Golden Triangle, Varanasi & Khajuraho

Delhi

Day 1: Delhi: You've arrived

It's possible that an arrival to the riotous sights and sounds of Delhi could be a confusing experience. Fear not! Your trusty driver will meet you as soon as you land, and make your hotel transfer a happily pain-free experience. This will make it ridiculously easy to relax, and allow you a particularly deep sleep in your luxurious hotel bed.

Delhi

Day 2: Delhi: Old and New

After a leisurely breakfast, get a feel for the place on a combined city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Qutab Minar, Humayun's tomb; Lakshminarayan Temple, a modern Hindu Temple; Parliament House;and Connaught Place, New Delhi's premium shopping centre. Have a walk around the Red Fort, built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan; Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India; and Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana, the cremation sites of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. It's back to Relax Central at your hotel after this whirlwind tour.

Delhi - Jaipur

Day 3: In the pink city

After a capital breakfast, you'll be driven to Jaipur to be checked into your hotel

Jaipur is also referred to by its romantic nickname, "The Pink City," because of the roseate hue its royal buildings display. It boasts the grand Amber Fort, the first royal residence of the Marajas of Kachchwaha, and is also famous for its gorgeous handicrafts and jewels.

Your afternoon sightseeing includes: The City Palace, Mubarak Hall, Chandra Mahal and Pothikhana, which house collections of paintings and manuscripts, and then the Museum of Arms and Armory. Also visit Jantar Mantar- Jai Singh’s observatory, and Hawa Mahal or the “Palace of Winds”.

Jaipur

Day 4: Visit Amber Fort

After a gorgeous breakfast, enjoy a guided excursion to Amber Fort. Situated atop a hill overlooking the city, this impressive structure was the old capital before the city of Jaipur was built. You will go via the hill to the Palace, which is laid out on different levels of the hillside and surrounded by a fortress. The exterior of the fort is very imposing and rugged, whereas the inside is comforting and warm, influenced by both Hindu and Muslim ornamentation. On the walls are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, intricate carvings, mosaics, and minute mirror work that lend the halls a majestic and imperial air.

Ever thought that Indian clothes look distinctively beautiful, but that you'd never be able to work out how to put them on? Well, after this afternoon, you'll no longer have any excuses for not looking fabulous the Indian way, as you'll receive an in-depth demonstration on tying a saree (for women) or pagdi (for men).

Jaipur - Agra

Day 5: Phantom City and Agra Glory

After a fabulous breakfast, it's time to take the tour to Agra, and, while you're at it, why not fit in a visit to Fatehpur Sikri as well?

What is Fatehpur Sikri, you ask? Well, it was supposed to be the great Emperor Akbar’s grandiose new capital city. Phantoms of ancient pomp and splendour fill this ghost of a city, a silent witness to a vanished dream. Shortly after it was completed, this magnificent fortress was abandoned by the ambitious but somewhat myopic emperor, due to the lack of an adequate water supply. The marble tomb of the Saint “Salim Chisti” and the “Bulland Durwaza,” the highest gateway in the world, are some of the highlights of this intriguing fortress.

Agra is home to the world-famous Taj Mahal, best described as “poetry in marble" due to its beauty, grace and exquisite workmanship. But that's not the only string to Agra's formidable longbow: there is a wealth of palaces and monuments that recall the Mughal glory days.

Agra

Day 6: Meet the Taj Mahal in person

This morning will see you finally witness the majesty of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort for yourself, on a guided tour of these world wonders.

 Taj Mahal stands serene and awe-inspiring on its raised marble platform by the banks of the Yamuna, testifying to the timelessness of art and love. Its pure white marble shimmers silver in the soft moonlight; exudes a shell-pink glow at dawn; and, at the close of the day, takes on the tawny, fiery hue of the majestic sun. Shahjahan built this monument in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the 'lady of the Taj'. It's without doubt the most extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The construction of the Taj commenced in 1631, and and took 22 years to complete. Workers were gathered from all over the country and Central Asia - about 20,000 were recruited to translate this wild dream into a reality.

Among the other monuments that Agra takes pride in is the Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in 1565, under Akbar, and continued till the time of his grandson, Shahjahan. Armed with massive double walls, punctuated by four gateways, the fort houses palaces, courts, mosques, baths, gardens and gracious pavilions within its premises Among the fascinating structures that are to be found within the fort is the red sandstone Jehangiri Mahal built by Akbar for his Hindu queen, Jodhabai. It was one of the earliest constructions illustrating the fort's change from a military structure to a palace.

Agra - Khajuraho

Day 7: A dynasty of erotic sculptures

After an early morning breakfast fit for this magnificent city, you'll transfer to the Agra Railway Station in time to board the train for Jhansi.You'll then be assisted in a downright friendly manner upon arrival, to get you on the way to Khajuraho with the minimum of hassle. 

In the afternoon, get ready to have your jaw dropped, your breath taken away, and your mind blown by The Western group of temples.

KHAJURAHO was once the capital of a powerful dynasty of Hindu kings called the chandelas. All 85 temples of Khajuraho, famous for their erotic sculptures, were built by these excitable rulers.

Khajuraho - Varanasi

Day 8: Stand where Buddha first taught

After an exciting breakfast, the Eastern and Southern Group of Temples are on the cards; after which, it will be time to transfer to the airport in time for a flight to Varanasi.

On arrival, there will be a quick transfer to your hotel; but before settling in for the night, there's the small matter of Sarnath and the Ashoka pillar to see. This is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his debut sermon, after all.

Varanasi

Day 9: Ganges sunrise and a rickshaw ride

Today, you'll find that taking a dawn boat ride on the holy Ganges is worth all the trouble, as you'll get to watch a glorious sunrise and experience the religious activity at the bathing ghats and temples on the sacred river's banks.

After this, return to the hotel for a rewarding breakfast, before then taking in a Varanasi tour, in which you'll get to visit Banaras Hindu University and the temples.

In the evening, get on board a rickshaw for a colourful ride through the old city, only to return to the Ganges in time to witness the Evening Aarti ceremony.

Varanasi - Delhi

Day 10: Back to Delhi, with love

After your sumptuous breakfast you'll have the morning to do whatever you well please, because in the afternoon, you'll transfer to the airport for your return to Delhi. You'll then connect to your onward flight; your head and heart crowded with all the amazing memories this trip has bestowed upon you.