AEI- 05 Triangle with Khajuraho and Varanasi 8N-9D
Expert Rating: Asia Escapes
“This program is a masterpiece of architecture and spirituality . What sets it apart from other tours is its ability to showcase the evolution of Indian art: from the Mughal elegance of the Taj Mahal to the sculptural boldness of the Khajuraho temples , culminating in the profound experience of Varanasi , Hinduism’s holiest city. It’s an itinerary designed for the traveler who doesn’t settle for the superficial and seeks an emotional connection with history. The combination of the Vande Bharat high-speed train with domestic flights ensures efficient logistics, allowing you to make the most of every minute in destinations that seem frozen in time.”
Day 1. Arrival-New Delhi
Arrival in Delhi on an international flight. Our Spanish-speaking representative will meet you at the airport, provide assistance, and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 2. New Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to visit Old Delhi. We will stop in front of the Red Fort and take a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Old Delhi. After the tour, we will head to Raj Ghat. This beautiful park is where the cenotaph, a black marble platform marking the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination, is located. Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi were also cremated there. We will continue our visit to New Delhi. We will see the government buildings, India Gate, a 42-meter-high stone triumphal arch inscribed with the names of the 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who died during World War I. We will enjoy a panoramic view of the Parliament area and the President’s residence.
Later, we will visit the Sikh temple: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, a temple of the Sikh faith, located in Connaught Place. It is the most important Sikh temple in Delhi. Thousands of people of all faiths visit this temple daily.
Finally, we will see the Qutub Minar, one of the oldest monuments in the first city of Delhi, as its construction began in 1199. This complex is characterized by its blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. Its minaret, the tallest in the world, reaches a height of 72.5 meters, arranged in five tiers of decreasing diameter. At the foot of the minaret is the Alai Darwaza Gate, made of red and yellow bricks, which once served as the entrance to the mosque. The tomb of Sultan Iltutamish and the mausoleum of Imam Zami are also located here. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 3. New Delhi-Jaipur (270 km, 4 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by road to Jaipur, arrival and transfer to the hotel. Jaipur, the Pink City, owes its nickname to the color of the sandstone used to construct the buildings of the old city. The city’s pleasing design is thanks to Maharaja Jai Singh II, who began its construction in 1728 and commissioned his architect, Vidyadhar Chakravarty, to skillfully blend diverse styles such as Hindu, Jain, Mughal, and Persian. In the afternoon, visit the Birla Hindu Temple. Overnight stay.
Day 4. Jaipur-Amber-Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Amber Fort, the ascent/descent will be by jeep . The fort was built by the Mughal kings to defend the Citadel. This complex consists of a group of buildings, including a palace and another fortress in a higher position. We continue our visit to the Maharaja’s Palace , residence of the Jaipur royal family, a complex full of palaces, gardens, and other buildings, among which the Chandra Mahal stands out. It has seven stories and houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, where you can see carpets, enameled objects, weapons, miniature paintings, cannons, and the maharajas’ garments. Photo stop at Jal Mahal and the Vietnos Palace, Hawa Mahal (a facade with the structure of a palace) which was used by women to watch processions and street life. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 5. Jaipur-Abhaneri-Well of a Thousand Steps-Agra (240 km - 04hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for Agra, visiting Abhaneri en route . Located about 95 km from Jaipur, Abhaneri is home to one of India’s deepest and most spectacular stepwells: Chand Baori . Built in the 9th century, this well served both to collect water and to provide a cool place to rest during the hot desert months. With more than 3,500 symmetrical steps distributed across 13 levels , it descends about 20 meters to the bottom. Opposite the well is the Temple of Harshat Mata , dedicated to the goddess of joy and happiness.
After the visit, departure for Agra and a visit to the Red Fort , declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The fort, dating from 1565, is designed as a walled palace surrounded by a deep moat. The fortress, accessed through an imposing gate called Amar Singh, contains numerous palaces and stately buildings constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar and used by successive Mughal governments as a base of operations for Mughal power. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 6. Agra
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal (closed every Friday throughout the year), the monument that has brought worldwide fame to Agra and become the symbol of India. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned in 1631 in honor of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Lady of the Taj, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1629. Construction, which involved 20,000 people, was not completed until 1653. It is the most representative example of Mughal architecture. The chief architect, Isa Khan, designed this complex within a rectangle measuring 508 by 304 meters, with a central garden flanked on all four sides by octagonal pavilions. The mausoleum, built entirely of white marble, stands on a marble base with a minaret, also white, at each corner, each reaching 41 meters in height. The central section consists of four small domes surrounding a larger one in the middle. The remains of this couple rest in the crypt of this two-story building. While the architectural ensemble is impressive in itself, the decoration known as pietra dura, featuring intricate details such as floral arabesques and geometric motifs in semi-relief with precious stones , is truly remarkable . Accommodation.
Day 7. Agra-Khajuraho (By train, departure 7:45 hrs, arrival 14:20 Khajuraho, except Monday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to take the Vande Bharat train (except Mondays) to Khajuraho. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the erotic temples of Khajuraho. Khajuraho – This is home to the largest group of Hindu temples in the country, famous for their erotic sculptures and their excellent state of preservation. The temples have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The name of the city comes from the Hindi word Khajur, meaning “date palm.” Khajuraho was the religious capital of the Chandella dynasty, which ruled this region of India between the 10th and 12th centuries. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Western Temple Group – This group contains the main temples of the complex, the most beautiful and best preserved. In addition to two ruined temples and the Archaeological Museum, this group includes the Lakshmana Temple (with erotic figures): believed to have been built by King Lakshavarman, who reigned between 925 and 950, making it one of the oldest temples. The southern or eastern group is located one kilometer from the western group and consists of two small temples: the Duladeo Temple, decorated with erotic sculptures, and the Chaturbhuja Temple, which houses a three-meter-tall statue of Vishnu. Accommodation.
Day 8. Khajuraho-Varanasi by Car (Flight operation between October and March)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by car to Varanasi, arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Varanasi, also known as Benares or Varanasi, is known as the Eternal City. It remains the most important pilgrimage site in all of India and a symbol of Hindu rebirth. Varanasi’s main attraction is the Ghats, the steps from which pilgrims descend to the sacred Ganges River. This afternoon/evening we will take a rickshaw ride and witness the Aarti ceremony at the Ghats of Varanasi. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 9. Varanasi-Delhi-next destination
At dawn, depart by car for the Ganges River. Upon arrival, walk to the boat embarkation point for a boat trip on the Ganges (subject to water level) to the cremation ghats, followed by a short walking tour to explore the narrow streets and part of the city’s heart. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
At the agreed-upon time, depart for a visit to Bharat Mata Temple, where you will see a scale map of India carved in marble. Afterward, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, wait in transit for your connecting flight.
Our price includes
- 8 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
- Local guide service in the client’s language: English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, French and Turkish.
- Assistance at airports and train stations by an English-speaking representative.
- Transfers and visits in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- Ascent to Amber Fort on elephant backs (subject to availability) and descent by Jeep.
- Train ticket on Shatabdi Express from Agra to Jhansi in an air-conditioned carriage.
- Rickshaw ride in Varanasi.
- Rickshaw ride through Old Delhi
- Semi-night visit (at dusk) to the ghats to see a ceremony on the banks of the Ganges.
- Boat trip on the Ganges River (subject to water level).
- Tickets to the monuments mentioned in the program.
- The rates applicable at this time.
Our price does not include
- Tips for porters, waiters, drivers, guides, etc.
- Fees for accessing monuments with cameras or videos.
- Extra expenses at the hotel such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
- Drinks are not included in the program, whether at lunch or dinner (in the case of optional drinks).
- Any other service not specified in “the price includes”.
Cities | Highlights |
New Delhi | Legacy of Empires: The contrast between the chaos of the Rickshaw in Old Delhi and the spiritual serenity of the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (Sikh temple). |
Jaipur | The Pink City: The jeep adventure to Amber Fort and the architectural delicacy of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). |
Abhaneri | Impossible Geometry: The Chand Baori stepwell , one of the oldest and most photogenic structures in India. |
Agra | The Triumph of Love: The visit to the Taj Mahal , perfection made of marble, and the imposing Red Fort. |
Khajuraho | Eroticism and Stone: The World Heritage temple complex, famous for its detailed and daring sculptures that celebrate life and divinity. |
Varanasi | The Eternal City: The magical Aarti Ceremony at sunset and the boat trip on the Ganges at dawn, observing the rituals of life and death on the Ghats. |
CITY / NIGHTS | CAT. C 4* | CAT. B 5* Standard | CAT. 5* Luxury |
Delhi / Gurugram | Hotel LA / Quality Inn | Radisson Dwarka / ITC Welcome Dwarka | The Leela Ambience Shahdara/ Crowne Plaza Okhla |
Jaipur | Regenta Place / Park Ocean | Royal Orchid Jaipur / Fern Ecotel | Hilton / Marriott |
Agra | Fern Howard / Regal Vista | Clark Shiraz / Doubletree by Hilton | Jaypee Palace / Marriott |
Khajuraho | Ramada / Golden Tulip | Radisson / Chandela | Lalit Temple View |
Varanasi | The Amayaa / Meraden Meraden Grand | Madin / Radisson | Taj Ganges / Surya Udai Haveli |
