The Best of India

TOUR DESCRIPTION

We’ve selected the very best highlights of India for you with this fabulous Golden Triangle Tour including Udaipur and Mumbai.

We have created this tour with our friends at the multi-award-winning, Sita India, which is one of the world’s finest tour companies which operates the tours for several leading long-haul tour operators.  With Sita India, you are sure to enjoy an authentic Indian experience as you discover the local culture, typical cuisine and the sensory beauty of this wonderful country in the low and mid seasons which also provides savings of over 50% compared to the peak seasons.

DETAILED ITINERARY

 DAY 1:

NAMASTE!

ARRIVAL AT DELHI AIRPORT

Our representative will meet you in the arrival area of the airport after you clear all immigration and customs formalities. Depart for the Taj Palace Hotel* where you will check-in for your stay.
India’s capital and major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds – the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiralling skyscrapers, are the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments which stand as silent reminders of the region’s ancient legacy.

Overnight, you will be staying in a Superior Room at the 5* Taj Palace Hotel*.

EXPLORING OLD AND NEW DELHI

After breakfast, we proceed for the full day city tour of Old & New Delhi including a visit to the 17th century Jama Masjid and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the narrow, winding lanes of colourful and bustling Chandni Chowk.  We will also stop in front of the Mughal Empire’s most opulent fort, the Red Fort for a photo stop. Later, we proceed with a visit to Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

In the afternoon, we head to New Delhi where you will be taken for the drive past of The Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys, the India Gate; a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings.

We round off the day with a visit to Qutab Minar, the 12th-century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India. Also visit the 16th century Humayun’s tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal.
Spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight, you will be staying in a Superior Room at the 5* Taj Palace Hotel*.

FROM DELHI TO AGRA

This morning, you will be assisted & transferred in your private car to Delhi railway station to connect for your short 2 hour journey by Gatiman Express Train to Agra.

Once a small village on the banks of the Yamuna, Agra was transformed by two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan into the second capital of the Mughal Empire – Dar-ul-Khilafat, or ‘seat of the Emperor’ in the 16th & 17th century.

Arriving in Agra, you will be met by our representative outside your train coach who will introduce you to your guide who will take you for the visit of Agra Fort.  This impressive fort was originally started by Emperor Akbar in 1565, but his son, Jahangir, and grandson, Shah Jahan, later made valuable additions to it.

After the visit, check-in at The Taj Hotel & Convention Centre where you will spend the night in a Superior Room.

Later, enjoy a visit to Mehtab Bagh for the splendid views of the Taj Mahal in the lap of serenely landscaped surroundings. It is a great place to get unique shots of the ever majestic Taj Mahal. In fact, this garden itself offers many beautiful photo opportunities. Mehtab Bagh was built as an integral part of the Taj complex as the gardens of the Taj are perfectly aligned with Mehtab Bagh, making it the best place to view the Taj from.

Spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight at The Taj Hotel & Convention Centre*

FROM AGRA TO FATEHPUR SIKRI AND JAIPUR

Early this morning you will be taken to witness sunrise at the Taj Mahal with your guide. On the inner walls, jewel-like stones create beautiful designs in white marble. The Mughals perfected the art of embedding semi-precious stones into marble and the Taj is the finest example of this special process called pietra dura. It begins with a marble plate, varying in size. Then jewels are sliced paper thin and embedded in the marble with such precision that the joints are invisible to the naked eye.

We then return to the hotel for breakfast with time to change and freshen up before checking out of the hotel and driving onwards to Jaipur.

During the drive, you will visit the once seat of Mughal legacy, which is an abandoned city glowing red under the sun, Fatehpur Sikri – the deserted red sandstone city built by the Great Mughal Emperor, Akbar, as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is just 37kms from Agra.

JAIPUR – the capital of Rajasthan province is known for its arts and crafts, jewellery, hand-painted fabrics and stone sculptures; it is one of North India’s finest examples of a planned city embodying the best of Rajput and Mughal architecture.

Spend the rest of the evening at leisure in the fabulous Taj Rambagh Palace.

Overnight in Taj Rambagh Palace* in a Palace Room.

 DAY 5:

JAIPUR

This morning, after an early breakfast, we visit the hilltop fortress at Amber. A jeep will spare you the trouble of the long hot walk up to the fortress. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls.

En-route to Amber Fort you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate façade,  extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving.

This afternoon, we visit the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways.

After this, we visit Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is the most famous of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India. Jai Singh was a great admirer of progress and research made in the fields of science and technology, and he was passionate about astronomy.

Tour Highlight – In the evening, you will be taken for a Cooking Demonstration followed by meal with a local Indian family in their home.

Overnight in Taj Rambagh Palace*.

 DAY 6:

FROM JAIPUR TO UDAIPUR

This morning we have leisure time to relax as we appreciate and enjoy our stay at the fabulous Taj Rambagh Palace.  Later on, we will drive to Udaipur.

Udaipur is often called the “Venice of the East” and the most romantic city in the state of Rajasthan.  Udaipur nestles like a gem in a valley surrounded by green hills, reflected smooth and white in the clear blue waters of Lake Pichola. The city is a kaleidoscope of narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens,  lakes, palaces and temples.

On arrival, check-in to your Luxury Lake View Room at the iconic Taj Lake Palace. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace*

 DAY 7:

UDAIPUR

Today we will proceed for a city tour of Udaipur where we will experience some of the highlights of this culturally rich city including:

City Palace: the majestic palace is actually a conglomerate of eleven palaces overlooking the sprawling Lake Pichola. Our tour takes in the private collection of precious and rare crystals from the Royal treasure. For more than 100 years the crystals remained underground, and the gallery was not open to the public due to its beauty and richness.

Jagdish Temple: dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the centre of the old city. The temple has a black marble image of Lord which is unusual for the northern part of the country, where statues of Gods are normally in white marble.

Sahelion-ki-bari: the spectacular garden displaying the unique lifestyle of the royal ladies who once lived in the Palaces.

Lake Pichola: In the afternoon, we share a boat cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola towards Jag Mandir Palace, which covers almost four acres and is noted for its marble pavilion and an imposing dome. Later we explore the local market and its exotic splendours.

Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace*

 DAY 8:

UDAIPUR TO MUMBAI

This morning we have time to relax and take in the views from our hotel.  Later, we will be transferred to Udaipur airport (around 1 hour) to fly to Mumbai.
Upon arrival in Mumbai, you will be met by our local guide and transferred to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where you will check-in to your Luxury Grand Sea View Room.

Bombay, or Mumbai, is the capital of Maharashtra and the economic powerhouse of India. It’s the fastest moving and most affluent city in India.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.