Arrive at Delhi’s International airport. You will be met & greeted at the airport to be transferred to your hotel.
Normal check-in time at the hotel is 1400hrs (Early Check-in/Room on Immediate Occupancy will incur an additional fee).
Delhi, the capital city of India, is a bustling metropolis that successfully combines the ancient and the modern in its folds. Standing on the west bank of the Yamuna River at the narrowest point between the Aravali hills and the Himalayas, this city has commanded the strategically vital route from the northwest frontier to the agriculturally rich Ganges plains for more than 2,000 years. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power.
Rest of the day at leisure to relax at the hotel.
Overnight in Delhi
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Proceed for a full day tour of Old & New Delhi.
The city of Delhi can broadly be divided into two parts, Old Delhi & New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Delhi’s Muslim rulers, notably the Mughals, between the 17th & 19th centuries.
Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes a drive past the mighty Red Fort. The Red Fort was built in 1648. This sprawling fort of red sand stones stands along the river Yamuna, and is surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
*Note: The Red Fort is closed on Mondays.
Visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque (view from the outside). Jama Masjid is the principal mosque of Delhi. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in the country.
Take a cycle rickshaw ride through the lanes of Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), followed by a culinary walk to enjoy a few Indian savories.
In the afternoon, proceed for a tour of New Delhi.
New Delhi became referred to as the IMPERIAL city when the British decided to move their capital from Calcutta in 1911.
Start the tour with a visit to the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Drive past the Parliament House, the Presidential Palace – Rashtrapathi Bhawan (view from the outside), and the India Gate monuments, built during the British rule. India Gate is the famous war memorial situated at the east end of Rajpath facing the Rashtrapathi Bhawan.
Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, the first Mughal Garden tomb. Visitors are immediately struck by the tomb’s resemblance to its more famous cousin – the Taj Mahal.
End the tour with a visit to the Agrasen Ki Baoli – a stepwell in the centre of the city (no entrance fee).
Later, return to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Delhi
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Drive to Agra (approx. 205km, 4-5hrs). Enroute, visit the Akshardham Temple Complex.
A mega temple complex, Akshardham in New Delhi, is one of the biggest and most intricate places of worship ever constructed. It draws hordes of visitors and seems set to become a major tourist attraction.
The complex is huge… spread over 100 acres of land.
It is made entirely of white marble (symbolizing purity and peace) and the red sandstone so characteristic of Delhi monuments. No steel has been used in its construction, and it is a fusion of several styles of North Indian temple architecture. It is widely heralded as one of the greatest monuments India has ever produced.
The Akshardham temple consists of 234 intricately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangle spires and 20,000 statues of India’s Hinduism’s spiritual personalities. The temple reaches 141.3ft into the sky, spans 316ft in width, and is 356ft long. Inside the temple, each worshipfully carved pillar, ceiling, and dome share a story of devotion, offers a darshan (meaning glimpse or view) of a deity, or captures an incident from the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
In the afternoon, drive to Agra (approx. 205km, 4-5hrs). Arrive in Agra & check in at your hotel.
Agra – The city that created the most extravagant monument ever built for love.Â
Agra city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery. It has witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs – Akbar, Jehangir, and Shah Jahan, all of whom lavished on this fabled city their love and riches to transform the land into one of the greatest centers of art, culture, learning, and commerce. Much of the city’s impressive past lives in evidence even today, in the haunting presence inside the monuments and in the majesty of the buildings.
In the evening, proceed to visit the Taj Mahal at sunset from Taj Viewpoint.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Agra
Embark on a sunrise visit of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal was built by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love; it stands on the banks of the Yamuna River and is a flawless architectural masterpiece.
The Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of 22 years, employing 20,000 workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. The construction documents show that expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque and several other palatial buildings.
The Taj Mahal is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Yamuna behind it.
*Note: The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, witness the marble inlay work carried by artisans as an age-old family tradition. Then, visit the fascinating museum inside Kohinoor Jewelers.
In the afternoon, proceed to visit Agra Fort and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-daulah.
The Agra Fort was built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar and developed later by his successors in the year 1565. The fort was principally a military structure, and later partially became a palace during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.
The Tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah is a masterpiece of the domeless class of Mughal tombs. It is the first building finished in white marble and marks the transitional phase from red stone to white marble, from Akbar’s tomb Sikandra to the Taj Mahal.
Built by Nur Jahan, in memory of her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, who was conferred the title ‘Itimad-ud-Daulah’ meaning ‘Pillar of the Government’. It is the first tomb to be built in white marble instead of red sandstone. It marks the departure from the red sandstone buildings of Mughal architecture.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Agra
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
This morning, drive to Jaipur (approx. 240km, 5-6hrs). Enroute, take a diversion to visit Abhaneri Stepwell.
Chand Baori (Stepwell) in Abhaneri
The concept of stepwells originated in India. These acted as the reservoirs, or storage tanks, that could store large amounts of water and keep it cool. Chand Baori is India’s most famous stepwell and is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Located in the village of Abhaneri, it was built by Raja Chanda Rajput, ruler between the 8th and 9th century, to solve the water problem of this arid region.
Arrive Jaipur & check in at your hotel.
Jaipur
Named after its founder, Maharaja JAI Singh II, the city of Jaipur was founded in 1727. An avid astronomer, he laid out the city with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks according to principles of town planning set down in the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Jaipur
Breakfast is served at the hotel
This morning, proceed for a tour of Jaipur city. Take a photo stop at Hawa Mahal and visit the City Palace and Observatory.
Completed in 1799, the Palace was originally built to allow the sequestered ladies of the court to view the bustling life of the city. It is popularly known as Hawa Mahal, because of the perforated screen façade which catches the welcome breeze or Hawa.
City Palace
Originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, additions have been made to the palace complex by many of his successors. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardens, and buildings.
Jantar Mantar (Observatory)
Next to the Palace compound is the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in 1728 by Sawai Jai Singh. His passion for science and astronomy was even more distinguished than his power as a warrior. Before beginning the construction of Jantar Mantar, he sent scholars abroad to study foreign observatories.
After lunch, visit a fascinating Carpet/Textile Emporium.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Jaipur
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
This morning, proceed to visit the Amber Fort with an Elephant/Jeep ride.
The Amber Fort was made by Maharaja Man Singh and completed by Sawai Jai Singh. Set amongst rugged hills, this is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. It is believed to have been the capital of the “Minas” tribe, the original inhabitants of Rajasthan.
In the afternoon, visit the handmade jewelry and precious stone/artifact centre to witness the best artwork that only exists in Jaipur ~ the pink city.
The rest of the day is at leisure to relax at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Jaipur
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
This morning, drive to Delhi (approx. 265km, 5-6hrs). Enroute, visit Qutab Minar.
Qutab Minar (Arabic for pole or axis), is one of Delhi’s most striking monuments. Standing at 70-meters high, it looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi. The monument marked the site of the first Muslim kingdom in Northern India, established in 1193.
Once you have arrived in Delhi, check in at the hotel.
Rest of the day is at leisure to relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Delhi
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Check out of the hotel by 12 noon, then transfer to Delhi International Terminal for your departure flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
