Temples and Tigers

Departure on a regular flight to Delhi. Night on board.

Arrival at Delhi International Airport, customs procedures, luggage collection and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free. Delhi, capital of the Republic of India, is marked by great historical importance favored by its strategic location in northern India. Established between the Aravalli Hills and the Yamunā River, its position facilitated control of the trade routes that ran from the northwest to the Gangetic plains. This late-night city, which never sleeps, never rests, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, always receives travelers bustling, full of traffic jams, with motorcycles that cross each other clumsily and with difficulty, disconcerting sounds and shocking smells and colors that leave their mark. Delhi is divided into two, Old Delhi and New Delhi, the latter created under the control of the British Empire in order to build a new city where all the government and governors' buildings would be gathered.Accommodation .

Breakfast. Visit of Old Delhi, starting with the Raj Ghat, which is the memorial where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; the Sikh Temple of BanglaSabih, where we will observe the fervor with which the members of the Brotherhood listen to the reading of the Book; the Great Jamma Mashid Mosque, ordered to be built by Shah Jahan and built almost in the middle of the ancient city (Old Dehli) on a small hill. Muslim pride prevails in the majority of the Hindu territory, especially in the northern part, marking and remembering its ancient supremacy in much of the subcontinent, the conquests achieved around the 16th-19th centuries and its undoubted influence on the development of the culture of India. From one end of the main courtyard of the mosque, you can see the Red Fort of Delhi or Lal Quila in Hindi, built by the Islamic empire in the 17th century. Continue by rickshaw (bicycle cart) through the colorful streets of the popular neighborhood of Chandni Chowk, to immerse yourself among stalls with various decorations, food with an intense smell of almost indecipherable spices, shoes, backpacks, glasses, cows or goats sneaking into the stores, all under a constant and disturbing disorder and bustle. Lunch at a local restaurant. Already in New Delhi, we will pass through the Rajpath, the city that Edwin Lutyens built to be the British capital in the so-called Anglo-Indian style; the Gate of India memorial erected in honor of soldiers who died during various wars; the Parliament building; the Presidential Palace; the Ministries... Visit of theQutub Minarthe oldest monument remaining in Delhi, as its construction began at the end of the 19th century. XII. It has been declared a “World Heritage Site” since 1993. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road to Agra. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, it was the capital of the Mughal empire at its peak, founded in 1505 by the Sultan of Delhi Sikander Lodi on an ancient city of Hindu origin. In 1565, when it was named Akbarabad, the Mughal emperor Akbar made it the imperial capital and it remained so intermittently until Shah Jahan moved the capital again to Delhi in 1648. Visit the Red Fort of Agra, built of stone red sandstone, by the Mughal emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. It is a walled complex, which contains palaces and stately buildings with architectural styles that vary from the complexity of what was built by Akbar, to the simplicity of what was built by his grandson. Shah Jahan and surrounded by a deep moat that was filled with water from the Yamuna River. In the afternoon we will visit the Taj Mahal, being able to enjoy the sunset lights that surround everything in a reddish-pink tone, forming a much more idyllic setting. to contemplate this spectacular architectural complex, considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Erected between 1631 and 1654 by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is built of white marble, in a style that combines elements of Islamic, Persian, Indian and even Turkish architecture. The monument has achieved special notoriety due to the romantic nature of its inspiration. Although the mausoleum covered by the white marble dome is the best-known part, the Taj Mahal is a group of integrated buildings. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Depart by road to visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built by the Mughal emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585, in honor of the saint Salin Chishti, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal empire for 14 years, after which it had to be abandoned, which caused a multitude of looting and robberies, although Despite this, you can still see its magnificent architecture that mixes Mughal and Hindu styles. Continue to Ranthambore National Park, which was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980. In 1984 , the adjacent forests were declared Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was expanded. Well known for daytime tiger activity, Ranthambore is a very special and unusual area where a natural present meets a historical past.Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Morning and afternoon safari in an all-terrain vehicle through the interior of the P.N. Ranthambore, one of the best tiger reserves in the country, where other species are also abundant. Accommodation.

Important notes about Ranthambore National Park:

*Ranthambore National Park is divided into 10 zones of the of which the first 5 remain open from October 1 to June 30 each year. From July 1 to September 30, coinciding with the rainy season, only zones 6 to 10 can be visited, which are equipped with specific roads through which jeeps can travel.

*The Visits are carried out with naturalists from the park itself in English.

*As for the clothing that is recommended to be used, it will depend on the time of travel: the months from April to June are very hot with temperatures of 35 to 47º C for much of the day, so it is recommended to wear light clothing, a hat and sunglasses. The winter months; From November to February the weather is cold. During morning walks it is essential to dress warmly. Throughout the morning, a sweatshirt will be enough. The nights are once again very cold (hat, down jacket or warm clothing and gloves will be necessary).

Breakfast. Departure by road to Jaipur, visiting Abhaneri and its medieval monuments of the Rajputs, such as the Chand Baori well and the Harshat Mata Temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Continuation of our tour to reach the capital of the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur, built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Known as the "Pink City", although it was not always like that, Jaipur was planned around four large avenues: two large parallel streets cut it along its entire length into three strips of equal width; Two other streets run perpendicular to the previous ones, therefore dividing it into nine parts, the nine rectangular neighborhoods of Jaipur that symbolize the nine parts of the universe. Its flourishing trade, weaving and jewelery industries, among others, make Jaipur a prosperous city. In the afternoon, we will attend the Aarti ceremony at the Birla temple. Accommodation.

Breakfast. We will go upby jeep to visitthe Amber Fort, which from the road offers a spectacular image. A palace complex that stands on top of a hill, built with sandstone and decorated with carved marbles that cover the floors and walls, is reminiscent of the magnificence with which many maharajas used to live. Return to Jaipur to visit the Maharaja's Palace and its museum, the Jai Singh Observatory, which is still in operation and where we can observe the accuracy of the stone instruments built in the 18th century. We will make a stop to contemplate the spectacular façade of the Palace of the Winds, turned into an emblem of the city. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to depart on a local flight to Benares. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free. Benares, currently called Varanasi, is a city of contrasts, surprises, life and death, a city where you can find bustling areas full of noise or lonely corners. This sacred city throughout the country as a center of Hindu pilgrimage, is bathed by the waters of the Ganges, in its ephemeral journey from south to north, which symbolizes the direction towards paradise. Thus, hundreds of pilgrims come to the city in search of redemptive peace offered by the goddess Ganga and there are many elderly people who wander the streets waiting for their last moment that will lead them to eternal rest. Cremations, incense, excrement, samosas, curries, roasts, aromatic herbs... Walking through Varanasi is an explosion for all the senses. The richness of aromas and colors mix in endless shades and it is a true pleasure to get lost in the bustle of its very narrow streets to end up in a ghat at sunset and witness one of its sacred rituals with fires and petals thrown into the river. Dinner and accommodation.

Before dawn, transfer to the ghats of the Ganges River, to observe the purification rituals from a boat. Sailing upriver, we will also have the opportunity to contemplate the facades of the palaces that Great Kings from all over India ordered to be built for themselves and their elderly relatives, along with “Ashrams”, residences of holy men who perform their rituals at sunrise. . Walking tour through the alleys of the ancient city, passing in front of theAurangzeb Mosque*andthe Temple of Durga*, the terrible expression of the sweet wife of Shiva, Parvati. Visit of the Temple of Mother India. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Free time during the day.

In the afternoon we will take a Rickshaw ride and attend the Arti or Ganga Aarti ceremony on the Ganges River (Subject to the water level). A very powerful and spectacular ritual, it is also known as the fire ceremony. Back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

(*) Foreigners are not allowed to see the interior of the temples/mosques.

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to the airport.