4N/5D

Bhopal - Bhimbetka -Sanchi -Bhopal - Khajuraho- Bhopal

Tour starts form Bhopal, the city of lakes. You will be picked up from the location of your choice in Bhopal and transferred to the hotel.

A half-day site seen is arranged in Bhopal. Bhopal city is also referred to as the City of Lakes because of the two beautiful lakes. The city has immense archaeological, historical and political importance attached to it. The origin of the city dates back to the eleventh century when Raja Bhoj founded the Bhojpal City. However the Bhopal of today was built during the eighteenth century by Dost Mohammed.

The site seen in Bhopal includes the visit to Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind) and Gauhar Mahal

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind) is a unique museum situated on a prehistoric site and the only museum in the world scattered with numerous prehistoric painted rock shelters. The cultural diversity and religion of India's tribes is highlighted in the museum. Tribal Habitat is an open-air exhibit; an entire fishing village has been replicated featuring Coastal Village with a Kerala snake boat, Desert Village from Rajasthan as well as a Himalayan Village. The museum is created in about 80 hectares of undulating land on the bank of upper lake of Bhopal.

In the evening you will be visiting Gauhar Mahal, one of the first buildings built by the nawabs of Bhopal in 1816. The Mahal is a magnificent expression of the fusion of Hindu and Mugal architecture. Gauhar Mahal is situated behind Shaukat Mahal on the banks of the Upper Lake. It is an architectural gem built by Kudsia Begum, also known as Gohar Begum.

Later in the evening, you may also opt to visit Chowk bazaar. In the heart of the city, the Chowk is lined with old mosques and havelis are reminders of a bygone era. The shops in its narrow alleys are treasure troves of traditional Bhopal crafts: silver jewelry, exquisitely fashioned beadwork, embroidered and sequined velvet fashioned purses and cushions.

You will be staying in Bhopal tonight.

This morning you will be visiting the Bhimbetka and Sanchi. After breakfast, we will be driving to Bhimbetka.

Bhimbetka is a World Heritage Site and is situated south of Bhopal. This is the site of the second oldest cave paintings in the World. The location is beautiful, along the Satpura range of mountains. The area around the caves is forested, which adds to the natural beauty. The Bhimbetka rock shelters exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India; its Stone Age rock paintings are approximately 9,000 years old, making them among the worlds oldest.

On the way, we will stop over to see Bhojpur temple. The tiny village of Bhojpur is situated on the bank of river Betwa. Bhojpur is famous for remains of magnificent Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam dated 1010-53 A.D.

This afternoon you will be visiting the Sanchi stupas. Sanchi is 46 kms north east of Bhopal. It is unique for having the most perfect and well preserved Buddhist stupas. The remains of Buddhist saints Sariputra and Mahamodgilya are also preserved here. The holy relics are displayed once a year, particularly, on the last Sunday of November during the annual Chetiyagiri Vihar festival.

We will come back to Bhopal in the evening. You will be staying in Bhopal tonight.

After breakfast we will start 410 kms journey towards Khajuraho.

Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage. The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, are India's unique gift of love to the world, represent the expression of a highly matured civilization. Khajuraho temples were constructed between 950 and 1050 A.D. during the reign of Chandel Empire.
You will be staying in Khajuraho tonight.

This morning visit western and eastern group of temples.

The Western group of temples is the best known, because it is to this group that the largest and most typical Khajuraho temple belongs. Kandariya Mahadeo, Chaunsat Yogini, Chitragupta Temple, Vishwanath Temple and Lakshamana Temple belong to the western group.

In the eastern group, the temples are the Brahma temple, which has a four-faced lingam, The Vamana temple which is embellished with images of ravishing apsaras at their alluring best; and finally the Javari temple, with its ornate gateway and lavish carvings.

You will be staying in Khajuraho tonight.

After breakfast, we will start journey towards Bhopal. You will be arriving Bhopal in the evening. Tour concluded in Bhopal.