North India Holidays Tour

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi from your country. You will be welcomed by our representative at the airport, with a placard of your name. You will be taken to the pre-booked hotel. As most of the flights land at wee hours, you will have enough time to have sound sleep and relaxation. Overnight will be at Delhi.

The 2nd day of North India Holidays tour will showcase before you the majestic co-existence of ancient, medieval and modern monuments and life-styles. This will let you realize the exotic India in the form of lineage of more than 5000 years old culture and civilization. You will also happen to see the stages of civilizational twists and turns, developments, cultural fusion etc. These aspects of social developments can be seen in live form only in India. Have breakfast and proceed first for old Delhi sightseeing which includes Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Raj Ghat. This part of Delhi was built by Shahjahan and hence is known as Shahjahanabad as well. Enjoy rickshaw ride in the oldest medieval market place Chandni Chowk. The rickshaw ride at Old Delhi will enthuse you with an altogether different feeling where most pricey cars will also be found running the medieval transport medium -Rickshaw. The visit of Old Delhi will be your first encounter with "exotic India". India, the kaleidoscopic culture of an ancient land and a window to new world, is a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Visiting Akshardham Temple will be a feast to the eyes. Imperial Delhi will include the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence. Overnight will be in Delhi.

Having breakfast early in the morning, you will be transferred to New Delhi airport to board flight for Jodhpur. On arrival at Jodhpur, you will be received by our representative and directly from airport be transferred to desert city of Jaisalmer. Due to Golden sand of Thar desert, Jaisalmer is called Suvarna Nagari or Golden City of Rajasthan. On arrival at Jaisalmer, check in at the pre-booked hotel. Evening is kept free for leisure. Overnight stay has been scheduled in Jaisalmer hotel.

Second day in Jaisalmer will be remembered for offering real exotic experiences of Rajasthan. Having breakfast in Jaisalmer hotel, proceed to visit Sonar Qila or Golden Fort of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer Fort is unique in the sense that it is densely inhabited. Within the precincts of the fort are several breathtaking monuments, especially Hindu and Jain temples, an ancient library, ancient mansions and palaces converted into hotels etc. After visiting Golden Fort, Jaisalmer tour guide will take you to have a closer look of various stunningly sculptured havelis of Jaisalmer, outside the precincts of the Sonar Qila. Famous and most visited havelis are Nathmalji-ki-Haveli, Patwon-ki-Haveli and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli.

Early in the afternoon, post lunch, you shall be taken to Sam/Khuri sand dunes on camel. This camel ride will be an enchanting experience. Witness the mesmerizing sunset in the desert. Here, you shall be staying in tented accommodation in desert area where you will be enjoying folk music and folk dance while gulping in the tasty cuisines. Overnight stay has been scheduled in tented accommodation in desert area.

Having taken scrumptious breakfast in Jaisalmer, depart for Jodhpur at the earliest to reach Jodhpur by noon to have enough time to relax in Jodhpur hotel and visit royal monuments of the Blue City of Rajasthan. On arrival at Jodhpur, you will be transferred to the hotel to have lunch and relax a bit. Hereinafter, visit famous monuments of Jodhpur like rugged Mehrangarh Fort (one of best preserved forts of Rajasthan), Umaid Bhawan Palace & Museum (part of it a luxury heritage hotel, royal residence and museum), Jaswant Thada (known as Taj Mahal of Rajasthan- a royal cenotaph memorial) and Clock Tower. Also explore the famous Sardar Market. After exploring local market, return to Jodhpur hotel for overnight stay.

Have relaxed breakfast in Jodhpur hotel and move for Udaipur. To keep you rejuvenated, the 10th day of Royal Rajasthan tour is reserved for leisurely travel into oasis like destination of Ranakpur. Ranakpur is famous for sublime and serene Jain Temple, a masterpiece of engravings and architectural intricacy. After Ranakpur sightseeing and lunch in a nice restaurant, depart for Udaipur, 95 kms from Ranakpur. Continue your drive to Udaipur. Upon arrival in Udaipur, check in at the designated hotel. Evening here has been kept free to relax leisurely. Overnight stay has been planned in Udaipur hotel.

Having delicious breakfast in Udaipur hotel, meet Udaipur tour guide in the lobby of the hotel. Embark on Udaipur tour. Udaipur is called the "City of Lakes" and "Venice of East". Udaipur is known for its distinctive architecture, mammoth monuments, various lakes and chivalry. Visit the City Palace Complex, the Jagdish Temple, the Jag Mandir, Saheliyon-k-Bari and other picturesque spots of tourist interests. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride in Lake Pichola to watch Lake Palace ((Jag Niwas) and old Udaipur. Late in the evening, return to hotel for overnight stay.

Have breakfast leisurely in Udaipur hotel and depart for Jaipur, the Pink City of Rajasthan. On arrival at Jaipur, you will directly be transferred to Jaipur hotel. Assisted by local representative in check in process, have some rest, freshen up and then move in the afternoon on your own, naturally with friendly, experienced and helpful chauffeur to have a first impression of Jaipur. Listen to the hustle and bustle, watch the beautiful garments of the locals and see the exceptional road is crossed by rickshaws, elephants and all sorts of unfamiliar vehicle. Enjoy a sweet chai (tea) in a cafe and join the friendly inhabitants of the city, or stroll through the streets and take a first look at the beautiful architecture. Later return to Jaipur hotel to have overnight stay.

Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast at Jaipur hotel and proceed on for Jaipur city tour. Take an excursion to Amber Fort. Enjoy a ride on caparisoned elephant from foothill to the gate of Amber Fort at the hilltop. After visiting Amber Fort, drive for the Jaipur city tour which includes prominent monuments like Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and City Palace. After visiting these monuments, explore local market of Jaipur. Late afternoon, you will be taken to Birla Temple to attend evening ‘aarti’. After watching royal monuments, bustling market and auspicious ‘aarti’, return to Jaipur hotel for overnight stay.

After a relaxed breakfast in Jaipur hotel, drive to Agra- a historical Indian city, located in Uttar Pradesh. About 75 kms from Jaipur, is located a historical village of Abhaneri. This village tour will present before you ancient lineage of India in terms of cultural values, architectural gems and traditional rural lifestyle in villages of India. A detour is well merited for its amazing step-well or Chand Baori and Harshat Mata Temple.

After visiting Abhaneri village, move for Agra. Again, en route, visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. 35 kms from Agra is located deserted medieval town of Fatehpur Sikri. Have a stop-over there and visit monuments-rich Fatehpur Sikri. The famous monuments of Fatehpur Sikri include Buland Darwaja, Jodhabai Palace, Salim Chishti Shrine and Jama Masjid. Buland Darwaja that is counted as one of the tallest gateways in the world is almost entirely made out of the red-sandstone with a generous dose of marble decoration on it.

After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, continue your drive to Agra which is almost 35 kms from Fatehpur Sikri. On arrival at Agra, representative of Optima India Tourism will meet you at Agra hotel and ensure your check in at Agra hotel.

In the very early morning, approximately around dawn hours, you will be taken by Agra tour guide to Taj Mahal. The time of sunrise has been purposefully chosen so that you could see the Taj Mahal when it looks most stunning and beautiful. From Agra hotel to Taj Mahal, you will be taken on a horse carriage. Taj Mahal’s construction started in the year 1631 and took approximately 22 years to build it. An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants. It was built entirely out of white Makrana marble. Built by Shah Jahan and dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal (wife of Shah Jahan) is an Islamic tomb and located on the bank of River Yamuna.

Visit the world famous Taj Mahal, then come back to hotel for breakfast. Relax, refresh and move on to visit Agra Fort and Tomb of It-Mad-ud-Daula, Akbar's Tomb in Sikandara. Agra Fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone and several buildings inside. The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula houses the magnificent mausoleum of Ghias Beg, father of the Mughal Empress Noor Jahan. The main tomb is made of pure white marble, with each façade composed of three arches with beautiful trellis screens, so delicately carved that they appear to be made of ivory. Akbar's Tomb in Sikandara is in a pyramid shape and consists of five storeys. The building is unique in its departure from Islamic architectural tradition, for it has no domed roof. The walled garden enclosure is laid out in the Char Bagh style with the mausoleum at the center.

After sightseeing of famous monuments of Agra, explore local market. Have dinner in a nice restaurant of Agra and proceed to Agra railway station to board train for overnight journey to Varanasi.

Arrive at the holy city of Varanasi during morning hours after overnight journey by an express train. Varanasi is the most sacred place of India. In the morning, you will reach the city and be transferred to your hotel. Here, relax a little and have scrumptious breakfast before departing for vising Sarnath. Sarnath, about 12 kms from city center, is a historical site. It is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon and thus initiated ‘dharmachakrapravartan’. Two grand stupas of Mauryan era (300 BC), remnants of pillaged monastery, Asokan pillar and well- maintained museum are worth watching and appreciating the zenith of civilizational progress. Other than that, visit Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Later on, return to Varanasi hotel. Have lunch and take rest for an hour or so. Then move along with Varanasi tour guide to see grand and mesmerizing Ganga Aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat of Varanasi. Overnight stay has been scheduled in Varanasi.

It’s an absolute must to have a boat ride in Varanasi on the Ganges at sunrise. Today, quite early in the morning you are on the way to the ghat on the banks of the Ganges. Sail along the ghats and get another feel of authentic India. Women washing laundry by the river, meditating pilgrims and the smoke from the pyres. An unforgettable experience. Experience firsthand the Indian traditions! Afterwards, you will return to hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. Early noon, with guide, you will be taken for city & temples tour which included Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple and Bharat Mata Temple. Thus after exploration of the old city of Varanasi, enjoy a delicious homemade Lassi or scrumptious dinner and proceed to Varanasi airport to board flight for New Delhi. On arrival at New Delhi, board flight for your onward destination.