The golden triangle of India with Varanasi

Delhi
Arrival at Delhi airport. Transfer to hotel for some rest. Around 10 am after breakfast you
will start your guided tour of Old Delhi. In particular, you will visit the Red Fort (visit only from outside), a UNESCO World Heritage since 2007, built in 1639 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (the creator of the Taj Mahal), the the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, where an ancient copy of the holy Quran written on Deer skin is preserved. Visit small lanes of this part of the city such as Chawri Bazar, one of the busiest street of Old Delhi. Later visit Raj Ghat, the site of Mahatma Ghandi cremation. After lunch you will visit new Delhi with its Government buildings such as the India Gate, an arch erected in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I, and the Parliament House. In the late afternoon we will continue the visit with the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship in India, known as the “Sarovar.” Then trasfer to the hotel. Overnight in Delhi (D)

Delhi – Jaipur
Around 10 a.m. will start the visit of the poor district of Paharganj, in Old Delhi, led by special tour guide from a local NGO, which saves street kids, giving them education and job training. This experience aims to show the tragic reality of street kids, watching the world from their perspective. A former street kid will walk you trought the streets of the district of Paharganj and the areas around the train station. This gives you the unique opportunity to visit the city with exceptional guides. Later, transfer by car to Jaipur (about 4 and a half hours), the largest city in Rajasthan and symbol of magnificence and abundance. The city was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II and it was the first Indian city with a reticular planimetry. Jaipur was the capital under the reign of the Kachwaha clan and it is an ideal tourist destination. Overnight in Jaipur (B).

Jaipur
After breakfast, visit to the Hawa Mahal along the road to Amber Fort. Transport by jeep to the castle. After lunch, visit to the Anokhi museum, which shows how important craftsmanship is for the rural economy of India. In the afternoon, visit to the Royal Palace and the ancient city; places full of charm, culture and architecture, with splendid fortresses, majestic palaces, peaceful temples and beautiful Havelis (ancient noble residences). The “Pink City” can boasts of a refined craftsmanship and a spectacular goldsmith tradition, which enhance its uniqueness. Lush gardens and flower beds add serenity to the landscape. All together these ingredients create a picturesque environment that fascinates every visitor. Walking throught the streets of this unique city makes it easier to understand local history and culture. Overnight in Jaipur. (B)

Jaipur – Agra
After breakfast transfer to Agra by highway (about 4 hours). Arrival in Agra and lunch in a small restaurant supported by a local NGO that helps women victims of acid attacks. After lunch visit old Agra. You wll explore the old city on a 3-hour walking tour led by a local guide who shows you daily life away from the typical tourist attractions. Learn about Agra’s history, architecture, and traditions as you discover the old market and its surroundings. The first stop will be the Jama Masjid, a big mosque opposite to Agra Fort. You will continue walking along the narrow lanes of old Agra, meeting a local family living in the area. Later you will visit the ancient Manka Meshwar temple (Shiva temple), followed by the wholesale spice market, Rawatpara, where you can find Agra petha, a candy made from ash gourd. You will also experience the bustle at the shoe mandi in Johri Bazar, the only street of Ayurvedic doctors, the paan (betel leaf), and the food street of Seth Gali. At sunset Visit to the Taj Mahal (closed on friday). It is one of the most famous and visited monuments of India, built at the behest of the Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The majestic white marble building is now a universal symbol of love and romance and it is also one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built in 1653 (symbolically remembered in the 16 gardens and 53 fountains) and it took 16 years of work and the commitment of thousands of artisans
Overnight in Agra (B, L)

Agra–Jhansi–Khajuraho
Early in the morning, transfer to the railway station and departure for Jhansi (approximately 2½ hours), followed by a journey to Orchha by private vehicle. Visit this small town, a former capital founded in 1531, which represents a harmonious blend of traditional Hindu, Indo-Saracenic and the more refined Mughal architecture. Everything here is still steeped in the atmosphere of the past: the imposing fortress and its palaces, Jahangir Mahal and Raja Mahal, are among the most romantic in India. Continue to Khajuraho (160 km: approximately 3½ hours), in Madhya Pradesh. Arrival in the late afternoon and check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay in Khajuraho. (B)

Khajuraho
Visit the extraordinary temple complex, built between the 10th and 11th centuries, renowned for its erotic sculptures and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the temples in the Eastern Group, distinguished by their remarkably rich detail, those in the Southern Group, and then the Hindu temples in the Western Group.
In the afternoon, we will visit Shree Matangeshwar Temple, which offers the perfect spiritual counterpoint to the archaeological exploration of Khajuraho. The ideal time to arrive is around 6:00 p.m., just after the nearby Western Group monuments close, when the sunset begins to bathe the city’s sandstone in warm light and local devotees make their way to the shrine for evening prayers. Inside the inner sanctum, attention is drawn to the majestic two-and-a-half-metre Shiva Lingam, which worshippers pour water and milk over and adorn with bael leaves before the ceremony.
At around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., the atmosphere suddenly intensifies as the Sandhya Aarti begins: the deep sound of the sacred conch and the rapid ringing of bells and gongs mark the start of the ritual. Priests move large, burning oil lamps before the deity, illuminating the reflections on the wet stone as the crowd sings rhythmic chants. The visit concludes after approximately half an hour with the sharing of the sacred flame and Prasad, leaving you immersed in authentic, vibrant Indian spirituality before dinner.
Overnight stay in Khajuraho. (B)

Khajuraho – Varanasi
After breakfast, we will visit the old town of Khajuraho, where a local guide will explain the caste system, showing the different areas inhabited by Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Transfer to the station and board the Vande Bharat train to Varanasi (departure at 3:20 p.m., arrival at 11:10 p.m., except on Thursdays). Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight stay in Varanasi. (B)

Varanasi
After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the sacred city, with its many attractions and ancient temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, Kal Bhairava, Durga Kund and Annapoorna. Varanasi is also an important centre for art, crafts and culture. The main ghats of Benares are flights of steps leading down to the Ganges, many used for ritual ablutions and others for cremations. The steps are often associated with a legend or a mythological episode; others are private. The most important cremation site is Manikarnika Ghat, known as Mahasmasana, which is included in the sightseeing tour. It is believed that cremating bodies in these special places is the right way to attain Moksha, or salvation.

In the afternoon, visit the Buddhist town of Sarnath, located 13 km northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Gomati River and the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath Deer Park is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma. Today, it is one of the Buddhist community’s four principal sacred sites, alongside Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini in Nepal, and attracts believers from around the world, especially on Purnima (or Buddha’s birthday), when Buddha’s life, death and enlightenment are celebrated.
In the evening, you will attend the famous religious ritual of Ganga Aarti Puja, held every day at sunset at Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This highly choreographed ceremony is performed on a platform by a group of young Pandits, dressed in saffron robes and holding ceremonial trays before them.
Overnight stay in Varanasi. (B)

Varanasi
Early in the morning, we will attend the Aarti Puja ceremony at Assi Ghat. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to join yoga classes alongside the pilgrims who attended the prayers. Before dawn, take a boat excursion on the Ganges (approximately 2 hours) to admire the rising sun and the city awakening amid rituals, ablutions, prayers and mantras. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Varanasi is known as Mahashamstana, the great cremation ground; here, death is celebrated in the same way as life. During this guided tour, we will visit the main sites to experience how death is perceived in Hindu culture. We will visit a Mukti Bhawan, a “hotel” where people with only a few days left to live come to stay. People travel to these hotels from all over India, as it is believed that those who die in Varanasi are freed from the cycle of reincarnation and attain moksha (liberation).
We will then visit one of the most important cremation sites, Manikarnika Ghat, where we will be able to witness funeral rituals. At the end of the tour, we will visit one of the most important temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadev in his form as Maha Mrityunjay, meaning “conqueror of death”. Inside the temple is an ancient well whose water is believed to cure any illness. Overnight stay in Varanasi. (B)

Varanasi – Delhi
In the morning, transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Delhi, followed by an international departure flight.