In the Heart of India

After breakfast, we head towards Agra, famous for its many monuments from the Mughal era but also known as the city of the Taj Mahal. The city was first mentioned in the Indian epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana (meaning "the border of the forest"). Although the history of Agra is primarily associated with the Mughal Empire, the place existed long before that and has a connection since the Mahabharata period. The city's golden age began with the Mughals. At that time, it was known as Akbarabad and the capital of the Mughal Empire.

In the afternoon, visit the Red Fort of Agra, a complex of semi-circular red sandstone forts richly decorated with double walls and monuments.

After, visit the Taj Mahal, a wonder built in the 17th century according to poetic writings. It is counted among one of the seven wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal is a monument made of white marble, where you can find sculpted pietra dura (stone inlay). It was Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal king, who built this magnificent mausoleum in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who lost her life when she gave birth to her fourteenth child.

After breakfast, we leave Agra to head towards Gwalior. Upon arrival, we check in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, we depart for the city of Gwalior, which means the city of pride for the Rajputs. We catch sight of the great Fort of the city, built on a mass of sandstone, it dominates the city as well as its magnificent monument. The buildings within the fortress represented by medieval architecture have marked important events in the history of Inde such as the battles of the Jauhars, the prisons and the Gurji Mahal. The Gujari Mahal is a monument dating from the 15th century, a monument in tribute to the queen of Gujar, the wife of King Mansingh. Mriganayani, the Sas Bahu temple, located at a height of approximately 31 meters. The shape of its roof comes from a Dravidian style while its decorations are from the Indo-Aryan style, in northern Inde. There is also the Jai Vilas Palace, a building marking the royal family of Inde. It is an Italian building combining both Tuscan and Corinthian architectural modes. Then there is the tomb of Tansen, a musician recognized in Hindustani classical music. He is among the greatest musicians during the reign of the emperor Navratnas. And finally, Akbar's court, where the sovereign was buried. We spend the night at the hotel.

After breakfast, we head out on the road to Orchha, passing through Sonagiri and Datia. Upon arrival in Orchha, we will check in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we set out to visit Orchha. The sovereign Raja Rudra Pratap chose the city as his capital. Located on an island on the banks of Betwa, Orchha sits elevated above a wooded countryside. The city has three royal residences: the Raj Mahal, the Rai Parveen Mahal and the Jahangir Mahal. These palaces were built, each by a Maharaja who succeeded to the throne, in a similar style in order to form a complex like that of Udaipur. You can also visit other tourist sites such as the Ram Raja temple and that of Chaturbhuj. We spend the night in a hotel in the city.

After breakfast, we leave the town of Orchha to reach Khajuraho. We settle into our hotel.

In the afternoon, we set out to visit the city of Khajuraho. It was founded between the 9th and 10th centuries by the rulers of the Chandela dynasty. Influenced by tantrism, eroticism became a theme of philosophical interest or Maithun during this period. This is how women became an incarnation of divine energy or Shakti. It is also likely that the Khajuraho temples were influenced by the Kama Sutra. The Kandariya Mahadeo temple is also among the temples to visit in the city. Standing at 31 meters in height, it is said to be the largest and most famous of Khajuraho. You can also visit the Chaunsat Yogini temple, the only temple made of granite and is a living relic among the temples dedicated to Kali, from 900 centuries ago. There is also the Chitragupta temple, a temple dedicated to the sun god Surya. We then stop at the temple dedicated to Vishwanath, one of the three forms of Brahma. We spend the night at our hotel.

After breakfast, we depart for Bhopal. Upon arrival there, we check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free and we spend the night at the hotel.

After breakfast, we depart for Indore by first passing through Ujjain. It is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. It is located on the banks of the Khipra, and constitutes a highly frequented pilgrimage center. The Kumbha Mela festival is celebrated in this city every twelve years. After the visit, we continue our journey towards Indore. Upon arrival there, we head to the hotel to check in. During the afternoon, we visit Indore starting with some famous attractions such as Kanch Mandir. The temple is better known as the Glass Temple. A popular temple is located in Jain, in Indore. It was built by King Seth Hukumchand Jain. It is located more precisely next to Shish Mahal and has a beautiful interior made with lacquer. There is also the Lal Bagh Palace which is one of the largest structures belonging to the Holkar dynasty. It was formerly the residence of the royal Holkar family. A visit to the palace will allow you to discover many stories about this ancient dynasty and their exploits. Next, we went to the Central Museum, also called Indore Museum. It is an important place for those passionate about history and those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the city's history. The museum has a wide range of sculptures, say Parmar, originating from Hinglajgarh. We also find the Khajrana temple, a famous temple dedicated to Ganesh. It was built in 1875, under the reign of Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. Nowadays, the temple is an important pilgrimage center for the city of Indore. Finally, we depart for the small hill of Gomatgiri which is located in the midst of a picturesque environment. It is also one of the most admired attractions for those who practice Jainism. A visit to the city will help you appreciate the perfect blend of culture and art from various ages and regions. Night at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Dhar where we arrive in the morning. Check-in at the hotel. Before the partition of 1947, India had no fewer than 562 princely states! The state of Dhar, of medium importance, long served as the capital of the Holkar dynasty. The fort, built in red sandstone quarried from the hill on which it stands, witnessed epic battles, particularly during the revolt against the British in 1857.

After breakfast, drive to Maheshwar. Located on the banks of the Narmada River, the Holkar dynasty made it their capital. In this part of Inde, many monuments date from this dynasty. Built along the rivers, over a hundred temples testify to a rich historical past.

We are leaving the state of Madhya Pradesh for the state of Maharashtra whose capital is Mumbai(Bombay). Upon arrival at Aurangabad, check-in at the hotel and free time.

After breakfast, departure for the airport and flight to Mumbai. Welcome and check-in at the hotel.

Visit of the Gateway of India which is one of the most important monuments in Mumbai. This gate was built by the British in commemoration of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary during the Delhi Durbar in 1911. We notably visit the Prince of Wales Museum which served as a hospital during the First World War, before being transformed into a museum. The latter houses an invaluable collection of objects considered to be one of the best in India.

We then head towards the Hanging Gardens, located on the crest of Malabar Hill, via the University of Bombay, the High Court and Crawford Market which are on our way. The garden is an oasis of greenery in a city entirely built of concrete. We continue via the residential district of Mumbai and the famous Malabar Hill. We notably visit the Dhobi Ghat laundry, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and the Victoria Terminus.