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Day 1: 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 Bharat Bhawan.
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 a short distance from the museum is the Bharat Bhawan, a complex that carters to an array of art forms, comprises a museum for the arts, an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theatre, indoor and outdoor auditoria, rehearsal rooms and libraries of Indian poetry and classical and folk music. It is designed by the renowned architect Charles Correa.
You will be staying in Bhopal tonight.
Day 2: Bhopal - Bhojpur - Bhimabetka - Sanchi
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.
You will be staying in Bhopal tonight.
Day 3: Bhopal - Ujjain
Today, we will start journey early in the morning to visit the ancient city of Ujjain.
Ujjain is a venerated pilgrimage center enshrining Mahakaleshwara, one of the Jyotirlinga manifestations of Shiva. Situated on the banks of the sacred river Shipra, Ujjain which is the modern name of Ujjaini. It is one of the sacred places of the Hindus, and the Kumbh Mela (religious fair) is held there every twelve years.
There are many great mythological legends about Ujjain city. Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his souls stirring poetry here.
After reaching Ujjain in the afternoon, you will check-in to the hotel. Get yourself refreshed and proceed to Mahakaleshwara temple for the darshan of Shree Mahakaleshwara. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India, the lingam at the Mahakala is believed to be born of itself (swayambhu) deriving currents of power (shakti) from within itself as oppose to the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with the mantra-shakti
You will be staying in Ujjain tonight.
Day 4: Ujjain – Omkareshwar - Indore
This morning we will be driving to Omkareshwar. Omkareshwar is a sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, ‘Om’. Omkareshwar is situated on the banks of the Narmada, and is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The significance of this linga is that the linga is not situated below the cupola. The idol of Lord Shiva is situated on the top of the temple. The temple can be reached by ferry from the banks of the river.
We will come back to Indore in the evening where you will be staying overnight.
Day 5: Indore
This morning you will be visiting the Indore city. Indore is known as the city of the Holkars. The city was built by a Holkar Rani Ahilya Bai, one of the famous queens of India. Here you will be visiting some of the famous historical monuments and religious centers – Rajwada, Kanch Mandir and Bada Ganapati.
The Rajwada or the Old Palace is located in the old city, the building is a blend of French, Mughal and Maratha architecture. This 200 year old palace belonged to the Holkar dynasty.
Bada Ganapati, better known for its size than antiquity, this temple houses perhaps the largest Ganesh idol in the world measuring 25 feet from crown to foot. It was built in 1875.
Tour concluded in Indore.
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