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Day 01
Arrival Delhi: Met on
arrival by our representative. Traditional welcome with
garlanding and transfer
to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02
Delhi / Agra (200 Kms - 04 hrs):
After a morning at leisure we drive to the city of
Taj, Agra,
stopping enroute at a good restaurant for refreshment. We
arrive by evening and check inn to the hotel. Rest of the
day will be at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 03
In Agra: After
enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel we leave to explore
the monumental heritage
of the Great Mughals, including the magnificent
Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the
World and surely the most extravagant expression of love
ever created. 20,000 men laboured for o
ver 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved
wife. It's a wealth of white marble and
semi-precious stone - undoubtedly the highlight of the tour.
Post
lunch tour of the imposing Agra Fort - built
of red sandstone and marble is a hilltop citadel
with fabulous courtyards, fountains and gates.
Rest
of the evening free to explore the local handicrafts and
shopping centers of the city where
one can look for marble inlay work, fine quality carpets,
Zari and embroidery, leather goods etc.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
[Taj Mahal remains closed on
every Friday].
Day 04
Agra / Jaipur (250 Kms - 05 hrs):
After breakfast we
leisurely drive to Jaipur - the fabled
"pink city" of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former
Maharaja of Jaipur. The palaces and
forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal
processions and splendors, are now
living monuments.
Enroute we stop at Fatehpur Sikri - which has been
described as "the world's most perfectly
preserved ghost town". Built by Akbar in the late 16th
century, it was abandoned after only 14
years, and the elegant buildings of this superb walled city
remain intact to this day. In the
afternoon continue to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, arrive
and check inn to the hotel.
This
will be a cultural evening, we visit Chokhi Dhani - An
ethnic village resort, the vitality
}of Rajasthani folk culture comes alive as children dance
rhythmically to the loud tenor of folk
songs sung by men and women, festooned in bright clothes.
Gaily caparisoned camel, horses
and bullock carts offer joy rides. A traditional Rajasthani
dinner will be served. Overnight stay
at the hotel.
Day 05
In Jaipur: After
enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel we visit the
dramatic hilltop fortress at
Amber – ascend the imposing fort on a painted elephant.
We wander among glittering inlays
and the Hall of Mirrors.
We
stop to view the elegant Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)-
this elaborate building, now
little more than a façade, is encrusted with delicate
screens and carved balconies from which
the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could sneak
views of the outside world.
Post
lunch tour of the Maharajah's City Palace, now partly
a museum display a unique fusion
of Mughal and Hindu architecture, and house a rare
collection of paintings, Rajput armoury and costumesiH.
Later we visit the unique Jantar Mantar Observatory -
situated in the heart of
the city where time has been accurately measured since the
17th century.
Explore the colourful bazaars of Jaipur where one can shop
for Jewellery, Paintings, block
prints, textiles, carpets, brassware, blue pottery etc.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06
Jaipur / Samode / Delhi (250 Kms – 05 hrs):
After a breakfast at the hotel
we drive back to
Delhi.
Enroute we stop at Samode – 50 Kms from Jaipur famous
for the elegant Samode Palace,
nestled picturesquely amidst rugged hills, Samode Palace
with its stately grandeur and frescoed
walls is a pleasant journey into the glorious past. The
Palace is full of architectural delights-the
birds, animals and flowers painted on the walls of Sultan
Mahal, the dining room with stained
glass windows and its collection of old family portraits,
the Durbar Mahal with its painted ceilings
and intricately carved walls and beautiful chandeliers give
this place its old world charm.
Explore the splendid Palace and also have the lunch in the
Palace. Later we continue by road
back to Delhi, arrive and check in to the hotel. Overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 07
Delhi / Amritsar (By Train):
After breakfast at the hotel set off for a train journey to
the
'land of Golden Sparrow' – Amritsar,
arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Evening we visit to India / Pakistan Border for change of
guards ceremony and the flag hoisting
and lowering activities which are done with great skill and
precision by the border security forces
of both the countries. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 08
In Amritsar:
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a sightseeing tour
visiting Amritsar's resplendent
Golden Temple
- Spiritual Center of Sikh Faith, built by Guru Arjun Singh
in the late 16th
Century. Later we proceed to Jallianwala Bagh Memorial
– an important monument dedicated
to hundreds of martyrs of a massacre in 1919. We visit
Durgiana Temple
which also draws its share of pilgrims.
Evening visit to the Golden Temple for night holy book
ceremony (Real beauty of Golden Temple under lights).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 09
Amritsar / Delhi (By Train):
Early morning we take a train journey back to Delhi. On
arrival
we proceed to our hotel for day use only. Morning at
leisure.
After lunch we leave for a half – day sightseeing tour of
New Delhi Including the 11th century
Qutab Minar Tower, the India Gate and the grand
government buildings, the President's
House and Parliament House all dating back to the
time of British Raj.
Evening enjoy
Indian
Classical Dances show (1900/2010hrs)
and
dinner at popular Delhi
restaurant. Later transfer to the international airport to
Board your homeward flight or connect
to your onward destination.
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