Welcome to India ! In the morning drive to the airport for the flight to Aurangabad. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. After a short break in the hotel we start an excursion to Ellora Caves. [7th - 10th century A.D.] The magnificent group of rock temples of Ellora is a part of world heritage monuments. Ellora group of temples represents the art and sculptures of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, the three dominant religions of India.

After having breakfast we leave for Ajanta caves (around 100 km) Of the thirty monuments at Ajanta, four caves No 9,10,26 and 29 are the Chaitya containing a Stupa at the centre of their apses. The rest are monastic residences or Viharas. An Indian poet Kalidasa describes these caves as the gem set of jewellery, rich furniture, imposing architecture, natural scenery and fleeting expressions on the faces.

In the morning drive to the airport for the flight to Udaipur. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and drive to Chittorgarh.

Today we visit the Chittorgarh Fort, the world famous fort of Rajasthan. On the crest of the enormous grey hill, girdled by massive walls and seven majestic gateways, one stumbles upon shattered palaces, a "Temple of Mirabai" - the mystic poetess and the intricately carved nine storeyed Tower of Fame, built in the 12th century in honour of Lord Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara.

Today we drive to Kota. The town of Kota was once the part of the erstwhile Rajput kingdom of Bundi. In Kota we will visit the city fort and palace. This type of fort-palace complex is one of the largest to be found in the state of Rajasthan.

Today we have an excursion to the fort city of Bundi. Bundi is most famous for its baoris (step wells) as there are many impressive ones. On the top of the hill is majestic Taragarh Fort of Bundi, the interesting fort is worth exploring for hours. The fort has many reservoirs, which are annually emptied flooding the streets leading down to the city.

Today we leave Bundi and drive to Pushkar. Pushkar being one of the most religious places for Hindus has the atmosphere of an ancient religious town. The only temple of God Brahma is in Pushkar thus making Pushkar an important pilgrimage city for Hindus. Pushkar has become famous in the world due to its Pushkar Festival which takes place in the month of November when the whole of Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fair ground where thousands of pilgrims come to bath in the holy water of Pushkar lake and the biggest cattle and camel markets take place here where farmers, breeders and camel traders buy and sell.

In the morning after having breakfast we drive to Jaipur via Ajmer. In Ajmer we will visit Dargah Shareef, the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Then we will visit the Anna Sagar Lake. Later we drive to the Pink City, Jaipur. This city owes its name, foundations and careful planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and famous for its handicrafts and precious and semiprecious stones.

Today we take a bus ride—always an adventure itself in India— to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, former capital of a princely state of the same name. Clothed in pink stucco (in imitation of sandstone), wide-avenued Jaipur is one of the most important heritage cities in India, and home to India’s second most visited site, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. Here follow in the footsteps of the royal harem, or ride an elephant to Amber Fort Palace, one of the most spectacular forts in India.

Founded in 1728, Jaipur, or “The Pink City” as it is often called, is unlike any other pre-modern Indian city, in that the entire town was planned according to the principles of Hindu architectural theory. The city is in fact built in the form of a nine-part mandala known as the Pithapada, which combined with wide streets makes for an unusually airy, orderly atmosphere. That the results of this urban planning have so endured to this day is nothing short of miraculous.

Enter the heart of the mandala (on foot or by cycle rickshaw) and you are in the central palace quarter, with its sprawling Hawa Mahal palace complex, formal gardens and a small lake. Built in 1799, the "Palace of Winds" was part of the City Palace, an extension of the Zenana or chambers of the harem. Its original intention was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. Constructed of red and pink sandstone highlighted with white lime, the five-storied facade is peppered with 953 small windows. The breeze (hawa) that comes through the windows keeps it cool even in hot months, and gives the palace its name.

Just 15 km from central Jaipur is the ruined city of Amber, former capital of Jaipur state. Founded by the Meenas, Amber was a flourishing settlement as far back as 967 AD. Overlooking the artificial lake south of Amber town stands the Amber Fort/Palace complex, famous for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. At the bottom of a hill sits Amber Fort, initially a Palace Complex within the Fort of Amber on top of the hill (today known as Jaigarh fort). The two forts are connected through well-guarded passages, and there is even the option of an elephant ride from the town up to the palace courtyard.

Today we drive from Jaipur to Delhi via Alwar. Alwar is referred as the gateway to the historic and colorful state of Rajasthan. Alwar has had a chequered history and has been a witness to many rules and rulers. It offers the traveler various sites of historical importance. The main tourist attraction of Alwar is City Palace or Vinay Vilas Mahal. In the afternoon we visit the Vinay Vilas Mahal or City Palace. This palace has a fine museum with more than 7000 manuscripts, miniature paintings in both Mughal and Rajasthani style, armour, textiles and musical instruments. Later we drive to Delhi. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.

Arrive in Delhi at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into to the hotel (check-in time is 12.00 midday) and enjoy the city. In the early afternoon after lunch (approx 13.30) you will meet your fellow group members to go over the details of your trip and the leader will collect your local payment. Check the notice board (or ask reception) to see the exact time and location of this group meeting.

If you arrive early wander through the heart of India's capital city and explore Old and New Delhi. Travel by the new metro or auto rickshaws and visit the famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) where you could climb the minaret for a bird's eye view of the old city. Explore Chandni Chowk, one of India's oldest and busiest markets or head to the colorful spice market a great photo opportunity.

From Old Delhi it's easy to get to Connaught Place, more commonly known as CP, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule, by the metro (station at CP is called Rajiv Chowk). In CP wander the markets and shops or visit the Gandhi museum, built on the site of his assassination. If people watching is your thing head down to India Gate and relax on the lawns, or enjoy a stroll through the peaceful Lodi Gardens in nearby upmarket South Delhi.

Other options include the ruins of Qutab Minar, the fabulous architecture of Humayun's Tomb, the beautifully lotus shaped Bahai Temple (closed Monday), or the stunning Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple carved out of pink sandstone and white marble. The amazing Craft Museum or the huge and rambling National Museum are also worth a visit. (Note many museums are closed on Monday).

There are so many options for dining, from age-old eateries in the by lanes of the Old Walled City to glitzy, specialty restaurants in five-star hotels, Delhi is a movable feast. Restaurants and bars cater to all tastes and budgets.

A delightful outlet offering a range of Indian cuisines are the food stalls at Dilli Haat. Here, the cuisine of different states is made available. Set in the midst of a spacious crafts bazaar these cafes are a very pleasant place to enjoy food.

The whole day at leisure in Delhi.

In the morning we drive to the airport for the flight to Bangalore. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. Evening free for leisure in Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former "Garden city" Bangalore is known today as "computer city" of India.

In the morning we drive through the garden city with its numerous avenues of Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Cassia. We will visit the Bull temple and the famous Gowda Fort. The Bull teample was built in the Dravidian style of architecture and has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite. The Gowda Fort was built by Tipu Sultan. We will also visit the Vidhana Saudha. This Vidhana Saudha, which is built after independence, stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian style.

In the morning we drive to Mysore. Enroute we visit Srirangapatnam, about 16 kms from Mysore. Srirangapatnam is built on an island in the Cauvery River and the ruins of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's capital are located. In Srirangapatnam we will visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular Hindu temple and the Tipu's summer palace, which is now a museum, set in a well maintained garden. After visiting Srirangapatnam we drive to Mysore. Mysore is a magnificent royal city and is world famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a famous production centre of saris. Mysore is known for the famous temple of goddess Chamundeswari built on the sacred Chamundi hill and the palaces built by Tipu Sultan.

Today we drive to Hassan. Enroute we visit Belur and Halebid temple complex belonging to the 12th and 14th century. The temples at Belur and Halebid were built by the Hoysala kings. The wealth of sculptural details found on the exterior and interior of these temples at Halebid and Belur makes them the most outstanding example of Hoysala art sculpture. In Halebid we visit the Hoysalesvara Temple of 12th century where we view the half-life size statues of Hindu deities, with minute details of each, all around the temple. After the visit of Halebid we proceed to Belur. In Belur we visit the group of Chennakesava Temples. These temples are famous for their architecture and sculptures.

Today we drive from Hassan to Hospet. In Hospet we will visit the Chitradurga fort. The Chitradurga fort is situated at the foothills of the group of granite hills. The fort was built in the 17th century by the Nayak Poligars, the wealthy semi-independent landlords who fled south after the collapse of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565. Haider Ali defeated the Nayaks and captured the fort and replaced the mud fort with one built out of stone and later his son Tipu Sultan built a palace, mosque, oil pits and granaries in it. After visiting Hospet we drive to Hampi. Hampi was once the seat of the great Vijayanagara empire and the centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its foundation in 1336.

Today we visit the temples, palaces, markets and some of the ruins of the Vijaynagar city in Hampi. The Vijayanagar city ruins near the village of Hampi is one of the most fascinating historical sites in south India. The superb ruins are set in a beautiful landscape, a hill country with enormous boulders. Extremely wealthy, greater than Rome, they held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton. This site was chosen for strategic reasons, but the craftsmen excelled in adopting an indigenous style to blend in architectural masterpieces with the barren and rocky landscapes. Most of the sites belong to the 16th century and were built during the 20 year reign of Krishna deva Raya.

Today we drive to Badami. Badami is set in beautiful countryside among the red sandstone hills, lakes and peaceful farmlands. Badami was once a capital city of the Chalukyan Empire which ruled much of the central Deccan between 4th and 7th centuries A D. Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is known for its famous four cave temples. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. The Bhutanatha temples are also worth visiting temples. It is a temple that lend their name to the lake beneath the cave temples.

Early in the morning we visit the famous cave temples as the best time to visit the cave temples is at sunrise. Four of these cave temples were cut into the hillside in the early 6th century. Cave 1 is reached by climbing 40 steps and in this cave the Lord Siva in his manifestation as Nataraja with 18 arms can be seen in 81 dance poses. In the Cave 2 there are reliefs of Varaha and Vamana and the Cave 3 is dedicated to Vishnu. According to a Kanada inscription which is unique to Badami, this cave was excavated in 578 AD and has numerous sculptures including a huge reclining image of Vishnu. Cave 4 is the only Jain cave excavated about 100 years later. Some of the temples which we visit includes the Buddhist temple, built near the ancient artificial Bhuthanatha Lake, and the 7th century Mallegitti Sivalaya temple, one of the finest examples of the early southern style. The North fort temples include mainly 7th century work and give an insight into Badami history.

Today we drive to Bijapur. Bijapur is a distinct town as it resembles a north Muslim city with the different mosques and palaces. Bijapur was known as Vijayapura or "the city of victory" during the reign of Chalukyas. In the afternoon we visit the Jama Masjid, one of the finest in Deccan with a large, shallow, onion shaped dome and arcaded court. It was built by Ali Adil Shah I in the 16th century. The Ibrahim Rauza, the 17th century palatial tomb is beautifully decorated with its slender minarets, carved decorative panels of lotus, wheels and cross patterns and bold Arabic calligraphy. This square garden consists of 2 buildings, one houses the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his family and the other one is a mosque. The tomb, evidently executed under the orders of Ibrahim Adil Shah (1580-1627) is supposed to have been an inspiration for the Taj Mahal at Agra.

In the morning we visit the Golgumbaz. Golgumbaz means the round tomb. Golgumbaz is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (1627 -56), the seventh ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. This gigantic mausoleum took about 20 years to complete. The acoustical phenomenon of this dome is such that a sound is echoed eleven times over. Under the dome are the tombs of the Sultan, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson. The building complex includes a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and a Dharamshala. The edifice in front of the tomb has been converted into a museum. This tomb has been described by some as startlingly ugly. It is the world's second largest dome unsupported by pillars and has a large whispering gallery.

In the morning we drive to Gulbarga. This town was the first capital of the Bahmanis and is known in South India as the home of Saiyid Muhammad Gesu Daraz Chisti who was instrumental in spreading the Islam faith in the Deccan in the 14th century. The most fascinating remains in the town are the fort, with its citadel and mosque and the tombs in its eastern quarter. In Gulbarga we visit the mosque and tombs. The mosque covers an area of 3500 sq m and is covered by a dome which cover the four corners and 75 minor domes make it unique among the various Indian mosques. The tombs of the Bahmani sultans lie in two groups and the tomb of the Chisti is two stories high with a highly decorated painted dome and a mother of pearl canopy over the grave.

In the morning we drive to Bidar. Bidar, the walled fort town in North Karnataka was once the capital of the Hamanis and Barid Shahis. The fort is still intact and the palaces and tombs provide some of the finest examples of Muslim architecture in the Deccan, intermingling the Hindu and Islamic styles. After visiting the fort and old town we drive to Hyderabad. Arrive in Hyderabad in the evening.

After having breakfast, we drive to visit the impressive fort at Golconda. This fort is entered through gateways which have relief ornamentation of birds and animals. The Fateh Darwaza or Victory Gate is made of teak with an engraved Hindu deity studded with iron spikes. Within the ramparts lie the mosques, temples, the 3 storeyed armory, the harem, the Hall of Public Audience and the Rani Mahal with the royal baths. After visiting the Golconda fort we visit the Qutb Shahi Tomb. Each tomb is made of black granite or green stone with fine sculpture, inscriptions and remains of glazed decoration. After visiting the tomb we drive to the hotel.

In the morning depart from Hyderabad for Mumbai by air.