Day 1: Welcome to Delhi; Airport Pick-up
Best of India Upon your arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, our local representative will warmly greet you and transfer you to the hotel in the downtown for check-in. The Safety Concerns of Traveling in India: In December 2012, the case about India gang rape and murder to the 23-year old university student Jyoti Singh has horrified the world. This cruel behavior raised concerns about India's high rate of sexual violence. While, is it safe to travel to India? The answer is certainly YES, since we will arrange professional tour guide and the driver to accompany you throughout the trip. We make every efforts to provide you with good travel arrangements and will try our best to make it a memorable and enjoyable one. ★ Indian Delicacies We’d Like to Share with You: For some travelers, food is the motivation behind travel. Food is undoubtedly an important component of human civilization. Today we would like to talk some of Indian delicacies. This route covers the most famous cities in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where you will find a variety of cuisines from all over India and around the world. During your visit, our guide and driver will also recommend good and different restaurants. Oats Idli, a popular food made from oats, it is a light dish that can be paired with spicy sauce for a better taste. Due to its low calorie content, it is very popular among weight loss enthusiasts. Misal Pav, a delicacy from Maharastra, the second most populous state in India. Misal itself is a spicy curry made with fava beans, while Pav is a kind of Swiss roll. Usually eaten with onions, lemons, and vegetables, it is also welcomed by those who plan to lose weight. Tandoori chicken is a popular dish and it is a main course for lunch and dinner, originated from Punjab Province. The chef will soak the chicken in yogurt and spices, and then bake it in a tandoor, a clay oven. This dish is very popular around the world and is usually served with onions and other vegetables. And the tandoor used for cooking originated in Rajasthan and has been in use since 2600 BC. Nihari is a meat dish originating from Old Delhi. Nihari is a kind of stewed meat, commonly with beef, lamb or chicken. It is cooked in a sealed container, along with broth and various spices such as cumin, cloves, curry and cardamom. It takes 6-8 hours to make it. After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, many Delhi people settled in Karachi and ran restaurants there, so you may also find Nihari if you travel to Pakistan. The food mentioned above is less than one percent of the Indian cuisine, and there are still many more waiting for you to explore. If you have any new discoveries, please feel free to email us after your trip. Delhi Street Scene Local Snack Shop
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Day 2: Downtown Highlights in Old & New Delhi
Morning Activities: Today’s tour will begin with a visit to the top attractions in Old Delhi, including Swaminarayan Akshardham, the miracle of modern architecture with exquisite carvings, Jama Masjid Mosque, and a photo stop at the splendid Red Fort (drive pass). Then, our guide will take you to explore the bustling bazaar of Chandni Chowk. ★ Travel Different: At Chandni Chowk, we will specially hire a local rickshaw for you to navigate through the alleys lined with small shops and crowded with vendors and local people. You can immerse yourself in the lively and even raucous atmosphere and experience the authentic Indian life. World Heritage Tour in the Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit two of Delhi’s famous World Heritage sites. One is the Qutub Minar, one of the most beautiful victory stone towers in the world, built after the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. The other is the Humayun's Tomb, where the Mughal Emperor Humayun was buried, with ornate architecture and pleasant green spaces. Next, the guide will lead you to visit the landmark India Gate, and then we’ll drive past the Parliament House and other government secretarial buildings, and finally stop at a Sikh temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, for a visit. Meals: Breakfast
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Day 3: Drive 3.5 Hours from Delhi to Agra; Agra Sightseeing
Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, we will drive to Agra by our private air-conditioned car. After checking into the hotel and having a short noon break, our guide will take you to visit the Tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah, aka the Baby Taj, and then the Mehtab Bagh, aka the Moonlight Garden, featuring the best views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River. If there is more time, you can explore other interesting places in the city at your own pace. Wherever you want to go in downtown Agra, our driver and car will be at your service. Is the Baby Taj Worth Visiting?Located on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River, the Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb is an exquisite white marble mausoleum built by the queen of Jehangir in memory of her father. As the first tomb built completely in white marble, it is highly similar to the famous Taj Mahal in structure, and thus it is called the Baby Taj. Though a little small, it is intricate and very beautiful, with a typical Persian architectural style. Exploring inside, you can witness many fine Mosaic marbles with exquisite geometric patterns. Compared to the Taj Mahal, here offers a quieter atmosphere and you can also capture fantastic pictures with the help of our experienced guide. It is definitely worth your visit! Travel Like a Local in Indian Traditional Dress: Female travelers are highly recommended to try the traditional colorful clothes as Indian women's clothes are very bright and energetic, to integrate with local culture and to take beautiful pictures at the sites or forts. Not the traditional sari, as sari is not easy to wear and when people buy sari, they are sometimes required to buy a set of three pieces of clothes, which makes the price much higher but actually not necessary. Modern and simple dress is popular among tourists and even locals. It is called Lehenga, sometimes paired with Dupatta (shawls), usually in bright colors and decorated with intricate embroidered patterns, showing the enthusiasm and luxury of Indians. Among so many choices, Anokhi and Ritu Kumar are welcomes with their wonderful selections and tastes. Anoki means unique in Sanskrit and Ritu Kumar is a brand belongs to a local designer. The price is approximately from $70 to $300, you can buy them at 2F-32, Khan Market, New Delhi, or other chain stores in big cities. If you need, our tour guide will be glad to help with this. Meals: Breakfast
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Day 4: Agra Highlights with Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
Sightseeing Activities: Wake up early in the morning and our guide will take you inside the Taj Mahal as one of today’s first tourists to enjoy the sunrise view of this great building. The Taj Mahal, a pure white Islamic-style mausoleum, was built in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In the morning light, you can see the beautiful ivory-white marble building looks more solemn and elegant. After the visit, we will return to the hotel for breakfast. Next, we’ll head west to the Agra Fort, one of the most elegant palaces of the Mughal Empire, with a history of more than 400 years. ★ What Makes Us Different:1. Perfect Timing: Unlike other travel agencies that schedule the visit to the Taj Mahal in the crowded morning or afternoon, our experienced travel planners insist that you visit the Taj Mahal early in the morning - the best time for photography and a crowd-avoiding experience. If the weather is clear, the Taj Mahal sunrise will be an unforgettable experience. 2. All-inclusive Ticket: While some travel agencies offer only regular tickets worth INR 1,100, we offer an all-inclusive ticket worth INR 1,300, allowing you to enter the main mausoleum housing the coffins of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. In addition, we also provide you with free drinking water, shoe covers and tourist maps.
Lunch Suggestion: Have a Meal in Saniya Palace Restaurant to Enjoy the Taj Mahal
This is one of the best rooftop restaurants in Agra, where you can not only taste delicious food but also admire the magnificent Taj Mahal in the distance. Surrounded by plants, the well-decorated restaurant offers great food and considerate service. A good meal can be enjoyed here with an extremely romantic atmosphere.
► Tip: We have no fixed sightseeing task in the afternoon, leaving you with half a day to explore downtown Agra at will. The guide and the driver will continue to serve you, and you can visit the Old City of Agra, Gyarah Seedhi Park, or any other places you like. It’s all up to you!
A Differnet Point of View about the Love Story:
Known as the Pearl of India, the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife. However, behind the beautiful love story lies the conspiracy, bloodshed, and slaughter. A Persian girl named Ajiman Banu married Shah Jahan at the age of 19 and she had 14 children during their 19-year marriage and passed away after giving birth to the 14th child. Shah Jahan then built this architectural miracle in the name of love. The whole project took 22 years and then the king killed the designer and the hands of all craftsmen after this wonderful masterpiece was completed. How to evaluate love here? Follow our guide and he will share more secrets and the stories behind.
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 5: Drive 5 Hours to Jaipur; Visit Fatehpur Sikri & Chand Baori Enroute
Sightseeing Activities: We’ll begin our pleasant day with a comfortable drive to the Fatehpur Sikri, an imperial palace of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585 and another World Heritage site in India. Our guide will lead you to visit some of the important buildings inside, including the Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, and Tomb of Salim Chishti. After that, your driver will drive you to Jaipur. En route, we will make a stop at the Abhaneri Village to visit the ancient Chand Baori, which is the largest and deepest stepwell in India. No guide service is provided in this stop. Most Beautiful Well in India: Like an Inverted Pyramid, with Over 3,500 StepsDifferent from other wells, Chand Baori is not a deep hole. The man-made stepwell features an upside-down pyramid shape with the widest ground part and narrower parts in the underground. There are more than 3,500 steps inside and its unique design makes it a deep underground maze. Walking around the steps, you can experience how ancient Indian people fetched water at that time. This India’s deepest well has been experienced for 1,200 years, storing water every March and nurturing more than 300,000 local people in the dry season. Though it is no longer used now, local people still insist on protecting their ‘Mother Well’. What’s more, before reaching the step well, you can also witness the local bazaar and see the life scenes of the local people. Upon arrival in Jaipur, we will check in at the hotel first. There will be no guided tour schedule for the rest of the day and you can explore the busy Jaipur bazaar or the colorful streets to your liking and take in the local living atmosphere. Our private car with driver is free for you to use within the city. Meals: Breakfast Fatehpur Sikri Chand Baori
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Day 6: Pink Jaipur Exploration: Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal
Sightseeing Activities: We have a full day to enjoy this charming Pink City, with many of its buildings painted pink. First, we’ll drive to the Amber Fort. From the parking lot, you can take an elephant ride to the fort, which is located on a small hill on the outskirts of Jaipur. Three Ways to Get to the Entrance: 1. When travel to Amber Fort, the most interesting way to climb up to the fort is on the elephant ride. The scene at the foot of the hill can be a fine spectacle with many elephants painted in various colors. With the guidance of their owner, elephants lined up in neat rows and walked up the mountain slowly, which allows tourists sitting safely and overlooking the afar scenery in this 10-minute ride. The price is about USD15 per person on a two-sharing basis. You can take a jeep or our private car down to the foot after visiting. 2. Jeeps are also a wonderful experience. When you ride a Jeep and shuttle through the alleys, there may be cows and sheep squeezing into the road, sometimes bumping and swaying, that you can hardly experience at other places. The price for a round way Jeep ride is about USD10. 3. Hiking up the mountain is also a popular way, 10-minute climbing is quite acceptable with accompany of our guide. During the way, you have several occasions to meet elephants, and our guide will show you different ways to get to the top. Highlight of Amber Fort - Sheesh Mahal The most unmissable spot in the Amber Fort should be the Sheesh Mahal. The famous palace is also known as the Hall of Mirrors. Entering the hall, you can find the walls all decorated with countless small mirrors, shining beautifully under the sun. If you are careful enough, you may find that the inlaid mirrors and colored gemstones here are similar to those of Agra's Taj Mahal. Just light a candle, and the whole palace can be illuminated by the reflection of the candlelight. Although the gems had been changed into fake ones, you will still be amazed at the world's wonder. After the visit, we’ll set off back to downtown Jaipur, visiting several interesting sites on the way. We will first stop at the Jal Mahal, which boasts a unique view of a secluded palace in the middle of the Sagar Lake. Afterwards, the guide will take you to see the exquisite architecture of the Maharaja City Palace and its rich exhibits. Next, we will visit the Jantar Mantar, the most important, comprehensive and best preserved ancient observatory in India and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The last stop of the day will be the Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds. Here you can capture Jaipur’s most iconic sight – the spectacular pink facade. Meals: Breakfast Amber Fort Maharaja City Palace
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Day 7: Fly from Jaipur to Varanasi & Ganga Aarti Ceremony
Flight to Varanasi: After breakfast, our driver will transfer you to the Jaipur International Airport for your flight to Varanasi. After a 1.5-hour flight, you will arrive at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. Our local driver in Varanasi will take you to the hotel by private car. There is no guided tour plan for the afternoon. You can have a good rest in the hotel, or take a walk along the Varuna River just north of the hotel. The nearby JHV Mall is also a good place to hang out, with a food court and many brand name outlets. ★ Special Arrangement: In the evening, our local guide in Varanasi will pick you up from your hotel to take you to witness the legendary and mysterious Ganga Aarti Ceremony. We would arrive early at the Dashashwamedh Ghat by the riverside, pick a good position, and wait for the ceremony to begin. The Ganga Aarti is a special form of thanksgiving ritual, during which many pandits and devotees wear robes and hold up brass lamps to pay homage to the River Goddess. You will see thousands of small lamps called ‘diya’ and flowers floating in the holy water of the Ganga, adding a sacred ambience to the ceremony, and this is when you can understand why the Ganga Aarti is a not-to-be-missed experience in Varanasi.The night worship, which has a history of 5000 years, is performed for about one hour by the Brahmin priests solemnly and devoutly every day. The ceremony doesn't look glamorous and not that much splendid, but perhaps you will feel that you have traveled back thousands of years. What Does the Ganges River Mean to Hindus: The Ganges River is a sacred river of Hindus, it is also their final destination after death. The bodies burned on the banks will be finally scattered into the river, and supplies such as flowers and spices from the night ceremony will also be thrown into the Ganges River. It can be said that the Ganges is closely related to the lives of locals, and the ubiquitous garbage causes serious hygiene problems. But the Ganges River is still irreplaceable in the hearts of Hindus. It is the holy water that cleanses the body from impurities and diseases, it is the medicine that purifies the soul, and it is the way to obtain the blessing from the gods. As tourists, all we need to do is to appreciate the beautiful scenery and savor the achievements of thousands of years of civilization. And do remember that never try any water other than the bottled ones. Meals: Breakfast Ganga Aarti Ceremony Sarnath Buddhist Temple
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Day 8: The Ganges and Buddhist Shrines in Varanasi
Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, we will set out for a boat trip along the Ganges River to see the Manikarnika Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat from the boat. Both are holy platforms for the locals to hold cremation ceremonies. You may have a chance to witness this traditional ritual during the journey. After that, the guide will take you on a morning tour of the Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University.In the afternoon, we will head to the Deer Park in Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. The guide will show you around the Sarnath Buddhist Temple, Sarnath Museum (closed on Fridays), the stupas, and other ruins. Why Are There So Many Cattle and Buffaloes on the Streets of Varanasi?Walking down the streets in Varanasi, you must confront cattle or buffaloes for many times. In fact, Varanasi does have more cattle on the streets than other cities as it is a holy city and cattle and buffaloes are considered the sacred animals. What’s more, you can hardly avoid stepping in dung of the cattle on the streets if traveling here. The traffic in Varanasi is generally busy and the roads are crowded. However, drivers and motorcyclists here may have no idea of yielding to pedestrians, but they certainly do to cattle and buffaloes, among which the white zebu is most sacred. Meals: Breakfast Ghat in Varanasi Locals at Ganges River
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Day 9: Fly from Varanasi to Delhi; Departure from Delhi
Departure Note: Your 9 days India best tour will end today. Depending on the flight time, our driver will escort you from the hotel to the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport of Varanasi, for a 2-hour flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you could connect to your onward flight on your own. Wish you a pleasant journey home!
Meals: Breakfast
► If you would like to travel to other destinations in India or other countries, please feel free to contact our travel consultants to make proper arrangements for you.
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