INDIA – GOLDEN GATE

Arrive into international Indira Gandhi Airport by (flight TBA)
Meeting & assistance on arrival at Delhi airport by our representative later transfer to the hotel in air-conditioned car for check-in.
We welcome you in the capital city of India, for a journey across the fascinating history- markers of medieval north India. Wars were fought and rulers changed in Delhi but ordinary lives were lived in relative continuity. Glimpses of these can be seen even today as the character of the city underwent massive changes in the last decades. In the lands fabled to have seen seven cities, signs of the old are continuously jostling with the new, presenting an ever-fascinating panorama. We welcome you to its chaos and stability, into its steadfastness and its impatience and into a delightful rainbow of amalgamation, producing a world completely its own.
Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast at hotel, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Old Delhi
Begin your day with an exploration starting in Old Delhi, visiting the Jama Masjid, the royal mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world and is constructed in red sandstone and white marble. The main prayer hall has a seating capacity of more than 20,000 worshippers.
Combined with old Delhi Tour on a tricycle rickshaw in the Indian metropolis of Delhi, where fast-paced, cell-phone toting characters out of Monsoon Wedding live side by side with barefoot rickshaw wallahs cycling past roaming cows in the road, you will visit the largest spice market in all of Asia, the bustling Khari Baoli bazaar. At once, all your senses will be over-stimulated to an amplified level. Open air shops on both sides of the road displayed sackcloth bags filled with pungent spices, bushels of fragrant flowers, nuts and sticky dried fruits, mountains of bright orange turmeric, mouth-watering sweets, gallons of gooey ghee and enough tea to steep the Indian ocean. The intense combination of indiscernible aromas oscillated our insides between gagging nausea and voracious hunger.
Carried along by the throngs of merchants corralled on the sidewalks, you will watch businessmen from all over India testing quality with a sniff and marking a deal with a head waggle.Shopkeepers weighing out goods the old-fashioned way, with iron weights on a balance scale. In the street, thin men carried burlap sacks bigger and heavier than their own bodies, loading them onto hand drawn wooden carts. Whether you need 5 grams or 500 kilos, goods are sold in bulk at rock-bottom wholesale prices. We walked away with precious clear gift boxes filled with delicate red saffron strands from Kashmir. This is the ideal place to look at some of the spices used to make masala chai, and their medicinal properties.
Red Fort (From Outside)- The largest of old Delhi’s monuments is the Lal Quila, or the Red Fort, the thick red sandstone walls of which, bulging with turrets and bastions, have withstood the vagaries of time, and nature. The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry moat, in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. Its walls extend upto two kilometre, and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side.
Late afternoon, explore New Delhi by visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years. Visit the mausoleum of emperor Humayun – a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture and the imposing modern Lakshminarayan temple.
Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian soldiers), the president’s residence – formerly the Viceroy’s Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, – an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture.
And then visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (the temple of the followers of the Sikh religion). The Sikhs, which means “disciples”, are one of the country’s most recognizable groups. Beards and turbans give them a distinctive look. Unlike Hinduism, they believe in one God, and that everyone, regardless of their station in life, should do “seva” or rendering social services. This resulted in the “Langar” or community kitchen, where every member of the religion considers it an honor to come and put in a couple of hours cooking thousands of Indian breads, making huge vat loads of curry, to feed the poor and underprivileged. The food served at the Langar is simple, but fresh and wholesome.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra (approx. 04 hours) Upon arrival in Agra, meet & transfer to the hotel Agra is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that epitomize the high point of Mughal architecture. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jahangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and Shah Jahan embellished it with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble. The crowning glory of the city is obviously the Taj, a monument of love and imagination that represents India to the world.
And then visit the Agra Fort, occupying a dominant site on the bend of River Yamuna, the high walled red-sandstone structure was built by Akbar between 1565 and 1573 and thereafter structures within it were added by successive emperors.
Evening, visit Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan as an eternal symbol of his love for his favourite wife, whom he called Mumtaz Mahal (“Jewel of the Palace”). The monument has immortalized him forever as one of the great architectural patrons of the world. The structure took 20,000 laborers and 22 years to complete. (Note: Taj Mahal is closed on Friday).
Experience (Meeting with Inlay Artisans): Taj Mahal’s intricate beauty lies in the inlay work; where semi-precious stones are set into the marble tiles and floors to create floral motifs. If interested, we can organize a ‘Meeting with Inlay Artisans’ to understand how the craftsmanship has continued through the ages. And you can even participate in a workshop and learn the craft to take home a very personalized souvenir!
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Jaipur (approx. 240 kms/ 05 – 06 hours) en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri – The political capital of India’s Mughal Empire under Akbar’s reign from 1571 until 1585 and regarded as the crowning glory of his architectural legacy, this majestic ancient palace/fort had to be deserted shortly after its completion because of lack of water supply. To this day, its grand edifice as well as delicate decorations are almost intact.
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and be assisted for check in at the hotel.
Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, because of the terra-cotta-colored lime plaster that coats the old part of the city’s walls, buildings, and temples. The reasons for painting the town pink are unknown, some say it is because Maharaja Jai Singh II’s being a devotee of Lord Shiva and as pink was his favourite. The most popular reason is that pink is the traditional color of hospitality, and the old part of the city was freshly painted and paved with pink gravel to warmly welcome Edward VII for his visit here in 1876.
Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, embark on your day of sightseeing in Jaipur. Visit the Amber Fort, we recommend getting there early before the hoards descend. This is one of the most fascinating of the Indian forts comprising the Palace of Mirrors, Hall of Public Audience and the beautiful gardens, all of which give a glimpse into the majesty of days gone by.
The fort can either be reached by Jeep, on foot or, subject to availability, on elephant back.
Then visit the City Palace who’s several courtyards and gardens provide wonderful contrast to its many palatial structures including Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Badal Mahal and the Sri Govind Dev temple. The huge silver water vessels displayed at the Diwan-e-Khas recorded in the Guinness Book as the largest in the world are a must see. Also visit Jantar Mantar- the Observatory. It incorporates multiple buildings of unique geometrical forms, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement.
And then visit of Moti Dungri (Ganesh temple). The temple is surrounded by a beautiful palace which resembles a Scottish castle. And then visit also Lakshi Narayam Temple is commonly known as the Birla Temple and is located beneath the Moti Dungri Fort. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
Jaipur is also an interesting place for those interested in jewellery, clothes, carpets and other handicrafts items. The city is a veritable paradise for those seeking souvenirs of the craftsmanship of Rajasthan.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
And in time transfer to Delhi airport (approx. 06 hours’ drive) to board for your flight to onward destination (Flight TBA)