Delhi Sightseeing and Drive to Agra

Red Fort - The Red Fort
The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, known as the Red Fort, stretch for two kilometers and vary in height from 18 meters on the river side to 33 meters on the city side. Shah Jahan initiated the construction of this grand fort in 1638, completing it in 1648. Unfortunately, he never fully relocated his capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi, as he was overthrown and imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb.
The Red Fort represents the zenith of Mughal power. When the emperor rode elephants through the streets of Old Delhi, it was a magnificent display of grandeur and authority. Visitors can explore Lahore Gate, Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Royal Baths, Shahi Burj, Moti Masjid, Gardens, and The Rang Mahal Palace of Color.

Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid) - The grand mosque in Old Delhi is both the largest in India and the final architectural marvel of Shah Jahan. Construction began in 1644 and was completed in 1658. It features three gateways, four corner towers, and two minarets standing 40 meters high, made of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Broad flights of steps lead up to the impressive gateways. The eastern gateway was originally opened only on Fridays and Muslim festival days. The general public can enter through either the north or south gate. Shoes must be removed, and those deemed inappropriately dressed (bare legs for either men or women) can rent robes at the northern gate. The mosque’s courtyard can accommodate 25,000 people.

Chandni Chowk - The main street of Old Delhi is the vibrant shopping bazaar known as Chandni Chowk. It is a bustling area, sharply contrasting with the open, spacious New Delhi. In 1912, a bomb was thrown at the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, as he passed down Chandni Chowk on his elephant. At the east end of Chandni Chowk, there is a Digambar Jain Temple with a small marble courtyard surrounded by a colonnade.

Qutub Minar - The buildings in this complex, located 15 kilometers south of Delhi, date from the beginning of Muslim rule in India and are excellent examples of early Afghan architecture. The Qutub Minar stands nearly 73 meters high, tapering from a 15-meter diameter base to just 2.5 meters at the top. The tower has five distinct stories, each marked with a projecting balcony. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, while the fourth and fifth are of marble and sandstone.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, began constructing the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, in 1209. The tower was completed after Qutb-ud-din’s death by his successor, Iltutmish. Feroz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the top stories and added a cupola. An earthquake brought the cupola down in 1803, and an Englishman replaced it with another in 1829. However, that dome was deemed inappropriate and was removed some years later.

Humayun’s Tomb - Built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, the senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor, this is an early example of Mughal architecture. The elements in its design—a squat building, illuminated by high arched entrances, topped by a bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens—were refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra. This earlier tomb is thus of great interest for its relation to the later Taj. Humayun’s wife is also buried in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb. Other tombs in the garden include that of Humayun’s barber and the Tomb of Isa Khan, a fine example of Lodi architecture. An excellent view can be obtained over the surrounding countryside from the terraces of the tomb.

India Gate - This 42-meter high stone arch of triumph stands at the eastern end of Rajpath. It bears the names of 85,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the campaigns of World War I, the North-west Frontier operation of the same time, and the 1919 Afghan fiasco. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, and its foundation was laid in 1921.

Lotus Temple - The Bahai Temple, also known as the Lotus Temple (closed Mondays)
Located to the east of Siri, this building is shaped like a lotus flower. Completed in 1986, it is set among pools and gardens, and adherents of any faith are welcome to visit the temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion. This temple in Kalkaji was designed with the help of computers.

Agra Sightseeing Drive to Jaipur

Taj Mahal - The Taj has been aptly described as a ‘Dream in Marble’. While there may be buildings more grand in conception and more elaborate in execution than the Taj, it remains an exquisite piece of lyrical beauty unmatched by any other building in the world.
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the mortal remains of his beloved wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal, the ‘Elect of the Palace’. It is said that over thirty-one million rupees were spent on it, and it took 20,000 men to build it in twenty-two years. This incomparable masterpiece, in white marble, was begun in 1631, a year after the Queen’s death, rising from a terrace overlooking the Yamuna.
The main gateway to the Taj is a three-story structure, inlaid with ornaments and inscriptions from the Quran in black slate. The letters are graduated in size to appear uniform from below. The Taj Garden is laid out in a formal style. A water channel and bronze fountains divide the paved area.

Agra Fort - To the south of the Agra Fort Station lies the Fort of Agra, on the right bank of the Yamuna, two kilometers from the Taj. Many magnificent buildings are situated within the fort, which has a circuit of over a mile. The wall itself is a work of fine architecture and embodies features such as battlements, embrasures, and machicolations skillfully designed to give this massive enclosure an aesthetic character. The Fort, as it stands today, represents the combined efforts of three successive sovereigns. Designed and built by Akbar, it was added to by Jahangir and Shah Jahan. It is in the fort that the division between the two architectural phases of Mughal style is plainly demarcated. Akbar’s earlier structures were demolished some sixty-five years later to make way for the more sumptuous marble pavilions of his grandson Shah Jahan. Visitors can explore JAHANGIR MAHAL, KHAS MAHAL, SHEESH MAHAL, DIWAN-I-KHAS, and DIWAN-I-AAM within the fort.

Panch Mahal - Fatehpur Sikri - Approached by an excellent metalled road, Fatehpur Sikri lies twenty-seven miles southwest of Agra. It was called the City of Victory by Akbar after his triumphs. This isolated, long-deserted city, said to have been built on a despot’s whim, stands on a low sandstone ridge. Perfectly preserved, it is a unique specimen of a city created by Akbar in 1569. It was, after the Taj, the most ambitious achievement of the Mughals. The city grew up in such a phenomenally short time that it seemed the work of a magician’s hand.
Fatehpur Sikri provides insight into the mind of the great man who built it. On a specially selected site, an isolated rocky ridge rising above the surrounding areas grew in phenomenally short time an entirely new capital city—the conception and creation of an Emperor. Visitors can also explore BULAND DARWAZA, DARGAH OF SHEIKH SALIM CHISTI, DIWAN-I-AAM, DIWAN-I-KHAS, PANCH MAHAL, TURKISH SULTAN’S HOUSE, and MARIYAM’S HOUSE.

Jaipur City Tour and Drive Back to Delhi – Departure at the End.

Amber Palace - Amber was the capital of the Kachhawahas for over six centuries before the birth of Jaipur. It is believed that the town was originally named ‘Ambikishwara’, after Lord Shiva. This name later evolved to ‘Ambiner’ and eventually to ‘Amber’. Some trace the origin of the name to ‘Amba Mata’, the goddess of earth and fertility, whose temple is located in the fort.
The mighty fort stands atop a range of rugged hills about 11 kilometers from Jaipur city, on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. The serene Maota Lake at the base of the hill adds to the fort’s beauty.
Originally, the palaces of Amber were built by Raja Bihar Mal or Bharmal in 1558 and his successor Raja Man Singh. Several other structures were added to the fort by their descendants, but all of these lie in ruins today. However, those dating from the 16th century, when Jai Singh I built this fort, are quite well preserved. Visitors can explore Diwan-I-Am and Diwan-I-Khas.

City Palace of Jaipur - The Palace complex is located in the heart of Jaipur, occupying about one-seventh of the old city area. It was built between 1729 and 1732 by Sawai Jai Singh, and various structures were subsequently added by his successors. It is popularly referred to as the City Palace to differentiate it from the ancient Amber Palace or the neo-modern Rambagh Palace. Unlike other Rajput Palaces, the fortifications are separate from the structure, while most of the other buildings are part of one integrated structure. The palace complex can be reached from Sireh Deori Bazar through Chandi Ki Taksal, which leads towards Jaleb Chowk. From here, one may proceed either through ‘Ganesh Pol’ or ‘Virendra Pol’, also known as Gainda ki Deorhi (rhinoceros gate). The Ganesh Pol leads towards Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas, while entering through Virendra Pol, you are directly faced with the majestic Mubarak Mahal. The Tripolia Gate facing the Chaura Rasta is reserved exclusively for the royal family and their guests.

Jal Mahal - Jal Mahal, or the ‘Water Palace’, was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 in the midst of the picturesque Man Sagar Lake, as a summer resort and pleasure spot. It lies on the way to Amber, about 6 kilometers from Jaipur. A paved causeway leads up to the beautiful palace, which is noteworthy for its fascinating architecture and serene surroundings.

The Man Sagar was formed by constructing a dam between the two hills by Sawai Man Singh II to meet the growing demand for water in Jaipur city. During winters, various species of migratory birds flock to this lake. The cenotaph has twenty ornately carved pillars depicting scenes and figures from Hindu mythology. A lamp has been lit here since the death of the Maharaja.

Hawa Mahal - Palace of Wind - Hawa Mahal, or the ‘Palace of Winds’, was built in 1799 by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh for the royal ladies to enjoy the procession and day-to-day activities from the cool confinement of this majestic façade. Today, it has become the hallmark of the ‘Pink City’ and is the most recognizable photographed monument of Jaipur. This five-story stunning semi-octagonal monument resembles the crown of Lord Krishna, as Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was a great devotee of Lord Krishna.

Jantar Mantar - Jaipur - This open-air observatory is located outside the gateway of the City Palace Complex and is popularly known as Jantar Mantar, (where Jantra means instrument or device and Mantra stands for magic formula). It was built by the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728. Astronomy was a lifelong obsession for the Maharaja, in an era when only a few princes had the luxury of adequate instruments for knowing time. Sawai Jai Singh, the last classical astronomer of India, was ably supported and guided by Pandit Jagannath Samrat, whose immense knowledge and mastery over various languages like Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian enabled Jai to interpret various books, manuscripts, and information related to astronomy and astrology from places as far as Europe, Portugal, Greece, and Britain. Astrological tables were prepared with the help of Pandit Keval Ramji.

• Government-approved tour guide.
• Included monument entrance fees.
• Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver.
• All tolls, parking, and state taxes covered.
• Complimentary mineral water bottles.

• Tips / Gratuities to guide and driver.

Delhi: As the capital of India, Delhi is a lively metropolis that seamlessly blends ancient history with modern energy. The city is split into two sections: Old Delhi, famous for its historic landmarks like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, and New Delhi.

Agra: Agra is internationally acclaimed for housing the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The city is also home to other notable Mughal-era structures such as Agra Fort and the Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj). Agra’s historical importance is closely linked to the Mughal Empire, and its architectural wonders attract visitors globally.

Jaipur: Known as the “Pink City,” Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, celebrated for its royal heritage and vibrant culture. The city features magnificent palaces and forts like the Amber Fort, City Palace, and Hawa Mahal. As a part of the “Golden Triangle” of Indian tourism, Jaipur provides insight into the grandeur of Rajasthan’s history.

• If there is Friday on 2nd day of tour, then we will switch the itinerary into this Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi. If you book hotel on your own, then please drop us message to get the revised itinerary.
• Travel can choose to book without hotel option, if they want hotel on their own.

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