Temples of Khajuraho

Central India’s temple architects and sculptors have passed through the classic and mannerist stages to the most flamboyant baroque and are at the zenith of their artistic power under the Chandela kings. What did they choose to represent on the 85 temples (now only 25 temples are remaining) which once clustered around the now a small town called Khajuraho? God - Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and the Jain saints (tirthankars) are lavishly honored. But however concerned they may have been with heaven (the Chandela kings themselves claimed the moon as their ancestor), their real interest was in life. And not only the life of the hermit, of feasting and music and dancing; though all are present in their sculpture, but also the side of life which Westerners tend to discuss in whispers or not at all. Here, portrayed with no false modesty and even less prudery, are handsome men and voluptuous women immortalized in stone for all to see in the most intimate and extraordinarily varied postures of sensual love. These forthright sculptures for which there is probably no equivalent in the world have naturally produced comment ranging from “pure pornography” to plain “pure”; a religious expression of a mystical principle”. The real key to understanding Khajuraho must be found somewhere between the two. But let the tourist be warned: some of the decorative sculpture on these temples is too revealing for the excessively innocent; too provoking for the prurient minded. For those who are truly adult, with all the word implies, the rewards of a trip to Khajuraho will be rich. Here is found the summit of Hindu sculpture: sinuous, twisting, voluptuous forms; human and divine, throbbing with life and executed with consummate skill. The temples of Khajuraho are grouped into three clusters- western, eastern & southern. Temples of Western Group are famous for their scale, architecture and sculpture. Kandariya Mahadev Temple is the largest one. Every day sound and light show is organized here. Every year in last week of February Khajuraho Dance Festival is organized by Madhya Pradesh tourism department. This week-long festival is performed in the vicinity of LakshmanTemple and Chitragupt Temple.

Varanasi Tour Packages

Considered as the spiritual and cultural capital of India, Varanasi plays an indispensable religious role in the country. Its various temples and religious buildings have earned it the nickname of "city of temples". Varanasi is known worldwide as one of the oldest living cities in the world. Inhabited by 2 million people, Varanasi is located on the banks of River Ganga, the holiest river in the world. Situated at 80 meters above sea level, Varanasi is spread over nearly 1,535 square kilometers. Varanasi in north India is a famous tourist destination. Varanasi tour is mostly opted as part large India tour packages. Culture, heritage and lifestyle of people attract a large number of people from across the globe. Varanasi tour packages are customizable on the basis of duration, activities, sightseeing and budget. Ancient sites make Varanasi a historical destination as well. The first inhabitants of the region appeared in the 12^th century BC. It was in 528 BC that Buddhism was founded by Gautam Buddha in Sarnath, on the outskirt of Varanasi. The presiding deity of Varanasi is Lord Shiva. The worship of Shiva was instituted by the Hindu philosopher Adiguru Shankaracharya in the 8^th century and, thus, devotion to Lord Shiva got raised to the rank of official sect of Varanasi. The Muslim rulers, fundamentally intolerant and barbaric, demolished more than thousand ancient temples in the city. Even after numerous attacks of Islamic invaders & mindless destruction, Varanasi could not be prevented from shining forth as a religious and educational center. The Rajput, Maratha & Bengal kings started the construction of various ghats, temples, palaces, mansions etc in the 18^th century. This period coincides with the development of tourism in the city. Varanasi tours offer several sights to show like Ramnagar Fort, Jantar Mantar Observatory at Man Mandir Ghat, KashiVishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Durga Temple, Baba Keenaram Sthal, Benares Hindu University, Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, Sarnath, BharatMata Temple. Varanasi tour packages also several activities that impart exotic experiences of Kashi to a visitor. Morning boat ride in the Ganga alongside the ghats of Varanasi is one of the preferred day tours / excursions. The boat passes along several ghats such as Dashashwamedh Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Assi Ghat and Tulsi Ghat. Evening Ganga Arti at DashashwamedhGhat is a major tourist attraction. Among the popular Varanasi tour packages are Golden Triangle with Varanasi Tour, Golden Triangle with Khajuraho VaranasiTour, 2 Days Varanasi Tour from Delhi, Best of North India Tour etc.   

Honeymoon Tour Packages in India

With romantically colorful cultural and geographical diversity, India is a perfect destination for unforgettable honeymoon holidays. Snow-capped Himalayan hill resorts, sandy beaches of Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal, cultural landscape of Rajasthan, Kamasutra temples town Khajuraho, backwaters of Kerala, verdant nature reserves and Ayurveda massage bring freshness and originality in honeymoon tour packages in India for those newly-wed couples and lovers who are tired of the white sand beaches and coconut trees. There are few destinations as romantic as India.  For example, spend your honeymoon in Rajasthan, in hotels of unparalleled charm, and become Maharaja and Maharani, prince and princess for a few days in magical settings.

A relaxed and leisurely Rajasthan honeymoon tour takes the couple on a royal journey from Delhi to Udaipur through Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Candlelit dinners, boat trips on Lake Pichola, desert walks in Jaisalmer, sunset on the Taj Mahal in Agra etc imprint a lifetime happy memories. Honeymoon in Kashmir valley of the Himalaya, a heaven on earth, can be opted as suitable destination for honeymoon. Houseboat stay in Kerala, relaxing amidst dense and diverse flora & fauna of various wildlife sanctuaries of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Corbett & sandy & serene beaches of Goa etc offer immense and varied options to choose from as perfect honeymoon holidays.   

Rajasthan Tourism

India's largest state, Rajasthan is located in the north-west of the country, bordering with Pakistan. An arid and desert land for the most part, Rajasthan is nicknamed "Land of Kings" because of the conquering elite – the Rajput, who built a large number of citadels, palaces and temples. To the west of Rajasthan, in the great desert of Thar, are located two princely cities- Jaisalmer & Bikaner. Both of the tourist destinations of Rajasthan have fortified palaces.

Built in the second half of the 16^th century, the Junagarh Fort in Bikaner is a massive fort protected by moats and ramparts fortified by thirty-seven bastions. The old town itself is surrounded by a wall and is home to many "havelis", houses with chiseled and richly decorated facades built by the merchants.

Jaisalmer, founded in 12^th century, astonishes a tourist by the beauty of its sumptuous houses built of yellow sandstone. The ancient city, with its typical alleys and stalls, is located inside the fortress - Golden Fort (Sonar Qila) - surrounded by a double rampart and a hundred bastions - built on a 85 meters high hill. Intricately carved Hindu and Jain temples within the fortress and on the banks of Gadsisar Lake are worth watching.

In Jodhpur, the fort is also built on a hill overlooking the city known as Blue City of Rajasthan. Made of red sandstone, the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur has impressive dimensions and is a veritable masterpiece of Rajput military architecture, now an open-air museum.

More to the east, the town of Pushkar is most revered pilgrimage of the Hindus in Rajasthan. Pushkar is famous for its pious Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple and annual camel fair, globally renowned as Pushkar Fair. Pushkar is a holy place where spirituality is lived daily, the pilgrims come in horde for a purifying bath.

Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, was built in planned manner according to wishes of Maharaja Jai ​​Singh II. In the city center, the City Palace is a huge complex containing various princely buildings in the middle of private enclosures. Discover the façade of the Hawa Mahal Palace , and its famous honeycomb balconies characteristic of Rajput architecture. Nearby, the city of Amber is an ancient clan capital dominated by a fort as well as a palace on the shores of Lake Maota. Access to the Amber Fort is done on the back of an elephant. Observe paintings, frescoes and mirrors, beautiful pieces of Rajput decorative art.

The southern part of Rajasthan also has many tourist attractions, citadels and temples. Second most visited destination of Rajasthan is Udaipur, princely city on Lake Pichola. On the hillside, the prestigious City Palace is the largest palace in the province. Surmounted by very sober style granite and white marble towers and cupolas, City Palace of Udaipur contains a large number of pavilions, courtyards, terraces, narrow passages, hanging gardens etc.

On the natural side, Rajasthan boasts two beautiful national parks, located to the east of the state. Ranthambore National Park, which covers an area of ​​400 km2, is famous for its tigers. The second, the KeoladeoNational Park, is a splendid bird sanctuary classified by UNESCO since 1985.

Optima Travels offers scores of Rajasthan tour packages. In addition to them, there are several city specific tour packages like JaipurTour Packages, Jaipur Day Tours, Pushkar Tour Packages, Pushkar Fair Tour, Jodhpur tours, Jaisalmer Tour Packages, Udaipur Tour Packages. Rajasthan is an inexhaustible treasure trove of historical and cultural tourist destinations, interspersed among the most famous ones. Prominent among them are Abhaneri, Sardargarh, Osian, Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh, Chittorgarh etc.

Golden Triangle Tours in India

Golden Triangle tour in India is sort of romance with ancient wonders of India. A Golden Triangle tour comprises three historical cities of Delhi, Agra & Jaipur with rich cultural legacy. Wonderful architectural heritage in the form of gigantic forts, royal palaces, beautiful temples, famous tombs & mosques, colorful bazaars and historical lineage of glorious are the hallmarks of Golden Triangle trip to India. It is most popular tour of India. Connectivity with road, train & flights is world-class. Hotels of all categories, budget to luxury, with modern amenities are available in large numbers. Golden Triangle Tours in India take you through the wonders of Delhi. Presently capital city of India, New Delhi is an extremely important political capital for many dynasties since ancient times, from when it was called Indraprastha. The Muslim invaders and rulers in India razed beautiful Hindu monuments and built their tombs and mosques there. Among the Muslim dynasties, the Mughal, in particular, built gargantuan monuments like Red Fort & Jama Masjid. Qutub Minar, Gurudwra Bangla Sahib, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple, Iron Pillar and India Gate are other famous monuments in Delhi. There are several world famous markets in Delhi. Chandani Chowk (400 years old shopping arcade), Connaught Place (British coloniar era market, now called Rajiv Gandhi Chowk), Khan Market etc are worth visiting all sorts of articles of travellers’ interests. Delhi offers a tourist a complete mix of experiences from the ancient past and the modern bustling metropolitan lifestyle. The Golden Triangle tours make sure you remember Delhi for life. Golden triangle tours also widely cover the cities of Agra and Jaipur. Both cities contain major tourist attractions, such as the TajMahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Agra and the Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. Tourists must be assured of premium hospitality, best deals, optimal transport facilities and professional guides ensure a great travel experience. During the course of intercity travel, you will be visiting Abhaneri village and Fatehpur Sikri. Duration of the Golden Triangle tours is customizable like 4 Days Golden Triangle Tour, 5 Days Golden Triangle Tour, 6 Days GoldenTriangle Tour & 7 Days Golden Triangle Tour. Golden Triangle tour extensions are many and showcase various unique facets of India’s culture and heritage. Most popular Golden Triangle extension tours are Golden Triangle withVaranasi Tour, Golden Triangle with Golden Temple Tour, Golden Triangle with GoaTour, Golden Triangle with Udaipur Tour etc.

Srinagar Tourism in Kashmir

Srinagar is capital city of Kashmir, a north Indian state that is situated in the Pir Panjal range of the snow-capped Himalayas. Kashmir name has been derived from the name of Saint Kashyap. Srinagar (meaning in Sanskrit the city of prosperity, opulence and harmonious development), located in the lap of mighty Himalayas, enthralls the tourists with its expanses of placid lakes, rapid rivers, rolling meadows, immaculate flowering gardens, and the chinar (maple) tree that reflects the changing seasons from the fresh green of spring to the russets of autumn that are shed for winter - tugs at the eyes and heart-strings of the beholder. Mughal ruler Jahangir termed Kashmir and its capital Srinagar as paradise on earth. A large number of tourists flock to Srinagar to get enchanted with this fairy tale of mirror like lakes, tumbling rivers and verdant meadows. A houseboat on a placid lake ringed by flowering trees is by far one of the most attractive choices for accommodation, setting the tone and pace for a visit to this ethereal city. Among famous gardens to relax in Srinagar are Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Pari Mahal Garden. Dal Lake and Nagin Lake offer opportunities to do ‘shikara’ ride and enjoy houseboat stay. Among the historical and religious monuments, Shankaracharya Temple, Hari Parbat and Jama Mosque come on top.   

Customized Private & Group India Tour

Optima Travels is expert in planning, customizing and conducting India tours for all kinds of travelers. India Group Tours, Private Tours in India, solo traveler's tours, tailor-made India tours and package tours in India are some of the modes of tour implementation. There are four principal ways of traveling - (1) The fixed-departure group tour, in which you travel with others, following a prearranged itinerary hitting all the high spots, and paying a single all inclusive price that covers everything — transportation, meals, lodging, sightseeing tours, taxis, guides. (2) The tour in which you also follow a prearranged itinerary, chosen through your travel agent, paying for everything at once, but traveling alone. (3) A type of tour in which you pay everything in advance, but for an itinerary you work out for yourself, according to your own interests. (4) The free-lance tour, in which you pay as you go. change your mind if you want to, and do your own planning. Special discounted rates are offered for students and teachers for group travel.