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Taj Mahal & Erotic Temples
offered by supplier M16759 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 20
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 50
people
Destination(s):
India
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1000 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2000 US Dollar (USD)
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Rajasthan is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come together. Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and women in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages, camels, elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are all there in abundance.
The construction of Taj Mahal was started in A.D. 1632 and completed at the ended in 1648 A.D. For seventeen years, twenty thousand workmen are said to have been employed on it daily, for their accommodation a small town, named after the deceased empress- 'Mumtazabad', now known as Taj Ganj, was built adjacent to it.
The designer of Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The material was brought in from allover India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. The central dome is 187 ft. high at the center.
Some feel the Taj is best seen on a full moon night, others find it ethereal at dawn while some insist that it is sensuous at sunset.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Delhi. Arrive at Delhi where you would be met and escorted to the hotel. In the afternoon you will be taken to National Museum where you will see the finest collection of Indian antiquities and artifacts. Tonight you will be hosted a welcome dinner when you will also be familiarized with the tour.
Day 2: Delhi. Delhi with its Old and New parts - each with its specific charm and glory - makes a very interesting city for its sustenance to medieval and modern cultures at the same time and space.
Day 3: Khajuraho. This morning you will take a train to Jhansi. En route to Khajuraho you will visit sleepy medieval town of Orchha which is littered with medieval Bundelkhand buildings bearing fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 4: Agra. Your day starts in the morning when you will be driven to Jhansi railway station for your train to Agra. You will arrive in Agra in the evening and retire for the day.
Day 5: Agra. Today you will do sightseeing tour of Agra. In the first half of the day you will visit Sikandara and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah or the 'Baby Taj'.
Day 6: Jaipur. After a leisurely morning you drive to Jaipur - en route visit Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly preserved Mughal city built at the height of the empire's splendor. You will arrive in Jaipur in the noon and will be at leisure for the rest of the day.
Day 7: Jaipur. In the morning, you visit the Amber Fort - one of the most fascinating of Indian forts. You will reach the fort majestically atop an elephant; once inside the fort, you visit the Palace of Mirrors, Hall of Public Audience and the beautifully manicured gardens.
Day 8: Jodhpur. Proceed to Jodhpur. Overnight will be at Jodhpur.
Day 9: Jodhpur. This morning you explore the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort-Museum, one of the largest in India, unsurpassed in beauty and grandeur - and a perfect example of desert variant of Rajput architecture. The tour of the fort will be followed by a visit to the old town where you walk through the market getting a feel of the town.
Day 10: Udaipur. Today, you drive to Udaipur. You will arrive in Udaipur late in the afternoon. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 11: Udaipur. The day begins with a visit to the City Palace, which is largest in Rajsathan. You will also see lovely medieval Jagdish Temple and Sahelion-Ki-Bari or the "Gardens of the Maids of Honour". The day will end with a relaxing boat ride on Lake Pichola. From the lake you will get unmatched views of the gardens surrounding the fascinating Lake Palace Hotel and the two islands in the lake.
Day 12: Aurangabad. Today, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Bombay where you will arrive to connect to your flight for Aurangabad (Depending on the flight timings you will be given a brief tour of the commercial capital of India).
Day 13: Aurangabad. Today you will explore the caves of Ajanta which offer a rich tapestry of images that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient India. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals.
Day 14: Aurangabad / Bombay. This morning you will be taken to explore Ellora caves. Carved between fourth and fifth century, the rock temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the three major faiths of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Like Ajanta, Ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with intricate interiors and ornamental facades. Later in the evening you will take your flight for Bombay where you spend the night before starting your tour of South India.
Day 15: Madurai. Continuing your tour to South India you will fly in the morning to Madurai where you arrive before noon. All activity in Madurai is centered round Sri Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the told town. A riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture, you visit the temple in the afternoon.
Day 16: Chettinad. After a leisurely start today you drive to Chettinad which is known for its artistic houses. Spend the afternoon exploring the palace and around for its unique architecture. Overnight will be at Madurai.
Day 17: Tanjore/ Trichy. This morning you will drive to Tanjore. Also called a city of temples, Tanjore is dotted with no fewer than 74 temples - the most famous of which is the Brihadeshwara temple. In the evening you explore the city including spectacular Rock Fort Temple.
Day 18: Chennai. This morning you take a train ride to Madras - your last destination of the tour. Madras is a fascinating city with its ancient temples and unique culture, golden sandy beaches and a marvelous tradition of music and dance.
Day 19: Chennai. Today will be spent in visiting two of the finest examples of ancient South Indian architecture - Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.
Day 20: Chennai. The day will be spent in leisure. In the evening you will be hosted a farewell dinner before being escorted to the domestic terminal for flight to Delhi for return home or international airport for your flight overseas.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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