Overview
From a cultural, historical and architectural approach, there is perhaps no other country on this planet that can offer as much as India. From the enchanted monuments of Delhi to the Jaipur’s fascinating architectural phenomena to best historical sites of Agra and holy experience of Varanasi, this crusade can take you on a journey with life experiences.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 - Arrive Delhi
On day 1, you will be arriving at Delhi and after completing all the formalities for clearing immigration and customs, you will be greeted by Grand Travel Planner representative at the receiving area. You will be driven to your designated hotel for check-in and freshening up. Delhi is the capital city of India and it is a perfect representation of the blend of traditional culture together with the inventiveness of today’s world. As luck would have it, Delhi is located at a place which is close to most of the other popular tourist places. All the tourist places are reachable from this city and this makes it a very vital part of the Golden Triangle, the most popular route for tourists from all over the world. Delhi is the home to some of the most brilliant historical sites that shows the true history of Indian heritage and architecture. Ruled by the Mughals, Delhi has many monuments constructed by the Mughals or other rulers who came after them.
Day 02 - Delhi Exploration
After breakfast, you will begin your Delhi sightseeing tour. You will begin with New Delhi, where you will be visiting Qutub Minar which is a 72 meters high tower, which was built by Qutab-Ud-Din-Aibak and it would certainly take your breath away. Qutub Minar is regarded as the tallest minaret of Asia. Next, you will be seeing Iron Pillar, a 100 years old and 7.2 m high structure that has attracted the attention of archaeologists and other researchers due to its composition of materials and high resistance to erosion. Then you will see Humayun’s Tomb, resting place for Mughal Emperor, Humayun. Afterward, your tour would continue with a drive through Embassy area, the Government buildings and a visit to Old Delhi. Old Delhi is a walled part of Delhi, and it was established by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639. Until the end of Mughals era, it stayed the capital of the Mughals, and later it was renamed Old Delhi by the Britishers. Old Delhi has remarkable works of architecture, a lip-smacking selection of food, and a great historical significance. Here you will get to see Drive past Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk excursion via Rickshaw ride.
Day 03 - Delhi to Jaipur by Road
After a delicious breakfast, you will be driven to Jaipur by car and on your arrival there, you will be transferred to your designated hotel for check-in and some relaxing time. Jaipur is the capital city of the state of Rajasthan and is widely recognized as the Pink City as a major part of the historical city monuments are built with pink colored sandstone. The town is surrounded by hills and it has been built by Maharaja Jai Singh II with meticulous planning and preparation, and hence it was named Jaipur. Jaipur’s marketplaces sell embroidered leather footwear, lovely pottery, tie, and dye wraps and other interesting merchandises. Jaipur has played a crucial role in shaping the history, lifestyles, and architecture of Rajasthan.
Day 04 - Jaipur Sightseeing ContinuesJaipur tour
On day 4, after breakfast, you will be driven to visit Amer Fort, which used to be the capital of the Rajputs and is located about 11 km from Jaipur city. Built with red sandstone and marble on a high hill, this fort is the major tourist attraction in Jaipur. The Amer town was initially constructed by Meenas, and later it was reigned by Raja Man Singh I. Amer Fort is well-known for its creative style elements. With its large embankments and series of gateways and cobblestoned paths, the fort looks at Maota Lake, the chief source of water for the Amer Palace. While at Amer, you might get a chance to go up to the fort on an elephant ride, moving through the ancient main gate where renowned Maharajas of Jaipur used to enter during their times of ruling the town of Amer. Our guide will be there with you, telling you about the history of this architectural masterwork in all its glory with mirror-studded alcoves, incredible montages, and water-cooled swings that are still the source of delight for the present-day visitors as they used to be for the kings and their families who ruled this fort. In the evening, you will be free to explore the colorful local markets of Jaipur.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to a sightseeing tour of the Pink City where you would be visiting Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure built for women for the royal family with 593 stone screens overlooking the streets of the city. Your next stop would be at City Palace & Observatory, a perfect blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. Then you will also get an opportunity to visit Jantar Mantar, containing the instruments to read the movements of the stars and constellations in the sky, and afterward, you will be able to explore the local markets of Jaipur selling a variety of products representing the culture and heritage of the city.
Day 05 - Jaipur to /Abhaneri/Fatehpur Sikri to Agra by Road
On day 5, after you will be departing for Agra, and en-route you will be visiting Abhaneri Stepwell/Fatehpur Sikri, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and after 15 years, it was abandoned due to the dearth of water. It is also recognized as a ghost town and it has some very elegant buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Panch Mahal and other famous palaces.
On your arrival at Agra in the afternoon, you would be visiting Agra Fort. Agra Fort was constructed in the year 1573 under the rule of Akbar, one of the ultimate Mughal Emperors. It took over 4000 labors and eight years of hard work to complete the fort. The fort consists of several extraordinary structures such as Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Moti Masjid, Machchhi Bhawan and more. In the evening, you will be taken to visit Taj Mahal, the symbol of eternal love. Witnessing Taj Mahal at sunset will be a magical experience and it will give you an ultimate view. Built with white marble, Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was built by Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in order to honor the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Well-known for its artistic charm, this amazing structure with timeless grace is the result of an exceptional combination of passion and architectural enthusiasm..
Day 06 - Agra to Delhi by Road and From Delhi to Varanasi by air
After breakfast, you will be driven to Delhi, where you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Varanasi. On your arrival to Varanasi, you will be greeted by our representative, who will take you to your designated hotel. Varanasi is one of the holiest cities for Hindu devotees. It is a captivating city with an array of memorials, temples, and palaces. In addition, it is also a city of fairs, exhibitions, and festivals, rejoicing about 400 of them every year .
Day 07 - Varanasi Sightseeing
after breakfast at the hotel, you will be having a half-day sightseeing tour of the city, going to the Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Banaras Hindu University with an Art Gallery, and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. In the afternoon, you would be taken to visit Sarnath, located 5 miles out of Varanasi. It is one of the holiest Buddhist places in the world, where Lord Buddha spoke his first Sermon in 590 BC. While preaching, he unveiled the eightfold path that leads to the realization of inner peace, Enlightenment and Ultimate Nirvana. You will get a chance to witness the ruins of a once thriving Buddhist monastery, and then you would be visiting a fine Museum which has an exceptional collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the ruined site. In the evening, you would be reveling in the atmosphere of the Aarti Ceremony at the Ghats.
Day 08 - Flying from Varanasi to Delhi
in the early morning, you will be enjoying a boat excursion on the holy river of Ganges, having extraordinary experience while watching Ghats with people bathing and worshipping. In the evening, you would be leaving for Delhi by air and on your arrival in Delhi, you would be transferred to Airport to board your Onwards Flight.