1

Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, we visit Delhi, which is the capital city of India and has served as the capital city to many ruling dynasties of India. Delhi is symbolized as a chaotic embroidery of primitive establishments, Mughal tombs, dusty bazaars and colonial architecture.

Today, we shall visit Old Delhi to witness the grandeur of the Mughal Empire, the majestic Red Fort which served as the capital and center of operations for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for two centuries. This majestic monument is now used as a platform by the Prime minister of India to address the people of the Republic on the eve of the Independence Day.

Later, you can enjoy a rickshaw ride through the intricate alleys of Chandni Chowk. After a joyful ride, we stop at Jama Masjid, which is the oldest and one of Asia’s largest mosques. It was built by Shah Jahan in the year 1656.

We complete this tour by visiting the India Gate in colonial Delhi. This monument was built to commemorate the death of 70,000 soldiers who were killed during World War 1. This splendid monument was designed by Edwin Luyten. An immortal flame burns throughout the day and night as a mark of remembrance.  In the close vicinity of the India Gate lies the Parliament House which is a circular colonnade building housing offices of various ministries and a well-stocked library.

This imperial style architectural monument comprises of an open-air verandah and 144 columns. It is indeed a sight to behold. Next to the Parliament House is the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residential estate of the President of India. This magnificent monument cannot be compared to any other monument in terms of its size, immensity and magnificence. Rashtrapati Bhawan houses 4 storeys and 340 rooms. Return to hotel for an overnight stay.  (Red Fort is closed on Monday)

2

After breakfast at the hotel, we shall start our tour of New Delhi. Our first stop will be at The Lotus Temple, also known as the Bahai House of Worship or Bahai Mashriqul-Adhkar Temple. It is one of the best architectural marvels in the county of modern times. The white marble structure is also called the Taj Mahal of the 20th century but it is so much more than just a splendid piece of architecture. Then, we move ahead to visit Qutub Minar, the tallest building of the country. This 73-meter-high ancient Persian architecture style tower was built in 1193 AD by Qutub Ud Din Aibak. The tower also houses the first mosque of the country. Later, we shall visit the Humayun’s Tomb, which was the first garden tomb of Indian subcontinent. The tomb of Humayun was built by his widow, Biga Begum (Hajji Begum) in 1569-70, 14 years after his death, at a cost of 1.5 million rupees. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

3

In the morning, we leave for Jaipur. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel. Founded by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1727, Jaipur is a magnificent planned city and is also known as the “Pink City”. In the afternoon, we set out to visit the City Palace, the former royal residence (part of it is still occupied by Royal family and is not accessible to public). Its style differs from conventional Rajput fort palaces in that it is built with a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. We follow up with a visit to Jantar Mantar, an observatory which is still equipped with immense brick and mortar instruments. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

4

We start with a morning excursion to the Amer Fort. The Amer Fort is built with red sandstone and white marble which makes it a stunning sight. The Maotha Lake, located in the front of the fort adds to the attraction. The mirrors in the fort reflect the lake water, thereby creating a wonderful sight. Although the outer appearance of the fort is rough and craggy, the interior presents a completely different picture with numerous beautiful and intricate carvings. The carvings are a blend of both Rajput and Muslim schools of art. The whole fort consists of a wide range of exquisite paintings of various hunting and adventure scenes of the Rajput rulers. The fort also has remnants of its rich past and the oldest of ruins date back to the 16th century. The fort can be divided into four segments and there are two ways of reaching – one, by climbing the daunting flight of steps and the other, by riding on an elephant back through the expansive passageway. The intriguing Jaleb Chowk is the central courtyard and in the days of yore, the victorious royal armed forces were received and greeted here and presented their war booty to the general public.
We then return to the hotel. Afternoon is free for shopping or to explore Jaipur on your own. The car and driver will remain at your disposal for the afternoon. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

5

We start with a morning excursion to the Amer Fort. The Amer Fort is built with red sandstone and white marble which makes it a stunning sight. The Maotha Lake, located in the front of the fort adds to the attraction. The mirrors in the fort reflect the lake water, thereby creating a wonderful sight. Although the outer appearance of the fort is rough and craggy, the interior presents a completely different picture with numerous beautiful and intricate carvings. The carvings are a blend of both Rajput and Muslim schools of art. The whole fort consists of a wide range of exquisite paintings of various hunting and adventure scenes of the Rajput rulers. The fort also has remnants of its rich past and the oldest of ruins date back to the 16th century. The fort can be divided into four segments and there are two ways of reaching – one, by climbing the daunting flight of steps and the other, by riding on an elephant back through the expansive passageway. The intriguing Jaleb Chowk is the central courtyard and in the days of yore, the victorious royal armed forces were received and greeted here and presented their war booty to the general public.
We then return to the hotel. Afternoon is free for shopping or to explore Jaipur on your own. The car and driver will remain at your disposal for the afternoon. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

6

Ranthambore National Park is the biggest tiger reserve in Rajasthan. It offers a breath– taking experience to visitors as it is located on the banks of Chambal and Banās Rivers. The National Park is home to a large variety of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. The biggest attraction of this park is the Royal Bengal tiger for which thousands of wild life enthusiasts come here. The other animals in the park include wild boar, sambar, jackal, cheetal deer, leopard, sloth bear and hyena among others. Besides animals, there are forts and ancient temples inside the park. The mornings and evenings are dedicated for jungle safaris to encounter big cat besides enjoying the flora and fauna of the park. Overnight stay in Ranthambore.

7

Early morning, we go for another jungle safari in the park to take along with you unforgettable memories back home. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then leave for Agra.En-route, we visit Fatehpur Sikri, undoubtedly the best-preserved Mughal Palace city of all. Built by Akbar the Great around 1570, Fatehpur Sikri has the highest quality of craftsmanship. The emperor constructed the city only to abandon it some fourteen years later when it is said that the water system failed. We then proceed to Agra and check-in to the hotel for an overnight stay.

8

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a city tour of Agra which was once the capital of Mughal India and the center of great power and glory. Visit one of the eight wonders of the world – the “Taj Mahal”, the monument of love immortalized in marble, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his Queen Mumtaj. While the arch-and-dome profile of clean white marble has become iconic, other beauty lies in the Taj Mahal’s painstaking details: inlaid semi-precious stones and carvings of Koranic verses in calligraphy, creating an enchanting interior. We then visit the Agra Fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar. The construction of Agra fort commenced in the 1565 and got completed in 1571. Built with red sandstone, the Agra Fort is a mixture of the Islamic and Hindu styles of architecture.

Later, we transfer to the Delhi airport to catch our onward flight. (Taj Mahal is closed on Friday).