Indian Culture

The Indian culture is an ancient and dynamic entity, spanning back to the very beginnings of human civilization.Beginning with a mysterious culture along the Indus River and in farming communities in the southern lands of India,the history of the sub-continent is one puncuated by constant integration with migrating peoples and with the diverse cultures that surround India. Placed in the center of Asia, Indian history is a crossroads of cultures from

China to Europe, and the most significant Asian connection with the cultures of Africa Indian history.India is one of the most culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse regions one can imagine.In the north, the great mountain barrier. To the south, the great river plains of the Indus and the Ganges,and the large,High plateau of the Deccan. This is the stage on which a complex history took place, and the first act
began along the Indus River.Archaeology has provided evidence of the beginnings of ancient India. Rigveda which is perhaps the oldest document in human history has also provided evidence of life in ancient India.

Rigveda has been transmitted orally from generation to generation; it is like a tape recording, transmitted with astonishing philological integrity. The date of the Rigveda is not known.

WE bring to you this tour which is not only rich in culture, history & archelogical content, but also architecturaly mind boggling, covering the Western, Northern & Eastern, parts of this ancient country,called "Bharat" during the ancient times.

Your Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrive Bombay. On arrival, meeting, assistance & Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon city sightseeing tour. Drive past Flora fountain built in 1869, in honour of Bombay's governer Sir Bently. visit the St Thomas Cathedral,Town Hall,Tower of Silence - Parsi funeral site and the Prince of Wales museum. Later visit Hanging Gardens, Gateway of India and the Marine Drive. Overnight in hotel.

Day 2:
Morning after breakfast,transfer to jetty to take boat journey to visit the Elephanta Caves. These cave temples were built by carving out soild rocks from mountain side,sometime between 450- 700 AD Here you see some unparalled examples of Brahmanical Sculptors. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
(B)

Day 3:
Morning transfer to airport to connect flight at 0710 hrs for Aurangabad.Breakfast on board. On arrival,meeting, assistance & transfer to hotel. After fresh & change proceed for half day tour of Ellora Caves. Return to hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 4:
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for full day excursion to Ajanta Caves. Late evening transfer to railway station to connect overnight express train at 2120 hrs for Bhopal,capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh,Overnight in sleeper train.
(B)

Day 5:
Arrive Bhopal city at 0535 hrs.Meeting,assistance & transfer to hotel. After breakfast proceed for half day excursion to Sanchi, associated with various incidents in the life of Emperor Ashok. He built 8 stupas, out of which only 3 remain today. The Brihat Stupa, started by Ashok & completed around 3-2nd century BC is 16.4m high. Other attractions are the 4 arches or entrances to the stupa, built around 35 BC. Afternoon free. Overnight in hotel
(B)

Day 6:
Morning after breakfast, depart for half day city tour of Bhopal. Founded by Bhuj the Parmar king in the 11th century AD, lies on the banks of a large lake. Visit Bharat Bhavan art gallery, Shyamala Hills offering a birds eye view of the city,the Archelogical museum & Laxminarayan temple. Return to hotel. Later in time, after dinner transfer to railway station to connect overnight express train at 2230 hrs for Mathura. Overnight in express train
(B)

Day 7:
Arrive into Mathura early morning at 0820 hrs. On arrival, after breakfast at a local restaurant proceed for city tour. Mathura is mentioned in the ancient hindu texts "the Puranas" originally the capital of Yadavas, is described by Fa-Hein (401-410 AD) as being a centre of Bhuddhist culture & leraning. It is one of the 7 well known Hindu Pilgrimage places and was the birth place of Lord Krishna, 1500 years before Christ. Visit Keshab Dev Temple,Bishranti Ghat,the museum.Also visit Vrindavan- the pleasure ground of lord Krishna & Radha. Later proceed by surface transportation to Agra . Enroute to Agra, visit Sikandra- tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great

Later on arrival, check into your hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 8:
Morning after breakfast,proceed for half day tour of Agra city. Afternoon in time transfer to airport to connect flight at 1440 hrs for Kajuraho. On arrival at 1520 hrs, meeting, assistance & transfer to your hotel.Balance day free. Overnight in hotel.
(B)

Day 9:
Morning after breakfast, full day visit of The temples. Khajuraho are India’s unique gift to the world,built by the Chandela kings some 1000 years ago-which probably form one of the best examples of Indian Erotic art.In the morning, you see the Western group of temples and the museum and in the afternoon the Southern and Eastern groups. Return to hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 10:
Morning after breakfast, time at leisure, till transfer to airport to connect flight at 1405 hrs for Varanasi.On arrival at 1445 hrs, transfer to hotel. Enroute visit Sarnath- Lord Buddha gave his first sermon here 2500 years ago.Overnight in your hotel
(B)

Day 11:
Early morning,transfer to the Ghats to take an unforgetable boat ride on the Ganges. See the different Ghats(bathing spots) built by kings & noblemen. Watch sunrise before returning to hotel for breakfast.After breakfast,proceed for city tour of this very ancient town, situated on the banks of river Ganges, in the State of Uttar Pradesh.Visit the Ramgarh Fort, Bharat Mata Temple, walk around the narrow bylanes and the ghats.Balance time at leisure & Overnight in hotel.
(B)

Day 12:
Arrive into Kolkatta early morning at 0700 hrs. On arrival,meeting, assistance & transfer to your hotel.After breakfast, proceed for half day city tour.Visit The Victorial Memorial, which sits in mejestic splendour at the bottom end of this big green space called the "Maidan".An immence palace of white marble, built in honour of Queen

Victoria by the British. Drive past the Race course to Botanical Gradens, founded in 1786. The 200 year old Banyan tree is the main attraction.Our last halt is the City Museum, constructed in 1814,it presents a 300 feet

footage raising two stories high in Italian architecture. Return to hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 13:
Early Morning after breakfast,transfer to railway station to board superfast express train at 0605 hrs for Bhubneshwar. Later on arrival at 1320 hrs, transfer directly bu surface transportation to Puri.Reach at 1600 hrs and check into your hotel. Balance time free on the beach. Overnight in hotel.
(B)

Day 14:
Morning after breakfast, proceed for half day excursion to Konarak Temple. Konarak Sun Temple, a shrine in stone built by king Narasimha in the 12th century AD, is 100ft high, decorated with thousand of sculptures consisting of carved animals, larger than life erotic groupings, statues & honeycombed rocks. The temple design depicts a chariot driven by 7 horses, with 12 immence stone wheels.The temple is dedicated to "Surya" The Sun God.Afternoon visit Jagatnath Temple at Puri.(Non Hindus are not allowed inside the Temple complex).Balance day free at the beach side. Overnight in hotel.
(B)

Day 15:
Morning after breakfast,transfer by surface to Bhubneshwar. Enroute visit Pipli Village, world famous for its very colourful Piplique work- manship & Dhauli Shanti Stupa- The place where the great battle of Kalinga was fought in 261 BC and which turned Emperor Ashok's footsteps towards non violence & bhuddhism. Later on arrival check into your hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 16:
Morning after breakfast, proceed for half day tour of this very ancient city.Visit the world famous 11th century Lingaraja Temple. Non Hindus are not allowed inside the complex,so we see from outside.The Bindu sagar lake lying north of this temple is our next halt-it's history dating back to mythological times. Also we visit the Ananta Basudev,Mukteshwar & Parashurameswar Temples. Overnight in hotel. Afternoon half day excursion to Udaygiri,Ratnagiri & Lalitgiri, the budhist caves carved out of granite rock sometime around 2nd century BC, combiningly comprising of

approximately 75-100 such caves. Return to hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 17:
Morning after breakfast,time free for shopping. Later in time transfer to airport to connect flight to Delhi at 1320 hrs.On arrival at 1520 hrs, meeting,assistance & transfer to your hotel. Evening proceed for Son-Et-Lumaire show at the

historic Red Fort. Return to hotel for overnight.
(B)

Day 18:
Morning after breakfast,proceed for full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Return to hotel for fresh @ change and transfer to International airport to connect flight for onward destination.