Golden Triangle

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Delhi ● Agra ● Jaipur ● Delhi

DAY 01:  ARRIVE DELHI  By: International Flight 

• Arrival transfer at Delhi International      airport
• Overnight stay in Delhi

Welcome to India! After immigration, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for your stay (Hotel check in time is 1400 hour). 

Delhi is India’s capital and a major gateway to the country. Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital Delhi. It was the magnet, which drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and the British, all of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent past. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still intrigue Indians and tourists alike as the cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world.

DAY 02: DELHI      

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Full Day City Tour of New Delhi
• Overnight stay in Delhi

Your tour begins in Delhi, India’s capital city that sports a rich history spanning over 2,000 years. After a short briefing, head out on a tour of Old Delhi, the capital of Mughal dynasty between the 16th and 19th centuries. 

Arrive Old Delhi and visit Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in year 1650 AD and completed in the year 1656 AD. From here you will board cycle rickshaws for a tour of Chandni Chowk (Silver Street). Here you will get a glimpse into an old world lifestyle slowly fading from Delhi. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can be felt in the Chandi Chowk's narrow lanes. Board the bus after the rickshaw ride, going past the Red Fort (photo stop), and you will disembark at the Raj Ghat – a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, set within a beautiful park. 

Next drive through New Delhi, passing by Presidential Palace- the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate - a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war, Parliament house and other government buildings built in he first quarter of the 20th century by two famous English architects, Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was during this time period that the capital of the British Empire was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. 

The tour to Imperial Delhi will include a visit to the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic structures raised in India. Then visit Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun, it is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style, a precursor of the Taj Mahal. 

DAY 03:  DELHI – AGRA By: Surface (210 Km /+/- 04 hour)

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Agra
• Afternoon visit Agra Fort
• Overnight stay in Agra

After breakfast, drive to Agra. On arrival, check in for your stay. 

Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra & its neighborhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. Their architectural genius can also be seen in the forts, palaces and aesthetically laid out gardens - each one a silent witness to a grand style of a golden era.

In the afternoon visit Agra Fort, which was the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jehan added the impressive quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions.

DAY 04:  AGRA – JAIPUR By: Surface (236 Km /+/- 06 hour) 

• Visit Taj Mahal at sunrise 
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Jaipur
• En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri 
• Overnight stay in Jaipur

As dawn breaks, watch the sunrise over the incomparable Taj Mahal. Horse drawn carriage will drop you near the gates. It is fitting to see this extraordinary monument by the first light of day as its exemplary beauty is awe-inspiring and will create an unforgettable memory.

Said to be one of the most elegant and a harmonious building in the world, Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1630 AD to enshrine the mortal remains of his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal manifests the wealth and luxury of Mughal art as seen in architecture and garden design, painting, and calligraphy. The 144 foot double dome of the Taj is capped with a finial and the four minarets each 131 ft. high and crowned by an open octagonal pavilion highlight the perfect symmetry of the tomb. 

Return to the hotel for breakfast. 

Later, drive to Jaipur, known as the “pink city” for the abundance of pink plastered stone used to build its massive forts, magnificent palaces and exquisite temples. You will stop enroute at Fatehpur Sikri - the deserted red sandstone city, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. It was a veritable fairy tale city and its 'ruins' are still in a pristine condition.

Continue on your drive to Jaipur. This route takes you through the region’s typical villages, where you can appreciate various scenes of traditional life. 

Upon arrival, check in for your stay.

Jaipur - also known as the ‘Pink City’, for the abundance of pink plastered stone used to build its massive forts, magnificent palaces and exquisite temples. The city built in 1727 A.D by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II followed a grid system, which made it the only planned city of its time. A young Bengali architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya designed the city in accordance with Shilp Shastra - an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. There is far more to the city than just its famous monuments and to get a complete experience of Jaipur, uncover the mysteries of the bazaars and visit silversmiths, turban sellers and traditional markets. 

DAY 05:  IN JAIPUR   

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit Amber fort with Elephant ride upto to      the fort 
• Afternoon exploration of Jaipur 
• Overnight stay in Jaipur

Set off this morning to Amber Fort. Jaipur’s Maharaja Man Singh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started constructing Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. The Fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and overlooks the Moat Lake. You will ascend the hill leading to the fortress on elephant-back and then walk through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room.

On the way back to the city, take a photo-stop at Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) made famous because of the 953 windows, or jharokhas, that make up its structure. Five stories in height, and built of red and pink sandstone highlighted with white quicklime, it is thought that the women of the royal harem used the many casements to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen.

Continue to Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh ll in the 18th century. The Maharajah, a scientist as well as an astronomer, had the principles of Euclid translated into Sanskrit. One of the most remarkable sites in Jaipur, the Jantar Mantar has fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses and tracking stars and planets.

Just next to the observatory is the City Palace. Built within the fortified area of the original city, it has one of the finest monumental entrances in India. The Palace is now principally a museum housing a collection of great treasures, including miniature paintings, carpets, royal garments and other interesting objects from Jaipur's intriguing past. The former royal family retains a part of the palace for their personal use.  

Cultural connection (Optional):

• Local market walk with a      session of Henna tattoo: On this fascinating walk, mingle and talk with the locals      whilst observing some of the regions culinary delight. Observe local      artisans in their workshops; jewelers and silversmiths, gold and silver      foil makers. The iconic Hawa Mahal also called the Palace of the winds is      the meeting - point at which this walk begins. Here you also have the opportunity      of seeing and trying the art of Henna tattoo painting.

Please be aware that these are very old market places in Jaipur used almost entirely by local people, hence you should be prepared for the hustle and bustle in the streets.

• Elephant Safari      at Dera Amer: A short drive takes you to Dera Amer, situated just behind      the hills of famous Amer Fort for an elephant safari through the somnolent      countryside. While on the safari, watch a gorgeous sunset and hear evening      songs of the birds, making this an absolutely magical experience. Your      elephant sojourn concludes at the camp of Dera Amer, situated in the      middle of the forest, where you enjoy a dinner.
• Home hosted meal with a local family and a cooking demonstration: Evening      drive to the      city for a special culinary session and meal with a local family. After a      short introduction, get into an informal chat talking on diverse topics      ranging from History, Craft and Culture of this fabled city. You will be      given an introduction to common Indian spices and herbs, a cooking      demonstration and a delicious dinner of local specialties with the family.      

DAY 06:  JAIPUR – DELHI    By: Surface (250 Km /+/- 05 hour)

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Delhi
• Afternoon is at leisure
• Overnight stay in Delhi

Post breakfast, drive back to Delhi reaching in the late afternoon. On arrival, check in for your stay. 

Rest of the day is at your leisure.

Cultural connection (Optional):

• Watch live      cultural show at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon: Kingdom of Dreams brings to life a blend of India's art, culture,      heritage, craft, cuisine and performing art ... all with the technological      wizardry of today. Upon arrival, make your      way to the Nautanki Mahal to watch the worlds first live cinematic      theatrical experience. This show brings alive the magic of Indian Cinema      in a stunning, electrifying on-stage spectacle combined with Bollywood      style entertainment. 

Later walk to the ‘Culture Gully’ for a gastronomic experience. This is an air-conditioned 'indoor food street’ offering cuisines from different parts of the Country. Each of the restaurants highlight the diversity of Indian cuisine and experience country’s uniqueness as you walk around this magnificient food street.

DAY 07: DEPART DELHI   By International Flight

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to Delhi Airport to board      flight for your onward journey

Transfer to Delhi Airport to board flight for your onward journey

End of the services