Day 1 : Delhi
You will be welcomed at Delhi Airport by the representative of our local agency or by your French-speaking guide to greet you to India. They will assist you with the transfer to the hotel we have reserved for you for 2 nights. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 2 : Delhi
After breakfast, the day is dedicated to exploring Delhi. Bathed by the holy waters of the Yamuna, Delhi was twice the capital of an empire, first with the Mughals, then in 1911, with the British. The city is divided into 2 very contrasting parts: New Delhi, the Victorian city with wide avenues, its business district, and the parliament grouped around Connaught Place; and Old Delhi, the old city and capital of Muslim India, with alleys lined with bustling markets. The old city houses the Red Fort, a testament to the power of the Mughal emperors, as well as the largest mosque in the country: Jama Masjid. You will explore Old Delhi on foot, then visit Raj Ghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. Next, you will visit the tomb of Humayun, a beautiful example of Mughal architecture that is said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal. After lunch, you will visit the Qutub Minar, the tallest tower in the country at 72.5 meters high. In the late afternoon, you will discover New Delhi passing through RajPath, the Royal Way, before admiring the India Gate, the Parliament, and the Presidential Palace. In the evening, you will share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at the Bangla Sahib temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Delhi / Jaipur (310 km / 5h30)
After breakfast, you depart for Jaipur, one of the most pleasant and lively cities in India.
The capital of Rajasthan is also called "The Pink City" in reference to the color of the buildings in the old town, surrounded by barren hills topped with fortresses and crenelated walls. Sacred cows, camels, elephants, and Rickshaws coexist here. Built in 1727, Jaipur is one of the most colorful and picturesque cities in all of India. Upon arriving in Jaipur, you check in at the hotel. After lunch, you will visit the "Jantar Mantar," an amazing observatory built by a prince passionate about astronomy. You will stroll through the bazaars of the old town in a rickshaw to admire the artisans in their shops (potters, dyers, jewelers), street vendors, and vegetable sellers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Jaipur
After breakfast, you depart for an excursion to Amber Fort. This majestic construction is located 9 km north of Jaipur, in the former capital of the Rajput empire. You will then join the city of Jaipur and go to meet the "GK Agarwal School", a school created by the Khushi Foundation and the profits made by Passion India Tours & Travels in order to offer free education to the children most destitute of Jaipur. You have the chance to spend a friendly moment with students and teachers, and see what they learn there. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (240 km / 5h)
After breakfast, depart to Agra. On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, one of the most remarkable places from an artistic and architectural point of view. Fatehpur Sikri is the former capital of Emperor Akbar, built in 1571. The Imperial City contains buildings in pink sandstone of the most varied architectural forms: palaces, pavilions, courtyards and basins, mosques, and caravanserais. In the evening, you visit the Red Fort of Agra, whose high red sandstone walls dominate the Yamuna River. It marks the birth of the Mughal imperial style and offers you the opportunity to take a last look at the Taj Mahal. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Agra / Orchha (260 km / 5h)
After breakfast, you set out to discover the Taj Mahal. You then explore this pinnacle of Mughal art and architecture, a luminous white marble mausoleum inlaid with semi-precious stones. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is considered the third wonder of the world. Arrival and check in at the hotel. In the evening, you will attend a religious ceremony at the Rama Temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Orchha / Khajuraho (170 km / 4h)
After breakfast, you set out to discover the little city, the impressive Jahangir Mahal Palace, the Rajmahal Palace with its beautiful frescoes, and the Raj Praveen Mahal, a small palace set in a garden. Depart for Khajuraho. On the road, you make a stop at Alipura, an ancient princely town with an old fort, before arriving at Khajuraho. You then take advantage of the colors of dusk to walk around the city. Check in at the hotel. You will discover rural India through a walk in the village where the Indian tradition resonates. Following this beautiful discovery, you will attend a colorful dance show representing different regions of India. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 : Khajuraho / Allahabad (280 km / 6h30)
After breakfast, you will visit the western part of the Khajuraho site and its sculpted temples where giant frescoes of entwined human figures practice the arts of love. After lunch, you will discover the sacred power of love to reach the absolute, as revealed by the sculptures of Khajuraho. You will admire scenes of everyday life in the fields, scenes of war, and scenes of love, under the benevolent eye of the gods. To fully understand and realize the purity of divinity, one must leave their sexual desires outside the temple... In theory, of course ! You will then depart for Allahabad. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. In the evening, you will explore the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 : Allahabad / Chunar / Varanasi (Boat)
After breakfast, depart for Chunar, where a crew will be waiting to take you on a boat to Varanasi. You will arrive at the city of lights via the Ganges, an unforgettable experience ! From the boat, you will see the mythical Ghats in the glow of the setting sun. You will anchor near one of the main Ghats of the city. To truly feel the spiritual energy that emanates from the city, you will explore the streets and Ghats by rickshaw. People come here primarily to pray, bathe, purify, shave (female pilgrims donate their hair to the river), play cricket, wash their laundry, give alms to sadhus, or practice yoga. You will have the opportunity to participate in an offering and worship ceremony on the Ghats in tribute to the deities. Seeing these illuminated domes floating in the night will be a moment of wisdom you will remember for a long time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Varanasi
Very early in the morning, you will take a boat ride on the river to witness the sunrise Aarti ceremony, the bathing of pilgrims, and the city's awakening. Your morning continues with a walk through the old city to the Aurangzeb Mosque, built in the 17th century. Then you will visit the famous Golden Temple for a glimpse of the most sacred temple in Benares, with its gold-covered roofs, whose entrance is reserved for Hindus. Next, you will see the exterior of the Durga Temple, dating from the late 19th century, also known as the "Monkey Temple. Go back to the hotel to have breakfast. Vous continuez votre journée avec une excursion dans la ville voisine de Sarnath où Bouddha prononce son premier sermon. You will continue your day with an excursion to the nearby town of Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon. The site includes the ruins of buildings constructed between the reigns of Ashoka and Akbar and has an interesting museum displaying magnificent sculptures (both Hindu and Buddhist) found during excavations. The famous Ashoka Pillar, a symbol of India, is a major piece. Back to the city, you will explore the Bharat Mata Temple, inaugurated in 1936 by Gandhi and dedicated to Mother India. It features a relief map of the Indian territory as a "divine" image. Studying this modern temple allows for an analysis of the ambiguity of a place that hesitates between being a museum dedicated to the secular Indian nation and a temple to the deified Hindu nation. A museum temple that tourist pilgrims visit without genuine emotion or devotion, the Bharat Mata raises the question of the links between religion, history, and politics, and their evolution. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 : Varanasi / Calcutta (Domestic flight)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kolkata. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the Victoria Memorial, a majestic white marble monument housing a museum of paintings and photographs from the British occupation years. In the evening, you will have the chance to attend a cultural show on MahishasuraMardini. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Calcutta
After breakfast, you will visit various Pandals, astonishing sanctuaries that bloom in the city's streets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Calcutta
After breakfast, you will visit Belur Math and discover the rituals, prayers, and pujas, which are exclusively dedicated to women. As soon as the ceremony is over, you will return to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the hotel's services and its pool for some relaxation. In the evening, you will attend a cultural show featuring the ethnic Bengali dance called "Chau." Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14 : Calcutta
After breakfast, you will visit Mother Teresa's house.This is the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, and this is where her tomb is located. Nearby, a museum details her life and displays personal belongings.You will then continue with a walk through the artisan district of Kumartuli. Later, you will explore the Maidan, Dalhousie Square, and the colonial buildings from the British Raj (Writers' Building, High Court, St. John's Church). Return to the hotel. In the evening, you will visit some Pandals and enjoy the festive and lively atmosphere of Kolkata on the last day of the festival. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 15 : Calcutta / Delhi / Flight back
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule to Delhi before taking your return flight.