Discover India:
in the heart of central India
Journey to the heart of the deepest roots of the Indian subcontinent: the Bhimbetka caves which attest to a human presence 12,000 years ago; Sanchi and the origins of Buddhism in India; the solitary citadel of Mandu, founded in the 10th century, which recalls, by its architecture, the Afghan presence; Orchha, former capital of a powerful 16th century Rajput kingdom. Last but not least, the city of Bhopal, the current capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh, where the palaces of the former begums welcome the traveller.
We offer you this custom-made tour in central India, in the heart of the subcontinent. This will take you back in time and you will discover an extraordinary heritage, some sites of which are listed on Unesco World Heritage list.
Centre of India tour
15 days / 14 nights
Day 1 • New Delhi
Arrive at New Delhi international airport. We meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2 • Delhi - Agra
In the morning, you will drive to Agra, the ancient capital of the Mughal emperors. On the way, you will visit the majestic tomb of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Located in Sikandra, on the outskirts of Agra, this mausoleum built in the early 17th century is one of the masterpieces of Mughal architecture. Upon arrival in Agra, you will go and visit Red Fort, whose interiors form like a city with palaces, mosques and gardens, offering various architectural styles. You will check-in at the hotel at the end of the day.
Day 3 • Agra - Gwalior
At sunrise, visit the jewel of the Mughals: the Taj Mahal. The monument, an icon of India, was built on the banks of the Yamuna River by the great Mughal Shah Jahan for his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. We advise you to stroll in the gardens to appreciate the work of the thousands of craftsmen who worked on its realisation. After the visit, you will drive on to Gwalior, seat of the royal family of Scindia whose main interest is this imposing fortress which houses several temples and palaces. You will climb to the fort whose massive ramparts encircle almost the entire top of the hill on which it stands. Visit the Man Mandir (13th-14th c.) and the Sas Bahu temple (11th c.) dedicated to Vishnu and covered with sculptures. From here you will get a beautiful view of the city below. Finally, you will visit the Teli-ka-Mandir, a monument probably dating from the 9th century, entirely covered with sculptures, some of which, erotic, recall those of Khajuraho.
Day 4 • Gwalior - Orchha
In the morning, you will visit Jai Vilas Palace, residence of the Maharajas of Gwalior, built in white sandstone on the model of Versailles at the beginning of the 19th century. Among the many legendary gadgets still present in the palace is a silver electric mini-train, which, installed on the large dining room table, was used to circulate brandy and cigars to the guests around the table. After the visit, drive to Orchha. Along the way, visit the temples of Sonagiri and the fort of Datia, a palace of impressive dimensions. You will take care not to get lost in the 400 or so rooms of the palace !
Day 5 • Orchha
Full day sightseeing of the city and in particular Jehangir Mahal, with impressive dimensions, which benefits, from the upper floors, from a superb view of the surrounding countryside. The nearby Raj Mahal has some very beautiful wall paintings. Below the Jehangir Mahal, the Raj Praveen Mahal was built near a garden. The impressive temples of Orchha date from the 17th century and you can enjoy a very beautiful view of the city, the palaces and the temples, from the other side of the river which you will reach on foot.
Day 6 • Orchha-Sanchi
In the morning, departure for a long road to Sanchi, via the many villages of Madhya Pradesh. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and rest of the day free.
Day 7 • Sanchi - Bhopal
In the morning, visit Sanchi. When it was rediscovered in 1818, the city had been abandoned for six centuries and overgrown with vegetation. The ruins of some 50 monuments are unearthed, revealing one of the most extraordinary archaeological complexes in India. Founded in the 3rd century BC., at the time when the emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism, Sanchi is the oldest preserved Buddhist sanctuary. Arrival in Bhopal, check-in at the hotel and rest of the day free.
Day 8 • Bhopal and surroundings
A former principality of India, founded in the 11th century by Raja Bhoja, Bophal has always been ruled by Muslims until 1949. The city even has the distinction of having been ruled by begums between 1844 and 1926. The heritage counts few sites, except the mosques, including the Jama Masjid, which you will visit in the morning. You will then go to the caves of Bhimbetka, a prehistoric site discovered in 1957 and whose rock paintings, impressive in their state of preservation, date back to the Paleolithic. Finally, returning to Bhopal, you will stop in Bhojpur where the gigantic temple of Bhojeshwar is located.
Day 9 • Bhopal - Indore
You will leave the capital of Madhya Pradesh to continue to Indore, the largest city in the state. On arrival, visit the Jain temple Kanch Mandir, built at the beginning of the 20th century. Its particularity: the floors, the walls, the ceilings, the pillars are covered with polychrome glass mirrors, thus multiplying the play of light and reflection. Installation at the hotel at the end of the day.
Day 10 • Indore - Mandu
In the morning, brief stop at the palace of Rajwada, built at the end of the 18th century by the Holkar dynasty and formed of seven floors which rise above a large square lined with palm trees. Then departure to Mandu, a ghost town that takes you on a timeless journey to the heart of India.
Day 11 • Mandu
Full day sightseeing of this lost city, built in the 10th century by Raja Bhoja and which reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries under the reign of the Mughals. Its immense fortress perched above a wide and deep valley, offers, in the heart of its palaces, the most beautiful examples of Afghan architecture in India. Strolling around admiring the ingenuity of their construction is fascinating. The best known of these buildings remains the "palace of the boat" built to accommodate the 15,000 young women composing the harem of Ghiyas-ud-din who ascended to the throne in 1469.
Day 12 • Mandu - Dungarpur
In the morning, departure for a long day drive through the villages of Madhya Pradesh, to Dungarpur, in the very south of Rajasthan. The place is famous for the old palace which houses magnificent frescoes. In addition to visiting this gem, you will reside in the palace of the current princely family. Check-in at the hotel at the end of the day.
Day 13 • Dungarpur - Udaipur
In the morning, visit the old palace then depart for the white city of Udaipur. On arrival, rest of the day free to enjoy the pool or the old town at your own pace.
Day 14 • Udaipur
Full day sightseeing in the state of Rajasthan and one of its former capitals, the most pleasant without doubt: Udaipur. Here you will discover the City Palace, a huge palace that overlooks the main lake, one of the seven around which the city is built. You will also visit the Jagdish temple and go for a boat ride on the lake to have a beautiful view of one, if not the most beautiful city in the state. You will end the day by strolling in the shaded paths of the "Garden of the Maidens".
Day 15 • Udaipur - Delhi
Full day at leisure to enjoy the pool and/or the city at your own pace until your transfer to the airport for the flight to Delhi. You will reach on time for your transfer to the international terminal for your return flight.
This itinerary suggestion can be used as a starting point to create your tailor-made tour in Central India. You can also ask us for the cost and buy it as is.
IDEAS FOR A CUSTOMISED STAY IN CENTRAL INDIA
- Do the tour the other way round.
- From Udaipur, continue for a few days to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, before arriving in Delhi.
- Best time to go: all year round but beware of very high temperatures in the summer months (April to June).
OUR OFFER
Please contact us for a tailor-made quote, excluding international flights.
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