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Hearts of India – 7 nights

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Tour Details

Arrive Delhi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

This day there is a combined Old and New Delhi tour. New Delhi was established in 1911 by King George V who, feeling Calcutta was too remote, wanted a new capital for the Indian Empire. Drive by the impressive India Gate with its eternal flame, the Presidential Palace and Parliament House; then stop to visit Qutab Minar, a 200-foot high minaret and Humayun’s Tomb, the first of the great Mughal Tomb complexes. Later, you continue to Old Delhi, and drive past Raj Ghat, the monument to Mahatma Gandhi erected on the site of his funeral pyre and an important place of pilgrimage for People from all over the world. In Old Delhi see the The Jama Masjid Mosque, built by the Emperor Shah Jahan; then continue past the bustling market place of Chandni Chowk, where silver merchants ply their trade.

Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Udaipur; meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon, proceed for a tour of the City Palace – completely white and majestic, The City Palace stands on a hill surrounded by crenulated walls and its main entrance through the triple arched gate, The Tripola, built in 1725. There is Suraj Gokhada, the Balcony of the Sun where the Suryavanshi Maharana (the descendent of the sun) of Mewar presented themselves in time of trouble to the people to restore their confidence. The More Chowk or the Peacock Courtyard gets its name from the vivid mosaics in glass, which decorates its walls.

In the morning, proceed for a tour of the City Palace – completely white and majestic, The City Palace stands on a hill surrounded by crenulated walls and its main entrance through the triple arched gate, The Tripola, built in 1725. There is Suraj Gokhada, the Balcony of the Sun where the Suryavanshi Maharana (the descendent of the sun) of Mewar presented themselves in time of trouble to the people to restore their confidence. The More Chowk or the Peacock Courtyard gets its name from the vivid mosaics in glass, which decorates its walls. Also included in the tour are stops at Crafts Museum and Jagdish Temple. Rest of the day is free. In the evening, boat ride at Lake Pichola.

Transfer by surface to Jaipur – 7+ hours drive with an optional stop at no extra cost at Ranakpur Temple – additional hour to 90 minutes. Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain Community. The temples were built around the 15th century A..D. during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. The central ‘Chaumukh’ or four faced temple is dedicated to the venerated the Tirthankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four faces (images) of Adinath. Sprawling over 48,000 square feet, the temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1444 intricately carved pillars. Images of 24 tirthankaras are carved on the ‘mandaps’ or porticoes in a corridor around the shrine with each mandap having a ‘shikhar’ or spire adorned with little bells on the top. Gentle breeze wafting through corridors moves the bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three storeys, the temple has 4 small shrines, with 80 spires supported by 420 columns. Lunch at Maharani Bagh and continue to Jaipur and on arrival, check in at your hotel.

Early morning, visit the Amber Fort, which for six centuries was the ancient capital of the state of Rajasthan. Visit the Jagmandir & the Sheesh Mahal (pavilion of mirrors) which reflects a single candle flame in a thousand flickering lights. Also experience the unique thrill of travelling by Elephant Back to the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. In the afternoon, a sightseeing tour of Jaipur city. Visit the Observatory equipped with mortar instruments of remarkable size, which for sheer accuracy are difficult to beat even today. Also visit the Maharaja’s City Palace, the former royal residence and now a museum housing a vast amount of artefacts. Stop by at the beautiful Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds), a beautifully decorated facade of 953 windows in flushed pink. Remember, Jaipur is the most colourful and vibrant city of India and a haven for shopping!

Morning leave by surface for Agra, approximately 232 kilometres and 5 to 6 hours of drive. En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri – perched atop a rocky ridge, 37 kms west of Agra. Fatehpur Sikri came into being four centuries ago when Emperor Akbar, not yet 28 years old, created the first planned city in Indo-Islamic architecture. Akbar was secure and powerful but had no son and heir. He was blessed by Sufi saint Salim Chisti living close in Sikri Village, who prophesied the birth of three sons to him. Soon after Prince Salim was born and later came to be known as Emperor Jehangir. In gratitude for the blessing, Akbar decided to create imperial residence in Sikri, which would function as a joint capital with Agra. The city unfortunately had to be later abandoned due to the lack of water. Its fortifications, massive gateway and palaces remain in a wonderful state of preservation and include the Jamma Masjid, Panch Mahal & The Salim Chisti’s Tomb set like a jewel in a courtyard of pink sandstone and enclosed by delicately carved marble screens. Proceed to Agra and on arrival, check into your hotel. Visit Taj Mahal at sunset as Taj Mahal is closed the next day as it is Friday.

Taj Mahal – a breath-taking sight as you see the monument change colors as the sun ascends the horizon; from flushed pink to yellow white to blazing orange. A fitting tribute to love and romance as the monument was built as a tribute to the queen of Emperor Shah Jehan and today it is one of the wonders of the world. The legendary monument to love is an architectural marvel perfectly proportioned and fashioned in white marble. It stands testimony to the skill of craftsmen brought in from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and to the 20,000 workers who toiled for 17 years in its construction. It has aptly been compared to “a drop of tear on the face of the universe”, by the Indian Nobel Laureate Tagore.

The days visits include The Agra Fort where you see it’s palaces and the Hall of Public and Private Audience. From here, you get to see the Taj Mahal, in the distant – with the foreground of the River Yamuna. Legend has that during the period of imprisonment of Emperor Shah Jehan here, he would see the Taj Mahal as a reflection in a mirror placed next to his bed. Later visit Sikandra and “Itmad-ud-Daulah”, also known as The Mini Taj. Transfer to the Delhi airport for onward flight.