DJOSER MEANS “FREEDOM & CHOICE”
Our day-to-day program is not strictly regimented but is determined by collaboration between the guide and participants. The guide will organize and accompany many activities but will also make suggestions so that you can explore and dine, safely, on your own.
Delhi
Day 1 Delhi (Land Begins)
We begin the journey in the capital Delhi. The old and new part of town are both rich in sights. The street life in the old town is impressive, with tinkling bells and countless rickshaw and street vendors. Bargain hunting is an unforgettable experience. In and around the center of Old Delhi are a large number of attractions. A few of the possibilities: the imposing Red Fort from the Moghul era, the Jama Mashid mosque (the largest in India), the Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, and Chandni Chowk, the main bazaar street in the old part of Delhi. There are modern offices and shops around Connaught Place in New Delhi, where the Parliament and India Gate are located. Outside the center are the tomb of Humayun, the huge minaret Qutab Minar and the artistic Bahai Temple, constructed in the form of a lotus flower. In Delhi, the rickshaw or taxis are the convenient form of transport. DIscuss price in advance so there will be no surprises. Our hotel is situated in the pleasant Karol Bagh district, where the locals like to shop.
Shekawati, Bikaner
Day 2 Delhi - Shekawati
Day 3 Shekawati - Bikaner
Day 4 Bikaner
From Delhi we go with our own bus to the province Shekawati province. We visit the beautiful city of Nawalgarh, with its hundreds of Haveli's, with beautiful frescoes, colorful bazaars and a large temple dedicated to Shiva. By way of the 18th century fort of Mandawa we drive on to Bikaner. This town is situated on the edge of the Thar desert and was previously a trade route between Central Asia and Northern India. You can find different Jain temples, Haveli, a palace and you can visit the Junagarh Fort. In Deshnoke you may view the Karni Mata Temple, which is populated by a huge amount of holy rats in Hinduism as "the mount of the popular god Ganesh.
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur
Day 5 Bikaner - Jaisalmer
Day 6 Jaisalmer
Day 7 Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
The journey from Bikaner to Jaisalmer crosses the Thar desert. As we approach Jaisalmer you will see the city like a mirage in the desert. Jaisalmer is one of the most impressive cities in India. Built on a rock in the middle of the desert, this is a city where past and present come together literally. Walking through the narrow streets of the fort, you can imagine yourself in a world where rajputs and the maharajahs lived. This is a real contrast to the modern Indian life that you will also experience. Jodhpur, like Jaisalmer, was historically a trading center and remains so today. After Jaipur, it is the largest city of Rajasthan. In Jodhpur, you can visit the impressive Mehrangarh Fort, various temples and palaces. From the fort you have a beautiful view over the blue area, which the Brahmans live. The walled old town with the bell tower and market are also worth a visit. Here you can lose yourself in the many bazaars, including the Sadar Bazaar. In the numerous, often tiny dark little shops and workshops attractive, traditional Rajasthan handicraft products are produced. Udaipur Day 8 Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur Day 9 Udaipur On our drive to Udaipur via Ranakpur, you can see the colossal Jain temple. This temple from the 15th century has up to 1444 beautifully crafted columns. Jainism is an offshoot of Hinduism and preaches a doctrine against the use of violence against all living creatures. After a beautiful bus ride through a mountainous area, we come to the end of the day in Udaipur, "City of Sunrise." Udaipur is a medieval city situated on the Pichola Lake and Fateh Sagar Lake. In this city you can wander through the many small streets, various temples, colorful markets and interesting shops. The main attractions are the stunning City Palace and the fabulous Lake Palace (now an exclusive hotel), built in the middle of Lake Pichola built. Film Connoisseurs may recognize the building from the James Bond film "Octopussy".
Jaipur
Day 10 Udaipur - Jaipur
Day 11 Jaipur
Day 12 Jaipur
The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is the last destination of this colorful state where you will visit "the Pink City". A British prince, and maharaja contract gave the order for all houses and buildings in the center to be painted pink, as pink was known to be the color of hospitality. In the heart of the city is the Royal Palace, now a museum, and well preserved observatory of the 18th century. The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, has 1000 ornately decorated windows. This is one of the most characteristic building of Jaipur. This building should definitely be on your list of places to visit. You can make an interesting excursion 11 km outside the city to the Amber Fort nearer the Nahagarh Fort. You can organize a camel trip from Jaipur.
Agra, Khajuraho
Day 13 Jaipur - Agra
Day 14 Agra
Day 15 Agra - Khajuraho
Day 16 Khajuraho
From Jaipur we go by bus to Agra. For bird lovers there is a possible stop 50 kilometers away at the Keoladeo bird sanctuary, near the town of Bharatpur. This is a national park where, depending on the season more than 300 bird species are on display. En route we stop at Fatehpur Sikri certainly, the former capital of the Moghulvorst Akbar. Agra is the city with the world famous Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of Mumtaz, wife of Moghulvorst Shah Jahan. A visit to the Taj at sunrise is a unique experience, which will remain in your memory. Agra Fort is situated near the lively old town of Agra, where you will find several palaces and mosques made of pure marble. The rickshaw is an excellent means of transport. Be sure to negotiate the price. You can also visit the town of Sikandra, where the tomb of Akbar is located. From Agra we go to the quiet countryside and to Khajuraho, on a long but exciting journey across the countryside of India. If time permits we stop en route in the town of Orccha to visit the fort by the same name. Khajuraho is famous for the unique Dela Chan temples with its beautiful sculptures, the erotic images, without doubt, being the most famous. You have a full day to explore, for example to rent a bike to go to the beautiful temple complexes or to ride through the villages in the countryside to make.
Varanasi
Day 17 Khajuraho - Varanasi
Our bus carries us the he long route from Khajuraho to Varanasi, so you can enjoy glances of rural India life. Varanasi has been one of the most impressive cities in India. The banks of the river offer a colorful spectacle at sunrise and sunset . The morning of the first day in Varanasi. Djoser offers a cruise on the Ganges. This is a great way to see this magical river and experience the ghats on the banks. Hindus arrive before sunrise to take a cleansing bath in their sacred river. Also there are regular cremation sites along the river. Hindus believe that this will bring about rebirth. The old city with its maze of alleyways, is sometimes obstructed by a sacred cow. In Varanasi, you can have your future predicted by a real guru or you can get a head massage at one of the ghats. The city was for centuries the capital of the north side. You can take an optional excursion to nearby Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first lessons in a deer park.
Delhi Day 19 Varanasi, night train to Delhi
Day 20 Arrival Delhi
We leave by night train from Varanasi to return to Delhi. The train couchettes are reserved. In Delhi you have time to visit monuments or to catch up on our shopping in the bazaar before the land program comes to an end. This is a free day. If you are traveling with and international group, they Dutch travelers will leave late evening (typically after midnight).
