Day 1: Arriving Delhi, transfer to hotel. O/N Ashok Country Resort.

Delhi is the capital of India. It is one of the oldest cities of India having a very rich past. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. O/N

Day 2: Morning drive to Jaipur [260km, 5hrs].

 

A bustling capital city and a business centre with all the trappings of a modern metropolis, yet flavored strongly with an age-old charm. Stunning backdrop of ancient forts like Amber, and Palaces are dramatic testimonials of the bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance. O/N Alsisar Haveli. (Hacking + sightseeing)

Day 3: Full day in JAIPUR.

 

Visit Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace. O/N Alsisar Haveli.

Amber Fort: Amber (pronounced Amber) is situated about 11 kilometers from Jaipur and was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawaha clan of Amber, before the capital was shifted in the plains to present day Jaipur. . You can enjoy a ride on elephant back climbing up to the Fort. (Look polo game) 

Hawa Mahal:  A palace, which is really a facade. This five-storey building overlooking the busy bazaar street is a stunning example of Rajputs architecture and artistry with its pink delicately honeycombed 953 sandstone windows known as 'Jharokhas', built for the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their veiled comfort.

Day 4: Jaipur – Agra (hacking + sightseeing)

After breakfast drive to AGRA (231kms/05hrs) visiting Ghana (Bharatpur) Bird Sanctuary and Fatehpur Sikri enroute. O/N Taj View.

Bharatpur: The marsh of Keoladeo (Bharatpur) was the private hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Bharatpur. Over the years, the area attracted great numbers of waterfowl and the Maharajas held grand shoots with family, friends and visiting dignitaries. Keoladeo is now famous as one of Asia’s finest birding areas, with over 380 resident and migrant species, including the Common, Demoiselle and the rare Siberian Cranes.

Fatehpur Sikri:

Today, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted, phantom city. But the inner citadel is immaculately preserved. Its walls, palaces, baths, royal mint, courts and gardens still stand in splendid homage to a great visionary and builder. At the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, a white marble canopy set in the great courtyard of the Royal mosque, pilgrims still come in thousands to offer flowers, tie a thread in the latticed screens, and to pray for the gift of a son, as did the great Emperor AKBAR, who then built a city, and made it his Capital for 16 years, before having to abandon it, due to lack of water. O/N Taj View.

Day 5: Morning in AGRA.

 

Visit Taj and other Mughal monuments. Later drive to DELHI. O/N

 

Taj Mahal: A monument dedicated to love it was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz during 1631 AD to 1653 AD. It’s pure white marble shimmers silver in the moonlight, glows softly pink at dawn and at close of day reflects the fiery tints of the setting sun. The Taj, in all its timeless beauty is still the inspiration of poets and painters, writers and photographers and the young lovers.                          

AGRA has long been renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. This has often overshadowed the fact that this royal Mughal city, in addition to the legendary Taj has many magnificent monuments that epitomize the high point of Mughal architectural achievement. Not even Delhi, the seat of Kings and emperors for over a thousand years, can boast such a heritage of architectural and cultural splendour.  You must see-

Agra Fort…where tragically, Shahjahan spent the last years of his life as a prisoner of his own son, gazing across the river as he lay dying at his noblest creation, the Taj Mahal…It has much more to offer than the Red Fort in DELHI; and also The Itmad-ud-Daulah’s -the first Mughal structure totally built from marble and the first to make extensive use of pietra dura, the marble inlay work which is so characteristic of the Taj. Though small and squat compared to its more famous cousin, its human scale is attractive. Extremely fine marble latticework passages admit light to the interior, and the beautifully patterned surface of the tomb is superb.

 

Day 6: Visiting Delhi horseshow (show element, action). O/N

 

Day 7:

Full day in Delhi, board overnight train # 4041, 2200/0535 to Haridwar.

Day 8: Morning 0535 in Haridwar,

 

Later drive to Riverside Camp on the Ganges. Enjoy trekking. O/N SpaAshram.

The SpaAshram Camp is set on the Banks of the Upper Ganga in the Garhwal district of Uttar Pradesh en route to Rudraprayag, famous for Jim Corbett's Maneater of Rudraprayag-link Elephant Safari. It is also contiguous to the famous Jim Corbett National Park. The camp is set in a unique ecosystem abounding in wildlife. Dehra Dun and Mussoorie, famous stations since the days of the English, are in close proximity. It is open from mid-September to the end of March each year.

 

Day 9: Another full day in SpaAshram. O/N

White Water Rafting: The challenge of the turbulent rivers is no less than that of the rugged mountains. The icy heights of the Himalayas are the source of some of India's mighty rivers. Fed by innumerable streams they race along tortuous boulder strewn beds, cutting deep gorges and breaking into silvery white rapids. With the intricate network of Mountain Rivers flowing through a myriad of different colors of rocky gorges, forests, flowers and high mountain villages, the Garhwal and Kumaon hills provide ideal locales for the perfect water adventure. The sport of White Water River rafting calls for a triumph over the swift swirling river as it gushes past spectacular mountains. It is practiced mainly in the upper reaches where the water is wild and white as it froths and foams, crashing against narrow gorges, rocky outcrops and falls at deep gradients.

Day 10:

Morning after breakfast drive to Haridwar, later board overnight train # 4042, 2320/0656.

 

Day 11:

Morning 0656 in Delhi, full day in Delhi later connect International flight…