India Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

Overview

Itinerary

• Day 1

  ARRIVAL IN DELHI

  Arrive today at Delhi’s International Airport, where you will be met by our representative who will accompany you to your hotel.

• Day 2

  SIGHTSEEING IN DELHI

  After breakfast your trip begins with a visit to Old Delhi, starting at Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. You will drive past the magnificent Red Fort, which overlooks the river Jamuna. Built between 1638 and 1648 when the Mughal Empire was at its peak, this fort is an iconic monument in Delhi. The tour continues to one of Asia’s largest mosques, Jama Masjid. We will not enter the mosque but will be able to soak up the atmosphere through watching worshippers streaming in and out and shoppers bustling around the nearby bazaar. Here we board a cycle rickshaw to move through the markets of old Delhi until we reach the spice market where there is a chance to buy aromatic spices. We stop for lunch at Chor Bazaar, which is situated between new Delhi and Old Delhi. After lunch tour ‘Imperial Delhi’, which includes the Qutub Minar. At 72.5m high or 379 steps to climb, it is the tallest stone tower in India. The Qutub Minar was started in 1199 AD by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and completed by the sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. Visit Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of this, the second Mughal Emperor. This monument, in the Indo-Persian style, is a precursor of the Taj Mahal. Today we also drive passed other iconic buildings such as the India Gate, Parliament building, and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President’s residence).

• Day 3

  DELHI – AGRA (205 KMS / 3 HRS)

  After breakfast depart for Agra by road, where you will start your tour by visiting the Agra Fort. In the evening visit Mehtab Bagh, the garden opposite the Taj Mahal. From here you can see the Taj Mahal at sunset, which sets the scene for your visit to the Taj Mahal the following morning. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble of the Taj Mahal was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1,000 elephants. Built in the mid 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world.

• Day 4

  AGRA – BHARATPUR (55 KMS / 1 HR) – RANTHAMBORE (TRAIN)

  After an early breakfast leave for Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, 55 kms from Agra. En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built in the late 16th century by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace. Originally the size of London, it was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry. It remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago and is fascinating to wander round. Your next stop is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, now known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. This is a famous avifauna sanctuary and World Heritage Site. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded there so far. Here it is possible to enjoy bird watching by cycle with a trained nature guide. After lunch, board the train to Sawai Madhopur, the stop for Rathambore National Park, which takes approximately two hours. Transfer to your hotel and relax in the evening before the safari the next day into one of the best known safari parks in India. Formally a hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur, now Rathambore is a major tourist and wildlife enthusiast attraction. Today the animals are only shot on camera!

• Day 5

  RANTHAMBORE

  This morning, you enter Rathambore reserve, home to animals such as the Royal Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, hyena, jungle cat, desert cat, desert fox, jackal, blue bull, Indian gazelle, spotted deer, common langur monkey, marsh crocodile, python etc. Birdlife is also abundant and rich, with almost 300 different species of migratory and resident birds. After the early morning safari, return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, embark on another memorable safari into the reserve.

• Day 6

  RANTHAMBORE – JAIPUR (160 KMS / 4 HRS)

  After breakfast, drive to Jaipur. This will take approximately four hours. In the evening enjoy an interactive dinner with a local family. Join the hosts in their kitchen for a cooking demo and feel free to join in!

• Day 7

  IN JAIPUR

  After breakfast, visit the Amber Palace, stopping first at Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds. You can either drive or walk to the palace as you wish. One of the highlight of the Amber Palace is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors). As part of the tour today, you will visit the City Palace. Here the museum has a vast collection of rare manuscripts, an armoury, costumes, carpets, and miniature paintings. Continuing on the tour of Jaipur, visit the observatory know as Jantar Mantar, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. In the cooler part of the afternoon there is a guided walk round the Old City, through narrow lanes and quaint bazaars where you will have an opportunity to window shop or buy some of the array of handicrafts and artefacts.

• Day 8

  JAIPUR TO DELHI (268 KMS / 6 HRS)

  After breakfast drive back towards Delhi, and check into the hotel.

• Day 9

  DEPART DELHI (FLIGHT)

  Our representative will collect you from your hotel and take you to the airport for your departure.

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