AGRA (The City of Taj) (Uttar Pradesh) |
Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. |
BIKANER (Rajasthan) |
This city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and birth were once celebrated. |
BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY (Uttar Pradesh) |
It is one of the most spectacular water birds sanctuary features nesting indigenous water birds as well as migratory water birds and water side birds. It is inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar. |
BODHGAYA (Bihar) |
It is one of the most sacred place for Buddhists and Hindus and has a number of Buddhist temples. It is here, under the Maha Bodhi tree, Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. |
CAMEL SAFARI Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) |
The most interesting means of exploring the desert around Jaisalmer is on a camel safari and virtually every one who comes here goes on one of them. The desert, which is surprisingly well populated and sprinkled with ruins. You constantly come across tiny fields of millet, girls picking berries or boys herding flocks of sheep or goats. The latter are always fitted with tinkling neck bells and in the desert silence, it's music to the ears. Camping out at night in the Sam sand dunes, huddling around a tiny fire beneath the stars and listening to the camel driver yarns is quite romantic. |
CHITTORGARH (Rajasthan) |
113 kms. from Udaipur, the Fort of Chittor was originally built by mighty Pushkar Bhim, one of the Pandava heroes of Mahabharata. Also visit the Vijay Stambh with nine storeys and 37 Mts. high built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Kirti Stambh, the Tower of fame 22 meters high is covered with figures from Jain Pantheon. |
DELHI NEW DELHI (Capital of India) |
New Delhi - Visit Qutab Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in
1199, Humayun Tomb, India gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshmi Narayan Temple - a modern
Hindu Temple. Also drive past President House, Parliament House, Government Secretarial
Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Old Delhi - Visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. |
FATEHPUR SIKRI (Uttar Pradesh) |
It is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. |
HARIDWAR (Uttar Pradesh) |
Here you will meet pilgrims, Sadhus (holy men) coated in cow dung ash, barbers waiting to shave the nostrils, ears and heads of the pilgrims before their ritual bath. Hanging to the chains in the fast flowing river the pilgrims, once shaved, blessed and anointed, caste gifts of flowers, sweets and milk into the Ganges. Haridwar propitious location at the point where the Ganges emerges from the high Himalaya to begin its slow progress across the plains makes it a particularly holy place. Also see the(evening prayers) amidst the thousands of Deepak (Indian candles) burning and the big bells ringing at the top pitch. |
JAIPUR Pink City of India (Rajasthan) |
The capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century age in honour of a visiting Prince and ever since it has retained this colour. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja City Palace, the Observatory and Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal and through the pink rose residential and business areas. Also visit Amber Fort 15 kms away from Jaipur where you can enjoy an elephant ride upto the Fort and also see the rich heritage of the great Mughal Kings. |
JAISALMER (Rajasthan) |
Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, in burnishing sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland - a city of gilded magic. As the sun sets, the sky goes up in flames and night descents softly, creating a new monument every evening. People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work. Visit the different Havelis. |
JHUNJHUNU (Rajasthan) |
It is one of the largest town of Shekhawati founded by the Kaimkhani nawabs in the middle of the 15th Century. It was here that the British based there Shekhawati Brigade, a troop raised locally in the 1830s to try to halt the activities of the dacoits, who were largely local petty rulers who had decided it was easier to become wealthy by looting people. It has some of the regions most beautiful buildings like the Khetri Mahal, the Modi Haveli, the Tibrewala Haveli and the Sri Bihariji Temple. |
JODHPUR (Rajasthan) |
Visit the Meharangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum at the famous Umaid Bhavan Palace located in the Umaid Public Gardens. |
KHAJURAHO (Madhya Pradesh) |
The world famous Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. The Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath and Nandi Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple of Shiva, which is the largest and most typical of temples. Visit the Eastern group of temples that consist of the Parasvanath Temple - the only Jain Temple, surviving at Khajuraho and has excellent sculptures on the outer walls of the Sanctum, the Javeri Temple dedicated to Vishnu. The other temples in this group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath. |
MANDAWA (Rajasthan) |
This town was founded in 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his descendants. Mandawa houses a collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820, ancient coins, numismatic collection and many other interesting items preserved in a museum has beautiful frescoes, havelis and mansions. |
PUSHKAR (Rajasthan) |
The mellow, quiet and interesting little town of Pushkar is one of those traveller centres where people go for a little respite from the hardships of life on the Indian roads. It is only 11 kms. from Ajmer but separated from it by Nag Pahar, the Snake Mountain and is situated right on the edge of the desert. The town clings to the side of the small but beautiful Pushkar Lake with its many bathing ghats and temples. For Hindus, Pushkar is a very important pilgrimage centre. Pushkar is also world famous for the huge Camel Fair which takes place here each October/ November. At this time, the town is thronged with tribal people from all over Rajasthan, pilgrims from all over India and tourists from all over the world. |
RANAKPUR (Rajasthan) |
Jain Temples built in the 15th Century are situated in the lovely valley ofUdaipur the Aravali. Its surrounding is quiet and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of light and shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions. |
RISHIKESH (Uttar Pradesh) |
Rishikesh is an ancient pilgrimage centre nestling in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas on the banks of river Ganges. Millions of Hindus come here every year to absolve themselves of their sins by bathing in the Holy Ganges, which has supported the ancient civilisation of the North Indian plains since time immemorial. |
SARNATH (Uttar Pradesh) |
Visit the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 6th century B.C. to 12th century A.D. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple and the Museum (Museum closed on Fridays). |
UDAIPUR (Rajasthan) |
Possibly no city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur. Founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh, Udaipur rivals any of the world famous creations of the moguls with its Rajput love of the whimsical and its superbly crafted elegance. The Lake Palace is certainly the best late examples of this unique cultural explosion. Visit the city palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion Ki Bari (Queen resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk Art Museum). |
VARANASI (Uttar Pradesh) |
Hindus holiest city and one of the oldest living cities in the world. It was a city of great wealth and religious importance when the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited in the 7th Century. Sightseeing tour of the city visiting the Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map of India in marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Banaras Hindu University which has an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb built on the site of an ancient Hindu Temple. |
For information on :
|