Wildlife and Culture of the Golden Triangle

Welcome to Delhi!

Upon arriving, you will be greeted and escorted to your vehicle and taken to your hotel for the night. Check in, take your first day off, and relax.

Dehli

In the morning, our sightseeing tour begins. We will visit the walled city of Old Delhi, where every street is bustling with activity. The influence of the Mughals, who once ruled from the walls of the Red Fort, can be seen widely. We will visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, built in the 17th century. Later, we will pass through New Delhi area to visit Raj Ghat, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace), Parliament House and other colonial buildings. The early 20th century work of Edwin Lutyens, a British architect, figures prominently in colonial districts.

Finally, visit the famous Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb, a wonderful example of Persian-inspired Mughal architecture. At the end of your city tour, you can have a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant. You will have the evening free to explore more and dine on your own.

Agra

This morning, a driver will pick you up from your hotel in Delhi and drive you south to Agra, the home of the magnificent Taj Mahal. Once you arrive in Agra and check in at your hotel, you will go on a heritage walk and learn more about the city, which draws much of its character from the rule of the Mughal period, during which the Taj Mahal was built.

After your walk, you can have tea before continuing with a visit to the ancient village of Kachhpura, the Humayun Mosque, and a local school. In the afternoon, you will have a chance to watch the sunset at the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal - Agra Fort

Today, you will return to the Taj Mahal when the sun rises and explore its grounds. On this tour, you will learn about its construction and architectural details, such as the fact that it took 22 years and 20,000 men to build, while its white marble was quarried 200 miles away and carried by a fleet of 1,000 elephants. The monument was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

In the afternoon, you will visit Agra Fort, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture on the Yamuna River, which was the seat and fortress of the Mughal Empire for several generations. After viewing the fort, a driver will take you back to your hotel and you will have the night free.

Ranthambore National Park

Today, a driver will pick you up from your hotel and head west towards Ranthambore, with a stop along the way to visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a city that was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and then abandoned 15 years later, supposedly due to water shortages. Now a premier tourist destination, you can visit its elegant buildings and learn how its décor infuses architectural influences from Islamic, Hindu and Jain design traditions.

Once you arrive in Ranthambore, you will begin to explore one of the best tiger reserves in India, which covers 254 square miles and runs between two mountain ranges, the Aravalli to the Vindhya. You will have time in the evening to relax at your hotel and perhaps visit the nearby Jain temples, which are known for their golden paintings.

Safari in Ranthambore National Park

After breakfast this morning, you will go on a day safari around Ranthambore. This former royal hunting ground is now a protected home for tigers, leopards, and marsh crocodiles. Keep your camera ready, as you never know when one of these amazing animals might cross your path. You can also see the beautiful water lilies in the park and the Ganesh Mandir temple. When you are done exploring the park, a driver will take you back to your hotel in the evening.

Jaipur

A driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Jaipur, a city founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. Jaipur is uniquely organized according to the nine divisions of the universe into nine different sectors, and the architecture combines Mughal and Jain influences. As much of the city was painted pink in 1853, it is known as the "Pink City".

After arriving and checking in at your hotel, you will take a historical heritage walk around the city, where you can also sample traditional foods such as pakora, aloo tikki, samosas, and sweets from some of the most popular street food vendors in the city. You will also observe jewellers, silversmiths, and gold and silver leaf makers in their workshops. After the walk, you will have the rest of the afternoon free.

Amber Fort

Today a driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the ancient Rajput capital Amer, on the outskirts of the city. Here, you will see the Amber Fort, a fortified palace that was built by Raja Man Singh. During your tour, you will visit Diwan-i-Am (the Hall of Public Audience), the Shila Devi Temple, Jai Mandir (the Hall of Victory) with its inlaid panels and mirrored ceiling, and Sukh Niwas. After exploring, you can also take an elephant ride through the fort's grounds.

In the afternoon, you will return to Jaipur to see the Jaipur City Palace, which occupies one seventh of the total area of the city, the Jantar Mantar astronomy instruments and observatory, and the famous pink Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds).

Varanasi

In the morning, you can experience the spiritual side of Jaipur and learn more about its architecture while visiting some of its colourful temples during another walking tour. Once your walking tour is over, a driver will take you to the airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Varanasi. Once you arrive in Varanasi, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Ganges River

Today, you will be immersed in one of the most unique cities on the planet and learn about the cycles of life and Hindu traditions and rituals on the Ganges River, the most sacred body of water in India. You will take an early morning boat ride on the Ganges to see bathing ghats and cremation sites that are visited by pilgrims from all over India.

Later in the day, you can go to see Viswanath Temple (also called Golden Temple due to its gold-plated towers) which is dedicated to Shiva, the Bharat Mata Temple, the Durga Temple and the Tulsi Manas Temple which is engraved with scenes and verses from the Hindi version of the Ramayana. After your temple tour, a driver will take you six miles out of Varanasi to Sarnath, an important sight for Buddhist pilgrims as it is considered to be the site of the Buddha's first sermon. A driver will take you back to your hotel at the end of the day and you will have the night free.

Goodbye Delhi

Time to say goodbye to India! A driver will pick you up in the morning and transfer you to the airport for a domestic flight to Dehli and your flight back home.