Best of Central India

Day 01- Arrive Delhi by international flight

On arrival at Delhi International airport after clearing immigration formalities, you will meet our representative in arrival hall holding paging of your name. He will further assist you to your vehicle and then hotel check-in formalities. (Standard check-in time is 1200 hours)

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02- Delhi

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast you will be proceed for combined full day city tour of Old and New Delhi. We start the tour from Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk this part of Delhi will take you in Old Mughal era, while walking through old lanes you can see big wooden carved antique doors, big havelis (mansion), narrow lanes and busy bustling life. You must taste lip smacking street food in Old Delhi market area. Then you will visit India’s largest Mosque “Jama Masjid” where at a time 25,000 can accommodate.

Post lunch visit New Delhi or Lutyens Delhi, beautifully designed by “Sir Edwin Lutyens”, drive pass India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Connaught Place. Later continue the sightseeing visiting, Humayun Tomb, the tomb was built in 1570 and was the first garden tomb made by Humayun’s son Akbar. It is Unesco world heritage site.

Conclude the sightseeing with the visit of “Qutub Minar”, the stunning red stone tower is 72.5 m high with 2.75m in diameter. It is also UNESCO site.

Evening will be at leisure to relax or to pursue independent activities.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03- Delhi- Gwalior by train Departure 06:00 /Arrival 09:23 hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Early morning with packed breakfast in time transfer to railway station to board the train for Gwalior.

On arrival at the railway station transfer to hotel.

Afternoon half day city tour visiting Man Mandir, the Gwalior Fort, Sas-Bahu Temple. A brief stop at some of the bigger Jain Cave temples and then drive to Teli-Ka-Mandir, a brief visit to the tomb of Gaus Mohammed and mausoleum of Tansen. Later visit Scindia Museum at Jai Vilas Palace.

Evening will be at leisure to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 04- Gwalior – Khajuraho (approx. 275 Kms/ 06 hrs)

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast drive to Khajuraho. On arrival check in at hotel.

Khajuraho is famous for its most spectacular erotic stone carving temples. These temples were built by Chandela rulers between AD 900 to 1130. It is a world heritage listed temples. In these temples human emotions are beautifully portrayed which will leave you speechless with advance sculpture and carving art.

On arrival check in at hotel. Post lunch proceed for half day sightseeing of world famous erotic temples of Khajuraho visiting the Eastern and Western Group of Temples. Visit the Western Group of temples, the most important temple being the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple-dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples. Visit the Chaunsat Yogini Jain Temple-dedicated to the 64 “Yoginis” or attendants of Goddess Kali. This temple stands apart from the rest. Also seethe Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely sculpture of Lord Vishnu in his 11-headed form. The sculptures that adorn the temples, carved in stone depict gods & goddesses and amorous couples. Later visit the Eastern Group of temples including the Ghantai Temple, Vamana Temple dedicated to the “Vamana” or dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the Javari Temple. There are also three Jain Temples with beautiful carvings and non-erotic sculptures. Although these are Jain temples, they also contain numerous Vaishnav deities.

Evening will be at leisure to relax or to pursue independent activities.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05- Khajuraho- Orchha (approx. 180 Kms/ 04 hrs)

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast drive to Orchha. On arrival check in at hotel. Later proceed for sightseeing visiting the palaces and temples of this medieval township built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th century retain much of its pristine perfection.  The Jehangir Mahal was built in the 17th century by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha.  Its strong lines are counterbalanced by delicate chhatris and trellis work.  The Raj Mahal has a plain exterior crowned by chhatries but the interior has exquisite, boldly colourful murals on religious themes.  The Ram Raja Temple is most unusual as it is a palace turned temple and where Rama is worshipped as a Raja (king). The Laxmi Narayan Temple is linked by a flagstone path to the Ram Raja Temple. The interiors contain the most exquisite of Orchha’s wall paintings.

Also visit Orchha Fort or Raja Mahal – work on the Raja Mahal was started by Raja Rudra Pratap, but he died in 1531, leaving the construction incomplete. His son, Bharti Chand, completed the front and the main portion of the palace, but could not complete the building during his lifetime.

Evening will be at leisure to relax.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06- Orchha – Bhopal by train Departure 10:50/ Arrival 13:55 hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast in time transfer to railway station to board the train for Bhopal.

On arrival at Bhopal railway station transfer to Bhopal. Afternoon orientation tour of the city.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07- Bhopal – Excursion to Bhojpur and Bhimbetka

Breakfast at hotel

Morning full day excursion to Bhojpur and Bhimbetka. Bhojpur was founded by Raja Bhoj and has the ruins of a Shiva Temple. The symbol of Shiva, the Lingam, is a huge monolith. At Bhimbetka, about 700 rock shelters belonging to the Neolithic age have been discovered. Over 500 caves have paintings of pre-historic time. Return in time to visit the museum at Bhopal to recap on sculptures and artifacts from Bhojpur, Bhimbetka and other parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Overnight at hotel

Day 08- Bhopal – Excursion to Udaigiri, Sanchi and Raisen

Breakfast at hotel

Morning full day excursion to Udaigiri, Sanchi and Raisen. Proceed to Udaigiri to visit caves cut into sandstone hills, dating back to AD 320-606 with images and icons of Hindu and Jain Gods. On way back visit Sanchi which has the distinction of having the finest specimens of almost all Buddhist architectural froms : stupas, chaitya, temples and monasteries, dating from 3rd century BC. Also visit Raisen which is now accessible by road all the way to the gate of the Fort (previously there was an uphill walk of about 1-Km). It especially looks pretty in the afternoon, with nice views around.

Overnight at hotel

Day 09- Bhopal – Indore (approx. 250 kms, 5-6 hrs)

Breakfast at hotel

Mornign depart Indore for Indore en-route visiting Ujjain – Ujjain was used as the base for calculations of Hindu astronomy, astrology and geography. Visit the temple of Mahakaleshwar, Jantar Mantar, Bathing Ghats of Shipra River and the Gopal Mandir, a 19th century temples of Maratha-style architecture. Also see the Water Palace of Mandu Sultans known as the Kaliadha and the Palace of Scindia Maharajas.

Later continue drive to Indore and on arrival check-in at hotel. Later in the afternoon Afternoon half day sightseeing of Indore – drive past the Old Palace (now seat for Government Offices) and the New Palace (now a hospital) visit to Manik Bagh and the Lal Bagh which is now converted into a museum displaying furniture-collections and other artifacts of the palace (open for 10 am to 5 pm, except for holidays) and the Kanch Mandir, the Jain temple – inside of which is completely mirrored with some Jain legends depicted in stained glass (open in morning / afternoons only). The Museum at Indore displays sculptures and coins of the Malwa reign and has the biggest collection antiques and sculptures in Madhya Pradesh.

Evening will be at leisure to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 10- Indore

Breakfast at hotel

Full day excursion to Mandu (approx 100 kms distance and 2½ hours driving time one way from Indore).

Jahaz Mahal (or the Ship Palace) is probably the most famous building in Mandu. This ship-like structure was constructed by Ghiyas-ud-din, son of Mohammed Shah, for his harem. According to the legends, this harem was home to 15,000 maidens. There are two lakes on the east and west side of the palace that create a perfect illusion of a ship with its rectangular shape.

Hindola Mahal (or Swing Palace) was a pleasure dome that gives the impression that the inward slopes of the walls are swaying.

Hoshang’s Tomb is located immediately behind the mosque and reputed to be the oldest marble structure in India. The tomb was constructed in 1435 and depicts typical Hindu influences including carved marble lattice screens (jali). It is said that Shahjahansent his architects to study this double-domed structure before constructing Taj Mahal.

Ashrafi Mahal was originally built as a madarsa (a Muslim religious school), but later extended to become Mohammed Shah’s tomb. Now only the ruins of this building are visible.

Rupmati’s Pavilion  A large sandstone structure originally built as an army observation post it is known today as Roopmati’s Pavilion. Rani Roopmati – the love interest of Baaz Bahadur lived here and is said to have gazed at the Baz Bahadur’s Palace – situated below and also at Narmada river, flowing through the Nimar plains far below, a river which the queen revered.

Evening return back to Indore

Overnight at hotel

Day 11- Indore – Delhi by flight

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast in time transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi.

All hotels check-in / check-out time 12 Noon.

Note: Distance / approximate drive time based on Indian Road conditions.  Drive time may reduce / exceeds depends on the traffic conditions city to city on that particular day