10 Days Golden triangle Vacation with Varanasi

The capital of India, Delhi welcomes you. On your arrival, you would be greeted by your representative and transferred to your hotel.

Delhi is a dynamic city with a beautiful mixture of the old and new. The Old Delhi, with all its bazaars and monuments, represents the past. New Delhi, with its high rise buildings and big lanes, represents the new India. With an estimated population of more than 18 million people, Delhi is a city blessed with rich culture and heritage. The different rulers at different point of time have molded the region and have taken inspiration from it. This historically significant city has been built, destroyed and rebuilt several times, which displays the ‘Never Say Die’ spirit of the people living here.

On this day, you will tour the Old Delhi region built by the Shah Jahan, 5th ruler of the Mughal Dynasty. Nest stop on the list would be Raj Ghat – a memorial built in the honor of Mahatma Gandhi. The national figure was cremated in this place, making it an important national landmark. The nearby museum contains several artifacts and memorabilia associated with Gandhiji.

After this, you would be driven past the magnificent Red Fort (Lal Qil) and Chandni Chowk. These landmarks were commissioned by Shah Jahan during late 17th century. The Red Fort, built in Indo-Islamic architecture, is an important landmark of the country. Each year on 15th August (India’s Independence Day) and 26th January (Republic Day), from this place the national flag is hosted by the Prime Minister of India. The Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest markets of the city. It is well known for its variety shops selling different items like dresses, artifacts, perfumed attars and lip-smacking food. The rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk comes highly recommended. On your Old Delhi trip, you will next head towards the iconic Jama Mashjid – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The majestic mosque, another one of Shah Jahan’s commissioned monuments, is one of the largest mosques of India. Built with red sandstone and marble, this monument is an impressive building.

You will need to check out of the hotel at 1200 hours.

In the afternoon, you will visit other popular landmark of Delhi. The Qutub Minar and the Humayun’s Tomb, listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Site lists, reflect the important junctions of the history of India. The Qutub Minar, 73 m-high tower, is one of the tallest minarets of the country. After this historically enriching trip, you will head towards the India Gate. It is a war memorial is dedicated to the Unknown Soldiers. Apart from that, you will be driven past the government Secretariat, Parliament House, and the President’s House (Rastrapati Bhawan). Last stop for the day will be Lakshiminarayan Temple, or the Birla Temple. It is an impressive temple complex dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his divine consort Lakshimi.

Late in the evening, you would be directed towards Delhi Railway station for your overnight train ride to Lucknow.

On your arrival to Lucknow, you would be transferred to your hotel.

The beautiful city of Lucknow is well known for its etiquette and laid back lifestyle. Once ruled by the Nawabs of Awadh, Lucknow has flourished as a center for learning, art, culture, and so on.

On this day, you will visit the Jama Masjid, Roomi Dawarza, the great Imambara Picture gallery and Residency, and Dilkusha palace. Apart from that you will visit the Chhota Imambara and Bara Imambara.

In the evening, you will transfer to your hotel where you can spend the entire time at leisure.

After spending the entire day at Lucknow, in the afternoon, you will board your train to Varanasi. The distance between the two cities will be covered in approximately 5 hours. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Varanasi. You will stay overnight here.

Varanasi (Kasi or Beneras), situated on the banks of River Ganga, is an important city for the Hindus. The city is known to provide peace and enlightenment to the seekers, and spiritually uplift a person. Your trip to Varanasi would surely be an interesting inclusion to the Golden Triangle tour.

You will start your Varanasi trip, early in the morning. You will take the boat ride to famous Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghat – some of the holiest riverfronts for the Hindus. While moving past the Ghats, you will see several devotes taking an early morning dip in the holy River Ganga. These Ghats are stills used as crematoriums, and you might find funeral pyres burning during your tour. According to popular belief, once a person dies at Varanasi, they are freed from the cycle of birth and death. In the past, devotees used come to the city during their final days for that reason.

In the evening, you can observe the famous Ganga Aarati. During the ritual, priests worship the River Goddess Ganga and sing her praises.

In the remaining hours, you can explore the Varanasi on your own, spend the day at leisure or visit Saranath.

You will spend the night at hotel in Varanasi.

In the morning, you can spend the entire day discovering the different aspects of the Varanasi. You can visit the Buddhist shrines and other ruins within the city.

You will check out of the room at 1200 hours.

In the evening, you will be transferred to the Mughalsarai Railway Station, from where you will board your train to Agra.

Morning arrival at Tundla Railway Station, and transferred to hotel in Agra. Breakfast at Hotel.

Hotel Check in time 1400hrs

Agra, the former capital of Hindustan is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna. Agra is a major tourist destination of India and a part of the Golden Triangle Tour along with Delhi and Jaipur. Agra also known as Akbarabad went through its peak during the time of Mughals and was the capital of the Mughal rulers Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjehan.

Afternoon visit Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. This beautiful building is elegantly built with white marble by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between the years 1631 to 1648 and it was built in the memory of his favorite beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. Standing majestically on the banks of Yamuna River, this breathtaking, immensely beautiful monument is a synonymous to romance and love.

TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS FOR VISITORS.

Later visit the Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its architectural structure and was built in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire. This place comprises of several fairy-tale palaces like Khas Mahal and Jahangir Palace. Over here you will also get a chance to see Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas, which are also known as private audience hall and public audience hall. Agra is famous for inlaid marble work and handicrafts.

Overnight at Hotel in Agra.

Breakfast at Hotel check out and drive towards Jaipur, en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri – It is built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri holds exceptional testimony to Mughal civilization and is one of the well-known UNESCO World heritage sites of India and has various historical monuments. You will visit the Jama Masjid, followed by the Tomb of Salim Chishti, the five storied Panch Mahal and Buland Darwaza a graceful monument and stupendous piece of beautiful architecture. It is central portico with a total of three arched entrances and is locally known as Horseshoe gate. You will visit the other graceful buildings of this place such as Ibadat Khana, Mariam-uz-Zamani’s palace, Naubat Khana and Birbal’s house.

Continue drive towards Jaipur.

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan gets its name from Maharaja Jai Singh who built this city. Many captivating palaces are present here having breathtaking design and architecture. In the 18th century Prince of Wales had visited Jaipur and the entire city was painted in pink color due to which this city is also known as the pink city. The origin of Jaipur goes back to more than 260 years.

Arrive Jaipur and transferred to hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Jaipur

Breakfast at the Hotel and proceed for the city tour of Jaipur.

The morning journey starts from Amer fort also known as Amer Palace, the earlier capital of Jaipur. Ascend and descend the Amer Fort by Jeep on sharing basis.

(OPTIONAL) Ascend the Amer Fort on an elephant's back on twin sharing basis and descend the fort by Jeep. This magnificent fort was constructed in red sand-stone and marble by Raja Man Singh and is divided into four sections each with a courtyard. The main entrance gate is Surajpol having a fascinating architecture. Near the Ganesh Gate, there is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Sila Devi. The Diwan-e-Aam - Hall of public audience, Diwan-e-Khas - hall of private audience, Sheesh Mahal - palace of mirrors and Sukh Niwas are quite beautiful. At the he Sukh Niwas, a pleasant climate is created by winds that blow over a water cascade.

Afternoon visit Maharaja City Palace, a royal palace with seven story as well as Jantar Mantar, the observatory. This wonderful observatory is attracted by mathematician as well as astronomers of whole world. City palace is perfect blend of all three excellent styles (Mughal, Rajput and European). Another palace, Hawa Mahal is popular all over the world for it magnificent architecture. A tour of Jaipur is not complete without shopping. Jaipur is famous for clothes, carpets, precious and semi-precious stones and jewelry and various handicrafts made of wood, metals, etc. and also for silk paintings and miniatures.

Overnight at Hotel in Jaipur

Breakfast at Hotel. Check out and drive to Delhi - Hotel Check out time 1200hrs

Arrive Delhi and get transferred to Delhi Airport in time to board the connecting flight for onward destination. As most of the flights would depart after midnight, accommodation would not be provided. Hope you enjoyed your tour and our services. We wish to host you again soon. Namaste.