Day 1: Mumbai
On arrival at Mumbai, our representative will receive and transfer to the hotel.The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. For centuries, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century. It became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. When India became independent in 1947, the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as capital. It was renamed Mumbai in 1996.
Day 2: Mumbai - Aurangabad
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Aurangabad. Arrive & transfer to hotel. Afternoon visiting <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A81','IXU','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Ajanta caves</a> 2000 year old 30 rock-hewn caves where paintings recount the life of Lord Buddha and the tales of this prince's earthly experiences.The beautiful murals and the frescoes still retain their colour and charm, which attracts thousands of tourists to this place every day.
Day 3: Aurangabad
Morning after breakfast visit <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A80','IXU','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Ellora Caves</a>. Ellora's shrines are not exclusively Buddhist, but of the Hindu and Jain faiths as well.These monolithic carvings are intricate and are carved from top to bottom. The most famous amongst these is the Kailash cave dedicated to Lord Shiva.Afternoon visit <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A87','IXU','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Daulatabad Fort</a> Just 13 km from Aurangabad,we can see a massive hill fortress,the <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A87','IXU','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Daulatabad Fort</a>.This impressive fortress, once known as 'Devgiri', the hill of the Gods was built in the 12th century by Bhillama, the king of the Yadav dynasty. It was named Daulatabad, the city of fortune, by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq the Sultan of Delhi and visit Bibi–ka–Maqbara, known as Taj Mahal of the south, this replica of the Taj fails to create that magic of the actual Taj. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4: Aurangabad
Morning after breakfast take flight for Mumbai. Upon arrival, take a small city tour visiing the Gate Way of India, <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'AFZ','BOM','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Elephanta caves</a> and the <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'AGE','BOM','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Prince of Wales Museum</a>. Drive pass the Marine drive and the Victoria Terminus.Evening board train for overnight journey to Bhopal. Overnight on board.
Day 5: Aurangabad - Mumbai
Morning arrive & transfer to hotel. Afternoon excursion of Sanchi stupa. Sanchi is located near the ancient city of Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the city of the great Stupa, a dome shaped monument covering relics of Buddha, and the remains of a Buddhist monastery. Sanchi is a place of Buddhist Piligrimage.Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning after breakfast go for local sightseeing. Afternoon departure transfer to railway station to depart for Agra.The city finds mention in the epic Mahabharata where it was called Agreva?a, or 'the border of the forest'. Legend ascribes the founding of the city to Raja Badal Singh (around 1475), whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 11th century Persian poet Mas'ud Sa'd Salman writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by the Shahi King Jayapala, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.Sultan Sikandar Lodi was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in the year 1506; he died in 1517 and his son Ibrahim Lodi remained in power there for nine more years, finally being defeated at the Battle of Panipat in 1526. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A09','AGR','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Taj Mahal</a>, Agra Fort and <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A11','AGR','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Fatehpur Sikri</a>, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day 7: Bhopal
After breakfast visit Fatehpur-Sikri (40 kms. from Agra)-once the capital of Mughal Empire and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Its fortifications and Palaces are in a wonderful state of preservation. Afternoon half day city tour visiting the World famous <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A09','AGR','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Taj Mahal</a> built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the year 1652 as a memorial for his beloved wife MumtazMahal. The grandeur called the Taj is perhaps the most photographed, filmed, described and sketched building of the world. <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'A09','AGR','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Taj Mahal</a> is where fantasy coincides with reality in perfect harmony. An inspiration for innumerous artists over the centuries, the Taj is an ode to love. It took 22 years to create this jewel. Agra Fort built and renovated over the centuries, this massive fort gained recognition only during the Mughal reign. Tomb of Itmad-ud-daullah- built by Empress Noorjehan in the memory of her father.Late evening departure transfer to railway station for overnight train to Varanasi.Board on train.
Day 8: Bhopal
Morning arrive and check in at hotel. After breakfast visit the <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'ATZ','VNS','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Temples of Varanasi</a>.Varanasi is said to be the oldest surviving city of the world. Varanasi is also called as Kashi or Benaras. Being the most venerated pilgrim place in Hindu religion, Varanasi is said to be a museum of temples. Also called the city of temples, Varanasi is home to about 2,000 temples. People from all parts of India as well as the world come to Varanasi to visit these temples, making the holy <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'ATZ','VNS','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Temples of Varanasi</a> amongst the most visited temples in India. Many important and famous temples are located at Ganga Ghats (river front), adding to the religious value of the holy river, Ganges.
Morning Ghat tour of Varanasi.Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'ATY','VNS','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Ghats of Varanasi</a> that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins.
Day 10: Agra
Morning after breakfast full day sightseeing of Bodhgaya.
Morning after breakfast drive to Patna. Enroute lunch in Rajgir via Nalanda unversity ruins.Rajgir is 12 kms south of Nalanda on the road to Bodhgaya and is located in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. It is sacred to the memory of founders of both Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here and used to meditate and preach on the Griddhankuta, the hill of the Vultures. An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hilltop stupa built by the Japanese. One one of the hills is the cave of Saptparni, the first Buddhist Council was held. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir hot water springs that have curative properties and are sacred to Hindus.Nalanda is famous as an ancient seat of learning and has the ruins of one of the world's most ancient university. Founded in the 5th Centuary AD, this great seat of learning flourished until the 12th Century. Both the founders of the two religions Buddhism and Jainism, the Buddha and Parsvanath Mahavir, visited Nalanda. The Chinese chronicler Huien Tsang spent many years here both as a student and as a teacher.Arrive Patna and check-in at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 12: Varanasi
Early Morning after breakfast transfer to airport to take the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to city for sight seeing of the city. Drive past President House, <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'PTH','DEL','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Parliament House</a> (House of Representatives) and India Gate- War Memorial (stop for photography). You may visit the Qutab Minar and the <a class="PIInfosoft-placeName" onclick="openAttractionDescriptionPopup('en', 'LTE','DEL','IND','India');" data-target="#PopUp5" href="javascript:void(0)" data-toggle="modal">Lotus Temple</a>. Later transfer to airport for onward destination.