Day 1: Arrive New Delhi

New Delhi, India’s national capital, is a relatively modern confection of imposing government buildings including Parliament, museums and wide leafy boulevards loosely centred on circular Connaught Place (officially now called Rajiv Chowk). To its north lies the formerly walled city of Old Delhi, or Shahjahanabad, built in the 17th-century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Though long merged into one metropolis, the two have very different characters. New Delhi has space, parks, distinct neighbourhoods and a clutch of important monuments and architecture that reflect its ancient history. Old Delhi’s crowded streets, lanes and bazaars reflect its colourful medieval character and they cradle some of the city’s most memorable sights.

Day Itinerary

Flight                                   TBA
Arrives Delhi                     TBA Hrs.

On arrival in Delhi: Having cleared immigration, collected your luggage and passed through customs, please make your way towards the exit of the terminal building where you will see a bank of people waiting for you. Amongst them will be Travel Counsellors Representative who will be waiting to greet you with a paging board with your name on.

You will be transferred to your hotel and assisted with check in. Standard check in time – 1400 Hrs.

Later visit New Delhi monuments

Activities

Qutub Minar

In the southern reaches of Delhi’s Mehrauli neighbourhood, this extraordinary 72-metre high sandstone minar, or tower, was erected in stages between 1199 and 1369 by some of the earliest Muslim dynasties to reach India. With alternating rounded and angular flutings along with mainly koranic inscriptions, it’s the most striking part of a large ensemble of buildings – a tomb, a madrasa (or religious school) and various gateways – that combine Muslim and Hindu architecture.  Here too stands an enigmatic 4th-century iron pillar that doesn’t rust; it’s common to see visitors encircling it with their arms attempting to touch fingers in the belief that any wish will then be granted.

Humayun’s Tomb

Completed in 1572 this was the first so-called ‘garden tomb’ to be built in the Indian subcontinent. Humayun was the second Mughal emperor and his widow commissioned a posse of Persian and Indian craftsmen to build the Mughal empire’s most magnificent mausoleum over a period of seven years.  The striking use of red sandstone inlaid with marble, a pioneering double-dome and 30-acre gardens with channels and a quadrilateral layout – all enclosed by walls and lofty gateways – marked a new monumental scale of tomb building. Its innovations ultimately culminated in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Drive past New Delhi

Also known as the Delhi Memorial or the All India War Memorial, the India Gate was built in commemoration of the roughly 80000 Indian soldiers who died representing their country in World War One and on various other battlefields, and whose names are inscribed on the structure. Unveiled in 1931, its distinctive arch is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Gateway of India in Bombay and is one of the trademark sights of New Delhi.

Overnight: Eros Hotel

The Eros Hotel is located in South Delhi and is just 35 minutes away from the airport. Accommodation at the hotel features a selection of 216 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites. All are equipped with comfortable bedding, free Wi-Fi and an in-room safe. The hotel also features a variety of on-site dining facilities where guests can enjoy authentic Indian cuisine. Additional facilities include conference and wedding rooms, a health club and an outdoor swimming pool.

Day 2: Delhi –  Agra

Straddling the broad Yamuna River 180km south of Delhi, Agra’s fame rests almost entirely on one building – the iconic Taj Mahal. Yet from the early 16th-century it was the Mughal empire’s capital endowed with numerous buildings and monuments that still make it a major draw for visitors. Apart from the Taj, Agra Fort (with its strong resemblance to Delhi’s Red Fort), the exquisite Tomb of Itmad-ud-Dalah (often called the ‘Baby Taj’), earthy bazaars and the evocative ‘ghost city’ of Fatehpur Sikri 40km to the west all make it a key tourist destination.

Day Itinerary

Early morning transfer to railway station to board train to Agra.

Train                                  Gatimaan Express

Departs Delhi                   0810 Hrs.

Arrive Agra                        0950 Hrs.

On arrival in Agra, proceed to visit Agra Fort, later check-in at hotel.

(Check-in time is 1400 hrs, will request for an early check-in, but it will be subject to availability at the time of check-in.)

Agra Fort

With its striking resemblance to Delhi’s Red Fort, Agra Fort’s massive sandstone walls stretch for over two kilometres with their eastern flanks overlooking a bend in the Yamuna River. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1573, its 90-acres of part-manicured gardens, imposing pavilions, royal apartments and audience halls are an impressive counterpoint to the Taj Mahal’s more delicate beauty and finesse. Built as a virtually self-contained imperial city, the fort came to symbolise Mughal military power. Here famously the Taj’s builder Emperor Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his own son and spent his final days gazing across the river at his beloved Taj Mahal.

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities.

Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Agra Hotel

The newest Marriott hotel in Agra located in Fatehabad Road and just 5 minutes away from the magnificent Taj Mahal serves as a perfect location for visitors. The hotel features a number of services to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers. Courtyard by Marriott Agra features a number of amenities, including the Spa with rejuvenating treatments, the fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool, as well as the hotel’s concierge services, a 24-hour business centre, free WI-FI and an Executive Lounge.

Day 3: Agra-  Jaipur

Founded in the early 1700s by Maharaja Jai Singh II as his new capital, the original ‘Pink City’ (so-called because almost all buildings were painted terracotta pink to honour the 1876 visit of the future King Edward VII) was laid out in a traditional grid with colonnaded streets and uniform façades. That layout remains intact and the city, now state capital of Rajasthan, has evolved and expanded into a modern metropolis with its own metro system. Yet its key sights and attractions lie within a relatively compact area. From vibrant bazaars and craft shops to grand palaces and huge forts, an extraordinary outdoor observatory and even one of the country’s most famous cinemas, Jaipur ticks every cultural, architectural and shopping box.

Day Itinerary

Enjoy visit to Taj Mahal at sunrise (closed on Friday).

Taj Mahal at Sunrise (Taj Mahal remains closed on every Friday)

Standing at the head of formal gardens beside the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most extraordinary buildings. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 to entomb his wife Mumtaz, its construction took two decades, utilised over 20,000 labourers and a thousand elephants.  The finest craftsmen from India and Persia utilised Indian marble, Chinese jade, Tibetan turquoise and Afghan lapus lazuli. In all almost thirty types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the milky-white marble. It cost an absolute fortune even by the standards of the day; nothing on this scale had been attempted before or since.

It still has a powerful ethereal beauty – the delicate onion dome rising above dainty kiosks, slender taping minarets, marble whose ever-changing hue reflects the ambient light and symmetrical gardens with water channels and fountains. Widely regarded as the height of Mughal architecture, the Taj has come to symbolise India itself.

Return to hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast you will be driven to Jaipur (265 kms – 5 hrs drive approx.)

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Hilton Jaipur

Hilton Jaipur is ideally located on the outskirts of Jaipur, just 1km from Ram Nagar metro stop and 11km from Jaipur International Airport. The accommodation features comfortable guest rooms and suites equipped with modern amenities including coffee makers, LCD TVs, hairdryers, air conditioning, desks and Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy dining at the on-site restaurant and bar. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.

Day 4: Jaipur

Day Itinerary

After breakfast, proceed for a full day tour of Jaipur, visiting Amer Fort (en-route photo stop at Hawa Mahal – Palace of Winds), City Palace and Astronomical Observatory.

Amer Fort by jeep ride

Cresting a stark rocky ridge on the hilly northern fringes of Jaipur, 16th-century Amber (or Amer) Fort is one of the finest examples of a Rajput fort-palace. Overlooking a lake and enclosed by kilometres of wide crenellated walls that  wriggle across the enclosing hills, this huge complex of audience halls, pavilions and royal apartments is a compelling blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Although its once lavish interiors are now diminished, sufficient part-marble interiors, decorative frescoes, coloured glass and mirror-mosaics still reveal some of the grandeur of life in a maharaja’s court in what was one of Rajasthan’s most powerful princely states.

Photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)

One of Jaipur’s most recognised buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is known for its iconic façade. Small windows, decorated with intricate latticework create a honeycomb-like appearance. The original intention of the lattice was to allow the royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. The cooling effect, provided by the breeze passing through the small windows, gave the palace its name. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the unique construction was originally designed to look like the crown of Krishna. A panoramic view of Jaipur can be had from the top of the building.

Jaipur City Palace

Up until India’s Independence in 1947, Jaipur’s City Palace was the ceremonial and bureaucratic seat of power of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Standing in the heart of the Old City founded by his ancestor, the 18th-century palace remains one of the city’s key sights.  It’s a huge complex of courtyards, opulent audience halls, royal apartments, temples and pretty pavilions, some of which are still occupied by the royal family. It’s also home to a large museum with galleries devoted to textiles, armaments and painting.

Jantar Mantar Observatory

The Jantar Mantar (which translates as ‘calculating instrument’) is an ensemble of nineteen astronomical instruments built by the city’s founder, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, in 1734. Jai Singh was almost obsessed by astronomy and mathematics and this complex is one of several he constructed in various cities. Superficially resembling a rather whimsical playground, these instruments are surprisingly sophisticated and capable of, for example, measuring sunrise and sunset, azimuth, the coordinates of stars and planets, and time. The ensemble includes a giant sundial – at 27m tall one of the world’s largest – with a visibly moving shadow.

Overnight at hotel

Day 5: Leave Jaipur

Breakfast is at the hotel.

At an appropriate time, transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.

Flight                                      TBA

Departs Delhi                       TBA

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NOTE:

The distances and time taken for the travel is approximation only this will differ based on the traffic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.