DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 01: Delhi

You can arrive at any time of your choice. The first day, you start with the stay in the hotel.

Day 02: Delhi

Early morning, you can go for a walk around the city along with a young volunteer of Memorable India, which supports New Delhi Street Kid Project. During the walk you would get a chance to interact with the street kids and they will guide you through the city, a Memorable India supported project. Please keep in mind that your local guide was one such kid, who now gets his college expenses met by local guiding.

Later you visit Old Delhi, where you can see the Jama Masjid, Connaught Place, and experience through the famous spice markets.

Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and was the largest in the world until few years back. It was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1656 with a massive courtyard which can accommodate 25,000 people at a time. The mosque is a fine example of Turkish-Persian architecture. You can climb the one of the four minarets, which are almost 40 meters height, and see the panoramic view of the Old city.

Then you can proceed to Chandhni Chawk, one of the oldest and busiest market in Delhi. You would also visit famous Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib to learn more about Sikhism and its history. The Gurudwara is in the remembrance of Guru Tegh Bahadhur, a famous Sikh saint.Also you would happily take photographs of spice market at Connaught Place, a market thatshows the remnants of Colonial rule but still the popular market of Delhites.

The spice market is the largest one in Asia, which has wide varieties of spices and dried fruits that can be bought for the memoir of the trip. Please keep in mind that spices from different places, different quality spices etc., making it as the best place for spice purchase.In Connaught Place, you can see the buildings with Gregorian architecture which are constructed in the form of a circular market with a central park at the centre of the market. You can buy the textiles and ornaments from Janpath market which has the mix of South East Asian and Central Asian flavours. The tourists who visit Delhi are very enthusiastic to experience the rich colour and mix of cultures of the market and its products.

Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur

Drive down to Jaipur, capital city of Rajasthan, which is also known as city of Palaces and Pink City, located almost 280 KMs from national capital.

The day is quite dedicated for the optional activities. You are advised to visit Jantar Mantar, a monument cum observatory in Jaipur, where you can come to know the various technics and instruments used by ancient people to watch stars and planetary objects. It has a fine structure of stone sun dial which helped people to accurately find the time, perhaps the largest in the world of that kind. It is also one of the UNESCO world heritage site.Please be informed that the entry fee charged at Rs. 200 per person and Rs. 1000 per group.

You can also enjoy a movie from the famous Art Deco Raj Mandir Cinemas, Jaipur, one of the important landmark of Jaipur.

Day 04: Jaipur

You can start the day by visiting Hawa Mahal, which is also known as Palace of Winds by paying a nominal fee of Rs.100. You would be convinced by the name and exclaimed by the architecture that even during hot summer season you can feel cool breeze in the Mahal. Enjoy the beauty and architecture of the pinkish building and take photographs to enrich your album. Then you can visit Amer Fort, which is a mix of Indo-Persian architecture. You would wonder how the city of area 4 square kilometre built during medieval period and served as the capital of Jaipur Kingdom.

In the second half of the day, you can head to City Palace. Actually it is a palace complex with fusion of India, Mughal and European style of architecture. Please be advised that the entry fee is Rs.300 and you can visit the museum of the Palace and come to know about royal cloths, carriages, ancillaries etc.

Day 05: Jaipur - Tordi Sagar

The day is enjoyed in a typical Rajasthan village named Tordi Sagar, which is almost 100 KMs from Jaipur. A road journey to the village passing through the red sand dunes and sparing pastoral lands could be refreshing from the crowd of the city. You can travel in a cart through the local roads in the village to take the soul of it into your heart and understand how the life revolves around in a typical Rajasthan village; especially the pastoral life.

Day 06: Tordi Sagar - Agra

You would resume the travel by road keeping the destination Agra in mind, the city known across the world due to Taj Mahal. The total distance of travel is around 250 KM and you get a chance to visit Abhaneri step wells during the journey.

Abhaneri step wells are specially created step wells by people in medieval period to tap the rain water. The prominent one among them is Chand Baori step well with 3500 steps and almost 30 meters deep from the ground. Also the special architecture of the well keeps the place cool and community meetings during hot summer were conducted around the well. With this you can understand the importance of human-nature interaction during those days and think how we lost it in later generations. Another important attraction is Harsh Mata temple which is dedicated to Harsh Mata shows the ancient architecture and sculptures.

Day 07: Agra

The day is dedicated to visit Taj Mahal, Baby Taj and Agra Fort.

You are going to witness the fascinating beauty of Taj Mahal which is located in the banks of river Yamuna. A mausoleum built with ivory white marble glows on full moon day and shows full beauty as the symbol of architecture perfection. The monument is located in a vast 42 acres land facing Agra Fort is the best example of the Mughal architecture and has many art works including calligraphy of Persian poems, plant motifs etc. Listed as one of the seven wonders in the world, the fine structure has something unique for everyone; for some it could be symbol of love, for some symbol of architecture excellence; for others it is the representation of the prosperous medieval period and much more.

Later you visit Agra Fort, a walled city with almost 94 acre of area and built with red sandstone, was once the capital city during Mughal period. You can see many administrative buildings including Palace of Emperor, public meeting places, different gates and towers etc.

Now you can visit Baby Taj which is also known as Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, another mausoleum with fine architecture. This was actually built by Nur Jahan wife of Jahangir for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian Amir. The monument has many Pietra Dura, a decorative art using fine shaped, highly polished coloured stones to create images.

Day 08: Agra - Alipura

You are heading to a small village named Alipura both by train and private vehicle.

You would travel from Agra to Jhansi by train followed by private vehicle to Alipura.

Alipura was a princely state during colonial period and located in present day Madhya Pradesh. The village has an awesome rural atmosphere with great option to enjoy the local cuisines and taste, and local culture by interacting with people. You would find the day greatly entertaining as you understand their life in a closer point of view.

Day 09: Alipura - Khajuraho

The day you are completely spending in Khajuraho, which is famous for temples and its sculptures.

With a 1.5 -2 hours journey from Alipura, you reach Khajuraho, which is known for the temples of medievial period with numerous sculptures depicting the social life and private life including erotic sculptures with Kama Sutra positions. Actually it is a group of Jain and Hindu temples which is together now known as Khajuraho Group of Monuments and it is selected as a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is built between 950 and 1050 by Chandela dynasty. Originally there were 85 temples per ancient records, but now only 20 of them are there. The temple complex offers light and sound shows on every evening by charging Rs.550 per head.

Day 10: Alipura - Orchha

You visit the local town Orchha which is in the banks of Betwa River so that you can enjoy the Pooja ceremony there. While heading to Orchha, you get a chance to visit a local paper factory which set up to help and employ the rural tribal women.

The paper factory makes paper from locally available recycled materials such as old clothes and wood pulp. An interaction with workers and management of the factory would give you sound knowledge on how the paper industry works and how the tribal women are supported by this plant etc. Later you can roam around the banks of Betwa River, which is also a tributary to Yamuna would erase the tiredness of the day and make you fresh. In the evening you can visit Ram Raja Temple to attend the pooja ceremony.

Day 11: Orchha - Varanasi

The day can be started by visiting Orchha Palace complex, then by learning local cooking class by a family and finally a mid-night train to Varanasi

Orchha Palace is a complex of three palaces namely Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal and Rai Praveen Mahal. You get a chance to explore through another Mughal architecture regime. Being the prominent one Jehangir Mahal is a rectangular shaped palace is particularly the symbol of Mughal Architecture and medieval period

In the afternoon you can roam around the local markets in Orchha and find indigenous products and food. Optionally you can join one of the Indian cooking class by a local family to augment your culinary expertise which is nominally charging Rs.550.

The day would be closing with a dinner and followed by a train journey to Varanasi from Orchha

Day 12: Varanasi

You would have an orientation walk in the morning through the crowded city, which is one of oldest and most-tradition bearing city in the sub-continent. You can see the ghats of River Ganges in Varanasi while travelling in a boat to experience the sunrise and the sunset. The boat journey in the evening would help you to explore River Ganga and can witness the people offering prayers in the shores of river. You can also participate in candle flower ceremony in the river.

The city is the holiest city by Hindu mythology and millions of devotees travel here to worship, mourn and to die; the city was previously known as Kasi.

In the afternoon you can explore the city to understand the nerve of the local culture. Also you can meet people from different walks of the life as the holy pilgrimage spot is highly cosmopolitan in terms of different Indian cultures. You do also have the time to shop from the local shops which are indigenous and known for locally made handicrafts and clothes. You can get something and gift it to your relatives for the remembrance of the holy city.

Day 13: Varanasi

You are going to watch sunrise by travelling through Ganges in a boat. It could be a great sense of eternity as it believed that passing through Ganges especially along the banks in the holy city will purify your mind and soul, per the beliefs. You can also watch how people are performing their daily rituals by waking up in the early morning.

Later you can again immerse into the city to find something like handicrafts, clothes which could be made for you. Since the holy city has something to offer for everyone from different sects of life, you would find your wanders useful.

Day 14: Varanasi - Delhi

You can continue with your sightseeing in the morning and do some last minute shopping

You would be boarded into the flight to Delhi in the afternoon

You would enjoy the flight journey with your team members who were with you for the last 14 days.

Day 15: Delhi

The last day; you can leave at any time according to your convenience.