PRIVATE NORTH-EASTERN INDIA TOUR – 16 Overnights in India!

This is a fascinating tour that combines all the attractions of India’s historical cities: Delhi, Jaipur and Agra with the ancient centers of spiritual India: Orcha, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Sarnath and the wonders of eastern India. Varanasi is one the world’s oldest constantly inhabited cities dating back to pre-Buddhist period when it was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. Siddharth Gautam Sakya had come to this city to study Hindu ancient scriptures and philosophy after his renunciation of princely life. He endured stringent Yogic penances in this city. After achieving the Buddhahood in Bodhgaya in Bihar State he returned to the deer park at Sarnath to preach his first sermon to his initial five disciples at Sarnath. Lucknow was the capital of eastern Mughal province of Awadh until the empire disintegrated after the demise of the Emperor Alamgir Aurangzeb. After that it was a flourishing center of art and culture that surpassed the contemporary Mughal capital of Delhi in stature and culture until the cunning officers of the British East India Company dethroned its last monarch, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, destroyed his palaces and many other monuments before usurping this glorious kingdom. His queen, Begum Hazrat Mahal, fought with the fighters of India’s first war of independence in 1857 and even after defeat never recognized the British rule of Awadh. Today the city is capital of India’s most populous state, Uttar Prades  that has provided the country with the most Prime Ministers. Lucknow is an important center of classical music and Kathak dance. The city is also famous for its Chikan embroidered Indian shirts called Kurtas.

Kolkata was the capital of India under the British East India Company until the new capital of New Delhi was constructed and ready in 1931. The city is also the cultural capital of eastern India that was the birthplace of India’s first Nobel Laureate, Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore and the famous Bengali film director, Satyajit Ray. The city also produced some of India’s greatest spiritual leaders like Shri Ramakrishna Paramhans, Swami Vivekanand and Swami Prabhupad. The downtown Kolkata is littered with historical, British colonial monuments including the most impressive, white marble, Victoria Memorial. Shantiniketan literally means the Abode of Peace. It was a spiritual retreat of the Tagore family until Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore established an open air children’s’ school there. Today it has developed in to a world famous educational institute under the umbrella of Vishwa Bharati University. The retreat home of Tagore family is now a fascinating museum in the university campus.

Bhubaneshwar is the capital of Orissa that was the mighty kingdom of Kalinga already in pre-Buddhist period.. The conquest of the kingdom of Kalinga by the Mauryan Emperor Devanamapiya Piyadasi Ashoka  led to his conversion to Buddhism and the spread of this religion outside India. Bhubaneshwar is also a city of ancient Hindu temples. The Sun Temple of Konark is a world heritage monument. There are some interesting artisan and painters villages like Pipli and Raghurajpur near the ancient Hindu pilgrimage center of Puri on Arabian Sea coast. Apart from the classical Odissi dance, there is a very vigorous form of folk tribal dance that is practiced only in the villages near Raghurajpur. 

Day 1, Departure:

US International Airport

Day 2, New Delhi Arrival:

Reception at Indira Gandhi International Airport and transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 3, New Delhi - Jaipur:

Full day sightseeing of Old and New Delhi including Rikshaw Ride in Old Delhi, 4 PM departure by road to Jaipur, Arrival 8 PM overnight in hotel in Jaipur.

Day 4, Jaipur:

After breakfast sightseeing of Amber Fort with elephant ride. PM: Jaipur City Palace & Astronomical Observatory overnight in hotel in Jaipur.

Day 5, Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra: 

After breakfast drive to Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s deserted capital city. After lunch visit the Red Fort of Agra built by Emperor Akbar and renovated with white marble palaces by Emperor Shahjahan, who spent the last eight years of his life as a prisoner of his own son, Emperor Alamgir Aurangzeb. Overnight in hotel in Agra.

Day 6, Agra:

Visit the world famous Taj Mahal by sunrise, PM: Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb built by Queen Nurjahan for her parents in white marble. Overnight in hotel in Agra.

Day 7, Agra-Jhansi-Orcha-Khajuraho:

After breakfast Shatabdi Express train to Jhansi, drive to Orcha for lunch and visit the two Hindu temples and the Orcha Fort. Drive further to Khajuraho for overnight in hotel in Khajuraho.

Day 8, Khajuraho-Varanasi:

After breakfast visit the three groups of temples. After lunch transfer to airport to board Jet Airways 9W724 departing at 1.25 PM and arriving in Varanasi at 2.10 PM. Transfer to Palace on River Rashmi Guest House . Afternoon visit Manmandir Palace to view the Astronomical Observatory of Sawai Jai Singh and other temples on the Ghats. In the early evening witness the spectacular Ganga Aartee on the Ghats. Overnight in hotel in Varanasi.

Day 9, Varanasi-Lucknow:

Pre-Sunrise Boatride on Ganga River. After breakfast check-out and drive with packed lunch to Sarnath on the way to Lucknow (284 kilometers). Arrive in Lucknow in late afternoon. Overnight in Taj Residency in Lucknow.

Day 10, Lucknow:

After breakfast visit the small and big Imambara, Rumi Darwaza. After lunch visit the Chikan Embroidary Shops in Old  Lucknow City. Overnight in Taj Residency, Lucknow.

Day 11, Lucknow-Kolkata:

Morning free to relax in the luxury of hotel.  After early lunch transfer to airport to board JetLite S26361 departing at 1.10 PM and arriving in Kolkata at 2.30 PM. Afternoon relax in hotel and overnight in hotel in Kolkata.

Day 12, Kolkata:

After breakfast explorations start with trips to sites like Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Park Street, Maidan and Fort William, Rabindra Sadan and Aurbindo Bhavan. The evening is scheduled for more places like St Paul's Cathedral, Mother Teresa's homes.  Overnight in hotel in Kolkata.

Day 13, Kolkata-Shantiniketan: 

After breakfast visit Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, after sightseeing take a boat ride accross Hugli River to Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission.  After lunch drive to Shantiniketan. Overnight in hotel in Shantiniketan.

Day 14, Shantiniketan:

Full day sightseeing of Rabindra Bhawan Museum and Vishwa Bharati University. Overnight  in hotel in Shantiniketan.

Day 15, Shantiniketan-Kolkata-Bhubaneshwar:

Morning is free to relax. After early lunch depart from Shantiniketan at about 1.30 PM to arrive in Kolkata airport at 5.30 PM to board the Kingfisher Flight IT2503 at 6.40 PM and arrive in Bhubaneshwar at 7.55 PM. Transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 16, Bhubaneshwar: 

After breakfast visit the Raja Rani Temple, Parasurameshvara Temple, Svarnajaleshvara Temple, the Satrughnesvara Group consisting of Lakshamanesvara, Bharatesvara and Satrughnesvara temples and Ramesvara Temple. After lunch visit the Vishva Shanti Stupa and the nearby Jain temple at Khandgiri.  Overnight in hotel in Bhubaneshwar.

Day 17, Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri Beach:

After breakfast drive to Konark Sun Temple. After lunch visit the Konark Sun Temple. Afternoon free at the Vijoya International Hotel on the beach. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 18, Puri-Raghurajpur-Pipli-Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi-US Airport:

After breakfast visit the village of Raghurajpur and nearby villages to view the Pattachitra art work on paper and palmleafs as well as witness the local tribal dance and music . After lunch visit the crafts village of Pipli on the way to Bhubaneshwar airport to board the Kingfisher flight no. IT3345 departing at 8.30 PM and arriving in New Delhi at 10.30 PM. Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport to board the flight back to USA.

Price : based on double occupancy room with breakfast:

Price Includes : 

·          Accommodation for 16 nights.

·          Buffet breakfast at all hotels.

·          Air-conditioned Tata Indigo or similar car for transfers, intercity drive and sightseeing.

·          Bottled mineral water in car.

·          Four domestic flights in India.

·          Local English speaking guides up to Varanasi for all sightseeing tours.

·          Entrances at the monuments & tourist sights.

·          Boat ride in Mumbai & Udaipur.

·          Shatabdi express train fare Agra- Jhansi by AC chair car.

·          Elephant ride at Amber.

·          Baot ride at River Ganges at Varanasi.

·          All applicable state, transport & luxury tax.

Tour cost does not include

·          Cost of round trip international airfare between USA airport and New Delhi.

·          Travel Guard Insurance (highly recommended)

·          Cost of lunches and dinners.

·          Cost of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

·          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 by personal check of $ 370. The balance is payable 90 days before departure date. On receipt of the form we will be glad to inform you the travel insurance premium amount. There is an extra charge of 2.75% for payment with Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit and debit cards because credit and debit card commissions and fees are not included in the price. Please call or email us for credit or debit card payments.

Travel Guard Group Insurance: is highly recommended, please inquire for premium amount.