Central India Classic Tour
Central India – Classical Tour
(12 Nights / 13 Days)
Day 01: – Arrival Delhi 
Welcome upon arrival at Delhi International airport. You will be assisted upon arrival and transfer to Hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 02: – Delhi
Delhi is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. Delhi has been the seat of power for several rulers and many empires for about a millennium. Many a times the city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here. Interestingly, a number of Delhi’s rulers played a dual role, first as destroyers and then as creators.
Today you will enjoy full day city tour of Old and New Delhi.
Humayun’s Tomb was the first Persian architecture building with surrounding gardens to come up during the Mughal era and marked the beginning of building large exquisite tombs for the erstwhile emperors. This gave birth to Indo-Islamic architecture which is dominant in the architecture of the Mughal era. Humayun’s tomb was build in the center of fours parts of a quadrilateral garden known as the Char Bagh Garden – it was the largest garden in Asia at the time covering an area of 30 acres. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993
Qutub Minar a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the tallest minaret in India. Construction of Qutub Minar was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, his successor Iltutmush added 3 more sections and Firoz Shah Tughlak added two more sections in 1368. The 72.5 meter tall minaret is built of red sandstone and marble, this victory tower was used as a watch tower. Qutub Minar was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughluq (Late 1300s) and Sikandar Lodi ( early 1500s). Qutub Minar was built on the ruins of Lal Kot or the Red Fortress, in the then city of Dillika – the capital of the last Hindu Rulers
Tomars and Chauhans of Delhi. The 7 meter tall Iron Pillar in the Qutub Complex is an alloy made of many metals and has Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script dating back to the 4th Century.
Visit the Lotus Temple, also called Bahai Temple (closed on all Monday). This distinctive lotus shaped marvel in marble is surrounded by a landscaped garden and is a symbol of peace. Similar in style to the Sydney opera house is this white marble and concrete structure in the shape of a lotus flower. This is the Asian headquarters of the Bahai faith.
India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian soldiers), pas thru the president’s residence – Formerly the Viceroy’s Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, – an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture. Then visit Raj Ghat, Set in the midst of deep green lawns, Rajghat is the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. A memorial to the father of the nation, Rajghat is a simple square platform with a black memorial stone with “Hey Ram” inscribed on it. Also visit Jama Masjid (Mosque) – which is the largest mosque in India.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 03: – Delhi – Varanasi
Morning you will be transferred to airport to connect your flight for Varanasi. Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Many names have been given to Varanasi, though its recently revived official appellation is mentioned in the Mahabharata and in the Jaaka tales of Buddhism. It probably derives from the two rivers that flank the city, the Varuna to the north and the Asi to the south. Many still use the anglicized forms of Banaras or Benares, while pilgrims refer to Kashi.
Upon arrival at Varanasi airport you will be assisted and transferred to hotel.
Afternoon visit Sarnath – Sarnath is located 13 Kms north-east of Varanasi. Sarnath is the place where the Buddha preached his first sermon is home to perhaps the most interesting landmark on India’s religious and historical landscape. This remarkable structure honoring the Buddha was built by Ashoka There’s the Deer Park, where the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Towards the southern fringes of the Deer Park are the Mulgandha Vihar, the Dhamek Stupa and the Ashoka Pillar. The 34-metre-high Dhamek Stupa towers over the gardened heart of Sarnath and marks the spot where the Buddha is said to have preached the famous first sermon. The majestic Ashoka Pillar to its east records the visit of Emperor Ashoka to Sarnath and was originally adorned by a capitol of four lions. Now, the four lions, adopted as the National Emblem of India.
Evening witness the Aarti ceremony (ritual of prayer) at river ganges. Ganga aarti is the magnificent event during evening in the Varanasi that one must not miss to see it. It makes us to experience the great feelings while Ganga aarti become in process. This beautiful ritual makes every moment of the evening period special and fills with the spiritual thoughts. It is performed by the brass lamps which accompanied with the mantra chant in the presence of the huge crowd.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 04: – Varanasi
Early morning sunrise boat ride is a must do activity at Varanasi.This enables you to witness the life of people that has been carried on for thousands of years. Watch the Hindus from all over India come and take this holy dip in the Ganges, offer prayers to the Gods. All this is from the boat that moves slowly from one Ghat to the other. Later you will visit some temples of Varanasi.
Vishwanath temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first ‘Jyotir lingam’, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth’s crust and feared the heavens. And even the gaga, the Shilling installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Close by is also the Alamgir Mosque which is blend of Hindu and Muslim type of Architecture. Some say that the mosque was constructed by destroying the original Vishwanath temple and the present temple was constructed by Queen Ahilya Bai.
Sankat Mochan Temple dedicated to hanuman is in the southern part of the city. Sankat Mochan means the one who removes the suffering, The temple was founded by Goswami Tulsi Das the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Tulsi manas temple constructed of white marble is another famous temple of Varanasi it is dedicated to Lord Rama .It was constructed in the year 1964 at the same spot where goswami Tulsidas wrote the famous Ramacharitmanas.
Bharat Mata Temple or the mother India Temple is dedicated to mother India and is situated in the university Campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth. There is no statue inside the temple but a relief map of Undivided India carved from a single piece of marble. Temple represents unity in diversity.
Afternoon free for shopping or own activities.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 05: – Varanasi – Khajuraho
Morning you will be transferred to airport to connect flight for Khajuraho.he name Khajuraho, or Kharjuravāhaka, is derived from ancient Sanskrit (kharjura, means date palm, and vāhaka, means “one who carries” or bearer). Local legends state that the temples had two golden date-palm trees as their gate (missing when they were rediscovered). Khajuraho is one of the four holy sites linked to deity Shiva (the other three are Kedarnath, Kashi and Gaya). Its origin and design is a subject of scholarly studies. Shobita Punja has proposed that the temple’s origin reflect the Hindu mythology in which Khajuraho is the place where Shiva got married; with Raghuvamsha, Matangeshvara honoring ‘’Matanga’’, or god of love.Upon arrival at Khajuraho airport you will be assisted and transferred to hotel. Later visit Khajuraho group of monuments which is a group of Hindu and Jain temples. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures and they are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 06: – Khajuraho – Orchha
Morning you will be transferred to Orchha (172 Kms. Approx 3.30hours)
A historic town on the Betwa River in central India. It was founded in 1531 and served until 1783 as the capital of the former Orchha princely state. In the early 17th century it was systematically devastated by the forces of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan following the rebellion of the Bundela chief Jujhar Singh. An island in the Betwa, approached by a causeway, contains a large 17th-century fort and palace. Other buildings of historic interest are several temples and a palace of Jahangir, an excellent example of Muslim domestic architecture. There are also several cenotaphs of the Orchha rulers. Upon arrival at Orccha check in at hotel. Later you enjoy city tour of Orchha.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 07: – Orchha – Jhansi – Bhopal
Morning you will be transferred to Jhansi railway station to board train to Bhopal.
Bhopal the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, old historic city and modern urban planning. It is the 11th century city Bhojpal, founded by Raja Bhoj, but the present city was established by an Afghan soldier, Dost Mohammed (1707-1740). His descendants build Bhopal into a beautiful city. Bhopal is known as the City of Lakes for its various natural as well as artificial lakes and is also one of the greenest cities in India.
Upon arrival at Bhopal railway station you will be assisted and transferred to Hotel. Later you will enjoy sightseeing of Bhopal which includes Bharat Bhawan, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalya, Birla Temple and Taj-ul-Masjid.
Bharat Bhawan is multi art centre set up to create an interactive proximity between the verbal, visual and performing arts. It provides space for contemporary expression, thought, quest and innovation. Bharat Bhavan seek to provide a creative and thought provoking milieu to those who wish to contribute something new and meaningful, in contemporary scene in the fine arts, literature, theatre, cinema, dance and music. It houses some of the best and most lasting that is being created in our towns, villages and forests.
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalya is an anthropology museum to present an integrated story of the evolution of man and culture with special reference to India.
Birla Temple refers to different Hindu temples or Mandirs built by the Birla family, in different cities. All these temples are magnificently built, some of them in white marble or in sandstone. The temples are generally located in a prominent location, carefully designed to accommodate a large number of visitors. The worship and discourses are well organized.
Taj-ul-Masjid “Taj-ul-Masajid” literally means “Crown among Mosques”. The construction of the Mosque was initiated during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar by Nawab Shah Jahan Begum (1844–1860 and 1868–1901) of Bhopal (Wife of Baqi Mohammad Khan) and continued to be built by her daughter Sultan Jahan Begum, till her lifetime. The mosque was not completed due to lack of funds, and after a long lay-off after the War of 1857, construction was resumed in 1971 by great efforts of Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari and Maulana Sayed Hashmat Ali Sahab of Bhopal. The construction was completed by 1985 and the entrance (eastern) gate was renovated grandly using ancient motifs from circa 1250 Syrian mosques by the contribution of the Emir of Kuwait to commemorate the memory of his departed wife.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 08: – Excursion to Sanchi
Today you will be given excursion to Sanchi. (48 Kms – Approx 1.30 hours)
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. It was crowned by the chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and shelter the relics. The construction work of this stupa was overseen by Ashoka’s wife.
Return back to hotel in Bhopal.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 09: – Excursion to Bhimbetka and Bhojpur
Today you will be given excursion to Bhimbetka (44 Kms – Approx 1.30 hours)
Bhimbetka The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site of the Paleolithic, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent, and thus the beginning of the South Asian Stone Age. At least some of the shelters were inhabited by Homo erectus more than 100,000 years ago. Some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are approximately 30,000 years old. The caves also deliver early evidence of dance. They were declared a World Heritage Site in 2003.The name Bhimbetka is associated with Bhima, a hero-deity of the epic Mahabharata. The word Bhimbetka is said to derive from Bhimbaithka, meaning “sitting place of Bhima”.
After your visit to Bhimbetka proceed to Bhojpur (25 Kms – Approx 40 mins)
Bhojpur takes its name from king Bhoja (reg. c. 1000–1055 CE), the most celebrated ruler of the Paramāra dynasty. There is no archaeological evidence from Bhojpur before the eleventh century, a fact confirmed by local legends which recount how Bhoja made a vow to build a series of dams “to arrest the streams of nine rivers and ninety-nine rivulets”. A location was found in the kingdom that allowed the king to fulfill this vow and the dams were duly built at Bhojpur.
After visiting Bhojpur, return back to hotel in Bhopal.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 10: – Bhopal – Indore
Morning you will be transferred to Indore (196 Kms – Approx 4.30 hrs). En-route visit Ujjain.
Upon arrival at Ujjain visit Bhartrihari Caves, Ved Shala and Kaliadeh Palace.
Bhartrihari Caves stand proudly on the bank of the Shipra River, near the revered Gadkalika Temple of Ujjain. Named after the famous sage ‘Bhatrihari’, the caves stand as testimony to the traditional wealth of India. Today, these caves are popular amongst tourists visiting Madhya Pradesh for their historical charm. The pellucid waters of Shipra cascades near the caves and add to the beauty of the place.
These caves, assigned to 11th century AD, are the exact site where Bhartrihari, stepbrother of King Vikramaditya, resided and meditated. Born a king, Bhartrihari renounced his affluent lifestyle and adopted the garb of an ascetic. The reason behind it was his disturbing relation with his wife, which gave way to many complexities that he could not endure. The heartbreak led him to give up all his palatial dreams and become a spiritualist.
Ved Shala Built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 1700s, the Ved Shala observatory was known to house state-of-the-art instruments to study astronomy. Among the highlights here are the Samrata Yantra (used to calculate time), Nadi Walaya Yantra (used to calculate the position of the sun and equinoctial days), Dignasha Yantra (used to calculate the position of stars and planets) and Bhitti Yantra (for calculating the declination of the sun and distance of the zenith).
Kaliadeh Palace It is situated on the banks of Shipra River and a beautiful ancient site. It is believed that there was once a majestic Sun temple at this site. The Avanti-mahatmya of Skanda Puranahas recorded a description of the Sun temple and two tanks, The Surya Kunda and the Brahma Kunda. Remains of old temple are scattered all around. A fragmented inscription of this place records building of the palace in 1458 AD, in the time of Mahmud Khilji. The central dome of the palace is a beautiful example of Persian architecture. Two Persian inscriptions record the visits of Akbar and Jehangir to this palace. The palace was broken by the Pindaris and was restored by Madhav Rao Scindia in 1920.
After your visit proceed towards Indore.
Upon arrival at Indore, check in at hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 11: – Indore – Mandu
Morning you will be transferred to Mandu (94 kms- Approx 02 hours).
Mandu or Mandavgad is a ruined city in the present-day Mandav area of the Dhar district. It is located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh.
Upon arrival at Mandu, check in at hotel.
Later visit Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Hoshang Shah Tomb and Roopmati’s Pavilion.
Jahaz Mahal is 110 meters in length and 15 meters in width. It is a double-storeyed structure which is situated on a narrow strip of land in between Munj Talao and Kapur Talao. Surrounded by pond water, it given an impression as a floating structure on water due to which it has been named as Jahaz Mahal. Here Jahaz refers to Ship and Mahal refers to Palace. It is built during rule of Mandu Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji. He ruled over Mandu for 31 years and was believed to be the pleasure seeker who gave emphasis to women and songs in his ruling life. He was having a large harem (about 15000 women) for which he needs a proper building to accommodation of women. For this purpose Jahaz Mahal was built in second-half of 15th century.
Hindola Mahal literally means a “Swinging palace” a name given to its peculiarly sloping side walls. Architecturally, it is marked distinctly from other palaces at Mandu by the extreme simplicity of its style of construction although having a definite aesthetic appeal.
The plan of the building is “T” shaped, with a main hall and a transverse projection at the north on both sides of the hall there are six arched openings above which there are windows filled with beautiful tracery work for admitting light and air inside. The massive vaulted roof of the hall has disappeared though the row of lofty arches which once supported the huge ceiling above.
The “T” shaped projection was added later probably to provide a well-guarded approach for the king. Its interior is planed like a coss formed by the main passage leading to the hall and by an arm crossing at right angle. The main one along a flight of sloping stages meant for the royal ladies to go up in a palanquin or on a pony or on an elephant sine it is popularly called as Hathi-chadho. It consists of a big hall, the pillars and ceiling of which are lost.The exterior of the building with neatly chiseled masonry is extremely simple. The coloured tile work, commonly used in the scheme of decoration o the other buildings in Mandu, is found almost discarded. Architecturally, the building has been assigned to the end of Ghiyasu’d-Din’s reign i.e., end of the fifteenth century A.D.
Hoshang Shah Tomb Hoshang Shah was Originally known as Alp Khan, he assumed the name Hoshang Shah i.e. “Ruler of a good choice”upon ascending the throne of Malwa. Hoshang Shah was a dare devil.When the ruler of Orissa refused to give him elephants, he travelled to Orissa disguised as a horse merchant along with a 1000 men. When the ruler of Orissa came to inspect the horses, he was abducted and held hostage. The ransom for releasing the ruler of Orissa was a 100 of the best Oriya elephants. Hoshang Shah came back to Mandu. He ruled Malwa for long 27 years. The tomb of Hoshang Shah was constructed in the 15th century. The Hoshang Shah’s tomb in Mandu has a wonderful Afgan art and architecture. oneness and the creative decoration on the southern doorway has the lotus and the blue enamel stars.
Roopmati’s Pavilion Perched atop a hillock on the southern side of the Baz Bahadur Palace, Rani Roopmati Pavillion is from where the queen would view the palace of her beloved, Baz BahadurOriginally built as an army observation post, the structure later on took the shape of symbol of undying love between Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 12: – Mandu – Maheshwar
Morning you will be transferred to Maheshwar (44 Kms – Approx 1.30 hours). En-route visit Omkareshwar.
Omkareshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. It is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is on an island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the Narmada river.
After your visit proceed to Maheshwar.
Upon arrival at Maheshwar, check in at hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 13: – Maheshwar – Indore – Delhi
Morning you will be transferred to Indore airport (97 Kms- Approx 2.30 hours) to board your flight for Delhi.
Upon arrival at Delhi airport you will be assisted to board your International flight back home.
Visit ends