Arrive New Delhi

New Delhi - Arrive in Delhi. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. The capital of India has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, encapsulating the history of seven cities. The current New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens, with Herbert Baker as the main architect. In 1911, the capital of the British Raj was moved from Kolkata to Delhi. Today, it serves as the seat of power and a major gateway for tourists. In Old Delhi, visit Raj Ghat, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. This is Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial is set amidst landscaped gardens and features a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words, “Hey Ram.” The Red Fort (closed on Mondays), a 17th-century fortress built from red sandstone, is surrounded by a massive 33-meter high boundary wall. Inside, you’ll find exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort is Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque, accommodating over 20,000 people for prayer at one time. In New Delhi, visit Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th century. This early example of Mughal architecture is considered a predecessor to the Taj Mahal. The Qutab Minar, a landmark of Delhi, is a towering victory monument started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar stands 72.5 meters high with a base diameter of 14.4 meters, tapering to 2.7 meters at the top. Drive past the Rashtrapati Bhawan, once the Viceroy’s residence and now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines Western and Eastern styles, with a dome reflecting a Buddhist stupa, Hindu chhattris, and British-style colonnades. It has 340 rooms. The India Gate, standing 42 meters tall, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I. The names of 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame commemorates the Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Agra

Taj Mahal - Drive to Agra. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Agra is a medieval city on the banks of the Yamuna River, founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 1506. Agra gained fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination due to its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra Fort was originally a brick fort held by the Chauhan Rajputs. It was first mentioned in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi to move to Agra and live in the fort. He governed the country from there, making Agra 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 reign. The world-famous Taj Mahal, overlooking the Yamuna River, is a classic example of Mughal architecture. The Taj itself is a mausoleum at the northern end of an extensive formal walled garden designed in the charbagh style, based on the Islamic theme of ‘paradise.’ The entire site was built by Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 as the final resting place for his favorite wife, Arjumand Bano Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal), who died in 1631 shortly after giving birth to their fourteenth child. Upon his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried alongside his wife in the Taj. (Closed on Fridays). Stay overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Jaipur

Panch Mahal - Fatehpur Sikri - Drive to Jaipur, with an en route visit to Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri 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 after 15 years due to a scarcity of water. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city, showcasing the empire’s splendor. See Darbar-e-Aam, Palaces, Panch Mahal, Taansen Seat, and the great Sufi saint’s tomb. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel.

Jaipur Sightseeing

Amber Palace - 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 the Pink City due to the color of the buildings in its beautiful old city. The city was painted pink to honor the visit of Prince Albert of England in 1882. After breakfast, take an excursion to the Amber City Fort, situated 130 meters high with the Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs until 1037. Ride a Jeep up the hill and admire the massive gateways, courts, stairways, pillared pavilions, and palaces that recall the glory and wealth of Amber’s association with the Mughals. Visit the City Palace, which still houses the erstwhile Royal family; Jantar Mantar, the Royal Observatory; and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, with 1,043 windows), built for the royal ladies to watch the activities on the market street below without being observed themselves. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Delhi Drop

New Delhi - Drive back to Delhi, where you will be transferred to the airport on time.

• Daily bottled water (one per person)
• Included Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• Double/twin sharing accommodation
• Expert Professional Guide
• Complimentary WiFi during trip

• Entrances to Monuments
• Gratuities
• Any other specifically not mentioned in include column