Day 1 – Arrive in Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, be transferred to the hotel. Begin your journey at one of many beautiful temples in Delhi that owe their fame and glory to circumstance. Spend the rest of the day in the capital exploring some of the noteworthy ones – start with the multi-storied red sandstone temple of Lakshmi Narayan aka Birla Mandir dedicated to Lord Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi with intricate designing on its walls and pillars; besides a sprawling garden, the life size horse drawn chariot in white marble is a show stealer here. Later be audience to a spectacular water show at the ten storied Akshardam Temple dedicated to Swaminarayan bringing to life a story from the Kena Upanishad.

Overnight Delhi

Day 2 – Delhi

Over a day tour, visit the colossal temple complex of Chhatarpur dedicated to the goddess Katyayani offering a unique blend of both South & North Indian architectural styles; the 100ft tall Hanuman statue is one of the major draws here. The ISKCON temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is of incredible architecture with a huge hall embossed with scenes depicted from the Mahabharata and a museum which has copies of the Bhagvad Gita in any language. The Lotus Temple of Bahai is unique as it houses nothing inside – no altar or idol or symbols or any religious artifacts; perhaps as a reminder of freedom from the bondage of faith & religion. It only has a large prayer hall where one can spend hours meditating and contemplating in peace.

Overnight Delhi

Day 3 – Delhi – Jabalpur – Bandhavgarh

Checkout this morning and be transferred to the airport for your close to two hour direct flight to Jabalpur where on arrival around noon hours, you will be met and transferred to the Bandhavgarh National Park by road (165kms / 3hrs). On arrival in Bandhavgarh by early evening, check in and unwind for the day

Overnight Bandhavgarh

Day 4 – Bandhavgarh

Spend the day today at the national park in pursuit of the Royal Bengal tiger over morning and afternoon game drives. Bandhavgarh holds the reputation of housing the highest density of tigers in India besides the largest breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. The park is divided into three zones – Tala, Magdi and Bamera off which Tala offers the best tiger sighting opportunities. Bandhavgarh also hosts bird life such as the pied hornbill, green pigeon, paradise flycatcher and species of eagle.

Overnight Bandhavgarh

Day 5 – Bandhavgarh – Khajuraho (284kms / 5hrs)

Checkout this morning after a round of morning game drive and breakfast, be transferred to the world heritage site of Khajuraho where on arrival by late afternoon, check in and relax. Later in evening attend the light & sound show (1830-1930hrs) organized at the Western Group of temples which provides an insight into the history of the Chandela dynasty and the associated myths with the Khajuraho Temples brought to life with the magical voice of Amitabh Bachchan. Return to the hotel for dinner and unwind for the day.

Overnight Khajuraho

Day 6 – Khajuraho

Explore the Western Group of Temples visiting the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple with exquisite carvings dedicated to Lord Shiva and enshrining the linga, the Chausath Yogini Temple dedicated to goddess Kali, the Vishwanatha Temple with impressive stone entrances and the three headed image of Lord Brahma and the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to the Sun God shown driving a horse drawn chariot and also the venue for the Khajuraho dance festival. Later visit the Eastern Group of Temples – the Parsvanatha Temple with intricate stone carvings enshrining a throne facing a bull emblem; the Ghantai Temple with remarkable frescoes depicting the 16 dreams of Lord Mahavira’s mother at his birth and the Adinatha Temple richly ornamented with delicate and pretty sculptures of yakshis. Enjoy a folk performance in the evening showcasing diverse dance styles of India.

Overnight Khajuraho

Day 7 – Khajuraho – Orchha (180kms / 3hrs)

Checkout this morning from Khajuraho and be transferred to Orchha by road where on arrival by noon hours, check into your hotel and relax. Later in the afternoon explore some of the Orchha’s temples dating back to 17th century such as the Lakshmi Narayan temple with its well preserved murals, the Chaturbhuj temple and the Raja Ram temples with its soaring spires and famous evening aarti. Later travel to the Orchha Fort savoring vies of the numerous cenotaphs or chattris which dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa River. Once at the fort, visit the Jehangir Mahal of impressive size and offering good views of the countryside from the upper levels. Wind up your tour with the hour long sound and light show at the Fort.

Overnight Orchha

Day 8 – Orchha – Ranthambore (310kms / 5-6hrs)

After an early checkout be transferred to Ranthambore where on arrival by late afternoon, check in and spend the rest of the evening mulling in anticipation of sighting the royal cat.

Overnight Ranthambore

Day 9 – Ranthambore

Visit the Ranthambore National Park over an early morning and afternoon game drives lasting for close to two hours through the wilderness in pursuit of the elusive striped feline. Besides being touted to be one of the best places in the world to spot tigers, the 392 sq km National park of Ranthambore also boasts of a large number of sambhar, cheetal, nilgai, spotted deer, chinkara, langur, wild boar, peafowl and leopard. A system of three pretty artificial Talabs (lakes) – Padam, Rajbagh and Malik, form an important source of water for the park inhabitants besides attracting a large number of migratory and resident birds.

Overnight Ranthambore

Day 10 – Ranthambore – Jaipur (160kms / 2-3hrs)

After a round of morning safari followed by breakfast, check out from Ranthambore to be driven to Jaipur where on arrival, check in and relax. Later in the afternoon, visit some of the prime city sights such as the City Palace complex where the world’s largest sterling silver vessels are on display at the marble pavilion of the Diwan-E-Khas, the stunning Hawa Mahal which is a fascinating example of Rajput architecture housing an archaeological museum and letting you climb for wonderful views from its latticed windows and the famous Jantar Mantar which is the largest of the five observatories in India, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who was passionate about astronomy and numerology. Subject to time, you could visit Choki Dhaani, an ethnic village for a glimpse into Rajasthan’s vibrant culture and a scrumptious dinner of Marwari dishes

Overnight Jaipur

Day 11 – Jaipur – Varanasi

After breakfast and checkout, be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Varanasi. On arrival in Varanasi by afternoon, be met and transferred to the hotel. Later in the evening, get ready to experience one of the most memorable moments of your life as you will be taken to the river Ganges to witness the vibrant and choreographed Aarthi Ceremony where priests swing pots of incense and brass lamps with burning oil to the accompaniment of haunting live music. Return to your hotel for a leisurely evening.

Overnight Varanasi

Day 12 – Varanasi

Early morning, be taken for a boat ride on the Ganges – it is a mystical and spiritual experience to watch people offering water to the Sun God and devotees taking holy dip in the Ganges. This would be followed by a visit to the various temples in Varanasi such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Sankat Mochan (Hanuman) Temple and the Manas Temple including the Benares Hindu University (BHU). Later in the afternoon, visit Sarnath where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. In Sarnath, you will visit the main attractions such as the Buddha Temples, the Dhamekha Stupa, the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological museum. Return to Varanasi to spend your evening at leisure.

Overnight Varanasi

Day 13 – Varanasi – Delhi (departure)

Checkout this morning from Varanasi, be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi and onwards.