Journey from the Ellora Caves to the Ganges Valley (16 days / 15 nights)
Step back in time and discover the oldest places of worship in central India. Today, the caves of Aurangabad, Ellora and Ajanta are veritable museums carved out of the rock in the heart of a peaceful natural setting, and are true cultural gems. On this incredible adventure, you'll discover highly spiritual places where Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam developed. This is an original and exciting tour that takes you off the beaten tourist track.
Itinerary:Bombay-Aurangabad-Ajanta-Ellora-Indore-Mandu-Ujjain-Bhopal-Sanchi-Jhansi-Orccha-Khajuraho
Agra-Fathepur Sikri-Jaipur-Delhi
Day 1 France -> Bombay
Flight to Mumbai. Arrival at the airport, a typical welcome with a flower necklace and transfer to the hotel. At the end of the day, weather permitting, a quick tour of the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Bombay -> Aurangabad (Flight)
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Aurangabad. Arrival, welcome and transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Aurangabad - Ajanta - Aurangabad
After breakfast, you will set off on an excursion to the Ajanta site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located around a hundred kilometres north of Aurangabad, it is home to 30 exceptional caves in a splendid crescent-shaped gorge. Nestling in the heart of the rocky cliffs, you will discover miraculously preserved paintings and sculptures on the walls of these caves, bearing witness to India's earliest Buddhist artistic traditions. These works, dating from the 2nd and 1st centuries BC and the end of the 5th century, depict the life of the Buddha and stories from the Jakata, the previous lives of the Buddha. Lunch during the visit. At the end of the afternoon, you will be back on the road towards Aurangabad. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 4 Aurangabad - Ellora - Aurangabad
After breakfast, you'll set off for the Ellora caves, 30km north-west of Aurangabad. As the caves face west, the afternoon is the best time to visit them. For centuries, this place was considered sacred by Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. In these caves dating from the 6th to 9th centuries, you can admire numerous motifs and sculptures. Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple, a monolithic temple dedicated to Shiva, is the most spectacular. Lunch during the visits. Return to Aurangabad at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Aurangabad - Indore
After breakfast, drive to Indore. Arrive Indore and check into hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure to explore the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Indore - Mandu - Indore
After breakfast, you will set off to discover Mandu, once the capital of the Malwa kingdom and home to some impressive remains. More than 70 beautiful Muslim and Hindu monuments, built between the 11th and 16th centuries, stand amidst rural villages on a fortified hilltop, with the Vindhya Mountains as a backdrop. You will also see the Delhi Gate, the Jama masjid, a pink sandstone mosque, the white marble mausoleum and Jahaz Mahal. Lunch during the visit. Return to Indore at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Indore - Ujjain - Bhopal
After breakfast, you will drive to Ujjain. Ujjain is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism, and is also one of the four cities where the Kumbh Mela takes place. The city is mentioned in the Vedas (the sacred texts of the Hindus). The city's origins go back a very long way. The Kumbha Melā is a Hindu pilgrimage that takes place four times every twelve years, alternating between four holy places: Allâhâbâd (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttaranchal), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Nasik (Maharashtra). You will visit the Gopal Mandir, a temple dedicated to Krishna, the Mahakaleswar temple, dedicated to Shiva and containing one of the twelve Jyotirlingam or lingams of light, and the Jantar Mantar or Vedh Shala observatory. Lunch on the way. Continue on to the city of Bhopal. Arrive and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhopal
After breakfast, you will visit the capital of Madhya Pradesh, a pleasant provincial town with a mosaic of palaces, mosques, gardens and lakes dating from the colonial era. You will discover the old town, the Taj ul-Masjid mosque, Imam Square and more. Then lunch. In the afternoon, departure for the town of Sanchi. With its four gigantic porticoes, the great stupa of Sanchi is one of the oldest stone monuments still visible in India and undoubtedly one of the most interesting Buddhist sites in Asia. The hill that rises above the plain is packed with monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century BC: stupas, monasteries, columns and temples. Return to Bhopal at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Bhopal - Jhansi - Orccha (Train)
After breakfast you will take the train to Jhansi. At Jhansi you will take the road back to Orccha. Lunch en route. Arrive in Orccha and check into your hotel. The magnificence of Orccha remains frozen in stone by time. You will discover the marvellous Orccha temples on the banks of the river. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Orccha - Khajuraho
After breakfast, you will visit the pretty medieval town of Orccha. You will then take the road to Khajurâho. Arrive in Khajurâho and check into your hotel. Lunch en route. In the afternoon you will visit the famous temples of Khajurâho built by the Chandela Kings between the 10th and 11th centuries. You will visit the most important of these temples, the temple of Chaunseth Yogini, dedicated to the goddess Kali. You can also visit the Mahadev, Chitragupta and Bharatji temples, all decorated with erotic statues depicting scenes from the Kamasutra. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Khajuraho - Jhansi - Agra (Train)
After breakfast, the morning is free. Lunch before taking the road to Jhansi. Transfer to the station to catch the train to Agra. Arrive in Agra in the evening. Welcome at the station and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Agra
After breakfast and early in the morning, you will visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, at first light. The Taj Mahal is a white marble edifice built by Cha Jahan for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Maha. It took 22 years to build in the pure Persian style of architect Ustas Isa. Apart from its perfect style, the Taj is notable for its elegant, perfectly carved domes. Lunch during the visits. Then in the afternoon, you will set off to discover the Red Fort, the largest fort in the whole of India, built in 1573 after 8 years of work. The end of the day is free to wander around Agra or discover its bustling market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Agra - Jaipur
After breakfast departure for Jaipur. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a ghost town. Built of red stone by the emperor Akbar, it was the capital of his empire in the 16th century. It inspired many other monuments. Lunch in the restaurant. You will then continue your journey to Jaipur. Arrive in Jaipur and check into your hotel. You will then discover the city's incredible bazaars, allowing you to explore part of the city. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 14 Jaipur - Amber - Jaipur
After breakfast, you will set off to discover the impressive Amber Fortress outside the city. At the foot of the hill, you will begin a slow but leisurely elephant ride up to the main gate. You will then visit this magnificent site built in the 12th century. Return to the city for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the key monuments of the Pink City. You will discover the City Palace, still the Maharaja's residence, which is why certain areas are not open to the public. However, you will visit the most interesting ones. You will also visit its museum, which exhibits many antiques that belonged to the ruling family. Then you will discover Hawa Mahal, better known as the Palace of the Winds, which is the most famous in Jaipur. Finally, you will discover Jantar Mantar, Jaipur's great astronomical observatory. You will be impressed by the size of its astronomical instruments. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Jaipur - Delhi
After breakfast, drive to Delhi. Arrive for lunch. You will then visit the most important and significant sites in the Indian capital. During the day, you will be able to admire the Gate of India, a monument to the soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War. The Raj Ghat, home to the memorial to Gandhi, the father of the nation. You will be able to admire the Qutub Minar, also known as the Victory Tower, which remains the tallest tower in India and the third tallest in the world. Finally, you'll head to the Connaught district, which is characterised by its lively, modern feel. Here you can see the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the country's other institutions. At the end of the day, depending on your flight time, transfer to Delhi airport for a flight to France. End of our services.
Day 16 France
Arrival in France.
