North Indian Highlights

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North Indian Highlights

The major highlights of northern India

India has hundreds of attractions just waiting to be discovered, from stunning scenery to beautiful architecture, from colourful characters to an incredible array of wildlife. The combination of adventure and culture guarantees a stimulating travel experience for the ultimate holiday! It is a magical trip through one of the most colourful parts of India.



Day 1 - Delhi
Arrive in Delhi where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 - Mandawa
Drive to the Shekhavati area of Rajasthan, renowned for its painted frescoes and ornate havelis (merchants' houses).

Day 3 - Mandawa
You follow a guided morning walk of Mandawa to enjoyed the painted havelis. In the afternoon you take a camel ride to surrounding villages.

Day 4 - Samode
Continue to the small village of Samode which is nestled among rugged hills. Cobbled narrow streets curve up till you reach the fairytale palace. This superbly restored eighteenth-century palace was put on the map by its starring role in the 1984 mini-series `The Far Pavilions'.

Day 5 - Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, popularly known as the `pink city'. Afternoon excursion to the splendid Amber Fort, with magnificent views over the hills around.

Day 6 - Jaipur
Morning Jaipur city tour. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the lively bazaars and haggle for exotic souvenirs.

Day 7 - Sawai Madhopur
Drive to Ranthambore National Park where you stay in a deluxe tented camp. In the afternoon you visit the magnificent old Ranthambore Fort, now populated only by monkeys.

Day 8 - Sawai Madhopur
Today you take a morning and afternoon game drive and try to spot tigers and other wild animals.

Day 9 - Karauli
Drive to Karauli where you stay in a Maharaja's residence. Afternoon walking tour of Karauli market (a very `local' experience!) and the wonderful City Palace, where you won't see another tourist and can get lost for hours in the hidden passages and beautiful rooms.

Day 10 - Agra
This morning you leave to travel to Agra, stopping at Bharatpur, famous for the nearby Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, and the abandoned ancient Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, a complex of forts, palaces and mosques built from sandstone.

Day 11 - Overnight Train
Visit the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world. The pure white marble of the tomb seems to constantly change colour throughout the day and night. In the evening you board the sleeper train to Varanasi.

Day 12 - Varanasi
You arrive at Varanasi railway station where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Varanasi is the most important pilgrimage place for Hindus who should come here at least once in their lifetime. In the evening you witness the evening Aarti ceremony from a boat on the river Ganges.

Day 13 - Varanasi
The principal attraction of Varanasi is the long string of bathing ghats (wide steps), which line the west bank of the Ganges. Hindus believe that anyone cremated on the banks of the river Ganges, especially at Varanasi, is certain to gain entry to heaven. The best way to view the river is on an early morning boat ride. At this time it is possible to see the holy men chanting mantras as they bathe, a profound and unforgettable experience. Varanasi is arguably the most colourful and photogenic location in India and a fitting climax to your trip. You have ample time to explore this holy city.

Day 14 - Delhi
Transfer from your hotel to Varanasi airport to board a flight back to Delhi which connects with your onward travel.

Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

  • Where you would like to stay
  • Dates that best suit you
  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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Price Guide

  • From EUR 1,465 per person based on two people sharing.

Inclusions

    • Accommodation on twin share basis at selected hotels.
    • Stay on bed & breakfast basis.
    • Transport by private chauffeur-driven airconditioned car.
    • Overnight air-conditioned train from Agra to Varanasi.
    • English-speaking local guide for tour of Mandawa, Jaipur & Amber Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Agra & Varanasi.
    • Camel ride at Mandawa.
    • Game rides at Ranthambore.
    • Park entrance fees at Ranthambore National Park.
    • Evening Aarti ceremony at Varanasi.
    • Boat trip on the Ganges.
    • All transfers as per the itinerary.

    Tour price excludes

    • Tips and gratuities.
    • Services, Meals and Drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
    • Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
    • Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned in the inclusions) and extra charges for camera and video.
    • Domestic flight Varanasi-Delhi. Domestic airlines maintain a flexible pricing based on changing supply and demand conditions.
Make an enquiry

Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

  • Where you would like to stay
  • Dates that best suit you
  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

Get in Touch

Delhi The capital of India is full of historical landmarks

The chief attraction of Old Delhi is the Red Fort that contains within it opulent palaces and impressive public buildings. Nearby is the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. In New Delhi you can also find the India Gate -- a war memorial arch, the impressive Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. Towards the South can be found the Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb, both World Heritage Sites.

Mandawa An amazing `open-air art gallery' of paintings

Mandawa is a small town situated in the heart of Rajasthan's Shekhavati area, famous for its painted havelis (mansions). They were built in the 19th century by Marwari merchants who took over as patrons of the arts. They built havelis lavishly decorated with frescoes which became the symbol of the status of the Marwaris and a home for their extended family, providing security and comfort in style.

Samode A fairy-tale palace

Samode is a small village nestled among rugged hills where cobbled narrow streets curve up till you reach the fairytale palace. This superbly restored eighteenth-century palace was put on the map by its starring role in the 1984 mini-series `The Far Pavilions'. Coming from Jaipur, Samode is the gateway to the famous Shekhawati area of Rajasthan. The Samode palace itself has several frescoes - original and also newly redone, in many of its public areas.

Jaipur The Pink City

Jaipur is one of the most interesting cities in India with exuberant 18th and 19th century palaces and an exotic street life. Just outside town is the impressive Amber Fort. It is worthwhile spending any leisure time wandering through the bazaars. Jaipur is well known for its beautiful carpets, enameled ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, brass ornaments and many other arts and crafts.

Sawai Madhopur A great chance to spot a tiger

The busy dusty town of Sawai Madhopur is the base for visiting the beautiful Ranthambore National Park, with the various accommodation options all found along the 10km road between the town and the park entrance. The landscape is much more open that in many other parks, making tiger sightings more frequent, though still a matter of chance. Other wildlife includes sambhar, nilgai, sloth bear, jackal, crocodile, much bird life, and even some rarely seen leopard. The park can be explored by jeep or open van. The park is closed during the monsoon months of July, August & September.

Karauli Be the guest of a Maharaja

Karauli, midway between Bharatpur and Ranthambore, has a magnificent palace. Built in 1635, the old City Palace is a treasure trove of architecture, stone carvings, gorgeous jali work and classic paintings. Karauli has an interesting bazaar full of exclusive items of handicraft, stone carvings and colourful bangles. Just outside Karauli is the Bhanwar Vilas Palace, the residence of the Maharaja, and a now a beautiful heritage hotel.

Agra City of the Taj Mahal

Agra is home to possibly the most famous and beautiful building in the world: the Taj Mahal, built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb and memorial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Along the river Yamuna is the impressive Red Fort from where there are fantastic views of the Taj. The Red Fort was the capital of the Moghul Empire and thus of India during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Varanasi One of the most important pilgrimage places in India

Varanasi is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for Hindus. It's believed that anyone who dies here will be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation, and bathing in the Ganges River is said to cleanse away all sins. The fascinating thing about this mystical city is that its rituals are revealed openly along the many riverside ghats, which are used for everything from bathing to burning the bodies of the dead. It is not the easiest city to appreciate as it is noisy, crowded and polluted, but it is certainly one of the most memorable places you will ever visit.

Delhi The capital of India is full of historical landmarks

The chief attraction of Old Delhi is the Red Fort that contains within it opulent palaces and impressive public buildings. Nearby is the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. In New Delhi you can also find the India Gate -- a war memorial arch, the impressive Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. Towards the South can be found the Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb, both World Heritage Sites.

1

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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

  • Where you would like to stay
  • Dates that best suit you
  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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