Golden Triangle Tour

• Durations: 05 Nights / 06 Days

Day 01: ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport. Delhi - the capital of India – The city consists of two parts - Old & New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between 17th and 19th century and has many mosques, monuments and forts. New Delhi, the imperial city was created by the British as the capital of India. In 1911, Edwin Lutyens, the most renowned English architect of the day, was chosen to design New Delhi which flaunts a surprising number of impressive monuments related to its conquests by the Mughals, Turks, Persians and ultimately the British. Meet & Assist: A dnata representative meets you at the arrival hall of airport, holding a signage of ‘dnata’ and escort you to your hotel in air-conditioned vehicle. Check-in at your hotel in Delhi Meals included: None Overnight: Hotel

Day 02: IN DELHI
After leisurely breakfast proceed for full day combine city tour of Old and New Delhi In Old Delhi drive past the Red Fort, - a marvel in red sandstone, the Raj Ghat, - memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, Jama Masjid, - the largest mosque in India. Proceed to Chandni Chowk to savour the ambience of an oriental, crowded bazaar. Old Delhi was once known as the city of Shahjahanabad. This fortified city has a long and interesting history and even today, the remains of its glorious past can be seen in the form of Kashmiri Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate, Delhi Gate and Feroz Shah Kotla. At Chandni Chowk & take rickshaw ride to see the massive area packed with shops, bazaars, and people. As Asia's largest wholesale market, Chandni Chowk features an array of goods available at the shops and stalls. Continue to New Delhi; pass by India Gate (memorial to the Indian army soldiers who died in the World War I), the Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the viceroy's residence) and the Parliament House. Visit the imposing Lakshmi Naryan Temple, see the 12th century Qutab Minar - gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the Ashoka iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years and the mausoleum of emperor Humayun - a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight: Hotel

Day 03: DELHI - AGRA
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Agra. AGRA : On the right bank of the River Yamuna, Agra reigns over a glorious past created by warriors as skilled in art and architecture as they were on the battlefield. The city’s historical origins before the Mughal conquest are dim and it was practically founded by the Mughal Emperor Babur. To the lover of art and to the traveller seeking the wonders of India, Agra is the goal of a pilgrimage, its shrines being the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. On arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon city tour of Agra. Visit the 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 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. Later visit the Agra fort containing the halls of private & public audiences & other palaces. Shah Jahan spent here years of confinement at the hands of his son Aurangzeb, looking wistfully at the Taj Mahal from the Fort. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Agra.

Day 04: AGRA - JAIPUR
After breakfast check out from the hotel & drive to Jaipur. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri which is approx.40 Kms from Agra, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. The Fatehpur Sikri complex houses tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces, which surprisingly have withstood the ravages of time and are still in good condition. Later drive to Jaipur. JAIPUR: Built by Sawai Jai Singh, the city of Jaipur is amongst the first of India’s planned cities. The ancient heart of the Pink City still beats in its fairy tale palaces; rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad avenues. Jaipur has a timeless appeal in its colourful bazaars that delights for its Rajasthan handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvellous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are worth admiration that makes a trip to the pink city memorable one. Bazaars that delights for its Rajasthan handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvellous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are worth admiration that makes a trip to the pink city a memorable one. Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 05: IN JAIPUR
After breakfast proceed for excursion Amber Fort -where you will ascend the hill on caparisoned elephants (subject to availability). 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 will spare you the trouble of reaching up to the fortress. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room. Later proceed for a half day tour of the pink city of India, visit the City Palace, which now houses a museum, the Observatory (17th century) with a sundial 90 ft high, Ram Niwas Palace gardens, and the Palace of Winds-“Hawa Mahal”. Evening free at leisure. Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 06: JAIPUR – DELHI LEAVE DELHI
Morning free. Afternoon transfer to Delhi airport to connect flight for onward destination.

Extension for foot of Himalayas

Morning transfer to airport to connect flight for Chandigarh.

Meet & assist on arrival at Chandigarh airport & drive to Shimla

Shimla
Shimla is in the enriched state of Himachal Pradesh which boasts of nature’s generous bounty, reflected in its beautiful landscape, comprising of exotic valleys, snow-capped mountains and crystal blue lakes set amidst lush rolling hills, rich with the fragrance of pine and cedar. Discover intriguing private gardens in the richly forested foothills of the Himalayas, set around fine old houses, redolent with the echoes of a colonial past

Upon arrival check in at Hotel.

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel

Day 08: IN SHIMLA
Buffet breakfast at hotel

Morning: Transfer to Shimla railway station for a toy train ride Enjoy a short ride on the renowned Kalka-Shimla toy train. Built in 1903, this track is an engineering marvel, with 103 tunnels and 700 non-girder bridges in a distance of only 96 kilometers and more than two-thirds of the entire track on curves, some as sharp as 48 degrees. It is also distinguished as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The toy train chugs along the line, whistling through the deodar, pine, ficus, oak and maple woods at a speed of 22 kilometers an hour. As the journey begins, one is taken in with the change in vegetation, and the majestic glory of the railway stations and Gothic-style bridges en route. After an exciting short toy train ride, you shall disembark at Solan and drive back to Shimla

Toy-train Journey

On disembarking the train at Taradevi drive back to Shimla (Approx 53 kms/ approx 1 hrs)

Afternoon sightseeing tour of Shimla, visiting The Mall, the main promenade that runs along the top of the ridge, a busy shopping area with old colonial buildings, souvenir shops and restaurants. At the top end of the Mall is Scandal Point, a large open square with a view of the town. Overlooking it is the elegant Christ Church with its fine stained glass windows; Visit vice regal lodge (formerly the residence of the British Viceroy); the Himachal State Museum (closed on Mondays), which has a modest collection of stone statues and local handicrafts from different parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Following sightseeing tour, return back to hotel

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel

Day 09: IN SHIMLA
Buffet breakfast at hotel

Full day at leisure for independent activities (No vehicle at disposal)

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel

Day 10: SHIMLA – CHANDIGARH - AMRITSAR
Morning drive to Chandigarh railway station to board train for Amritsar.

Situated on the northwestern border of the country, Amritsar means the “Pool of Nectar”, the name derived from a pool constructed at a sacred site gifted by Akbar to Guru Ramdas in the 6th century. This 400-year-old city has been the center of Sikh religion and culture since the time of its inception and is famous for the Golden Temple.

Life in Amritsar is deeply influenced by the holy shrines of the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Temple, plus the sources of the city’s wealth-agriculture, commerce and industry. Even though most people are very religious, they are also extremely fun loving and full of life. They have earned their money by sheer hard work, and they spend it lavishly on the good things of life.

Meet & assist in arrival at railway station & transfer to Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 11: IN AMRITSAR
Morning after breakfast proceed for city tour of Amritsar.

Golden Temple Located in the heart of the city is the Golden Temple, the most visited tourist attraction of Amritsar. Characterised by its four entrance doors (called deoris) in all four directions and the tastefully decorated shrines, in terms of art and architecture, the Golden Temple welcomes everyone regardless of the religion or faith one follows. The stunning sanctum, shimmering in the water of the holy tank, flanked by spotlessly clean marble walkways and pavements makes it breathtakingly beautiful.

Jalianwala Bagh : A historical monument that tells the sad story of mass killing during the independence movement in India, Jalianwallah Bagh is another must visit in Amritsar. Here lies the memorial of the martyrs of the 1919 massacre by British General Dyer. Presently the place also has a park. The Martyr's Gallery is open from 9 am to 5 pm in summers and from 10 am to 4 pm during winters.

Wagah Border : One of the many nearby places to visit from Amritsar is the Wagah Border. Located on the Indo-Pakistan border, Wagah is 28 kilometres from the Amritsar main town. A good number of visitors come to this place to see the change of guards ceremony and the flag hoisting and lowering activities which are done with great skill and precision by the border security forces of both the countries. A site you cannot afford to miss.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12: AMRITSAR - DELHI & FLY OUT
In time transfer to airport to connect flight for Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to international terminal to connect flight for onward destination.