Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Begin your tour
Arrive into Delhi
Welcome to Vardhman's "Religious India & Wildlife Tour"!
On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and transferred by Vardhman's representative to your hotel. Relax for rest of the day.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 2: Delhi
Visit Qutab Minar, Humayun's tomb, Lakshminarayan Temple, a modern Hindu Temple, Parliament House, Government Secretarial Building and Connaught place, the shopping centre of New Delhi.
Visit Red Fort, built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan, Jama Masjid, one of the largest Mosque of India, Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana, the cremation sites of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Also drive past Chandni Chowk, shopping centre of Old Delhi.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 3: Delhi - Patna - Bodhgaya
This morning after a leisurely breakfast transfer to Delhi airport to board flight for Patna. Upon arrival at Patna airport you will be met by the representative and dircetly drive to Bodhgaya. BodhGaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Set in silvan solitude on the banks of river Nirnjana, came to this place after a long-hard journey in search of Supreme Knowledge. Here under the Bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment.
Check into your hotel upon arrival. Relax for a while and then proceed on a city tour.
In this large working Buddhist center, you will see the descendant of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat, as well as numerous international Buddhist monasteries built in their respective country's styles.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 4: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Hinduism's holiest pilgrimage city, Varanasi, the "City of Light." Also known as Benares or Kashi, Varanasi is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It is here that all Hindus aspire to come once in their lifetimes to bathe in the Ganges River from the ghats, or landings, all along the river. This act of worship releases the soul from earthly samsara, or the cycle of life, death and rebirth, caused by ignorance. We will have the opportunity to perform this ritual release as we take a holy dip in the Ganges River.
Check into your hotel upon arrival and then proceed to visit the Buddhist sacred site of Sarnath, where the Buddha taught his first sermon about the Four Noble Truths in Deer Park. During our evenings in Benares, we will meet with scholars in fields such as Sanskrit, Ideology, Buddhism and Tantra.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 5: Varanasi
Early morning enjoy boat excursion (at your own cost) on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing ghats and cremation site, sunrise above the river, aarti. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Later proceed on a City tour of Varanasi.
Visit 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. A walk through the old center ("golden" temple, ghats...), Bharat mata temple, Kashi Viswanath temple.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 6: Varanasi - Khajuraho
On the day 6 of your tour transfer to Varanasi airport to board flight for Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh state. Arrive Khajuraho airport and you will be transferred to your hotel by our representative. Fresen-up and then proceed to visit the city.
The erotic sculptures of these 22 temples date back to the Chandela Dynasty of the 10th century AD. They have been linked to everything from Tantric cults to Kama Sutra instruction to a carved depiction of the marriage party of Shiva and Parvati. Regardless of their origins, they depict a joyful ode to the source of all life, and are India's unique gift to the world.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 7: Khajuraho -Jhansi - Mathura-Vrindivan
This morning transfer to Jhansi railway station to catch train for Mathura. Arrive and you will be transferred to your hotel.
Relax for a while and later visit Mathura and Vrindavan.
The most important tourist spot in Mathura is the Krishna Janambhoomi temple. The temple lies in the very heart of the city and is supposed to have been built on the site where Lord Krishna was born. Vrindavan is located just 15 kilometers from Mathura. The place is also connected to the life and times of Krishna.Vrindavan today, is noted for its numerous temples. The bulky red sandstone Gobind Dev Temple is the most impressive building in Vrindavan. The name means in Hindi, 'Divine Cowherd' or Krishna. Architecturally Gobind Dev Temple is one of the most beautiful Hindu temples in northern India. It and was built in the year 1590 by Raja Man Singh of Amber. Other important temples in Vrindavan include Madan Mohan Temple built by Kapoor Ram Das of Multan, Banke-Bihari Temple, built in 1864, Radha Vallabh Temple set up by the Radha - Vallabh Sampradaya, Shah Ji Temple, built by Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow and Ranga Ji Temple, built in 1851.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 8: Mathura-Agra
Morning again visit Temples and then drive to the Romantic city of Taj Mahal- Agra. Upon arrival, check into your hotel.
Visit the Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday) & Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula, massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. The maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid & other magnificent buildings reflect the skill of the ancient Indian architects. Later visit a marble gallery - the flagship store in Agra which offers an excellant range of white marble, fashionable wear & exotic wooden articles, truly a one stop shop.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 9: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Bharatpur
In the morning leave for the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, Built between 1569 and 1585 by the great Moghuls emperor Akbar, this unusual ghost city fuses both Hindu and Muslim artistic traditions, in reflection of the unique tolerance of this Muslim emperor. It was abandoned after 16 years due to a shortage of water.
In the afternoon, continue a short distance west into Rajasthan state to arrive in the traditional town of Bharatpur. Upon arrival, check into your hotel.
Bharat Pur Wildlife Sanctuary: Originally a duck shooting preserve of Maharaja Suraj Mull of Bharatpur, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary of Rajasthan was declared a national park in 1982. Later, in 1985, it was listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco. At present, the Rajasthan Keoladeo Ghana National Park serves as one of the chief breeding and feed grounds for the birds around the world. The Bharat Pur Wildlife Sanctuary, of Rajasthan, houses approximately 300 species of birds. Amongst them, the most prominent ones are Painted Storks, Open and Spoon Bills, Egrets, Cormorants, White Ibis, Jacanas, While Harriers, Fishing Eagles, Pied Kingfisher, etc. However, the most awaited species of birds is the Siberian Crane. Apart from Iran, India is the only place where this bird migrates in winter.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 10: Bharatpur - Jaipur
At dawn on the morning, enjoy a cycle rickshaw safari/boat ride in the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. The 29 square kilometers of swamps and lakes here constitute one of the most important heronries in the world, with such species as the dazzling purple heron, the common grey and the tiny brown pond heron. Other species include orange-headed painted storks, snake-like darters, spoonbills, white ibis, egrets, coots, shovelers, widgeons, kingfishers, and grey pelicans. From October to March, the 120 species of Indian birds who live in the park year-round are joined by another 130 species from as far afield as the Russian steppes and Central Asia, including the rare Siberian crane, only 125 of which are estimated to survive in the entire world. Along with birds, other species present include wild boar, mongoose, spotted deer, blue bulls, antelope, jungle cats, hyenas, jackal's otters, pythons and Indian black buck. This is definitely a sanctuary that even non-birders will enjoy!
After a relaxed breakfast, drive west to the traditional Rajasthani city of Jaipur. Check into your hotel for an overnight stay. In the evening visit Choki Dhani.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 11: Jaipur - Delhi
City tour of Jaipur, the "Pink City,"
Visit honeycomb pink and white-faced "Palace of the Winds," the magnificently ornate City Palace, and the incredible sherbet-yellow astronomical observatory, which operates through the use of the sun's shadows to identify the positions of the planets.In the morning, take a guided excursion through the Amber Fort and Raj Mahal Palace complex. Built by Raja Man Singh beginning in 1592, this ancient capital is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake, which reflects its terraces and ramparts. Enjoy a sturdy uphill ride to the palace atop a colorfully decorated elephant. In the palace, visit the Shila Mata Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali in her aspect as the Goddess of War.
Later in the afternoon, drive back to Delhi. Check into your hotel for an overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 12: Delhi
This morning after a leisurely breakfast transfer to Delhi airport/railway station to board flight/train for your onward destination with sweet and unforgettable memories of "Religious India & Wildlife Tour" tour escorted by Vardhman Vacations.
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