We welcome you in the capital city of India, for a journey across the fascinating history-markers of medieval north India. Wars were fought and rulers changed in Delhi but ordinary lives were lived in relative continuity. Glimpses of these can be seen even today as the character of the city underwent massive changes in the last decades. In the lands fabled to have seen seven cities, signs of the old are continuously jostling with the new, presenting an ever-fascinating panorama. We welcome you to its chaos and stability, into its steadfastness and its impatience and into a delightful rainbow of amalgamation, producing a world completely its own.
Arrive Delhi airport by flight TBA, meeting and assistance at airport and transfer to hotel for check in.
Overnight stay at hotel.
This morning after breakfast proceed for the visit to Old and New Delhi.
In Old Delhi visit the Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi). Drive past Red fort and once an imperial avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city. Later visit Jama Masjid, - The largestmosque in India. Later take an intriguing rickshaw ride through the lanes of Chandni Chowk market to savour the ambience of a crowded oriental bazaar.
In New Delhi visit the 12th century Qutub Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years. Visit the mausoleum of emperor Humanyu - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. Visit the mausoleum of emperor Humanyu - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian soldiers), the president's residence - formerly the Viceroy's Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, - an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture.
Optional activity
Morning after breakfast OR in the evening Salam Balak walk
The Walk is a guided tour around New Delhi Railway Station and Paharganj area in which former street children share their personal story of survival with the participants and show them the contact points and shelter homes of SBT. Through this program the young guides, who are former boys of our trust, get an opportunity to improve their English communication and business skills independently. The walk hopes to raise awareness about street children and helps to provide a deeper insight about street life from people who have experienced it themselves. Often people don’t get in touch with poverty and the real problems Indian society is facing. During The Walk the participants get to know another side of Delhi - why children run away from home, how they learn to survive on the street, how they enjoy their life on the street because they are independent, and how eventually they can choose their future over this freedom. Some of the children have taken the opportunity to change their lives and now they are going to university, studying different languages, working as professional photographers or for example as tour guides for The Walk.
Optional activity
Kingdom of Dreams for show followed by dinner at Cultural Gully (kingdom of dreams not operation on Monday)
Kingdom of Dreams – Palace styled & India’s first state-of- the –future 835 seat auditorium sporting cutting edge technology & visual effects is the Jewel in the Crown of the Kingdom, where an opulent, cinematic theatrical experience of the World’s biggest Bollywood long-playing musical show is staged daily. Famous names from the Indian film industry collaborate to create this electrifying, on-stage magnum opus spectacle.
Cultural Gully – Welcome to a carnival that is India! An exotic, pan-Indian arts, crafts & cuisine boulevard, Culture Gully is indeed a kaleidoscope experience of India’s unique diversity – in one street. Visit a quaint tavern in Goa; imbibe the spirit of Kerala’s backwaters, all while savouring authentic Indian cuisine, crafts and culture. A Gourmet’s paradise, this unique ‘culture district’ is a lavish, air-conditioned indoor street that recreates landmarks of the country.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Today morning after breakfast leave Delhi and drive to Agra, upon arrival check-in at hotel.
Later visit the Agra Fort, which contains the halls private and public audiences and other palaces. Shah Jahan spent years of confinement at the hands of his son Aurangzeb, looking wistfully at the Taj Mahal from the Fort. Followed by sunset visit Taj Mahal world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this ' Love Poem in Marble'.(Closed on Fridays)
Overnight stay at hotel
Today after your breakfast, leave Agra and drive to Bharatpur to board the train to Sawai Madhopur enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri (40Km – 1hrs)
Located 40 Kms from Agra, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.
Later enjoy lunch at local restaurant, post lunch transfer to the Bharatpur Railway station to board train Sawai Madhopur
Bharatpur / Sawai Madhopur 12060 Kota Jan Shatabdi Express 1550/1802 Hours
Meeting and assistance at railway station and transfer to hotel for check-in.
Overnight stay at hotel
Early Morning & Afternoon: Visit to wild life sanctuary by Sharing Jeep
This famous national park is the best place to spot wild tigers in Rajasthan. Comprising 1334 sq km of wild jungle scrub hemmed in by rocky ridges, seeing a tiger (around 52 to 55 in 2016) is partly a matter of luck; leave time for two or three safaris to improve your chances. But remember there’s plenty of other wildlife to see, including more than 300 species of birds.
Overnight stay at hotel
Early Morning visit to wild life sanctuary by Sharing Jeep later return to hotel for breakfast, post breakfast leave Ranthambore to Jaipur. Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Evening Optional Activity: Cooking demo followed by dinner
Ikaki Niwas the home where you will have a cookery demonstration followed by dinner.
Overnight stay at hotel
Today morning after breakfast excursion to Amber fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En-route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of city visiting Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Evening Optional Activity: Elephant ride at Dera Amer followed by Dinner
Late evening one hour Elephant Ride in Jaipur outskirts followed by dinner at Dera Amer near Jaipur. The Elephant Safaris are conducted in the original Aravali forests surrounding the camp and follow a route through villages, agricultural fields, hills and ancient monuments, the birdlife in the thick forests is thriving and though panthers do inhabit the jungles it is very rare to see them however occasionally hyena and wolf can be seen.
Overnight stay at hotel
Today morning after breakfast leave Jaipur and drive to Delhi, upon arrival check-in at hotel
Overnight stay at hotel
Today in time transfer to Delhi airport to board flight TBA for onward destinations.