Best of North & West India with Nepal Tour

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai (Bombay)

On arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, meeting, assistance & transfer to your pre booked hotel. Bombay now renamed Mumbai is the Capital city of the State of Maharashtra, lying on the west coast of India blessed with a deep natural Harbour. Balance day is at leisure for own activities.

Mumbai is a land comprising of 7 islands and is also the business hub of India. The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. When in 1661 King Charles II married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, as part of her dowry Charles received the ports of Tangier and the seven islands of Bombay. In 2009, Mumbai was named an alpha world city.

Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India and is the wealthiest city of India. It is the fashion epicenter and a pulse point of religious tensions. Mumbai is big. It’s full of dreamers and hard-workers, starlets and gangsters, stray dogs and exotic birds, artists and servants and fisher folk and crorepatis (millionaires) and lots and lots of people. It has India’s most prolific film industry (Bollywood), some of Asia’s biggest slums (as well as the world’s most expensive homes) and the largest tropical forest in an urban zone. Overnight stay in hotel. (Room check in 1400 hrs)

Day 2: Mumbai

Morning after breakfast proceed for half day guided city sightseeing tour of Mumbai City. Drive past Afghan church & Flora fountain built in 1869, in honor of then Bombay's governor Sir Bentley. Visit St. Thomas Cathedral, Jain Temples, the Town Hall, Hanging Garden & the Tower of Silence – A Parsi funeral site situated on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering majestic views of the Mumbai Skyline and the Arabian ocean.

Drive on further to Kamla Nehru Park, visit Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi stayed), marvel at the Dhobi Ghats (Laundry cleaning place) and lose yourself in history at the Prince of Wales museum (closed on Monday’s). Finish your tour visiting The Gateway of India a monument built during the 20th century, overlooking the Arabian Sea, to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary when they visited India. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. Don’t miss the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel which lies right across this magnificent Gateway which has been referred as the Taj Mahal of Bombay. Return to your hotel via the colorful Crawford Market & Marine drive also called the Queen’s Necklace.

Afternoon is free to explore the exotic & colorful markets, handicraft & jewelers shops, clothes boutiques, museum and art galleries of Mumbai (Vehicle and driver will be at disposal). Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 3: Mumbai – Kathmandu (Nepal - By Flight)

Studio Complex. Why Mumbai is called the dream city (Maya Nagari) is visible here. Drawn by Bollywood dreams, the city sees an influx of Bollywood crazy wannabe stars, songwriters, singers, directors and dancers everyday Indian Film Industry being the poorer copycat cousin of Hollywood to the point of mishmash name Bollywood (the Hollywood of Bombay). In 2006, Bollywood produced 800 movies.

You will see a live shooting at the Film City situated in the forest cover of Borivali National Park which is the Mumbai’s biggest film studio. Out of bounds without prior permission, close to 20 shoots go on simultaneously at the sets and outdoor locations within its compounds. The property also has chalets where actors can live on location during extended shootings, a large storage facility for props that can be reused, and a workshop where the components of the sets are prefabricated. Have lunch at Bollywood café before returning to your hotel.

After fresh & change, transfer to Mumbai International airport to board your flight to Kathmandu at 1725 hrs. Later on arrival at 2010 hrs, meeting, assistance & transfer to your pre booked hotel for Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 4: Kathmandu

Morning after breakfast, depart for a full day guided tour of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, a blend of old and new and the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Nepal. This morning we visit Bodhnath Stupa, a beautiful Buddhist worship site with spinning prayer wheels and prostrating pilgrims. Our next stop is the ancient city of Bhaktapur and its beautiful Durbar Square, Nepal’s cultural gem. Visit local families to see Ju Ju Dhau (yoghurt) being made and to try our hand at pottery making maintained its traditional lifestyle and is famous for its pottery.

Continue your journey and visit Pashupatinath temple, & Swayambhunath Stupa (monkey temple), Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Some of these ancient monuments are UNESCO declared World Heritage sites & stand to display the rich history of this ancient valley that was once a kingdom to itself & a center where kings met on a certain day to go to war with one another on the next day. Kathmandu is a wonderful mix of different cultures & ancient traditions that are still practiced till this day. Return to your hotel for overnight stay at Hotel

Meals : Breakfast

Day 5: Kathmandu – Nagarkot -32 Kms (1.5 hrs)

Morning after breakfast, depart for Nagarkot (2130m) on arrival check into your pre booked hotel. Enjoy a buffet lunch and in the evening soak in the stunning scenery of the Himalayan sunset before retiring to your room for a goodnight sleep.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Nagarkot - Kathmandu - Delhi

Early morning get up to view sunrise. Enjoy your breakfast with nature. Post breakfast, transfer by surface to Kathmandu International Airport to board your Jet Air flight at 0920 hrs for Delhi. On arrival at 1110 hrs meeting, assistance and transfer to your pre booked hotel.

Delhi is a city built and rebuilt seven times over several centuries. The capital city today marries the quaint and unique elements of different historical eras with the pace of the bustling, growing economy. At every turn of the road, the past and the present coexist (Room check in 1400 hrs)

Afternoon proceed for half day guided city tour of New Delhi. The buildings designed by Edward Lutyens, architect of modern Delhi - are truly majestic. Drive past The Presidential Palace, Parliament House and India Gate which are all reminiscent of the British “Raj”. We stop for photo shoots before driving onward to visit an Hindu temple Next driving through Delhi’s beautiful tree-lined avenues and the Diplomatic Enclave area we arrive to visit the 12th century, 234-foot high fluted minaret of Qutab Minar. You finish your tour visiting Humayun's Tomb, the second Mughal Emperor to rule India, Overnight stay in hotel

Meals : Breakfast

Day 7: Delhi - Jaipur - 265 Kms/ 5.5 Hrs By Surface)

Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for the City of Jaipur - an exuberance of colors, dance & song with traditional arts and crafts. Known, as the 'Pink City', it is one of India's most well planned cities with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes in a grid system. A 5.5 hours’ drive gets us to this land of Maharaja's, Forts and Palaces with its diversity of colors & culture that is unique to the State of Rajasthan. On arrival, check in to your Hotel

Afternoon is reserved for half day guided city sightseeing tour. Visit the City Palace, the Palace Museum, Jantar Mantar (Jai Singh's observatory) Drive past Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds) & stop to visit Albert hall museum. Return to hotel via Johari Bazaar (Gem Market) and the Curio shops. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 8: Jaipur

Morning after breakfast, proceed for full day guided excursion to see two of the most impressive forts of Rajasthan. Visit the impressive Amber Fort the former capital of the Royal Family of Jaipur, An exotic elephant ride (subject to availability, otherwise Jeeps/car will be used) transports us to the lofty fort, high up in the hills, where we’ll experience a tour of this Rajput extravaganza. It is a deserted palace surrounded by majestic ramparts and the magnificent public & private room's and the evidence of the splendor of the rulers of 16th & 17th century Rajasthan.

Next visit the Jaigarh fort built in 1726, which houses the world’s largest cannon on wheels. Return to your hotel (you have the option of either coming back or go to numerous restaurants spread all over Jaipur for lunch)

Afternoon is free to explore the exotic & colorful markets, handicraft & jewelers shops, clothes boutiques, museum and art galleries of Jaipur (Vehicle and driver will be at disposal). Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 9: Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra -275 Kms (6 Hrs By Surface)

Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for the Mughal splendor of Agra, en-route stop to visit Fatehpur Sikri the well preserved ghost city located 35 Kms from Agra. A 5 hrs journey brings us to this magnificent fort, built in red sandstone. Once the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water. Sikri shared its imperial duties as a capital city with Agra, where a bulk of the arsenal, treasure hoards and other reserves were kept at its Red Fort for security. During a crisis, the court, harem, and treasury could be removed to Agra, less than a day's march. Visit the tomb of Salim Chisti built by Mughal emperor Akbar in honor of this Sufi saint in 1571 who foretold the birth of 3 sons to the Emperor Akbar, is an example of robust stability combined with originality. Each important edifice here represents a type by itself. Notable among them are the Diwan I Khas, Punch Mahal, and the Buland Darwaza. Later drive on to Agra & on arrival check-in to your Hotel. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 10: Agra

Morning after breakfast, the day is reserved city sightseeing. Begin your guided tour visiting Sikandra is the mausoleum of Akbar. Akbar himself started construction of this beautiful monument. This structure has a perfect blending of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain themes. Sikandra Fort is located in the western periphery of the city at a distance of about 10 Kms from the city center. After visit return to Agra City and visit the Agra Fort which lies across the river Yamuna which abode attractive constructions such as Pearl Mosque, Jahangir Mahal, Di wan-i-Khas, Di-wan-i- Am and more. It was here that Aurangzeb the 3rd son of Shah Jahan kept his father under house arrest until his death.

Afternoon, at 1530 hrs proceed on “Tonga” (Horse driven chariots) with your guide to visit the Taj Mahal to witness sunset (subject to weather condition) Taj Mahal, a UNESCO Heritage monument, is a fine example of fusion of many architectural styles is one of the wonders of the modern world. Built in 1652 by Emperor Shah Jahan, It took 22 years and 20,000 skilled artisans to complete this poem in white marble. Take your time to marvel at this unfathomable beauty built by human hands and enjoy the changing colors of the “Taj” as the sun goes down. Return to hotel for Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast