While travelling from one capital to the next, see the top attractions in North India and Nepal. See the magnificent Moghul architecture in India and cruise the powerful Ganges. Enter Nepal and tour the Chitwan National Park, the charming town of Pokhara, and Kathmandu's temples and markets.

Itinerary

DAY 1 - Begin the tour in Delhi; explore New Delhi

Arrive at New Delhi, the thriving capital of India that skillfully blends the old and the new. There are still several monuments and temples from earlier times scattered among the great, contemporary buildings.

For those who arrive on schedule today, the tour leader will meet you in the hotel lobby at 1:30 p.m. for the welcome meeting before leading the afternoon city tour, which will include stops to Humayun's Tomb, which dates back to the Mughal Dynasty, and Qutab Minar, the largest stone structure in India. Moreover, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President's house, the Parliament buildings, and the majestic India Gate (war memorial arch) are all visible from the road.

You must fly into New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport (airport code DEL) today and take advantage of the complimentary airport shuttle service. The distance between the airport and the hotel is 18 kilometers or around 40 minutes.

Please be aware that you must check in at the hotel by 1:30 p.m. if you want to participate in today's city tour. They advise allowing yourself at least an hour to exit the airport if you are making your own flying arrangements. The hotel is around a 45-minute drive from the airport, so the latest your flight may arrive is 12 o'clock. If you miss the welcoming meeting, your Leader will let you know as soon as you catch up with any important information.

DAY 2 - Tour the spice bazaar in Old Delhi. Go to Jaipur by train

The Old City is considerably more like the picture Rudyard Kipling painted than Modern Delhi is. In the morning, a native guide will take you on a walking and metro tour of Old Delhi, concluding with a cacophony of loud haggling in Chandni Chowk Bazar. You then go on a short bike rickshaw to the Jama Mosque mosque. You will change at the train station in New Delhi later in the afternoon to catch the evening train to Jaipur. Jaipur, which is sometimes referred to as the "Pink City," was initially painted terracotta pink by Maharajah Sawai Ram Singh to honour Prince Albert's visit in 1853.

DAY 3 - See the City Palace Museum and Amber Fort in Jaipur

You will go to the majestic citadel in the former Rajput city of Amber, also known as Amber Fort, in the morning. The fort is a magnificent work of white marble and the red sandstone that is located at the entrance of a rugged mountain ravine and looks out over Maotha Lake. It has a wonderful mixture of Hindu and Muslim decorations, including the exquisite mirrored halls of the Sheesh Mahal. For over 7 centuries, the Kachchawahas ruled their kingdom from behind these imposing walls, until Jaipur, which was close by, surpassed it in significance.

You'll also visit the remarkable Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds, which rises five stories above the city's streets with an astonishing façade made of red and pink sandstone. The palace's 935 windows, which were built at the end of the 18th century, were intended to let the harem's ladies look out over the cityscape below without being seen. The apertures also produced a cool breeze (hawa), which kept the palace cool even in the sweltering summer months.

You'll spend some time taking in the opulent and impeccable City Palace. You will discover a magnificent selection of clothing, armour, and textiles here. You will travel to the amazing Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the famous Maharajah Jai Singh, later this afternoon.

DAY 4: Visit Ranthambore National Park and go on a jeep safari

You'll take the train from Jaipur to Sawai Modhopur, which is the entrance of Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore, one of the best of India's "Project Tiger" conservation initiatives, is a nearly 400 square kilometre area of lush jungle, turquoise lakes, and historic temples that serve as a rich haven for crocodiles, leopards, tigers, and about 300 species of birds. It was once the private reserve of the Maharajahs of Jaipur. Because the animals stay close to the lakes and rivers during the dry season, which lasts from September to May when water is scarce, this park is probably one of the best in the nation for spotting tigers. This provides some excellent opportunities to look for these magnificent and elusive creatures. In the afternoon, you will go on a game drive inside the park.

DAY 5: Go to Agra and see Fatehpur Sikri

You'll travel to the lonely city of Fatehpur Sikri in the early morning after returning to the train station and boarding the morning train to Bharatpur. It was established in 1569 and abandoned just 16 years later, making it a completely intact representation of Akbar's imperial court. The five-story Panch Mahal, which was likely a pleasure pavilion for the harem women, is one of the numerous interesting structures. The Pachisi Board, where the emperor played a game like chess with dancing slave females as the pieces, is located in the centre of the courtyard. The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audienceremarkable )'s capital, with its lotus-shaped carved central pillar supporting a vaulted roof, is one of the most beautiful buildings in existence. You will go on to Agra later and arrive there in the afternoon.

DAY 6 - Visit the Taj Mahal and then take a night train to Allahabad

By dawn, you will go to see the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful and lyrical structure on earth. Despite the fact that it has been standing for more than 300 years and is generally unharmed by time, its symmetry and beauty appear to transcend time and distance. It took 22 years for Shah Jahan to erect this memorial to his favourite wife Mumtaz (1630-52). Under the dome made of white marble, the Great Moghul is buried next to his lover. In afternoon, you'll go to the Agra Fort, which was constructed by Akbar the Great and commands excellent views of the Taj Mahal situated farther down the river's banks. The fort has some beautiful and extremely detailed designs.

You will drive to the Agra railway station to board the overnight train to Allahabad if there is time before dusk to view the Taj Mahal or the magnificent Itimad-ud-Daulah (baby Taj).

Indian sleeper trains offer a wonderful travel experience and a wonderful opportunity to socialise. You will have reservations for second-class sleepers with air conditioning, which include four beds in each compartment and the necessary linen. Despite the best efforts to keep the group together, it might not always be feasible to seat everyone in the same carriage or class due to the high demand and India's method of purchasing railway tickets.

In these situations, the Tour Leaders will assist everyone in finding a seat and make sure you get the most out of your trip. Each berth on sleeper trains includes four or six bunk beds and is partitioned by curtains.

DAY 7 - Arrive in Allahabad and cruise downstream to beaches

Following arriving in Allahabad early this morning, you'll check into a nearby hotel for a quick change of clothes and breakfast before continuing on by road for another 3–4 hours to the holy River Ganges, where our boat tour downriver will begin. The following two days will provide an interesting look at rural Indian life and a nice opportunity to decompress. To get to Varanasi, you'll pleasantly glide across the lush Gangetic plain, passing by towns, elaborate temples, wheat and rice fields, and breathtaking sunsets. Up to four tourists and two crew members can board the customary wooden boats, which are carefully rowed and sailed downstream by the crew members, who have all grown up working and living along the river.

DAY 8 - Get to Varanasi (Benares)

You will proceed down the river to the holy city of Varanasi, where you will unload and travel to your accommodation from Asi Ghat. Throughout the beginning of time, Varanasi (Benares), the centre of Hinduism, has existed alongside Babylon and Thebes. Hindus refer to this sacred city as "Kashi" (City of Light), and more than a million pilgrims visit it each year, many of whom come to spend their last years. You may head back to the ghats this evening to take in the nightly aarti ceremony, in which the Ganga is revered with a show of light and sound.

DAY 9 - Sarnath trip while in Varanasi

Before visiting neighbouring Sarnath in the morning, you will take an early-morning boat journey along the Ganges to observe the Hindu faithful bathe in its holy waters. Buddha travelled to Sarnath to deliver his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The city reached its pinnacle in the fifth century when it was a renowned hub of study, religion, and the arts. Much of the city's structures were destroyed by Muslim invaders, although several monasteries and stupas still stand today. The afternoon in Varanasi is left free for you to explore the maze of alleyways, bazaars, and temples that line the banks of the river. You can also choose to go to an optional classical music concert in the evening.

DAY 10 - Drive and take the train to Lumbini (cross the Nepalese border at Sonauli)

This trip will take you around eight hours to complete as you travel through isolated towns and villages as you cross the Gangetic Plains in the direction of the north to the Nepalese border town of Sonauli. To get to Gorphpur, you will first board a train from Varanasi. As this is the maximum distance you can go by rail, you will change to a bus and travel the remaining distance to Sonauli. You will enter Nepal by crossing the border on foot, where you are met by the Nepali bus that will take you to Lumbini, where you will spend the night.

DAY 11 - See Lumbini, the location of Buddha's birth, before continuing on to Chitwan National Park

You will begin the day with a guide from the area leading a rickshaw sightseeing trip to Lumbini. The Buddha's birthplace, the Peace light, and the Pagoda of Peace Monastery will all be open to the public. From here, you will travel for almost five hours across the Terai, a slender lowland region covered in forest that runs the whole length of Nepal's southern border. On the way, you'll make a stop in Butwal to get lunch, and the goal is to get to Chitwan by late afternoon.

DAY 12 - At Chitwan National Park, look for wild rhinos

A once exclusive hunting area, Chitwan is now a National Park that is home to a wide variety of species, including the one-horned rhinoceros, which is the most well-known of them. There are plenty of things to do today, including canoe cruises along the Rapti River, bird viewing, jungle hikes, and car safaris in search of rhinos. The ability to see a wide variety of water birds and other species while floating silently along the Rapti River depends on the water level. You may explore the less heavily wooded areas of the park on a nature walk with a qualified local naturalist.

DAY13 - walking to see birds in the morning before going to Pokhara

You'll depart for Pokhara after one last early-morning stroll around the park. You'll bring a packed lunch to eat along the way, and the journey should take around 6 hours, depending on traffic. Before arriving at the ultimate destination for the day, you will travel through the busy town of Naryanghat Bazar and continue north alongside the River Trisuli to the "wild west" village of Mugling at the junction of the Marsyandi and Trisuli rivers. Pokhara is a laid-back city nestled behind the Annapurna Mountains on the shores of Lake Phewa Tal. After the voyage, you have the afternoon free to explore the town, buy some souvenirs from one of the numerous Tibetan handicraft stores, or simply unwind by the lake.

DAY 14 - For views of the Himalaya take a stroll to the Peace Pagoda

In the morning after breakfast, you'll get some exercise by ascending through little towns to the Japanese Peace Pagoda. Wonderful views of the Annapurna Range and the town of Pokhara may be seen from this scenic vantage point. You'll take a different route home after taking in the vistas, stopping along the way to explore the Tibetan Tashiling Monastery. In Pokhara, the afternoon is once more yours to do as you like. You can take little strolls around the lake. The Mountain Museum, a fascinating museum devoted to the background of Himalayan Climbing, is another alternative.

DAY 15 - Get to Kathmandu by car

Go by car to Kathmandu (approximately 6 hours). You'll turn around and go back to Mugling, then proceed east. As soon as you get to Naubise, the road begins to ascend, climbing through a series of breath-taking zigzags to a pass on the rim of the Kathmandu valley before dropping to the city. If time permits, you may get the opportunity to visit the Manakamana shrine near Kurintar today.

DAY 16 - Take a walking tour in Kathmandu

They have planned a walking tour of this interesting mediaeval city with a native Nepali guide, stopping at the market and temples of old Kathmandu. The local market is where a large portion of daily life in Kathmandu is lived. It is a wonderful mix of people selling spices, potters working at their wheels, rickshaw drivers blowing their horns, and the ubiquitous holy cow ambling through it all. At the centre of the city, Durbar Square, you finally arrive. You have plans to visit Bodnath, the biggest stupa in the nation and a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over Nepal, as well as the most sacred Hindu shrine in Nepal, Pashupatinath, which is located on the banks of the Bagmati River.