This is by far the most famous circuit on the sub-continent of India and Nepal. It offers a grand panoroma of the fabulous art and sculpture that this ancient civilization has produced. The trip also presents many of the amazing, colorful facets of life on the streets and in the countryside that make up the ever-changing, ever-lasting kaleidoscope of India. The kingdom of Nepal is an exotic country cradled by the magnificent Himalayas. It has more than 100 peaks over 20,000 ft. straddling its border with Tibet, including Mt. Everest. Within a distance of 30 miles as the crow flies, the terrain descends southwards across terraced farmlands to an elevation of apx. 250 ft. at the rim of the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive Delhi (early AM): Early morning arrive Delhi. Clear immigration and customs. A High Points representative will be waiting for you outside the arrival hall, holding a “High Points Of India” placard. Transfer to hotel. At the time when Bombay and Madras were just being established, Delhi had already been the capital of an empire for 500 years past. No fewer than eight cities have been built side by side on this site over the centuries. The city as it stands today has been built by Hindu, Muslim and British builders, and in a few minutes you can be transported from the neo-classical architecture of the elegant garden city of New Delhi to the narrow, twisting lanes that surround Chandni-Chowk in the old city.
PM: Half day guided city tour of New Delhi. The buildings designed by Edward Lutyens, architect of modern Delhi - are truly majestic . The Presidential Palace, Parliament House and India Gate are all reminiscent of the British “Raj”. We drive through Delhi’s beautiful tree-lined avenues and the Diplomatic Enclave enroute to the 12th century, 234 foot high fluted minaret of Qutab Minar. Later, we shall stop at the Hauz Khas, to explore its art galleries, boutiques and exotic restaurants set amidst 1000 year old fortifications and a lively village. A welcome dinner atop the fort, with a live introduction to Indian folk music and dances, shall prepare us for the magic of the days to follow.
(B)
Day 2:
AM: Guided city tour of Old Delhi. Today, we will explore the magnificent Red Fort, built at the zennith of the Mughal empire in India. The centuries-old international market-place that sprawls at its feet is still one of Delhi’s most important commercial hubs: Chandni Chowk, or “Moonlight Square”. We shall ride on cycle-rickshaws through the bustling silver market and the wholesale spice market. The sounds, smells and colors of the bazaar, and the throngs of people who animate it makes this an unforgettable spectacle. Our last stop in Old Delhi shall be the elegant Jumma Masjid, the largest mosque in Asia.
PM: Afternoon free to explore the exotic markets, boutiques and art galeries of Delhi.
(B)
Day 3:
Delhi- Jaipur:
AM: Half-day drive to Jaipur. Approaching Jaipur, we drive past stretches of golden sand and low, rocky hills dotted with tiny fortresses. Occasional camel-drawn carts share the road. Their riders wear the colorful turbans and fierce mustaches of the fabled Rajput clans. About an hour short of Jaipur, we shall take a short diversion to the Samode Castle. This is a perfect jewel hidden away in deep ravines some twenty five miles from Jaipur, one of the few unspoiled preserves of the former maharajahs. The story of the palace dates back more than 400 years to the time of the illustrious Prithivraj Singh of Amber. Stately corridors, frescoed walls, and ethereal audience halls, harmoniously reflect the skill of master craftsmen in a perfect blend of the Rajput and Moghul styles of architecture. Now one of the leading Heritage Hotels of India, the palace moved into the full glare of media attention as the principal setting for the British television production of M.M. Kaye’s “The Far Pavilions”. The hotel has been proud to host world - renowned dignitaries like the late Mrs Jacqeline Kennedy Onassis and Mick Jagger to name a few. Later in the afternoon, we will stop to explore a quiet village in the pretty countryside enroutet o Jaipur. We shall reach our hotel in Jaipur by evening.
(B) (L)
Day 4:
AM: Guided Tour. High above the city, the towers and domes of the Amber Fort are reminiscent of scenes from some fairy tale. We shall ascend to the fort atop gaily decorated elephants, as did the Maharajah’s of yore. Within the fort walls lies an assortment of buildings famous for their intricate mirror inlays - the Hall of Mirrors, Kali’s Temple, palaces with latticed windows and beautifully sculpted arches and pillars.
PM: City Tour: The City Palace is still the residence of the Jaipur family, and its museum displays a fabulous collection of paintings, carpets, jewelry and arms. We will also visit the Jantar Mantar (Royal Observatory), and the Hawa Mahal, or “Palace of the Winds”. This is a multi-storied, intricately latticed facade of pink sandstone, designed for the pleasures of the ladies of the royal court. From here they could look out upon the quaint bazaars that still thrive around the palace, without exposing themselves to the prying stares of the commoners. Later, we shall explore the same colorful bazaars on foot. Here we may have memorable encounters with the descendants of those commoners, many still living in their ancestral “havelis” along the main market street. The sheer variety of the items that are sold off the street is fascinating, ranging from the mundane to the exotic, or even the simply baffling.
(B)
Day 5:
Jaipur-Agra (Drive) :
AM: Half-day drive to Agra, enroute visiting the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri is a perfectly preserved ghost town, built between 1570 and 1585. The original capital of the Mughal empire was situated here, but was later abandoned due to lack of an adequate water supply. The deserted city boasts several elegant palaces and mosques.
PM: We spend the afternoon and early evening at the Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument to an emperor’s love for his queen. At Agra, the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan presented the world it’s most magnificent monument to conjugal Love. A colossal, perfectly proportioned mass of marble, the Taj Mahal is literally a jewel. It was fashioned over 17 years by 20,000 craftsmen & laborers. From a distance, it seems to float, like a fantastic mirage, upon the banks of the River Yamuna.
(B)
Day 6:
Agra:
AM: Tour of the Agra Fort: The Agra Fort was once the flourishing headquarters of the Mughal Empire in India, and four successive emperors helped to create its massive walls, within which Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture blend in a splendid fusion of military might and lavish beauty.
PM: Take the circuitous and crowded road leading to the other side of the Yamuna river. The last mile of this trip has to be done on rickety, old scooter-rickshaws (1 for each pair of us), through narrow village streets. The sunset view of the Taj from across the river presents an unforgettable and seldom seen facet of this glorious monument to Love.
(B)
Day 7:
Agra - Khajuraho (Flight):
AM: Departure transfer to the airport for a short flight to Khajuraho. Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
PM: Guided tour of the Khajuraho Temples. At Khajuraho, the mighty Chandela kings built 85 temples from about 950 AD to 1000 AD. The few that have survived represent an unparalleled fusion of architecture, sculpture, religion, philosophy, and even ribaldry. Both sublime and sensual, the sculpture of Khajuraho venerates the Creator as well as a wonderful life of celebrations, dancing - and Loving. Here, handsome lovers are eternally frozen in stone in the most plastic postures of sensual love.
(B)
Day 8:
Khajuraho - Varanasi:(Flight):
AM: Departure transfer to the airport for the short flight to Varanasi. Met on arrival and transfer to hotel.
PM: Half day guided tour of Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon. Later, a cycle-rickshaw ride through the colorful streets and bazaars of Varanasi, probably the world’s oldest living city, contemporary of Babylon, Nineveh and Thebes.
(B)
Day 9:
Varanasi-Katmandu (Flight): :
AM: Early morning boat ride on the river Ganges. Since time immemorial, millions of pilgrims arrive every year in Benaras, in search of salvation in the waters of the holy river Ganges. At the crack of dawn, they become a thousand spots of colour bathed in the golden waters of the Ganges. The scene on the bathing ghats is quite fascinating to the western eye. Yogis meditate in impossible positions. Brahmins sit under mushroom-like umbrellas, to bless everyone for a fee. Men and women in various stages of wetness reverently launch little oil-lamps on to the water. Bursts of religious song mingle with the tolling of temple bells, and the rhythmic beat of washer-men pounding the city’s laundry.
PM: Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Katmandu. Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Katmandu is an exotic town cradled by the magnificent Himalayas. It has a quaint and easy charm. The temples at Hanuman Dhoka are exotic and impressive, and have erotic carvings on the roof struts. A little girl is selected every few years to be the "Kumari" - a Living Goddess. She is worshipped as one till she attains puberty. Katmandu also has the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world at Budhanath. The Hindu Temple at Pasupatinath has superb golden-roofed shrines and huge doors sheathed in heavy - worked silver. Surrounding hills provide close views of Himalayan giants.
(B)
Day 10:
Katmandu:
AM: Half day guided tour of Katmandu including the Durbar Square. The temple or the residence of the Living Goddess, Kumari, is situated in the vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and window screens. The Kumari must be of the Newari Shakya caste, and must be a virgin with no body marks or injuries. When she attains puberty she is replaced by another Kumari. The temple of Sweta Machchhendra Nath is a pagoda of considerable artistic beauty with a two-tiered bronze roof.
PM: Pashupatinath: Situated 2 miles east of Katmandu city, the Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest of Hindu temples. Set amidst lush green forests on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river, the temple is built in the pagoda style, with a gilted roof and richly carved silver doors. Boudhanath, 5 miles east of Katmandu city is one of the largest stupas in the world. It stands with four pairs of eyes scanning the four cardinal directions, keeping watch over human prosperity and righteous behaviour. The stupa is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. The shrine is ringed by the simple homes of Lamas (Buddhist monks).
(B)
Day 11:
Katmandu:
Full day excursion to Dhulikhel for a picnic lunch amidst spectacular mountain scenery. Afternoon return via the charming and spectacular old city of Bhaktapur.
BHAKTAPUR (BHADGAON )
Bhaktapur has long been called the City of Devotees, and has recently emerged as Nepal’s Cultural Capital. Because of the city’s medieval architecture, its rich tradition of ancient music, handicrafts and ritual dance, as well as its present renaissance of vibrant Newar culture, Bhaktapur has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Bhaktapur, situated at an altitude of 1401 meters, is a home of medieval art and architecture. The urban city covers an area of 4 square miles. Shaped like a conch shell, pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The city lies about 9 miles east of Katmandu.
The main square of the city contains innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces like the Lion Gate, a Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, a Picture Gallery, the Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, the Batsala Temple, the Bell of Barking Dogs, and a replica of Pashupatinath Temple.
The Lion Gate which was built during the reign of King Bhupatindra Malla is adorned with stone figures of Hanuman, Bhairav, and Narasingh Narayan. A statue of the Malla King in the act of worship is placed on a column facing the palace. Of the many statues in Nepal, this is considered to be the most magnificent. The Picture Gallery contains ancient paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools of Tantrism of various periods and descriptions. The Golden Gate is the entrance to the main courtyard and the Palace of 55 Windows. It was built by King Ranjit Malla and is one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind showing the Goddess Kali and Garuda, the winged carrier of Lord Vishnu. This gate is embellished with monsters of marvelous intricacy.
The Palace of 55 Windows was built in the seventeenth century by King Bhupatindra Malla. Among the brick walls, with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony of 55 windows. This balcony is a masterpiece of wood carving. The stone temple of Batsala Devi, which is also located in the Durbar Square, is full of intricate carvings. This temple also shows a beautiful example of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. There is a bronze bell on the terrace of the temple which is also known as the "bell of the barking dogs." When it peals, the local dogs start barking. This bell, placed in 1737 AD by King Ranjit Malla, was used to sound curfew during his reign. The bell is rung every morning while worshipping the Goddess Taleju.
Nyatapola Temple: This five storied pagoda was built in 1702 AD and is famous for its massive structure and subtle workmanship. It stands on a five story terraced platform. On each of the terraces squats a pair of figures; two famous wrestlers, two elephants, two lions, two griffins, and Baghini and Singhini, the tiger and the lion goddesses. Each pair of figures is considered ten times stronger than the one immediately below, and the lowest pair, the two strong men, Jaya Malla and Fatteh Malla, were reputedly ten times stronger than any other men. This is one of the tallest pagodas. The temple was built for Goddess Laxmi.
The Bhairavnath Temple is noted for its artistic grandeur. It was first built as a one-story pagoda during the reign of King Jagat Jyoti Malla, and later changed into a three storied temple in 1718 AD It. The Dattatreya Temple is said to have been built from the trunk of a single tree. Near the Dattatreya temple is a monastery with carved peacock windows.
(B) (L)
Day 12:
Katmandu - Delhi: (Flight):
AM: At leisure.
PM: Departure transfer to the airport for flight to New Delhi .
DEP. KATMANDU BY RA 217 AT 1800 ARR. DELHI 1915
Met on arrival and assisted in connecting with your onward flight.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
The above prices are valid till September 30, 2001 and include airport transfers and sightseeings by AC vehicles with English speaking guides, as well as accommoation in First Class hotels. Domestic airfares within India / Nepal are included, international airfares to or from India/Nepal are not included.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Nepal
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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