India: Across The Ganges To Varanasi

After a group briefing and introduction over lunch, we will take a drive through New Delhi, visiting Rajpath and India Gate as well as Humayun’s tomb, one of the best-preserved Mughal monuments, commissioned by Humayun's son Akbar and designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiya. This evening we will head to the lively Connaught Place for dinner.

This morning we take a morning train to the strategic city of Gwalior, whose famous fort lies some 122 kms to the south of Agra. The journey should take us around three hours. Gwalior’s history is a microcosm of centuries of political rule in northern India. Since the 8th century, its fort has passed through the hands of some of the region’s most influential dynasties including the Tomaras, the Mughals, the Marathas, the Scindias and the British.  Today it is considered the cultural capital of Madhya Pradesh and the old city is a visual treat, with its magnificent sandstone fort standing sentinel over a city that is filled with temples, palaces and a network of winding streets that are filled with old havelis and exquisitely carved doorways. Tonight, we will stay in our 120-year-old heritage hotel.

We’ll take a final look around this splendid city this morning before continuing by road on to the city of Orchha, a medieval gem that lies on a bend on the Betwa River, some 120km to the south east. In between the scenic beauty that the place derives from the green hills, clear waters and the wonderful environment, we will also find a great combination of wonderful architecture which takes its inspiration from the Mughals and the Rajputs.

Founded by the Rajput prince, Rudra Pratap, Orchha went on to become the power-base of the Bundela dynasty of the 16th and 17th centuries. Today it is home a superb complex of palaces including the Jehangir Mahal, a stunning piece of Islamic design that is justly considered to be one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture in the country. A tour of the city introduces us to this and a number of other significant landmarks that date back to a golden age of Indian architecture, including the delicate murals of the Raj Mahal and the elegance of the beautiful two-storey Raj Paryeen Mahal. During our time here we'll also have the chance to join a local family for a cooking demonstration followed by a meal. Orchha remains for many one of the India’s lesser known rural highlights.

Leaving Orchha behind this morning we head next for the temple city of Khajuraho, lying some 180 kms to the south east. Travelling by road, the journey should take us around three and a half hours, reaching the city in time to enjoy an afternoon’s sightseeing tour of the famous monuments. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Khajuraho can boast the largest collection of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in India and its remarkable series of erotic carvings has earned it the accolade of one of the ‘Seven Wonders’ of India. Spanning a period of some 200 years, these majestic sandstone monuments once lay at the heart of the Chandela dynasty and while only 25 of the original 80 temples still remain in any significant form, they do nonetheless represent some of the finest examples of temple architecture anywhere.

After a relaxed start we will plan to rent some bicycles* for a ride around the local villages and temples in the area. Despite its inevitable and growing appeal to visitors, Khajuraho is still steeped in its traditional rural ways and as we cycle to the Eastern and Southern temples, we will have the chance to enjoy a more authentic interaction with the locals. If we’re lucky children may even break away from their games of cricket to speak to us...but don't bank on it!

*see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for more information on cycling 

Today affords us the chance to sit back and enjoy a slow drive through rural India taking in the villages, vegetation and agricultural areas that are still home to the majority of India’s almost 1.5 billion population. We will continue south east to Bandhavgarh National Park admiring the scenery en route. The journey should take us around 6 hours. Bandhavgarh which means Brothers' Fort in Sanskrit as Rama gave the area to his brother Lakshmana to keep watch on Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon. It was given National park status in 1968 and hosts one of the largest tiger populations in India.

Approx 6 hours driving

Today you will explore Bandhavgarh National Park on two game drives. Bandhavgarh National Park consists of a core area of 105 sq-km and has a buffer area of approximately 400 sq-km, with a topography that varies between steep undulating ridges, forests and open meadows and is one of India's most most picturesque parks. Known to have the largest population and density of the Royal Bengal Tigers, your chances of spotting one are much higher than in any other park in India. The park is also home to numerous other species of mammals that include, sloth bears, wild dogs, four horned antelope, sambhar and chital deer, wild boar, monkeys, leopards, bison, mongooses, jackals, jungle cats, civets, hyenas and over 150 species of birds among other species. Early this morning you will be taken into the forests of the national park to go tiger tracking with your expert naturalist guide. Typically, morning safaris in the park start at sunrise and last until late morning allowing you to explore the wilderness and enjoy some wildlife spotting before returning to your lodge at approximately noon for lunch. After enjoying a few hours of rest during the heat of the day at your lodge, later this afternoon you will return for your second game drive of the day. The afternoon safari provides a different perspective and the wildlife viewing lasts until sunset, which is a wonderful time to spot numerous species. At dusk, you leave the park and return to your lodge before settling down for dinner. Please note: Safari zones are strictly allocated by the government park authorities and cannot be pre-booked.

Today we will have an early start for our full day’s drive to Varanasi which will take us around 9 hours depending on road conditions. Varanasi is considered to be one of the oldest cities in existence. Lying along the banks of the sacred River Ganges and once described by  Mark Twain as ‘...older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend...’ it is one of the oldest Hindu pilgrimage sites on earth. Long believed to be the place where the material and the spiritual worlds converge, the city is steeped in the lore and traditions of Shiva, and has been a centre of learning and civilization for over three millennia.

Approx 8 - 9 hrs driving

Early this morning we’ll head down to the ghats and take to the  river by private boat to witness one of the most evocative sites in India as the faithful come down to the holy river for their early morning cleansing. From here we’ll explore this most remarkable and photogenic of cities, taking in the riverfront ghats and temples that spill down into the holy waters of the Ganges. There are over 80 of these ghats hugging the banks of the river and every day they are covered in a swarming mass of humanity, as pilgrims, tourists and dhobi wallahs flock to the river to work, pray and bask in the shadow of the towering pavilions and palaces that line the river’s edge. One of the most macabre and fascinating sights is the ghat at Mahashmshana, the ‘Great Cremation  Ground’, where the bodies of the recently  interred are cremated and their ashes scattered across the waters of the Ganges, thereby achieving instant salvation. Although photography is accepted from afar, it is strictly forbidden when close up  at these ceremonies. After a break we’ll then head back down to the Ganges for a late afternoon stroll along the ghats and a boat ride to see the famous sunset Aarti – the celebration to Lord Shiva.

This morning we’ll take a short drive to nearby Sarnath. It was here that Buddha preached his first sermon and as such remains an important site for Buddhists who come here on pilgrimages from all over the world. The Dhamekha Stupa is the most conspicuous structure built in Sarnath standing at almost 40m high and dating back over 1500 years. Sarnath is a peaceful place which will allow for some time to reflect on the more intense experiences from earlier on in the tour in Allahabad and Varanasi. The tour itself finishes in the early afternoon back in Varanasi and those on the suggested group evening flight will have some free time before being transferred to the airport for onward flights.