Itinerary
Day 1Arrival Delhi
You will arrive at the Delhi Airport. Delhi is India’s national capital and the second largest metropolis after Mumbai. Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC. Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region.An overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 2Delhi
On your first day, you will explore the old and new city of Delhi. You’ll be mesmerized by the 100-feet, red-stone boundary walls of Red Fort built during the 17th century. Opposite to this ancient structure is Jama Masjid (Mosque), built in 1656 AD, construction of red sandstone and white marble. It is the largest mosque in India where 20,000 people can pray together at a time. You will also tour the city in a Rickshaw. Along the streets of old Delhi you will see the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) Memorial, which is close to the river Yamuna. Next, you will visit Humayun’s Tomb, tomb of the second Mughal emperor, which was built by his wife during the 16th century, and then you will visit Qutub Minar, a 220-feet tower made by one of the first Muslim leaders in India, built between 1199 and 1368 AD. It runs counter to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President of India. There you’ll also see the Government Buildings, Parliament. An overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 3Delhi to Jaipur (By air-conditioned train Dep 0610 Hrs Arr 1040 Hours)
Early morning pick up from hotel & transfer to railway station to board the superfast airconditioned train to Jaipur. You will have breakfast in the train. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. Later sight seeing tour of Jaipur covering: City Palace – A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
Then you will visit Jantar Mantar. It is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
Later you will visit Hawa Mahal.It is the ornamental facade of this “Palace of Winds” is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. An overnight stay in Jaipur.
Then you will visit Jantar Mantar. It is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
Later you will visit Hawa Mahal.It is the ornamental facade of this “Palace of Winds” is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. An overnight stay in Jaipur.
Day 4Jaipur
After breakfast you will proceed to Amber Fort. You will assend the fort on the back of an Elephant. Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing of Jaigarh Fort. It Western skyline is dominated by the extensive parkotas (Walls), watch-towers and gateways of Jaigarh. It is one of the few military structures of medieval India preserved almost intact containing palaces, gardens, open and covered reservoirs, a grannary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and giant mounted cannon the Jai Ban the largest in the Country.
Then you will visit Laxmi Narayan Temple which is situated in the south of Jaipur. It is one of the many such temples built by wealthy Birla family in India, thus it is also known as Birla Mandir. The temple is a great reminder of the secular traditions India has shown over the centuries. The temple has been constructed in white marble and has three domes, each portraying the different approaches to religion. The temple is situated at the foot of Moti Doongri Fort, converted as a small palace by Ram Singh II for his wife Gayatri Devi. An overnight stay in Jaipur.
Then you will visit Laxmi Narayan Temple which is situated in the south of Jaipur. It is one of the many such temples built by wealthy Birla family in India, thus it is also known as Birla Mandir. The temple is a great reminder of the secular traditions India has shown over the centuries. The temple has been constructed in white marble and has three domes, each portraying the different approaches to religion. The temple is situated at the foot of Moti Doongri Fort, converted as a small palace by Ram Singh II for his wife Gayatri Devi. An overnight stay in Jaipur.
Day 5Drive from Jaipur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its “ruins” are in pristine condition … it’s not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. Continue drive to Agra and transfer to hotel. An overnight stay in Agra.
Day 6An overnight train from Agra to Varanasi
Early morning at sunrise visit Taj Mahal- the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their 14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months. When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a “symbol of eternal love”.
Also visit Agra Fort-the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Late evening transfer to railway station to board the air-conditioned train to Varanasi. An overnight stay in Agra.
Day 7Varanasi
On arrival in Varanasi railwaystation meet assisr and transfer to hotel. Later sight seeing of Varanasi (the oldest and holiest city of India) covering Temples, Aurangazeb’s Mosque and the biggest university of India. In the evening, you will view “Aarti” ceremony on the Ghats. An overnight stay in Varanasi.
Day 8Train from Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri (nearest railway station to Darjeeling)
Early in the morning, you will go for boat ride at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats. Later, you will drive to Sarnath, 10 kms. In the East of Varanasi, is one of the Buddhism’s major centers of India. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha came to Sarnath where he gave his first sermon. Visit the deer park and the museum and later back to Varanasi to board the air-conditioned train to New Jalpaiguri (nearest railway sttaion to Darjeeling). An overnight stay in an air-conditioned sleeper class.
Day 9Darjeeling
Arrival at New Jalpaiguri (nearest railway sttaion to Darjeeling) and transfer to Darjeeling (94 Kms/3hrs). An overnight stay in Darjeeling.
Day 10Darjeeling Sightseeing
Early in the morning, you will visit Tiger hill to watch the spectacular sunrise and its amazing effects on the Mt. Kanchendzo- nga (world 3rd highest). Visit Ghoom Monastery and Natasha Loop War Memorial while returning to the hotel. You will come back to your hotel for breakfast, followed by full day local sightseeing covering Padmajan, Zoological Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tibetan Refugee Self-help Center and visit to the Local Market. Enjoy the Historical Toy joy ride provided the train is running for the day. An overnight stay in Darjeeling.
Day 11 Flight from Darjeeling to Kolkata
In the morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred to Baghdogra airport to board the flight to Kolkata. On arrival in Kolkata meet assist at airport and transfer to hotel. Later in the afternoon sightseeing tour of Kolkata covering important landmarks of the city like Victoria Memorial, New Howrah Bridge etc. An overnight stay in Kolkata.
Day 12Kolkata - Departure
Transfer to airport to board the flight for your onward destination.
