Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 2
In Delhi
Breakfast at hotel
Morning visit of Old Delhi-the 300-year-old walled city built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital and named after him. Drive past the Red Fort (Closed on Monday) built of red sandstone. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century and the Ashokan Pillar of 3rd BC. Then visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Drive through the old city subject to traffic restrictions.
Rikshaw ride at Old Delhi
Afternoon visit of New Delhi-the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat buildings – the centre of all government activity and down the main avenue, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate, the High Court Building and the Old Fort. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high and the ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque. See Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD. Later visit of Gurudwara- the place of of worship for the Sikhs
Overnight at the hotel
Day 3
Delhi/ Jaipur via Samode (256 Kms/ 6-6½ Hr including visit and lunch)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed for Jaipur via Samode
Lunch at Samode Palace
Afternoon panoramic tour of Jaipur and later in the evening visit of Birla Temple and Cycle Rikshaw ride at Jaipur
Overnight at the hotel
Day 4
In Jaipur
Tea/ Coffee at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit Amber Fort- just 7 miles north of Jaipur is Amber with it’s a honey-coloured fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills which can be mounted by elephant. It has been described as “the sleeping beauty of Rajasthan”. The sombre exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments which open on to striking views of the gorge. It also possesses a Chamber of Mirrors. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art – panels of alabaster with fine inlay work of the tenderest hues
Afternoon city tour of Jaipur- It is the city which has the “tone of the autumn sunset” photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could view the world outside. Jai Singh’s Observatory built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. City Palace now a museum contains fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armoury
Oovernight at the Hotel in Jaipur
Day 5
Jaipur/ Agra (236 kms/ 6-7 Hours including visit of Fatehpur Sikri)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed for Agra enroute visit of Fatehpur Sikri- 37 kms west of Agra lies the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri- an epic poem in red sandstone, built by Emperor Akbar the Great in 1569 and deserted 14 years later because its water supply failed. Its glorious courtyards and palaces conjure up dreams of the mysterious past. The Panch Mahal, a strange building which resembles a Buddhist Temple, a cloistered courtyard which was the Hall of Public audience, and the Pachchisi paved with black and white where the Emperor played chess using slave girls as figurines
After the visit proceed for Agra and on arrival check-in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Agra
Day 6
In Agra
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit of Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday)- the greatest love story ever told. On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, in wild extravagance, Shahjehan built her this memorial. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this wealth of white marble and precious stone.
Later visit of Agra Fort-behind its forbidding red sandstone battlements lie palaces that tell the story of the Moghul Empire. The most impressive part of the Fort are the Dewan-e-Am, where the Emperor sat on his throne to dispense to his subjects, and the Dewan-e-Khas where he received foreign dignitaries. Also visit the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah, the father of the queen Mumtaj for whom Taj Mahal was made
Overnight at hotel
Day 7
Agra/ Jhansi by train-0810/ 1045 hrs + Jhansi/ Orchha (20 Kms/ ½ Hrs)
Breakfast at hotel
Morning in time transfer to Railway station to board Shatabdi express (0806/ 1045) to Jhansi.
Departure: Agra by: Shatabadi Express at: 0810 Hours
Arrival: Jhansi at: 1045 Hours
Meeting and assistance on arrival and proceed for Orchha. On arrival transfer to the hotel
Later in the afternoon visit Orchha- The palaces and temples of this medieval township built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th century retain much of its pristine perfection. The Jehangir Mahal was built in the 17th century by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. Its strong lines are counterbalanced by delicate chhatris and trellis work. The Raj Mahal has a plain exterior crowned by chhatries but the interior has exquisite, boldly colourful murals on religious themes. The Ram Raja Temple is most unusual as it is a palace turned temple and where Rama is worshipped as a Raja (king). The Laxminarayan Temple is linked by a flagstone path to the Ram Raja Temple. The interiors contain the most exquisite of Orchha’s wall paintings
