Golden Triangle
Tours » Religious Tours with Golden Triangle
Ganges (Benaras) Tours with Golden Triangle
Duration: 8 Nights / 9 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Varanasi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
- Delhi
DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI

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 : Indias 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.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid,
the largest mosque in India - Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was
started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658 ; witness the Red Fort;
Visit Humayun's Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example
of Mughal architecture ; Visit Qutab Minar, witness the India Gate, President
House. The city tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI - VARANASI (BY FLIGHT)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Varanasi, scheduled
to depart at 1040 hrs.
Arrive Varanasi at 1150 hrs. and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Varanasi : formerly known as Kashi the city that illuminates.
The religious capital of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living city of
India & one of the worlds most ancient. The present name is derived
from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna &
Asi.

Afternoon, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where Buddha
preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the
Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse
in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of
the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching
first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16th century
BC to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple &
the museum (closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its
four guardian lions, used as independent Indias national emblem
DAY 04 : VARANASI - AGRA (OVERNIGHT TRAIN)
Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats
(river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from
a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound
in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river &
the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world.
Return to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi - Visit the Bharat Mata temple with
a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Benaras
Hindu University which has an art gallery & the mosque of Moghul Emperor
Aurangzeb.
Afternoon, excursion to Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this one is
seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of Benares still
resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar Hall) and the royal museum
housing collections of palanquins, elephant saddles, arms, furniture, costumes,
etc., are a must see at the Ramnagar fort. Return by boat in the evening,
enroute witness the religious ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges.
Evening, transfer to the railway station to board Overnight Train scheduled
to depart at 2240 hrs, for Agra
DAY 05 : AGRA
Arrive Agra at 0703 hrs., transfer to prebooked Hotel
Afternoon, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor
Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until 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.
DAY 06 : AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI - JAIPUR (240 KMS,
06-07 HRS DRIVE)
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
the prebooked hotel.
Morning, 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. On arrival in Jaipur, checkin at prebooked
hotel. Rest of the day at leisure
DAY 07 : JAIPUR
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 observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade
of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 08 : JAIPUR - DELHI (260 KMS, 05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast free. Afternoon, leave for Delhi. Upon arrival, check-in
at your prebooked Hotel.
DAY 09 : DEPART DELHI
Morning, Transfer to the airport to board your flight for onward destination.
Varanasi Tours with Taj Mahal Reservation Form