Golden triangle – The quintessential India in 8 days

Arrival at Delhi in the morning, to be picked up by our representative from the airport. Check-in to the hotel.

After lunch (around 3 pm), head out for the half-day tour of the city of Delhi.
Drive past some of the city’s cultural and historical landmarks like the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk Bazaar on your way to visit Jama Masjid.

Towering over Old Delhi, Jama Masjid serves to remind of the grandeur of the Mughal reign. Commisioned by Emperor Shah Jahan when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi, calling it Shahjahanabad(today’s old Delhi), built in red sandstone and white marble, the masjid is claimed to be the largest in India. Each year, on Eid, thousands of reverent Muslims throng the mosque, Shah Jahan’s last architectural opus.

Explore the mosque with your guide to see several cultural relics, including an antique copy of the Qur’an.
Continue with the tour to visit Red Fort, The Red Fort Complex was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The largest historical structure in Delhi, its complex comprises of many buildings which played a vital role in the governance of the old empire. Today it has been declared a World Heritage Centre, with thousands of history enthusiasts visiting each year. It is also home to the museum of blood paintings, war-memorial museum, and archaeological museum.

On the way back to the hotel, drive by India Gate, built in the memory of Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War l. Another Memorial was added to it, after India’s independence. An eternal flame burns under the monument commemorative to the soldiers who fought in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.

India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill through Vijay Chowk and India Gate to National Stadium, Delhi.

At dusk, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with colored lights.

(Overnight at Delhi)

After breakfast, set out for the second leg of your Delhi tour.

Start with the Jantar Mantar, Located in the Parliament Street, south Connaught Circle of New Delhi, it is a vast astronomical observatory. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the year 1724 and forms a part of a collection of five such observatories located in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura.

Delhi’s Jantar Mantar consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments which can be used to compile the astronomical tables and to predict the movement and timings of the sun, moon and planets.

Next stop by the Qutub Complex.

Qutab Minar is a 73 m-high tower towering over New Delhi, built as a victory tower to commemorate the win of Qutab-ud-din Aibak over Delhi’s last Hindu ruler. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled. Dating back to around 4th century, about 7.3 m tall and made of 98% wrought iron, it has not rusted or decomposed for more than 1600 years, highlighting ancient India’s achievements in metallurgy.

The Alai Darwaza is a magnificent gateway situated north of Qutub Minar in the Qutub Complex. Following traditional Islamic architectural style, it was built using red sandstone and white marble was used on the exterior walls. Built as an extension to the main mosque of the complex, it is regarded as one of the most important buildings of its time due to the impeccable show of workmanship by the local and Turkish artisans who worked on it.

The next stop would be Humayan’s tomb,

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the final resting place of Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor and father of Akbar,is set in an elaborately designed garden reflecting the belief that the 4 channels which intersect are symbolic of paradise.
Located near the crossing of Mathura road and Lodhi road, the significance of the tomb is enhanced by the fact that this was the first mausoleum to be constructed in India and that the many styles that grew to be listed as traditionally Indo- Islamic such as the grand scale of the buildings and the design of the surrounding landscape, was applied here for the first time, strongly influenced by Persian styles. The main building uses a unique combination of white marble and red sandstone, used probably for the first time as is the char bagh concept.Over time between the 17th and 19th centuries, several tombs were added into the garden, making it what it is today.

Visit the Lotus Temple, in the early 21st century, was one of the seven edifices dedicated to the Baha’i faith. This magnificent structure unfolds in the form of a stupendous white petal lotus and is made of pure white marble, surrounded by a large expansive garden and nine pools. The result of the overall design, creating the form of a floating lotus flower—a Bahāʾī symbol of purity, beauty, and divinity – on the verge of blooming and surrounded by its leaves.

Come to experience the tranquility (despite a heavy footfall) and the uniqueness of the temple which excepts believers of all faiths, promoting the concept of one God and one Word. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, exploring the city on your own, maybe head out for a bit of shopping.

Retire to the hotel for the night.

(Overnight in Delhi)

After breakfast, leave for Agra, driving through approximately 230 km taking about three and a half hours.

Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have lunch, prior to setting out to see the city.

First, visit the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built in white marble, is a timeless masterpiece dating back to the Mughal rule. On the banks of the River Yamuna, set in a traditional Persian Timurid style garden, symbolic of paradise according to Islamic beliefs. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture, a number of reasons set it apart – the relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi-precious stones, its unique aesthetic qualities in balance, symmetry and harmonious blending of various elements – to name a few.

Next, head to the massive 16th-century Agra Fort,built primarily as a military structure but later converted into a palace,on the banks of the river Yamuna,is built in red sandstone and has has been handed down, through the Mughals, Nadir Shah, the Marathas, the Jats and finally the British, who used the fort as a garrison. Often described as the walled city, Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Head to the hotel for the night.

(Overnight in Agra)

At dawn, visit the Taj Mahal again to see the reflection of the sunrays on the white marble. You will bask in the distinct glow of the shifting hues as they spread over the Taj Mahal at daybreak for an exclusive view of the architectural wonder. After breakfast, your private transfer will take you out of Agra to the celebrated ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. The journey taking about 45 minutes through a distance of 36 km.

Fatehpur Sikri is an ancient fortified city, which was used by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital, for approximately 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

An Indo – Islamic masterpiece, but located in an area which frequently faced scarcity of water and was shortly abandoned after Akbar’s death. Here, you will see the Buland Darwaza, the entrance gate that stands over 177 feet tall and contains a large Moorish arch. Visit the ancient city, to fully grasp the grandeur and richness of the Mughal rulers in medieval India.

After your exploration of Fatehpur Sikri, you will continue onward to Jaipur, the famous Pink City of Rajasthan. The wide boulevards of the old city are remnants of an imperial past. Jaipur looks beautiful in the evening with the colorful play of lights on the city monuments.

Check into the hotel by evening and head to Chowki Dhani to experience Rajasthani hospitality.

(Overnight in Jaipur)

After breakfast at the hotel, get ready for some local sightseeing.

The day would start with exploring the Amer Fort, a large complex of fortifications designed with unexpected beauty and
charm, on the banks of the Moatha Lake. On the way, stop at Jal Mahal, also known as the Water Palace, the monument is a serene juxtaposition to the chaos of the Jaipur City. In the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, the Water Palace was built in typical
Rajput style.

Post lunch we would head to Jaipur City Palace and Hawa Mahal. A blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles, the City Palace is a complex of courtyards and gardens in the center of the old city.

And Hawa Mahal, Jaipur’s most iconic monument is a complex honey combed structure built in the center of the city to enable the women of the royal household to observe the activities of the bustling city. The top offers stunning views over Jantar Mantar and the City Palace in one direction and over Sireh Deori Bazaar in the other.

(Overnight in Jaipur)

After breakfast, you will set out for Udaipur, the beautiful lake city of Rajasthan (Private transfer). Cited as the most romantic spot on Indian continent by the British administrator, James Tod, the city of Udaipur has seven lakes. The captivating lakes hemmed in by the lush hills of Aravalis, make a flawless milieu around the city as well as sets upon many hues, colors and sense of charm.

Besides, Udaipur’s kaleidoscope of fairy tale palaces, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls carry the flavour of heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry. You will get to experience all of this once you are there.

In the evening post your hotel check in, you will step out for a private cruise on a small boat and drift along the waters of Lake Pichola that provides one of the best panoramas of the illustrious cityscape. The lake is almost two and a half miles long and over one and a half miles wide. In the backdrop, you will see turreted balconies, ornate palaces, and majestical Aravali hills.
You can choose to have dinner in one of the lakeside restaurants and return to the hotel.

(Overnight in Udaipur)

After breakfast, you would start the day by visiting the city palace.

The City Palace was constructed in the 16th century and is an amalgamation of various residences. The main façade is imposing and impressive as it stretches over 800 feet in length and 100 feet in height. The structure symbolizes the fascinating architecture amid the majestic landscape.

The walls of the City Palace are immaculate and stunning. Cupolas decorate the ramparts and add to the festive, elegant ambiance. Latticed windows encircle the outer rooms that would be otherwise visible from the lake. Here, you would also visit the Museum of Folk Arts, Vintage Car Museum, followed by the Crystal Art Gallery. 

After City palace tour, the car would take you to Saheliyon Ki Bari, a garden famous for its lush green lawns, marble art, and fountains. Located on the banks of Lake Fateh Sagar, this is a respite from the usual lands of Rajasthan. Post lunch rest at your hotel or stroll around the city streets.

The evening would be spent attending a cultural show at Bagore hi haveli with dinner at lakeside fine dining restaurant.

(Overnight in Udaipur)

After breakfast, your private transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight to Delhi.