Northern, Central and Eastern India with Nepal

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Duration :- 16 Days / 15 Nights
Destinations Covered :- Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Kathmandu - Kolkata - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Kolkata

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Day 01 Delhi
Arrive and transfer to Hotel

Day 02 Delhi
Morning half day city tour of Old Delhi visiting Raj Ghat - The Mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. Jama Masjid - the biggest Mosque in India and drive past Red Fort and tricycle tour of Chandini Chowk. Afternoon half day city tour of New Delhi. Drive past President House, Parliament House (House of Representatives) and India Gate - War Memorial (stop for photography), Qutab Minar - 72.55 meters, high Victory Tower, onto Bahai Temple (lotus temple) Humayun's Tomb - built of red sandstone and is a first substantial example of the Mughal architecture, Laxmi Narayan Temple - a modern Hindu temple built by the Birlas, leading Indian industrialists. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03 Delhi-Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur (05 hrs. drive) - the pink city of India. The capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink, a century ago in the honour of a visiting Prince, ever since it has retained the pink colour. Enroute visit Amber Fort-remarkable for the majestic grandeur of its surroundings as for its sturdy battlements and beautiful palaces. Climb up to the fort on the back of an Elephant or by jeep. Afternoon city tour visiting City Palace - where the former Maharaja still resides in a part of it, but rest now serves as a Museum. Also visit Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by a great astronomer Sawai Jai Singh onto drive past through Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds). Overnight at hotel.

Day 04 Jaipur-Agra
After breakfast proceed to Agra (5 hrs. drive). Enroute visit Fatehpur - Sikri (40 kms. from Agra) - once the capital of Mughal Empire and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Its fortifications and Palaces are in a wonderful state of preservation. Upon arrival at Agra check-in at Hotel. Afternoon half day city tour visiting the World famous Taj Mahal, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the year 1652 as a memorial for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to create this jewel and onto Agra Fort - four successive rulers helped create this massive fort. Tomb of Itmad-ud-daullah- built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 Agra-Khajuraho
Morning leave by air for Khajuraho. Upon arrival at Khajuraho transfer to Hotel. Khajuraho - is more than just a temple town where millennium of erotica captured in stones for the World to see, where love is divine and its expression sublime, a land where every stone has a tale to tell. Afternoon visit the world famous Chandela Temples. These cluster of temples depicting human passions famous for their erotic carvings-. Built in the 10th & 11th centuries AD. Of the 85 original temples, 22 still survive-a joyful ode to life, depicted some of the most exquisite specimens of Hindu architecture and sculpture .

It Depict images of gods and goddesses, warriors and musicians, real and mythological animals . It is an appeal to the Celestial women and all her marriott moods- her playfulness, her seductive ways, her infinite beauty rendered with love and exquisite artisians for future generation to know and cherish. Of the two groups of temples - Western and Eastern - important temples to visit are - Kandariya Mahadev, Chaunsath Yogini , Chitragupta , Lakshmana, Devi Jagdamba, Parvati, Vishvanath Temple and Nandi, Paraswanath and Adinath. Evening enjoy cultural show.
Overnight at Khajuraho.

Day 06 Khajuraho - Varanasi
Morning transfer to the airport to leave by air for Varanasi. Arrive and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit to Sarnath- the holy shrine of the Buddhist where LORD BUDDHA preached his first sermon after he had gained Enlightenment. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 07 Varanasi - Kathmandu
Early morning boat ride in river ganges- the most fascinating aspect of Varanasi. Watch thousands of Worshippers in obeisance before Sun God. Afternoon transfer to airport to leave by air for Kathmandu. Arrive and transfer to Hotel.

Day 08 Kathmandu
Morning OPTIONAL MOUNTAIN FLIGHT (Approx. One Hour Duration) to have an aerial view of the mighty Himalayan Peaks including Mt. Everest. This is the closest one can go to the peaks without having to trek. OR browse through bazaars. Afternoon visit Kathmandu city-known as Kantipur. the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal. Visit the temple of the Living Goddess who acknowledge the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence, the Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient place of the Nepalese Royalty and onto Swayambhunath -Buddhist stupa is said to be 2000 yrs. old. Evening try your luck at Casino

Day 09 Kathmandu
Morning half day visit Patan also known as Lalitpur is the city of fine arts enclosed within four stupas said to be built in 3rd century AD, by Emperor Ashoka. Also visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Handicraft centre, where you will witness the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and moulding of metal statues. Afternoon visit Boudhnath - This stupa is one of the biggest in the world of its kind.

It stand with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal direction keeping watch for righteous behaviour and human prosperity and onto Bhadgaon-Also known as Bhaktapur meaning the city of devotees, this place is the home of medieval art and architecture. This place was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. Onto PASHUPATINATH - Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu on the bank of sacred Bagmati river the temple of lord Shiva-Pashupatinath with two tiered golden roof and silver doors is famous for its superb architecture (Entrance into the temple premesis is permitted to the Hindus only).

Day 10 Kathmandu - Kolkata
Transfer to airport to leave by air for Kolkata. Arrive and transfer to Hotel

Day 11 Kolkata
Kolkata , capital of West Bengal is a nerve centre of intellectual and human values where many modern movements began in literature, art , cinema, theatre, science, politics and industry. Full day city tour visiting Howrah Bridge - another landmark that denotes the city of joy. This hanging bridge is an architectural marvel of the country.

The recently built Vidyasagar Setu, another architectural marvel, connects both the banks of the Hooghly River, onto Victoria Memorial built of White Marble. It was opened by Prince of Wales in 1924. There are thousand of exhibited in number of galleries including a statue of Queen Victoria, Indian Museum and drive past Dalhousie Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, National Library, Shaheed Minar, Eden Garden, Fort William and drive past city centre. Optional visit to Mother Teresa's home of Charity.

Day 12 Kolkata - Darjeeling
Morning transfer to airport to leave by air for Bagdogra Airport. Transfer to Darjeeling by road (3 hrs. drive).
Arrive and check in at the Hotel.

Day 13 Darjeeling
Earty morning visit Tiger Hill to view Sunrise over Kanchenjunga and the great Eastern Himalayan mountains. Even Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak, is visible from here. Tiger Hill is situated at an altitutde of 2590 mtrs.(8482 ft.). Return via Ghoom Monastery.

It is one of the oldest Buddhist Monastery where manuscripts written on birch bark are preserved. Enjoy Toy Train Ride between Ghoom & Darjeeling (subject to operation). Afternoon half day city tour visiting Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre where you can see Tibetan Craftsman making traditional items like carpets, woolen boots, carvings and leather goods and onto Tea Gardens and Factory (within 20 kms radius).

Day 14 Darjeeling - Gangtok
Morning leave by road for Gangtok(4 hrs.drive). Arrive and stay at Hotel. Afternoon visit sacred Tsomgo Lake located at the height of 12,000 ft. that legend says is the lake of Gods. Feast your eyes on the most beautiful flowers like ROHDODENRONS.

Day 15 Gangtok
Morning visit the famous Rumtek Monastery of great significance. The head of Kagyupa sect of Buddhism from tibet was given refuge in Sikkim . He was granted land to built the monastery and finally raised Rumtek in 1960s. It is replica of the Taruphu monastery in Tibet, the residence of His Holiness and also the headquarters of the Dharma Chakra Religious Centre Afternoon visit Cottage Industries and explore bazaars for souvenirs.

Day 16 Gangtok - Kolkata
Transfer to Bagdogra Airport to leave by air for Kolkatta. Arrive and transfer to International airport to fly back home\ onward destination.