A Tour of Gwalior, Pachmarhi with City of Lakes Bhopal

Morning  arrival Gwalior Railway station, Meet and Greet by our company representative, transfer to Hotel, Check in and relax for some time, move to explore the city of Forts.

Visit Moti Mahal, “A 900 metre walk pass Italian Gardens can take you to another famous and grand attraction, Moti Mahal. A 19th-century palace which was once the secretariat of Madhya Bharat Government, Moti garden flaunts colourful flowers and an extensive work of fountains. Though in a dilapidated condition, it is one of the tourism places that still beautifully displays its tempera coloured walls graced by mosaic mythological paintings of darbars and processions. In fact, Moti Mahal has close similarities to that of Pune’s Peshwa Palaces.”

Visit Jai Villas Palace “The next place to visit is 650 metres walking distance from Moti Mahal. Jai Vilas Palace is one of the must visit places in Gwalior. As you reach your destination, en route stop and admire the Rani Mahal Palace. This palace Jai Vilas Palace also houses H.H. Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum, which treasures the personal belongings of Scindia family. Besides, the palace’s European style architecture adorned with the largest chandeliers found in Asia is worth given time to witness..”

Visit Tomb of Tansen “One of the greatest musicians of India and en eminent vocalist in the courts of Akbar in the medieval period, Tansen was also among one of the nine gems of the Mughal court.

Tansen was believed to create magic with his music and cause rains and even enchant animals by his music. He was a student of Mohammad Ghaus who taught him Hindustani classical music. He was a proponent of Dhrupad style and he developed the Gwalior Gharana style of music. He was buried near to his guru and this burial site is a beautiful piece of architecture. Annual Tansen music festival is held here every year in the month of November where prominent musicians from all over the country come and perform various classical shows.

Visit Surya Mandir “Surya Mandir or Sun Temple located near Residency at Morar is one of the important religious centers in the historic city of Gwalior. Although not constructed long ago, it is among the most revered shrines in the ancient city.

Later drive to Visit Gwalior Fort. “Gwalior Fort is a hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, central India. The fort has existed at least since the 10th century, and the inscriptions and monuments found within what is now the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century” later experience light and Sound show at Fort. Return to Hotel for a Night stay.

Gwalior Fort Light and Sound Show Timings, Entry Fees and Duration

Gwalior  to Jhansi: 129 Kms + Jhansi to Orchha: 18 Kms

Morning after breakfast at 08:00 AM drive to Orchha

OPTIONAL:

Jhansi Fort: The fort of Maharani Jhansi has strategic importance since the earliest of times. It was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo (1606-27) of Orchha on a rocky hill called Bangra in the town of Balwantnagar (presently known as Jhansi).

The fort has ten gates ( Darwaza). Some of these are Khandero Gate, Datia Darwaza, Unnao gate, Jharna Gate, Laxmi Gate, Sagar Gate, Orcha Gate, Sainyar Gate, Chand Gate.

Among places of interest within the main fort area are the Karak Bijli Toup (Tank), Rani Jhansi Garden, Shiv temple and a “Mazar” of Ghulam Gaus Khan, Moti Bai and Khuda Baksh.

The Jhansi fort, a living testimony of ancient glamour, also has a fine collection of sculptures which provide an excellent inside into the eventful history of Bundelkhand.

Later drive to Orchha, Arrival Orchha, check in hotel, relax for some time and post lunch move to visit the The Royal Chhatris at Bank of Betwa River, Visit Jahangir Mahal and later at 08:00 PM drive to Ram Raja Temple “This beautiful Ram temple has an intriguing history behind it. The Idols which were supposed to be installed in the magnificent Chaturbhuj Temple were kept on the ground where this temple now stands. But once kept on the ground, the idols could not be budged. This marked the place holy and a temple was constructed where the idols were kept. Ram Raja Temple has a serene architecture, adorned with a marble courtyard and colorful walls”

In India this is the only temple where Lord Ram is worshiped as a king and that too in a palace. A Guard of Honor is held every day, police personnel have been designated as Guards at the temple, much in the manner of a king.

Orchha  to Alipura: 92 km + Alipura to Dhubela 25 kms + Dhubela to Khajuraho: 58 Kms

Morning after breakfast drive to Khajuraho, on the way stop over at Alipura Palace, after Alipura Palace move to Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum at Dhubela. “Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum is a museum located in an old palace at Dhubela, on the Chhatarpur-Nowgaon highway, in Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India. This museum was established in September, 1955 in a palace built by Chhatrasal”

Also visit Mastani Mahal, “The Beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Chhatrasal in about 1969 A.D. for her beautiful dancer ‘Mastani’. Bajirao Peshwa who became here after victory on Bangash he got married with Mastani. There are lot more stories related to Mastani in the region but none have proved yet. Mastani Mahal is connected with museum building and because beautification work is in full swings these monuments looking more attractive”

Late evening reach Khajuraho. Check in Hotel. Relax for some time and move to experience Sound & Light Show: 

The Light and Sound show on the Western Group of temples complex the reminds the life and times of the great Chandela Kings and mark out the story of the exclusive temples from the 10th Century to the present day. The 50-minute fascinating show is held in every evening and it runs in Hindi and in English.

HOURS
English 6.30pm Oct-Feb, 7.30pm Mar-Sep
Hindi 7.40pm Oct-Feb, 8.40pm Mar-Sep

This fascinating light & sound spectacle evokes the life and times of the great Chandela Kings and traces the story of the unique temples from the 10th Century to the present day.
Late evening return to Hotel for a night stay. Over night at Khajuraho.

Morning after breakfast visit for local sightseeing of places in Western Group, Kandariya mahadeo, The largest and most typical temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Chaunsath Yogini is the only granite temple and the oldest surviving shrine of the group. Eastern Group, Parsvanath, Ghantai temple, Adinath temple etc. In the evening return back to the hotel for dinner and night stay.

Khajuraho to Jabalpur: 258 Kms

Morning after breakfast check out from the Hotel and drive to Jabalpur, Arrival Jabalpur, Check-in to the hotel. Relax for some time and in the evening move to explore Local famous street food market of Jabalpur i.e.  chowpatty, return to hotel for a night stay. 

Jabalpur to Kanha: 230 Kms

Morning post breakfast check out from the Hotel and drive to Kanha, on the way visit Bhedaghat. It’s a spellbinding experience to see the marble rocks accompany the graceful Narmada River in Bedaghat, Jabalpur. These tall mountains are known to magically change shapes as you sail along the river.

The calm Narmada throws in a beautiful surprise as she descends a massive 98 ft. creating the spectacular Dhuandhar falls. While nature flaunts its beauty, the magnificent Chaunsath Yogini Temple, dedicated to the goddess Durga, will take you back in time with its inimitable artistry.

The beautiful sights of Bhedaghat will definitely put a smile on your face, bringing alive the child in you.

Bheda Ghat is situated approximately 25 kms away from the city center. Clean, transparent and calm water of the Narmada bounded by the attractive rocks of soft marble, are enchanting. It is believed that in the ancient times, a great saint Bhrigu Muni had meditated here, that is why, the name was Bhrigu Ghat. Later, with the passage of time which has now changed to Bhedaghat.

There are 3 important tourist attractions in Bhedaghat: The Bhedaghat, Dhuandhar Waterfall & Chousat Yogini Temple. They all are spread in a stretch of approx 3kms and can be visited in a single trip. Bhedaghat is the site from where we can do the boatride in Narmada river and can see the natural marble rocks and do its photography. Dhuandhar is a small water fall where river water cascades down and generates water-fog. It is a photogenic point. Third important place to visit is Chousat Yogini temple, located in hill-top where we can see significantly carved Yogini statues of 10th century.It is popular as a venue for Narmada Mahotsava organized on full-moon night in Sharad Purnima festival.

Later drive to Kanha National Park, arrival and check in, Enjoy the activities at Resort. Night stay.

Early morning pack some light snacks and drinking water and move for Jungle safari at 05:30 AM.
Jungle safari starts at 05:30 AM by Gypsy, experience the thrill and excitement of tracking The Great Indian Royal tigers.
“Experience the thrill and excitement of tracking The Great Indian Royal tigers. If your luck is with you than you can also spot the Striped Palm Squirrel, Common Langur, Jackal, Wild Pig, Chital or Spotted Deer, Barasingha or Swamp Deer, Sambar and Black Buck.”
Post Safari return to resort- relax and move for a village Tour nearby villages for photo shoot.

Late evening experience the Tribal Folk Dance and their culture. Personalize Tribal Dance of 45 Minutes with camp fire only for your family in the evening. Have your dinner and night stay.

Kanha to Pachmarhi 302 kms

Morning after breakfast at 09:00 AM check out from the hotel and drive Pachmarhi Arrival Pachmarhi check in resort,  Relax and move to visit places like Pandav Caves, Bada Mahadev and Gupt Mahadev (Need to track aprox 200 meters for each point from vehicle Parking), Priyadarshni, Handi Kho, Church and Lake (depending on the availability of time). In the evening return to Hotel. Night stay.

Carry spare clothes and Towels while travelling to Bee Fall.
Today morning post breakfast at 09:30 AM move to Explore Pachmarhi by Gypsy on sharing basis. Visit Jatashankar - The temple is an ancient worship center for the local tribes. One needs step down more than 150 uneven and rocky steps to reach the cave but it is worth the effort. The amazing rock formations in the shape of Shiv Jata, a crocodile and several Lingams are a natural wonder. Than visit church & Museum (Sangrahalaya). Post lunch move to visit B-Fall, Charming waterfall & trail network in mountain surrounds with local vendors offering tea & snacks. It's a must visit water fall, but you must be ready to climb steady stairs numbering around 400-450, As walk till the water fall is through steep descent steps, we do not recommend it for very small children and elderly people.  Later drive to experience the most mesmerizing view of Pachmarhi i.e. sun set at Dhoopgarh in the evening. After that return to the hotel for a cozy night stay.

Pachmarhi to Bhimbetka 160 kms Bhimbetka to , Bhojpur 30 kms, Bhojpur to Bhopal 28 kms,

Today morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Bhopal. Bhimbetka is surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhya mountain range, Bhimbetka is also known as Bhima’s Lounge (Bhima was the second of the five Pandava princes in the Hindu epic Mahabharata). A pre-historic site, its giant rock formation must have provided ample shelter to the ancient tribes that dwelt here. Recently, about 760 rock shelters of the Neolithic age (circa 8,000 b.c.) were discovered here. These shelters are decorated with picture writings, depicting the life and times of pre-historic cave dwellers. Some of the drawings in white are reminiscent of the cave paintings in Pachmarhi, making the Bhimbetka group an archaeological treasure trove, an invaluable chronicle in the history of man.

Have your lunch on the way at any restaurant near Bhimbetika and drive to Bhojpur (Own Cost), “ Bhojpur” visit largest shivilng and World Heritage site, Arrival at Bhojpur after 1 hours. Visit Shiv Mandir. This shiv Mandir have the biggest shivling in world.  It was founded by the Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj (1010-53) and was named after him which is about 28 km from Bhopal, Bhojpur is famous as an archeological site because of its magnificent remains of Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam. The temple is a simple square with outside portion of 66 feet, there are no re-entrant angles usual domes, though it is incomplete but has a magnificent soaring strength of line and is supported by four pillars. Like dome the pillars are also massive but they retain a remarkable elegance due to their tapering form. Divided into three sections the lowest is an octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section. The doorway is richly carved from above and from below it is plain throwing sharp relief against the two exquisitely sculpted figures that stand on the either side. The other three sides are balconies each supported by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars. The lingam in the sanctum rises to an awe inspiring height of 7.5 feet with a circumference of 17.8 feet. Set upon a massive platform 21.5 feet square and made of three superimposed limestone blocks, the architectural harmony of lingam and platform creates a superb synthesis of solidity and lightness. Due to reason unknown the temple was not completed and the earthen ramp used to raise it to dome level still stands. The temple is one of the finest examples of temple architecture of the12th and 13th centuries.
Later drive to Bhopal, transfer to Bhopal Hotel.

Bhopal to Sanchi: 48 Kms. Sanchi to Udaigiri Caves: 08 Kms.

Morning after breakfast at 09:00 AM drive to Sanchi, on the way visit Islamnagar, 11 km away on the Bhopal- Berasia road, Islamnagar was the palace of Bhopal's Afghan rulers and was built by Dost Mohammed Khan. Formal gardens surround the palace and the pavilion. The latter a synthesis of Hindu and Islamic decorative art, has columns lavishly embellished with floral motifs. Other monuments to see are the Hamam of the Chaman Mahal and the double-storied Rani Mahal.

Drive to Sanchi, Arrival Sanchi after 1-1 hours, Move to visit Sanchi visit local places like  the World renowned Stupas, Monasteries, temples and pillars which was built in the reign of Mughal Emperor Ashoka in 300 BC. It is a excavated site which was rediscovered by British India officer General Taylor in 1818 but actual restoration work was initiated from 1912 to 1919 under the supervision of Sir John Marshall. Till year 1881, many amateur archaeologists and treasure hunters ravaged the site. It has been declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in year 1989. Amongst the many Stupas the most renowned is the Great Stupa 1 that was built by the Great Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Ashoka built a total of eight stupas at Sanchi in the 3 B.C. though today only three of the Stupas remain. These Stupas have the relics of Buddha like His teeth, hair and the shoulder bones. The Great Stupa 1 is a major attraction here.

It is counted among must visit tourist attractions of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India. These monuments record the genesis, efflorescence and decay of Buddhist art and architecture over a period of 1300 years.

The Udayagiri Caves, The caves are twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh from the early years of the 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples and iconography in India. They are the only site that can be verifiably associated with a Gupta period monarch from its inscriptions. One of India's most important archaeological sites, the Udayagiri hills and its caves are protected monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Udayagiri caves contain iconography of Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Durga and Matrikas) and Shaivism (Shiva). They are notable for the ancient monumental relief sculpture of Vishnu in his incarnation as the man-boar Varaha, rescuing the earth symbolically represented by Bhudevi clinging to the boar's tusk as described in Hindu mythology. The site has important inscriptions of the Gupta dynasty belonging to the reigns of Chandragupta II (c. 375-415) and Kumaragupta I (c. 415-55). In addition to these, Udayagiri has a series of rock-shelters and petroglyphs, ruined buildings, inscriptions, water systems, fortifications and habitation mounds, all of which remain a subject of continuing archaeological studies. The Udayagiri Caves complex consists of twenty caves, of which one is dedicated to Jainism and all others to Hinduism. The Jain cave is notable for one of the oldest known Jaina inscriptions from 425 CE, while the Hindu Caves feature inscriptions from 401 CE.

Late evening return to Hotel for a night stay

Today early morning at 08:00 AM after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to visit few more places like Mahaveer Giri, Gohar Mahal , photo shoot stop over at Bada Lake, Manav Sangrahalaya, Tribal Museum and Birla Mandir .

Later transfer to Railway Station/ Airport. Tour Concludes.