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GRAND INDIA LUXURY
TOUR – 14 overnights/15 days in India
Validity: up to 15
April 2010
MUMBAI, AURANGABAD,
UDAIPUR, JODHPUR, JAISALMER, KHIMSER, JAIPUR, AGRA & DELHI,
this tour program can also start from Delhi and end in Mumbai if required
Day 1, Mumbai: Arrival at Chatrapati Shivaji
International Airport. Transfer to hotel and overnight.
Day 2, Mumbai/ Aurangabad:
After breakfast private cruise through Mumbai Harbor to the 6th century rock-cut
Elephanta cave temples that are located on an Island about 10 kilometers or 7
miles from Mumbai shore. These historical caves were designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1987. The rock-cut temple complex covers an area of 60,000
square feet consisting of a main chamber, two lateral ones, courtyards and
subsidiary shrines. These magnificent caves are hewn from solid granite rock and
contain beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Siva. In
the afternoon private guided tour of Bollywood, the center of the second largest
movie industry in the world (the largest by volume of released films). Bollywood,
the film industry in Mumbai produces over 400 films a year and is therefore, the
largest movie industry in the world. The actors enjoy their god-like statuses
and dwell in exclusive mansions on Malabar Hill. Mumbai (Bombay), the
cosmopolitan capital of the country is located in the west of India. Its most
recognizable monument is the Gateway to India, built to commemorate the visit of
King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Transfer to airport to board the flight to
Aurangabad. Transfer to hotel for overnight.
Day 3, Aurangabad:
After
breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora
Caves, 29 kilometers or 18 miles northwest of Aurangabad. These caves are
located in the west-facing rocks that relate the story of the evolution of
Buddhism from its Hinayana phase with no statues to Lord Buddha to its Mahayana
phase when a whole mythology was developed. The caves number 1 to 12 are all
Buddhist. The cave number 13 to 29 are Hindu including the cave number 16 that
is the Kailash Temple. It is the largest monolith rock-cut cave in the world.
The caves number 30 to 34 are the Jain religion cave temples. The caves in
Ellora were also originally painted but almost all paint in these caves has
eroded. In the afternoon visit Khuldabad to view the historic water-wheel called
Panchakki and the very simple mausoleum of Emperor Aurangzeb. The tomb of his
queen called Bibi ka Rauza is a poor copy of the world famous Taj Mahal and was
built under the patronage of his son. Later visit the Aurangabad caves.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 4, Aurangabad/Ajanta Caves:
After breakfast full day excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ajanta Caves
located 109 kilometers or 68 miles northwest of Aurangabad. . They were carved
out of a steep rock side in a horseshoe shaped gorge below which the Waghora
River flows. Its source is just near the caves. Of the 29 caves here 8 were
never completed. The are all Buddhist chaityas, the prayer halls or viharas, the
residential monasteries. These caves were carved out of the rock side, sculpted
with intricate statues etc. and some were also painted by Buddhist monks who
lived and prayed here from 1st century BCE to the 9th
century CE. They were covered in foliage and were rediscovered by a group of
British soldiers who were hunting in this region. They were originally restored
by the archaeological department of the Nizam of Hyderabad and are now
maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5, Aurangabad/Udaipur:
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to n Udaipur. On arrival
transfer to hotel and later boat ride on Lake Pichola to view the two white
marble island palaces, Jagniwas Lake Palace and the Jag Mandir Palace. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 6, Udaipur/Jodhpur:
After breakfast sightseeing of the City Palace of Maharanas of Udaipur and
Jagdish Temple that is just outside the palace gates. Around noon time transfer
to airport to board the flight to Jodhpur. Transfer to hotel for overnight.
Day 7, Jodhpur:
After breakfast sightseeing of the hilltop Mehrengarh Fort and the Jaswant Thada
memorial of a remarkable former Maharaja of Jodhpur (Marwar).
Day 8, Jodhpur/Jaisalmer:
After breakfast drive about 290 kilometers or 180 miles in about 6 hours to the
Jaisalmer, the city of golden fort and intricately carved Havelis, the
aristocratic residences. In the afternoon a short drive to the village of Sam
for a camel ride and dinner on the sand dunes at Sunset. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9, Jaisalmer:
After breakfast full day to explore the Jaisalmer Fort, the aristocratic Havelis
and the Chattriyans memorials of former rulers of Jaisalmer in a guided tour.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 10, Jaisalmer/Khimser:
After
breakfast a drive 302 kilometers or 188 miles to Khimser Fort in about 6 hours.
In the late afternoon visit the Fort and its surrounding villages. Overnight in
Fort.
Day 11, Khimser Fort/Jaipur:
After breakfast drive 330 kilometers or 205 miles to Jaipur, the pink city in
about 8 hours. Overnight in hotel.
Day 12, Jaipur/Amber:
After breakfast drive to Amber Fort where you will be riding about 20 minutes on
decorated elephants up to the hilltop palaces of Mirza Raja Jai Singh and
Maharaja Man Singh. In the afternoon sightseeing of the City Palace of Maharajas
of Jaipur and the Yantra Shala Astronomical Observatory of Maharaja Sawai Jai
Singh. Overnight in hotel.
Day 13, Jaipur/Fatehpur Sikri/Agra:
After breakfast drive about 4 hours to the UNESCO World Heritage site of
Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted capital city of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Visit the red
sandstone palaces that were designed to reflect the religious tolerance of
Emperor Akbar. The architecture of these palaces is predominantly Buddhist, Jain
and Hindu although Emperor Akbar was a liberal Muslim who later converted to
Din-i-Ilahi religion that he himself started. In the courtyard of the Jami
Masjid is the white marble mausoleum of Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chistie who had
prophesied that Emperor Akbar would have three sons including the Prince Salim,
the heir to the Mughal throne, who was named after the saint. He later became
fourth Mughal Emperor with the title of Jahangir. Drive about one hour further
to Agra. On arrival transfer and check-in hotel. Overnight in hotel
Day 14, Agra:
Visit
one of seven wonders of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Taj Mahal
at sunrise. There will be ample time to visit the beautiful mausoleum, the vast
gardens and the buildings in the complex. After breakfast sightseeing of Agra
Fort. In the afternoon drive to the capital of India, New Delhi in about 4
hours. Overnight in hotel.
Day 15, Delhi/USA:
After breakfast sightseeing of Old Delhi including Raj Ghat, memorial of Mahatma
Gandhi, drive past Red Fort of Delhi, visit the Jama Masjid built by Emperor
Shahjahan. After lunch sightseeing of New Delhi including Qutub Minar, Bahai
Lotus Temple, drive by India Gate, Parliament House and Government ministries.
Farewell dinner in your hotel and transfer to the Indira Gandhi International
Airport to board your flight back to USA.
Prices as per following luxury class hotels with
breakfast using air-conditioned Toyota Innova Van:
Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, Mumbai; Taj
Residency Hotel, Aurangabad; Taj Lake Palace Hotel, Udaipur; Taj Umaid Bhawan
Palace Hotel, Jodhpur; Taj Rawalkot Palace Hotel, Jaisalmer; Khimser Fort; Taj
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur; Taj Gateway Hotel, Agra and Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi.
Price: $ 2350 per person on double occupancy basis with
breakfast
Price: $ 4250 for one person traveling alone with
breakfast
Supplements between Christmas and New Year (22
Dec – 03 Jan) Per Room per night.
Hotel Lake palace
– USD 100
Hotel Umaid Bhawan – USD 100
Hotel Rambagh – USD 100
Hotel Taj Rawalkot – USD 50
Hotel Khimsar – USD 20
Hotel Taj Res Aurangabad – USD 20
Hotel Taj Gateway Agra- USD 50
Hotel Taj Palace /
Taj Mahal Mumbai does not charge any suplelement
Oberoi Tower Hotel, Mumbai; Taj Residency Hotel,
Aurangabad; Oberoi Udai Vilas Hotel, Udaipur; Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel,
Jodhpur; Taj Rawalkot Palace Hotel, Jaisalmer; Khimser Fort; Oberoi Raj Vilas
Palace Hotel, Jaipur; Oberoi Amar Vilas Hotel, Agra; Oberoi Intercontinental
Hotel, New Delhi.
Price: $ 2850 per person on double occupancy basis with
breakfast
Price: $ 5190 for one person traveling alone with
breakfast
Supplements between Christmas and New Year (15
Dec – 10 Jan) Per Room per night.
Hotel Udai Vilas – USD 100
Hotel Raj Vilas – USD 100
Hotel Amar Vilas – USD 100
Price Includes :
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Accommodation for 14 nights.
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Two domestic flights in India
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Buffet breakfast at all hotels.
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Air-conditioned Toyota Innova Van for transfers, intercity
drive and sightseeing.
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Local English speaking guides in each city for all sightseeing
tours.
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Entrances at the monuments & tourist sights.
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Boat ride in Mumbai & Udaipur.
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Elephant ride at Amber.
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Camel ride on sand dunes at Jaisalmer
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All applicable state, transport & luxury tax.
Tour cost does not include:
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Cost of lunches and dinners except farewell dinner at The Muse
Hotel in New Delhi.
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Cost of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
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Expenses of personal nature like tips to hotel baggage
handlers, guides and drivers; telephone calls, laundry, and room service in
hotels.
PAYMENTS:
Please fill out the
registration form, sign it and mail it with an advance payment of $ 570 for
luxury class hotel accommodations. The balance is payable 60 days before
departure date. We will inform you the premium for travel insurance on receipt
of your registration form.
We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit and debit card
payments. There is an extra charge of 2.75% for payment with Visa, MasterCard or
Discover cards because credit and debit card commissions are not included in the
price.
Travel Guard Group
Insurance: is highly recommended, please inquire for premium amount.
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