Golden Triangle Tour

Destinations Covered: Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Delhi

Duration : 06 Nights / 07 Days

DIRECT FLIGHTS

Highlights : 2Nts Delhi 1Nts Agra 2Nts Jaipur 1Nts Delhi

Most visitors to India embarked on the popular Golden Triangle Tour which visits the historic city of Delhi, Agra home to the beautiful Taj Mahal and the Princely state of Jaipur. The tour begins in Delhi explore the capital city of India with its various monuments, then continues onto Agra home to the magnificent Taj Mahal, Agra fort and the baby Taj. After visiting Agra you travel to the famous ´Pink City´ of Jaipur with it´s wealth of Royal palaces and street markets.

Bonus Free Elephant ride at Amber Fort + 1Nt Radisson Blu Dwarka Delhi 5* (Last night)

Hotels featured or similar
Delhi – Country Inn and Suites in Saket / Mapple Emerald
Agra – Howard Plaza
Jaipur – Red Fox

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival you will be assisted at the airport and escorted to your air conditioned car for your journey to your Delhi hotel. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight stay at hotel

Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast city tour of Old and New Delhi.
Old Delhi visiting Raj Ghat which is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. This is Mahatma Gandhi´ Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. Drive pass Red Fort (closed on Monday) – the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India´s largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer at one time.

New Delhi visiting Humayun´s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutab Minar – the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Drive Pass) once the Viceroy´s residence and now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chhattris “Hindu” and the graceful colonnades very “British”. It has 3400 rooms. The India Gate (42m), C commemorates t he 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, glows the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame commemorating Indian armed forces´ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Delhi to Agra by surface (approx. 210 kms, 5 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Agra, upon arrival at Agra, check in at hotel. Afternoon, visit world famous Taj Mahal (Closed on Fridays) – Overlooking the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is a classic example of Mughal architecture, with the Taj itself built as a mausoleum at the northern end of an extensive formal walled garden designed in the charbagh style and structured on the Islamic theme of ´paradise´. The whole site was built by Shah Jahan between ad 1632 and 1653 as the final resting place of his favourite wife Arjumand Bann Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal) who died in ad 1631 shortly after giving birth to their fourteenth child. Upon his death in ad 1666, Shah Jahan was buried alongside his wife in the Taj.

Agra Fort – Agra Fort was originally a brick fort and the Chauhan Rajputs held it. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here an d Agra assumed the importance of the second capital. He died in the fort in 1517 and his son, Ibrahim Lodi, held it for nine years until he was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526. He built several palaces, wells and a mosque in the fort during his period. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: Agra to Jaipur by surface (approx. 265 kms, 7 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri – which is a beautiful and deserted medieval city, built by Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. It was mysteriously abandoned 13 years later. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city built at the height of the empire´s splendor.

Jaipur – Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh – II, the ruler of Amber. Jaipur was the first planned city in India. This town is also referred to as Pink city for the colour of buildings in its wonderful old city. The city was painted pink to honour the visit of Prince Albert of England. Later continue drive to Jaipur, upon arrival at Jaipur, check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Jaipur
After early breakfast enjoy city tour of Jaipur. Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037. Ride the colourfully painted elephants up the hill, admire the massive gateways, courts, stairways, pillared pavilions and palaces the recall the glory and wealth of Amber´s association with the Mughals.

Afternoon visit the City Palace (still houses the erstwhile Royal family); Jantar Mantar – the Royal Observatory and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, with 1043 windows) – built for the royal ladies to watch the activities on the market street below without being observed themselves. Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Jaipur to Delhi by surface (approx. 258 Kms, 6 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Delhi. Upon arrival check at Delhi, check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Delhi to London Heathrow
Transfer from hotel to airport in time to board flight for London Heathrow.

Note: This private escorted tour includes sightseeing by air-conditioned car and services of local English speaking guides. This tour is subject to entrance fees.

Based on minimum two persons (per person cost)

Offer Includes

• Flights from London with Virgin Atlantic
• Airport taxes
• 6nts accommodation on bed & breakfast basis
• All transfers, sightseeing and guides
• Elephant ride at Amber Fort, Jaipur
• Assistance during arrival, departure and transfers

Quote does not include

• India Visa fees
• Travel Insurance
• Entry fees to the monuments
• Any vehicle at disposal on leisure days
• Expenses of personal nature such as soft drinks, liquor, laundry, tips, telephone calls, porterage, travel insurance, visa fees and camera fees, etc.
• Anything not mentioned in above inclusion.