5-Day Private Golden Triangle Tour: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1New Delhi & Old Delhi Sightseeing⌄

   Pick-up at 9am and visit Humayun's Tomb (Unesco World Heritage site) - is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi. The arched facade is inlaid with bands of white marble and red sandstone, and the building follows strict rules of Islamic geometry, with an emphasis on the number eight.

   Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) - The Qutub Minar that gives the complex its name is an unmissable, soaring Afghan-style victory tower and minaret, erected by sultan Qutb-ud-din in 1193 to proclaim his supremacy over the vanquished Hindu rulers of Qila Rai Pithora.

   Designed for tranquil worship, Delhi's beautiful Lotus Temple (Monday Closed) offers a rare pocket of calm in the hectic city. It is shaped like a lotus flower, with 27 delicate-looking white-marble petals. The temple was created to bring faiths together; visitors are invited to pray or meditate silently according to their own beliefs.

   This imposing 42m-high stone memorial arch was designed by Lutyens in 1921. It pays tribute to around 90,000 Indian army soldiers who died in WWI, the Northwest Frontier operations and the 1919 Anglo-Afghan War.

   This circular, colonnaded building, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, was where the 1947 handover of power from Britain to the newly independent India took place, and parliament still meets here.

   Rashtrapati Bhavan or President House is an official residence of the President of India.Formerly home to the British Viceroy, the President’s House has 340 rooms, with 2.5km of corridors, and it's fascinating to take a peek inside.

   A beautiful pocket of calm at the heart of Old Delhi's mayhem, the capital's largest mosque is built on a 10m elevation, towering above the surrounding hubbub. It can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people. The marble and red-sandstone structure, known also as the ‘Friday Mosque’, was Shah Jahan’s final architectural triumph, built between 1644 and 1658.

   The highlight of the tour is an exhilarating bicycle rickshaw ride (at own expense) through the bustling and colorful streets of Chandni chowk (Silver Street).

   On the banks of the Yamuna River, this peaceful, very well-maintained park contains a simple black-marble platform marking the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.

   Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple (Monday Closed) is Delhi's largest temple, was built in 2005, and is breathtakingly lavish. Artisans used ancient techniques to carve the pale red sandstone into elaborate reliefs, including 20,000 deities, saints, and mythical creatures. The centerpiece is a 3m-high gold statue of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan surrounded by more, fabulously intricate carvings.

   Overnight: Overnight in Delhi: 5 star - The Eros Hotel New Delhi or similar / 4 star - The Suryaa or similar

2. 2Delhi - Agra (3-4 Hrs Drive) & Half Day Agra Sightseeing⌄

   After breakfast drive, 3hrs to the City of Taj Mahal, Agra, takes you through the beautiful countryside. Upon arrival check in to the pre-booked hotel.

   Afternoon visit Agra Fort (a Unesco World Heritage Site) - is a historical fort along the bank of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638 and one of the finest Mughal forts in India. Walking through courtyard after courtyard of this palatial red-sandstone and marble fortress, your amazement grows as the scale of what was built here begins to sink in.

   Evening proceed to a Photo Tour of Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh — the moonlit garden — believed to have been designed by Shah Jahan to view the Taj on moonlit nights, far away from the maddening crowd, The garden complex is situated on the left bank of Yamuna opposite to TajMahal. It is a huge square measuring approximately 300x300 m and in straight alignment with the Taj Mahal. The forestry plantations and agricultural fields provide a green forecourt to TajMahal and its reflection in Yamuna. Here you can witness the sunset over the Taj Mahal.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Agra: 5 star - Jaypee Palace or similar / 4 star - Grand Mercure or similar

3. 3Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour & Drive Abhaneri (Chand Baori) - Jaipur (4-5 Hrs Drive)⌄

   At the sunrise visit, the Taj Mahal (a Unesco World Heritage Site) - is widely considered the most beautiful building in the world. Built by Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. The magical allure of the Taj Mahal shall definitely be the highlight of your tour. (Please note that the Taj Mahal remains closed for tourists on every Friday, so if this day of the scheduled visit is Friday, you shall visit the Taj Mahal at Sunset a day prior). Back to the hotel and enjoy your breakfast. Post breakfast check out and drive to the Pink City of Jaipur.

   En route to Jaipur visit Abhaneri, a small town village, popular for the amazing 'Baoris' (step wells) & Harshat Mata Temple. Chand Baori is one of Rajasthan's most spectacular baori (step-wells) which are the unique invention of the natives for harvesting rainwater. Chand Baori is one of India's deepest and largest step wells. The huge tank with delicate carvings certainly is delightful to the eyes.

   After visiting Abhaneri continue drive to the Pink City of Jaipur, upon arrival check in to the hotel.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Jaipur: 5 star - Hilton or similar / 4 star - Sarovar Premier or similar

4. 4Full Day Jaipur Sightseeing⌄

   Amber Fort - The magnificent, formidable, honey-hued fort of Amber (pronounced 'amer'), an ethereal example of Rajput architecture, rises from a rocky mountainside about 11km northeast of Jaipur, and is the city’s must-see sight. It comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard.

   Photo Stop at Jal Mahal (Water Palace) - Near the cenotaphs of the maharanis of Jaipur and beautifully situated in the watery expanse of Man Sagar, is this dreamlike palace. It's origins are uncertain, but it was believed to have been extensively restored if not built by Jai Singh II (1734).

   Photo Stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark is an extraordinary pink-painted delicately honeycombed hive that rises a dizzying five storeys. It was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the life and processions of the city.

   The City Palace is the residence of the royal family. A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings. There are palace buildings from different eras, some dating from the early 20th century. It is a striking blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.

   Jantar Mantar Observatory (a Unesco World Heritage Site) - is a collection of curving geometric buildings that are carefully calibrated to monitor the movement of the stars and planets.

   Lastly visit 15th-century Galtaji Temple (The Abode of Monkeys) - also known as Monkey Temple is famous for its rather complex structure. It has three sacred pools of water and is surrounded by two granite cliffs. You can actually spot a lot of monkeys bathing in those pools.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Overnight in Jaipur: 5 star - Hilton or similar / 4 star - Sarovar Premier or similar

5. 5Jaipur - Delhi Drop-off (4-5 Hrs Drive) Or Drop-off in Jaipur Itself⌄

   Morning at leisure. Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Delhi / Gurugram / Noida (airport/hotel/any other desired location) which will take you around 5 hours. Or if you wish to continue your onward journey to some other destination in India, we shall be glad to drop you at Jaipur airport/Jaipur railway station or any other desired location in Jaipur.

   Meals: Breakfast