Classic Golden Triangle Tour

Delhi, Taj Mahal And Princely Jaipur

The classic itinerary for any first time visitors to India. The Golden Triangle can also form the basis of many tailor made India tours as it is relatively easy to add a host of additional sights to this template, including visits to Amritsar, Shimla and the Hill Stations, Varanasi and Rajasthan.

Delhi gives you the chance to experience India ‘full on’ with a walk through the bazaars and markets of Old Delhi. It is also one of the world’s great capital cities with a 2000 year old history and fascinating historic sights such as the Qutub Minar and The Red Fort, culminating in the tree lined avenues of Edwin Lutyen’s Imperial New Delhi.

At Agra, the Taj Mahal is an unmissable wonder of the world, and there is also the huge walled city called the Red Fort of Agra that was India’s capital for many centuries.

Jaipur is one of the grand princely states of India, with picture-book forts and ramparts crowing rugged mountain landscapes. The Maharajah’s Palace contains fabulous treasures collected from throughout the world.

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

Day 02 – Day 06

Delhi

The Manor

Relax On Arrival At Delhi
Relax on arrival at your hotel inside a leafy and exclusive area of Delhi.

Early Evening Rickshaw Ride Through Old Delhi
Let India take hold of your senses with a Cycle Rickshaw Ride through the teeming bazaars and markets of Chandni Chowk. At one end is the huge Jama Masjid mosque (1656)

As the last seat of power of the Mughal Empire, The Red Fort Of Delhi (1639) is an interesting introduction to India’s forts and palaces.

Day 03

Delhi

The Manor

Drive Through Lutyen’s Imperial New Delhi
Experience the wide open spaces of imperial New Delhi, with its ordered governmental buildings and blossoming avenues. Those with an appreciation of colonial architecture can marvel at Lutyen’s buildings such as Viceroy's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and India Gate, one of Delhi's most famous landmarks.

A great way to sample the ambience of the colonial era would be to stop for tea at the lovely Imperial Hotel or Claridges.

Sights Of Southern Delhi
Driving east and south you come across Humayun's Tomb (1570) and the Qutub Complex, dominated by the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world (239 ft), and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture.

If you plan your day carefully you can also see Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as new landmarks of Delhi such as the Akshardham and Lotus temples

Day 04

Agra

The Trident Agra

Akbar’s Tomb At Sikandra
The impressive tomb of Akbar The Great (1612) lies conveniently on the roadside near Agra.

Private Guided Tour Of The Red Fort At Agra The 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort Of Agra was built by Akbar the Great (1556-1605) and is in fact a walled palace that remained India’s premier city for almost two centuries.

The powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses many fairytale palaces within its 1.5 mile-long enclosure walls, including the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas and the Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace) which is inlaid with thousands of mirrors and was once the dressing room of the harem.

Day 05

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

The Amazing Beauty Of The Taj Mahal
The world’s greatest monument to love – the Taj Mahal. lies overlooking the River Yamuna. The Taj was built in 1631 by Emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favourite wife. To truly appreciate the wondrous Taj Mahal and its many
moods, you should aim to visit it at dawn or dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the colour of the dome from white to shades of pink.

The Tomb Of Itmad Ud Daulah (1622)
A lovely surprise in Agra is this delightful tomb of a nobleman that is often called the ‘mini’ Taj Mahal.

Fatehpur Sikri
The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri (1570) was the capital of Emperor Akbar between 1570 and 1585. The city was abandoned, for reasons still not understood, after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved, a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens.

Laxmi Vilas At Bharatpur
The Laxmi Vilas Palace (1887) is an ideal place to have lunch on the way to Jaipur.

Day 06

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

The Fabulous Amber Fort And Palace
After breakfast leave for Amber (pronounced Amer), 7 miles from Jaipur with one of the most fantastic settings in the whole of India.

Here, the Amber Fort (1592) lies cradled in picturesque and rugged hills with a long line of ramparts and battlements leading up to the Jaigarh Fort in the distance.

The forbidding exterior of Amber Fort belies an inner paradise with palaces that are a beautiful fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The top attraction here is the chance of an Elephant Back Ride to ascend to the top.

Private Guided Tour Of Jaipur City Palace
The old Pink City of Jaipur has a stunning backdrop of ancient forts and palaces that stand as dramatic testimonials of a bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance. Seven gates into the old city remain, one of which leads into Johari Bazaar - the famous jewellers' market that has the best selection of precious stones in India.

The magnificent City Palace built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 is enclosed by high walls and set amidst courtyards with fine gardens.

The City Palace is now a vast museum with exhibits that have lost none of their splendour. Royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances with fine displays of royal costumes and armaments.

The Palace of the Winds or Hawa Mahal (1799) is Jaipur’s most famous landmark originally built to offer the women of the court a vantage point from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below.

The Jantar Mantar (1734) is a fascinating astronomical observatory that is also well worth visiting.

Day 07

Delhi

The Svelte Hotel

To Goa’s Beaches
Return to Delhi Airport to take a direct flight to the beach resorts of Goa.

Depart Delhi

Depart Goa – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the
same day.

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