Day 1: Arrive 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

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 Counsellor Representative who will be waiting to greet you with a paging board with your name on.

Rest of the day at leisure

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: In Delhi

Day Itinerary

After breakfast, start from the hotel at 9 AM and enjoy a walking tour of Old Delhi conducted by the Salaam Baalak Trust.

Old Delhi Heritage Walk by Salaam Baalak Trust

Established in 1988, the Salaam Baalak Trust is a Delhi-based NGO committed to supporting ‘street children’ across the city.  The name roughly translates as ‘salute a child’ and its mission is to secure the futures of children who for a variety of social and family reasons have ended up living precariously if not dangerously on the margins of society, either in slums or on the streets.

The Trust’s programmes encompass various outreach projects, health & nutrition, education & skill building and rehabilitation. One facet of this are guided walks led by former street children who have shrugged off adversity, gone on to study and forged independent lives within mainstream society. On foot and by rickshaw, this guided tour takes an immersive look at the atmospheric lanes, markets and bazaars of Old Delhi. Between the great Jami Masjid mosque and the famous thoroughfare of Chandni Chowk, you’ll see everyday life in one of Delhi’s most characterful neighbourhoods – spice markets, wedding paraphernalia, street food and hidden havelis, or merchants’ mansions.

In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of New Delhi- Qutub Minar, Humayun Tomb & drive past Govt. Building, Rastrapati Bhawan.

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.

Day 3: Train 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

After breakfast, Travel Counsellor Representative will assist & transfer you to Delhi railway station to board the train for Agra.

Train                                  Gatimaan Express (runs daily except Fridays)

Departs Delhi                   08:10 Hrs.

Arrives Agra                     09:50 Hrs.

Met on arrival at Agra and proceed directly for a visit to Agra Fort and later check-in at the hotel (normal check-in 1400 hrs).

Afternoon at leisure and visit Taj at sunset (closed on Friday).

Activities

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.

Taj Mahal at Sunset (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.

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 4: Agra – F’pur Sikri – Baharatpur + Train To Sawai Madhopur

Named after a rambling 10th-century fortress which still stands sentinel on a 200m-high plateau, Ranthambore is one of India’s most famous national parks. One a royal hunting ground, today its 1334km² of dry forests, grassy meadows, lakes, streams and rugged picturesque hills are home to a sizeable population of wild tigers. Other wildlife includes leopards, antelopes, deer, hyenas, jackals, sloth bears, crocodiles and over three hundred species of birds. Access is closely regulated with a set number of vehicles, visitors and driving routes allocated each day to evenly distribute the human impact on its flora and fauna.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast you will be driven to Bharatpur railway station [Approx 70 Kms : 1 ½ Hrs drive]

En route visit Fatehpur Sikri.

After the visit, you will be transferred to the railway station to connect with your train to Sawai Madhopur.

Train                                                  Kota Jan Shatabdi

Departs Bharatpur                         1450 hrs

Arrives Sawai Madhopur             1713 hrs

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel (transfer will be provided by a different car as your car will be reaching late)

Fatehpur Sikri

Built atop a low ridge in the late 1500s by Emperor Akbar, the so-called ‘City of Victory’ was the Mughal dynasty’s first planned city. Monumental in design and scale, it was distinguished by extensive use of rust-red sandstone and its huge gateway, vast courtyards, lofty audience halls, royal apartments, stables and treasury provide a spectacular perspective on the wealth and ambition of the Mughal court at that time. But by 1610 it was completely abandoned for reasons unclear though a lack of water is often cited as its downfall.

Overnight: Ranthambhore Kothi

Ranthambhore Kothi is set by a natural water lake surrounded by green forests in Rajasthan, India. The rooms at the hotel come equipped with a mini-bar, safe, tea-kettle, and a private balcony. The hotel features an on-site dining facility, bar, outdoor swimming pool, gardens, spa, and a tiger sanctuary. Popular activities include a safari in the Ranthambhore National Park, the National Chambal Sanctuary Boat Rides, and exploring the Ranthambhore Fort.

Day 5: In Ranthambore

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning and afternoon jeep safari in the Park (by shared jeep)

Day 6: Ranthambore – 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

After breakfast, you will be driven to Jaipur (Approx. 160 Kms: 03 ½ Hrs drive).

On arrival check in to hotel.Rest of the day at leisure.

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 7: 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.

Activities

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.

Day 8: Jaipur – Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel.

Later leave Jaipur for Delhi.

On arrival check in hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: The Pride Aerocity Hotel

Pride Hotel Delhi Aerocity, is situated in close proximity to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The hotel features 386 exclusive and well designed rooms, a coffee shop and restaurant as well as convention and banqueting facilities. It is an ideal destination choice for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel also has a well equipped business center.

Day 9: Leave – Delhi

Breakfast is at the hotel. At an appropriate time transfer to airport to connect flight for onward destinations.