......................................................... TRAVEL
WITH GANGES (7 Days)
DELHI-MATHURA-AGRA-ALLAHABAD-VARANASI
Day 01: Abroad
/ Delhi Arrive late evening at New Delhi International airport. On
arrival the guest will be met by our representative and transferred to
hotel. Upon arrival at hotel the guests will be provided with the
traditional Indian welcome consisting of aarti-tikka and garlands.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02:Delhi
Morning sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi. This morning you will
be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre of Moghul Power, Old Delhi
offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars. Visit the
vast Red Fort, built in
1648, the Jama Masjid, the
greatest mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also built
the Taj Mahal, and the Raj Ghat,
the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Drive past the stately government
buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India
Gate & the Presidential
Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns
tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous
Taj Mahal.
Afternoon tour of the temples.
Visit to
the Laxmi Narayan Temple,
popularly known as the Birla Mandir, is a large Hindu temple built in 1938.
People of all faiths can enter and worship, but one must walk barefoot into
the courtyard and further on.
A visit to the Baha'i
Temple situated atop the Kalkaji Hill. This distinctive
lotus shaped marvel, surrounded by a landscaped garden, has been dubbed the
Taj Mahal of the 21st Century.
Also, visit the beautiful
Bangla Sahib Gurudwara temple,
the most important site of worship for both sikhs and Hindus in Delhi.
Overnight at hotel. Day 03: Delhi - Mathura Breakfast at the hotel Drive to
Mathura (147 kms). On arrival in Mathura - check into the hotel.
Visit the temple. Mathura is
an ancient cultural and religious centre. It is also known as 'Brij Bhoomi'
as Krishna, the popular incarnation of Vishnu is believed to have been born
in Mathura. Whereas, the surrounding area is closely linked with his
childhood. Nearby to Mathura is Vrindavan
where Krishna indulged in adolescent pranks like flirting with his gopis
'milkmaids' in the forests and stealing their clothes while they bathed in
the river. The famous 'Hare Krishnas'
also have their headquaters situated here. Lunch at the hotel.
Later in the evening return to the Temple for evening aarti. Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 04: Mathura - Agra - Allahabad
Early morning visit the temple for aarti. Return to hotel for breakfast
thereafter drive to Agra (57 kms / 1 ½ hours).
On arrival in Agra directly proceed for
sightseeing - visit the Taj Mahal
is the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan,
who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a
charming formal Mughal garden with canals and a central tank with a series
of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached mosque on the west and its
symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect
proportion and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great
skill. The building, often styled "a dream in marble" is said to
have taken at least 22 years (1631-1653) to build.
Lunch at the
hotel
Visit Red Fort
which lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town.
It was built by Akbar as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest
architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a
moat. Transfer to the Railway Station for overnight train to Allahabad.
Leave: Agra by Express Train at 1900 hrs (Packed dinner on
board). Overnight on train.
Day 05 :
Allahabad - Varanasi Arrive: Allahabad by
at 0500 hrs Upon arrival met and transferred to hotel. Allahabad
is known as a holy city as it is the meeting point of India's two most
sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna. This meeting point of the rivers,
the Sangam, is believed to have great soul changing powers and is an
important pilgrimage site. Lunch at the hotel afternoon, drive to
Varanasi (135 kms/ 4 hrs). On arrival in Varanasi - check into the
hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Varanasi
Early morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat
ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats
and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most
important religions. Visit some of the many Hindu temples that line the
river Ganges. Stroll along the narrow lanes and bazaars full of shops
selling, among other things, the world famous Benaras Silks.
Tour of Benaras - as it is also called, is one of the oldest cities of the
world and a microcosm of Indian life. Since it was also an ancient center of
learning, the Benars Hindu Univesity
is worth a visit as are the silver and gold brocade shops, for which Benaras
is world famous.
Visit Sarnath
- 5 miles out of Varanasi - one of the holiest Buddhist
sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 B.C. Here
you will witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then
visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and
sculptures found at the site.
Leave for a special evening
cruise on the Ganges on candle lit country boats to the
accompaniment of musicians. See the Hindu devotees performing the "Puja"
with lighted lamps. The view is very mesmerizing and the ambience is
spectacular. Later return to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.