Romantic Taj

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi (-,-,D) 

On arrival at New Delhi International Airport, warm welcome with fresh flower garlands and meet & assist with company representative or tour guide and transfer to the hotel. On arrival check-in at the hotel. (Standard check-in time in 1400hrs.) 

Mystery, magic, mayhem. Welcome to Delhi, City of Djinns, and 25 million people. Like an eastern Rome, India’s capital is littered with the relics of lost empires. A succession of armies stormed across the Indo-Gangetic plain and imprinted their identity onto the vanquished city, before vanishing into rubble and ruin like the conquerors who preceded them. Modern Delhi is a chaotic tapestry of medieval fortifications, Mughal mausoleums, dusty bazaars, colonial-era town planning, and mega malls.

Afternoon proceed for Old Delhi sightseeing. 

First stop would be Raj Ghat, this peaceful, very well maintained park contains a simple black-marble platform marking the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.

Next you will be driven to Old Delhi market, just before entering the market you will embark on a ‘Rickshaw’ to steer through tiny lanes of Chandni Chowk.  Ride past the majestic Red Fort & through the main Chandni Chowk street straight to Khari Baoli; Asia’s biggest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, herbs, nuts & food products like rice, tea etc. Hop on to your rickshaws and pass through the tiny lanes of Kinaari Bazaar; lane for Indian attire accessories like borders etc, Dariba Kalan; lane for Silver market. Hop off and bid bye to your Rickshaw Puller at Jama Masjid; A beautiful pocket of calm at the heart of Old Delhi's mayhem, the capital's largest mosque is built on a 10m elevation. It can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people. 

Dinner at Heritage Haveli: Enjoy a scrumptious meal in this Heritage Haveli. On weekends, the haveli hosts Classical Dance during the dinner time. (On request, classical dance can be arranged on other days for groups as well)

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi (B,-,-) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing of New Delhi

Humayun's Tomb: The most perfectly proportioned and captivating of Delhi’s mausoleums, Humayun’s tomb seems to float above the gardens that surround it. This monument strongly influenced the Taj Mahal. Lotus Temple (Photography Stop): Designed by Iranian-Canadian architect Fariburz Sahba in 1986. Styled after a lotus flower, with 27 immaculate white-marble petals, the temple was created to bring diverse faiths together. (Closed on Monday)

Sikh Temple Bangla Sahib: Topped by golden domes, this handsome white-marble Gurdwara was constructed at the site where the eighth Sikh guru, Harkrishan Dev, stayed before his death in 1664. Also tour the mega kitchen of this Temple where more than 15000 people are served daily. Visit India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan & Parliament Street: A drive past Lutyen Delhi’s major monuments, a symbol of the colonial development in the capital.  (Note: This is a high security area & access to roads are many a times restricted. Hence the panoramic ride is subject to all security clearances)

Qutub Minar: is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. Kashmiri Co-operative, enjoy a Kashmiri Tea ‘Kahwa’ here when you witness the artisians presenting their local arts & products.

Overnight at the hotel.

Optional Dinner

Dinner at Indian Accent: Indian Accent showcases inventive Indian cuisine by complementing the flavours and traditions of India with global ingredients and techniques.Indian Accent is time and gain voted the best restaurant of India.

Day 03 : Delhi – Varanasi (B,-,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi.

Suggested Flight:
Indigo – 6E | 2361    Delhi – Varanasi    10:55 – 12:15 Hrs.
Indigo – 6E | 2361    Delhi – Varanasi    12:50 – 14:10 Hrs.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

Brace yourself. You're about to enter one of the most blindingly colourful, unrelentingly chaotic and unapologetically indiscreet places on earth. Varanasi takes no prisoners. But if you're ready for it, this may just turn out to be your favourite stop of all. This is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities and is regarded as one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. Pilgrims come to the ghats lining the River Ganges here to wash away a lifetime of sins in the sacred waters or to cremate their loved ones. It's a particularly auspicious place to die, since expiring here offers moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death), making Varanasi the beating heart of the Hindu universe.

Proceed for evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Aarti ceremony at the Ganges. Start on an e-rickshaw ride which will navigate you through the chaotic street until you reach the pedestrian zone. Walk among the frenzy of locals reaching the famous Dhashashwamedh Ghat. 

Witness the evening aarti ritual, a group of young saints dressed up with silky saffron and white robes conduct this ceremony. Each pandit or saint takes up a specific spot in the Ghat and start the ritual by offering flowers to the river. The ritual includes many oil lamps like snake hood lamp which are waved in a synced motion. Conch shells are blown during the ceremony too. Yak tail fans and peacock feather fans are also waved during the ceremony. The priests end the ceremony by pouring a bowl of water into the river.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 : Varanasi (B,-,D)

Early morning Ganges boat ride, pass through many Ghats and experience the Ganges life. Each Ghat comes with its purpose, could be religious, for yoga, for cremation, for laundry or just for fun. A walk in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor brings you closer to the locals and their beliefs.  

Return to your vehicle and drive past Banaras Hindu University, long regarded as a centre of learning, Varanasi’s tradition of top-quality education continues today at Benares Hindu University, established in 1916.
The Bharat Mata Temple, built in 1918, has an unusual marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent inside.

Return to hotel for breakfast. Proceed for Sarnath Tour.

Sarnath tour brings you to, Dhamekh Stupa & Monastery Ruins: Set in a peaceful park of monastery ruins is the impressive 34m Dhamekh Stupa, which marks the spot where the Buddha preached his first sermon. Archeological Museum, This fully modernised, 100-year-old sandstone museum houses wonderfully displayed ancient treasures such as the very well preserved 3rd-century BC lion capital from the Ashoka Pillar, which has been adopted as India’s national emblem. Visit the temple here in Sarnath.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 05 : Varanasi – Agra (via Delhi) (B,-,D) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi.

Suggested Flight:
Indigo – 6E | 6362    Varanasi – Delhi    10:35 – 11:55 Hrs.
Air India AI 405    Varanasi – Delhi    12:50 – 14:30 Hrs.

On arrival at Airport, drive to Agra (240 kms, 4-5 Hrs.). On arrival check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Agra has been immortalized as the City of the Taj. Yet, it doesn’t take much for the roving eye to discover that there’s more to Agra than just the fabled Taj Mahal. The city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery….. A freeze-frame from a resplendent era that’s long since gone by.

Day 06 : Agra (B,-,D) 

Early morning visit Taj Mahal a UNESCO world heritage site constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal that has left tourist spellbound by its beauty for years. Return to the hotel for your breakfast.

Itmad-ud-daula: Built entirely in white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones, this mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna exhibits a strong Persian influence. 
Agra Fort: Built by Akbar in 1565 A.D, this Fort is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the Fort are a number of exquisite buildings, including Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas etc. Visit Marble Workshop; local artisans showcase their skill of Marble Inlay work in these workshops. The artisans in Agra are believed to be the descendants of the artists who were actual workers of Taj Mahal.

Enjoy an evening at the ‘Mohabbat the Taj’s show. Watch this popular show: a retelling of the Taj Mahal’s story. Be swept up by the dance, music, and songs as you learn how the love between Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz inspired the Taj.

Multi-lingual show headsets are provided. Enjoy a musical extravaganza that tells the story of the Taj Mahal Trace the love story of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal Be swept up by colourful dance, songs, music, and sets, including a replica Taj.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 : Agra – Jaipur (via Abhaneri) (B,-,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Jaipur (240 kms, 4-5 Hrs.), en-route visit Abhaneri.

Chand Baori (stepwell): Built back in the eighth century, it is one of the deepest and largest step wells in India. The phenomenal structure is 19.5 meters in depth and features 1000 narrow steps, spanning 13 storeys. Harshat Mata Temple: As per the legends, the goddess is always cheerful and showers the people with blessings of joy and happiness.

Drive to Jaipur. On arrival at check-in at the hotel.

Optional Suggested Flight: (Subject to availability / operational status)

Indigo – 6E | 7724    Agra – Jaipur    12:55 – 13:50 Hrs.

Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. Renowned globally for its coloured gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. Jaipur traces back its origins to 1727 when it was established by Jai Singh II, the Raja of Amber. He shifted his capital from Amber to the new city because of the rapidly-growing population and an increasing water scarcity. Noted architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya used the established principles of Vastu Shastra to build the city.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 : Jaipur (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for Jaipur sightseeing.

Amber Fort. Jeep ride uphill & downhill at the fort. Nostalgic Amber Fort, near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is one of the most well-known and most-visited forts in India. During downhill, visit a very heritage structure – Panna-Meena ka kund, which is a square-shaped stepwell, with adjoining stairs on all four sides and a room on the northern wall.

We will make our way back to the city, en-route we will stop at Jal Mahal, Possibly the most serene sight amidst the chaos of Jaipur is the beautiful Jal Mahal Jaipur, the Water Palace. Short stops at the Jewel & Carpet Workshops in Jaipur are must to witness how the local artisans create marvels from raw materials. Jantar Mantar, a large grassy enclosure containing eighteen huge stone astronomical measuring devices constructed between 1728 and 1734. City Palace, originally built by Jai Singh in the 1720s and having lost none of its original pomp and splendour. Before you start exploring the local markets, stop for photography at the one world’s most famous façade Hawa Mahal.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 09 : Jaipur – Delhi (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi.

Suggested Flight:
Indigo – 6E 2165    Jaipur  – Delhi    07:50 – 8:45 Hrs.
Air India Express IX 769    Jaipur  –  Delhi    12:20 – 13:25 Hrs.

On arrival check-in and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 : Departure (B,-,-)    

Breakfast at the hotel (subject to time availability). Transfer to airport as per your flight timings.