Clear Tripz

Chichen Itza, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:22:56 PDT

The famous Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza (chee-chehn eet-sah) in Maya literally means: "Mouth of the well of the Itza", the name Chichen Itza is a Mayan word: CHI (mouth), CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the Itza tribe), it is located a 75 miles east of Merida, the Capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. This archaeological site is rated among the most important of the Maya culture and covers an area of approximately six square miles.

The architectural characteristics of Chichen Itza and that have a direct relationship with the Mayan Toltec style are: "El juego de la Pelota", "El Castillo", "El Grupo de las Mil Columnas", "El tzompantli", El Edificio de las Aguilas", "El templo de los Guerrerros", and "El Mercado". All of these buildings have the same decoration motives found in Tula. The most frequent representations are warriors and Quetzalcoatl.

The main attraction is the central pyramid, a square-based, stepped pyramid that is approximately 75 feet tall, El Castillo de la Serpiente Emplumada, which means "Castle of the Plumed Serpent," and is pictured at the top. The plumed serpent is a popular deity in various Mesoamerican cultures. "El Castillo" is surely the place where the ceremony of the descent of Kukulkan was held. The pyramid has special astronomical layout so that a game of light and shadow is formed. On March 21st the body of the serpent metaphorically descends from the temple on top of the pyramid and arrives at the heads at the foot of the staircase.

Just beyond El Castillo you will find a large ball court where Mayan men played a game called pok ta pok. Anthropologists believe that the object of the game was to hurl a ball through a ring that was mounted on a wall, seven meters above the ground. The largest Ball Game in Mesoamerica is 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width.

The Temple of Chac Mool, upon whose walls and interior pillars there are richly colored carvings of plumed serpents, warriors, and priests. The upper building only partially reflects its true grandeur. There are three sculpted masks with extremely long noses on the outer walls and at the corners. On the inner walls of the vaults there were murals with scenes of war and daily life. The altar tables and benches may have served as seats and thrones for dignitaries.

In the "Templo de los Guerreros" there is a temple on the top part where the entrance columns are typically Toltec. Another one of the buildings that have a Toltec seal without is the "Muro de los Craneos". These buildings were destined to be the mausoleums of the tying up the years. Every 52 years the ancient Mayans and other cultures would tie up a sheaf of years to end a cycle. Platform of Venus or of the Dance, Sacred Well or the Well of the Sacrifices, Tzompantli, that displays figures of skulls in relief.

In the Central Group of the Ruins you can find:

The Red House or Chichan Chob, the name of this building, situated upon a high platform, is derived from the fragments of red paint that were found in its interior. The word "Chichan Chob" means "small holes" and probably alludes to its Lime roof comb. The structure is comprised of an antechamber and three rooms and has a sculptured hieroglyphic inscription in the main chamber. The building must have had a religious and public use, since there is a Ball Court joined to its eastern side, with bas-reliefs in the Maya-Toltec style.

The Caracol or Observatory This structure is known as the Observatory due to its shape and some possible astral associations, since astronomical events concerning the planet Venus and the setting of the sun during the three windows in the upper section. The name "Caracol" (conch) comes from the spiral stairs that lead to the upper part of the building.

The Church, This small building with only one chamber owes its name to its proximity to the so called "convent" of the Nunnery and to the exuberant decoration on its upper facade, which rises even higher due to its lofty roof comb. One can observe large areas covered with the original stucco on the Grecian frets of the central panel. "Bignosed" masks constitute the main element of the facade, with a seated figure, god or ancestor integrated upon the nose of the central mask. There also are figures of the four carriers of the corners of the sky, "bacabes" or "pauahtunes", kneeling in the side panels. It’s appearing that the builder had certain difficulties in placing the three large masks rescued from earlier buildings on the roof comb and opted to suppress detail. Up to now, it is not known what the function of this building was, and in spite of the overloaded decoration of the building, it is one of the best architectural examples of the Puuc style in Chichen Itza.

Temple of the Carved Panels, the name of this building comes from the relieves carved on the north and south walls of the colonnade, depicting scenes of numerous people, plants, and animals, both real and imaginary, which are dominated by two warriors. The building is made up of a temple erected on a slab foundation with a colonnade in front of it. The offerings discovered during exploration of the fire - related rituals.

All areas can be seen comfortably in one day. Also you should enjoy the wonderful Light and Sound Show that is held every evening. At the entrance to Chichen Itza, there is an informative museum, a dining room, clean restrooms, a few gift shops and vendor stands.

Chichen Itza was first populated between 500 and 900 AD by Mayans and for some reason abandoned around 900; the city was then resettled 100 years later and subsequently invaded by Toltecs from the North. There are numerous relieves of both Mayan gods including Chac and the Toltec gods including Quetzacoatl. For some reason the city was abandoned around 1300. If the Spanish did not make it a policy to kill all of the Mayan priests and burn books when they arrived in Mexico, we would all have a few more answers.

The ruins are divided into two groups. One group belongs to the classic Maya Period and was built between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D., at which time the city became a prominent ceremonial center. The other group corresponds to the Maya Toltec Period, from the later part of the 10th century to the beginning of the 13th century A.D. This area includes the Sacred Well and most of the outstanding ruins.

When Chichen-Itza was first settled it was largely agricultural. Because of the many cenotes in the area, it would have been a good place to settle. During the Central Phase of the Classic Period, referred to as Florescence, (625-800 A.D.) arts and sciences flourished here. It was at this time that Chichen-Itza became a religious center of increasing importance, evidenced by the buildings erected: the Red House, the House of the Deer, the Nunnery and its Annex, the Church, the Akab Dzib, the Temple of the Three Lintels and the House of Phalli.

Toward the end of the Classic Period, from 800 to 925 A.D., the foundations of this magnificent civilization weakened, and the Maya abandoned their religions centres and the rural land around them. New, smaller centres were built and the great cities like Chichen Itza were visited only to perform religious rites or bury the dead. The Itza people abandoned their city by the end of the 7th century A.D. and lived on the west coast of the peninsula for about 250 years. However, by the 10th century A.D. they returned to Chichen Itza.

Around 1000 A.D. the Itza allied themselves with two powerful tribes, Xio and Cocom, both claiming to be descendants of the Mexicans. This alliance was favourable to the Itza for about two centuries. During this time, the people of Chichen Itza added to the site by constructing magnificent buildings bearing the touch of Toltec art: porches, galleries, colonnades and carvings depicting serpents, birds and Mexican gods.

The Toltec influenced the Itza in more ways than just architecture. They also imposed their religion on the Itza, which meant human sacrifice on a large scale. They expanded their dominions in northern Yucatan with an alliance with Mayapan and Uxmal. As the political base of Chichen Itza expanded, the city added even more spectacular buildings: the Observatory, Kukulkan's Pyramid, the Temple of the Warriors, The Ball Court, and The Group of the Thousand Columns. The Temple of the Warriors has pillars sculptured in bas-relief, which have retained much of their original colour. Murals once adorned its walls. It is surrounded by numerous ruined buildings known as the Group of a Thousand Columns. In 1194, Mayapan broke the alliance and subdued Chichen and Uxmal. The city was gradually abandoned.

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:46:17 PDT

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is located at the top of Corcovado Mountain. The entire monument of statue of Christ the Redeemer is 38m high with the statue accounting for 30m and overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro is one of the tallest statues in the world; the span from finger tip to fingertip is 28m and there is a small chapel housed in the base.

The reason why it was built was to show that Christ loves all. In Portuguese, this iconic monument is known as Cristo Redentor. Christ the Redeemer was designed by a French sculptor by the name of Paul Landowski and a local engineer named Heitor da Silva Costa was chosen to supervise the entire construction. The statue was built not out of steel but from reinforced concrete as that was considered a more suitable material for the cross shaped statue. The external caps of the idol were constructed in soapstone due to the resistance of this material to the extreme time and also due to its malleability.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer can be accessed by the 2.4 meter Corcovado Railway that has the capacity to hold 360 passengers every hour. The trip by rail is approximately 20 minutes and leaves the base each half hour. From the road or the train terminal Christ the Redeemer statue is reached by 222 steps. For those not wishing to make the arduous trek up the mountain, reaching the statue is possible by escalators and elevators.

Christ the Redeemer is one of the tourist attractions that every year attracts to more and more visitors. The best time to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue is late afternoon or evening when you can enjoy the splendour of the setting sun while taking in one of the most important landmarks in the world.

The history brings over of the construction of Christ's Redeemer statue begins in the century XVI, when the Portuguese gave the name of “Corcovado Mountain”, to one of its more impressive mountains an allusive name to its form hump.

In 1924, Don Pedro personally drove to the first official expedition to the Corcovado Mountain, this expedition end with the opening of an accessible raise to the above mentioned mountain. Then in 1859 the father Vincentian Pedro Maria Boss came to Rio de Janeiro and was struck by the mysterious beauty of the Corcovado Mountain and suggested the construction of a religious monument in honour of Princess Isabel, who in 1921 gave way for the idea of a great statue of Christ.

From 1859 to 1921, Don Pedro gave his consent for the building of the Corcovado Railroad line between Cosme Velho and Paineiras. After a hard competition, the project by the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa is chosen and in September, a national fundraising campaign for the works is organized.

Finally, in 1927, the construction of the statue begins after models of diverse sizes had been constructed. All calculations were done by Coast Hisses, helped by Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy, which during the years of construction, resided in a shed of wood at the foot of the monument.

All the necessary work material and workers who participated in the construction of the Christ statue were transported to Corcovado by the trains from the railroad that links the street Cosme Velha, which today functions as a tourist train to the top. The train was the first in Brazil appointed exclusively to transportation of tourists and also the first train to work by electricity.

The monument was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. The final design of the monument was of the artist Carlos Oswald and the person in charge of realizing the sculptress was the Frenchman Paul Landowskitura. The monument to Christ, the Redeemer on the Corcovado Mountain is one of the biggest déco sculptures in the world. Up to today, several reforms have been completed to assure the quality of the Christo Redeemer. Lighting has been added, and the latest renewal of September 2002 is the addition of a panoramic elevator and motorized staircase to ease the difficulty for elderly persons.

Great Wall of China, China

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:46:29 PDT

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties.

The steps that form the Great Wall of China are very steep and tall in some areas. Tourists often become exhausted climbing the wall and walk no more than a kilometre or two (around a mile). In some areas the blocks were cemented with a mixture of glutinous rice and egg white. In the extreme western desert locations, where good materials are scarce, the wall was constructed from dirt rammed between rough wood tied together with woven mats.

The Wall is included in lists of the "Seven Medieval Wonders of the World" but was of course not one of the classical Seven Wonders of the World recognized by the ancient Greeks.It is the world's longest human made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km in total. It is also the largest human made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass.

Three sections are in Beijing municipality, which was renovated and which is regularly visited by modern tourists. One of the most striking sections of the Ming Great Wall is where it climbs extremely steep slopes. It runs 11 kilometres long, ranges from 5 to 8 meters in height, and 6 meters across the bottom, narrowing up to 5 meters across the top. Wangjinglou is one of Jinshanling's 67 watchtowers, 980 meters above sea level.

South East of Jinshanling, is the Mutianyu Great Wall which winds along lofty, cragged mountains from the southeast to the northwest for approximately 2.25 kilometers. It is connected with Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to the east. Another notable section lies near the eastern extremity of the wall, where the first pass of the Great Wall was built on the Shanhaiguan, the first mountain the Great Wall climbs. Jia Shan is also here, as is the Jiumenkou, which is the only portion of the wall that was built as a bridge.

The construction of the Great Wall China began in the 7th century B.C., under the Dynasty Zhou. This wall was constructed along many hundreds of years. The first version of the wall was constructed to support invaders far from the villages that cultivate the land for the Chinese border. These walls were constructed in weak points in the natural landscape or where the threat was perceived like the major one.

Some of these walls eventually became of greater strategic importance when the localised defences were gradually joined to form the Great Wall of China. At those times that the Chinese territory expanded northward, earlier walls became secondary defences when a more northerly wall was built. The Great Wall of China was built by soldiers, civilians, farmers and prisoners, primarily during three dynasties: the Qin, the Han and the Ming, although the Sui Dynasty and the Ten Kingdoms period also played a part. The building styles of each dynasty added their own flavour and advanced the techniques learned from the previous.

The first dynasty of China was the short lived Qin Dynasty. The first emperor, Qin ShiHuang, was a tyrannical emperor who unified China by force and set about constructing one Great Wall by joining. He even sent scholars to work on the Great Wall, anyone who was deemed unproductive. These workers faced arduous labor, and the constant danger of being attacked by bandits.

Most of early Great Wall was composed of weak stone, but when the natural stone in an area was not sufficient did that the engineers were turning to another method, there had to be used a rectangular frame that was filled with loose soil. This soil was trampled for several hours by a team of workers until this was solid. This process of landfill and to trample would be repeated again and again until the wall was reaching the wished height.

The second dynasty to add to the Great Wall was the Han Dynasty. The most notable contribution of the Han Dynasty is that they extended the Great Wall westwards through the Gobi Desert. Despite a lack of building materials, ingenious Chinese engineers found a solution. This method involved first laying down a layer of willow reeds, possibly woven. Then a layer of gravel and a little water was applied and trampled solid. After the trampling, a new layer of reeds and gravel was added. This process would be repeated until the desired height was reached. Amazingly, some portions of this Great Wall are still standing, partly due to the dry conditions of the Gobi.

The last dynasty to build a northern wall was the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This dynasty built the biggest, longest, strongest and most ornate Great Wall ever. These are the walls that we are familiar with today. Their methods of Great Wall building fused all that was learned by the two previous dynasties. First, a center of trampled earth was created. Then, around the firm center was applied a shell of stone and bricks. The bricks that were created by the Ming are so strong that they compare well with the ones we use today. The strong Ming wall was built across some of the most dangerous terrains in China, including steep mountains, sometimes on 75 degree inclines. It has been said that every foot of the construction of this Great Wall cost one human life.

The Ming Dynasty Great Wall starts on the eastern end at ShanHai Pass, near QinHuangDao, in Hebei Province, next to Bohai Sea. It once spanned 9 provinces and 100 counties, but the final 500 kilometers of the Great Wall to the west have all but turned to rubble. Along the Ming Great Wall of China there are many watchtowers, spaced from less than a kilometer to several kilometers or more apart. These were partly used to transmit military messages. Fire and smoke were the most efficient means for communication; fire was used at night and smoke during the day. Straw and dung was used for this. In 1468, a series of regulations set specific meanings to these signals: a single shot and a single fire or smoke signal implied about 100 enemies, two signals warned of 500, three warned of over a 1000 and so on. In this way, a message could be transmitted over more than 500 km of the Great Wall within a few hours.

Machupicchu, Peru

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:46:43 PDT

Machu Picchu is located on a remote secondary road in nearly impassable terrain high above the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu sits nearly 2438 meters (8000 feet) above sea level, on top of a ridge between two peaks of different size. The name "Machu Picchu" comes simply from its geography. It literally means "old peak", just as "Huaynapicchu" is "young peak". The more accurate translation relates, however, to the concept of size, with Machupicchu as the "bigger peak" and Huaynapicchu, the "smaller peak".

Machu Picchu, the most famous citadel of the Incas, is accessible by train from Cusco or traveling along the Camino Inca. The city was never discovered by the conquerors Spanish and remained lost for centuries. Machu Picchu is an architectural jewel, which combine perfectly the architectural style with the beautiful natural environment that surrounded it. The Beauty and the Mystery of its walled ruins that once was the palace the thinnest Inca of stone surrounded by the virginal landscapes, the flora and green jungle bathes its abrupt topography.

The citadel is divided into two sectors: the agricultural and the urban, where there are main squares, temples, palaces, storehouses, workshops, stairways, cables and water fountains which run through both sectors, which measure 20 and 10 hectares respectively. Machu Picchu was built according to its natural surroundings, with its constructions following the natural curves and dips and rises in the land.

The sector is surrounded by a series of terraces of different types and sizes which had two main functions: to grow crops and halt the erosion caused by the rains. The most eye catching terraces lie at the entrance to the citadel. They begin at the cluster of rooms located at the entrance and climb up to the top of the mountain until they stop at a large rectangular room. There are no canals as they were not necessary, as the constant rains and ever-present humidity allowed the plants to grow without irrigation. The only water channel that flows through the urban sector crosses through the central terrace.

The control gate is made up of a three walled room with a view with several windows, which can be found in front of the main gateway. There is a good panorama from here of the agricultural and urban sectors and the surrounding landscape. In the upper part, they also found sculpted stones that belong to the area, which indicated the Incas used the stones to make offerings to their gods. On this same piece of ground lies a granite boulder sculpted with steps. But the most striking feature is that it is pierced with a ring, the purpose of which is unknown.

One can see a long stairway that leads to the front gate. This sector houses the most important constructions of any Inca city, where one can appreciate the talent, effort and quality of the pre Hispanic builders, as the constructions are entirely made of granite, a very hard rock that is different from that used in Cusco. The city is U-shaped and containing the temples, houses and workshops on platform terraces that the american scientist Bingham, called the Military Group.

The Temple of Sun is shaped like a semi-circle and built on solid rock, an existing granite block shaped to blend with the natural curves, with a diameter of 10.50 meters. The Intiwatana is located on a hill made up of several terraces, it is a granite rock sculpted into three steps. In the central part one can see a rectangular prism that is 36cm high and which is pointing from North-West to South-East. Its four corners are directed to the four cardinal points. The Intiwatana had specific functions: it measured time (the solstice and the equinox) by using sunlight and shadow, and also served as an altar. In Quechua, "Inti" means "sun" and "Wata" means "year", thereby giving us the meaning of a solar year observatory.

The sacred rock, located in a four-sided spot flanked by two three-sided rooms, features a monolithic rock sculpture. The pedestal, which is approximately 30cm high, resembles a feline. From another angle, it looks like the profile of a mountain near Machupicchu. The Temple of Three Windows is located west of the main square, has a large rectangular floor. The enormous polyhedrons have been carved and joined with millimetric precision.

The Main Temple is located north of the Sacred Square, very near the Temple of Three Windows. Doors are a common sight in Machupicchu and especially in this sector. They vary in texture, size and architectural style that set them apart from each other, although all have the same trapezoid shape. To the South of the complex, between the Temple of the Sun and the Royal Palace, the area houses a series of water fountains, the only sources of the vital element for the residents of Machu Picchu.

There are four main squares at different levels, but share the characteristic of being rectangular in the classic Inca style, interconnected by sunken stairways in the parameters of the terraces. The main square is the largest, which just like the main squares in all Inca cities had religious and social functions.

Machu Picchu was done constructed and used by Inka Pachakuteq, that was the greatest statesman of the Tawantinsuyo, Pachakuteq ruled from 1438 for 1471, called the great age of the Inca empire; unfortunately it lasted less than 100 years, because the empire collapsed under the Spanish invasion. Although the citadel is located only about 50 miles from Cusco, Machupicchu, it was never found and destroyed by the Spanish, as were many other Inca sites.

In the XIX century explorers like Eugenie de Sartiges, George Ephraim Squire, Antonio Raimondi and Castelnau never reached Machu Picchu, although most of them crossed the Andes to the almost inaccessible ruins of Choquekirau, built high above the Apurimac River. In fact, the outside world simply stumbled upon Machupicchu, for it had never been lost to those who lived around it.

In December 1908, Bingham attended the First Panamerican Scientific Congress in Santiago, Chile. It was there that he decided to follow the old Spanish trade route from Buenos Aires to Lima, and it was to that end that he traveled to Lima and hence to Cusco. In Cusco Bingham made the acquaintance of one J.J. Nunez, then prefect of the Apurimac region, who invited him on the arduous trip to the ruins of Choquekirau.

On his return to the USA, Bingham decided to organize another expedition to Peru. Bingham returned to Cusco from where he journeyed on foot and by mule through the Urubamba Valley, past Ollantaytambo, and on into the Urubamba gorge. On July 23, Bingham and his party camped by the river at a place called Mandor Pampa, where they aroused the curiosity of Melchor Arteaga, a local farmer who leased the land there. Bingham learned from Arteaga that there were extensive ruins on top of the ridge opposite the camp, which Arteaga, in his native Quechua, called Machu Picchu, or "Old Mountain". Bingham offered to pay Arteaga well if he showed the ruins. He demurred and said it was too hard a climb for such a wet day, accompanied only by Seargeant Carrasco and Arteaga, Bingham left the camp. From the river they climbed a precipitous slope until they reached the ridge at around midday.

Here Bingham rested at a small hut where they enjoyed the hospitality of a group of peasants. They told him that they had been living there for about four years and explained that they had found an extensive system of terraces on whose fertile soil they had decided to grow their crops. Bingham was then told that the ruins he sought were close by and he was given a guide, the 11-year old Pablito Alvarez, to lead him there.

Almost immediately, he was greeted by the sight of a broad sweep of ancient terraces. They numbered more than a hundred and had recently been cleared of forest and reactivated. Here young Pablito began to reveal to Bingham a series of white granite walls which the historian immediately judged to be the finest examples of masonry that he had ever seen.

According to Bingham, "I had entered the marvellous canyon of the Urubamba below the Inca fortress. Here the river escapes from the cold plateau by tearing its way through gigantic mountains of granite. The road runs through a land of matchless charm. It has the majestic grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, as well as the startling beauty of the Nuuanu Pali near Honolulu, and the enchanting views of the Koolau Ditch Trail on Maui, in my native land…..”

Machupicchu, the ancient Inca City was named to be part of the new list of the Seven Wonders. The global vote that began in 1999, accumulated near 20 million votes in its initial phase. And the final decision on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal to name to Machupicchu one of the New Seven Wonders of the Contemporary World for satisfaction of the Cusqueño town (Cusco's people). Machu Picchu is today the main archeological site of Peru and America, and probably the most beautiful place of the world.

Petra, Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:46:54 PDT

Petra is approximately at 3-5 hours to the south of modern Amman, approximately 2 hours to the north of Aqaba, on the edges of the mountain desert of the Wadi Araba. The city is surrounded by the highest hills of rust by colored sandstone that gives a natural protection to the city against the invaders.

Petra has more than 800 individual monuments, including buildings, tombs, baths, funeral corridors, temples, arched income, and adjacent streets, which especially were carved in the kaleidoscopic sandstone by the technical and artistic genius of their inhabitants. Petra's monuments are best seen by the visitors at early hours of the morning and last hour of the evening, when the Sun warms the multicoloured stones.

The site is semi arid, the friable sandstone which allowed the Nabataeans to carve their temples and tombs into the rock crumbling easily to sand. The colour of the rock ranges from pale yellow or white through rich reds to the darker brown of more resistant rocks. The contorted strata of different-coloured rock form whorls and waves of colour in the rock face, which the Nabataeans exploited in their architecture.

Petra was chosen as the capital of the Nabateans because it was located in a valley surrounded by Sandstone Mountains. There are many ways to get into Petra, but none of them are easy, and if the valleys are sealed, it is almost impossible for anyone to enter.

The main entrance to Petra is called the Siq; it has sides as high as 200 m. This gorge and the temple in the end of it (the Kazneh) were popularized in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Of all 800 tombs carved in Petra, the Kazneh is the most famous. His name Kazneh means "treasure" and comes from the Bedouin belief that the Pharaoh who prosecutes the Israelites concealed his exchequer in the urn in the high of the Kazneh. The fronts of tomb were constructed of the top downwards. The channels were carved in the rock.

The Monastery is the largest tomb façade in Petra, measuring 50 m wide and 45 m high. Despite its name, it was built as a tomb monument and may have acquired its name from the crosses inscribed inside. Like the Kazneh, the structure consists of two stories topped by a magnificent urn.

Archaeologists believe that Petra has been inhabited from prehistoric times. Just north of the city at Beidha, the remains of a 9000-year-old city have been discovered, putting it in the same league as Jericho as one of the earliest known settlements in the Middle East. The Bible tells of how King David subdued the Edomites, probably around 1000 BCE. According to this story, the Edomites were enslaved, but eventually won their freedom. A series of great battles were then fought between the Judeans and the people of Edom.

As many as 30,000 people may have lived in Petra during the 1st century A.D. It is a misconception that Petra was a city only for the dead. A large earthquake in 363 A.D. destroyed at least half of the city. Petra never recovered from this destruction.

Petra was seen first when discovered in 1812 after being lost by the 16th century for almost 300 years. The classical name Petra, and the early name Sela both mean the same thing, "Rock"; and surely no city was ever more aptly named. But "Rock" only conveys half the picture of the city; the wild, fantastic shapes of the hills, the great chasms which cleave them, the brilliant colouring all these must be seen to be believed. Petra is unique alike in its antiquities, its natural setting, and its approach.

Roman Colosseum, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:47:02 PDT

Rome was a center of learning, trade and commerce for ages and has contributed significantly in the development of these areas. The origination of the word “Coliseum”, probably come from colossal statue of Nero which once stood near the stadium.

The discussion of Rome would be unfinished without the description of so the much talked Roman Colosseum. But non doubt the architecture and the concept is definitely a matter of appreciation and pride.

Originally was the Flavian Amphitheatre, an elliptical amphitheatre located in the heart of the city of Rome. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. The building was constructed by emperors of the Flavian dynasty, hence its original name. In antiquity, Romans may have referred to the Colosseum by the unofficial name Amphitheatrum Caesareum; this name could have been strictly poetic.

The Colosseum or Coliseum occupies a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian, opened by Emperor Titus in 80 AD with 100 days of games which roughly have taken the lives of some nine thousand animals and remodeled by Domitian who constructed the hypogeum, a series of underground tunnels used to house animals and slaves. Also he added a gallery to the top Colosseum to increase its seating capacity.

The Coliseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, with a capacity of 50 000 spectators. It was used for the next 500 years with the last recorded games being held there. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. It ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era and it was later re-opened for such varied purposes as housing, workshops; quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.

Today the Colosseum is in a ruined condition, due to damage caused by an earthquakes and stone-robbers. For a long time it has been seen as an icon symbol of Imperial Rome. It’s one of modern Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads torchlight “Way of the Cross” procession to the amphitheatre. The Coliseum is depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.

The construction began under the rule of Vespasian Emperor around 70-72. The site was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine hills, through which a canalized stream ran. Later the area was densely inhabited by the 2nd century. The Great Fire of Rome in AD 64 devastated it, in addition Nero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain. He built the grandiose Domus Aurea on the site, in front of which he created an artificial lake surrounded by pavilions, gardens and porticoes. To supply water to the area, the existing Aqua Claudia aqueduct was extended and the gigantic bronze Colossus of Nero was set up nearby at the entrance to the Domus Aurea.

Although the Colossus was preserved much of the Domus Aurea was torn down. The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Flavian Amphitheatre. Within the former grounds, gladiatorial schools and other support buildings were constructed nearby the Domus Area. The Coliseum can be thus interpreted as a great triumphal monument, in accord to a reconstructed inscription found on the site, “the emperor Vespasian ordered this new amphitheatre to be erected from his general’s share of the booty”. This is thought to refer to the vast quantity of treasure seized by the Romans following their victory in the Great Jewish Revolt.

The Colosseum was badly damaged by a major fire around 217, possibly caused by the lightning which destroyed the wooden upper levels of the amphitheatre’s interior. It was not fully repaired until about 240 and underwent further repairs in 250 or 252 and again in 320. In 443 a possibly to repair damage caused by a major earthquake. The arena continued to be used for contests well into the 6th century with gladiatorial fights last mentioned around 435. Animal hunts continued until at least 523.

During the medieval period, the Coliseum underwent several radical changes. The arena was converted into a cemetery. Around 1200 the Frangipani family used it as a castle, but the great earthquake of 1349 caused the outer south side to collapse. Much of the tumbled stone was reused to build palaces, churches, hospitals and other buildings elsewhere in Rome.

In 1749, the Pope Benedict XIV consecrated the building to the Passion of Christ and installed Stations of the Cross, declaring it sanctified by the blood of the Christian martyrs who perished there.

Due to the ruined state, the Coliseum cannot use to host large events so much of these larger concerts have been held just outside, using the building as a backdrop. The Colosseum was covered with an enormous awning known as the velarium. This protected the spectators from the sun. It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes. A team of some 1,000 men was used to install the awning.

Taj Mahal, India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:47:15 PDT

The Taj Mahal is standing majestically on the right bank of River Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards; the Taj Mahal is synonymous of love and romance. The Taj Mahal complex is organized in a rectangle, measuring approximately 310 x 550 meters. It comprises a number of buildings and structures, all functioning together as the funerary monument for Mumtaz Mahal.

The entire architectural complex mainly consists of five major constituents the Darwaza (The main gateway), Bageecha (The gardens), Masjid (The mosque), Naqqar Khana (The rest house), Rauza (The main mausoleum).

The Taj Ganj area leads to the southern gate into the forecourt of the Taj Mahal complex, although the eastern and western gates of the Jilaukhana are more frequently used by tourists. The latter two gates are identical, with central pointed-arch Pishtaqs flanked by octagonal pilasters crowned with Guldastas (ornamental flower pinnacles).

The southern gate is similar to the east and west ones in its verticality. Due to the natural gradient of the site, which slopes toward the riverbank, this gate lies 2.4 m above the ground elevation of the Jilaukhana itself. Two bazaar streets begin at the east and west gates and lead to the Jilaukhana. The bazaars consist of individual rooms (Hujra) along an arcaded Verandah of multi-cusped arches that are supported on slender columns. The Jilaukhana consists of a large courtyard with 128 hujra rooms opening directly onto the courtyard.

To the northeast of the Jilaukhana are the khawasspuras, two residential enclosures. The north side of the Khawasspuras abuts the southern galleries that flank the great gate to the east and the west. The outer southern corners of the enclosures in the khawasspuras have rooms giving access to latrines. The two Saheli Burj (inner subsidiary tombs) enclosures to the east and west of the Jilaukhana are the tomb complexes of two other wives of Shah Jahan. The saheli burj enclosures have gardens arranged in the Chahar Bagh style, with a pool of water in the center surrounded by paved walkways.

The tomb buildings are octagonal, single-story structures, built on a plinth. The walls are formed of multi cusped arcades. The building and its plinth are clad in red sandstone; the structure is topped by a bulbous white marble dome. Inside, the south door of both of the Saheli Burj tombs leads to the cenotaph within. The colours of the exterior cladding are reversed in the interior: the walls are clad in white marble, while the Jalis and ceiling are sandstone.

The great gate (darwaza-i rauza) is a large structure with triadic openings the base of the gate measures nearly 38 meters and its peripheral walls, including the cupolas, are 30 meters in height. The central Pishtaq, also including the cupolas, is 33 meters in height and 19 meters wide. The gate is composed of red sandstone with decorative panels and accents in white marble.

The entry Iwan contains Muqarnas in red sandstone, which contrasts with the white plaster paint outlining each segment. Topping the central Pishtaq is a series of eleven arches in red sandstone, capped by a chajja. This arrangement of architectural elements into rows is found on both the north and south side of the gate, in keeping with the design of the Taj Mahal complex and its internal hierarchies. The corners of the gateway are accentuated by engaged towers, also of red sandstone, that project outward slightly; these towers are decorated with frames of white marble.

The pointed arch on the south elevation of the darwaza-i rauza partially frames the visitors' first glimpse of the main structure, the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal. Flanking the darwaza-i rauza on the north, two double arcaded galleries of multifoliate arches known as the southern galleries, one to the east and one to the west, overlook the large garden that precedes the main mausoleum. The columns of the outer and inner arcades differ only in the decoration of their bases: the outer ones have floral decoration alluding to the garden. The platform of the galleries extends into the garden, and its decorative tile paving pattern faces the garden. The galleries terminate on the east and west ends in rooms which are entered from within the gallery.

A shallow water canal (nahr) runs along the centre of the primary walkways; a line of equidistant water fountains runs down the center of the nahr. Geometric patterns in red sandstone depicting regular and elongated stars decorate the edges of the central pathways running on each side of the nahr. At the intersection of the primary walkways is a raised platform with a square water tank (Hauz) at its center. Five fountains are located within the tank, one at each of its four corners and one in its center. The east-west walkways terminate in two-story pavilions (Naubat Khanas) that merge into the outer garden walls. Aqueducts supplied water to the garden from the Yamuna River just north of the mausoleum. The central fountains operated with an underground system of copper vessels connected by copper pipes. At present the garden contains relatively few trees, consisting mainly of fairly maintained grass lawns.

The two Naubat Khanas (drum houses) are constructed on raised platforms and have two floors. On each level, the naubat khanas have a triple archway in the center of the east and west elevations, respectively. On the ground level, the arches are closed with a Jali screen; on the upper level, they remain open. The floor slab of the upper story projects beyond the wall above and below to form a balcony as long as the building; carved red sandstone handrails run along its length, and carved sandstone brackets help support it from below. The Tahkhana, a gallery of rooms arranged in a row and connected by a narrow corridor, is reached by two staircases that descend from openings in the surface of the plinth to the east and west of the mausoleum.

The secondary, square marble plinth, 93 meters long, is centred on the sandstone terrace. The mausoleum proper and the four minarets flanking it are placed on this marble plinth. The base of the plinth is decorated with delicate carvings of vegetal motifs, which also appear on the white marble cladding of the mausoleum.

In the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal complex, the central chamber is double-height and octagonal in plan. At its center rest the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The chamber is capped by a shallow dome and decorated with niches on each two-story wall. These niches on the cardinal axes have Jali screens, fitted on the external faces of the walls, which allow light into the room. The niches on the diagonal axes hold rectangular doors. The niches are separated into lower and upper stories by an inscription band that runs around the interior. On the upper level, these frames are replaced by Muqarnas that begin to transform the octagonal plan into a circular ring for the dome. The shallow dome, which is the lower portion of the double dome used for construction, thus appears as decorated with an extended pattern of the Muqarnas that support its base.

The floor of the tomb chamber is tiled with octagonal marble stars in alternating cruciform modules, each outlined with inlaid black stone. Each side of this marble octagonal screen is divided into three panels; only one opens to access the cenotaph. The cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal is a rectangular block placed on a platform decorated with Quranic verses on the upper block and naturalistic motifs on the lower base.

On the roof of the mausoleum is a high drum, topped with a bulbous dome measuring 25.6 meters high by 17.6 meters wide. Four diagonally placed chhatris flank the drum. The terrace provides a view of the garden below; it is accessed by staircases from the ground floor that lie on either side of the entrance to the mausoleum. The four elevations reflect the symmetry of the mausoleum's plan. The two frames flanking the central Pishtaq contain blind arched niches on the upper and lower levels. Each corner of the building presents a chamfered elevation (to the northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest).

The frame of the mausoleum's central Pishtaqs, as with other similar forms within the complex, is decorated with an inlaid Thuluth inscription of a Quranic verse. At the Pishtaq's highest point is a linear pattern of floral motifs running between two extended engaged columns capped with guldastas. As compared to the larger central Pishtaqs, these two sub-pishtaqs are less elaborately treated, with pilasters on the outer elevations decorated with an inlaid herringbone pattern in black and dark yellow. These pilasters are flanked by square panels, framed with horizontal and vertical chevrons, at their base.

The mosque and Mihmankhana are located to the west and east of the mausoleum building. Symmetrical and identical in design, it is conjectured from records that the mosque was built first, followed by the Mihmankhana. The mosque has a Mihrab in its Qibla wall, highlighted by a marble frame with an inscription of the Sun Sura. The floor of the mosque also differs from that of the Mihmankhana; it is patterned in Muslim prayer mats. The ceilings are finished in the Sgraffito technique, consisting of a coat of red plaster laid over a white one. Floral designs are later carved through the red layer, to appear in white.

The southwest tower contains a Stepwell (baoli) whereas that to the south of the Mihmankhana holds chambers leading to latrines. The southwest tower with the baoli also has a well shaft running down the centre of the structure and extending through its five floors: three above, two below. The two tower pavilions north of the mosque and Mihmankhana contain chambers leading to latrines on the lower levels, and stairs leading toward the riverbed. The four riverfront towers are each octagonal in plan. Each tower has a central room with an ambulatory path circling around the exterior. The exterior walls have multi-cusped blind arches; each terrace has an Oriel window (Jharoka) with views of the river. The towers are clad in red sandstone and have floral motifs carved in relief with marble inlays on panels.

Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled Mumtaz Mahal a Muslim Persian princess. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public.

She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child. When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. But this has not been proven to be true, till date.

According to legend, after his wife’s death, Shah Jahan reportedly locked himself in his rooms and refused food for eight days, when the emperor emerged from his seclusion, his black beard visible in many Mughal miniature paintings had turned completely white. For the monument to his wife, Shah Jahan chose a site occupied by sprawling gardens on a bend in the left bank of the Yamuna River. Six months later, her body was transferred to Agra to be finally enshrined in the crypt of the main tomb of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

The construction of Taj Mahal started in the year 1631 and it took approximately 22 years to build it. It made use of the services of 22,000 labourers and 1,000 elephants for the transportation of the construction materials. The materials used in the Taj Mahal complex are bricks, sandstone and white marble. Brick sizes varied between 18-19 x 11-12.5 x 2.3 cm, a standard size since Akbar's rule. These bricks were baked in kilns on the outskirts of Agra. The sandstone used in the complex has a colour varying from soft red to red with a yellow tint. White marble came from the quarries of Makrana in Rajasthan, approx. 400 kms southeast of Agra. The marble used in the complex was a white one with black and grey streaks.

The greatest technical problem in the construction of the Taj Mahal was its heavy superstructures near the riverfront. This was accomplished using wells cased in wood and filled with rubble and iron, spaced at 3.75 meters on center. Precious and semi-precious stones are used in the decoration of the mausoleum than elsewhere in the complex. These stones include lapis lazuli, sapphire, cornelian, jasper, chrysolite and heliotrope. A strict discipline in colours and decoration is visible in the detailed ornamentation of the Taj Mahal. Floral relief carvings are found on the marble and sandstone walls; these carvings are stylistically related to the pietra dura work, yet are worked according to the material of the building they adorn.

The Taj Mahal architecture is a kind of fusion of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. Specific design credit is uncertain, and is given by different sources to Istad Usa, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, Isa Muhammad Effendi or Geronimo Veroneo. But construction documents show that its master architect was Istad Usa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. And how the entire complex is designed in such a way that the apparent organic unity of the whole does not obscure the individuality of any part, nor does it detract from the prominence of the Taj Mahal proper. It was completed in 1648 at a cost of 32 Million Rupees (more than 750 000 dollars).

Golden Triangle Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:31:40 PDT

The tour is a personalised individual tour & can be started any time of year / month . The car, guides will be exclusively for you only. The tour is based on private departures , whereby you can benefit from having a private air-conditioned car, stop en-route for breaks or photo opportunities.

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi - Agra ( By train dep. 0615 arr 0815 ) Agra - Jaipur (By Raod Approx 5 Hrs)
Early morning pick up from hotel & transfer to railway station to board the superfast air-conditioned train to Agra. Breakfast in the train, Arrive Agra in approx. 02 hours & visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife Also visit the Agra fort - the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms & enjoy a lavish buffet lunch in a 5* hotel in Agra. After lunch drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town” which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Jaipur & transfer to Hotel .Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 03 / Jaipur- Delhi ( By train dep 1745 arr 2230 )
After a leisurely breakfast , visit the majestic Amber Fort, is one that cannot be easily described. Ride up on Elephants to the former capital of the royals set against the backdrop of the wooded hills.Later visit the City Palace, Palace of Winds also known as Hawa Mahal, this elaborate building, now little more than a façade, is encrusted with delicate screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could sneak views of the outside world. Past, present and future merge at Jai Singh's observatory, where time has been accurately measured since the 17th century. Evening transfer to railway station to board the air conditioned train to Delhi, Dinner in the train , Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel .Night stay in Delhi.

Day 04 / Delhi - Departure
After breakfast checkout from hotel and proceed for sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House, Mahatama Gandhi Memorial. Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Later transfer to airport for onward flight.

Cost Per Person
	16 Apr 2009 - 31 Aug 2009		01 Sep 2009 - 15 Apr 2010
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 906	USD 1758	USD 1074	USD 1987
Royal	USD 612	USD 1169	USD 711	USD 1326
Classic	USD 487	USD 919	USD 605	USD 1115
Jewel	USD 395	USD 695	USD 427	USD 758
Economy	USD 353	USD 611	USD 380	USD 663
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling. For Luxury Category Summer Package Starting From 01 May 09.

Cost includes:
» 3 Nights accommodation as per the itinerary.
» Daily Breakfast
» All transfers in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
» Train tickets of Delhi - Agra & Jaipur - Delhi in air conditioned Chair Car.
» Sightseeing of Delhi, Jaipur & Agra by Air conditioned car.
» Local English speaking Professional Guides.
» Elephant ride (subject to availability) in Jaipur
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Any Airfares, Entrance fee to the Monuments.
» Beverages, Tips, Laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in Cost includes.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Jaipur : The Oberoi RajVilas

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Jaipur : Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer / Ramada Plaza / Country Inn & Suits by Carlson

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace

Luxury Tour India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:31:47 PDT

Luxury Tour India is a state of mind where one feels beyond the expectations. For a visitor, India is a mesmerizing mix of natural beauty, creativity, spirituality, a country with perfect fusion of the modernity and archaic where a bullock carts and jets co-exist in perfect harmony. India is one of the world's most colorful, complex destinations with twenty one world heritage sites, over a billion inhabitants, over a thousand deities and over a hundred languages. Not only this, people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian. So, the Luxury Tour is the best way to experience royal Indian hospitability with the flexibility of creating your own luxury itinerary as per your preferences from the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated peninsula of far South, from the deserts of the West to the humid deltas of the East, from the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography. You will really discover India on the diverse Luxury Tours and can visit to the exotic heritage and cultural destinations like cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on the Golden Triangle Tour and see the magnificent forts and palaces of the Mughals and the Rajputs. With us, any place in India is a home away from home!

India is a one of the world's most colorful, complex destinations. we at culture holidays specializes in luxury tours to India. Our luxury tours are designed to provide you with the luxury holiday experience of your dreams, at a fair price Our tours are based on extensive ground research refined through feedback from thousands of clients.You will really discover India on the diverse luxury tours and can visit to the exotic heritage and cultural destinations like cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on the Golden Triangle Tour and see the magnificent forts and palaces of the Mughals and the Rajputs.

Luxury Tour Packages India
Golden Triangle(03 Nights/ 04 Days) By train and car	Golden Triangle(03 Nights/ 04 Days) By car
Golden Triangle(04 Nights/ 05 Days) By car	Golden Triangle(05 Nights/ 06 Days) By train and car
Golden Triangle(05 Nights/ 06 Days) By car	Golden Triangle(06 Nights / 07 Days) By train and car
Golden Triangle, Tiger & Udaipur (09 Nights/ 10 Days)	Golden Triangle and Ganges (08 Nights/ 09 Days)
Images of India (17 Nights/ 18 Days)	Colors of India (18 Nights/ 19 Days)
Royal Rajasthan (18 Nights/ 19 Days)	The Heritage Rajasthan (18 Nights/ 19 Days)
Romantic India (19 Nights/ 20 Days)	Cultural Heritage (13 Nights/ 14 Days)
Colourful Rajasthan (13 Nights/ 14 Days)	Romance of the Desert (13 Nights/ 14 Days)
Classic India - Nepal (15 Nights/ 16 Days)	Treasures of India (22 Nights/ 23 Days)
Essence of India (26 Nights/ 27 Days)	Glimpses of India (19 Nights/ 20 Days)
Palace on wheels (07 Nights/ 08 Days)	Heritage on Wheels (03 Nights/ 04 Days)
Deccan Odyssey (07 Nights/ 8 Days)	The Golden Chariot (07 Nights / 08 Days)

Heritage Tour India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:32:37 PDT

India’s rich cultural heritage tour reminds the past glory and the majestic lifestyle of the India emperors. From north India to south India and east India to west India, the historic monuments, ruins of forts and palaces exemplified the mastery over art and architecture. This vibrant art and architecture depicted in the Indian monuments became the source of attraction for the foreign tourists as heritage tour of India. The famous world fame heritage monuments of India are Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri in Agra; Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb in Delhi; Elephanta Caves in Mumbai; Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad; The Sun Temple in Konarak; Group of Monuments in Mahabalipuram; Churches and Convents in Goa; Group of Monuments in Khajuraho; Group of Monuments in Hampi; Group of Monuments in Pattadakal; Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur and Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi. The heritage tours of India also take the tourist to heritage hotels like The Taj Lake Palace, Jai Mahal Palace, Ram Bagh Palace etc. in Rajasthan; Judge’s Court, Taragarh Palace, Nalagarh Fort etc. are in Himachal Pradesh; Nilambagh Palace, Utelia Palace, Wankaner Palace etc. are in Gujarat that give the most comfortable and luxurious stay while experiencing the rich cultural and heritage tour of incredible India. The heritage tour of India has become quite a few parallels in the world when the tourists exploring India through heritage train tours - The Palace On Wheels, The Royal Orient, The Deccan Odyssey and The Fairy Queen – that provide an opportunity to experience the royal life of erstwhile maharajas and nawabs of India.

Cultural Heritage (13 Nights/ 14 Days)
Treasures of India (22 Nights/ 23 Days)
Classic India - Nepal (15 Nights/ 16 Days)
Heart of India (9 Nights/ 10 Days)
Romantic India (19 Nights/ 20 Days)
Essence of India (26 Nights/ 27 Days)
Western Perspective (08 Nights/ 09 Days)
Glimpses of India (19 Nights/ 20 Days)
Romantic Khajuraho (04 Nights/ 5 Days)
Images of India (17 Nights/ 18 Days)
Colors of India (18 Nights/ 19 Days)
Essential India (15 Nights/ 16 Days)
North India Special (12 Nights/ 13 Days)
Romance of the Desert (13 Nights/ 14 Days)
Colourful Rajasthan (13 Nights/ 14 Days)
Royal Rajasthan (18 Nights/ 19 Days)
Forts and Palaces (07 Nights/ 08 Days)
Magical Rajasthan (25 Nights/ 26 Days)
Rajasthan Fascination (22 Nights/ 23 Days)
The Heritage Rajasthan (18 Nights/ 19 Days)
Flavours of Rajasthan (21Nights/ 22 Days)
Desert Trail (16 Nights/ 17 Days)
The Kingdom Of Mewar And Marwar (11 Nights/ 12 Days)

Goa Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:32:44 PDT

Day 01
Arrive Goa, meet assist at the airport/railway station and transfer to hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day 02
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the beach. Night stay in Goa.

Day 03
Relish your breakfast and Excursion to Dudhsagar. The evening at leisure. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear or take an optional tour visiting "Goa of the past"-a mackup village which portrays Goa what it was 100 years ago. Night stay in Goa.

Day 04
After breakfast, proceed to airport / railway station for journey to onward destination.

Beaches in India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:32:10 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai, meet assist at the airport. Transfer to hotel and night stay in Mumbai.

Day 02 / Mumbai
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Mumbai covering Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering nice view of Marine Lines & Chowpatty Beach, Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay) and then to Dhobi Ghat. Also visit Afgan Church, Flora Fountain (Bombay nerve centre), Colourful Crawford Market and Marine Drive. Night stay in Mumbai.

Day 03 / Mumbai - Goa
Transfer to the airport to board flight to Goa. Meet assist and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Goa.

Day 04 / Goa
The exquisite churches from the Portuguese era with their remarkable architecture and mysterious history make the city truly exhilarating. Goa’s splendid coastline extends over 100 kilometres, and some of the world’s most charming beaches are located here. If time permits, Churches of astounding historical importance could squeeze in.
Morning half-day sight-seeing tour from the slopes of Altinho Hill for a breathtaking view of Panjim and river Mandovi. Then to Dona-Paula for a view of India's largest natural harbour-Mormugao. Afterwards visit old Goa and see the Basillica of Bom Jesus which contains the tomb & mortal remains of St. Francis Xavierh housed in a silver ornate casket , Se. Cathedral- the biggest Church in the East, St. Cajetan- built like St. Peter (Rome), Church of Our Lady Rosary and St. Monica. Rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day 05 / Goa - Kochi
Transfer to airport to board the fligt to Kochi. Arrive Kochi and transfer to hotel. Spend the afternoon in city sightseeing. Kochi (formerly Cochin) is the most beautiful coastal city and one of the largest ports of India. It is a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas. Here you can see the oldest church in India, congested Portuguese-built colonies, Chinese fishing nets, an ancient "white Jewish" community which has survived for 1000 years, a fabulous 16th century synagogue, a palace which contains the most beautiful murals, and many other attractions. The Fort of Cochin is the oldest European fort in India. The St Francis Church is the oldest European church in India The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568, is the oldest in the Commonwealth. Night stay in Kochi.

Day 06 / Kochi - Allapuzha
Morning proceed to half-day tour to Gundu Island by boat through the backwaters and see remarkable coir industries on the way. In the afternoon, drive to Allapuzha, arrive and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Allapuzha.

Day 07 / Allapuzha - Kottayam - Periyar
Proceed to backwater cruise to Kottayam. Afternoon drive to Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Night stay at the lodge. Kottayam is a pretty town at the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is a commercial centre noted for its trade in rubber, spices, tea, etc. It is also the main centre of the Syrian Christians (75% of the Kerala Christians). Night stay in Periyar.

Day 08 / Periyar
Spend the day in the jungle, in Periyar, best approached from Kottayam (80km). The 800 sq. km wildlife sanctuary skirts the Periyar Lake at its centre. Cruise on the lake while taking in the pleasures of this habitat. You can see tigers, deer, wild dogs, lion-tailed macaque, Malabar squirrel and sloth bears. The lake attracts all kinds of water birds. In the vicinity are lofty observation towers, and a medieval palace, now a hotel. Night stay in Periyar.

Day 09 / Periyar - Madurai
Transfer to railway station to the train to Madurai, arrive and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Madurai.

Day 10 / Madurai - Chennai
Proceed to half-day tour of Madurai. Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, Madurai is the ancient capital of the Pandya Kings. Legend has it, that the divine nectar falling from the locks of Lord Shiva gave the town its ancient name, Madhurapuri—the land of nectar. Today, it is an important business centre. The crowning glory of Madurai is the Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple Complex, which is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, her consort Lord Sundareshwara, and her celestial brother, Lord Vishnu. The Meenakshi Temple has a thousand-pillared hall. Afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of Madurai. Afternoon, transfer to airport to board the flight to Chennai. Arrive Chennai and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Chennai.

Day 11 / Chennai - Departure
Morning proceed for half - day sightseeing tour of Chennai. The city is the capital of Tamil Nadu, earlier known as Madras. Chennai is bestowed with a 4.5 kilometre long stretch of shore, called Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world. A lighthouse here enables the visitor to see the entire city—a breathtaking sight. Also spend some time at the 40km long fascinating beach. Historically important are an old Catholic Church and a famous Durgah. Later transfer to airport to board the flight for onward journey.

Cost Per Person
	16 Apr 2008 - 30 Sep 2008		01 Oct 2008 - 15 Apr 2009
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Royal	NA	NA	USD 2235	USD 4255
Classic	NA	NA	USD 1405	USD 2635
Economy	NA	NA	USD 1065	USD 2010
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling.

Cost includes:
» 10 Nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Surface Travel by exclusive air-conditioned car.
» All Meals in Air-condition Houseboat
» All transfers & sightseeing as per the itinerary by air-conditioned car.
» Local English speaking guides.
» All taxes, driver allowances, Parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare
» Tips, laundry.
» Any item not shown in Cost Includes.

Hotels Selected - Royal ( 5 star )
Mumbai : Trident
Goa : Raddison
Kochi : Trident
Periyar : Spice Village
Alleppey : A/C Houseboat
Madurai : Sangam
Chennai : Grt Raddison

Hotels Selected - Classic ( 4 star )
Mumbai : Ambassdor
Goa : Cida Di Goa
Kochi : Bolghatty Palace
Periyar : Aranyanivas
Alleppey : A/C Houseboat
Madurai : Sangam
Chennai : Ambassodor Pallava

Hotels Selected - Economy ( 3 star )
Mumbai : Godwin
Goa : Marquis
Kochi : Fort Queen
Periyar : Periyar House
Alleppey : A/C Houseboat
Madurai : Germanus
Chennai : Breeze Hotel

Buddhist Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:33:08 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi , Meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi-Lucknow
Sravasti Morning transfer to railway station to board Shatabdi exp. for Lucknow , Arrive Lucknow , After lunch leave for Sravasti by road , Arrive Sravasti & transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 03 / Sravasti-Lumbini
Morning visit Sahet Mahet. Later leave for Lumbini- the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years, enroute visit Kapilavastu - it was in Kapilavastu's opulent environs, that the holy soul of prince Siddharth (Gautam Buddha) spent his childhood. Here he saw sorrow and pain, disease and death. Then, finally when he saw a radiant happy Sadhu who had conquered all these, he decided to renounce all worldly riches and pleasures to seek truth and embark on the path of salvation. On arrival transfer to hotel . Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04 / Lumbini-Kushinagar
Morning visit Birth place of Lord Buddha , Later leave for Kushinagar - Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha ,on arrival transfer to hotel . Afternoon visit Nirvana Temple , Ramabhar Stupa & Cremation site of Lord Buddha . Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 05 / Kushinagar-Patna
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for Patna enroute visit Vaishali carrying box lunch. On arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 06 / Patna–Rajgir-Bodhgaya
Morning leave for Bodhgaya - As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. It attracts tens of thousands of believers from all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, enroute visit Nalanda & Rajgir - Like many others in search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation. . On arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 07 / Bodhgaya
Breakfast at hotel. Visit temple and Niranjana river. Meals and overnight at hotel.

Day 08 / Bodhgaya-Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for Varanasi, carrying box lunch. On arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Sarnath - where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modern temple. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 09 / Varanasi-Kathmandu
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges. Breakfast at hotel. Later transfer to airport for flight to Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu & transfer to hotel. After lunch city tour of Kathmandu. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Day 10 / Kathmandu
After breakfast visit to Patan City , Swyabhunath , golden temple & Bodhnath . Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Day 11 / Departure
Transfer in time to airport for onward destination.

Buddhist Tour India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:33:21 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi - Agra - Varanasi
Early morning transfer to railway station to board the air conditioned suparfast train for Agra , Breakfast in the train , Arrive Agra in approx. 2 Hours, Meet assist at railway station and visit the world famous Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. Also visit the Agra fort - the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions, Evening transfer to railway station to board the air conditioned sleeper train to Varanasi.

Day 03 / Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi, meet assist at the railway station & transfer to hotel. Later excursion to Sarnath - where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modern temple. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 04 / Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning drive to Bodhgaya & transfer to hotel. Bodhgaya - As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Later visit Mahabodhi Temple, Niranjana River, Sujata Village. Night stay in Bodhgaya.

Day 05 / Bodhgaya - Ragjir - Nalanda - Patna
After Breakfast drive to Patna enroute sightseeing of Nalanda & Rajgir. Rajgir -The picturesque Rajgir, or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode of kings) is surrounded by the meandering river Banganga and 5 hills. During the lifetime of the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka school to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers. Like many others in search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation. Nalanda -Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, meaning Insatiable in Giving, one of the names by which the Lord Buddha was known. Arrive Patna and tranfer to hotel . Night stay in Patna.

Day 06 / Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar,Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha enroute visiting Vaishali. Arrive Kushinagar & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Kushinagar.

Day 07 / Kushinagar- Lumbini
After breakfast visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple & Stupas , later drive to Lumbini & transfer to hotel. Lumbini - the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Evening sightseeing tour of Lumbini including a visit to the birth Place of Lord Buddha. Night stay in Lumbini.

Day 08 / Lumbini Sravasti
After breakfast drive to Lucknow enroute Sravasti - the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here. In Sravasti visit Saheth - Maheth & Jetvan. Night stay in Sravasti .

Day 09 / Sravasti - Lucknow - Delhi
After breakfast drive to Lucknow & transfer to railway station to board the air conditioned train for Delhi. Arrive Delhi, pickup from railway station & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 10 / Delhi - Departure
After breakfast checkout from hotel and proceed for sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House, Mahatama Gandhi Memorial. Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Evening transfer to airport to board the onward flight.

Cultural Heritage Tours of India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:33:29 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After breakfast gear up for your visit of Old & New Delhi:
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. The evening is free to be spent at your leisure. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Mandawa
After early breakfast drive to Mandawa, often called the open air art gallery of Rajasthan', the region is famous for the high quality frescoes. Arrive Mandawa & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Mandawa.

Day 04 / Mandawa - Jaipur
After breakfast take a walking tour of the painted 'havelis' of some of the leading business families of the country. Though they no longer live here, the local caretakers are happy to show the visitors around. Chowkhani Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli, Mohahanlal Saraf Haveli and Bhagchandika Haveli are of special interest. Spend the major part of the day looking into frescoes. Later drive to Jaipur - the fabled “pink city” of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharajaof Jaipur.This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it.The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendours are now living monuments. Arrive Jaipur & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 05 / Jaipur
After breakfast proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. It's forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Later city sightseeing tour of Jaipur covering:
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at the intricate work or a gem factory and see the gem cutting and polishing process. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 06 / Jaipur - Agra
After breakfast drive to the City of Tajmahal- Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri- a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town” which was the estranged capital of mughal emperorAkbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Agra and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Agra.

Day 07 / Agra
After breakfast visit the magnificient Taj Mahal -one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife.Also visit the Red fort - the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Evening free to explore the rich handicrafts of Agra. Night stay in Agra.

Day 08 / Agra - Jhansi ( By train ) Jhansi - Orchha ( By surface)
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi , Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel. Later tour of this historical site with magnificient temples and monuments. Some of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay in Orchha.

Day 09 / Orchha - Khajuraho ( By surface )
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 10 / Khajuraho
After breakfast explore the Western and Eastern temples of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and legends behind each describable sculpture. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 11 / Khajuraho - Varanasi
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 12 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Visit the deer park and the museum and later back to Varanasi . Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 13 / Varanasi - Delhi
Morning at leisure, Afternoon transfer to airport to connect the flight for Delhi , Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or last minute shopping etc. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 14 / Departure
Transfer to airport in time to board the onward flight.

Cost Per Person
	16 apr 09 - 31 Aug 09		01 Sep 09 - 15 Apr 10
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 2816	USD 5475	USD 3315	USD 6315
Royal	USD 1890	USD 3621	USD 2159	USD 4163
Classic	USD 1508	USD 2858	USD 1855	USD 3553
Jewel	NA	NA	USD 1459	USD 2759
Economy	USD 1267	USD 2324	USD 1297	USD 2435
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling.

Cost includes:
» 13 nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Agra-Jhansi in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers, sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur ( Subject to availability), Boat ride in Varanasi.
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Any meals except breakfast.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes

Internal Flights Cost
(Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi) : USD 268 per person in economy class.
Airfares are subject to change any time without any prior notice.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Agra : The Oberoi Amarvilas
Jaipur : The Oberoi RajVilas
Mandawa : Castle Mandawa / Desert Resort
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela / Jass Radisson
Varanasi : Taj Ganges / Radisson

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Mandawa : Castle Mandawa / Desert Resort
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela / Jass Radisson
Varanasi : Taj Ganges / Radisson

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Holiday Inn
Jaipur : Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer / Ramada Plaza / Country Inn & Suits by Carlson
Mandawa : Castle Mandawa / Desert Resort
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Clarks / Hotel Ramada Plaza
Varanasi : Clarks Varanasi / Ideal Tower

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Mandawa : Castle Mandawa / Desert Resort
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Clarks / Hotel Ramada Plaza
Varanasi : Hotel India/ Meraden Grand

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Hotel Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Mandawa : Mandawa Haveli / Hotel Heritage Mandawa
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Green wood or Similar
Varanasi : Hotel India/ Meraden Grand

Central India Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:33:43 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Gwalior
Entrain to Gwalior, gateway to Madhya Pradesh, by luxury train. Transfer. Sightseeing includes an extraordinary fortress and its riches of ancient and medieval temples, mosques and palaces.Gujari Mahal is a monument to the love of RajaMansingh Tomar for the intrepid Mrignayani a tribal Gujar Queen. Man Mandir Palace - Built between 1486 and 1517 by Raja Mansingh. Vast chambers with fine stone screens were once the music halls.The 9th century Teli Ka Mandir,towering a 1000 ft high, is a Pratihara Vishnu temple of a unique blending of architectural styles. Night stay in Gwalior.

Day 03 / Shivpuri
Morning proceed for Shivpuri 117km south-west of Gwaliori. A pleasant lake surrounded by gardens here has been a summer retreat for the Scindia royalty who wished to escape from the oppressive summers of Gwalior. Shivpuri houses a wildlife sanctuary and several hunting lodges. Near Shivpuri, ancient Jain temples scattered across a hilly slope glisten in the sun. Return to Gwalior for night stay.

Day 04 / Orchha (approx. 112km south of Gwalior)
After breakfast drive to orchha & transfer to hotel. Orchha: founded by Rudra Pratap, a Bundela ruler. The region is situated on the banks of the Betwa River. Later, Orchha was the capital of Bir Singh Deo (1605-1627) who built the Jehangir Mahal to please the Mogul emperor Jehangir. Close-by, near the border of Madhya Pradesh, is Datia, site of the 7-storeyed palace of Bir Singh Deo. Afternoon visit local sightseeing of Orchha - palaces of the Bundela rulers still retain their medieval grandeur. The palace walls are decorated with colourful frescoes executed in the manner of miniature paintings, and depict scenes from the popular legend of love between Radha and Lord Krishna. Night stay in orchha.

Day 05 / Orchha / Pachmarhi ( by car)
After breakfast visit the Ram Raja Temple, the only temple in India where devotees worship Lord Rama as a king, and Phool Bagh, an artificial cascade. After finishing the sightseeing drive to pachmarhi : at 1100 metres above sea level, this the most exquisite all-season hill-resort of MP. The entire landscape of long pathways, wooded shades and rocky facades is strewn with history and mythology .Transfer to hotel.Night stay in pachmarhi.

Day 06 / Pachmarhi
After breakfast visit the 10,000 years old rock paintings in the caves of Mahadeo Hills. The Pandava Caves were the mythical home of the exiled Pandava princes during the Mahabharata era. Night stay in pachmarhi.

Day 07 / Pachmarhi - Bhopal
After breakfast visit the sacred cave of Jata Shankar resembles the matted locks of Lord Shiva. Then Rajat Pratap, the 350-feet-high waterfall is honeymooners’ delight. There are many other exciting primitive temple sites and rock formations. After finishing the sightseeing drive to Bhopal & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Bhopal.

Day 08 / Bhopal
Bhopal offers an uncommon blend of Hindu and Muslim cultures, a unique web of northern and southern influences. Except the lake of Raja Bhoj, little remains of the ancient city. The city is built at the fringe of the Malwa Plateau on a slope, like an amphitheatre. It is generously endowed with landscaped gardens and pools.

Day 09 / Sanchi
68km north of Bhopal by car, a hill rises to pay obeisance to the oldest and grandest Buddhist edifice—the Sanchi Stupa—at its crest. Built by the emperor-turned-monk Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty in the 3rd century BC, the Stupa is 16 metres high and 37 metres in diameter. The massive dome evokes rare serenity, and the encircling pathway with four entry points adds to the solemnity. Return to Bhopal before sundown. Transfer to hotel.

Day 10 / Delhi
Return to Delhi from Bhopal by luxury train. Transfer to hotel. Transfer to airport for onward journey.

Central India Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:34:14 PDT

Romantic India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:34:21 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial , Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Udaipur (By flight)
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple. Maharana Jagat Singh built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5 million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is at a great height and can be approached by a long flight of stairs. Later visit Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies .Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar Lake. Maharana Sangram Singh II designed this garden in the early 18th century purely as a pleasure garden and a summer palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part of the prince’s dowry. The Maharanas entertained themselves around the four ornamental pools and the five fountains. These fountains were imported from England in 1889. Maharana Bhopal Singh specially was very fond of this place and built a rain fountain, so that it looked like rain dancing on the dancing maids. Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 04 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit the City Palace museum, The City Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world, can be approached through the Bari Pol or the Great Gate (1600) with the royal drums and then onto the Tripolia Gate (1725). The Tripolia is a triple gate made of marble arches. Between these two gates are eight carved toranas or archways under which the maharanas were weighed against gold and silver which was later distributed to the poor subjects. Popular entertainment like elephant fights took place in the court beyond the Tripolia Gate. Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum) The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Also visit the Pratap Memorial. Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favorite horse"Chetak".Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 05 / Udaipur - Jodhpur (By road)
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 06 / Jodhpur (By road)
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 07 / Jodhpur - Jaisalmer (By road)
Morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Jaisalmer.

Day 08 / Jaisalmer
Morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a city of gilded magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century, when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the foundation of a new city. Visit the magnificient fort, the Patwon Ki Haveli ( Mansion) and Salim singh Ki Haveli, with their carved balconies and brackets which are supreme examples of the art. Evening camel ride to visit Sam Dunes. Night stay in Jaisalmer.

Day 09 / Jaisalmer - Bikaner (By road)
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade center on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which can be entered from 5 gate. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay in Bikaner.

Day 10 / Bikaner - Jaipur (By road)
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening at leisure . Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 11 / Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 12 / Jaipur - Agra
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and later abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the remains, it fortifications within the city including Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Agra.

Day 13 / Agra
Morning at sunrise visit the world famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, Also visit the Agra Fort, containing the Pearl Mosque - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Also visit Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by Noorjehan in memory of her father. Night stay in Agra.

Day 14 / Agra - Jhansi (By train) Jhansi - Orchha (By surface)
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi , Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel. Later tour of this historical site with magnificient temples and monuments. Some of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay in Orchha.

Day 15 / Orchha - Khajuraho (By surface)
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 16 / Khajuraho
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. The divine sculptures in these temples, are a tribute to Life itself, embodying everything that is sublime and spontaneous about it. The murals depict the life and times of the Chandelas, and celebrate the erotic state of being. They not only testify to the mastery of the craftsman, but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose reign, these temples were constructed. The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern. After breakfast explore the Western, eastern and southern temples of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and legends behind each describable sculpture.
Western Group
Kandariya Mahadeo: This is the largest, and most typical Khajuraho temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars 31 m high. The sanctum enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine is ornately carved and depicts various gods, goddesses, apsaras (heavenly maidens) in elaborate detail.
Chaunsat Yogini: The oldest surviving temple in the group (900 A.D.), this is the sole granite temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. Another Kali temple, which was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is the Devi Jagdambe temple.
Chitragupta Temple: Dedicated to the sun-god, Surya, this temple faces eastwards to the rising sun.
Vishwanath Temple: The temple enshrines a three-headed image of Lord Brahma. Lions guard the northern entrance to the structure, while elephants flank the southern flight of steps that lead upto it. A Nandi bull faces the shrine.
Lakshamana Temple: The lintel over the entrance of this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, shows the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort. The sanctum is adorned with a three-headed idol of Vishnu's incarnations, Narasimha and Varaha.
Matangeshwara Temple: This temple, which happens to be outside the precincts of the western group, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It boasts of an eight feet high lingam. Eastern Group
Parsavanatha Temple: The largest in the group of three Jain temples, the Parsavanath image in this temple, was installed in 1860.
Ghantai Temple: This Jain temple has a frieze depicting the 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a Jain goddess perched on a winged Garuda.
Adinatha Temple: The last of the Jain temples, is dedicated to the Jain saint, Adinatha, and is gorgeously adorned with sculptures of yakshis among others.
The three Hindu temples in this group are the Brahma temple, which has a four-faced lingam, The Vamana temple which is embellished with images of ravishing apsaras at their alluring best; and finally the Javari temple, with its ornate gateway and lavish carvings.
Southern Group
Duladeo Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the highlights of this temple are the sensuous images of the apsaras, and other exquisite sculptures. Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple sports a huge, elaborately carved image of Vishnu in the sanctum.
Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 17 / Khajuraho - Varanasi (By flight Dep 1330 Arr 1410)
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 18 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Today Sarnath is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century. Sarnath has many more ruins of monasteries and stupas.The spot at which the stupa stands is believed to be the place from where Buddha gave his forts sermon. Sarnath has an extremely rich collection of Buddhist statues. These sculptures are the images of Buddha and Bodhisatva. Visit the deer park and the museum, later back to Varanasi. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 19 / Varanasi - Delhi (By flight)
After breakfast sight seeing of Varanasi (the oldest and holiest city of India) covering Temples, Aurangazeb’s Mosque and one of the biggest university of India. Afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 20 / Departure
Transfer to airport to board the onward flight.

Cost Per Person
		16 Apr 09- 31 Aug 09	01 Sep 09 - 15 Apr 10
Luxury	Twin	USD 3821	USD 4606
Royal	Twin	USD 2262	USD 3009
Classic	Twin	USD 1790	USD 2366
Jewel	Twin	NA	USD 1876
Economy	Twin	USD 1470	USD 1561
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling.

Cost includes:
» 19 nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Jhansi-Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers , sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur (Subject to availability), Boat ride in Varanasi/ Udaipur
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Any meals except breakfast.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes

Internal flights
Delhi-Udaipur, Khajuraho-Varanasi -Delhi : USD 403
All airfares are subject to change any time without any prior notice.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Agra : The Oberoi Amarvilas
Jaipur : The Oberoi RajVilas
Udaipur : Udaivilas
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela / Jass Radisson
Varanasi : Taj Ganges / Radisson
Jodhpur : Taj Hari Mahal
Jaisalmer : Fort Rajwada / Taj Rawalkot
Bikaner : Laxmi Niwas / Gajner Palace

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Udaipur : Trident / Shiv Niwas / The Lalit Laxmi Vilas Palace /Radisson Plaza Resort & Spa
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela / Jass Radisson
Varanasi : Taj Ganges / Radisson
Jodhpur : Taj Hari Mahal
Jaisalmer : Fort Rajwada / Taj Rawalkot
Bikaner : Gajner Palace / Laxmi Niwas

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Holiday Inn
Jaipur : Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer / Ramada Plaza / Country Inn & Suits by Carlson
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Clarks / Hotel Ramada Plaza
Varanasi : Clarks Varanasi / Ideal Tower
Udaipur : Uday Kothi / Shikarbadi
Jodhpur : Balsamand /Park Plaza / Ranbanka
Jaisalmer : Gorbandh Palace/ Rangmahal
Bikaner : Lallgarh / Karni Bhawan

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Clarks / Hotel Ramada Plaza
Varanasi : Hotel India/ Meraden Grand
Udaipur : Amet Haveli / Hotel Rajdarshan / Swaroop Vilas
Jodhpur : Pal Haveli / Mapple Abhay
Jaisalmer : Hotel Mandir Palace / Garh Jaisal
Bikaner : Lallgarh / Karni Bhawan

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Hotel Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Green wood or Similar
Varanasi : Hotel India/ Meraden Grand
Udaipur : Mahendra Prakash Haveli / Hotel Shree Jagdish Mahal
Jodhpur : Ratan Vilas/ Shreeram International
Jaisalmer : Nachana Haveli /Mahadev Palace
Bikaner : Harassar Haveli/ Desert Winds/ Hotel Sagar / Hotel The Oberoi RajVilas

Essence of India Tours

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:34:31 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial , Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Udaipur ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the the Jagdish temple. Maharana Jagat Singh built this temple between 1628-1653 at a whopping cost of Rs 1.5 million. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is at a great height and can be approached by a long flight of stairs. Later visit Saheliyon ki Bari- the Garden of Royal Ladies .Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar Lake. Maharana Sangram Singh II designed this garden in the early 18th century purely as a pleasure garden and a summer palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part of the prince’s dowry. It is also said that the garden was presented as a peace offering from the Emperor of Delhi. The Maharanas entertained themselves around the four ornamental pools and the five fountains. These fountains were imported from England in 1889. Maharana Bhopal Singh specially was very fond of this place and built a rain fountain, so that it looked like rain dancing on the dancing maids. Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 04 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit the City Palace museum, The City Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world, can be approached through the Bari Pol or the Great Gate (1600) with the royal drums and then onto the Tripolia Gate (1725). Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum) The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Also visit the Pratap Memorial. Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favorite horse"Chetak". Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 05 / Udaipur - Jodhpur ( By road )
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 06 / Jodhpur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 07 / Jodhpur - Jaisalmer ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Jaisalmer.

Day 08 / Jaisalmer
Morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a city of gilded magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century, when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the foundation of a new city. Visit the magnificient fort, the Patwon Ki Haveli ( Mansion) and Salim singh Ki Haveli, with their carved balconies and brackets which are supreme examples of the art. Evening camel ride to visit Sam Dunes. Night stay in Jaisalmer.

Day 09 / Jaisalmer - Bikaner ( By road )
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Later city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade center on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which can be entered from 5 gate. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay in Bikaner.

Day 10 / Bikaner - Jaipur ( By road )
Morning drive to Jaipur, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening at leisure . Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 11/ Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 12 / Jaipur - Agra
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and later abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the remains, it fortifications within the city including Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Agra.

Day 13 / Agra
Morning at sunrise visit the world famous Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, Also visit the Agra Fort, containing the Pearl Mosque - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Also visit Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by Noorjehan in memory of her father. Night stay in Agra.

Day 14 / Agra- Jhansi (By train) Jhansi-Orchha (By surface)
Morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Jhansi , Arrive Jhansi & drive to Orchha & transfer to hotel. Later tour of this historical site with magnificient temples and monuments. Some of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Night stay in Orchha.

Day 15 / Orchha - Khajuraho ( By surface )
After breakfast drive to Khajuraho Khajuraho- the legendary temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 16 / Khajuraho
After breakfast explore the Western and Eastern temples of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and legends behind each describable sculpture. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 17 / Khajuraho - Varanasi ( By flight )
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Varanasi-said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 18 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Today Sarnath is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century. The Dharmarajika stupa was also built by Ashoka and it was surmounted by the pillar. This pillar with four lions today forms the national emblem of India. Sarnath has many more ruins of monasteries and stupas. The spot at which the stupa stands is believed to be the place from where Buddha gave his forts sermon. Sarnath has an extremely rich collection of Buddhist statues. Visit the deer park and the museum, later back to Varanasi . Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 19 / Varanasi - Mumbai ( By flight )
After a relaxed breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Mumbai.

Day 20 / Mumbai – Aurangabad ( By flight )
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering Gateway of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th century Gujarati style, Prince of Whales Museum , Chowpatty Beach, Dhobhi Ghat, Marine Drive. Later transfer to the airport to board the flight to Aurangabad, the capital of Aurangzeb, who was the last of the great Mughals. Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Aurangabad.

Day 21 / Aurangabad
Full day excursion to the world heritage sites – Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad – as recognised so by UNESCO are renowned the world over for their uniqueness and ancient value
Ajanta caves- offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient India. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals.
Ellora caves-Carved between fourth and fifth century, the rock temples and monasteries of Ellora represent the three major faiths of India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Like Ajanta, Ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with intricate interiors and ornamental facades . Night stay in Aurangabad.

Day 22 / Aurangabad - Mumbai ( By flight )
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the local markets. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Mumbai.

Day 23 / Mumbai - Goa
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive Goa & transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day 24 / Goa
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the beach. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear .Night stay in Goa.

Day 25 / Goa
Day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day 26 / Goa
Day at leisure . Night stay in Goa.

Day 27 / Goa-Departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport to board the fligt to Mumbai or Delhi to connect the fligt back home.

Cost Per Person
		01 Apr 09 to 31 Aug 09	01 Sep 08 to 15 Apr 09
Luxury	Twin	USD 5375	NA
Royal	Twin	USD 3557	NA
Classic	Twin	USD 2917	NA
Jewel	Twin	USD 2494	NA
Economy	Twin	USD 1903	NA
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling.

Cost includes:
» 26 nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Jhansi-Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers, sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur ( Subject to availability), Boat ride in Varanasi/ Udaipur
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Any meals except breakfast.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes.

Internal flights
Delhi - Udaipur, Khajuraho - Varanasi - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai - Goa : USD 837
Goa-Delhi : USD 280.50 by Airsahara or Indian Airlines
Goa -Delhi : USD 100 approx by Kingfisher or Spice jet ( Airfares are subject to change as it is advance purchase fare)
For Delhi-Udaipur , Khajuraho-Varanasi -Mumbai-Aurangabad-Mumbai-Goa flights also we can try for cheaper fares which are advance purchase basis once we know of your travel dates
All airfares are subject to change any time without any prior notice.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Udaipur : Oberoi Udaivilas
Jodhpur : The Ummed Bhawan Palace
Jaisalmer : Fort Rajwada
Bikaner : Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur : Oberoi Raj Vilas
Agra : Oberoi Amar Vilas
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : The Grand Temple view
Varanasi : Radisson / Taj Ganges
Mumbai : Tajmahal Palace & Tower / Maratha Sheraton
Aurangabad : Taj Residency
Goa : Radission White Sand / The Leela

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Park / Nikko / Radisson
Udaipur : Trident / Shiv Niwas
Jodhpur : Fortune the Ummed
Jaisalmer : Fort Rajwada
Bikaner : Lall Garh Palace / Laxmi Niwas Palace
Jaipur : Trident / Le Meridien
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Orchha : Amar Mahal / Orchha Resort
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela
Varanasi : Radisson / Taj Ganges
Mumbai : Hilton Towers / Le Royal Meridien / Leela
Aurangabad : Taj Residency
Goa : Fort Aguada / Taj Holiday Village

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : City Park / The Connaught
Udaipur : Shikarbadi / Uday Kothi/ Swaroop Vilas
Jodhpur : Balsamand Palace / Ajit Bhawan / Shree Ram Internatrional
Jaisalmer : Rang Mahal / Gorbandh Palace
Bikaner : Lall Garh Palace / Bhanwar Niwas
Jaipur : Alsisar Haveli / Jaipur Palace / Clarks Amer
Agra : Agra Ashok / Clarks
Khajuraho : Clarks
Varanasi : Clarks / Hindustan
Mumbai : Fariyas / Godwin
Aurangabad : Ambassador Ajanta
Goa : Nizmar Resorts / Goan Heritage

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Udaipur : Hotel Shikarbadi / Hotel Rajdarshan
Jodhpur : Balsamand Palace / Mapple Abhay
Jaisalmer : Hotel Mandir Palace / Garh Jaisal
Bikaner : Lallgarh Palace
Khajuraho : Hotel Redisson / Clarks Khajuraho
Varanasi : Ideal Tower / Hotel Meraden Grand
Mumbai : The Best Western Emerald / Hotel Royale Empire / Hotel The Legend
Aurangabad : The Meadows
Goa : Casa Baga Resort / Casa Anjuna Resort

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Taj Plaza / Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Udaipur : Mahendra Prakash Haveli
Jodhpur : Pal Haveli/ Ratan Vilas/ Shreeram International
Jaisalmer : Nachana Haveli /Mahadev Palace
Bikaner : Harassar Haveli/ Desert Winds/ Hotel Sagar
Khajuraho : Hotel Harmony / Hotel Greenwoods
Varanasi : Hotel MM Continental / Hotel Palce on Steps
Mumbai : Hotel Suba Galaxy / Hotel Benzy Palace
Aurangabad : Hotel Amarpreet
Goa : Marqiues Beach Resort / Shilla Goa

Colors of India

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:34:38 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar ,India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House , Red fort , Mahatama Gandhi Memorial. Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Varanasi
Morning transfer to airport to connect the flight for Varanasi said to be the India’s most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city , sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Later visit the Temples, Aurangazeb’s Mosque and one of the biggest university of India. Evening view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 04 / Varanasi
Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later excursion to Sarnath, 10kms. East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Visit the deer park and the museum and later back to Varanasi. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 05 / Varanasi - Khajuraho
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Khajuraho .Arrive Khajuraho & transfer to hotel. The legendary temples of khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world’s artistic wonders, these temples dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Khajuraho has achieved fame for the sensual appeal of its erotic sculptures. Evening free at leisure. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 06 / Khajuraho
After breakfast explore the Western and Eastern temples of khajuraho while your guide explains the intricate meaning and legends behind each describable sculpture. Night stay in Khajuraho.

Day 07 / Khajuraho - Orchha - Jhansi - Agra
Morning drive to Jhansi enroute visiting Orchha, In orchha visit the magnificient temples and monuments. Some of the palaces were decorated with painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting , Continue drive to Jhansi & transfer to railway station to board the train to Agra . Arrive Agra & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Agra .

Day 08 / Agra - Jaipur
Morning at sunrise visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Also visit Agra Fort - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms.After lunch drive to Jaipur - en route visit Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly preserved Mughal city built at the height of the empire's splendor. Arrive Jaipur & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 09 / Jaipur
Morning tour of the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur City. At the foot of the hill you will mount your caparisoned Elephant for the climb to the main gate. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over 100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families. Afternoon tour of the Pink City – will include City Palace, still home to the Maharaja although several of the rooms are now open to the public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging to the ruling family are housed here. Also visit the Hawa Mahal "Palace of the Winds", and the open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory to see the vast astronomical instruments. Enjoy a stroll through the colourful bazaar before returning to your hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 10 / Jaipur - Jodhpur
Morning drive to Jodhpur (290 kms) . Arrive & transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 11 / Jodhpur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan, was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 12 / Jodhpur- Udaipur
Morning drive to Udaipur. En route visiting Ranakpur - the largest and most beautifully preserved Jain Temples in India. Later proceed to see the fort of Kumbhalgarh. If Ranakpur is beauty and grace, Kumbhalgarh is all about power. Arrive Udaipur in the evening & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 13 / Udaipur
After breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour. Udaipur, built in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh, the city has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit the City Palace museum, the Jagdish temple, Sahelion Ki Bari ( Queen’s resort for their friends) Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum) and the Pratap Memorial. Evening at leisure.Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 14 / Udaipur - Bombay
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Bombay. Arrive Bombay & transfer to hotel. Later half day city tour of Bombay, political capital of Maharashtra, and commercial capital of India, Mumbai is many cities in one. As the world's largest textiles market, a major industrial centre and the country's busiest port handling over 40 percent of India's maritime trade, it contributes around 50 percent of the national exchequer. Bombay's colonial legacy is the Gateway of India. Built to commemorate the royal visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911 but only completed in 1924, the gateway is a combination of European and Indian ceremonial architecture. The last British troops marched out through this gate when India became independent in 1947. Today it is a favorite haunt of tourists. Night stay in Bombay.

Day 15 / Bombay - Goa
After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Goa. Arrive Goa & transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day 16 / Goa
After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the beach. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear or take an optional tour visiting "Goa of the past"- a mackup village which portrays Goa what it was 100 years ago .Night stay in Goa.

Day 17 / Goa
Day at leisure. Laze on the beach, go for swim, explore the shops for cashewnuts, buy holiday wear. Night stay in Goa.

Day 18 / Goa - Delhi
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Delhi.Arrive & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 19 / Delhi - Departure
Day at leisure or explore the markets for shopping etc. Later transfer to airport for onward flight.

Cost Per Person
		16 Apr 09- 31 Aug 09	01 Sep 08 - 15 Apr 09
Luxury	Twin	USD 4426	USD 5760
Royal	Twin	USD 3114	USD 3844
Classic	Twin	USD 2357	USD 2500
Jewel	Twin	USD 2082	NA
Economy	Twin	USD 1659	USD 1659
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling.

Cost includes:
» 18 Nights accomodation as per the itinerary with daaily breakfast .
» Surface travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» Train tickets for Jhansi- Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» All transfers , sightseeing , excursion as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur ( Subject to availability) , Boat ride in Varanasi.
» All taxes , driver allowances , permit , parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Camera fee , tips , laundry, porterege.
» Any airfare
» Any item not mentioned in cost includes.

Internal Flights / Cost Per Person
Delhi-Varanasi : USD 157.70
Varanasi- Khajuraho : USD 110.70 per person in economy class.
Udaipur-Mumbai :USD 158.50

Mumbai-Goa
By Jet Airways : USD 110.50 ( Normal fare)
By Air Sahara : From USD 63.50 to USD 96.50 ( Subject to availability)
By Spice jet : Approx USD 80 ( Advance purchase fares , fluctuates daily & subject to change)

Goa-Delhi:
By Air Sahara : From USD 280.70( Normal fare)
By Spice jet : Approx USD 200 ( Advance purchase fares , fluctuates daily & subject to change)
Airfares are subject to change any time without any prior notice.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / Imperial
Varanasi : Taj Ganges
Khajuraho : The Grand Temple View
Agra : Amar Vilas
Jaipur : RajVilas
Jodhpur : Taj Hari Mahal
Udaipur : Udaivilas
Mumbai : Taj Mahal
Goa : Taj Exotica

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Varanasi : Taj Ganges / Radisson
Khajuraho : Taj Chandela / Jass Radisson
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Jodhpur : Taj Hari Mahal
Udaipur : Trident/ Fateh Prakash/ Shiv Niwas/ Laxmi Villas
Mumbai : Hilton Tower / Grand Intercontinent / Taj President
Goa : Fort Aguda/ Taj Holiday Village/ Radisson White Sand / Intercontinental the Grand

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Varanasi : Clarks Varanasi / Ideal Tower
Khajuraho : Clarks / Holiday Inn
Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Howard Park
Jaipur : Golden Tulip / Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer
Jodhpur : Balsamand Palace/ Ajit Bhawan/ Shree Ram International
Udaipur : Uday Kothi / Shikarbadi / Amet Haveli
Mumbai : Fariyas / Mirador / Ambassador
Goa : Marquis Beach Resort / Goan Heritage/ Cidade De Goa/ CM Verca

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Varanasi : Ideal Tower / Hotel Meraden Grand
Khajuraho : Hotel Redisson / Clarks Khajuraho
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana Ki Haveli/ Dera Rawatsar
Jodhpur : Balsamand Palace / Mapple Abhay
Udaipur : Hotel Shikarbadi / Hotel Rajdarshan
Mumbai : The Best Western Emerald/ Hotel Royale Empire/ Hotel The Legend
Goa : Santa Monica / Beira Mar

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Varanasi : Hotel MM Continental / Hotel Palce on Steps
Khajuraho : Hotel Harmony / Hotel Greenwoods
Agra : Royale Residency / Taj Plaza / Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Jodhpur : Pal Haveli/ Ratan Vilas/ Shreeram International
Udaipur : Mahendra Prakash Haveli
Mumbai : Hotel Suba Galaxy / Hotel Benzy Palace
Goa : Santa Monica / Beira Mar

Western Perspectives

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:35:15 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Mumbai
Arrive mumbai, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in mumbai.

Day 02 / Mumbai - Aurangabad (By Flight)
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of mumbai covering gateway of india – the stone archway designed by wittett in the 16th century gujarati style, prince of whales museum , chowpatty beach, dhobhi ghat, marine drive. Later transfer to the airport to board flight to aurangabad, the capital of aurangzeb, who was the last of the great mughals. Arrive aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Night stay in aurangabad.

Day 03 / Aurangabad
Full day excursion to the world heritage sites – ajanta and ellora caves in aurangabad – as recognised so by unesco are renowned the world over for their uniqueness and ancient value

Ajanta caves- offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of palaces, royalty, cultures and tales of everyday life of ancient india. Long buried in the debris of time, these 30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals.
Ellora caves-carved between fourth and fifth century, the rock temples and monasteries of ellora represent the three major faiths of india - hinduism, buddhism and jainism. Like ajanta, ellora caves too are a fine example of cave temples with almost 34 caves with intricate interiors and ornamental facades . Night stay in aurangabad.

Day 4 / Aurangabad - Udaipur (By Flight via Bombay)
Transfer to airport to board flight to udaipur via bombay. Arrive udaipur and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. Night stay in udaipur.

Day 05 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour. Built in 1559 a.d. By maharaja udai singh, the city has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of india by col. James todd. Visit the city palace museum, the jagdish temple, sahelion ki bari ( queen’s resort for their friends) bhartiya lok kala mandir ( folk art museum) and the pratap memorial. Evening at leisure. Night stay in udaipur.

Day 06 / Udaipur - Mount Abu (By Road)
After a relaxed breakfast drive to mt abu. Arrive mt abu and transfer to hotel. Night stay in mt abu.

Day 07 / Mt Abu
Mt abu- at 1200 metres above sea level, it is the highest point of the aravali range, and an enjoyable hill-resort. Built around a lake, the site is renowned for its exquisite jain temples, collectively called the dilwara temple complex. Night stay in mt abu.

Day 08 / Mt Abu - Jodhpur (By Road)
Morning drive to jodhpur , one of the most distinctive princely settlements of rajasthan. It was the capital of the dashing rathore rajputs. Located at the periphery of the thar desert, jodhpur is known for its massive fortified bastions, specially those of mehrangarh which have been witness to many battles and were associated closely with the history of the region. The years of peace that followed resulted in the building of palaces that were laid on open grounds and spread out in elaborate european styles. Arrive jodhpur and transfer to hotel .night stay in jodhpur.

Day 09 / Jodhpur - Mumbai - Departure (By Flight)
Morning explore the magnificent mehrangarh fort-museum, one of the largest in india, unsurpassed in beauty and grandeur - and a perfect example of desert variant of rajput architecture. Also visit jaswant thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of maharaja jaswant singh ii around 1899 and umaid public gardens. Take a short safari to immaculately kept villages of bishnoi tribals who are known for their belief in the sanctity of plant and animal life. A variety of deerroaming freely is the attraction of these villages. Later transfer to airport to board the flight for mumbai and then take the flight for onward journey.

Triangle With Tiger Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:34:58 PDT

Cost Per Person
	01 Oct 2009 - 30 May 2010
	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 2683	USD 4998
Royal	USD 1511	USD 2886
Classic	USD 1180	USD 2223
Jewel	USD 887	USD 1638
Economy	USD 820	USD 1504
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling. Single - Cost single person travelling.

Cost includes:
» 7 nights accomodation as per the itinerary with breakfast.
» All Meals in Ranthambhore Except Luxury Category which is with breakfast only.
» Train tickets for Delhi-Agra & Jaipur-Delhi in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface travel Agra-Ranthambhore-Jaipur by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers , sightseeing , excursions as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur (subject to availability) & Jungle safari by Canter in Tiger park.
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Agra : The Oberoi Amarvilas
Jaipur : The Oberoi RajVilas
Ranthambhore : The Oberoi VanyaVilas

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Ranthambore : Nahargarh Fort / Khemvillas

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Ranthambhore : Ranthambhore Bagh / The Pugmark

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Hotel Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Ranthambhore : Ranthambhore Bagh / The Pugmark

Triangle With Udaipur

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:35:19 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi :
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Agra ( By road )
Morning drive to the city of Taj, Agra & transfer to hotel. Start the sightseeing of Agra by visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal one of the of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. It's a wealth of white marble and semi-precious stone-undoubtedly the highlight of your tour. Also visit the Agra fort - the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Evening free to explore the Agra's rich heritage of handicrafts in its markets. Night stay in Agra.

Day 04 / Agra - Jaipur ( By road ) enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast drive to Jaipur- the fabled "pink city" of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendors are now living monuments enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone "ghost town" which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Jaipur in late evening & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 05 / Jaipur
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 06 / Jaipur - Udaipur ( By road )
Morning drive to Udaipur- an oasis in the desert state of Rajasthan enroute visiting Pushkar. Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. It's marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the hans, or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as its site. Arrive Udaipur and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 07 / Udaipur
Morning city sight seeing tour of Udaipur. The city is built in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit the City Palace museum, the Jagdish temple, Sahelion Ki Bari (Queen’s resort for their friends) Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk art museum) and the Pratap Memorial. Rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Udaipur.

Day 08 / Udaipur - Departure
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.

Cost Per Person
	16 Apr 2009 - 31 Aug 2009		01 Sep 2009 - 15 Apr 2010
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 2253	USD 4399	USD 2759	USD 5250
Royal	USD 1187	USD 2268	USD 1481	USD 2856
Classic	USD 962	USD 1819	USD 1238	USD 2373
Jewel	USD 826	USD 1549	USD 940	USD 1777
Economy	USD 733	USD 1362	USD 809	USD 1513
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling. For Luxury Category Summer Package Starting From 01 May 09.

Cost includes:
» 07 nights accomodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast.
» Surface Travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers & sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local english speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur (Subject to availability), Boat ride in Udaipur.
» All taxes, driver allowances, Parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare
» Tips, laundry.
» Any item not shown in Cost Includes.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / The Imperial
Agra : The Oberoi Amarvilas
Jaipur : The Oberoi RajVilas
Udaipur : Udaivilas

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Pushapvila
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Udaipur : Mahendra Prakash Haveli / Hotel Shree Jagdish Mahal

Triangle With Bollywood Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:35:14 PDT

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi :
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire. Enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI- An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue- Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Agra
Early morning transfer to railway station to board the superfast air-conditioned train to Agra. Breakfast in the train, Arrive Agra in approx. 02 hours & transfer to hotel. Later visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife Also visit the Agra fort - the rustyand majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Night stay in Agra.

Day 04 / Agra – Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur- the fabled “pink city” of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendors are now living monuments enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town” which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Jaipur in late evening & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 05 / Jaipur
After breakfast proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE- Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Continue sight- seeing.
CITY PALACE- A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR- This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL- The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 06 / Jaipur - Mumbai ( By flight)
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Later proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering Gateway of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th century Gujarati style, Prince of Whales Museum , Chowpatty Beach, Dhobhi Ghat, Marine Drive. Night stay in Mumbai.

Day 07 / Mumbai (Spend a day long Bollywood Tourism)
The Bollywood Tourism Package is day long, split into two sessions.
1st Session: Bollywood Drome
Immerse yourself in the world of your favourite movies.
A specially created studio called BollywooDrome has been designed for the tour - with sets created to recreate memorable Hindi movie scenes.
It will be an interactive and participative session with performers, directors and technicians from Bollywood who will enact scenes from movies for the visitors, along with a question and answer session.
Action sequences - film technicians demonstrate how stunts and fight scenes are executed and finally how it appears on the screen
Dance sequences - choreographers recreate the dance magic of movies with a demonstration on how it is done.
Scenes from movies - performers with a director will enact scenes and demonstrate techniques.
Q & A sessions - visitors can ask questions and get answered by the panel of technician.

Interval: Lunch at BollywooDrome in the style of a unit lunch.

2nd Session: On the sets
An intimate exposure to the behind-the-scenes activities of a movie or a teleserial. Get an inside look at the sets and what goes into the making of movies. Or get to watch capable technicians work on a movie at a post production studio. Watch a likely hit of tomorrow being shot and get a feel of the movie and the television industry. Night stay in Mumbai.

Day 08 / Mumbai – Delhi - Departure
Morning transfer to airport to board the flight to Delhi to connect the onward flight.

Cost Per Person
	16 Apr 2009 - 31 Aug 2009		01 Sep 2008 - 15 Apr 2009
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 2283	USD 4461	USD 2309	USD 4251
Royal	USD 1522	USD 2938	USD 1518	USD 2708
Classic	USD 1208	USD 2310	USD 1288	USD 2245
Jewel	USD 1105	USD 1929	NA	NA
Economy	USD 953	USD 1628	USD 953	USD 1628
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling. For Luxury Category Summer Package Starting From 01 May 09.

Airfare/ Jaipur-Bombay USD 186.50 per person

Cost includes:
» 7 Nights accomodation as per the itinerary on twin sharing basis with daily breakfast.
» Train tickets of Delhi - Agra in air conditioned Chair Car.
» Surface travel by exclusive air conditioned car.
» All transfers and Sightseeing as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking Guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur.
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to the Monuments.
» Beverages, Tips, Laundry etc.
» Any airfare.
» Any item not shown in Price includes.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / Imperial
Agra : Amar Vilas
Jaipur : RajVilas
Mumbai : Taj Mahal

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Mumbai : Hilton Tower / Grand Intercontinent / Taj President

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Howard Park
Jaipur : Golden Tulip / Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer
Mumbai : Fariyas / Mirador / Ambassador

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Mumbai : The Best Western Emerald/ Hotel Royale Empire/ Hotel The Legend

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Taj Plaza
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Mumbai : Hotel Suba Galaxy / Hotel Benzy Palace

Triangle With Shimla

noreply@blogger.com (Clear Tripz) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:35:27 PDT

Cost Per Person
	16 Apr 2009 - 31 Aug 2009		01 Sep 2008 - 15 Apr 2009
	Twin	Single	Twin	Single
Luxury	USD 2118	USD 4129	USD 2112	USD 4098
Royal	USD 1367	USD 2629	USD 1365	USD 2593
Classic	USD 1075	USD 2044	USD 1188	USD 2240
Jewel	USD 926	USD 1715	NA	NA
Economy	USD 807	USD 1480	USD 807	USD 1480
There will be a supplement charge during Christmas Eve and New year Eve. ** Twin- Cost per person on twin sharing for minimum two person traveling. For Luxury Category Summer Package Starting From 01 May 09.

Cost includes:
» 8 Nights accomodation on twin sharing basis as per the itinerary.
» Daily breakfast.
» Train tickets for Delhi - Agra in airconditioned chair car.
» Train tickets for Jaipur - Delhi in airconditioned chair car.
» Surface travel by exclusive airconditioned car.
» All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the itinerary.
» Local English speaking guides.
» Elephant ride in Jaipur (subject to availability).
» All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Cost does not include:
» Entrance fee to monuments.
» Any airfare.
» Tips, beverages, laundry etc.
» Any item not shown in cost Includes.

Hotels Selected - Luxury (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Oberoi / Imperial
Agra : Amarvilas
Jaipur : RajVilas
Shimla : Oberoi Cecil

Hotels Selected - Royal (5* Deluxe)
Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand
Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident
Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien
Shimla : Radisson

Hotels Selected - Classic (4*)
Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks
Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Howard Park
Jaipur : Golden Tulip / Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer
Shimla : Toshali Royal View

Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)
Delhi : Hotel Gautam Deluxe / Hotel Sunstar
Agra : Hotel Amar / Hotel Usha Kiran
Jaipur : Hotel Jas Vilas / Nana ki Haveli / Dera Rawatsar
Shimla : Toshali Royal View

Hotels Selected - Economy (2* Moderate)
Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold
Agra : Royale Residency / Taj Plaza
Jaipur : Hotel Vijay Niwas / Hotel Sarang Palace
Shimla : Hotel Shingar Regency