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The Great Moghuls
Islamabad - Day 1
After clearing Customs & Immigration, you are met at the exit gate by
our representative for the transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour includes
the Shakarparian Garden, which gives us a magnificent view of Islamabad
before driving past various modern government buildings, graceful with
a touch of Islamic design and architecture. Next visit is to one of the
world's largest mosque, named after the lake King Faisal of Saudi Arabia,
the mosque also houses an Islamic University specializing in Islamic Philosophy
and Law.
Islamabad - Taxila - Swat - Day 2
Morning brief tour of the old garrison town of Rawalpindi and the new,
planned capital of Islamabad. Visit the ancient village of Saidpur, and
stop at the Institute of Folk Heritage, a small, neatly decorated ethnological
museum displaying numerous costumes and artifacts from all over Pakistan.
Afternoon depart for Taxila, once the seat of oriental culture. It is
famous for the rare specimens of stucco from the Gandhara period excavated
from Sirkap and various Buddhist Stupas & Monasteries. The museum houses
various objects and sculptures dating from the 4th century B.C. to the
5th century A.D. The excations are spread out over and area of 8 km. Continue
on to Swat Valley. Saidu Sharif is the capital city of the Swat Valley.
It is named after the Moslem divinity, Saidu.
Swat - Day 3
Morning visit to the Swat Museum which has a rich collection of Gandhara
Art obtained from sites in the region. Just 3 km from Saidu Sharif is
Mingora, the commercial centre of Swat. Also visit the bazaar & the Islampur
weaver's village, where we will get an insight into the traditional and
rural life of the Swatis. This village has a very highly developed traditional
weaving industry using traditional textile, designs and local materials.
Most of the embroidery consist of small circular mirrors woven into the
design making it a unique piece of cloth. Swat is also well known for
the woolen shawls.
Afternoon visit Madyan. This picturesque city lies in an enchanting setting
of steep wooded hills, popular for its scenic beauty which is reputed
to be the best in the entire Swat Valley. Next stop is Bahrain, a market
town in the upper valley. We'll have time here to wander down the main
street, stopping in the various shops to admire the fine woven fabrics.
This is an excellent place to purchase some of the fabrics or a traditional
Swati vest and hat. The people of Bahrain are famous for their woodcarving,
and looking around the town we can see some beautiful door handles, windows
and tables.
Swat - Peshwar - Day 4
Morning depart for Peshawar with enroute stops at Takht-e-Bhai, a monastery
from Buddhist times & Charsadda - identified as ancient Pushkalavati,
the pre-Kushan capital of Gandhara. During the Buddhist period it was
the capital of the province and according to Buddhist legends, was the
place where Lord Buddha preached his faith.
Peshwar - Day 5
Set in a valley of colours and flowers, this legendary city has many secrets.
Her story is one of many cultures, peoples, traditions and customs that
even today the aura of oriental romance and mystery has been preserved.
This morning a trip to the historic Khyber Pass. The Pass has been the
silent witness to countless great events in the history of mankind. It
has been conquered by the Greeks, ruled by the Buddhists, destroyed by
the Huns, rebuilt by the Brahmins and still later invaded by the great
Moghuls. It is reputed that the army of Alexander the Great of Macedonia
crossed this pass in 327 B.C.
Peshwar - Lahore - Day 6
Morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Peshawar. The Peshawar Museum houses
a rich treasure of art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the
Gandhara period (300 BC to 300 AD) to modern times. After a visit to the
museum,we journey to Yadgar Square and visit Mahabat Khan Mosque, a beautiful
towering structure with lofty minarets. We then be driven through old
Peshawar to the popular Qissa Khawani Bazaar (street of story-tellers),
the Peshawar Pottery Works, Bater Bazaar (street of partridge lovers)
and Mochi Lara, famous for its exquisitely embroidered sandals. Peshawar
is a colorful and cosmopolitan city and many different peoples gather
here; afghans, Iranis, Uzbeks, Tajeks, Afridis and Shinwaris all add to
the excitement. Afternoon transfer for flight to Lahore - the cultural
& Mogul capital of Pakistan.
Lahore - Day 7
Morning visit to Badshahi Mosque, one of the largest in Pakistan. Built
in 1674, it is an example of some of the finest Mughal architecture. Beside
it, the massive walls of Lahore Fort tower over old Lahore. We'll visit
several of the pavilions, including Shish Mahal, the "Palace of Mirrors",
built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as private apartments for his empress. Surrounding
a main hall are many smaller rooms where intricately latticed windows
look out over the riverbed. Afternoon visit Shalimar Gardens, also built
by the Moghuls but still much enjoyed and appreciated today, the museum,
which houses the famous statue of the Fasting Buddha. In front of the
main building is Kim's Gun. Immortalized by Rudyard Kipling, this was
the gun he used to play on as a young boy when his father was the director
of the museum.
Lahore - Amritsar - Day 8
Today we take the Grand Trunk Route to the Sikh holy city of Amritsar.
Afternoon tour of Amritsar and the Golden Temple.
Amritsar - Delhi - Day 9
This morning we experience a cultural train ride to the capital of Delhi.
Delhi - Day 10
Morning tour of New Delhi, visiting India Gate, the House of Parliament,
Connaught Place and Qutub Minar, a perfect minaret towering 102 metres
into the sky. New Delhi is a blend of colonial and modern architecture
with wide boulevards and open areas. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi, starting
at the Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort
of the Mughal Empire. You'll also visit Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque,
and Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. We end the visit with
a stop at the market and Chandni Chawlk, the street of silver and goldsmiths.
Delhi - Jaipur - Day 11
Drive through the country side to Jaipur, the famous rose pink capital
of Rajasthan.
Jaipur - Day 12
Morning visit to Amber Palace, a distinguished specimen of Rajput architecture
on a hill 12 kilometres from Jaipur. After ascending the hill on elephant
back, arriving in proper style for the 17th century when the palace was
built, you'll be rewarded with splendid views of the lake below. An afternoon
tour of Jaipur visits the old astronomical observatory built by Jai Singh
who founded the city, the Palace which houses a rare collection of Indian
art, and the bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass
inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most of the buildings in the old
city are made of pink sandstone, one of the most beautiful is the Palace
of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from
behind the intricately carved facade.
Jaipur - Agra - Day 13
Morning departure by road for Fatehpur Sikri,
the beautiful capital built by Akbar the Great in 1640 and later abandoned
for lack of water. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands
perfectly preserved in the desert. Continue to Agra for an afternoon tour.
Home of one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal,
built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal,
the Taj Mahal is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid
with semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan was
imprisoned by his son in the later years of his life to prevent him from
spending the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal on the opposite
of the river.
Agra - Delhi - Day 14
Drive back to Delhi for the departure flight via Sikandra.
Price
Please request quote.
Package Includes:
- All land transport
- Accomodations, dble occ, first class category in major cities; best available elsewhere
- Meals, half board
- Local English speaking guide
- Airport transfers
- Entrance fees to museums and sites
- Airport departure taxes
- Tips
- Insurance
- Visa Fees
- Any expenses of a personal nature such as phone, laundry, drinks