The Golden Triangle With Varanasi

India’s Highlights With The Sacred
City Of Varanasi

The city of Varanasi has origins that are lost in the mists of time. It is literally one of the oldest living cities in the world. The daily scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the Bathing Ghats of the River Ganges at sunrise set against the back drop of the centuries old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world.

After arriving in Delhi and looking at the historic sights such the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, a short flight takes you straight to Varanasi where you can tour the Ghats by Cycle Rickshaw, witness an evening Aarti Ceremony and experience an unforgettable sunrise over the River Ganges by boat.

You then travel to Agra by one of India’s great touring experiences, an Overnight Sleeper Train, and these have 1st Class Sleeper Compartments too.

At Agra, the prime interest has to be the wonderful Taj Mahal, a great wonder of the world, but there is also the impressive Red Fort of Agra that was India’s capital for many centuries.

Travel to Rajasthan and the Princely State of Jaipur where a series of forts and ramparts crown the rugged mountain landscape. The great wealth of the Kachwaha dynasty is displayed in a sequence of grand museums within the enormous City Palace of Jaipur.

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

Day 02

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

Varanasi

Radisson Varanasi

INTERNAL FLIGHT FROM DELHI – VARANASI

1 HR 25 MIN

The Sacred City Of Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the holiest places in India, where Hindu pilgrims come to wash away a lifetime of sins in the River Ganges or to cremate their loved ones. No other location in India gives a visitor such an interesting awakening into its culture and spirituality.

The Bathing Ghats are a series of steps leading down to the river, used by bathers and pilgrims. The riverside at Varanasi consists of a long sequence of these. There is a magical but sometimes overwhelming sight to be observed of the most intimate rituals of life and death taking place in public in the city’s Ghats.

Witness An Evening Aarti Ceremony At Varanasi
Every evening at sunset, on the banks of the River Ganges, the devotional ceremony of Aarti is performed. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the Ghats to watch this fiery ritual.

Day 05

Varanasi

Radisson Varanasi

Sunrise Boat Trip On The Ganges
Sunrise is a magical time for a boat ride on the River Ganges, when the Ghats are filled with Hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in India.

The Deer Park At Sarnath
One of the most important places for pilgrimage in Buddhism is the Deer Park at Sarnath, where The Buddha first taught his teachings (Dharma), and where the Buddhist Sangha (order of monks) came into existence.

Day 06

Varanasi- Agra By Overnight
Sleeper

BY EXPRESS TRAIN FROM MUGHAL SARAI -
TUNDLA
DEP 22:20- ARR 06:30 HRS

Board the night train from Mughal Sarai to Agra. This train contains comfortable 1st Class A/C Sleeper Compartments.

Day 07

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 08

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 09

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 10

Delhi

The Svelte Hotel

To Delhi
Return to Delhi and relax prior to your departure.

Depart Delhi

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