India Tour - Golden Triangle and Madhya Pradesh

Upon arrival meeting with the guide and transfer to hotel. During the afternoon visit the city starting from Old Delhi, the historical part, surrounded by walls. Passing the Red Fort, you can admire the most majestic among the Moghul Empire monuments, the Jama Masjid (closed on Friday), which is the largest mosque in India. Built between 1644 and 1658 during the reign of Shah Jahan, it is an imposing architectural work of red brick and white marble that extends for 40 meters in height, with 4 towers at the corners and 3 entries. On the banks of the Yamuna River is the Rajghat: the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, after his assassination in 1948.

Return to the hotel and overnight.
 

After breakfast you will continue the discovery in New Delhi: the new part conceived, designed and built in a majestic style by the British in the 20s of XX century, it is a city with wide tree-lined streets, parks, gardens, great houses that are home to the Parliament, ministries, embassies, the Connaught Place area, financial, shopping and business center.

The India Gate, which is the triumphal arch, brings with it the names of several thousand Indians who lost their lives during the First World War. Opposite is the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, the perfect combination of Western and Mughal architectural style. Surrounded by huge parks, its construction was completed in 1929. The Qutub Minar, 73mt.high, is a tower with a diameter of 15m that narrows down to a minimum of 2m and a half.

It spreads over five floors, each of which has a projecting balcony. The mausoleum of Humayun, built between 1564 and 1572 by Haji Begum, the widow of the second Mughal emperor. After nine years after the death of Humayun, it took eight years to complete its construction. Designed by the Persian Misak Ghiyaz Mirza, with a raised octagonal shape with two domes, eight arches, surrounded by a great wall, the mausoleum is an impressive structure. In the afternoon we leave for Jaipur. Upon arrival at the hotel and overnight.
 

Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion by car to Amber Fort, 11 kilometers from Jaipur. Climb on the back of an elephant or jeep. Amber Fort is a wonderful example of Rajput architecture. The magnificent old citadel, a labyrinth of massive walls and towers, hides a beautiful palace of marble, carved and illuminated by a million tiny mirrors that create a beautiful game of light.

In the afternoon visit the city: the Hawa Mahal, the famous Palace of the Winds, built in 1799. It is a beautiful 5-storey building with a spectacular pyramidal facade and windows that end in a network of panels, domes and spiers. Continue the visit to the Palace Museum of the city, located in the heart of the old city, and the Observatory, an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art. The museum shines from his collection of princely clothes, carpets and an old armory and court miniatures depicting scenes of battles. Return to the hotel and overnight.
 

After breakfast leave for Agra. During the journey stop to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the amazing ghost town built to become the capital of the Mughal empire, but only inhabited for a few years. The precious remains of red sandstone, survived from long centuries of neglect, and the particular architectural style wanted by the sovereign reflects the climate of religious syncretism are recalled in the powerful Islamic structures which bear Hindu decorations and elements typical of the Persian tradition.

In the afternoon arrival in Agra, hotel accommodation and later visit to the most famous monument and probably the most photographed of the world: the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most beautiful and best preserved tomb of the world. The dome is made of white marble, but its location near the river causes a magical play of colors, which change several times throughout the day, especially at sunset, and in different seasons, giving the Taj Mahal reflections of colors that make it unique but always different.

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were employed in its construction, and it was designed by the Iranian architect Istad Use. Later visit the imposing Mughal fort: built in red sandstone, on the Yamuna River, the construction of which was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565 and was subsequently enriched. The colossal double walls of the fort headset rise to over 20 m in height and measure 2.5 kilometers in circumference. Inside, a maze of superb halls, mosques, rooms and gardens form a small city within a city. Overnight at the hotel.
 

After breakfast transfer to the station to catch the train to Jhansi. Upon arrival meeting with the guide and overland transfer to Khajuraho.

Hotel accommodation and overnight.

After breakfast visit the Temples of the West, East and South.

The Western temples: Khndariya Mahadeo is the most typical Khajuraho temple, dedicated to Shiva; Chaunsat Yogini is the only granite temple, dedicated to the goddess Kali; Chitragupt Temple is the temple dedicated to the sun god Surya and is facing East towards the Rising Sun; Vishwanath Temple is dedicated to Brahma; Lakshmana Temple which at the entrance shows a depiction of the Trinity (Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu with Lashmi, consort of Vishnu). Finally Marangeswara Temple: also dedicated to Shiva and located outside the perimeter of the Western Temples.

The Eastern temples were founded in the 9th and 10th centuries by the Chandela Dynasty and are influenced by Tantra. The largest of the Eastern temples is the temple Parsvanatha; then follows the temple Ghantai which contains frescoes depicting the 16 dreams of Lord Mahavira's mother at the time of his birth. Among others is Adinatha temple, the temple of Brahma, the Vanama temple and Javari temple.

After the tour transfer to Orchha and hotel accommodation. In the afternoon visit Orchha.

The Bundela chief Raja Rudra Pratap chose an easily defensible place to build its capital, situated on an island in the Betwa River. In the city there are three buildings: the Jehangir Mahal which was built by Bir Singh Deo. It was built as a welcome gift for the emperor Jehangir; the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) which was built in the early 18th century as an exclusive palace of Raja, Udait Singh. After India's independence, the property was inherited by the Government. The low, squat building is located between the Raj Mahal and the Jehangir Mahal, basically an open courtyard. Finally we will visit the last palace: Phool Bagh also called Flower Garden is a place you will not forget. You will also visit Ram Raja temple and Chaturbhuj temple. Overnight at the hotel.
 

After breakfast, transfer to the station to take the train with destination Bhopal. Upon arrival meeting with the guide and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit the city of Bhopal, a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, which is the capital of Madhya Pradesh.

An amalgam of scenic beauty, ancient history and modernity, it is situated on the ruins of Laxmi Narayan Temple also known as Birla Mandir. The temple is located south of the Lower Lake on Arera hills. Near the temple is a museum with sculptures from the districts of Raisen, Sehore, Mandsaur and Shahol. The stone sculptures mainly depict Shiva, Vishnu and their respective consorts and incarnations. You will visit the upper and lower lake covering an area of ​​6 square kilometers.

Lake Superior is separated from the Lower Lake by a bridge. It is possible to rent boats for some exciting excursions on Lake Superior. Adjacent to the lake is the zoo called Van Vihar where you can see tigers, leopards, lions, bears and many other animals. Near the Lower Lake you can visit the aquarium which is home to many species of fish. You will then visit the mosque of Moti Masjid built by Qusia Begum, daughter of Sikander Jahan Begum in 1860; the structure is very similar to the Jama Masjid in Delhi.

The mosque is small and has two dark red minarets with golden tips. Finally, you will go to the Taj - ul Masjid, one of India's biggest mosques. The construction of this mosque was started by Shah Jahan Begum during her reign (1868-1901) but was not completed before his death. It was only with the intervention of the Indian government in 1971 that the construction of the mosque was finally completed. Today the mosque is used as a religious school (Madarsa). Overnight at the hotel.
 

In the morning excursion to Sanchi, Udaygiri caves and Vidisha. Sanchi is a hill and with its majestic Stupa and pillars represents the perfection of Buddhist art. You can see the Stupa N.01, the oldest stone structure in India, with its 36.5 meters in diameter and the 16.4 meters height and its imposing hemispherical dome. There are 4 access doors with Stupa 2 and 3 and the Ashoka Pillar.

The Buddhist Vihara, the large bowl, carved from a block of stone was created to hold the food to be distributed to the monks. You will also visit the Temple of Gupta and the museum. The second stage of the excursion are the Caves of Udaigiri: 20 quarries all formed in the Gupta period. Cave 5 contains an impressive representation of Vishnu delivering the Earth goddess Prithvi to the water demon watched by angels and demons. The last stop of the morning is Vidisha.

Located at the mouth of rivers Betwa and Bes, 10 km from Sanchi, it occupies an important place among the cities of India. In the 5-6th century BC it was erected to become an important center under the Sungas, Nagas, Satvahanas and Gupta dynasties. The Emperor Ashoka was governor of Vidisha. Then it passed under the domination of the Malwa Sultans, the Mughals and Scindias. Even Lohagi rock, the Gumbaz-ka-Maqbara and Bijamandal mosque are worth visiting.

Near the ruins are the remains of capitals decorated with palm leaves. In the Heliodorus Pillar is an inscription which shows that it is a Garuda Pillar erected in honor of Vasudeva. In the late afternoon return to the hotel and overnight.
 

Immediately after breakfast departure for the visit of Bhojpur and Bhimbetka. Known for their prehistoric paintings, the caves of Bhimbetka are located about 46 km south of Bhopal. It is thought they have sheltered the first primitive men. They mainly host paintings that depict the life of the prehistoric man. The oldest paintings date back about 12,000 years ago.

In the afternoon you will visit the ancient city of Bhojpur located about 28 km south - east of Bhopal. The city is famous for the huge Bhojeshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This impressive temple overlooking a large lake dried up and now it is still one of the best examples of architecture of the 11th and 13th. In the late afternoon return to the hotel and overnight.
 

After breakfast departure to Mandu. Along the way stop to visit Ujjain. The city is now one of the seven sacred cities for Hindus and is among the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India. The city has much to offer both from the historical and religious point of view.

Mahakaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is among the 12 Jyotirlinga in India. Another place worth mentioning is Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir located near the Mahakaleshwar temple. Later you will visit the Observatory making Ujjain an important astronomical center of the country. The observatory was built in the 17th century and features a planetarium and a telescope. After visiting Ujjain you will continue on the road to Mandu.

Upon arrival accommodation in the hotel, free time, dinner and overnight.
 

The entire day will be devoted to visiting the city of Mandu, located in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The places of interest to visit in Mandu are divided into 3 groups: the royal group; the village group and the Rewa Kund group. The royal group includes several structures such as the Jahaz Mahal (or Palace of the ship) which is probably the most famous building in Mandu. Its structure similar to a ship was built by Ghiyas-ud-din, son of Mohammed Shah, for his Harem that, according to the legend, had 15,000 girls.

To the east and west of the building there are two lakes that create the perfect illusion that it is a rectangular vessel. The second building of the group is the Taveli Mahal located south of Jahaz Mahal and now houses the antiquity gallery of the archaeological study of India. The third building is the Hindola Mahal (or billowing palace) that gives the impression that its walls oscillate. The last group of the palace is the Champa Baoli, which was once a warm shelter with its bathrooms.

The second group, the Group of the Village, consists of the Jama Masjid, a great mosque built in 1454 overlooking the village of Mandu and is considered the finest example of Afghan architecture in India; the second building of the group is the Tomb of Hoshang located immediately behind the mosqies and considered the oldest marble structure in India. The tomb was built in 1435 and shows influences of Hindu culture. Legend has it that Shahjahan sent his architects to study this structure before building the Taj Mahal. The last building you will visit, part of the second group, is the Ashrafi Mahal originally built as madarsa (a Muslim religious school), but later turned into the tomb of Mohammed Shah. Today only the ruins are visible.

The third group is the Rewa Kund which consists of two buildings: first, Baz Bahadur's palace, the legendary king famous for his love affair with Rupmati. It was the last independent king of Mawa. His palace was built in 1509 next to Rewa Kund. The building features a blend of Rajasthan and Mughal styles. The last building you are visiting is Rupmati pavilion located on the extreme edge of Fort Mandu. It's a very romantic building, a perfect place for a romance fairytale. Despite being a place of dreams, the love story of Baz Bahadur and Rupmati ended tragically: it is said that Akbar attacked Mandu, Baz Bahandur escaped and Rupmati poisoned herself. After visiting the city return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
 

After breakfast depart for Indore, enroute visit Omkareshwar and Maheshwar. Omkareshwar is an island on the sacred Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. It's situated on the meeting point of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, and is divided from north to south by a deep gorge. Its shape is reminiscent of the holiest of Hindu symbols: "OM".

It is one of the most sacred places of the entire Hindu India, thanks to the presence of a jyotirlingam, one of the twelve in India.You will also visit Shri Omkar Mandhata, a temple located at the mouth of the river Narmada. Its friezes on the rock are a work of great precision, even the stone roof of the temple is beautifully carved and its porches boasts columns decorated with circles, polygons and squares surrounding the sanctuary. The Temple of Siddhnath is an example of the first Brahminism medieval architecture. Its main feature is a frieze of elephants carved on a stone slab along the outer perimeter.

Then there are 24 avtars, a group of Hindu and Jain temples, remarkable for their architectural diversity. After visiting Omkareshwar, you will come to Maheshwar. It was the glorious city, at the dawn of Indian civilization, when it was Mahishmati, the capital of the Kartivarjun kingdom. This city, on the banks of river Narmada, finds mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. A huge fort dominates the landscape of Maheshwar. The palace is now a museum with relics of the Holkar dynasty. Within the complex there is also a statue of Rani Ahilyabai sitting on the throne.

There are also many temples of note, including Kaleshwar, Raja Rajeshwara, Vithaleshwara and Ahileshwara. All the temples have balconies and finely decorated doors. Late afternoon arrival in Indore, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
 

Breakfast at the hotel and day dedicated to sightseeing in Indore. The city is situated in the Narmada River valley in the west of Madhya Pradesh.

You will visit the Rajawada Palace, situated in the old part of the town. The old building opens onto a market square at the intersection of Khajuri Bazar. Second leg of the visit will be Lal Bagh Palace, built in 1886. It is roughly a replica of Buckingham Palace. Its manicured gardens give the feeling of being in an ancient English Court. After the tour transfer to Indore airport to board the flight to Delhi. Arrival at the hotel and overnight.
 

The end of our tour has come. After breakfast, you will have free time until the transfer to the airport.