Depart the USA

Jaipur - Capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is also known as the “Pink City” due the color of its buildings. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 CE, the city’s plan followed a grid system, making it the only planned city of its time. With its innumerable sagas of traditions, culture and practices, Jaipur is a sensory treat for tourists from all over the world. On arrival in Jaipur, transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, explore Jaipur. Begin with a Photo stop at the Hawa Mahal Palace, the most well-known landmark of Jaipur city, built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Next visit the Amber Fort - Set high on a picturesque and rugged hill, it is a principal attraction in Jaipur. The fort was declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. In the afternoon visit the Jantar Mantar, a collection of architectural astronomical instruments. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved, inscribed on the World Heritage List as "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period". In the late afternoon enjoy a Rickshaw ride through the old city in Jaipur. Explore the walled city of Jaipur in these unique and custom-designed, eco-friendly rickshaws driven by well-trained ladies, all from the slums and low-income areas of Jaipur. From the picturesque lanes and by-lanes to the many palaces, it will take you through the many attractions starting from Tripolia Bazaar, then to Hawa Mahal, Badi Chaupar, Choti Chaupar, Ajmeri Gate, Chodha Rasta and ends at the Albert Hall or vice versa. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Agra, On the way enjoy the visit of the Abhaneri Step well & Harshat Mata Temple for time to explore on your own - Abhaneri is a small village, famous for its stepwell, created for rainwater harvesting, a unique invention by the people of Abhaneri. The major attraction of Abhaneri is "Chand Baori" which is located in front of the Harshat Mata Temple and this colossal stepwell has a depth of 20 meters with 13 levels. Continue to Agra, located in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra is a slow-paced, quiet town. Also known as the city of the Taj Mahal—one of the Seven Wonders of the World—Agra’s significance as the political center of the Mughal Empire ended when Shahjahan transferred his capital to Delhi.  Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning enjoy visit of the Taj Mahal during Sunrise - Muted but Soulful, Taj Mahal popularly known as Crown of Palaces is a white marble mausoleum and a UNESCO world heritage site.  As a testament to his love, the magnificent structure was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.  After breakfast visit the Agra Fort - A UNESCO World Heritage site, Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, before the capital was shifted to Delhi from Agra. Late in the afternoon drive to Delhi.  Delhi has been the seat of power of several empires for about a millennium. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, and interestingly, some of its destroyers have also been its rulers. Delhi today is a potpourri of two distinct cultural lineages—Old Delhi and New Delhi. Juxtaposed against the immaculately planned New Delhi created by the British Raj, Old Delhi, which was once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinthine network of lanes and by lanes with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. On arrival in Delhi transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

After a leisurely breakfast explore Dehli. Enjoy a photo stop at the historic Red Fort – it was built to serve as the Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s residence. Next visit the Jama Masjid – This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. In the afternoon explore new Delhi including a photo stop at the India Gate - At the center of New Delhi, it commemorates 70,000 Indian soldiers, who lost their lives fighting for the British Army, during World War I. Drive past the Govt. Buildings - New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences, reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Later visit the Humayun's Tomb. This magnificent garden tomb is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India. Overnight at the hotel. 

Return to the USA