel. Later Visit the Gwalior Fort - where a sun temple is believed to have been constructed within the area of the fort. Also visit Man Mandir which is a six towered palace & which forms the eastern wall of the fort. The fort has monuments dating back to 8th century A.D. onwards and is one of the largest forts in India. Also visit the Gujri Mahal, a turreted palace of stone now houses the archaeological museum.
Gwalior also offers the Tomb of Muhammad Ghaus, a saint worshipped by the Mughals & the Tomb of the famous musician Tansen.
Evening at leisure and to get a feel of the city. Overnight at the hotel

Day 9 – Gwalior / Datia / Orchha

After breakfast. Later Leave for Orchha, enroute visit Datia to visit Govind Palace whih is Located on Hills after visit Leave for Orchha - The medieval city of Orchha, is in the state of Madhya Pradesh, seems to have frozen in time, its palaces and temples still retaining their original grandeur. The city, located by the side of the beautiful Betwa river, was founded by the Bundela Rajput chieftain, Rudra Pratap, in the 16th century.The word Orchha means 'hidden'. When the Tughlaqs, who were ruling Delhi in the 15th century, pushed the Bundelkhand rajas out of Garkhundar, they retreated to distant Orchha. Apart from the famous landmarks like Jehangir Mahal, the Laxminarayan Temple, the area is peppered with fascinating little shrines and memorials, all of which add to the overwhelming feeling of nostalgia, the city evokes in the visitor.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10 – Orchha / Khajuraho

Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Orchha and later leave for Khajuraho. Upon arrival check in at hotel
Following rest and relaxation we proceed on a tour of the world famous western group of temples depicting erotic sculptures of love making images of Gods and Goddesses and celestial Nymphs. The sexual fantasies displayed in the sculptures are mind boggling. It speaks very highly of the artistic creativity and imagination of the sculptors.
proceed on a tour of Eastern group of Temples. If pictures speak a thousand words, then the temples of Khajuraho form a magnum opus... an expression of Indian sculptors of yore. These temples of Khajuraho were built by the Chandela kings following the tradition of Tantric art. Although famed for their erotic sculptures, the philosophy behind the temples is much more vast and encompassing. They are in fact a celebration of life!
Overnight at Hotel

Day 11 – Khajuraho / Varanasi (Domestic Flight)

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. On arrival Checkin at hotel. Varanasi : formerly known as Kashi – the city that illuminates. The religious capital of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living city of India & one of the worlds’ most ancient. The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi.
excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum (closed on FriDays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions, used as independent Indias’ national emblem. Overnight at Hotel

Day 12 – Varanasi

Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world. Return to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, Leave for City tour of Varanasi
Visit the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery & the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb. Overnight at Hotel

Day 13 – Varanasi / Bodhgaya

After Breakfast. Depart for BodhGaya by road (6hrs drive). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Leave to Visit Bodhgaya
Mahabodhi Temple The Mahabodhi Temble is located at the place of Lord Buddha's enlightenment. The temple has a 50m (170 ft) tower. In the inner sanctuary there is a huge Buddha. In the center of the temple there is also a Siva-linga that was installed about 860. This temple is also sacred to the Hindus because Lord Buddha is the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi tree here is said to be a descendent of the tree under which Budhha attained enlightenment.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 14 – Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Patna visiting Rajgir and Nalanda enroute.
Rajgir or Rajgrih means the home of Royalty. This place has been associated with Lord Buddha and Buddhism. Buddha not only spent many years in Rajgir but also delivered sermons here and proselytized emperor Bimbisar at the Griddhakoota hill. Rajgir is famous for rock-cut caves, forts, Buddhist ruins, shell inscriptions, Hindu and Jain temples and Muslim tombs
Nalanda - founded in 5th century BC, was the site of the world's earliest university. Ancient Buddhist texts bear evidence that Buddha and Mahavir studied here for some time, and Rajgir, Gautam Buddha meditated and preached on the hill of the Vultures, the Gridhakuta hill, today on the summit of the hill stands a modern temple, the Vishwa Shanti stupa, built by Japanese Buddhist Society
On arrival checkin at hotel
Patna - The original name of Patna was Pataliputra or Patalipattan and its history makes a start from the century 600 B.C. The name Patna has undergone many changes at its earliest stages like Pataligram, Kusumpur, Patliputra, Azimabad, etc., ultimately terminating to the present one. Chandragupta Maurya made it his capital in the 4th century A.D. Thereafter the city lost its importance until Sherkhan Suri rose into power in the early 16th century A.D. It has been said that Pataliputra was founded by Ajatashatru. Patna, therefore, has become inextricably bound up with the ancient Pataliputra. The ancient village was named ‘Patali’ and the word ‘Pattan’ was added to it. Greek history mentions ‘Palibothra’ which perhaps is Pataliputra itself......
overnight at hotel

Day 15 – Patna / Delhi / Your Country

After breakfast Leave to Patna Sightseeing tour:
Patna or Patliputra, the capital city of Bihar’s history goes back to two millennia. Located at on the banks where river Sone and Ganga merge, this city has witnessed the rules of Chanakya, Chandragupta, Ashoka and the Nanda rulers.
Sight seeing tour of Patna
Sadakat Ashram, which is a memorial, dedicated to our first President Dr. Rajindra Prasad. The Takth Harminder or Patna Sahib is a beautiful Gurudwara. Khuda Baksh Library is known as the “world of manuscripts” because it treasures thousands of Arabic, Persian, Mughal; and Rajputana style paintings and manuscripts
Later leave for Delhi by Flight.  On arrival Transfer to the international airport for your onward flight back home with the sweet memories of India.

Hotel Proposed - LUXURY

Mumbai (Bombay)- Le Royal Meridien/ Hotel Marine Plaza/ Park Plaza Royal Palms
Aurangabad- Hotel Ambassador Ajanta / Hotel Taj Residency / Welcomhotel Rama International
Bhopal- Noor-Us-Sabah Palace / Jehan Numa Palace Hotel / Hotel Residency
Gwalior- Usha Kiran Palace
Orchha- Orchha Resorts/ Amar Mahal
Khajuraho- The Grand Temple View/ The Jass Radisson
Varanasi- Radisson Hotel/ Taj Ganges
Bodhgaya- Hotel Sujata / Hotel Siddhartha International / Hotel Lotus Nikko, BodhGaya/ Hotel Royal Residency/ Hotel Royal Residency
Patna- Hotel Pataliputra Ashok / Maurya Patna / Hotel Chanakya

Hotel Proposed - DELUXE

Mumbai (Bombay)- Hotel Fariyas/ Hotel Shalimar/ Hotel Ritz/ Suba Palace/ The Gordon House/ Kohinoor Continental/ Holiday Inn
Aurangabad- Hotel Amarpreet / Hotel Quality Inn The Meadows / Hotel President Park
Bhopal- Hotel Lake View Ashok / Hotel Ranjit's Lakeview / Hotel Amer Palace / Arch Manor Hotel / Nisarga Hotel
Gwalior- Usha Kiran Palace
Orchha- Orchha Resorts/ Sheesh Mahal
Khajuraho- Hotel Clarks
Varanasi- Rashmi Guest House/ Hotel Ganges View
Bodhgaya- Hotel Sujata / Hotel Siddhartha International / Hotel Lotus Nikko, BodhGaya/ Hotel Royal Residency/ Hotel Royal Residency
Patna- Hotel Samrat International

Hotel Proposed - ECONOMY

Mumbai (Bombay)- Hotel Heritage
Aurangabad- Hotel Amarpreet / Hotel Quality Inn The Meadows / Hotel President Park
Bhopal- Hotel Palash Bhopal
Gwalior- Usha Kiran Palace
Orchha- Betwa Cottages
Khajuraho- Green Wood Hotels
Varanasi- Temple On Ganges
Bodhgaya- Butt Sinji
Patna- Hotel President

Tour Package Includes:
❂ Hotel accomodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
❂ Surface Travel by airconditioned car
❂ All airport, railway station, other transfers & sightseeing as per the itinerary.
❂ Local English speaking guides.
❂ Elephant ride in Amber Fort, Jaipur (Subject to availability),
❂ Boat ride in Udaipur (common Boat).
❂ All applicable taxes, parking fees, driver allowances etc.

Tour Package does not include:
❂ International or domestic flights.
❂ Airport taxes, Visa Charges, Insurance.
❂ Entrance fee to monuments.
❂ Minibar, Tips, laundry.
❂ Any item not shown in Cost Includes.

Notes:

• There will be a supplement for Christmas / New Year / Pushkar festival time.
• There can be some variation in the price according to the hotels finally booked.