Golden Triangle with Gwalior

Arrive Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted with your baggages at the airport by our executive and transferred to prebooked hotel. Delhi : India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’ past.

After breakfast, leave for Jaipur : The city owes its names, foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his hillside fortress at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. Afternoon, at leisure.

After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture. Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons; Jantar Mantar - the observatoy built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.

After breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory. Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening and check-in at prebooked hotel.

After breakfast, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the Day - The Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653. Afternoon, drive to Gwalior. On arrival in Gwalior check in at pre booked hotel.

After breakfast, visit the Gwalior Fort - The Mughal emperor Babar referred to the Gwalior Fort as “the pearl amongst fortresses in India” and although you may beg to differ, you will probably agree that this, the dominating feature of Gwalior’s skyline, is definitely a citadel worth seeing. With a turbulent and pretty eventful past, the Gwalior Fort spreads out over an area of 3 square km, bounded by solid walls of sandstone, which enclose three temples, six palaces and a number of water tanks. Regarded as North and Central India’s most impregnable fortress, the Gwalior Fort was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century. In the five hundred years since then, the fort has changed hands many times- it has been held by the Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and British, who finally handed it over to the Scindias. ToDay it’s a must-see sight on any Gwalior itinerary, and just the ride up to the fort gives you a taste of what’s coming: the southern path is bounded by rock faces with intricate carvings of the Jain tirthankars. As you enter the fort, you’ll see lots more to impress and interest you: palaces and temples, impressive gates and historic water tanks. Of the temples in the Gwalior Fort, the most famous are the Teli-ka-Mandir- a 9th century Dravidian-style shrine which is notable for its profusely sculpted exterior; the Saas-Bahu Temples- two pillared temples which stand next to each other, one larger than the other; and the Chaturbhuj Mandir, a Vaishnavite shrine dating back to the 9th century. Among the fort’s most prominent palaces is the amazingly ornate Man Singh Palace, built by Man Singh in the 15th century. Embellished with a vivid pattern in tile and paint, the palace spreads over four levels, and despite its picture-pretty appearance, has a somewhat gory history: Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned and later murdered his brother Murad here. Equally grisly is the Jauhar Kund, which marks the spot where the women of the harem burnt themselves to death after the defeat of the king of Gwalior in 1232. Other palaces within the Gwalior Fort which are worth seeing include the Karan Palace, the Jahangir Mahal, the Shahjahan Mahal and the Gujri Mahal (the latter built by Man Singh for his favourite queen, Mrignayani). Afternoon, transfer to the railway station to board train for Delhi. On arrival in Delhi meet and assist at the railway station and transfer to pre booked hotel.

Early Morning, transfer to airport to board flight back home / onward destination.