Festive Shades Of India Tour

Durations: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Destination Covered: Kolkata – Varanasi – Lucknow – Agra – Jaipur - Delhi

12 OCT 2018: ARRIVE KOLKATA
Arrive Kolkata International Airport, you will be greeted by eland holidays and transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.

13 OCT 2018: KOLKATA
After breakfast at hotel proceed for sightseeing visiting Birla Mandir: Built over twenty- two years of painstaking labour, it is an all-marble structure with very high quality Rajasthani engravings. Jain Temple: Calcutta Jain Temple (also called Parasnath Temple) a Jain temple at Badridas Temple Street is a major tourist attraction in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. The temple was built by a Marwari Shrimal Jain named Seth Badridas in 1867. Pratishtha was done by Sri Kalyansurishwarji Maharaj & Botanical Garden: The Botanical Gardens at Shibpur, on the bank of the River Hooghly, are famous for a 250-year-old banyan tree, nearly the largest of its kind in the world.

Evening visit Durga Puja Pandals, Durga Puja in Kolkata is not merely a religious festival. It is a grand celebration, an exultation of spirit. From households to residential complexes to the neighbourhoods, everyone gets ready to welcome Maa Durga in their own way. It has always been amazing to see how craftsmen shape the fantastic pandals (temporary marquees housing Maa Durga and her family) with bamboo, canvas and coloured cloth; there is no construction, imaginary or real, that they cannot give shape to.
Overnight stay at hotel.

14 OCT 2018: KOLKATA – VARANASI (BY FLIGHT)
After breakfast in time transfer to airport to connect flight to Varanasi, upon arrival check in to your hotel. Evening proceed for Gange Aarti is the magnificent event during evening in the Varanasi that one must not miss to see it. It makes us to experience the great feelings while Gange aarti become in process. This beautiful ritual makes every moment of the evening period special and fills with the spiritual thoughts. It is performed by the brass lamps which accompanied with the mantra chant in the presence of the huge crowd.
Overnight stay at hotel.

15 OCT 2018: VARANASI
Today wake up early and proceed to the ghats of Varanasi to have boat ride on the river Ganges at the sunrise. Later walk through the ghats and see the local life of the pilgrims. Return to the hotel to have your breakfast, later visit to "Bharat Kala Bhavan". Housed by the world famous Banaras Hindu University, it exhibits outstanding collection of paintings, sculptures and textiles commenced with the personal collection of the enlightened Rai Krishnadasa. Also visit Monkey Temple.

Afternoon drive for an excursion to Sarnath - the prime Buddhist center all across the world. Located 13 km north east of Varanasi, Sarnath is a deer park where Gautama Buddha after achieving enlightenment in Bodhgaya, imparted first teachings of dharma. later drive back to hotel. Evening visit Ramlila, literally “Rama’s play”, is a performance of then Ramayana epic in a series of scenes that include song, narration, recital and dialogue. It is performed across northern India during the festival of Dussehra, held each year according to the ritual calendar in autumn.
Overnight at hotel.

16 OCT 2018: VARANASI – LUCKNOW (BY TRAIN)
After breakfast in time transfer to Varanasi railway station to connect train to Lucknow, upon arrival transfer to hotel. Evening proceed to explore some of the world famous food delicacies of Lucknow, unravel the mysteries of Awadhi cuisine through the culinary tour. Lucknow Residents are known for their love towards food, and the time they spend in their kitchen. Join one of the local to take a walk alongside the famous food street of Lucknow, hop in and hop out of the famous traditional roadside eateries to enjoy some of the best mouth-watering delicacies very produced. You get to experience the taste of world’s best Kababs including the famous Tunde Kabab, the biryanis and mount watering sweet dishes.
Overnight stay at hotel.

17 OCT 2018: Lucknow
After a leisurely breakfast, proceed to explore the Historical charm of Lucknow through half day city tour. Start your day with the visit to Bara Imambara, built in 1784, it is said to have the largest arched wall in the world. What makes the architecture interesting is the fact that the entire roof is built by interlocking of bricks, without the use of girders and beam. It also has an incredible maze of streets called Bhul Bhulaiya. Visit the Rumi Darwaza, the gateway is one of the finest example of Awadhi architecture, The Hussainabad Imambara also known as Chota Imambara, built in 1837 is known for its beautiful architecture, especially the decoration of the interiors which have been decorated beautifully with elaborate chandeliers, mirrors with gold frames. The entrance has two miniature replicas of Taj Mahal. Other important things to visit is the British Residency, Chattar Manzil and Jama Masjid.
Overnight stay at hotel.

18 OCT 2018: LUCKNOW – AGRA (BY TRAIN)
After a breakfast in time transfer to Lucknow railway station to connect your train to Agra. Upon arrival check in to your hotel. Later proceed to visit Taj Mahal during sunset- one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife.
Overnight stay at hotel.

19 OCT 2018: AGRA
Early morning visit Taj Mahal during sunrise- one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. After breakfast at hotel visit Agra Fort the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. Also visit Imtad ud daula Tomb also known as “the Jewel box”, was the first monument built by Mughals in white marble. It has some of the most exquisite carvings, the pietra dura work, which decorates the wall of Taj Mahal, was refined here

Evening visit Mohabbat e Taj Show: The cultural extravaganza of Mohabbat e Taj Show in Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Center - Mohabbat The Taj show that depicts the romantic love story of Emperor Shajahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in the famous theater Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Center. You will be blown away by the creative dance and dramatic lighting with the 12’ x 12’ Taj Mahal replica as well as the lavish lifestyle of the Mughal Empire. During the one and half hours you will not only be touched by the beautiful story but also to experience the lavish lifestyle of the Mughal Empire
Overnight stay at hotel.

20 OCT 2018: AGRA – JAIPUR (APPROX 265 KMS/ 06 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast drive to Jaipur enroute visiting the UNESCO world heritage site – Fatehpur Sikri. This deserted red sandstone city was built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. Popular highlights of this region are Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Diwan-i-Am, Panch Mahal etc. Evening arrive Jaipur – the Pink city, was the first planned city of India to be completely laid down on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra. The gateway to the land of valour, it is a heady concoction of tradition with modernity.
Arrive and check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.

21 OCT 2018: JAIPUR
After breakfast at the hotel we will take you for excursion of Amber fort to see the fabulous Amber Fort. En-route to Amber you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. Later visit City Palace, a famous landmark that is expanded over a large area as it occupies one seventh of the city. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.

22 OCT 2019: JAIPUR – DELHI (APPROX 260 KMS/ 6HRS)
After breakfast at hotel, drive back to Delhi, upon arrival Check into t0 your hotel. Rest of day free at leisure.
Overnight stay at hotel.

23 OCT 2018: DELHI - DEPARTURE
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for halfday day combined sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting visiting Humanyun’s Tomb, regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal, it was built by emperor Humanyun's wife, which took eight years to complete. Visit Lotus Temple which is a Bahai House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, and also visit Qutab Minar which is the tallest Minar in India. Later in time transfer to airport to connect your onward flight.