FIRST TIMER INDIA EXPERIENCE: 5 DAYS
DELHI – AGRA – JAIPUR
Day 01: Delhi Arrival
Travel
ASTU REPRESENTATIVE will receive you on arrival at the airport in Delhi. Transfer
to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Overnight
will be in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi and drive Delhi – Agra By
road in 3.5hrs
Enjoy a
guided tour of Old Delhi after breakfast.
The tour
will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma
Gandhi. He is also famously known as the “father of the nation”.
One of
the most important buildings of Old Delhi is the RED FORT. The Red Fort
was built during the years 1638 – 48. In 1638 Shahjahan transferred his capital
from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city
of Delhi. lying at the town's northern end on the right bank or the Yamuna and
south of Salim Garh, was begun in 1639 and completed after nine years. Continue
your tour to Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia’s largest
mosques. People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence
of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.
Enjoy
the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi peddling through the narrow by lanes of
Chandani Chowk.
The
division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the
British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New
Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all
tradition where one will be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets,
colors and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city trying to live up to the
best of 21st century standards.
Imperial
Delhi will include the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India.
Qutub-Minar in red and buff stand stone is the highest tower in India. It has a
diameter of 14.32 m at the base and about 2.75 m on the top with a height of
72.5 m. Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use
of the mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first floor, to
which were added three more floors by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din
Iltutmish (AD 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony
encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with
honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first floor.
Next
stop would be the majestic Humanyun’s Tomb. Humayun died in 1556, and
his widow Hamida Banu Begum, also known as Haji Begum, commenced the
construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the
first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian
architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian
architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the
tomb, although there is no record to that effect.
The tour
also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament
building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President’s residence.
Proceed
to Agra thereafter.
Agra: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shahjahan, transformed the
Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name
Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in
a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow
galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city
of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still
reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of
the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Reach
and check into the hotel.
Overnight
will be in Agra.
Day 03: Agra – Jaipur
By road in 5 hrs
Proceed
for sightseeing of Agra.
Taj
Mahal: Little needs to be said about this
architectural wonder, which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's
visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his
beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and
was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its
stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted
particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the
best inlay work ever seen.
Agra
Fort: The red sandstone structure is surrounded
by chahar-bagh, a four-square formal garden. Built by the famed Mughal emperor
Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl
Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on the bend of the river
Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the
years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and
walls of red sandstone and a moat.
Proceed
to Jaipur by road. Reach and transfer to hotel.
Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic realm of
resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies in the
western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India. Proudly belonging to
the KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made fearsome
foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain their wealth and
authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to the central
power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors and
also the British Raj that followed.
The
bustling Rajasthan capital of Jaipur takes its name from its venerated founder
Jai Singh II, who was given the title Sawai Maharaja by the Mughal. Literally
translated this would mean ’one and a quarter’, suggesting that the Mughal
thought this emperor to be more valuable than just ‘one’. Jaipur is known as
the ’Pink City’ on account of the distinctive color of its buildings. This did
not, however, form part of the original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the
city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State Visit from Prince Albert.
Overnight
will be in Jaipur.
Day 04: Jaipur
Proceed
for a morning excursion to Amber Fort after breakfast. Elephant ride ascent to
the fort.
Amber
Fort Palace: Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort
palace. Its construction was started by
Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner
paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate
expression.
After sightseeing continue your visit to
DERA AMER. Spend half a day with resident elephants.
The elephant treks are conducted in the
original Aravali forests surrounding the camp and follow a route passing by
hutments, agricultural fields, hills and ancient monuments, the birdlife in the
thick forests is thriving and though panthers do inhabit the jungles it is very
rare to see them however occasionally the hyena and the wolf has been sighted
by guests, antelopes, jackals are in abundance. The sunset elephant treks are
magical.
Enjoy
the experience followed by dinner.
Overnight
will be at Jaipur.
Day 05:
Jaipur- Delhi
By air
Enjoy a relaxed
breakfast at the hotel.
Continue
sightseeing.
City
Palace: A delightful blend of Mughal and
traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh
of the area in the walled city. It
houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
Jantar
Mantar: This is the largest and the best preserved
of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the
country. This observatory consisting of
outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
Hawa
Mahal: The ornamental facade of this "Palace
of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of
sandstone-plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate
balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap
Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
Enjoy a nice
lunch and some last moment shopping.
Proceed to the
airport to board your flight to Delhi thereafter.
You will be transferred in time to the
airport for flight back home with sweet memories of the
TOUR ENDS
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
ü
ACCOMMODATION AT MENTIONED HOTELS
ü
DAILY BREAKFASTS AT THE HOTELS
ü
SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY
ü
AC MUV AT DISPOSAL WITH THE DRIVER FOR YOUR
TOUR
ü
MONUMENT ENTRANCE CHARGES
ü
ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDES FOR ALL TOURS
ü
MOBILE PHONE WITH ALL THE IMPORTANT CONTACT
NUMBERS PRE-FED
ü
LOCAL AIRFARE IN ECONOMY CLASS FOR THE
SECTOR JAIPUR – DELHI
ü
DEDICATED
TOUR MANAGER WITH 24 HRS ASSISTANCE
ü
ASSISTANCE AT THE AIRPORTS ON ARRIVAL /
DEPARTURE
ü
ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES
ü
ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXES AND DRIVER
ALLOWANCES
SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:
ü
RICKSHAW RIDE IN DELHI
ü
OLD CITY WALKING TOUR IN DELHI
ü
TONGA RIDE TO TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA
ü
ELEPHANT RIDE AT AMER FORT IN JAIPUR
ü A DAY WITH ELEPHANTS WITH DINNER AT JAIPUR
ü
FAREWELL LUNCH IN JAIPUR
EXCLUSIONS:
ü LUNCHES AND DINNERS (EXCEPT FOR THOSE MENTIONED IN INCLUSIONS)
ü
PERSONAL EXPENSES
ü
TIPS ETC
ü
AIRFARE
ü
VISA CHARGES
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