6 Days Indian Heritage Tour with Taj Mahal Sunrise from Delhi

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Stop At: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, Delhi 110037, India
Arrive Delhi. On arrival, check in at your hotel. The capital of India was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times, and virtually carries in its bosom the history of 7 cities. The present New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens, and its main architect was Herbert Baker. In 1911 the capital of the British Raj was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. Today, it is the seat of power of the country, and a major gateway to the country for tourists. Visit Old Delhi and the Raj Ghat, which is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. This is Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble, inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. Red Fort (closed on Monday's), the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone, is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer at one time. In New Delhi, visit Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th Century. An early example of Mughal architecture, and considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutab Minar, the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high, with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Drive Pass) once the Viceroy’s residence and now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles - the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chhattris “Hindu” and the graceful colonnades are very “British”. It has 340 rooms. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, glows the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Delhi.

Day 2: Delhi – Agra

Stop At: Taj Mahal, Agra 282001 India
Today after breakfast, drive to Agra. On arrival check in at your hotel. A medieval city on the banks of the Yamuna River, it was founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. Agra achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings. Most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra Fort was originally a brick fort and the Chauhan Rajputs held it. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the second capital. He died in the fort in 1517 and his son, Ibrahim Lodi, held it for nine years until he was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526. He built several palaces, wells and a mosque in the fort during his period. World famous monument The Taj Mahal, Overlooking the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is a classic example of Mughul architecture, with the Taj itself built as a mausoleum at the northern end of an extensive formal walled garden designed in the charbagh style and structured on the Islamic theme of ‘paradise’. The whole site was built by Shah Jahan between ad 1632 and 1653 as the final resting place of his favourite wife Arjumand Bano Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal) who died in AD 1631 shortly after giving birth to their fourteenth child. Upon his death in AD 1666, Shah Jahan was buried alongside his wife in the Taj. (Closed on Fridays). Stay overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Agra.

Day 3: Agra – Jaipur

Stop At: Fatehpur Sikri India
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur. En route visit Fatehpur Sikri, a beautiful and deserted medieval city, built by Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. It was mysteriously abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city built at the height of the empire’s splendor. See Darbar-e-Aam, Palaces, Panch Mahal Taansen Seat & great Sufi Sent doom etc. On arrival check in at hotel.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 4: Jaipur

Stop At: Hawa Mahal - Palace of Wind, Hawa Mahal Tripolia Bazaar Road Badi Choupad, Jaipur 302002 India
Today after breakfast, enjoy the sightseeing of Jaipur .Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh - II, the ruler of Amber, Jaipur was the first planned city in India.This town is also referred as Pink city for the colour of buildings in its wonderful old city. The city was painted pink to honour the visit of Prince Albert of England in 1882. After Brekfast Excursion 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 until 1037. Ride the colourfully painted elephants up the hill, admire the massive gateways, courts, stairways, pillared pavilions and palaces the recall the glory and wealth of Amber’s association with the Mughals. Visit the City Palace (still houses the erstwhile Royal family); Jantar Mantar – the Royal Observatory and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, with 1043 windows) - built for the royal ladies to watch the activities on the market street below without being observed themselves. Overnight stay in hotel.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 5: Jaipur – Mandawa

Stop At: Mandawa Haveli, Sansarchandra Rd, Jalupura, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
Morning after breakfast, checkout from the hotel & drive to Mandawa. Upon arrival check in at hotel.Late afternoon you shall visit a Haveli, or mansion that has many stunning frescoes. The medieval fort of Mandawa gradually rises on the horizon much like a mirage. The painted arched gateway is adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows leading into to the bazaar.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Mandawa .

Day 6: Mandawa - Delhi

Stop At: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, Delhi 110037, India
Today after breakfast, drive back to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.