Arrive early morning in Delhi. Our driver will meet you at the airport to pick you up. He will give a brief of the tour and will take you to the hotel. You can unpack your luggage and freshen up before starting Delhi sightseeing on Day 1. A tour guide from Exquisite Indian Holidays will accompany you throughout the tour so that you don’t miss any minute detail of the places you explore with us.

Destination: Jama Masjid with Battery Rickshaw ride

Jama Masjid is a mosque in the Old Delhi area where the iconic Mughal dynasty once ruled from. The mosque is evident in a lot of historical events in the city. It prides itself on being one of the oldest and one of the biggest mosques in the city. The Mughals built it as their place of worship, and even today, the mosque gathers thousands of devotees for Friday prayers. If you take note of the architectural style of this mosque, you will realize that most of the other monuments where the Mughals ruled have a resemblance. Holy places like this are perfect places to sit, relax and reflect.

Post this, it will be time to enjoy a battery rickshaw ride in the Old Delhi area. Though the chaotic streets in Old Delhi can be overwhelming at times, we assure you that it will be the true essence of exploring India like a local.

Destination: Raj Ghat

Raj Ghat has a special place in the heart of Indians. It is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. An eternal flame is always lit on one side of the memorial. The memorial complex has the inscription of the last words of Gandhi (Hey Ram, हे राम). The sight is impeccable as the memorial itself is significant to India and the world in multiple senses.

Destination: Rashtrapati Bhawan and India Gate (drive-past sightseeing)

India calls its Presidential Palace ‘Rashtrapati Bhawan’. It is one of the most admired buildings in Delhi and as a matter of fact; it is one of the largest presidential palaces in the world. Rashtrapati Bhawan sightseeing will be a drive-past experience as the monument is open on specific days and times.

India Gate is an iconic War Memorial in New Delhi. The monument was built to pay tributes to the Indian soldiers who were martyred in wars fought between 1914 -1921. It is a memorial to more than 84000 soldiers and looks spectacular at any given point in time.

Lunch

There will be a lunch break post-India Gate sightseeing. There are some really good restaurants in Delhi where you can spend some time and relish your lunch.

Drop at Hotel

To keep things comfortable for you, day 1 of the Golden Triangle Tour with Benaras will be a half-day sightseeing experience. Post your lunch, you will be driven back to the hotel. An evening stroll across the streets of New Delhi is highly recommended.

Overnight stay in hotel.

Optional Add Ons

If time permits and you want to make the most of your day 1, you can add an add-on destination to this tour.

Add on destination: Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar in India is one of the most iconic minarets in the world. It is a 73m tall minaret that was built by the Mughals in 1193. Another thing that amuses people in the Qutub Complex is the ‘Iron Pillar’ which was built in the 5th century. The construction of the Iron Pillar is so unique that it still stands tall ‘rust-free’. Amazing! Isn’t it?

By this time, you will be able to acclimatize yourself to the Indian surroundings. This day will be special as you’ll be traveling to the city of Taj Mahal after exploring a few more places in Delhi. Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel and be ready for things coming your way.

Destination: Humayun’s Tomb

Tombs or mausoleums in India are quite in numbers. Most of them were built during the Mughal period. Humayun’s Tomb arguably is one of the most beautiful tombs from the Mughal era. Thanks to its symmetrical designs, red-sandstone structure, and beautiful gardens. It is so beautiful that a lot of people come from the city to rejuvenate themselves in its tranquil surroundings.

Destination: Gurudwara

Gurudwara is a religious place of the Sikhs. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most iconic Gurudwara in the city where you can bow down and take the blessings of the Guru. There is a pristine calm inside the Gurudwara and you can spend plentiful time here sitting and observing things at a relaxed pace.

Lunch

We will stop for a lunch break after exploring Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi and then will proceed towards Agra.

Transfer to Agra

Post lunch, you will be transferred to Agra via Yamuna Expressway. It usually consumes 3-4 hours to reach Agra. There will be facility breaks in between for your convenience. You will reach Agra in the evening. Overnight stay in Hotel.

It will be a special day as you will visit the wonder of the world Taj Mahal along with other popular places in Agra.

Destination: Taj Mahal

Agra Sightseeing will commence early in the morning with the Taj Mahal sightseeing being the first delightful experience of this tour. Taj Mahal is at its best either during sunrise or sunset. Leave your hotel at least half an hour before the sunrise so as to experience the best of the moment. As sun rays fall on the ivory-white marble, the magnificent monument turns into a magical yellow & golden hue. The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument with wide lawns and several other small complexes to explore.

Back to the hotel for breakfast

Come back to the hotel after sunrise at Taj Mahal sightseeing and enjoy your breakfast in the hotel. Agra city has lots of palatable breakfast menus which can tangle your taste buds and can fill you up for the exciting day ahead.

Destination: Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a rock-solid Mughal-era fort built in the Mughal architectural style. The structure of the fort made Mughals stronger as it was very difficult to breach in. Sultan Sikander Lodi made Agra their capital and it remained the capital for 15 years. During these years, Agra Fort became their prime residence. The red-sandstone fort is massive enough to give you a sense of how affluent the lives of the Mughals were in India. Enjoy your time in Agra Fort and then we’ll have a lunch break.

Lunch

Enjoy your lunch in Agra at any restaurant of your choice. There are plenty of good restaurants around the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort area.

Marble Inlay work exploration

The Mughals indeed had a rich taste in designs, art, and crafts. The lineage of the artisans and weavers who used to create rugs, and marble items for the Mughals are still in the same profession. It is a soothing experience to see these artisans and weavers create such items in real-time. We will take you to a couple of handicraft shops where you can see how rugs & carpets, and other marble inlay items are made in real-time. These arts have thrived over the years and India is now one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of hand-made rugs and carpets in the world. We cannot emphasize much that every piece you will find in these shops is an exquisite piece of art which you can consider taking with you as a souvenir.

Drop at hotel

The driver will drop you off at your hotel for an overnight stay.

Optional Add-Ons –

After the exploration of the handicraft shops in Agra, you can opt for an additional add-on destination Mehtab Bagh.

Add on destination: Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh is a beautiful Mughal-built garden on the river bank of the Yamuna. It is on the opposite side of the Taj Mahal. There lies a majestic grandeur of the Taj Mahal when seen from this garden, especially during the evenings.

Upon completion of the Agra sightseeing, our driver will take you to Jaipur, the Pink city of India. It will take around 5 hours to reach Jaipur from Agra. En route to Jaipur, you can opt for Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri sightseeing as an Add on destination to this tour. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Optional Add Ons –
Destination: Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a Mughal abandoned town near Agra. It remained a short-term capital of the Mughals but due to a lack of water resources, they abandoned it. However, they did build some really good monuments that are even a center of attraction for the tourists. The Panch mahal inside the Fatehpur Sikri is an architectural marvel and a treat to the eye of whosoever sees it.

Destination: Abhaneri

Abhaneri is a small village en route to Jaipur. It is popular because of its thousands of years old step well called ‘Chand Baori’. The design of the step well is so unique and symmetrical that it is worthy of capturing thousands of Instagram-worthy clicks.

Start your day with a scrumptious breakfast and then proceed towards Jaipur sightseeing. Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan and is recognized by United Nations as a UNESCO World Heritage Center. It is a beautiful city with buildings colored in a uniform shade of pink all over.

Destination: Amer Fort

Amer Fort is a gargantuan fort on the outskirts of Jaipur. It is a hilltop fort that offers mesmerizing views of the Rajputana land. To reach the hilltop, there are generally jeeps available. However, you can opt for an elephant ride to go up and the jeep to come back.

Lunch

Rajasthani is all about different spices, and flavors. The food here will be a lot different from the one in Agra, or Delhi. Rajasthani Cuisines are delectable and you must try something from them during your lunch.

Destination: City Palace:

City Palace has its luxe vibes as it is home to the Royal family of Jaipur. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II founded the city of Jaipur and since then, their descendants are living in this royal palace. The entire palace tells stories of the past and the museum is a walk through the critical events and turning points in Indian history.

Destination: Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal or the ‘Wind Palace’ is a special honeycomb-styled palace on the backside of the City Palace. The purpose of its construction is so unique that this place is a center of attraction for all the tourists coming to this city. The palace has more than 953 small windows built for the women of the royal palace to look outside the palace without being seen from the outside. The practice belongs to the ancient Indian women’s tradition to keep a veil or ‘Purdah’ from the outside world.

Destination: Jantar Mantar

If your liking for science and astronomy is a little more than that of normal people then this place will amuse you a lot. Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory built by the founder of the city Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The asymmetrical equipment designs and apparatus in the Jantar Mantar complex look straight from a sci-fi movie.

Silk weaving and local market exploration

Jaipur being a princely city admires quality textiles, colorful handicrafts, and wooden items. The city’s local markets are people’s choices for wedding shopping, traditional clothes made of silk, jewelry, and handicrafts. Many people from different cities in India visit Jaipur for shopping and so can you.

Drop at hotel

Drop at your hotel for dinner and a night’s stay. The next morning, you will be taken to Benaras via flight.

Early in the morning our driver will pick you up from the hotel and drop you at Jaipur airport. Catch your flight to Benaras and in two hours, you’ll reach Benaras.

Daytime rest in Hotel

Our driver will drop you at your hotel in Benaras. The sightseeing experience will begin in the evening when you’ll have a sunset boat ride and Ganga Aarti. In the meantime, you can give a stroll across the age-old streets of Benaras.

Experience: Boat ride on the Ganges River followed by Ganga aarti

Ganga or the Ganges River is a holy river for the Hindus. It is so sacred that people worship the river and take a dip in it on an everyday basis. Aarti refers to a Hindu ceremony when earthen lamps are lit and offered to the goddess Ganga (the river).

Overnight stay in the hotel

Drop off at hotel followed by dinner and overnight stay.

Benaras has a special vibe on its own! As per Hindy mythology, lord Shiva founded this city and since then, millions of Hindu devotees visit this beautiful ancient city of Banaras every year. On this day, we will make you experience some of the most mesmerizing moments.

Experience: Sunrise boat-ride experience

From the ancient and mystical ghats of Varanasi to the holy dip of hundreds of devotees in the Ganga river; each site will be captured in this sunrise boat ride. Our guide will give you a brief on why and how this river means a lot in Hinduism. The ride will be a memorable one so make sure you wake up early in the morning to witness the best of sunrise.

Back to the hotel for breakfast

Upon completion of the boat ride, you will be brought back to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoy your hotel breakfast and proceed towards further sightseeing experiences.

Destination: Sarnath Temple visit

For people with a spiritual eye, Sarnath sightseeing can be a one-of-a-kind experience for you. This is the place where Gautam Buddha first taught ‘Dharma’ (teaching of Buddhism) to his disciples. The site has several stupas which are significant to Buddhists living here.

Lunch:

Enjoy lunch at any restaurant of your choice.

Experience: Silk artwork and saree making

A Saree is an Indian traditional dress for women. It is a long cloth made of either cotton or silk and is draped around the body. These are finely made with the best quality silk with intricate designs and borders. Banarasi Saree has its charm and the sarees made here have a robust demand from its customers from all around the world. Here we will see how the process of saree making is done and what distinguishes Benarasi Saree’s from other ones.

Drop at hotel

After seeing the process of Saree making, the tour is about to end. Our driver will drop you at your hotel.

This day will be the last day of your Golden Triangle Tour with Benaras by Exquisite Indian Holidays. Our driver will drop you at the airport from where you can catch your flight to Delhi and proceed on your further journey.