Mauryan Empire Tour

Establishment of the Mauryan Dynasty by Chandragupta with the help of Chanakya. The Mauryan period from 322 BC - 185 BC entered into Northern India, Bindusara extends kingdom southwards, Asoka's war on Kalinga, Asoka embraces Buddhism, Asoka sends Buddhist missionaries, Pushyamitra Shunga overthrows the Mauryas.
The period of the Mauryan Empire is said to be a period when chronology becomes definite. It was a period when politics, art, trade and commerce elevated India to a glorious height. A period of unification of the territories which lay as fragmented kingdoms. Moreover, Indian contact with the outside world was established effectively rule during these period. The Places are Indraprastha (Today’s Delhi), Mathura, Ujjain, Sanchi, Bodhgaya, Patliputra etc.


Day 01 : Delhi
Arrive Delhi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi
Morning half-day city tour of Old Delhi visiting Raj Ghat the Mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. Jama Masjid. Afternoon half day city tour of New Delhi visiting drive past President House, Parliament House (House of Representatives) and India Gate - War Memorial (stop for photography). Visit the Qutub Minar , 72.55 meters, high Victory Tower and proceed onto Bahai Temple (lotus temple). Also visit the Humayun's Tomb built of red sandstone, the first substantial example of the Mughal architecture and Laxmi Narayan Temple - a modern Hindu temple.

Day 03 : Delhi - Mathura - Agra
After breakfast drive to Mathura, which is 149 kms. & approx 03 hrs. drive. Sightseeing tour of Mathura, associated with the life of Lord Krishna, whose birth, childhood and adulthood in and around the city are richy woven in to the poetry, music and dance that are part of Indian Tradition and culture today. Then drive to Agra, which is 51 kms. & approx 1 hr. drive. Overnight in Agra.

Day 04 : Agra - Bhopal
After breakfast Visit all the sightseeing hot spots of Agra, i.e. Agra Fort - dominated by red sandstone construction & houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and other noteworthy structures and of course the Taj Mahal - The Monument of love, built by Mogul Emperor Shahjahan in 1630 to enshrine the mortal remains of his queen Mumtaj Mahal. Later transfer to Railway station to connect train to Bhopal. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 : Bhopal
After breakfast sightseeing tour around the walled city of Bhopal reminds you at the glamour of the lives led by the Nawabs and Begums at yore. The Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Moti Masjid built by Sikander Jahan Begum in 1860 A.D., is similar in style to Delhi's Jama Masjid, and has two dark red minarets crowned by golden spikes. The Taj - ul Masjid is a huge pink mosque with two massive white-domed minarets. The Shaukat Mahal, situated in the heart of the walled city, is built in an European style rather than the predominantly Islamic architecture of the area. Nearby is the Sadar Manzil, what used to be the hall of public audience of the former rulers of Bhopal. Besides, the Upper and Lower Lakes, and the adjoining zoo called Van Vihar, are well worth a visit while on a trip to this city of lakes. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06 : Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhimbetka - Bhopal
Full day visit to Sanchi (46 kilometers from Bhopal), located on a secluded hill crowned by a group of Stupas. Built in the 2nd century B.C. the Stupas are believed to have caskets with sacred ashes of the disciples of the Lord. The difference between the other Stupas and the one in Sanchi are its beautiful arched gateways with scenes from the life of Buddha and also that of Emperor Ashok carved on them. To Buddhists all over the world, Sanchi is almost as hallowed a spot as Bodh Gaya or Saranath. On Buddh Purnima, Buddhists from all over the world come to Sanchi to celebrate the triple anniversary of Gautam Buddha's birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana. Onto Bhimbetka Caves which are known for their prehistoric paintings, are located about 46 kilometers south of Bhopal. The caves, surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhya mountain range, are believed to have provided shelter to primitive man. The cliffs which have over 600 rocky shelters belong to the Neolithic age. It is an archaeological treasure cove with over 500 caves those have very precise paintings depicting the day to day life of the people then. The scenes painted depict everyday life of our ancestors who lived eons ago.
Overnight stay in Hotel at Bhopal.

Day 07 : Bhopal - Indore
After early breakfast drive to Indore (approx 186 Kms. 4 hrs. drive). On arrival transfer to hotel.
Later sightseeing tour to Indore visiting the Rajwada or the old palace,a testimony to the past grandeur of the Holkars located right in the heart of the city. Built with a perfect blend of three architectural styles, the Maratha, the Mughal and the French, this palace is more than 200 years old. The seven storied palace was a combination of stone and wooden floors. Later visit the Kanch Mandir (the temple of mirrors) or Seth Hukanchand temple, located near the Rajwada. This Jain temple is an exquisite temple with complete interiors done in glass. The floors, the ceilings, the pillars and also the door knobs are in glass. The Indore Museum, houses a good collection of pre-medieval and medieval artifacts. The Lal Bagh, Gandhi Hall or Town Hall, The Chhatri (Cenotaph) Bagh. Indore also has the largest Ganpati Idol in the world. The Bada Ganpati temple, having an 8m-tall, bright orange idol of Lord Ganesh was built in 1875. The Gita Bhavan, the Annapurna temple, Bijasen Tekri (a hilltop picnic spot and a vantage point to see Indore at night) and Gomtagiri Jain temples are other places worth visiting in Indore.
Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 08 : Indore - Ujjain - Indore
Full day excursion to Ujjain (approx 56 km ), the ancient town is one of the holiest cities for Hindus. Ujjain has a plethora of temples that are spread all over the town. Visit the Bhaironath temple, the Mangalnath temple, the Chintaman Ganesh etc. It is the Mahakal, the presiding deity of Ujjain, the other gods of the Hindu pantheon are also well represented in the hundreds of other temples all over the town. One of the major attractions of the town is the Bhasma Aarti held every dawn at the Mahakal temple. In this ritual, the master of cosmic time is propitiated with ash from a cremation ground, the ash being symbolic of the end of a particular manifestation of existential time.
Apart from the temples, the other buildings of Ujjain merit far more than a casual look. "Its houses are like palaces and its palaces are like mountains, wrote Kalidasa, the famous poet, and even today that observation is not very far off the mark. Ujjain is quite simply a traveler's dream destination. Overnight stay at hotel at Indore.

Day 09 : Indore - Delhi - Onward Destination
After breakfast transfer to Airport to connect flight for Delhi. On arrival at Delhi transfer to International Airport to connect flight for onward destination.