Departures mid-September – May
Live like a King and a Queen while experiencing the trip of a lifetime! India’s Golden Triangle enthralls you with its amazing cultural sites as you travel in luxury. Diversity makes this trip unique because this area is home to a variety of cultures and religions. On this tour, we will sample these differences from Delhi, the capital to romantic Jaipur, with its colorful forts and palaces. The Taj Mahal never fails to mesmerize! You will be staying at the Oberoi hotels, one of the best reviewed hotels in the world. Luxury Golden Triangle is your chance to see iconic places with royal amenities!
Photos courtesy of Oberoi Hotels
ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
On arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative at International Airport and privately driven to your hotel in Delhi. (Rooms will be available from 1400 hrs)
Delhi is capital city of modern India. New Delhi is a well laid-out main metropolitan area built by the British when they moved their capital here from Calcutta in 1911. It blends internationalism and tradition, with many interesting museums and art galleries here. Overnight in the Hotel
The Oberoi Gurgaon (Premier room)
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast, we will head out to explore “Old Delhi” with its narrow dirt roads, its myriad people and inexpensive and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Driving past the Red Fort (we will visit the more elaborate Red Fort in Agra). Red Fort, we trade our motor vehicles for bicycle rickshaws, which will take us into the heart of Chandini Chowk (the silver square – so named because of the silver merchants). Negotiating alleyways, which seemingly get narrower and narrower we end up at the Jama Masjid, the largest Muslim mosque in India.
Later we will visit the President’s palace and India Gate in the Lutyens’ Imperial City and Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb that pay homage to the mighty Afghan & Mughal Empires. Overnight in the Hotel
The Oberoi-Premier room
Day 03: Delhi-Jaipur
(By surface approx 265 Kms/6 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Jaipur.
Jaipur is popularly known as Pink City. With its rich & colorful past, resplendent with tales of valour & bravery, it is now one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city was founded in the year 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber.
Rest of the day is free. You may want to explore the old markets for which Jaipur is world famous. Overnight in the Hotel
The Oberoi Raj Vilas (Premier room)
Day 04: Jaipur
After breakfast proceed for excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort. En route, make a photo stop at the palace of winds the Hawa Mahal. A 5 stored building with 25cm thick facade from the 18 century having 953 windows and niches so that ladies of royal family could see the procession and events in the city without being visible to the people.
Proceed to the Amber City Fort situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037.
Enjoy an Elephant ride to the top of the Palace fort.
Return to Jaipur. Afternoon enjoy the visit of the “Pink City” of Jaipur. The City Palace occupies the center of Jaipur. It now houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armory, manuscripts, paintings etc.
Also visit Jantar Mantar (1728-34) by king astrologer Jai Singh II. The instruments are built of stone with marble facing on the important plains for measuring the harmony of the heavens. Each instrument serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading. The Oberoi Raj Vilas-Premier room
Overnight in the Hotel The Oberoi Raj Vilas-Premier room
Day 05: Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra
(By surface approx 235 Kms/05 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Agra. En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri. 40 km (1 hour) after Agra, lies the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. Akbar built the city to celebrate the birth of an heir (the future Emperor Jehangir). After 16 years, there was not enough water to support the population, so the capital was moved back to the Red Fort in Agra. The dryness that plagued Akbar and forced him to abandon his dream city is what has perfectly preserved this moment of Mughal history and exquisite memorial to the genius of Akbar for our admiration today.
After sightseeing proceed to Agra. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel
The Oberoi Amar Vilas (Premier room)
Day 06: Agra
Early morning sunrise sightseeing of Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal is best experienced at sunrise when the light reflects off the marble to give it a magnificent hue. The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan over a period of 17 years from 1632, in memory of his beloved late wife Mumtaz Mahal. A world Heritage site, it is one of the wonders of the modern world and you will be enthralled with its ethereal beauty.
NOTE: Taj remains closed on Fridays.
After breakfast visit Agra fort. Agra Fort is another dimension to the city that attracts tourists in hordes. Built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence. Many of the palaces inside the fort were later added by next generations of Mughal Emperors like Jahangir and Shahjahan.
Late in the afternoon visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb, one of the Mughal mausoleums in Agra. Along with the main building, the structure consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628 represents a transition between the first phase of monumental Mughal architecture which was primarily built from red sandstone with marble decorations, as in Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra – to its second phase, which was white marble and pietra dura inlay, that can be seen in the Tāj Mahal. Overnight in the Hotel The Oberoi Amar Vilas-Premier room
Day 07: Agra-Delhi
(By surface approx. 220 Kms/04- Hrs)
After leisurely breakfast drive to Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and check in to the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel
The Oberoi Gurgaon (Premier room)
Day 08: Depart Delhi
After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel and driven to the airport for your flight onward or homebound.
