Classical India Tour: 12 Days of Heritage, Culture & Iconic Landmarks

Upon your arrival at New Delhi airport, our representative will meet and greet you. They will transfer you to the hotel, assist with the check-in process, and provide and explain all travel-related documents. Enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day city tour of Old Delhi and New Delhi. In Old Delhi, visit the Red Fort, built by Emperor Shah Jahan; Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India; and Raj Ghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Enjoy a walking tour in Chandni Chowk, the bustling silver street of Delhi.

In the afternoon, visit Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, and India Gate, a war memorial arch. Drive past the President’s House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat buildings, and Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi and a busy shopping center. Overnight stay at the hotel in New Delhi.

After breakfast, embark on a drive to Jaipur, the Pink City, covering a distance of 250 kilometers in approximately 5 hours. Enjoy an evening at leisure, followed by an overnight stay in Jaipur.

This morning, drive 11 kilometers to the outskirts of the city to visit Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the state until 1728. Explore the Temple of Kali and the Hall of Victory, also known as Jai Mahal.

In the afternoon, visit the Observatory, the Palace of Winds, and the City Palace and Museum. The museum features an intriguing textile section showcasing the dresses and costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Jaipur is renowned for its beautiful carpets, enameled ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, brass ornaments, and various other arts and crafts. Spend your evening navigating the crowded lanes of the Pink City, haggling and hunting for souvenirs.

Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Ranthambhore, covering 180 kilometers in 3-4 hours. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Enjoy lunch at the resort, followed by an afternoon visit to the famous Ranthambhore Fort, located 12 kilometers from the resort. This fort is unique as it is not visible from a long distance. It is a massive and elevated structure. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 AD, and it was maintained as a private hunting preserve. Later, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were part of the royal hunting parties that stayed here. The fort is a remarkable example of Rajput architecture.

The Archaeological Department took over the fort in 1964. It stands 1,578 feet above sea level and 750 feet above the ground, covering a total area of about 7 miles. Access to the fort is only by stairs, as there is no driveway up to it. Within the fort, there are three large artificial lakes.

Return to the resort for dinner and an overnight stay.

Morning and evening safaris in the national park.

The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan encompasses distinct areas with varied conservation histories. These areas are almost geographically separate, connected to the core Ranthambhore National Park only by narrow corridors. The primary areas include Ranthambhore National Park, Keladevi Sanctuary, and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary.

Dinner and overnight stay at the resort.

After an early breakfast, drive to Agra, covering 265 kilometers in approximately 5 hours. En route, visit Fatehpur Sikri, an exquisite city built by Akbar the Great in 1569 from red sandstone. Abandoned 14 years later due to political reasons, it features forts, palaces, and mosques. Notable buildings include Diwan-i-Am, a vast courtyard for public audience; Diwan-i-Khas, a large quadrangle hosting major palace functions; Pachisi Court; the Emperor’s private quarters; Jodha Bai’s Palace; Mariam’s Palace; Birbal’s Palace; Hawa Mahal; and Panch Mahal. The Friday Mosque and the tomb of Sheik Salim Chisti are located in a separate religious enclosure adjacent to the secular buildings.

Continue the drive to Agra after visiting Fatehpur Sikri, which is 49 kilometers away. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel.

Later, visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Yamuna River, enclosed by forbidding 20-meter-high walls with a 12-meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors—Akbar, Jehangir, and Shah Jehan—contributed to the creation of this massive structure, which combines Hindu and Muslim architecture.

At sunset, visit the famous white marble mausoleum, the Taj Mahal. Built in the mid-17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it was completed in 1652. Skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy, along with about 20,000 labourers, worked for 17 years to construct this magnificent edifice. 

[The Taj is closed on Friday]. Overnight stay at Agra.

After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Agra Cantt Railway Station to board an Executive Chair Car train to Jhansi at 0800 hrs, arriving at 1100 hrs. Upon arrival, you will be met at the station and driven to Khajuraho, with a brief visit to the Orchha Temples en route.

The historic town of Orchha, founded in the 16th century by Bundela Rajput Chief Rudra Pratap, is nestled on the banks of the Betwa River. Here, the river splits into seven channels, known as the Satdhara, in honor of the seven erstwhile Chiefs of Orchha. The ancient town appears frozen in time, with many monuments retaining their original grandeur. Orchha offers some of the most fascinating temples and palaces, allowing you to feel as if you’ve traveled back in time.

After lunch, continue the drive to Khajuraho, covering 180 kilometers in approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. In the evening, enjoy a sound and light show at Khajuraho. Overnight stay at the hotel in Khajuraho.

Khajuraho, discovered by chance, stands as India’s second largest single tourist attraction. It boasts the largest collection of medieval temples, adorned with numerous sculptures of extraordinary grace and delicacy, celebrating beauty, love, and creative arts. Once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, the temples date back to 950-1050 AD. The entire area is enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each flanked by two golden palm trees. Originally, over 80 temples were built, of which 22 are remarkably well-preserved today.

The temples of Khajuraho are unique in their celebration of Hindu religious thought, showcasing a mystifying variety of scope and inclusion. They highlight the existential ethos in religion that venerates both ‘Yoga’ and ‘Bhoga’. ‘Yoga’ represents the union of the self with the Almighty, while ‘Bhoga’ signifies the path to God through physical pleasure. The temples dedicated to physical love and pleasure embody this philosophy. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, Khajuraho is a must-see destination, offering India’s unique gift to the world by capturing life in every form and mood in stone.  

Morning visit to the Eastern and Southern group of temples.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to Varanasi, departing at 1440 hrs and arriving at 1535 hrs. Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted at the airport and then transferred to your hotel.

Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Benaras, is one of India’s most significant pilgrimage sites and the holiest city for Hindus. As one of the world’s oldest living cities, it has been a center of learning and culture for over 2000 years.

Evening: Visit the “Ghats” or banks of the Ganga River. This fascinating walk allows you to experience the cultural ethos that shapes the lives of the devout. Observe the rituals performed at sunset and the ablutions in the river. Boats carrying goods, fruits, vegetables, and pious individuals performing ceremonies float downstream.

Early morning: Enjoy a boat ride at dawn on the Ganges, India’s most sacred river. Witnessing the sunrise over the holy river is a tranquil and breathtaking experience, with pilgrims standing waist-deep in water, offering prayers to the rising sun. View the renowned Vishwanath Temple, its spires covered in gold, dedicated to Shiva, the city’s presiding deity.

Participate in a yoga meditation session on the ghat before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

Visit Sarnath, a city located 13 kilometers northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Ganges and Gomati rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, leading to the enlightenment of Kondanna and the establishment of the Buddhist Sangha. Singhpur, a village approximately one kilometer from the site, is the birthplace of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism, and houses a temple dedicated to him.

Return to the hotel for Ayurvedic massages, Panchakarma, and other treatments, followed by an overnight stay in Varanasi.

Enjoy a leisurely morning. Later, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport to board a flight to New Delhi at 1245 hrs, arriving at 1420 hrs. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel near the airport for refreshments.

After a farewell dinner, you will be transferred to the international airport to board your flight back home or to your onward destination.