Luxury Golden Triangle & Varanasi

1. Day 1 - Arrive Delhi
   Arrival. Namaste! We are warmly welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax.
2. Day 2 - Delhi
   An introduction of India with a tour of New Delhi. We visit Birla House, the last residence of Mahatma Gandhi which is now a museum depicting his illustrious life. We then visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and Humayun's Tomb*. This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.  The remainder of the day is free for personal activities.  In the evening we enjoy welcome dinner at famous Indian restaurant with glass of wine or pint of beer.  Please note, Birla House remains closed on Monday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
   • Dinner

   OPTIONAL: Visit Qutub Minar - USD 65

   We visit Qutb Minar and its Monuments* Built in the early 13th century the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art and two mosques.

3. Day 3 - Delhi
   Today we visit the Old Delhi, drive past to the Red Fort Complex*. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex.  We embark on a captivating journey on a Rickshaw passing through the narrow lanes of the famous Chandni Chowk Bazaar, it was originally built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his daughter Jahan Ara in 17th Century since then many changes have taken place however it still remains Old Delhi's one of the Oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. Finally end our rickshaw ride at Jama Masjid, Mughal majesty and India's largest mosque.  Please note, Shops at Chandni chowk remain closed on Sunday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Red Fort Complex (remain closed on Monday) - USD 65

   We visit the Red Fort Complex. The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement and each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions

4. Day 4 - Delhi/ Varanasi by flight
   A short flight gets us to Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world. On arrival, we are met and transfer to our hotel Brijrama Palace, one of the oldest landmarks of the city. Evening we get to the banks of the Ganges to witness the Aarti ceremony, a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities after sunset.

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Ramnagar Fort - USD 28

   This lofty and stately 18th century Ramnagar Fort is situated on the bank of the Ganga river opposite to the Tulsi Ghat at a distance of 14 Km from Varanasi. This sandstone fort was built by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh in the year 1750.

5. Day 5 - Varanasi
   Early morning sunrise boat ride on the River Ganges (Boat decorated by flowers with on board music by Sitar, Tabla & flute). One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges. Every morning scores of pilgrims and priests fill the riverbanks bathing in the holy waters and perform various rituals. This unique experience literally transports you to another world. After boat ride explore old Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata Temple, which houses a huge marble relief map of India; the Durga Temple & the Tulsi Manas Mandir. After the tour we come back to hotel for breakfast & relax till afternoon.  In the afternoon we explore Sarnath, the site where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Varanasi is also famous for its silk sarees and we visit some of the houses where the beautiful silk sarees are actually woven.  Please note, Sarnath museum remains closed on Friday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
6. Day 6 - Varanasi/ Jaipur by flight
   Today we are transferred to airport for our flight to Jaipur, the rose-pink capital of Rajasthan, since most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone. Upon arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Dinner at Suvarna Mahal in Rambagh Palace - USD 149

   With its high ceilings, gilded mirrors and Florentine frescoes, Suvarna Mahal embodies the rich heritage of erstwhile rulers. Our chefs have mastered royal cuisines from the princely states of Rajasthan, Awadh, Punjab and Hyderabad to give you the best of India in Jaipur.

7. Day 7 - Jaipur
   This morning we visit Amber Fort, located in a valley formed by a range of Aravalli’s known as Kalikho hills. The Palace and Fort are located on top of the hill with the city on slopes, and the valley protected by fort walls with four gates in the four cardinal directions. The construction of the fort began in 1592. It shows the evolution from the purely defensive fort settlements of the early medieval period to the palace fortress type of architecture typified in the 16th century. This palace fortress was never attacked or invaded. The fort comprises of number of gardens, courtyards and palatial spaces derived from Mughal architecture and are a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture.    After that we explore Jaipur City* visiting the beautiful Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade.  We also visit the Jantar Mantar*, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century that includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. It is an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period. The evening is free to enjoy both shopping and the cultural experience in the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Elephant ride at Amber Fort (Subject to availability) - USD 37

   One of the highlights of a visit to the stunning Amber Fort is the chance to ride an elephant up the hill to the main entrance. The Amber Fort elephant ride is a fantastic experience, but visitors must arrive early to guarantee a ride.

   OPTIONAL: Visit the majestic City Palace - USD 49

   We visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art. 

8. Day 8 - Jaipur / Agra (Drive: 245 Km / 6 Hours)
   Today we drive to Agra, the city of Taj. On arrival we check in our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti - USD 14

   Evening enjoys Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti - a unique Musical Dance Show performed by the renowned stage actors from Mumbai.

   OPTIONAL: En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri – A World Heritage Site - USD 28

   A short drive gets us to Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1569 by the Mughal King, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir. From here we continue a countryside drive to Jaipur

9. Day 9 - Agra
   At sunrise we visit one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal*. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mogul garden, this funerary monument combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. After enjoying a sunrise visit to Taj, we return to our hotel for breakfast.  After breakfast we visit Agra Fort*. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.  Please note, Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Mehtab Bagh - USD 19

   We visit Mehtab Bagh, The Garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal, is known as Mehtab Bagh, or "The Moonlight Garden". Recent excavations revealed a huge octagonal tank furnished with 25 fountains, a small central tank and a baradari (twelve door) on the east. The site is also associated with the myth of black Taj, but the excavations have provided ample evidence for a garden complex. This is also corroborated by a letter of Aurangzeb, addressed to Emperor Shah Jehan stating the condition of this garden after a flood in 1652 AD. 

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Itmad-Ud-Daulah- Agra - USD 21

   We visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah, often called as Baby Taj. A highly ornate edifice, this mausoleum is considered as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as elaborate carvings and inlay work are concerned. Though the structure does not have much to offer architecturally, it makes a clear departure from the earlier Mughal tombs built during the period and is softer and with a lot of inlay carvings

   OPTIONAL: Dinner at PESHAWRI Restaurant in ITC Mughal - USD 75

   In an ambience reminiscent of the rustic charm of dining in the warmth of tents under a starry sky in the cold desert terrain of the North West Frontier, Peshawri brings to Agra an award-winning menu of delicacies cooked in the clay tandoor. Experience the wonder of this cuisine in Agra only at Peshawri, with a lavish spread of delicious kebabs – vegetarian and non-vegetarian that are cooked in myriad ways, a range of Indian breads – from the decadently indulgent to light and fluffy breads and of course, the inimitable Dal Bukhara – all of which is paired with an exclusive collection of wines and other beverages.

   OPTIONAL: Visit Taj Mahal under Full moon- Agra - USD 75

   Night visit to Taj Mahal is open for only 5 days including full moon and two days before and after the full moon date. Remains closed on Friday.  Night View is allowed between 0830 hrs to 00:30 hrs in batches of 50 person per slot. Duration of each slot is only 30 minutes. Tickets are issued a day before the visit and are subjected to availability. 

10. Day 10 - Agra / Gurugram (Drive: 220 Km/ 4 Hours)
    After leisurely breakfast we drive to Delhi. On arrival we check in at The Oberoi Gurgaon. Evening we enjoy farewell dinner at local famous Indian restaurant.  

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast
11. Day 11 - Gurugram / Onward Destination
    Today we are transferred to airport for our flight to the onward destination

* DENOTES UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES INCLUDED