DAY
- 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi by International flight.
A history which encompasses all the various kings and emperors
who fixed their royal citadels here-- Indraprastha, Lal Kot, Quila
Rai Pithora, Siri, Jahanpanah, Tughlakabad, Ferozabad, Dinpanah,
Delhi Sher Shahi or then Shahjahanabad. but, combined and integrated
into one, these 'new cities' have always been called Delhi and
howsoever many names it may have acquired, Delhi has always been
intrinsically identified with power and imperial sway.
You will
be met on your arrival by the representative of Exotique Expeditions
with fresh flower garlands. You will then be transferred to your
hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY - 02 IN
DELHIThis morning you will be given the city tour of Old
and New Delhi.
Old Delhi - Visit the former centre of
Moghul Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and
bustling bazaars. Drive past the vast
Red Fort, built in
1648, the Jama Masjid, the greatest mosque in India and completed in
1658 by Shah Jahan who also built the Taj Mahal, and the Raj Ghat,
the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. A unique experience of taking
'
rickshaw ride' from the Red Fort, through "Chandni
Chowk" or Silver Street, experiencing the sights and sounds of
this very busy avenue heading west from the Fort.
Chandni Chowk
- literally means "moonlit crossroads" and an area which
best represents the "super-Oriental" - the glory and the
guile; the grandeur and the grime, with its crowded bazaars,
twisting lanes, maze of small streets strange aromas, the pungent
odour of Oriental spices, the cries of shopkeepers, coolies and "rickshaw-walas"
and the clatter and whirr of furious industry.
New Delhi -
drive past the stately government buildings of the British Era
designed by Lutyens, including the
India Gate & the
Presidential
Palace. Continue onto the beautiful
Humayuns tomb of the
Mughal era,
Lotus Temple, Birla Mandir, Akshardham Temple &
predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal. End the tour at the
towering minaret of
Qutab Minar Overnight at the hotel.
DAY-
03 DELHI - JAIPUR (265 Kms/165 Miles)Leave Delhi for Jaipur
by air conditioned vehicle.
The historic city of Jaipur or "
The
City of Vicotory" was founded in 1727 A.D. by the great
Kachhawah ruler Sawai Jai Singh II (1700 - 1747 A.D.), and named
after him. The monarch was not only a great builder, but also a poet
and an astronomer. Under his aegis, the city was designed by his
talented architect Vidyadhar, who gave shape to the creative
aspirations of Sawai Jai Singh in the form of the dream city of
Jaipur
Arrive Jaipur and check in at the hotel.
This
afternoon you will be given the city tour of Jaipur.
Tour of the
Pink City - Your tour will include the imposing City Palace, still
home to the Maharaja although several of the rooms are now open to
the public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging to the ruling
family are housed here, including a collection of weaponry. You will
also visit the Hawa Mahal, "Palace of the Winds", and the
open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory to see the vast astronomical
instruments. Enjoy a stroll through the colourful bazaar before
returning to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY
- 04 IN JAIPURThis morning you will be given excursion to
Amber Fort.
Tour of the impressive
Amber Fort, situated
on a ridge just outside Jaipur City. At the foot of the hill you
will mount your caparisoned elephant for the slow but steady climb
up to the main gate, making your entrance in the time honoured
fashion. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over
100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating
insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families
The
afternoon is free. You will have the opportunity to walk around the
colorful bazzars, take a by-cycle rickshaw ride or relax on the pool
side of the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY
- 05 JAIPUR-BHARATPUR ( 176 Kms/110Miles)Leave Jaipur for
Bharatpur by air conditioned vehicle.
Arrive Bharatpur and
check in at the hotel.
Visit the Bird Sanctury in the afternoon.
The famous
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary which is a
wonder of the natural world. Here over 350 species of birds find
refuge in the 29sq kms of shallow lakes & wood lands of the
park. A third of them are migrants many of whom spend winter in
Bharatpur before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as
Siberia and Central Asia.
This sanctuary is the creation of the
Maharaja of Bharatpur in the late 19th century, who recognized the
area's potential and augmented the water supply by diverting water
from a nearby irrigation canal. He also constructed small dams,
dykes and shooting butts & in a few years the new ecosystem so
flourished that it was able to support thousands of water birds. The
maharaja celebrated his success in style, with extravagant shooting
parties for the dignitaries of princely India. Their exploits are
recorded to this day on a sandstone inscription in the park. There
are many good paths & trails through the dense park, but a ride
with your expert rickshaw driver will be a rewarding experience as
he has been trained to recognise the different species of birds.
Overnight
at the hotel.
DAY - 06 BHARATPUR-AGRA ( 67
Kms/42Miles)Leave Bharatpur for Agra by air conditioned
vehicle.
Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply
evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the
city.
Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the
Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich
past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi
dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the
Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the
concept of square Persian-styled gardens here.
Agra came to its
own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He
marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in
memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
En-route visit Fatehpur
Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri - Impressive sandstone fortress of
Fatehpur Sikri. The fort was built in the 16th century and only
occupied for a few years before being abandoned, leaving the
buildings in virtually perfect conditions. Continue drive to Agra.
Upon arrival in Agra - check-in at the hotel. Thereafter, visit the
Red Fort, which was built by Akbar as his citadel over the years
1563-73 in the finest architectural style.
Arrive Agra and check
at the hotel.
You will have some free time in the evening to
relax by the pool side of the hotel or to explore the city on your
own.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY - 07
AGRA-DELHI (202 Kms/126 Miles)
This morning you will be
given the city tour of Agra.
Red Fort - lies on the
bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar
built it as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest
architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red
sandstone and a moat.
Taj Mahal - Little needs to be
said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul
raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah
Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife
Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was
designed and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it's
stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted
particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and
some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Leave Agra for Delhi by
air conditioned vehicle.
Arrive Delhi and check in at the
hotel.
Rest of the day free to do your last minute shopping.
Overnight
at the hotel.
DAY - 08 DEPART DELHIYou
will be met by the representative of Exotique Expeditions at the
hotel and transferred to the airport, in time to connect your onward
flight.