Golden Triangle with Mumbai – Explore the Best of India Golden Triangle Tour

After breakfast, proceed for visit of Delhi including following:

Heritage Walk in Old City

Old Delhi Bazaars have colourful and interesting street food and is crowned with the oldest shops with many delicacies. You may enjoy a visual treat. The area is also home to several small temples, shrines, old mosque and protected monument sight. Cows wander the streets, small dharamshalas (rest-houses) and pyaus (water-stations) attest to the pious contributions of local merchants.

The walk is an escorted experience in English for about 3-3.5 delightful hours as we explore the galis (bye lanes) of Shahjahanabad (Old City), the city built by Emperor Shah Jahan(1628-1658).

Raj Ghat

Raj Ghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation, on 31 January 1948, a day after his assassination. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. It is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi on Ring Road officially known as Mahatma Gandhi Road. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial.

Drive past the Govt. Buildings

New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Today we will drive past few of them, like The Parliament House, designed by Baker is 173m in diameter, the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles.

Photo stop at the India Gate

At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triumph" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is a Sikh temple located in Delhi. It is named after the 8th Sikh Guru, Guru Harkishan Singh, and is one of the most important places of worship for the Sikh community in Delhi.
The temple is well known for its Langar Hall (community kitchen), which serves free meals to all visitors, regardless of religion. Food is served twice a day, and around 8,000–10,000 people eat here daily.

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak. The tower has five distinct storey’s, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storey’s are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled.

Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

After breakfast, drive to Agra.

AGRA - The city of the inimitable “TAJ MAHAL”.

The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. While its significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jahan, its architectural wealth has secured its place on the international map. A pleasant town with a comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by craftsmen who are descendants of those who worked under the Mughals.                                                                                                                                     

Visit the following in Agra :

 Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal or Crown of Palaces is a white marble mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. A world-renowned wonder, Taj Mahal looks the same from all the four sides and is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". The Taj Mahal is phenomenal not in the beauty alone but in the deep planning and design that went into its making. This enchanting mausoleum started in 1631 and it took 22 years to complete with the help of an estimated 20000 workers. (It remains closed on Fridays).

Agra Fort

The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shahjahan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khaas, Musamman Burj - where Shahjahan died in 1666 A.D. Jahangir's Palace; Khaas Mahal and Shish Mahal. The massive Agra fort is 2.5 km long and is considered as the predecessor of the Delhi Red fort.

Itimad –Ud-Daulah

Sometimes called the ‘Baby Taj’ because of its resemblance to Agra’s most famous monument. However Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb was built before the Taj Mahal. A number of its stylistic features, such as a Tomb in white marble surrounded by a formal garden and the use of inlaywork in the marble to create floral or geometric designs, inspired similar features of the Taj Mahal

Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh is a garden Complex just located on the opposite side of the Yamuna River. One of the best place in Agra to enjoy the sunset with the rear view of Taj Mahal.

Overnight at the hotel in Agra.

After breakfast, drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Abhaneri.

 Abhaneri

On the way to Jaipur, visit the village of Abhaneri. Abhaneri is a small village with a population of approximately 2,000 people. The village is known for Chand Baori Stepwell. Stepwells were very important in the past. The purpose was to collect the Rainwater. Stepwell Chand Baori is the largest in India.

Later proceed to Jaipur.

JAIPUR - The fascinating capital of the marvellous state of Rajasthan.  

Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City, thanks to the colour of its buildings. It was built in 1727 A.D by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, followed a grid system, which made it the only planned city of its time. A young Bengali architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya designed the city in accordance with Shilpa Shastra - an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. There are innumerable sagas and stories of culture, traditions, practices and valour. This diverse land of rich cultural heritage is a royal treat for tourists all over the world.

On arrival in Jaipur, transfer to hotel.

In the evening enjoy Aarti Ceremony at Birla Temple.

The Lakshmi - Narayan Temple known as Birla Mandir is situated just below the Moti Dungari. This is a modern temple built of white marble on top of a hill, dominating the skyline of south Jaipur. The Birlas (industrialists who have also built several temples in India) built this temple. The temple has been constructed in white marble. The presiding deities here are Vishnu (One of the Hindu Trinity Gods) called Narayan and his consort Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and good fortune.

Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur.

After breakfast, city tour in Jaipur including following :

Amber Fort

The Amber Fort set in picturesque and rugged hills is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh, the fort was made in red sand stone and white marble. Amber is the classic and romantic fort-palace with a magnificent aura. The interior wall of the palace depicts expressive painting scenes with carvings, precious stones and mirror settings. Built mainly for the warring enemies as a safe place, the heavily structured walls could defend the residents within the ramparts of the fort.

Photo stop at the Hawa Mahal Palace

The poet king Sawai Pratap Singh built this palace of winds. This is easily the most well-known landmarks of Jaipur and is also its icon. This five-storey building overlooking the busy bazaar street is a fascinating example of Rajput architecture and artistry with its delicately honeycombed 953 pink sandstone windows known as 'jharokhas'. It was originally built for the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their veiled comfort.

City Palace

Located in the heart of the walled city, the City Palace Complex gives you an idea about the farsightedness of the founder of Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. He left behind a legacy of some of the ‘most imposing and magnificent architecture in the city. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built many buildings but some of the structures were also built by later rulers. The palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture and the ex-royal family still lives in a part of the palace.

Jantar Mantar

The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734. It is modeled after the one that he had built for him at Delhi. He had constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of these. It has been 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".

Later in the afternoon, enjoy a Rickshaw ride in the old City and explore the local markets of Jaipur.

Optional: Elephant bathing, feeding, painting, safari with BBQ Dinner at Dera Amer (90 USD per person, drinks extra)

It is a kind of activity with Elephants which is quite special and we are sure you would not have seen anything like this before. It is the experience of owning a beautiful creature like elephant for a day. This evening will be full of adventure with these beautiful & magnificent creatures, it is a special chance for you to get close and become friends with elephants and interact with it for real. In our paintings we use organic colours. All our elephants are female elephants which also makes them loving and gentle and no aggression towards guests who feed them, play with them or bathe them.

Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur.

In time transfer to Airport to board flight for Mumbai.

Upon arrival meet, assist and transfer to Hotel.

MUMBAI – The city that never sleeps! Pulsating, Alive, On the Move, Vibrant, Fun -- this is Mumbai or as it is still frequently referred to -- Bombay. The most modern city in India, it captures the spirit of the changing pace set by liberalization and modernization. It is better known as Economic Capital of India.

Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal.

Later in the afternoon proceed for half day city tour in Mumbai :

Gateway of India

Gateway of India designed by Scotland-born architect, George Wittet. Sporting exquisite Mughal-style design elements, this imposing basalt arch overlooks the Mumbai Harbor.

Hanging Garden

Perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, these terraced gardens; also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea. The park was laid out in the early 1880s over Bombay's main reservoir, some say to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence.

Mani Bhawan

A memorial dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He used to stay at House No.19 called Man Bhavan, from time to time between 1917 and 1934. He was arrested here in 1932 and taken off for one of his many prison terms. The building now contains a pictorial gallery, a 20,000-volume research library, a film and recording archive and a set of diorama on the Mahatma's life.

Marine drive

Built in 1920, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It passes Chowpatty Beach along the way. It's one of Mumbai's most popular romantic spot and sunset view is amazing. Tourist brochures are fond of stating it as the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its streetlights at night.

Tower of Silence

A peculiar site to visit in Mumbai is the Tower of Silence. Mumbai has a large number of Parsi populations. The Parsis have the custom of leaving their dead in the open. These particular places are called "Towers of Silence", where the vultures come to eat the dead. For the Parsis, this is regarded as the final act of charity. Mumbai's Towers of Silence have virtually disappeared today. Only a handful remains that attract a considerable number of tourists every year.

Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai.

After breakfast, visit the following in Mumbai:

Photo stop at Dhobi Ghat

A unique feature of Mumbai, the dhobi is a traditional laundryman, who will collect your dirty linen, wash it, and return it neatly pressed to your doorstep. The "laundries" are called "ghats": row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone. The clothes are soaked in sudsy water, thrashed on the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of boiling starch and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled into neat bundles.

Dabba-Wallahs

Enjoy some time watching the dabba-wallahs, the members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day 4,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 100,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable aluminium boxes. The meals are carried to their hungry recipients dangling from shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars, and stacked on decorated handcarts. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch. (Dabba-Wallahs are closed on public holidays and weekends)

Victoria Terminus

Have a photo stop at the remarkable Victoria Terminus. It was built during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. It is an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets in a style described by journalist James Cameron as “Victorian-Gothic-Saracenic-Italianate-Oriental-St. Pancras-Baroque.” The first train in India left from this station in 1853; today half a million commuters uses the station every day.

Slum Tour

Enjoy Dharavi slums tour and see why it is the heart of small scale industry in Mumbai – Known to many as ‘one of the largest slums in Asia’, we prefer to think of Dharavi as Mumbai’s beating heart. It houses about one million of Mumbai’s inhabitants and its industries have an annual turnover of approximately US$ 665 million. Through our educational walking tours, visitors experience a wide range of these business activities: recycling, pottery-making, embroidery, bakery, soap factory, leather tanning, poppadom - making and many more. 

We’ll also visit the residential areas of Dharavi. People from all over India have come to live in Dharavi, making it a microcosm of India. This diversity is apparent in the temples, mosques, churches and pagodas that stand side by side.

Prince of Wales Musuem

Prince of Wales Museum is the erstwhile name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya of Mumbai. In 1905, George V laid down, the Prince of Wales himself, who came on a visit to India its foundation stone. George Wittet, an architect, designed the splendid structure. The construction work was concluded in 1914, but Lady Lloyd inaugurated the full-fledged museum in 1923. Art, Archaeology and Natural History are three exclusive sections in the museum. It houses some of finest collections, ranging from ancient Indus Valley relics to the artefacts from the Gupta and Maurya Periods. IMP: Prince of Wales Museum is closed on Monday.

Later on time Check out from Hotel and transfer to the airport to board flight for back home.

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