Golden Triangle tour - North India
This is a tailor-made tour to discover the three main sites of North India: New Delhi the capital of the Union, Jaipur the pink state capital of the Rajputs and Agra, once the headquarters of the Mughal emperors.
You will discover an astonishing heritage which is rich in colours and spans several centuries: from the great Mughal emperors to the British architects and the Maharajas.
This trip to North India offers you a glimpse or a first approach to what you will need to revisit, in depth, during another trip.
To this discovery, we propose to go birdwatching in Bharatpur Park, the former hunting reserve of the local Maharaja.
India Golden Triangle Tour
8 days / 7 nights
Stopovers at Delhi - Jaipur - Bharatpur - Agra
Day 1 • New Delhi
Arrive at New Delhi international airport. We meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2 • New Delhi
You will spend the day exploring the Indian national capital, formed by two distinct "cities". You will start with the colourful Chandni Chowk in the middle of which stands Jama Masjid, the largest mosque of India.
In the afternoon, you will visit New Delhi starting at the impressive Humayun's Tomb. Later, you will stroll around India Gate and pass in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan, the presidential palace. Finally, you will discover the magnificent Qutub Minar, a red sandstone minaret and a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art.
Day 3 • Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast, you will depart to Jaipur, the pink city and state capital of Rajasthan. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and visit of the City Palace, the walls of which are home to a museum and the residence of today's royal family. Late afternoon will be free for you to stroll in the many bazars of the pink city.
Day 4 • Jaipur
This full day sightseeing will start with a stop in front of the astonishing Palace of Winds, a finely carved facade of pink sandstone behind which the ladies of the court used to hide when watching the parades in the street below.
Thereafter, you will leave for Amber Fort, the ancestral home of the Maharajas of Jaipur perched on a hilltop. You will explore the palace, a fabulous maze of courtyards, interior gardens and rooms decorated with mirrors and mosaics.
In the afternoon, you will visit Jantar Mantar, the amazing observatory that Jai Singh II built and where astrolabes and sundials form a surreal landscape. Late afternoon will be at leisure for a walk along the Man Sagar Lake.
Day 5 • Jaipur - Bharatpur
In the morning, you will depart by road to Bharatpur which is home to Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. Along the way, stop in a village to visit one of the oldest baoli (wells) in northern India. Upon arrival in Bharatpur, check-in at the hotel and rest of the day free.
Day 6 • Bharatpur
Day to discover the bird sanctuary located on a former hunting estate which was developed and irrigated around 1900 by the sovereign Kishan Singh whose duck hunting gatherings were very popular with the nobility. Covering about thirty square kilometres of woods and ponds, the reserve is home to more than 350 species of migratory and non-migratory birds, in addition to the usual sambar, nilgai, and other antelopes.
You can also visit Lohagarh, the iron fort, built in the 18th century and reputedly impregnable. Although virtually nothing remains of the outer wall, the second fortification houses a museum with a collection of sculptures, some of them very old.
Day 7 • Bharatpur - Agra
In the morning, you will drive on to your next destination: Agra, the ancient capital of the Mughal emperors.
On the way, you will explore Fatehpur Sikri, the capital of emperor Akbar that he built in the 16th century and abandoned fifteen years after its completion, probably due to lack of water.
Upon arrival in Agra, you will check-in at the hotel and will visit Itimad-ud-Daulah's mausoleum that was built before Taj Mahal. Its main interests are the frescoes on the interior walls and the marquetry of polychrome marbles on the outer walls.
Day 8 • Agra - Delhi
Early morning, you will visit the jewel of the Mughal Empire: the Taj Mahal. Ranked one of the seven wonders of the modern world, it is a universally admired masterpiece of the world's heritage. While visiting it, you will appreciate the genius of the architects and the work of the thousands of craftsmen who worked to achieve it in a record time of 16 years.
You will also go and visit Red Fort. The interiors form like a city with palaces, mosques and gardens, offering various architectural styles. After the visits, you will drive back to Delhi that you will reach at the end of the day, on time for your transfer to the international terminal for your onward journey.
This tour is only a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as is or used as a starting point to create your own tailor-made tour in India.
IDEAS FOR A CUSTOMISED STAY IN RAJASTHAN
- Plan a cinema session at the “Raj Mandir” in Jaipur for a “Bollywood” movie and/or a rickshaw ride through the streets of the city.
- Replace Bharatpur Park with Ranthambore Park to see the tigers.
- Extend your India tour: visit Gwalior, Orchha and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh and/or Varanasi, the holy city.
- The best time to go: all year round for Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. For the park of Bharatpur, plan from August to November to observe the resident birds and from October to February to observe the migratory birds.
680 US$ / pers.
(base 2 pax)
540 US$ / pers.
(base 4 pax)
Season: Summer 2024 (April - September). . Price per person including accommodation on double occupancy in 3* hotels (4* in Delhi) with breakfasts, travel in a private chauffeur-driven Toyota Innova Crysta vehicle, entrance fees to monuments listed in itinerary. . The price does not include international flights, entrance fees to parks, guides, meals, visas and insurance. . Prices are indicative only. May vary according to tax and exchange rate fluctuations and travel dates.
