National Wonders of India

In the morning guests will enjoy a delectable meal which will be followed by a full day sightseeing tour of this national capital of India. Enjoy an extensive tour of the city viewing the major tourist attractions of the city. Begin the trip to the city with a Rickshaw ride parallel to the majestic edifice of Red Fort at Old Delhi, followed by trip to the largest mosque in India- Jama Masjid and memorial of Mahatama Gandhi- Rajghat. 

Taj Mahal
Among the famous monuments of India, none is more fascinating than the Taj Mahal. The pinnacle of medieval architecture was achieved in this mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the 17th century AD. The immense size and grandeur along with its sublime spiritual appeal makes the Taj Mahal one of the most popular tourist attractions in India. Located in the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal stands out among the highlights of tourism in India. The magnificent Taj mahal was built by the 5th Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, also known as Arjumand Bano Begum. She was his favorite wife and she bore him 14 children. She died at childbirth in 1631, and thus attained martyrdom. This is why the tomb of Mumtaz mahal was designed to be a mausoleum, as well as place of pilgrimage where religious festivals would be held. The design of the Taj mahal has been inspired by the description of the garden of paradise in the Holy Quran. The best architects, craftsmen and masons were summoned from all over the world for this project of mammoth proportions. In those days, it cost nearly 41 million rupees, and involved the use of over 500 kilos of gold. The immense structure was completed in 1643, after 12 years of work by about 20,000 workers.

Khajuraho Temples
Khajuraho is a village located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh specifically in the Chhatarpur district, around 620km southeast of the capital of India, Delhi. Khajuraho holds the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain Temples that were carved between 950AD and 1050AD under reign of Chandela Empire, being the best examples of the north Indian Nagda style of temple architecture. The woman is the one motif in the temples of Khajuraho. There are sculptures and images that represent a women grooming, dancing, playing with her child,
applying kohl to her eyes, among other activities. The infinite beauty of a woman has been wonderfully etched in stone. The sculptures delineate the joy of worldly wealth and sensual pleasure while they observe one’s dharma. It also believed that the temples were built keeping in mind a specific purpose. The figures of Apsaras (celestial nymphs) dominate the temple sin Khajuraho. Showcasing the mastery of the artisans, particularly in depicting the female form, these have often been carved to act as support brackets. The temples are divided into three groups. These are –
a. The western group – Kandariya Mahadev, Lakshmana temple, Vishwanath temple, Matangeshwar temple
b. The eastern Group – Jain Parsvanath temple, The Ghantai temple and Adinath temple
c. The southern group – The Southern Group represents the final stages of building in the complex. The Chaturbhuj temple is the most prominent temple in this group.
The Khajuraho temples have been declared as a world heritage site by the UNESCO.

Sun Temple
The sun temple at Konark is the most important structure in the state of Orissa in eastern India. It is the highlight of any tour of Orissa. The Konark sun temple is of utmost interest to those studying temple architecture in India. Orissa has its own distinct temple architecture and the Konark sun temple is a typical example of this style. Tourists should make it a point to visit this temple as it is the most famous tourist attraction in Orissa. Built by the Ganga King Narasimha Deva in thirteenth century, the ruins of this temple were excavated in late 19th century. The tower over the Garbagriha is missing, however the Jagmohana is intact. The roof of the Jagmohana is made of horizontal tiers grouped in three stages with life-size female sculptures of matchless charm and delicacy adorning each stage, the whole surmounted by two stupendous crowning members, produces a picturesque contrast of light and shade and is unparalleled for its grandeur and structural propriety. Now the temple is partialy in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, run by the Archaeological Survey of India. The poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote of Konark: "here the language of stone surpasses the language of man." Although the Konark Sun Temple has lost many of its original structures, still remains some of which confirm the infinitive imaginative power of its artists of the time and their inspiring contribution to Vaisnav Culture.