TOUR TO VIBRANT CULTURE : GUJARAT

Duration : 16 Nights - 17 Days
Itinerary at a Glance : Delhi - Ahemdabad - Wankaner - Gondal - Junagarh - Sasangir - Diu - Bhavnagar – Mumbai.

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Day 1 : Delhi
Upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi meet and greet by our representative and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
New Delhi:  The capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern era. Standing along the west End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India.
Delhi is a palimpsest, bearing the complexities, the contradictions, the beauty and the dynamism of a city where the past coexists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character.

Day 2 : Delhi
After breakfast proceed for full day city tour of old & New Delhi, drive past Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghats, Lotus Temple, Laxmi Narayan Mandir, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, President   House and Qutub Minar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 : Delhi -  Ahmedabad
Today morning after breakfast transfer to the domestic airport to board your flight to Ahmedabad , the old capital of Gujarat. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Later in afternoon proceed for the city tour including visit Jama Masjid, Shaking minarets (damaged during the recent earthquake), Rani Rupmati's mosque. Overnight at hotel

Day 4 : Ahmedabad - Wankaner
Morning leave for Wankaner - a small capital city of the Jhals (a Rajput state). On arrival in Wankaner, check in to the hotel. Rest of the day, at leisure.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 : Wankaner
Today morning after breakfast proceed for the city tour of Wankaner.
Visit Ranjit Vilas Palace which have  memorable collection of swords, shields and daggers, 95 species of stuffed animals, duelling pistols, pig sticking spears, silver, linen chests, silver-plated howdahs, thrones, paintings and portraits. The palace has magnificent spiraling marble staircase, stained glass galleries, chandeliers and period furniture. The garage, on the grounds of the palace complex, has Vintage cars like the 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, some imposing American cars and horse drawn carriages. The palace also has a stable of Kathiawadi horses. There are large grounds with beautiful Italianate fountains.
Wankaner also has a step well, the last one to be built in Gujarat. In the royal oasis complex, the 3-storied step well, has 2 underground floors with cool subterranean marble rooms, fine sculptures and a fountain.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 : Wakaner - Gondal
Morning after breakfast leave for Gondal and upon arrival check in to the hotel.
Afternoon proceed for the city tour. One of the oldest and most beautiful of Gondal palaces, the Navlakha palace complex (17th century), is situated on a river bank, on a grand masonry base, rising to the monumental scale of at least 30 meter above the river bed. The palace is approached by the high gateway with the clock tower from the town side. The entrance leads to a huge open space with administrate blocks on height and a grand staircase with balustrade on the extreme left corner leading to the intricately carved pavilions on the open terrace. The grand Darbar Hall, with a series of huge windows opening onto a long balcony supported by intricately carved brackets, overlooks the river. Darbar Hall, with a series of huge windows opening onto a long balcony supported by intricately carved brackets, overlooks the river. Darbar Hall has large chandeliers, stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture and antique Belgian mirrors. Visit step-well also.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7 : Gondal - Junagarh
In morning after breakfast leave for Junagarh,on arrival check in to the hotel.
Junagarh is a veritable treasure trove of ancient temples, museums, palaces and caves. Every monument will remind you of the grandeur of the Nawabs who once ruled Junagarh. The famous rock edicts of Asoka and the Girnar Temples are a popular attraction Afternoon, visit the Girnar Hill- 600 m climb up 10,000 stone steps to the summit of Girnar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8 : Junagarh
Morning further sightseeing of Forts, palaces and mosques of Junagarh. Afternoon at Leisure.Overnight at hotel.

Day 9 : Junagarh - Sasangir
Today morning after breakfast leave for Sasangir the abode of the majestic Asiatic Lion.On arrival in Sasangir check in to the hotel .Afternoon enjoy game drive.
Sasan Gir Forest is today the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in his natural habitat. The forest also harbours a variety of smaller animals and birds. Other predators are the Panther and the Hyena. The Indian Deer, Sambar, Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai (blue bull), Chinkara and the Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here, along with the bear and the long tailed langur.

Day 10 : Sasangir.
Today morning after breakfast, full day visit to the park. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 : Sasangir - Diu
Morning after breakfast leave for Diu. On arrival check in to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure enjoying the beach and the sea.
The Island of Diu has chaptered History, having been under the possession of and ruled by many Kings and Dynasties; beginning with the Pauranic period and the last being Portuguese from whom it was liberated along with Goa and Daman on 19th December, 1961. The word 'ISLAND'. Pandavas during their fourteen years of exile are believed to have passed a few days at a place known as Mani Nagar (DIU) which was under the Yadavas led by Krishna Vasudeva during Mahabharata period. Overnight at the hotel

Day 12 : Diu
After breakfast in morning full day free to explore the beach happening on your own.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 : Diu - Bhavnagar
Morning after breakfast leave for Bhavnagar which was once the capital of the princely state of Kathiawad is now a convenient base to visit the temple town of Palitana, the most important Jain pilgrimage centre. On arrival, check in at hotel for two nights. Afternoon short tour of the city and then Rest of the day, free for individual activities. Overnight at the hotel

Day 14 : Bhavnagar –Palitana - Bhavnagar
Morning after breakfast leave for excursion trip to Palitana.
Two peaks covered with shrines you have the Jain pilgrimage centre of Palitana (Bhavnagar district) atop the Shatrunjay Hill. There are 900 temples big and small on the two summits. The sculptures that adorn the marble temples present a feast to the eyes. You need not be a Jain to admire the spectacle. Generations of Jain all over the country have contributed their mite to make Shatrunjay Hill what it is today. It is said all the Jain Tirthankars, excepting Neminath, had attained nirvan on Shatrunjay Hill. This fact adds to the veneration the devout have for the place. The place is therefore called Siddhakshetra where one attains moksh.The mountain is associated with Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankar who is also known as Adinath.The main temple at the top contains his idol in padmasan. He belonged to the Ikshvaku Dynasty of Ayodhya. So Rama was his ancestor. Adinath visited the Shatrunjay Hill 93 times.

Day 15 : Bhavnagar - Mumbai
Today morning after breakfast get transfer to the airport to board your flight for Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of Mumbai.
Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment centre of India, generating 5% of India's GDP,and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 40% of maritime trade, and 70% of capital transactions to economy. Mumbai is home to important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations. The city also houses India's Hindi film and television industry, known as Bollywood. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher standard of living, attract migrants from all over India and, in turn, make the city a potpourri of many communities and cultures.
Overnight at the hotel

Day 16 : Mumbai
Morning after breakfast proceed for excursion trip to Elephanta Island. Afternoon at leisure.
The origins and artists of the temple caves, thought to date from about the 7th century, remain obscure. We do know, however, that the island was originally called Gharapuri; the Portuguese renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone elephant near their landing place. (The figure collapsed in 1814 and was subsequently moved to the far-off Victoria Gardens and reassembled.) Shortly before the Elephanta temples were created, Bombay had experienced the golden age of the late Guptas, under whom the talents of artists had free range. Sanskrit had been finely polished, and under the court's liberal patronage, Kalidasa and other writers had helped incite a Hindu religious revival. Shaivism, the worship of Shiva, inspired the building of these temples.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 17 : Dep Mumbai
Morning after breakfast transfer to airport to board your flight for your onward destination.

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