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 Hrs

On arrival at Delhi, you will be received by a Travel Counsellors’ representative and he will transfer you to your hotel for check in.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Le Meridien New Delhi

Le Meridien New Delhi is ideally located in the heart of the city and within walking distance of the shopping hubs Connaught Place and Janpath Market. The accommodation features comfortably designed guest rooms and suites equipped with modern amenities such as TVs, air conditioning, tea/coffee makers, complimentary bottled water, hairdryers and Wi-Fi access. Guests can enjoy a meal or a refreshing drink at the various on-site restaurants and bars. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, health club and spa.

Alternate 

The Connaught IHCL SeleQtions

Located in the heart of New Delhi in India, The Connaught IHCL SeleQtions is an ideal option for both business and leisure travellers looking for a luxurious yet convenient accommodation option. The hotel offers a selection of rooms, all of which feature air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi access. During their stay, guests can enjoy dining at the on-site restaurant. Other facilities include a gym, an indoor swimming pool, and a business centre. The position of the hotel makes it an ideal base from which guests can explore the surrounding area.

Day 2: In Delhi

Day Itinerary

After breakfast 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.

Overnight at hotel

Day 3: 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: Grand Mercure Agra

Grand Mercure Agra, located in the historic city of Agra, India, offers a convenient base for guests exploring the iconic Taj Mahal, just 2 kilometres away. The hotel’s spacious rooms feature modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy delicious dishes at the on-site restaurant. Additional amenities include a bar and a swimming pool.

Day 4: Agra – Bharatpur – Sawai Madhopur

Named after a rambling 10th-century fortress which still stands sentinel on a 200m-high plateau, Ranthambhore 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: 1½ Hrs drive]

Enjoy a short village walk followed by lunch.

Later 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)

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: Ranthambore Regency

Ranthambore Regency is situated just ten minutes away from Ranthambhore National Park. Accommodation consists of guest rooms, each equipped with air conditioning and LCD TV. A delicious breakfast is offered daily for guests’ enjoyment. Other amenities offered are internet access, an on-site restaurant, a swimming pool and a bar.

Day 5: In Ranthambhore

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning and afternoon safari in the Park.

Overnight at hotel

Day 6:            Ranthambhore – 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: Ramgarh Lodge

Ramgarh Lodge is situated in Jaipur, India, near Ramgarh Dam, Ramgarh Lake, Jamwa Ramgarh Wild Life Sanctuary and Hawa Hoddi. Units feature a minibar, a tea and coffee maker, wireless internet and a bathroom. There is an on-site restaurant where guests can enjoy North Indian cuisine. Additional amenities include two bars, a swimming pool and a billiards room.

Day 7: In Jaipur

Day Itinerary

Breakfast is at the hotel

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 8: Jaipur – Delhi

Breakfast is at the hotel.

After breakfast you will be driven to Delhi [Approx. 260 Kms: 06 Hrs]

On arrival you will check in at hotel.

Overnight: Lemon Tree Premier Delhi Airport

Lemon Tree Premier Delhi Airport is 4-kilometres away from Indira Gandhi International Airport and 5-kilometres away from the domestic airport. The hotel features 280 smartly furnished rooms and suites that are equipped with a range of world-class facilities including Wi-Fi, satellite television, minibars and well-appointed bathrooms including one for differently-abled guests. The rooms also have a workstation and an ergonomically designed chair, to make business on the move productive. Guests can explore delicacies in the award-winning pan-Asian restaurant or enjoy lip-smacking delights in the multi-cuisine café.

Day 9:  Depart Delhi

Day Itinerary

Breakfast at the hotel

At appropriate time, you will be assisted & transferred 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.