2Morning enjoy your breakfast at hotel After breakfast you will transfer for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi Morning: Sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. Drive past from the historic Red Fort (Out sIde only) – Shah Jehan’s elegant citadel in red sandstone, which was built as an octagon measuring 900m by 550m and surrounded by a 9 meter deep moat which was at its inception fed by the waters of the Yamuna River. Very near the Fort is the Jama MasjId (FrIday Mosque), India’s largest mosque, also built by Shah Jahan? Take an interesting rickshaw rIde through the famous bazaars of Chandni Chowk which is adjacent to both the Fort and the Mosque. Time permitting; also visit Raj Ghat – the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. In Old Delhi you will enjoy a rIde on cycle rickshaws. Now these are 3-wheel cycles with a sofa seat at the back. The Rickshawalla (Rickshaw driver) sits on a small cushion in the front and two passengers on the sofa seat behind. This is a remarkable way to explore and picture the hustle and bustle as well as the colour of the narrow winding streets bursting with people and pavement shops selling wares of all description – including a laughing set of dentures. The rIde would be accompanied by peals of laughter both from the passengers as well as the onlookers. Afternoon: Sightseeing tour of New Delhi. Visit the Qutab Minar, a Tower of Victory which was built in the 12th century by Qutbuddin Aibak. Within its spacious courtyard stands the Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD and bears a Sanskrit inscription in the Gupta style. The pillar has puzzled scientists, as its iron has not rusted in all these centuries. The tomb of Humayun – the magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble is one of the finest examples of the garden tomb, and a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Its proportionate spaces, double dome and refined elegance are characteristic of Mughal architecture. Also visit India Gate, the memorial of the First World War and the road that leads from there to Rashtrapathi Bhawan – the resIdence of the PresIdent of India which is flanked by the houses of Parliament and the Government Secretariat buildings. Overnight in Delhi

4Normal check-out time at the hotel is 1200 Hrs In the Morning enjoy your breakfast at the hotel After breakfast you will transfer to visit of Agra city. Visit Taj Mahal – monuments of Love, (TAJ MAHAL REMAIN CLOSED ON EVERY FRIdAY ) which was built in the mIddle of the 17th century by the Moghul emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Visit the Taj Mahal surely the greatest monument to love and one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by Emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Marble was brought from Makrana, near Jodhpur and precious stones of onyx, amethyst, malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade, crystal and mother of pearl were carried to Agra from Persia, Russia, Afghanistan, Tibet, China and the Indian Ocean. Afternoon you will visit Agra Fort & Itimad-Ud-Daulah. Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna River enclosed by forbIdding 20-meter high walls, with a 12- meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors – Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan – helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture. Later visit Itimad-Ud-Daulah. Itmad-Ud-Daulaha’s tomb was built by Empress Noor Jahan in memory of her father, Ghias-Ud-din Beg in 1622-25 AD. This ornate tomb is consIdered a precursor of the Taj Mahal. Also visit Itmad-Ud-Daulaha’s tomb, was built by Empress Noor Jahan in memory of her father, Ghias-Ud-din Beg in 1622-25 AD. This ornate tomb is consIdered a precursor of the Taj Mahal. In the evening you will transfer to railway station to board the train for Varanasi Train Details: – Train Name / Number: – Marudhar Express – 14864 Depart from Agra: – 2120 Hrs Arrival in Varanasi: – 0835 Hrs* (* Next Morning ) Proposed Class: – 3 Tier Air-condition Sleeper

6Morning transfer for Boat rIde at dawn down India’s most sacred river, The Ganges. Sun rise at the holy river is a truly tranquil and breath taking sight with pilgrims standing waist‑deep in water, praying to the rising Sun. Past these bathing ghats, see the “burning ghats” where the Hindus cremate their dead. This is done with great religious fervour which makes for a moving experience. Afternoon you will transfer to visit Sarnath Sarnath is the place where the Buddha turned the Wheel of Law and delivered His First Sermon. See the Chowkandi and Dhamek Stupas, the ruins of 9th and 10th century monasteries and temples, the temple built by the Mahabodhi Society in 1931, and the Tibetan Temple. Visit the famous Sarnath Museum (closed on FrIdays]. Overnight in Varanasi

8Morning enjoy our breakfast at hotel After breakfast you will proceed for excursion on Rajgir & Nalanda Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings. After Buddha reached “pari-nirvana” his followers met at the Saptaparni cave in Rajgir, the first Buddhist council ever held. It was here that the teachings of the Buddha were recorded for the first time. The places of interest are Bimbisara ka jail, Jarasandha ka akhra, Swamabhandar cave, Viswa Shanti Stupa, the famous hot water springs and ruins of the old fort. Later transfer to visit Nalanda Nalanda – Though Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5-12th centuries. Hiuen Tsang stayed here in 7th century and has left detailed description of the excellence of education and purity of monastic life practised here. In this first resIdential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the world lived and studied here. Visit the ruins and the museum. After visit back to Bodhgaya. Overnight in Bodhgaya

10After visit you will drive to Lumbini en-route visit of Mahakala caves Arrival in Lumbini and transfer to the hotel Lumbini is the place where the Buddha, known as the Tathagata was born. It is the place which should be visited and seen by a person of devotion and which should cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence. The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Overnight in Lumbini

12In the morning you will enjoy your breakfast at the hotel Later you will drive to Gorakhpur to board the overnight train for Delhi Train Details: Train Name / Number: Vaishali Exp: 12553 Depart from Gorakhpur: 1705 Hrs Arrival in Delhi: 0630 Hrs Proposed Class: III Tier Air-condition Sleeper