A blue glittery stream of Ganges gush from the Himalayan glaciers and paves through the plains of India. Babbling and burbling it sprung over varying destinations of India. Journey of the Ganges jaunts through famous cities of Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Agra, Jhansi, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow and Kolkata.
Imbibe in the culture and ethos at Hindu pilgrimage sites of Haridwar and Allahabad where hundreds of devotees take a plunge in Mother Ganga. Witness the evening Aarti at the banks of Ganga River gauging its eminence. Where at one end Ganges flashes its beauty, the visit to ancient cities still reviving its Mughal charm highlights our meticulously designed tour. Finally, adjournment of our tour in the city of Kolkata wraps up the journey all on a high note.
Come, join us on this tour; flow by the Ganges and treat yourself to a sensory organza during the festivity.
| Day 1: | Arrive Delhi | |
| Day 2: | Delhi |
|
| Day 3: | Delhi |
|
| Day 4: | Delhi / Haridwar (By Train 12017 Dehradun Shatabdi/ Dep: 0645 hrs / Arr. 1130 hrs) / Haridwar / Rishikesh (35 km / 01 hr) |
|
| Day 5: | Rishikesh |
|
| Day 6: | Rishikesh / Haridwar (35 Km / 01 Hr)/ Haridwar / Delhi (By Train 12018 Dehradun Shatabdi/ Dep: 1810 hrs / Arr. 2250 hrs) |
|
| Day 7: | Delhi / Mathura (Drive) Mathura / Agra (270 Km / 06 Hrs) |
|
| Day 8: | Agra |
|
| Day 9: | Agra / Jhansi (Train) Jhansi / Orchha (Drive) Orchha / Khajuraho (155 Km / 04 Hrs) |
|
| Day 10: | Khajuraho / Varanasi (Flight) |
|
| Day 11: | Varanasi |
|
| Day 12: | Varanasi / Allahabad (125 Kms / 04 Hrs) |
|
| Day 13: | Allahabad / Lucknow (250 Kms / 05 Hrs) |
|
| Day 14: | Lucknow / Kolkata (Flight) |
|
| Day 15: | Kolkata |
|
| Day 16: | Kolkata/Onward Destination (Flight) |
|
Before you book a trip with “Bestway2india.com”- An online trading entity of Bestway Tours and Safaris Pvt Ltd , please take the time to read and understand the booking terms and conditions & additional special conditions which apply to certain trips ,themes and promotional offers. These booking conditions form the basis of your contract with “Bestway Tours & Safaris Pvt. Ltd, Suite 403, Suncity Trade Tower, Sector 21, Gurgaon (National Capital Region), Haryana – 122016, (India) , A company incorporated under Indian companies ACT 1956 vide registration number 55-51646
By asking us to confirm your booking, you confirm that you have had the opportunity to read and have read these booking conditions, Essential trip information, Inclusions & Exclusions and cancellation & refund policy and agree to be bound by them.
These booking conditions only apply to holiday arrangements which you book with us on https://www.bestway2india.com (An online trading entity of Bestway Tours & Safaris Pvt Ltd) and which we agree to make , provide, or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you. All references in these booking conditions, to “holiday”, “booking”, “contract”, “package”, “tour” or “arrangements” mean such holiday arrangements unless otherwise stated.
We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit Birla House, the Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi before he was assassinated by Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948. Later we visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and Humayun's Tomb*, the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, built in 1570. We continue to Qutub Minar and its Monuments* Built in the early 13th century the red sandstone tower of Qutub Minar is 72.5 m high. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art and two mosques. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Please Note: Birla House is closed on Monday for visitors
Today we concentrate on Old Delhi, starting with the Red Fort Complex*. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement and each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. Next we visit the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque and Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. We end our tour with a bazaar experience at the famous Chandni Chowk.
Please Note: Red Fort Complex is closed on Monday and shops of Chandni Chowk remains closed on Sunday
Toddy we board our express train to Haridwar. Shatabdi Express trains are fully air-conditioned and travellers enjoy complimentary meals and seating comparable to business class on airlines. Upon arrival at Haridwar we are driven to Rishikesh, a very important Hindu pilgrimage site featuring a number of ashrams and temples on the shores of the Ganges River. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the area is filled with thick green forests. Rishikesh is famous for its yoga sessions that are taught here by many yoga experts. We will be visiting Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Geeta Bhawan and other temples & ashrams. In evening we attend Aarti Ceremony at Parmarth Ashram in Rishikesh
Morning Yoga session at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free for independent activities.
Our tour starts with a visit to one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal*. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mogul garden, this funerary monument combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. We then visit of Agra Fort*. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
We then drive to Fatehpur Sikri*. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, the City of Victory was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid and the artistically designed mausoleum of the revered Sufi saint, Salim Chisty.
Please Note: Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. On nights with a Full Moon the Taj Mahal's pure white marble shimmers silver in the moonlight and is open to visitors. We can arrange for an optional tour to enjoy this very special occasion
Today we board our express train to Jhansi. Shatabdi Express trains are fully air-conditioned and travellers enjoy complimentary meals. We then continue by coach to visit Orchha, an amazing medieval fortress- city located on the shores of the Betwa River. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which are the Raja Mahal and the Jahangir Mahal. After our visit we proceed to Khajuraho.
(Between April to September flight operates only on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday)
In the morning we explore the Khajuraho Group of Monuments* The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Today only 20 temples remain and they fall into three distinct groups and belonging to the religions of Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temples are decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. In the afternoon we are transferred to airport for our flight to Varanasi. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel.
In the early morning we take a sunrise cruise on the River Ganges for a most serene experience. One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges. Every morning scores of pilgrims and priests fill the riverbanks bathing in the holy waters and performing various other rituals. This unique experience literally transports you to another world. Later we explore Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath contains Chaukhandi Stupa, a lofty brick structure crowned with an octagonal tower and the remains of several stupas, monasteries and Ashokan column are built from the 3rd century B.C. to 12th century A.D.in brick and stone.
In the afternoon we start our exploration of old Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata Temple, which houses a huge marble relief map of India; the Durga Temple, the Tulsi Manas Mandir beside the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. The city is famous also for its silk sarees and we visit some of the houses where the beautiful silk sarees are woven. In the evening we get to the banks of the Ganges to witness the devotional ceremony of Aarti after sunset performed by devout Hindus.
Please Note: Sarnath Museum remains closed on Friday.
After breakfast we drive to Lucknow. Here we turn back the pages of history and look into the colourful days of Nawabs and Begums. We visit the Bara Imambara, built in 1784 by the Nawab Asaf ud Daula and the beautiful clock tower, built in 1887 and one of the finest examples of British Architecture in India. We then marvel at the Jama Masjid, started in 1840 by Mohammad Ali Shah and completed by his wife Begum Malika Jahan after his death. This splendid mosque built in the typical Mughal style.
* DENOTES UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES INCLUDED
Prices are not available for this Tour, Get your prices from the experts
Customize your with Bestway2india and travel on your preferred dates, add or change the cities you visit, the hotels and add customised experiences to suit your needs. Click on Customise with Bestway2india to get a detailed quote for your custom private tour.
