Nepal and Taj Mahal Tour: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Varanasi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Delhi

Type: Sightseeing
Price from 1463 USD /person
Duration of 12 days
Starts at N/A
Finishes at N/A

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu Arrive in Kathmandu. The cosmopolitan city and the capital Kathmandu is the main gateway for travellers to Nepal. You are met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the Hotel.

Day 2 - Kathmandu In the morning we start our sightseeing by visiting Durbar Square. Durbar Square is the spiritual heart of Kathmandu. Temples and other important buildings surrounded the old royal palace at the center of the city. This is the most important point in Kathmandu to observe the culture and religion of Nepal. After visiting Durbar Square we will visit Swayambhunath. The stupa at Swayambhunath is the most important and oldest site of Buddhist worship in Nepal. Swayambhunath Stupa is famous for the eyes of Buddha that seem to observing the world from all 4 directions. After Swayambhunath proceed to the temple city of Pashupatinath that is Nepal's most important Hindu pilgrim site on the banks of the Bagmati River. The temple of Pashupatinath is dedicated to god Shiva.

Day 3 - Kathmandu Excursion: Bodhnath, Patan and Bhaktapur Today we drive to Bodhnath. Bodhnath is the largest Stupa of Nepal. Around the octagonal base of Stupa there are 108 images of Buddha where prayer ceremonies of Buddhist Lamas are taking place since over 2000 years. Then we drive to Patan. Patan was the second largest town in the valley but it has been absorbed into Kathmandu. Patan was previously known as Lalitpur (the beautiful city). The famous King Ashoka built the Stupas at four corners in the 250 BC. The temple architecture here gave this city fame to be unique and most beautiful. After Patan we proceed to Bhaktapur, the third biggest city of the valley. Bhaktapur has preserved it's medieval character better than Patan. We visit the golden Door, the Palace of 55 windows (15th century) and Pagoda Nyatapola (18th century).

Day 4 - Kathmandu - Pokhara In the morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Pokhara. Pokhara is the gateway to Himalayas. The Pokhara valley is the second biggest valley in the central hilly region of Nepal after Kathmandu. The town of Pokhara itself, at an altitude of just 900 m on the Seti Khola River is overshadowed by the fishtail mountain (6999 m), one of the most beautiful mountains of the world. In the afternoon visit the Pokhara city and lake side.

Day 5 - Pokhara In the early morning we drive to the north of Pokhara to the view point and enjoy the panorama view of the Annapurna and Machapuchare mountains which are only 30 km away from us. In the morning time these mountain appears to be in the golden light. After the breakfast in Pokhara we drive 15 km to Begnas Lake. The Begnas Lake is the biggest lake in the Pokhara valley with beautiful surrounding. We will have boat ride in the lake.

Day 6 - Pokhara - Kathmandu - Varanasi In the morning drive to Kathmandu airport for the flight to Varanasi. Varanasi is without doubt India's most sacred city and thus visited by over one million people. Varanasi is also called the city of light. Buddha visited this city in 500 BC. In the evening a drive can be organised to Sarnath which is only about 10 kms. Sarnath is the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon at deer park.

Day 7 - Varanasi - Agra In the early morning we take a boat ride on the holy river Ganges and enjoy sunrise on the boat. Ghats (flight of steps) and the activities of pilgrims on that are the principal attraction for visitors to Varanasi. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this city to make holy prayers, to meditate and to purify themselves through taking a bath in the holy river Ganges. In the afternoon we have the sightseeing of the city of Varanasi. In the night we will have train to Agra.

Day 8 - Agra In the morning arrive in Agra. Later we start our sightseeing by a visit to the Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in 1565 under Akbar's reign and continued till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan who built the impressive imperial quarters and mosque. After the visit of Agra Fort we proceed to visit the most beautiful monument of India, the Taj Mahal, an enduring monument to love, with a continually fulfilling beauty. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1631-52, as a tomb and memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace), who died at the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child. We spend enough time at Taj Mahal to take this impressive memory home.

Day 9 - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur Today we leave Agra and then we will drive to Pink City Jaipur. Enroute we make a stop and visit Fatehpur Sikri, which was once an imperial capital frozen in time, constructed by Akbar the Great in the 16th century. This wonderful city constructed by red sand stones was abandoned as abruptly as it had been built. It has been generally stated that it was due to failing in the water supply. In the evening we will arrive in Jaipur. This city owes its name, foundations and careful planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and famous for its handicrafts and precious and semiprecious stones.

Day 10 - Jaipur - Delhi After breakfast we drive to the ancient capital of Amber, laying 11 km. away from Jaipur. Amber was the ancient capital of Kachhawaha dynasty for 6 centuries before it was moved to newly created Jaipur. We will ascend to the Palace Fortress on the back of an Elephant. Enroute to Amber we visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), built in 1799 AD, it contains 953 small casements with each having its own balcony. The windows enabled cool air to circulate and the ladies to watch processions below without being seen. In the afternoon we visit the City Palace that is still the formal residence of the royal family, built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the museum of the City Palace we will visit the private collection of the Jaipur Maharajas. We continue to Jantar Mantar, a stone observatory, and the largest of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments reveal us the secrets of medieval Indian astronomy. In the evening we will drive through the new city of Jaipur and visit "Laxmi Narayan Mandir", a Hindu temple made out of white marble. We might have an opportunity here to observe a prayer ceremony. In the night you will have train from Jaipur to Delhi.

Day 11 - Delhi In the morning arrive in New Delhi. In the afternoon we take a Rickshaw ride parallel to the Red Fort through the old city and famous Silk Road and Silver Bazaar. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes "Rajghat" , the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and Jama Masjid, the great mosque of Old Delhi.

Day 12 - Delhi Today we visit the famous "Humayun Tomb" which is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India and "Qutub Minar" which is 71 meter high and was constructed in 1199. Before we proceed to the Hotel we will drive through New Delhi where we will visit the India Gate, Government Buildings and Embassies. In the night transfer to the international airport.


GENERAL INFORMATION
Duration: 12 days - Starts at: N/A - Finishes at: N/A
Starting point: Kathmandu
Finishing point: Delhi
Payment Types: Wire Transfer

We speak: German, English, Hindi

EXTRA INFORMATION

Inclusions: - Accommodation in double room on twin sharing basis with bath and WC in the chosen category.
- Rickshaw Ride in Delhi.
- Elephant ride in Amber (Jaipur).
- Services of qualified local guides (English speaking or languages of your choice) at every place of sightseeing.
- All Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Angel Tours - Vacations representative.
- All Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an air-conditioned Car with driver.

Exclusions: - Any Kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills and Alcoholic beverages.
- Camera Fees (Still or Movie).
- Any Flight Charges.
- Monument Entrances.
- Unspecified Meals etc.
- Insurance Cover


Given cost if on per person basis on minimum two travelers. There is discount available between April and September. Please write us to receive more details !