Rajasthan Grand Tour

Destinations Covered:- Delhi - Samode – Jaipur – Agra - Delhi

Tour Duration: 06 Days / 05 Nights

Day: 01 Arrive Delhi (Capital of India)

Arrival at Delhi airport. Our representative will be at the arrival hall to receive you. Warm welcome with garlanding and then he will assist you to Hotel.
Upon arrival at the hotel proceed to check in at your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day: 02 Delhi Sightseeing

Following buffet breakfast, proceed for city tour of Old & New Delhi. You will first visit Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Our next stop will be the Red Fort (Closed on Mondays), one of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms in length with the height varying from 18 mts. Continue to visit the Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. It was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor; Shahjahan built in the year 1656 AD with the help of 5,000 craftsmen. It was made across the road from the Red Fort. The mosque is also known as Masjid-I-Jahanuma, which means 'mosque commanding view of the world'. The mosque has the capacity to hold as many as 25,000 devotees.
After visiting Old Delhi, you will then be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind.
The tour to Imperial Delhi will be drive to the India Gate - a majestic high arch, 42 meters high, built as a memorial to the 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I. It is also known as the All India War Memorial, whose foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921. Beneath it burns an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honor the memory of the unknown soldiers. From here you will drive past the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President’s residence, Parliament building and other government buildings. Proceed to visit the grace mausoleum of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and modern Birla Temple. Your last stop will be the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. Qutub-ud-din Aibak started it in 1199. Pulling down 27 Hindu and Jain temples and using their columns erected the attached Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque also built by him.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day: 03 Delhi – Samode - Jaipur

After breakfast in the hotel you will drive to Samode – 241 Kms / 05 hrs drive. Samode, an hour’s drive from Jaipur, stands on a former caravan route. Today the sleepy village, with its local artisans producing printed cloth and glass bangles, nestles within its old walls. Samode Palace which dominates the village is fabulously decorated with 300-year old wall paintings, many of them depicting religious subjects. The highlight is a vast Durbar Hall with its original paintings and mirror work.
Continue drive to Jaipur – 41 Kms / 1 hr . Jaipur's past is never too far from hand. The city of victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink city". There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people. With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the ancient Rajputs.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day: 04 Jaipur

After breakfast in the hotel you will be driven just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort. Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. An elephant /Jeep 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.
In the afternoon you will visit the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes accurate predictions even to this day. You will also stop to see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through which the queens of the court once viewed the streets of the city. Return to your hotel after sightseeing tour.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day: 05 Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur to Agra (235 KMS / 6 hours) en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri - It was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years and was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry. It remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Upon arrival you will visit the Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Aam, Jama Masjid & Buland Darwaja.
After your visit continue your drive to Agra.
Agra in terms of ambience is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra & its neighbourhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The massive but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of Itimad-ud-daulah’s tomb, the magnificent Taj and Akbar’s deserted capital, Fatehpur Sikri, are each unique and outstanding. Upon arrival at Agra, proceed to check in at your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day: 06 Agra – Delhi – Onward Destination

After buffet breakfast, you will proceed to visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Midway Tonga’s “horse carriages” would be waiting for you and will drop you at the gates of the Taj Mahal. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture.
Continue to visit the Agra Fort, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture. Agra Fort - the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jehan added the impressive quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions.
Come back to your hotel after your visit for lunch. Following lunch you will be driven to Delhi (204 Kms / 04.30 hours).
Upon arrival at Delhi an eLand Holidays representative will meet you and transfer you to International airport to board your flight for back home.