The Land of Krishna and Taj Mahal Tour

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi airport meet with our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel.

Later drive past Red Fort & Chandni Chowk Bazar, Khari Baoli spice market. Visit Jama Masjid (Mosque). Shah Jahan (King of the World) founded the city of Shahjanabad, now referred to as Old Delhi, in 1648. Opposite the fort is the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world, built by Shah Jahan to dominate his city. Raj Gath: The memorial of Mahatma Gandhi where he was cremated after his assassination. Himayun’s Tomb: Build by wife of Humayun, the second mughal king. It is an early example of Mughal architecture. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02: Delhi – Mathura / Vindraban (145kms/ 3hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Mathura/ Vrindaban check in at hotel.

Mathura & Vrindavan; the most ancient of Hindu cities overflows with devotees who come to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna’s birthplace. In this hot and dusty town, pilgrims jostle with priests; incense mingles with smells of sweat and grime; crowds fill the narrow streets and shops spill onto the pavement. Yet this does not prove to be a deterrent to the thousands of visitors who come to this holiest of cities every year. 

Visit, The International Society for Shri Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is one of the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan today. The principal deities of this temple are Shri Krishna - Balram and Shri Radha - Shyam Sundar. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of Shri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON sect, built in pure white marble.  The Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat which was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. This is the oldest existent temple in Vrindavan today. The temple is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya. The original idol of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping, during Aurangzeb's rule. The Shahji Temple, another popular temple at Vrindavan, was designed and built in 1876 by a wealthy jeweller, Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow. The deities at the temple are popularly known as the Chhote Radha Raman. Noted for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble sculpture, the temple has twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high. The `Basanti Kamra' - the darbar hall is famed for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine paintings. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Vindraban – Govardhan – Gokul – Nand Gaon – Barsana

Breakfast at hotel, full day for Govardhana Hill Parikrama of about fourteen miles (23 km.) and can take five to six hours to complete if one walks at a brisk pace. People from all over India visit Vraja in order to perform Govardhana Parikrama. On auspicious occasions like Guru Purnima, Purusottamamasa or Govardhana-puja, over half a million people go around the  sacred hill.

There is no time limit for performing Govardhana parikrama, for those who perform the dandavata Parikrama it may take  weeks and sometimes even months to complete. The dandavata parikrama is performed by standing in one spot, offering obeisance’s like a stick (danda) by lying flat on the ground. One then places a stone where the fingertips touch the ground in order to mark the spot. Standing up, one moves to the stone marker and again offers obeisances like A group of ladies performing parikrama a stick, again marking the spot where the fingertips touch the ground, thus repeating the same process again and again all the way around Govardhana Hill. Some sadhus perform 108 dandavata Parikrama by offering 108 obeisance’s in one spot before moving to the next. This can take a number of months to complete and one has to sleep wherever one is and accept alms from pilgrims passing by.

Afternoon visit the Gokul, Nand Gaon and Barsana Village. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Mathura/ Vindraban – Agra (55kms/ 1hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra check in at hotel.

Later visit Taj Mahal: One of the Seven Wonder of the World was build by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD and was completed in 1651. This symbol of love was build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Described as the most extravagant monument ever build for love. It was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his queen Mumtaz Mahal, made out of white marble took 22 years to complete. Ustad Ahamad Lahori, a Parsian Architect, is said to be the main designer and planer of this magnificent memorial. On full moon night, the glory of the Taj is at its best. (Taj Mahal remain closed on every Friday)

Agra Fort: build by the famed Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Construction of the massive red sandstone Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, though additions were made up until the rule of his grandson, Shah Jahan region it has partially become Palace. The fort presents a good sampling of their favoured architectural styles. Akbar drew on Islamic and Hindu traditions and the result is eclectic. By Shah Jahan's time the style had become so homogenized that it is impossible to separate the Hindu and Muslim strands. The Diwan-I-Am (public audience hall) the beautiful Diwan-I-Khas (private audience hall) were also added by Shah Jahan.

AItmad-ud-daulah's Tomb; Built between 1622 and 1628 by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, boasts of marble trellis work and inlaid with-precious stones, this mausoleum on the opposite bank of the Yamuna from the Taj, exhibits a strong Persian influence. Itmad-ud-Daula often describe as Jewel Box. The Tomb of Mir Ghias Beg, Vazir (minister) of Emperor Jahangir, was built between 1622 and 1628 from red sand stone with marble decorations as Akbar?s tomb in Sikendra in Agra. Itmad-ud-daula has important place in history as well as architecture. This is actually the very first tomb in India that is entirely made out of Marble. It is most important monument in Agra after Taj Mahal and Agra fort. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05: Agra – Delhi (204kms/ 4hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Delhi direct transfer to airport to board flight for your onward destination.