Tour of the gems of North India and Nepal

Welcome! Upon your arrival you will be welcomed and escorted to your hotel. After the check in you'll have the rest of the day for yourself. 

Breakfast in the hotel.  

Combined visit to the old and new part of the city of Delhi. The tour starts from Old Delhi, the ancient walled city. Passing the Red Fort, you can admire the most majestic among the Moghul Empire monuments, Jama Masjid, 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 40m in height, with 4 towers at the corners and 3 entries.

On the banks of river Yamuna is the Rajghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, following his assassination in 1948. Subsequent visit to Chandni Chowk. Busy at all hours of the day, the bazaar is located on the main street of Old Delhi, and is frequented by both Indians and foreigners alike.  

Afternoon drive to New Delhi. The new part conceived, designed and built in a majestic style by the British in the 20s of XX century, is a city with wide tree-lined streets, parks, gardens, great houses that are home to the Parliament, ministries, embassies, the Connaught Place area, the financial, shopping and business center. 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. Qutub Minar, 73m high, is a tower with a diameter of 15m that narrows down to a minimum of 2m and a half. It is spread over 5 floors, each of which has a projecting balcony. The mausoleum of Humayun, however, was built between 1564 and 1572 by Haji Begum, the widow of the second Mughal emperor. After nine years from the death of Humayun, it took eight years to complete its construction. Designed by the Persian Misak Ghiyaz Mirza, with a raised octagonal shape,two domes, 8 arches and surrounded by a great wall, the mausoleum is an impressive structure.  

Overnight at the hotel.
 

Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer to Jaipur and accommodation in the rooms. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.  

After breakfast, you'll proceed to Amber Fort. The ascent to the fort will be on elephant back. Just 11 km from Jaipur, the Amber Fort is one of the wonderful examples of Rajput architecture that characterized the old capital during Kachhawah empire. The original palace was built by Raja Man Singh and later completed by Sawai Jai Singh. Inside the palace are the Diwan-e-Aam, the ' "public auditorim"; the Diwan-e-Khas, or the ' "private auditorium" and the Sukh Niws, where, in summer, a cool breeze blowing through the water channels pleasantly cools the air.

You can then observe the private chambers of the queens from the typical latticed windows through which the nobleswomen, in their intimacy, could observe the various vicissitudes of the royal court. Also you can admire the Jai Mandir or the "Temple of Victory", with its famous Sheesh Mahal, the scintillating "Hall of Mirrors."  

In the afternoon visit the city of Jaipur: Hawa Mahal, the famous "Palace of Winds" was built in 1799. The Hawa Mahal forms part of the City Palace, commissioned by Sawai Pratap Singh and designed for women of the royal families that could easily observe, in private, the street and the daily vicissitudes.

Continue the visit with the Palace-Museum: it is located in the heart of the old city and was the royal residence, built with a blend of Rajasthan and Mughal styles. A part of the building has now become a museum, the rest of the building is used as a daily accommodation of the royal family of Jaipur. The palace has an art gallery with an excellent collection of paintings, carpets, royal and rare pieces of astronomical works and royal accessories.

Jantar Mantar is the stone observatory erected by the great astronomer Jai Singh II, and is located near the City Palace. It's the largest and best preserved observatory of the area, and thanks to the available instruments, astronomers were able to measure the position of stars and calculate eclipses.  

Overnight at the hotel.
 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Leave for Agra. En route visit Fatehpur Sikri, a charming red sandstone ghost town located a short distance from the city of Agra. Built thanks to Emperor Akbar as his capital, Fatehpur Sikri was a true fairy-tale city and its ruins are still in excellent condition. It is not hard to imagine how court life  was during that time great. Set like a jewel in a red sandstone courtyard is the marble tomb of Saint Salim Chisti , surrounded by finely carved marble.

You will visit the Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, the Jami Mosque, the Birbals Palace, the Sunhera Makan, the Jodha Bai 's palace, the Kahan -i - Khas, the Diwan -i - m. Continue on to Agra and accommodation in private rooms. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
 

Breakfast at hotel.

Visiting of the Taj Mahal by horse-drawn carriage.
Agra hosts the most photographed monument of the world. No matter how many pictures you have seen or what kind of expectations a person has, the Taj Mahal never disappoints. The glory and the unparalleled beauty of this monument built thanks to love, goes beyond all human expectation. From the perfect symmetry existing in every features, the construction is characterized by the remarkable quality of the inlay work of semi precious stones in marble stone hard style.

We will continue drive to Agra Fort.

Emperor Akbar began the construction of the fort on the banks of the river Yumana in 1565 and it was subsequently enriched with red roses' stones and marble buildings, respectively by the two benefactors Jehangir and Shah Jahan. The colossal double walls of the fort rise of over 20 meters in height and for 2km and a half in length. Inside there is a labyrinth of superb halls, mosques, rooms and gardens which are forming a small city within a city. You can also admire the Jahangir Place, the Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas and two beautiful mosques.

In the afternoon visiting of the Itmad-ud-Daulah placed on the riverside Yamuina, which was a source of inspiration for the construction of the Taj Mahal. This is the first tomb to be built entirely of white marble and finely decorated with semiprecious stones. Four small minarets at the corners complete the structure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.  

Transfer to Agra railway station and then by train to Jhansi.   Upon arrival, meeting with an assistant and departure to Khajuraho; visit Orchha en route chosen by the Bundela chief RajaRudra Pratap (1501 - 1531) as its capital, as a place easy to defend. Located on a small island in the Betwa River, the city rises over the surrounding countryside and in the interior three buildings are erected: the Jehangir Mahal is the most admired palace and was built by Bir Singh Deo as a welcome gift for the visit of Emperor Mughals in the seventeenth century.

The Sheesh Mahal, called "Palace of Mirrors" was built at the beginning of the VIII century to be the country residence of Raja Udait Singh, but after the country's independence, it became the property of the government. Finally, the most modest building that is located between the Raj Mahal and the Jehangir Mahal bordering fields, is the Phool Mahal, also called "flower garden" for its vivid colors reminiscent of summer. Following is the visit to the Ram Raja Chaturbuj temples.  

After the visit, drive to Khajuraho. Arrival at the hotel. Accommodation in private rooms.  Overnight at the hotel.
 

Breakfast in the hotel.  

Visit to the eastern and western group of temples in Khajuraho. The western group of temples includes Khndarya Mahadeo, the largest and most typical of these temples which rises to 31 meters high and is dedicated to Shiva. The main altar is carefully carved and its figures are reminiscent of gods, goddesses and heavenly figures. Chaunsat Yogini is dedicated to Kali and is the only temple in granite, as well as the oldest of the group sanctuary. Temple Chitragupt: facing east, this temple is dedicated to Surya, the sun deity. The image of the goddess in the inner sanctum is particularly imposing, about 2 meters high, riding a horse-drawn carriage.

Temple Vivshwanath: here Brahma with three heads is revered. The impact is very impressive, thanks to the statues of lions and elephants posed on the steps leading to the entrance. Lakshmana Temple: the lintel over the entrance of this beautiful temple shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Temple Matangeswara: Today's place of worship, the temple is dedicated to Shiva, with a "lingam" 8 feet high and is outside the group of Western temples.  

The group of oriental temples was built between the ninth and tenth century by the Chandela dynasty and was influenced by tantrism, making eroticism a theme of philosophical interest. It is therefore possible that even the city of Khajuraho was influenced by "Kama Sutra." The temple of Parsvanatha is the largest Jain temple of the eastern group and has a complex plot of notches; in particular, the northern part of the sculptures are definitely wonderful.

It contains a throne depicting a bull, a symbol that represents the first tirthankara, Adinatha. The Jain temple of Ghantai, however, has obvious frescoes depicting the 16 dreams of Lord Mahavira's mother at the moment of giving birth, and the Jain goddess aboard a winged Garuda. The temple of Adinatha is richly decorated with graceful sculptures, including those of "yakshis" and is dedicated to the first Jain saint, Adinath.

Most of these temples belong to the Jain faith, but there are also 3 Hindu Brahma temples, the linga with four faces, Vamana, with erotic carvings of celestial maidens in the background, and Javari, with a magnificent decorated entrance, and with sculptures on the outside.  

Transfer to the airport and flight to Varanasi. Arrival at hotel and accommodation in private rooms.  Overnight at the hotel.
 

Early morning, boat trip on the banks of the Ganges to witness the ritual baths in the holy waters and cremations. The wakeup call before dawn will be rewarded by direct contact with the life on the banks of this river. Sunrise or sunset, the Hindu pilgrims arrive at the holy river to bathe, while the lanterns glide along the river. The Bharat Mata temple is dedicated to the most maternal idea of India, and houses a marble statue of Mother India, emblem of the unity country.  

After breakfast visit of the temples of the city of Varanasi: Durga Temple is dated XVIII century, it is also known as the Monkey Temple. The form of Durga represents the female force, a combination of the power of various deities. The Tulsi Manas Temple was built in 1964 and is located approximately 150m south of Durga Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Rama and is located where Tulsidas, great medieval saint, supposedly wrote the epic poem Shri Ramcharitmanas; In fact, the two rows of walls are carved with verses and scenes of the famous poem.

Kashi Vishwanath Mandir: the divinity to whom this temple is dedicated is Lord Shiva and it is said that it was here where the first Jyotirlinga broke the earth crust and imposed his supremacy over the other gods. No wonder that, among gath and the Ganges River, is just the Kashi Vishwanath temple that attracts the most attention of this place dedicated to the faithful.  

The Banaras Hindu University is one of the oldest training centers in India, and was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in 1979 for the study of Sanskrit, Indian art, culture and music. The university campus covers over 5 km2, contains the Bharat Kala Bhavan and its buildings also house the new Vishwanatha Temple. Sankt Mochan temple in Varanasi is one of the most sacred temples, is located in the southern part of the city, near the University of Banaras Hindu and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman. The temple name literally means "one who helps to eliminate the pain" and was founded by Tulsidas, the author of the famous Hindu poem Ramacharitamanasa.

In the afternoon excursion to Sarnath: 10 km from the city center, Sarnath symbolizes the birth of the Buddhist religion. It was here that Buddha revealed his doctrine and founded his monotheistic communities. Ashoka Pillar: This site is one of the most famous Buddhist centers of the entire planet. The immense column surrounded by four lions, was founded by Emperor Ashoka Maurya during the third century B.C., and today, it is the national emblem of the Republic of India.

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar: it was built in 1931 by the Mahabodhi Society. A Japanese huge bell decorates the entrance of Vihar while the walls and ceilings were decorated with fantastic carvings, paintings and murals by the Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. Even a life-size image of Buddha is kept in the temple. Choukhandi Stupa is built on a rectangular pedestal and is crowned with an octagonal tower built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to commemorate the visit of the father in this place.

The ruins of the temple go back to the Gupta period. Dhamarajika Stupa: this is yet another place in town that deserves attention: this is also dating from the Gupta period, it was built by Emperor Ashoka. In fact, the Stupa are in a state of abandonment and you can only see their ruins. The archaeological museum, however, shows a magnificent statue of the Buddha while turning the wheel of the law and other depictions that represent the flourishing Indian plastic art.  

Overnight at the hotel.
 

Morning free to relax. Later board the flight for Kathmandu. You will be received by our representative on the Kathmandu airport and transferred straight to your hotel. Relax for a while.

Later move out for a half day sight seeing tour of the city that includes: visit to 2000 years old Buddhist shrine Swyambhu Nath, situated on the top of the hill west of the city the most popular and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal.

Rest of the time free to explore on your own.

Breakfast in the hotel.  

Departure for the discovery of Kathmandu Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the Temple of Pashupatinath with its beautiful golden roof and silver doors on whose ghats the dead whose ashes were scattered in the waters of the sacred river Bagmati are cremated. As Benares in India, it is a place chosen by many Hindu people to say goodbye to life. 

Along the ghats it is almost impossible not to come across a funeral celebration. Continue to Guheswari Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, and Akassh Bhairav ​​Temple, on Indra Chowk, where every day an interesting fabric market is held.  

Later we will move to Durbar Square, a real open-air museum, rich in color and teeming with life. Continuation of the visit to Swayambhunath, or Monkey Temple, one of the most famous symbols of Nepal.  Afternoon visit Bodhnath, located about 6 kilometers from Kathmandu. Famous for its Buddhist stupa, also home to a large colony of Tibetan exiles who fled to Nepal. Around the stupa several Gompa, or monasteries have been created, where you can spend hours of relaxation and contemplation.  

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.  

Transfer to the royal city of Patan, the most important center of the Valley after the Capital and visit Durbar Square, the heart of the city as the homonymous squares of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. You will be able to visit the Patan Museum in the Royal Palace, whose cafe located in a courtyard is an oasis of tranquility; the Krishna Mandir, the temple built in 1637 BC, and the Temple of Bhimsen, with its magnificent gilded balconies overlooking the square.

In the afternoon visit Bhaktapur, also called "City of Devotees." The third most important city of the Kathmandu valley, it owes its fortune to the strategic position on Tibet trade route. It 's a very quiet center of medieval charm, located at an altitude of 1401 m, and a renowned center of handicraft production. Its visitors are welcomed by many cultural and artistic beauties. You will visit the main square of Durban Square, one of the most fascinating examples of architecture of the valley.

Located at the center of the city, its extension is even larger than those of the squares in Kathmandu and Patan. Continue on with a visit to various historical monuments such as Bhupatindra Malla King's Statue and the Golden Gate built by King Ranjit Malla as the entrance to the Royal Palace and Nyatapola, the most famous pagoda in Nepal which was built in 1702 A.D. during the dynasty of Bhupatendra. Nyatapola in Newari means "five-story" and symbolizes the five elements of nature: water, earth, fire, wind and sky.  

Overnight at the hotel.

The tour is over, after breakfast the day is free depending on the airport transfer.