Culture and Heritage of India – 12 Nights & 13 Days

Eat a delectable breakfast in Delhi before seeing this Heritage City. Delhi is one of India's most lovely cities in terms of culture because it was ruled by many different groups over a long period of time, including the Marathas, Rajputs, Mughals, and British.

Delhi is home to numerous cultural landmarks worth visiting. We will begin by touring the well-known Qutub Minar and Red fort before moving on to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Qutbuddin Aibak and Sultan Iltutmish erected the 73-meter-tall Qutub Minar as a monument to the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. One of the best examples of Mughal architecture in India, this tallest brick minaret is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will eventually make your way to the Red Fort, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. On India's Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India gives a speech and raises the tricolour at this exact location. This Red Fort, one of the biggest red sandstone structures in the world, was once home to the Mughal emperors. The Red Fort, one of Delhi's most visited tourist attractions, was built by Shahjahan.

Another majestic building in Delhi is India Gate. Famous English architect Edwin Lutyens constructed the monument. The building was constructed as a memorial to the men who lost their lives in the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan War.

Another imposing building in Delhi is Rashtrapati Bhavan, also known as the president's residence. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is a massive building that occupies 5 acres of the 330-acre estate, making its magnanimity somewhat humbling. In total, there are 340 rooms at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is comprised of four levels and a modest 190-acre lawn.

The Lord Vishnu-honoring Birla Temple, also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, is located there. The Birla family, one of India's wealthiest families, erected the Birla Temple, which Mahatma Gandhi personally opened. This stunning temple complex contains idols of Lord Shiva, Krishna, and even Buddha. It is sprawled across an area of about 8 acres. This stunning Nagara-style temple was constructed by more than a hundred workers.

Don't forget to stop at Chandni Chowk and Palika Bazar, two of old Delhi's well-known bazaars. In Chandni Chowk, you may choose between eating delectable street food from Delhi or shopping for cutlery. Fine fabrics may be purchased in Katra Neel, and the largest spice market in Asia, Khari Baoli Road, is where you should go if you want to spice up your life.

We guarantee that a lifetime will not be enough to fully explore Delhi's markets, which are a shopaholic's paradise.

Spend the night in a hotel in Delhi.

Today, we continue our exploration of India's cultural diversity by travelling to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City of India. By car, it will take 4 hours to go to Jaipur. When you get to Jaipur, the hotel will help you check in, and the rest of the day is yours to do as you choose. Gather some mementos from Jaipur's local markets, which offer a wide range of vibrant Indian handicrafts.

Spend the night in a hotel in Jaipur.

We start our adventure to see this wonderful city by visiting the Amber fort after breakfast. Raja Man Singh erected this imposing hill fort in 1592. The fort, which still dominates the Pink City of Jaipur, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most fascinating thing to do at the Amber Fort is to ride an elephant to the fort's entrance. The fort is composed of sandstone and marble and is a flawless example of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles.

After there, we continue on to the Hawa Mahal, a famous building in Jaipur. The purpose of the Hawa Mahal was to allow Rajput women, who are forbidden from exposing their faces to men outside of their family, to view the royal processions that were held in Jaipur. The Hawa Mahal, which was constructed in 1799, was created by renowned architect Lal Chand Ustad. The 953 little windows in this five-story building, known locally as Jharokhas, are decorated with elaborate latticework.

An ancient planet observatory with the largest sundial in the world, Jantar Mantar is one of India's most magnificent architectural works of art. The Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II who constructed Jantar Mantar was so enamoured with astronomy that he first built the enormous stone monuments in wood so that any modifications could be addressed.

Travel back to the hotel after an outing. Spend the night in a hotel in Jaipur.

After enjoying a fantastic breakfast, we continue driving to Agra. On your way to Agra, you will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, which was erected by Akbar and served as the Mughal dynasty's brief capital. In honour of Khwaja Salim Uddin Chishti, who correctly foretold the birth of Salim (Jahangir), he constructed this city. The huge Buland Darwaza, a 54-meter-tall marble gateway constructed to honour Akbar's triumph over Gujarat, is one of numerous monuments in Fatehpur Sikri. The other noteworthy locations in Fatehpur Sikri worth visiting are the Jama Masjid, the Anoop Talao, the Birbal Palace, Diwan-e-Aam, and Karawan Serai, in addition to the Buland Darwaza.

You can check in to your reserved hotel with assistance when you arrive. You may enjoy the remainder of the day as you please.

Numerous ancient structures can be found in Agra, including the Taj Mahal, which is considered to be the world's most romantic structure. The Taj Mahal is the most exquisite building made of white marble that you will ever see; it was constructed by Shah Jahan for his most cherished wife, Mumtaz Mahal. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, it. Spend some quality time with your spouse's head on your shoulder or recite your marriage vows.

The hotel in Agra will be where you spend the night.

You will visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, on the sixth day of your cultural and historical tour of India. This masterpiece was created over the course of 21 years by 20,000 sculpture workers for an estimated cost of 32 million rupees at the time. The mausoleum is a remarkable example of human love, and UNESCO designated it a World Heritage site in 1983.

The Agra Fort, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra, is the next place we plan to see. by Akbar, the famous Mughal Emperor, who ordered it. This beautiful fort required 4000 labourers and 8 years of arduous labour to create. The Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam, Khas Mahal, and Jahangir Mahal are just a few of the beautiful buildings inside this fort, which served as the Mughals' primary home up until 1638.

Drive to the hotel now to spend the night in Agra.

On the seventh day of your cultural tour of India, check out of your accommodation in Agra and travel to Madhya Pradesh, the country's central region. The well-known city of Gwalior, which is situated in Madhya Pradesh, is significant historically since it was ruled by the Mughals, the Scindias, and the Marathas. In 3 hours, you'll arrive in Gwalior and receive assistance checking into the hotel you've reserved. You may enjoy the remainder of the day as you please. Enjoy Gwalior's sunset from the balcony of your hotel as you get ready for the expedition the next day. You can stroll around the hotel grounds or go sightseeing nearby.

Spend the night in a hotel in Gwalior.

We start our sightseeing trip of Gwalior today by going to the fort. Tatya Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai once used Gwalior Fort, one of the most significant locations of the 1857 uprising. This red sandstone fort, one of the largest of its kind, was constructed in the 18th century and covers a space of 3 square km. An inscription in a tiny shrine inside the Gwalior Fort contains the second-oldest known instance of the number zero.

Gwalior Fort's breathtaking magnificence will transport you on a charming journey through the back alleys of history. Inside the fort, you may explore a variety of buildings, including Jain temples, the Garuda monument, Sahastrabahu Temple, Man Mandir Palace, the Vikram Mahal, and Chhatri of Bhim Singh Rana.

After the excursion, go back to the hotel. Spend the night in a hotel in Gwalior.

After a delectable breakfast, you will travel to the unusual city of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. For its magnificent temples, the city is renowned. These more than a thousand-year-old temples are captivating and will leave you in awe of the exquisite beauty of the different sculptures inside. When you arrive, you will be assisted in checking into the hotel that has been reserved for you in Khajuraho.

Stay the night at the Khajuraho hotel.

After a lavish breakfast on the tenth day of the tour, you'll set off on the Khajuraho sightseeing tour. The sculptures on show at Khajuraho are a representation of numerous facets of Hindu culture and have a close connection to Hindu philosophy. Khajuraho became well-known for its sensual sculptures that depict the prehistoric Hindu book known as the Kamasutra. But in addition to these sculptures, there are numerous additional sculptures in Khajuraho that depict a wide range of other ideas, such as the guru-shishya relationship, friendship, and devotion to various gods and goddesses.

Khajuraho is attributed to the Chandela dynasty, which governed the region from 950 to 1050 CE. In the course of a millennium, Khajuraho's initial 85 temples were reduced to just 25 temples, which now make up the majority of the Hindu and Jain temples there. The Western complex, Eastern Complex, and Southern Complex are the three divisions of the temple complex, with the Western complex housing the majority of the temples.

The Western complex, which includes Shiva Jagdamaba, Chausath Yogini, and Lakshmana temples, is dominated by Hindu temples. You have the option of attending the Western complex's nightly colour and light display, which features voiceover work by renowned Bollywood actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Beautiful Jain temples make up the Eastern complex, and the enormous idols of Lord Parshvanath and Adinath add to its grandeur with their serene majesty. You will be in awe of the beautiful carvings in Khajuraho's stone.

After leaving the Khajuraho temple complex, relax to your hotel in Khajuraho for the evening with vivid memories of the stunning sculptures.

On the eleventh day of the journey, we will depart Khajuraho and head to the airport to board a flight to Varanasi.

Banaras or Varanasi holds a special place in Hinduism since it is said that those who are cremated there will achieve moksha. The theosophical movement started by Annie Besant and the Bhakti movement started by Sant Kabir Das, Haridas, and Tulsi Das both originated in Varanasi. Check into your accommodation, get ready and get ready to witness the Ganga Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, one of life's most amazing spectacles.

One of the most recognisable images of Varanasi is of bare-chested pandits conducting the Ganga Aarti beside the Ganga Ghat while the holy fire can be seen reflecting in the Ganga's holy waters. When you witness this show with your own eyes, you cannot help but feel the vibration of spirituality coursing through your body.

Spend the evening in your Varanasi hotel.

On the twelfth day of your cultural and historical trip of India, Varanasi rises early, and so will you. Today, we hire a boat to transport us over the calm, silky Ganga River to our destinations as we tour the city's major landmarks and Ghats.

We then head back to the hotel where we enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before getting ready for a tour of the Holy City. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is well known since it houses the city's patron god. One of Shiva's twelve Jyotirlingas, the Kashi Vishwanath Shivling is well known. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, popularly called the Golden Temple, was built in 1780 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is pleased to be ranked as the fifth-richest temple in India and is regarded as one of the country's oldest because the Puranas reference it.

Then pay a visit to Varanasi's famous Ghats, which include the Assi Ghat, the Harishchandra, and Manikarnika (special cremation Ghats). We'll also visit Ramnagar Fort and Dhamek Stupa, two additional noteworthy Varanasi locations.

After dark, head back to the hotel. Spend the night in a Varanasi hotel.

Our tour of India's culture and traditions comes to an end today. Get one last look at the holy Ganges and the spiritual city of Varanasi while eating your baronial breakfast. Take a cultural immersion tour of India, then head to the airport in Varanasi to catch a flight to Delhi, where your tour comes to an end.