Day 01 : Delhi Arrival
You are welcomed at the airport of Delhi by the representative of our local agency or by your English speaking guide to welcome you in India. It ensures with you the transfer to the hotel that we have reserved you for 2 nights.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 02 : Exploring The Vibrant Delhi
After breakfast, this first day on the Indian soil is devoted to the visit of the city.
Bathed in the holy waters of the Yamuna, Earlier Delhi was twice capital of empire, first with the Mughals, then in 1911, with the British. The city is divided into two very contrasting parts, New Delhi, the Victorian city with great avenues, with its business district and the parliament gathered around Connaught Place, and Old Delhi, the old city, the capital of Muslim India. Streets lined with bustling bazaars, and home of the Red Fort, witness of the power of the Mughal emperors as well as the Jama Majid Mosque, the largest in the country are waiting for you.
You walk through Old Delhi, then you go through the Rajghat, mausoleum of Mahatama Gandhi, you visit Humayum’s tomb, a fine example of Mughal architecture that would have inspired the construction of the Taj-Mahal, but also Qutub-Minar, the highest tower in the country with its 72.5m height.
In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi via Rajpath, the Royal Way, before admiring the Indian Gate, the Parliament and the Presidential Palace.
In evening, you share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 03 : Delhi / Jaipur (250 Km-5h)
After breakfast, you take the road towards Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and lively cities in India. The vibrant capital of Rajasthan, also known as "The Pink City", is the color of the buildings of the old town, surrounded by bare hills topped by fortresses and crenellated ramparts. Sacred cows, camels, elephants and Rickshaws coexist.
Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in India. You will visit the "City Palace" and its fabulous collections of weapons and period costumes, the "Jantar-Mantar", an astonishing observatory built by a prince of astronomy but also the Hawa-Mahal or Palace of the Winds Structure pierced with more than 900 windows and balconies.
At the end of the afternoon, you walk through the bazaars of the old town in rickshaw, to admire artisans in their stalls (potters, dyers, jewelers), street vendors, vegetable sellers...
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 04 : Jaipur : The Pink City
After breakfast, depart for an excursion to the Amber Fort. This majestic building is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the former capital of the Rajput Empire.
You climb to the top of its ramparts on the back of an elephant or on board of a 4x4.
Then you come back to the city and go to visit the G.K Agarwal School, a school created thanks to the Khushi Foundation and to the benefits realized by Passion India Tours & Travels, in order to offer a free education to the most deprived children of Jaipur. You have the chance to share a friendly moment with the students and the teachers, and see what they learn.
The rest of the afternoon is free and dedicated to shopping.
A Bollywood evening awaits you at the mythical Raj Mandir Cinema to close your day (sometimes subtitled in English).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05 : Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (240 Km/5h)
On the road to Agra, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, a place of outstanding artistic and architectural significance. Built in 1571, Fatehpur Sikri is the ancient capital of Emperor Akbar. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone with the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and basins, mosques, caravanserai.
At the end of the day you will visit the red fort of Agra whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamouna river. It marks the birth of the Mughal Imperial style and offers you the opportunity to take a last look at the Taj Mahal.
Note: The Taj Mahal is colsed on Friday.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 06 : Agra / Orchha (260 Km-5h)
After breakfast, you go to discover the Taj Mahal in "tonga", small carriage. You will discover this high place of art and Mughal architecture, luminous mausoleum of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, and considered as the third wonder of the world...
You take the road for Orchha where you settle in the hotel when you arrive.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 07 : Orchha / Khajuraho (170 Km - 4 h)
After breakfast, you will discover the small town of Orchha, the Betwâ River and the frescoes of the Lakshmi temple before taking the road towards Khajuraho.
On the way, you make a stop at Alipura, an ancient princely town housing an ancient fort, before arriving at your city stop in the afternoon. You then enjoy the colors of dawn for a walk in the city before settling in hotel.
You take a walk in the village where resons all the Indian tradition. Following this beautiful discovery, you assist to a show of colorful dances, representing different regions of India.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 08 : Khajuraho / Pryagraj(formerly Allahbad) (280 Km - 6.30 h)
After breakfast, you visit the western part of Khajuraho’s site as well as its carved temples where huge friezes of entwined human figures practice "the arts of love". Sexuality becomes a spiritual path dedicated to the challenge of recognizing, at every moment of life, the sacred power of love to reach the absolute. All of this reveals the sculptures of Khajuraho: scenes of ordinary life in the fields, ladies' toilets, scenes of war and scenes of love, under the benevolent eye of the gods.
To understand them and realize the purity of the divinity, one has to leave his sexual desires outside the temple ... In theory of course!
You then head towards Allahabad that you discover after taking the time to settle comfortably at the hotel.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 09 : Pryagraj / Chunar / Varanasi (by boat)
Early in the morning you are transferred to Chunar where a crew awaits you to embark on the boat that takes you to Varanasi. You then arrive at the city of lights by the Ganges, an unforgettable experience!
From the boat you will discover the mythical ghats in the glow of the setting sun and cast anchor near one of the main ghats of the city.
Your hotel, which welcomes you for 2 nights is located facing the sacred river.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 10 : Varanasi Exploration
Early in the morning, at the first rays of the sun, you take place in a boat floating on the Ganges calm waters, while on the shores thousands of pilgrims are already pressing to pray and purify themselves in sacred water. Your morning keeps going with a walk in the old city, driving to the Aurangzeb Mosque, built in the XVII century, then you go to discover the famous golden temple for an overview of the most sacred temple of varanasi, with roofs covered with gold. The entrance is only for Hindu. You then discover the exterior of the Durga temple, built in the end of the XIX century , also called "monkeys temple".
You go back to the hotel for breakfast.
After you visit Sarnath, Buddhist teaching’s birthplace. This is where Buddha preached his first sermon in 528 BC. Sarnath is one of the most important sacred places for Buddhist from all over the world. You also visit his museum, which houses remarkable representations of Buddha, .
Back in town, you explore the temple Bharat Mata, inaugured in 1936 by Gandhi and dedicated to the mother of India. It presents as a divine picture a map of the Indian territory. Studying this modern temple allows to analyze the ambiguity of a place that still hesitate between the state of museum dedicated to the safe Indian house and the state of temple to the divinised Hindu nation. the Bharat Mata brings the questions of the links between religions, history and politics and their evolution.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 11 : Varanasi / Kolkata(formerly Calcutta) (Internal flight)
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport to embark for Kolkata. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel to settle before visiting Victoria Memorial, the majestic white marble monument, which houses a museum of paintings and photographs from the The British occupation.
In the evening, you will have the chance to attend a cultural show on Mahishasura Mardini.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 12 : The Vibrant Kolkata
After breakfast, your day and devoted to the visit of the various Pandals, amazing shrines that bloom in the streets of the city of Kolkata.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 13 : Kolkata: The Cultural Hub
You leave your hotel after breakfast and enter Belur Math to discover the rituals, prayers and pujas, dedicated exclusively to women.
As soon as the ceremony is over, you will return to your hotel. In the afternoon, you can enjoy the services of the hotel and its swimming pool to rest before enjoying an evening cultural show of ethnic West Bengal state called "Chhau".
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 14 : Kolkata Exploration
After breakfast, you visit the center of Mother Teresa and go for a walking tour of Kolkata.
In the evening you will visit some Pandals and enjoy the festive and lively atmosphere of Kolkata on this last day of the festival.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 15 : Kolkata / Delhi & Departure
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport according to the flight schedule for Delhi before taking your return flight.