Taj & Beyond

10days/ 9nights – Gateway: Delhi

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi
Upon arrival at Delhi International Airport, a representative will meet you at arrival terminal after which you would be transferred to your hotel. India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitor travelling in from the airport are of a spacious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of beautiful parks. 
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi
Breakfast is at the hotel. Morning is at leisure. Afternoon you will proceed for the half-day sightseeing tour of New Delhi. Visit Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, started in 1199 AD by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and completed by the sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. The building is 72.5m high and has 379 steps from the bottom to the top. The Minar is tapering with the diameter of the base is 14.3m while at the top floor it is 2.7m. The Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in India. Then visit Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun, it is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style, a precursor of the Taj Mahal. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence. Evening is at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Delhi
After early buffet breakfast in the hotel, you will proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. First, visit to Jama Masjid - The mosque of Friday was built from 1644 to 1658 during the reign of Shahjahan. The mosque that measures 65m on 35m, and whose court forms a square of 100m on side is by its surface the greatest religious construction of Islam. Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi – The Father Of Nation, was cremated; and the Red Fort - the palace for Shahjahan new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. Wander in the busy streets of the mile long Chandni Chowk, popularly called “The Silver Street”, enjoying a rickshaw ride!! Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Delhi - Agra
After buffet breakfast in the hotel, you would be driven from Delhi to Agra. Upon arrival proceed for check in at your rooms. Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra & its neighbourhood. In the afternoon proceed to visit the Agra Fort, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture. Agra Fort - the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jehan added the impressive quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions. After visiting Fort proceed for a sunset tour of the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture. 
Overnight is at hotel, Agra

Day 5: Agra – Bharatpur
After leisurely buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Agra to Bharatpur en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its buildings in near perfect condition. Upon arrival at Bharatpur, you will be received by a ITPL representative and transferred to your hotel. Evening is at leisure. 
Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Bharatpur – Ranthambore 
Bharatpur – Keoladeo Ghana National Park – A paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the British Empire. But was declared a reserve for birds in 1956 and later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has listed it as a world heritage site. It boasts to house more than 375 species of beautiful birds, and more than 132 of them breed inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park and nearly every year new ones are added to the list. The sanctuary not only attracts birds from India but also from places like Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet. A Rickshaw ride later in the morning will keep you occupied to witness the flora-and-fauna of this sanctuary. Later in the afternoon you will be transfer to Bharatpur railway station to Board Jan Shatabdi express. Upon arrival at Sawai Madhopur railway station a ITPL representative who will escort you to your hotel will meet you. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Ranthambore
Ranthambore was the private hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Among the most famous of their hunting parties was the one organized for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1961. Ranthambore is famous for its tigers. Here, more than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are now encountered in broad daylight. Besides tiger, Ranthambore has a large variety of animals and it is also a bird watcher's delight. Today early morning you will proceed to Jungle for a game-viewing safari. Other predators in the park are leopard, marsh-crocodile, jungle cat and hyena. Tigers hunt openly in the daylight and in the 1986 census, 40 were recorded in the core area of 158 sq kms of the park. The park also has a large population of jackal, sambar, chital and Nilgiri. The park also has abundant bird life including Bonelli's eagle, the crested eagle, Great Indian horned owl, gray partridge, painted partridge and tree pie paradise. The flycatcher, pheasant-tailed jacana, painted stork, spoonbill, white-necked stork and spur-fowl are also all found here. Come back to your hotel for breakfast. Rest of the morning is at leisure. After buffet lunch in the hotel you will be driven to the National Park for another game viewing safari. 
Dinner and overnight is at hotel Sher Bagh.

Day 8: Ranthambore – Jaipur 
Morning enjoy an another game drive at the Ranthambore National Park. Afternoon your will drive to Jaipur. Rajasthan’s kingdoms are an enduring legacy to India’s history. A land endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palaces and waves of sand dunes and serene lakes. No other region in the country assembles the many paradoxes of India, as does the desert land of Rajasthan. By far it is the most colourful region in India. 
Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Jaipur
After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort. Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. The fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and overlooks the Moat Lake. Ruins and remains are spread over the Aravalli hills and sprawling crenulated walls lattice the surrounding area. An elephant (Subject to availability / alternatively by jeep) will spare you the trouble of reaching up to the fortress. En-route to Amber you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through which the queens of the court once viewed the streets of the city. In the afternoon, you will visit the city of Jaipur. Highlights to be seen include the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes accurate predictions even to this day. You will also have the opportunity to wander about the local markets. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Jaipur -  Delhi
After buffet breakfast in the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi, An ITPL representative will meet you in the airport and transfer you to International airport to board your flight for back home.