Golden Triangle of India – Varanasi – Khajuraho

Meet at the airport and fly via a stopover to the capital of India, Delhi.

Arrival in Delhi and connecting flight to Varanasi or Benares. The city is built on the west bank of the river Ganges and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is considered the spiritual capital of India and is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains – Hindus believe that anyone who dies in Varanasi and is cremated on the banks of the Ganges will break the eternal cycle of reincarnation and their soul will be freed. Funeral pyres burn continuously on the stone steps/ghats, leading to the sacred river. Arrival, transfer and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon we will attend the Aarti ceremony, in honor of the great god Shiva. Bells, shells, incense and flowers are part of this mystery-filled ceremony. All the people (pilgrims and tourists) sing or clap their hands to participate in the ritual, until its climax. You, the spectators in this setting, will live an unrepeatable mystique experience! Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

The boat ride early this morning, at the time the bells are tolling, will introduce you to the special secrets of the holy river Ganges. Hundreds of devotees perform the morning rituals of purification, wash, wash their colorful clothes, face, teeth, do yoga, pray, offer rice to the ash-stained saints, expecting solutions and advice to their problems. An etiquette that will really amaze you. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then depart for the Buddhist city of Sarnath, first visiting the temple with its frescoes depicting the life of the Buddha up to his supreme enlightenment and his first discourse 2,500 years ago. Then we visit the ruins of the first monastery in Alsos ton Elafia. There we will learn about the Buddha’s first discourse and his great spiritual revelation, his references to the four truths surrounding suffering, as well as the Noble Eightfold Path, which leads to liberation and the elimination of suffering and pain. Return to the hotel and afternoon free to explore the city’s colorful market. Dinner. Overnight.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Khajuraho with its elaborate temples built between 950-1050 AD. and are divided into Western/Tantric-Hindu and Eastern/Jain. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon tour of the over 1,000 year old archaeological site with Hindu temples depicting gods and goddesses, warriors, musicians and animals. From afar everything looks normal, but up close you can see intense love moments with “triangles”, orgies and animal fights. Masculine men and ethereal beauties take their stand next to the gods! A spectacle definitely unique and with many interpretations. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

Khajuraho – Orcha – Jhansi – Agra

This morning we will visit the complex of Jain temples of Khajuraho and depart for Orcha, where we will visit its famous fort. We continue to Jhansi railway station, from where we will board the afternoon train to Agra. Arrival transfer to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

Agra, the “Pearl of Hindustan”, is strategically located on the banks of the Yamuna River. It reached the height of its glory when the great emperor Akbar of the Mughal dynasty moved his capital there. Then the city was adorned with mosques, palaces and beautiful gardens. During our today’s tour we will visit the most famous monument not only of the city, but also of the whole country, the famous mausoleum Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, built in 1632 by the emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of beloved husband, Mumtaz Mahal. We continue to the stunning Red Fort of Agra, where Shah Jahan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

Departure for the “Pink City”, Jaipur. During today’s route we will first visit Fatehpur Sikri (“City of Victory”), a city that was abandoned 14 years after it was founded in 1569 by Emperor Akbar. Next is a stop at the small village of Abaneri to see the special architectural water reservoir (baori) with its gradually decreasing steps. We continue to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur. The city owes its name, foundation and planning to a great astronomer and warrior, Maharaja Jai Singh II (1699-1743). Its designation as “Pink City” is due to the color with which the buildings in its old walled part are painted. There are many theories as to why. According to one theory, pink was chosen by Maharaja Jai Singh II to honor the god Shiva, who is believed to be his favorite color. Another theory, supported by the British, is that the city was painted this color to welcome the British Prince of Wales Albert Edward VII and later King of Great Britain (and therefore Emperor of India) in 1876, as the pink color in Rajasthan symbolizes hospitality. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

This morning we will visit the fortress of Abert, which until 1728 was the headquarters of the province. It is located on the hill of the same name and is approached on the back of elephants! Our tour will continue to Jaipur itself, where we will visit the Jandar Mandar palace and observatory and admire the facade of the Hawa Mahal – an unusual architectural palace with numerous windows, built in 1799 so that the women of the royal family could they watch everyday life, without being noticed. This is followed by a rickshaw/cycle ride, while in the late afternoon we will have the opportunity to witness the ancient rite of Aarti, one of the most important ceremonies of Hinduism. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight

During our tour today, we will experience the well-planned avenues of the New, but also the charm of the bygone ages of the Old, with its marble palaces, mosques and bazaars., the impressive Mausoleum of the Mongol Emperor Humayun, the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Gateway of India, built to honor the fallen Indian soldiers of World War I, the Bahai or Lotus Temple with its 27 marble “petals”, and India’s oldest Islamic monument, the Qutub Minar. Next is a visit to Akshardham Temple, the “new abode of god”, an impressive Hindu site of eternal devotion and a spiritual campus dedicated to harmony and learning. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

During our tour today, we will experience the well-planned avenues of the New, but also the charm of the bygone ages of the Old, with its marble palaces, mosques and bazaars., the impressive Mausoleum of the Mongol Emperor Humayun, the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Gateway of India, built to honor the fallen Indian soldiers of World War I, the Bahai or Lotus Temple with its 27 marble “petals”, and India’s oldest Islamic monument, the Qutub Minar. Next is a visit to Akshardham Temple, the “new abode of god”, an impressive Hindu site of eternal devotion and a spiritual campus dedicated to harmony and learning. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

Transfer to the airport and boarding the flight to Athens with a stopover. Same day arrival