An exotic tour through the British traces in New Delhi, Mughal charm in Agra, heavenly experience for wildlife lovers in Ranthambore and the majestic presence of the Rajputana royalty in the city of Jaipur is a complete amalgamation of Indian history and culture.
This is the best suitable tour for a traveler who are holidaying to have a glimpse of North India in the most luxurious way. The fact that Delhi – Agra - Rajasthan form a triangular shape when these locations are joined with lines on the map, and richness of ancient history throughout; owes its reason to being termed as the ‘Golden Triangle.’
Explore and discover the secrets of this compact yet contrasting Indian tour with unforgettable highlights.
| Day 1: | Arrive Delhi | |
| Day 2: | Delhi | (B, D) |
| Day 3: | Delhi / Agra (Drive: 220 Km/ 4 Hours) | (B) |
| Day 4: | Agra | (B) |
| Day 5: | Agra / Ranthambore (Drive: 290 Km/ 6 Hours) | (B, D) |
| Day 6: | Ranthambore | (B, L, D) |
| Day 7: | Ranthambore / Jaipur (Drive: 180 Km/ 4 Hours) | (B) |
| Day 8: | Jaipur | (B) |
| Day 9: | Jaipur/ / Delhi (Drive: 260 Km/ 6 Hours) & Delhi / Onward Destination | (B, D) |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Evening enjoys Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti - a unique Musical Dance Show performed by the renowned stage actors from Mumbai.
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
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.
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.
A countryside drive takes us to Ranthambore, the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore National Park lies at the edge of a plateau, and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. There are several lakes in the park. It is named for the historic Ranthambhore Fort*, which lies within the national park. The rugged terrain and the dense deciduous forests are major features of this national park, which has among the largest and most diverse collection of wildlife species in India. The remainder of the day is free to relax.
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
After breakfast we drive 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 check in to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free.
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.
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.
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.
We visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art.
