Best of India Tour

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Best of India Tour


Places:- ( Delhi - Jaipur - Pushkar - Udaipur - Mount Abu - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Bharatpur - Agra - Delhi - Madras - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Allepey - Cochin - Coimbatore - Ooty - Mysore - Belur - Halebid - Bangalore - Mumbai)
Duration:- (28 nights & 29 days)

Jantar Mantar, DelhiDay 01: Arrival Delhi
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel where a welcome ceremony awaits you. Girls dressed in traditional Indian attire anoint your forehead with ‘a red tikka’ followed by ceremonial garlanding.

Day 02: Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast embark on a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi including the Red fort and the Jama masjid, post lunch tour of New Delhi to include Qutab Minar, India Gate, Humayun's tomb and the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Day 03: Delhi/Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur, the fabled ‘pink city’ of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharajah of Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur by lunch and check inn to your hotel. After Lunch and some rest visit the City Palace, the royal residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur and later visit the Observatory dating back to the 18th century and also visit the Palace of winds (Hawa Mahal). Evening enjoy your dinner with cultural Rajasthani folk dance programme.

Day 04: Jaipur/Pushkar
Morning after breakfast visit the majestic Amber Fort where you ride up on elephants back to the former capital of the royals set against the backdrop of wooded hills. Later explore shopping centres of jaipur and drive to Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check inn to your hotel. Evening enjoy the camel Fair.

Day 05: Pushkar
Enjoy the various events and activities in Pushkar fair the whole day.

Day 06: Pushkar/Udaipur
After breakfast drive to Udaipur (the Venice of the east). Arrive Udaipur in the evening and check inn to your hotel.

City Palace, Udaipur Day 07: Udaipur
After Breakfast make a visit to the City Palace, built in 1725 and later visit Sahelion ki Bari, the gardens the maids-of-honour. After lunch make a trip to Nagda and Eklingji to see the beautiful temples in their ruins.

Day 8: Udaipur/Mt.Abu via Ranakpur
Morning drive to the only hill resort of Rajasthan Mt.Abu enroute visiting the famous Jain temples of Ranakpur. Arrive Mt.Abu and check inn to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Day 09: Mt.Abu/Jodhpur
Morning at leisure to enjoy the scenic beauty of this hill station. After lunch transfer to Jodhpur.

Day 10: Jodhpur
Start the city tour of Jodhpur visiting the Mehrangarh Fort museum and Jaswant thada, the cremation spot of the royal family. After lunch visit the ancient capital of Marwar-Mandore.

Day 11: Jodhpur/Jaisalmer
Morning drive to Jaisalmer situated deep in the heart of the Thar desert. Arrive Jaisalmer and shortly after lunch visit the Chhatris of Maharwals and later Camel ride at Sam for sunset.

Day 12: Jaisalmer/Bikaner
Leave for Bikaner and arrive by lunch. After lunch make a tour of Junagarh Fort and its fabulous palaces.

Day 13: Bikaner/Mandawa
After breakfast transfer to Mandawa (an old castle in Rajasthan). Post lunch session includes a small visit of Mandawa to appreciate the painted Havelis on the ancient and the famous silk route.

Day 14: Mandawa/Bharatpur
Drive to Bharatpur (famous for keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary). Evening make a visit to the sanctuary.

Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur Day 15: Bharatpur/Agra
Early morning make a visit to the sanctuary to see the birds in their natural habitat. After breakfast drive down to Agra (The city of Tajmahal). Arrive Agra by lunch after a tour of the beautiful city of Fatehpur Sikri, the Old capital of Mughal emperor Akbar. Post lunch tour of the world famous Tajmahal and of the Red Fort. Later explore the shopping centres of Agra. Evening enjoy special cocktail dinner.

Day 16: Agra/Delhi/Madras
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Delhi domestic airport to connect flight to Madras. Arrive Madras in the evening and check inn to your hotel.

Day 17: Madras
Full day city tour of Madras including the Snake park and Kapaleeswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the museum.

Day 18: Madras/Tanjore
Morning drive to Tanjore and check inn to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Day 19: Tanjore/Madurai
Morning start the tour of Tanjore visiting the Brihadeshwara Temple, a typical architecture from the 11th century. Later visit the Saraswati Mahal Library. After lunch depart for Madurai , arrive in the evening and transfer to your hotel.

Day 20: Madurai/Periyar
Morning visit the world famous Meenakshi Sundereshwara temple, a huge Dravidian temple complex. After lunch depart for Periyar wild life sanctuary. Arrive Periyar in the evening and check inn hotel.

Day 21: Periyar/Alleppey
Morning boat cruise on the lake to get a closer look at the wild elephants. Later drive to reach the small beautiful town of Allepey situated on the backwaters of Kerala.

Day 22: Alleppey/Cochin
After breakfast boat cruise on the backwaters of Kerala (three hours from boat) and than continue by Road to Cochin. Arrive Cochin and visit the Chinese fishing nets in the backwaters of Cochin. Overnight at boat.

Day 23: Cochin
Sea Boat Ride To Visit Various Islands And Churches, Santa cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish synagogue, Dutch palace, St. Franchis. Overnight at boat.

Day 24: Cochin/Coimbatore
After breakfast drive to Coimbatore also called the ‘Manchester of South India’. Arrive by lunch and soon after lunch visit the Maruthamalai temple.

Day 25: Coimbatore/Ooty
Morning drive to the queen of hill stations,Ooty known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty. Arrive Ooty by lunch and rest of the day is at leisure.

Ooty, TamilnaduDay 26: Ooty/Mysore
Morning depart for Mysore (wonderful historic town and evidence city to exhibit the oldest Indian richest economy). Arrive by lunch and shortly after lunch visit the Mysore Palace, once the capital seat of power of the ruling Wodeyars. Also visit the Brindavan Garden, Chamundeeswri temple, Tipu’s summer palace.

Day 27: Mysore/Belur/Halebid
Transfer to Belur, the superbly preserved Chennkesava Temple here is a tribute to the skill and genius of the medieval craftsman. Later visit Halebid temple 10 kms. From Belur, a riot of carvings left incomplete after 80 years of labour.

Day 28: Halebid/Bangalore
Drive to Bangalore to catch flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai in the evening and transfer to your hotel.

Day 29: Mumbai and Departure
After breakfast proceed for a half day city tour of Mumbai visiting Kamla Nehru park, Hanging gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar hill offering a panoramic view of Marine Drive and Chawpatty beach, Prince of wales museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India and drive through the Crawford market.

Evening Transfer to international Airport in time to board flight for onward destination.

Ajnta Elora Caves

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A LEGACY FROM A GOLDEN AGE
Ajanta Cave
Ajanta and Ellora are the pride of Maharashtra. The rock-cut caves of both these sites are world famous and illustrate the degree of skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen had achieved several hundred years ago. Ajanta dates from 100 B.C. while Ellora is younger by some 600 years. The village of Ajanta is in the Sahyadri hills, about 99 kms. From Aurangabad; a few miles away in a mammoth horseshoe-formed rock, are 30 caves overlooking a gorge, `each forming a room in the hill and some with inner rooms. Al these have been carved out of solid rock with little more than a hammer and chisel and the faith and inspiration of Buddhism. Here, for the Buddhist monks, the artisans excavated Chaityas (chapels) for prayer and Viharas (monasteries) where they lived and taught. Many of the caves have the most exquisite detailed carvings on the walls, pillars and entrances as well as magnificent wall paintings.
These caves were discovered early in the 19th century quite by chance by a party of British Officers on manoeuvres. Today the paintings and sculptures on Buddha’s life, belonging to the more mellow and ritualistic Mahayana Buddhism period, are world famous. Copies of them were shown in the Crystal Palace exhibition in London in 1866. These were destroyed in a fire there. Further copies were published soon afterwards and four volumes of reproductions were brought out in 1933 by Ghulam Yazdani, the Director of Archaeology of the then Hyderabad State. Ajanta has formed an epicentre of interest for those who appreciate and are eager to know more about Indian history and art.
Ajanta Cave It is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and has been listed in the World Heritage list of monuments.The 30 caves of Ajanta were created over a span of some 600 years.
In their range of time and treatments they provide a panorama of life in ancient India and are a source of all kinds of information... hair styles, ornaments, textiles, musical instruments, details of architecture, customs etc. It was from this collection of classical Indian art that a particular style was formed that traveled with Buddhism to many parts of the world. Similar paintings can be seen in Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, Bamiyan in Afghanistan, temples and shrines in Tibet, Nepal, China and Japan.
Royal patronage made Ajanta possible. Professional artists carried out much of the work and each contributed his own individual skill and devotion to this monumental work.
Visitors often ask how the artist who painted the detailed frescoes and chiseled out the intricate carvings, managed to work in the dark interiors of the caves. It has been noticed that the caves are illuminated by natural light for part of the day and it is presumed that metal mirrors or sheets of white cloth were used to reflect sunlight into the inner recesses.
Highlights of some of the major caves
Ajanta Cave
Here, briefly, are some of the highlights of the caves. In the Cave 26, the sculpture is elaborate and beautiful though the painted frescoes are incomplete. The arched chapel window set in an elegantly simple façade, is repeated in an elaborate frontage in Cave 19 with its complete Chaitya and a slender votive stupa enclosing a standing Buddha at the far end. Of particular note is a sculpture of a seated Nagaraja with his consort and female attendant.
Cave 16 is an elegant Vihara with an inscription that mentions the king and his minister who had the cave built. Here a towering Buddha sits preaching. He is flanked by attendants with fly whisks.
Ajanta Cave No. 1 There are undamaged portions of the wall paintings that are clear and vibrant in Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17. Cave I has the well known Bodhisattva Padmapani which is a wonderful portrayal of tender compassion. A gentle figure holding a lotus delicately in one hand.
In the same cave is the golden figure of Avalokiteswara, elaborately adorned. The women, nymphs, princess and attendants are elegant and beautifully attired. Here also is a lively panel of dancing girls and musicians. In Cave 2 there is a detailed panel of Queen Maya’s dream, of the white elephant which was interpreted by royal astrologers to mean the birth of an illustrious son. The row upon row of Buddhas, can be seen in this cave. In Cave 17, there is a flying apsara in a fashionable embroidered turban and splendid jewellery.
It is worth walking away from the caves in order to look back on to the horseshoe gorge. The ingenuous water cistern system can be seen which must have provided water for the monks and their visitors. Ajanta was on the ancient trade route leading to the coast so there must have been considerable activity and many visitors. Nobody really knows what life was like in those times and visitors can interpret the past as they wish, which is perhaps yet another secret charm of Ajanta.
A Matter of History View this article on the Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Listing of Caves  
Phase I: 2 nd century BC to 1 st century BC
Caves 9 & 10: Chaitya Halls or shrines
Caves 12 & 13: Viharas or monasteries
Phase II: 5 th century AD to 6 th century AD
Caves 19,26 & 29: Chaitya Halls or shrines
Caves 1-7, 11, 14-18, 20-25, 27 & 28: Viharas or monasteries
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Unfinished Caves: 3, 5, 8, 23-25, 28 & 2
Getting There  
There are plenty of tours operated from Aurangabad to the Ajanta Ellora Caves. These tours cover all the other attractions enroute the caves from Aurangabad.
Air Nearest airport is Aurangabad 108 kms.
Rail Jalgaon, 58 kms. on Central Railway is a convenient railhead.
Mumba-Ajanta, 491 kms. via Jalgaon. Mumbai-Ajanta, 487kms. via Manmad. Mumbai-Ajanta, $99 kms. Via Pune. State Transport and luxury buses run from Aurangabad and Jalgaon toAjanta.
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Accommodation  
Accommodations MTDC Hotel at Ajanta-a choice of single (2 blocks) and double (2 blocks) rooms. Fardapur : selfcontained (1 block-14 beds) Fardapur (Kanhaiya Kunj self contained rooms (12blocks) group. Accommodation ( 2 block 18 beds).
Check out time  
9.00 a.m.
 

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Uttarkhand Tour

Duration : 2 Nights / 3 Days
Destinations Covered : 2 Nainital - 2Kasauni - 1Almora

Tour Cost - Per Couple in INR Valid up to 30 MAR 10
Packages Off Season Season Nainital Kasauni Almora
Superior Rs. 25950 Rs. 31000 Elphinstone Hotel Pine havens Mount Heaven
Deluxe Rs .27500 Rs.35000 Chevron Fairhavens Hotel Chevron mountain villa Kasaar Jungle Resort
Super Deluxe Rs .36500 Rs.41000 Arif Castles Suman Royal Resort Kalmatia Sangam(1N)

Season :
1st OCT to 15th NOV , 15th DEC to 5th JAN and long week ends

Off Season :
All dates except season dates New Year Cost will be additional
Uttarakhand Tours
Child Cost :
Child with extrabed sharing parents room 35% of the above cost and child without extrabed has to pay 25% of the above cost (below 12 years)

Cost includes
Accommodation : on twin sharing basis in standard room.
Daily breakfast and Dinner.
Transportation using Indica Non-A/c car as per the itinerary including all taxes, parking, toll, driver allowance.
All applicable hotel taxes and service taxes.

Cost does not include
Lunch, Entry ticket , telephone, laundry,safari charges or anything which is not mentioned above.

Uttarakhand Tours


Day 01 : Delhi - Nainital
Our representative will receive you in Delhi and then proceed to Nanital, where you shall be checked in at a hotel. Nainital is a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of 1,938 metres (6,358 feet) above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft) on the south. Dinner and overnight stay will be provided at the hotel.

Day 02 : Nainital
Have breakfast and then go out for local sightseeing at the tourist spots like Naukuchiatal, Sataal and Bhimtal.Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Kasauni
Breakfast will be followed by a trip to Kausani enroute Ranikhet visiting Chaubatia, Kalika and Upat in Ranikhet. Kausani is the place situated in the Bageshwar district of the Uttarakhand state of India.Kausani is the Himalayan tourist destination, which is 117 kms from Nainital, the altitude of this place is about 1890 mts. This place offers an excellent 350 km view of the Himalayan peaks like Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli. There are very few places in the Himalayas which can compare with the beauty of Kausani - A picturesque hill station famous for its scenic beauty and its spectacular 300 km-wide panoramic view of the Himalayas. Kausani lies on the atop the ridge admist dense Pine trees overlooking Someshwar valley on one side and Garur and Baijnath Katyuri valley on the other on Almora-Bageshwar-Didihat Highway. Mahatma Gandhi called this place the 'Switzerland of India', due to similarity in landscape. Dinner and overnight stay at shall be provided at a hotel in Kausani.

Day 04 : Kasauni
The fourth day shall be booked for local sightseeing and leisure activity at Kausani.

Day 05 : Almora
A journey to Almora will begin after breakfast. It is a cantonment town in Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India, founded in 1568 .Almora is located at an altitude of 1638 meters (5,500 feet), on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range. It is a horse saddle shaped hillock, which is surrounded by thick forests of pine and fur trees, flowing alongside the city are rivers of Koshi(Kaushiki) and Suyal(salmale) and to top it all are the snow capped Himalayas in the background. Almora is a town bustling with activity, and has a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.Dinner and overnight stay shall be provided at Almora.

Day 06 : Departure Almora
After breakfast, back to Delhi (380 kms/7 hours).
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