15 Nights & 16 Days - India Unveiled

The Pushkar Fair is an annual five day Camel & livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is one of the world's largest camel fairs. Apart from buying & selling of camel, cows, ponies, sheep & goats it's an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as `breaking of the pot', longest moustache, tug-of-war, camel race & bridal competition are the main draw for this celebration. While men indulge in trading activity at the fair ground, local women visit shops selling trinkets, bracelets & textiles. Pushkar Fair is celebrated for five days from Karthik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima (full moon day in October – November).

Join Hector Dsouza on a fascinating trip across the plains of India, beginning with the camel fair at Pushkar and ending at the sacred city of Varanasi. Enjoy a hot air balloon ride at Jaipur, watch the Taj at sunrise and sunset. Discover the richness of carvings on stone in the 'City of Dates', scour the forests for predators at Ranthambore & watch the rituals of life unfold at a placid pace in Varanasi, to name a few. A school visit, which helps street children find a future is also part of this diverse program. With over three decades of experience L'orient Travels promises you rich & varied moments which will make this a heart-warming memorable trip.

Testimonial

What an incredible month in India! Your planning for our tour of the 'Golden Triangle' + Varanasi was superb: good city guides and nice drivers. But the big wow for us was finding our mother's and grandparents roots here in Lucknow, Bareilly, Nainital and Pauri! Hector – You are a good sleuth and we loved having you with us! Needless to say, we couldn't have done it without you. – Jan Fenwick U.S.A

Delhi unlike other Indian cities is wrapped in history with an amazing array of monuments, buildings & markets constructed over a period of more than 1000 years. Delhi's sightseeing is divided over two days. On the first day afternoon while returning from Agra visit the Akshardham Temple before checking in for the night at a Delhi hotel. 

Discover the lanes & by lanes of Old Delhi in a cycle rickshaw. Later visit the largest mosque in India – Jama Masjid (17th century) built by Shah Jehan. Pay a tribute to the apostle of peace – Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, the cremation site. As you move towards Lutyen's Delhi, discover the changing skyline, symmetrical gardens, dome shaped Presidents Palace, the circular Parliament House & the Secretariat. Once the tallest tower in the world, Qutub Minar built over 800 years ago retains its majestic grandeur to this day, forming part of your post lunch sightseeing program followed by the House of Universal Faith- Lotus Temple. End your day with a visit to an elegant mausoleum – the Humayun's Tomb & compared to the Taj Mahal in terms of visual & aesthetic appeal. 

Travel to Pushkar to visit India's most renowned camel trading fair. A host of activities at the fair ground ensures you have an one-to-one interaction with herders, local artisans, musicians & village folk. Needless to say the fairgrounds are a beehive of activity that is sure to keep the intrepid traveler seeking for more. 

How about a hot air balloon ride across Jaipur? Enjoy a bird's eye view of hill forts, lakes & city palaces. Visit the 17th century Amber Fort with an elephant ride, indulge in sumptuous lunch at Raj Vilas Palace & end your stay with a half day tour of an elephant safari camp. Should Consider Enjoy a pure vegetarian Rajasthani meal at the LMB restaurant located in the Old City, a short distance from the Johari Bazar & built in 1954. Attentive waiters & reasonable prices ensure you get your money's worth

Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve lies on the junction of Aravali and Vindhyas Eastern Rajasthan. It sprawls over a varying and undulating landscape. The scenery changes dramatically from gentle and steep slopes of the Vindhyas to the sharp and conical hills of the Aravali. Once a princely game reserve for tigers, Ranthambore is best known for sightings of the much celebrated & talked-about, `Panthera Tigris.' 

Safari on two renowned routes chosen for you. Besides the tiger, the park boasts of the endemic four horned antelope (barasingha), Jackals, Langur, Macaques, Spotted & Barking Deer. Avian sightings will delight you no end 

Renowned for the Gwalior Fort – no better way than to begin your visit with a Sound-n-Light Show at the fort in the twilight hour 

Offering stupendous views of Gwalior, the medieval style Gwalior fort has a number of imposing monuments including the delicately carved, Saas-Bahu Temple; the Sacred Tank where widows ended their lives when their husbands were captured & Scindia School.Visit the Jai Vilas Museum, renowned for its chandeliers & a huge dining table where dishes were kept in a toy train that moved on tracks laid on the table! See a replica of Sun Temple at Surya Mandir.

Khajuraho is an invitation to experience the unknown form, made visible on stone carvings Five types of carvings are used in every nook & corner. Temples are built in an east-west axis, the roof resemble Mount Kailasha. Most temples have three main compartments, interconnected to each other. End your visit with a memorable dance performance at a local auditorium. Titled, `Dances of India,' it captures the mood & spirit of a truly vibrant India 

Varanasi is the meeting point or two rivers: Varuna & Assi & gets its name from this. Varanasi is one of the seven most sacred sites of Hinduism. Get an introduction to Kathak Dance at the home of a dance instructor. 

Depart Varanasi for Delhi followed by transfer to international airport for flight to onward destination.

Cost per person on twin sharing basis – USD 3200
Single Supplement – USD 1200
No triple sharing options available

Inclusions

• Accommodation on twin sharing basis with breakfast & dinner in heritage/four star hotels
• Air Conditioned Coach for transfers, sightseeing & excursions
• Domestic Air Fare – Khajuraho – Varanasi & Varanasi – Delhi
• Hector Dsouza will accompany tour
• Guide at all monuments & sightseeing tours
• Entrance fee to monuments
• Entrance fees to Sound-n-light Show at Gwalior
• Entrance to Dances of India at Khajuraho
• Cycle Rickshaw Ride at Delhi & Varanasi
• Boat Ride at Varanasi
• Entrance for Kathak Introduction Program
• Entrance fees & safari rides at Ranthambore National Park

Exclusions

• Lunch
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Any item not specifically mentioned as `included' in tour program
• Any increase in taxes or fuel, leading to increase in surface transportation
• Optional items mentioned in program

Booking Terms & Conditions

• If you are interested, send us a deposit of USD 500 to block your seat. This amount is non-refundable
• If you are single & willing to share, we will help find you a person from the group also willing to share
• Balance payment to be made 75 days before tour commences