Golden Triangle with Mathura Vrindavana Tour

Welcome to Delhi, India – one of the world’s oldest yet living cultural civilization. You will be greeted in traditional Indian way. Upon arrival at New Delhi Airport, you will be met by a representative and then transferred to your hotel in Delhi. Spend evening at leisure and have overnight stay in Delhi hotel.

After breakfast, accompanied by local English speaking guide, you will be taken in an air-conditioned vehicle for a sightseeing tour of New Delhi. First visit the Qutub Minar dating from the 12th century, with a height of 234 m. It has been graciously carved by hand, and has a famous Iron Pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not yet rusty even after 1500 years. The second monument will be a Mughal monument. Visit Humayun Tomb, Mughal ruler Humayun's mausoleum - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. Proceed for visiting the imposing modern Lakshmi Narayan Temple. En route, pass through Lutyens’ Delhi visiting India Gate (monument dedicated to Indian soldiers martyred during WW-I &II), the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the residence of the President - former Viceroy's Palace), the House of Parliament and the Buildings of the Secretariat - an interesting mix of the Victorian century and the architecture of the 20th century. Later, move to Old Delhi to visit the Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial) & Jama Masjid , the largest mosque in India. Have rickshaw ride in Chandani Chowk, the former imperial avenue of Mughal royalty, which is now the busiest shopping center in the city. Stroll through Chandni Chowk and savor the atmosphere of an oriental bazaar. Return to your hotel in Delhi to spend the night.

The third day of Golden Triangle with Mathura Vrindavana tour is special as today we are moving to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. It takes about six hours to reach Jaipur. After having delicious breakfast in Delhi hotel, depart early for the Pink City of Rajasthan. On arrival at Jaipur, you will be directly transferred to Jaipur hotel. Have lunch and proceed on for half day sightseeing of Jaipur.

The first iconic monument of Jaipur to be visited is the City Palace, the residence of the Jaipur Royal Family. One of its sections is now a museum while the rest is inhabited by the royal family. The palace is built in the style of a fortified campus with museum having collections of armory and garments of the Maharajas. Continue to the Jantar Mantar , built by King Jai Singh II who had a deep interest in astronomy. It is the largest and a well-known stone-built solar observatory in the world. Located near the gate of the City Palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments like the sundial, and many of them are still in working order. Next iconic structure to be visited is Hawa Mahal , the Palace of Winds. Take some pictures of this beautifully crafted structure overlooking a bustling market. The palace has a number of small windows and screens. The vaulted roofs with a complicated sculpture were built so that women from royal families could look underneath, without being observed.

Having completed sightseeing, explore local market, famous for handicrafts, printed garments, leather goods, carpets, ‘durries’, jewelry etc. Shopping in colorful bazaars of Jaipur is an exhilarating experience. From here, you will be taken to Govind Dev Ji Temple to attend evening aarti, deity worship ceremony. It will be a real treat to eyes and soul. Later, in the evening return to hotel to spend evening in leisure and have overnight stay.

After enjoying delicious breakfast, proceed on a guided tour of Jaipur. The sightseeing includes Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Panna Meena Ka Kund, Albert Hall Museum, Birla Temple and Chokhi Dhani. Amber Fort is a classic and romantic fort palace complex of Rajasthan. This trip to Amber Fort will be done either by jeep or elephant! Built at the top of a hill, it offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings and you can make an elephant tour from the base of the hill to the fort. Built by Raja Man Singh I in 1592, the visit of this Rajput fort-palace is a must for its mosaics and marble panels. Miniature paintings on the walls depict hunting and war scenes and offer a glimpse into the life of the king and his nobles. Visit the Sheesh Mahal where you will find a particularly beautiful room whose walls and ceiling are made with mirrors. A guide will light you a candle in front of the Sheesh Mahal and the room will illuminate as if there were a million diamonds. It's a show you'll never forget. Next fort to be visited is Jaigarh Fort. Jaigarh Fort is known for world’s largest canon Jaivan, armory museum, water harvesting system and a demolished foundry. Panna Meena Ka Kund is a uniquely built water storage tank. Albert Hall, now rechristened as Central Museum, houses Persian carpets, ancient coins & sculptures, potteries, paintings etc. Birla Temple is a beautiful temple built of white marble and dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort Goddess Laxmi. Chokhi Dhani is an amusement park displaying various aspects of Rajasthan and its culture. Have Rajasthani dinner here. Later, in the evening return to hotel to spend evening in leisure and have overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Agra. On the way to Agra, visit two historical places- Abhaneri village & Fatehpur Sikri. Abhaneri village offers opportunity to see rural lifestyle, largest step well of Rajasthan- Chand Baori & ancient Harshat Mata temple. Fatehpur Sikri was the deserted capital of the Mughal. It was built by Akbar in the late 16th century. According to legend, the city was built in honor of a Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar to obtain an heir. Visit the remarkable and well preserved buildings, such as the tomb of Salim Christi, the red sandstone structures of the Jama Masjid (the mosque), Panch Mahal and the Palace of Jodha Bai. The structures reflect a mix of Islamic, Hindu and Persian architectural styles. After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, drive to Agra. On arrival at Agra, check in at the hotel to spend evening in leisure and have overnight stay.

The highlight of this trip to Agra is, of course, the famous Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is said to be mesmerizingly beautiful at the time of sunrise. So, you will be picked you up from your hotel for sightseeing of Taj Mahal during dawn hours. An English speaking local guide will accompany you during your visit. Built of white marble of Makrana, Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and most visited monument of India. After visiting Taj Mahal, return to hotel to refresh, have breakfast and to check out. Now, head towards Agra Fort. The fort is built of red sandstone and marble, and offers incredible views of the Taj Mahal and Yamuna River. Visit the Diwan-e-Aam (House of Commons), mosques and royal pavilions such as Shah Jahani Mahal. Marvel at the ingenuity of Mughal architecture that has kept its cold rooms by building walls dug for water to flow through. Some of the buildings are made of pure marble and have beautiful sculptures.

After visiting monuments of Agra, drive towards Delhi. On the way, make a detour to Mathura Vrindavana. Trip to Mathura will help learn more about India's rich culture and beliefs of the Hindus. Mathura is the revered cradle of Lord Krishna, which attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. Also called ' Brijbhoomi ' or Land of Eternal Love, Mathura offers a glimpse into the culture of India. Vrindavana is the place where Krishna spent his childhood. The ceremonies of Aarti (prayer) held in the many temples of the city are interesting; money, sweets and flowers are given as offerings to the gods. The huge Krishna Janmabhoomi Complex is the most famous temple in Mathura. Mathura guide will join you there and take you to visit Krishna Janma Bhumi Temple, Banke Bihari Temple and ISKCON Temple. Having explored Mathura & Vrindavana, drive towards Delhi. On arrival at New Delhi, you will be transferred to the airport to board flight for your onward destination. Golden Triangle with Mathura Vrindavana Tour ends here.