- Aktive Kultur Reisen
- Kultur Reisen
Overview
Away from the main tourist routes we will explore Madya Pradesh with its scenic and cultural attractions.
We start this tour with the tourist highlight of India: the visit of the Taj Mahal. Then we go to Madya Pradesh, to the heart of India. It is the second largest state in India and has 75 million inhabitants. The state is home to some tribes that developed independently. It is one of the most backward areas of India. Here, people live off agriculture, which they are still doing with their hands in hard work. 30% of the area is covered with forest and offers space for several large national parks, including bandavagarh National Park, which is even home to tigers.
Madya Pradesh also has a lot to offer culturally: we will visit the old fort in Gwalior, the palace in Orchha, which was built for years just for a single visit of the Maharaja, as well as the thousand year old temple complex in Kajuharo, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Then we head to Varanasi, the holy Hindu town on the Ganges.
Program
Day 1 Arrival in Delhi
We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. (Overnight stay in the hotel) -/-/-
Day 2 Delhi Sightseeing
You will visit Old and New Delhi today, on foot, by rickshaw and by metro. The evening concludes with an Indian dinner with your guide. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/D
Day 3 Delhi-Agra
You will start in the morning and make the three-hour drive to Agra to visit the famous Taj Mahal. Afterwards, you will enjoy the evening with a dinner with the host family of our homestay (overnight in homestay) B/-/D
Day 4 Drive to Gwalior and visit the fort (3 hours).
After breakfast we will continue to Gwalior. Today you will get a guided tour of Gwalior’s fortress. Inside the fort there are also some interesting Hindu and Jain temples from the 11. and 12th century. In the evening you can admire the sound and light show. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/-
Day 5 Drive to Orccha and small bike tour through the rural area (5 hours)
After arriving at your farmhouse, you will explore Orchha’s rural surroundings on a guided bike tour. On the farm you will be cooked healthy and fresh. (Overnight stay in farmhouse) B/-/-
Day 6 Sightseeing Orchhas and rafting or boat tour
With a guide you will explore the medieval Orchha and see the fort and the temples from the 16. and 17th century. The town of 8000 inhabitants was once the capital of one of the largest and most important kingdoms in central India. In the afternoon we will go rafting or boating on the Betwa River. (Overnight stay in farmhouse) B/-/-
Day 7 Drive to Khajuraho (4 hours)
In the morning, set out on the four-hour drive to Khajuraho and enjoy the view of passing villages and fields. The afternoon is free. In the evening you will dive into the secrets of Indian cuisine during a cooking class. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/D
Day 8 Sightseeing tour
Today you will visit the temple complex of Khajuraho with its erotic representations from the 10th to 12th centuries. The afternoon is free. If you like, you can rent bicycles to explore the surroundings or watch a traditional dance performance in the evening. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/-
Day 9 Drive to Bandhavagarh National Park (6 hours)
You will drive for about six hours to the national park. On the way there you can visit a beautiful waterfall. You will reach your beautiful resort in Bandhavargarh National Park in the evening. (Overnight stay at the resort) B/-/D
Day 10 Jeep safari
Today you will go on two jeep safaris, one at dawn and the other in the evening. For 2 to 3 hours you will go by jeep through the national park and the guide will try to spot the famous tigers with you. During the day you relax at the resort and enjoy the freshly prepared meals. (Overnight stay at the resort) B/L/D
Day 11 Jeep safari and drive to Varanasi
A long but interesting drive to Varanasi is on the agenda. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/-
Day 12 Varanasi Sightseeing
On a guided walk through the city, you will explore the various ghats along the Ganges. After that you will visit the Durga Temple and the Bharat Mata Temple. Continue to one of The Best Educational Institutions in India: Benares Hindu University. In the evening you will enjoy a boat trip on the Ganges and experience various sacred rituals (overnight at hotel) -/-/-
Day 13 Boat ride and travel by train to Delhi.
In the morning, you will float on a boat across the Ganges and soak up the meditative atmosphere as devout Hindus perform their morning prayers and take a ritual bath. Later, enjoy an optional excursion to Sarnath, a few kilometers from Varanasi. The place has a great significance for Buddhism: here the Buddha gave his first sermon before he attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya. A tombstone was erected on this site. The ruler Ashok was a great follower of Buddha and had many stupas and chaityas built, the most famous being the Damekh Stupa. If you like, you can visit the Sarnath Museum. In the evening you will take the train to Delhi (13 hours overnight on the train). -/-/-
Day 14 Arrival in Delhi and departure
The day is free. A hotel room is at your disposal. Optionally, you can also arrive by plane from Varanasi today. Flight or overnight stay in hotel. -/-/-
Included services
- 13 nights, including 1 x on the train
- Vehicle with driver from Delhi to Varanasi
- Air-conditioned train ride from Varanasi to Delhi (optional flight available at extra cost)
- Meals as mentioned (F: breakfast, M:lunch, A: dinner).
- all mentioned activities with entrance fees and local English speaking guides, except light show in Gwalior, dance show in Khajuraho)
International flightVisaEntrance feesTipsEnglish-speaking travel companion possible at an extra cost
Highlights
Jeep Safari in Bandhavagarh NP 
The Bandhavagarh National Park 
On Tiger Safari in Madya Pradeh 
Bhandavargarh National Park 
Madhya Pradesh 
Orccha 
Orccha 
Boat tour on the Ganges 
Varanasi 
Varanasi 
Saint Sadhus Kajuraho 
Karma Sutra in Kajuraho 
Taj Mahal Ranthambore National Park Jain Statues in Gwalior 
Gwalior 
Gwalior
Prices and dates
The best time to visit is from October to March.
from 1700 € per person with 2 participants
Price decreases as the number of participants increases
Travel info
Requirements
An easy tour by car. Only the heat can cause you trouble at times.
additional Information
There is still a lot of poverty in central India. The mostly rural regions are connected by bad roads, so that the daily stages by car can also be very long and strenuous, because you often do not travel faster than 40 km/h. At the same time, it is possible to observe the rural life of the Indian population from the car.
Otherwise, these regions are very hot and dry. Only in the winter months between November and March is the climate sustainable. One is well dressed in light, covering fabrics.
A headgear is recommended.
Varanasi and Agra are one of the most popular places for tourists, so many people here have become dependent on tourism and can sometimes hassle tourists a bit.
Our accommodations are nice, clean country style accommodations in a 3 star category with air conditioning. In the national park we stay in a wildlife resort.
