Day 1 Delhi
On arrival at Delhi check in to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02 Delhi
Morning after breakfast, city tour of Old Delhi. You begin your tour of Old Delhi previously called Shahjehanabad, the 300 year old walled city built by Shah Jehan as his capital. Begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi the Father of the nation was cremated in 1948. Thereafter you proceed to the magnificent Red Fort (closed on Mondays) built of red sandstone dating from the very peak of the Mughal power. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Feroz Shah Kotla, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century with the 13 metre high Ashoka Pillar of 3rd BC.
In afternoon, city tour to New Delhi.
New Delhi was the capital built during the British Raj & designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan(the Presidential Palace) and the Secretariat buildings -the centre of Government activity, down the impressive Rajpath(the main avenue), to the World War-I memorial arch, India Gate, the High Court Building and the Old Fort. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high and the ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam(Light of Islam) Mosque. See Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi
Day 03 Delhi – Jaipur
After breakfast proceed to Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur, transfer to the hotel. Evening is for leisure. Overnight at the Hotel in Jaipur
Day 04 Jaipur
After breakfast proceed for Half day excursion of Amber fort and climb the fortress ramparts on an elephant back.
AMBER is just 7 miles north of Jaipur. Amber is a honey-coloured fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills. Enjoy an elephant ride along the fortress ramparts while an “ektara” musician accompanies you along the way. The sombre exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments which open on to striking views of the gorge. Walk into the Sheesh Mahal and admire the amazing interior décor thought of over 200 years ago. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art panels of alabaster with fine inlay work.
Afternoon, half day city tour of Jaipur.
JAIPUR – Jaipur is the city, which has the “tones of an autumn sunset. City tour includes Hawa Mahal, an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from behind which the royal Zanana, could view the world outside.Jai Singh’s observatory built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who,Besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. This is anArchitectural feat. Then we move on to City Palace a museum exhibiting fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armoury.Overnight stay at Hotel
Day 5 Jaipur – Agra
After breakfast transfer to Agra enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri 40 kms west of Agra and is the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. An epic poem in red sandstone, it was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and deserted 14 years later due to lack of water. Legend has it that Akbar who was without a male heir, made a pilgrimage to this spot to visit the Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The saint predicted the birth of a male heir and in gratitude, after his son Jehangir was born; he built Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate the birth. The Diwan-e- Khas, Hall of Private Audiences has a unique interior design. The Diwan-e-Am or Hall of Public Audience is an open courtyard surrounded by cloisters and adjoining it is the Pachisi courtyard arranged like a gigantic game board, where the Emperor played chess. Overnight stay at Hotel in Agra.
Day 6 Agra
After Breakfast, Half day City tour of Agra. On entering the gateway which is remarkable in itself, you get your first glimpse of the Taj Mahal, (closed to visitors on Fridays.) the most extravagant monument ever built for love. On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, Mughul Emperor Shah Jehan built her this memorial over which 20,000 men laboured for 22 years to create a masterpiece in white marble inlaid with laid out along the classical Mughal charbagh lines. This garden is separated by a long watercourse, which reflects the monument in perfect symmetry.A short drive away is the Agra Fort where Shah Jehan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The most impressive part of the Fort are the Dewan-e-Am, Hall of Public Audience where the Emperor met officials and listened to petitioners, and the Dewan-e-Khas Hall of Private Audience where he received foreign dignitaries. The Peacock throne (now in Iran) was in this fort, before being moved to Delhi by Emperor Aurangzeb. Time permitting, visit the exquisite tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah, the father of Queen Nur Jehan. This was the first Mughal structure entirely built in marble with extensive use of pietradura, the style of inlay work on marble.Afternoon transfer to Delhi & proceed to the International airport for onward destination.
**Tour Ends**