Per Person on twin sharing basis
One of the world’s great civilizations, Indian culture can be traced back nearly 6,000 years. There is no more fascinating travel destination on Earth. India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, colourful people, rich cultures, festivities, etc. This Tailor-Made Tour will give you an intimate glimpse of North India’s beauty…. Along with scheduled workshops, experience the amazing Palaces, temples and monuments of India and explore some of the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites and enjoy the colour of festival (Holi) at Jaipur.
Day 01 : 16th March’ 2018 : Arrive Delhi ( Fligth TBA)
Arrive at Delhi International Airport. Please clear immigration & visa formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the arrival lounge through the green channel if you do not have goods to be declared to customs. Our Executive will be waiting with the placard in your name. Thereafter you will be assisted with a transfer to the hotel. Stay for the next two nights at the hotel in Delhi. (No meals).
Day 02: 17th March’ 2019:
Delhi Sightseeing After breakfast proceed for a guided sightseeing tour at Old & New Delhi. Begin with Old Delhi with a drive past the renowned 17th-century landmark Lal Qila; the Red Fort Palace to reach Jama Masjid. Visit Jama Masjid; the largest mosque in India built in red sandstone with extensive use of marble, with relics of the Prophet and Holy Quran enshrined here. Between the mosque and Chandni Chowk is a narrow shop-lined street along which you will be transported by cycle rickshaws on your most photogenic journey of the tour. Chandni Chowk was Shahjahanabad’s Main Street in 1650, facing the majestic Red Fort, which originally had a central canal running down its full length, and when moonlight reflected off the water it got the name Chandni Chowk or ‘Avenue of Moonlight’. The canals have long since gone and it is now a chaotically bustling area, typical of real India, containing a mix of stalls, shops, food outlets and temples. The locals go shopping here like nowhere else. Next visit The Gandhi Memorial; the resting place of the father of the nation. In the afternoon drive past New Delhi, built in a typically British colonial style and designed by Lutyens with tree-lined avenues, colonial bungalows. The drive will include photo opportunities at some of the following attractions - the exterior the Parliament House, the War Memorial Arch (India Gate) and the Vice Regal Palace, now the official residence of the President of India in New Delhi. Continue your sightseeing with the visit to Humayun’s Tomb; built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Conclude your day with a visit to Qutub Minar; built at a height of 72.5m, and is one of the most important landmarks of Delhi, with calligraphically decorated interiors and also inscriptions of verses of the Holy Quran. Stay overnight in Delhi. (B)
Day 03: 18th March’ 2019: Delhi – Agra ( approx. 4.5 hrs drive)
After breakfast travel to Agra, the city that flourished under the patronage of Mughals who ruled India for more than 300 years and attracted artisans from many countries to built amazing monuments including the one and only Taj Mahal. Here layers of history are peeled away to reveal an amazing tapestry of life – of wars waged, of great architectural magnificence and above all a testimony of the undying love of a king for his queen. Start your sightseeing tour with Agra Fort; built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and by three Mughal Emperors starting from the Akbar the great in 1565 AD, which is master piece of design and construction which was the hallmark of the Mughal period, this sprawling fort stretches 2.5 km along the banks of the Yamuna River, Within the fort, are a number of exquisite building including the Moti Masjid Jahangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal,1 Diwane-E-Khas Musamman Burj, where emperor Shahjahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a prisoner. Evening visit Mehtab Bagh garden, the last of eleven Mughal-built gardens along the Yamuna opposite the Taj and the Agra Fort, is believed to be built by First Mughal Emperor, Babur. Legend is that Shahjahan chose this very place to make his own tomb, another identical Taj Mahal albeit in black marble. Mehtab Bagh, literally meaning moonlit Garden, laid in traditional Charbagh style, is an ideal place to view Taj Mahal in all its grandeur. Although in ruins now, it once adorned a large octagonal pond on the southern periphery which reflected the image of the Mausoleum, It had red sandstone laid pathways, impressive Baradari’s and dome towers at the four corners, apart from a wall protecting it. It gives you a mesmerizing view of Taj Mahal from across the river. Stay overnight in Agra. (B)
Day 04: 19th March’ 2019: Agra – Jaipur (Approx. 05hrs drive)
Early morning visit Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) - the epitome of love, stands on the banks of the river Yamuna built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. The Taj attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. To experience the beauty of this architectural marvel, it needs to be viewed at different times of the day and year. The white marble building changes its hue with the variations in the daylight. Made entirely of white marble and decorated with exquisite pietra dura (stone inlay) work, different types of precious and semi-precious stones were used in the intricate inlay work done on the interiors. This magnificent monument is built around a Charbagh or ’four garden’ plan, split by watercourses— reflects the influence of Persian architectural style. After the sightseeing return to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoy your breakfast at a leisurely pace. Later check out from the Hotel and drive to Jaipur – a heaven for migratory and resident birds. Visit Fatehpur Sikri enroute - an outstanding example of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1571 Akbar constructed Fatehpur (Victory) Sikri city exactly as we see it today, as the new capital of the Mughal Empire replacing the perfectly viable Agra just 37 km away, which was left almost deserted. But after only fifteen years, Fatehpur itself was abandoned and left as an evocative ghost-town because they say of a lack of water! The red sandstone buildings consist of palaces, courtyards, a life-size chess board, tombs and mosques. Akbar was most interested in his food and it was during his regime that Mughal food was perfected. Visit the Diwan-e-Khas (Private Audience Hall) with its remarkable central pillar. Also unmissable is Panch Mahal, the five storied structure used as the viewing station for the harem. Arrive Jaipur and check in at the hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel in Jaipur. (B)
Day 05: 20th March’ 2019:
Jaipur After breakfast enjoy visit to Amber Fort by Jeep, the ancient capital of Rajasthan and the majestic palace complex to witness a unique system of air-conditioning of 17th century. A beautiful complex of Palaces, halls, pavilions, garden and temples built by Raja Mansingh, Raja Jaisingh and Sawai Jaisingh over a period of about two centuries, it still stands in its magnificent state. The red sandstone and white Marble palace has some very interesting apartments- Diwan-I-Am, Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir, Man Singh Palace and Shila Devi Temple. Afternoon enjoy city tour of Jaipur visit City Palace Museum; boasts to have some of the priceless handwritten Hindu scriptures of the ancient past, miniature delicate paintings, preserved painted ceilings and the elephant saddles (haudas),and is registered in the Guinness Book of Records to contain the biggest silver objects in the world. Then visit Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace); built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh at a time when women of the royal family had to observe strict purdah, it is believed that this palace was built for them to take pleasure in the processions and various activities taking place in the streets below without showing themselves and thus enjoying a sense of freedom, Jantar Mantar (Observatory); one of the famed observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh is a complex of astronomical instruments, chiselled out of stone which provides fairly accurate information to this day. Evening you will be transferred to a local Rajput home to learn authentic Indian cooking with home cooked dinner. Have you wondered why cooking from recipes book does not taste the same? Chefs do not pass on their secrets. But, here in these cookery classes you get to learn the inner secrets of easy Indian dishes. The dishes you learn will be a mix of quick and easy dishes that can be enjoyed as a mid-week supper, slow cooked dishes and restaurant quality Indian favourites’ that you can impress friends and family with. You will learn how to mix Indian Spices and the 5 C's that are essential to Indian cuisine: Cloves, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Coriander and Cumin. Enjoy the fruit of your labour in the form of the Dinner. After dinner enjoy an interesting session of Heena Painting (a Tattooing art with green herbs over legs and palms) a must do activities for women’s. For over five thousand years, henna has served as a symbol of good luck, health and sensuality in the Indian sub-continent. The plant has been associated with positive vibes and provides a link to an ancient age full of good and bad spirits, Generations of women have used a paste made primarily of dried ground henna leaves to cover their hands and feet with designs ranging from simple blobs to intricate geometric patterns designed to ward off evil, promote fertility and attract good energy. Meanwhile women’s are busy with Henna men will learn the traditional Rajasthani Turban tying, there are many variations of the turbans in Rajasthan, and it is said that the style of the turban changes with every 15 km you travel. In some areas, especially in Rajasthan the turban's size may indicate the position of the person in society. 'Royalty' in different parts of India have distinctly different styles of turbans, as do the 'peasants', who often just wear a towel wound around the head. In fact there are about 1,000 different styles and types of turbans in Rajasthan, each denoting the class, caste and region of the wearer. Turbans come in all shapes, sizes and colours; and there are specific turbans for specific occasions as well. Post an incredible evening drive back to hotel in Jaipur. (B,D)
Day 06: 21st March’ 2019 :
Jaipur Enjoy your day with Colour’s for HAPPY HOLI! Pick up from the hotel and transfer to Narayan Niwas Palace hotel to enjoy the fun filled exhilarating celebration and be part of an ancient tradition. You are welcomed to a noble’s house in the erstwhile state of Jaipur and taken through the journey filled with live music, dance, drinks and mouth watering delicacies. Smear colours and splash water on each other, this Holi, with pichkaries(water guns) and water balloons in the company of the host, his friends and family. Enjoy the interesting traditions and customs of holi that have their own regional variances and may be you could learn how to prepare some local sweets with the lady of the house too.Return back to the hotel in the afternoon. Afternoon free to relax. Overnight stay at Hotel in Jaipur. (B, L)
Day 07: 22nd March’ 2019: Jaipur – Delhi (Flight TBA)
After breakfast transfer to Delhi airport to board your onward flight. (B) COST PER PERSON IN USD VALID FOR ABOVE SPECIFIED PERIOD (BASED ON MINIMUM OF 01/ 02 PAYING PAX) No. of Pax – 01 / 02 Pax Cost in USD / Deluxe Hotel 01 Paying Pax (Single Room) USD 1068 per person 02 Paying Pax (Double Room) USD 622 per person Supplement Cost for Monument Entrance Charges USD 81 per person Supplement Cost for English Speaking Guide during Sightseeing USD 158/- Net Hotels mentioned below or similar City 4* Deluxe Hotels / Room Category Nights Delhi Jaypee Siddharth/ Deluxe Room 02 Agra Crystal Sarovar / Deluxe Room 01 Jaipur Ramada / Deluxe Room 03 *Base category rooms at all the places. (Total = 06 Nights Stay)
6 Days & 5 Night
7 Days & 6 Night
7 Days & 6 Night