DAY 1 - Delhi, India

Arrive Delhi, India.
A representative from Exotic Journeys International Group will meet you in the arrival lounge and escort you to your hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Delhi is a city of immense past. Seven mighty empires have risen, ruled the sub-continent & fallen here. It is dotted with hundreds of landmarks and has accumulated a tremendous heritage of art, architecture and culture. New Delhi, the present capital of the largest democracy in the world, is the creation of world famous architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Attractions include, Rashtrapati Bhavan or Presidential Palace, Parliament House, Red Fort- a Massive fort built by master builder Shah Jahan, Jama Masjid- the largest mosque in Asia, Jantar Mantar- the medieval observatory designed & built by Maharajah Jai Singh of Jaipur, the 16th century tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun, Raj Ghat- where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and Shantivana- the cremation site of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Shopping: Delhi is a shoppers' paradise, as not only are local handicrafts available, but nearly every state of India has its handicrafts emporium at Delhi. Some of the special handicrafts available are silver work, filigree, Indian perfumes, saris and fabrics embroidered with gold and silver, curios and paintings, semi-precious and precious jewellery, brass and copper ware, Indian musical instruments etc.

Overnight:
Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, New Delhi
The Lalit, New Delhi

DAY 2 - Delhi

City tour of New and old Delhi visiting Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Jam Masjid, Chandini Chowk, Raj Ghat- where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, Rashtrapati Bhawan or Presidential Palace, Parliament House, India Gate, National Museum and Baha'i Temple.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight:
Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, New Delhi
The Lalit, New Delhi

DAY 3 - Delhi - Agra

Transfer to Agra by deluxe air-conditioned coach / car.

Agra is the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal. The story of Agra begins much earlier than the Taj, However it finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana or Paradise. Ptolemy, the famous second century A.D. geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra. It was Mughals who finally nurtured Agra with the finest monuments architects could design: The Taj Mahal of Shah Jahan, Agra Fort of Akbar, Itemad-Ud-Daula and neighboring Sikandra are but few of the many UNICEF World Heritage sites that spangle the city, each of which stands in mute testimony to the city's grandeur over the ages.

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world and some western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna River.
Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his dear wife and Queen Mumtaz Mahal. It is an elegy in marble " or some say an expression of a "dream". Taj Mahal is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of Queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added in 1661.
Shopping: Agra is famous for marble inlay work, leather goods and handicrafts.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnigh
Taj Gateway, Agra
Trident Hotel, Agra

Note: Taj Remain closed on Fridays

DAY 4 - Agra

Today you will explore the epic Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itemad-ud-daula, marble factories and colorful local bazaars.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnigh
Taj Gateway, Agra
Trident Hotel, Agra

Note: Taj Remain closed on Fridays

DAY 5 - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur

Depart forFatehpur Sikri, the medieval capital of Mughal Emperor, Akbar.

The founding of Fatehpur Sikri reads like a fairytale. When all else had failed, the Mughal Emperor Akbar came here in search of the renowned Sufi mystic, Sheikh Salim Chishti, to ask the blessing for a son. His prayers were answered and soon the queen was blessed with a son. In honor of the saint, Akbar named the prince Salim and vowed to found a new city. And so Fatehpur Sikri, a magnificent city rose on the craggy hills 40 Kilometers from Agra and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for 16 memorable years between 1570 and 1586.
Today, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted, a phantom city. But the inner citadel is immaculately preserved. Its walls, palaces, baths, royal mint, courts and gardens still stand in splendid homage to a great emperor. The heart of the palace complex however, is very much alive. The white marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti is set in the courtyard of the Royal Mosque. Thousands of pilgrims still come here to pray for the gift of son.
The city was intended to embody the noble ideals and the humanitarian bent of this dynamic emperor. Although a Muslim, Akbar was famous for his incredible tolerance towards other religions. He also created a new religion, Deen - e - Elahi that attempted to fuse positive aspects of all the major religions of India into one composite whole.
The finest monuments within this area are the Diwan - i - Am, Diwan - i - Khas, Panch Mahal, Jama Masjid, Buland Darwaza and the tomb of Saint Sheikh Salim.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight
TajJai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Trident, Jaipur

DAY 6 - Jaipur-Amber Fort

Jaipur is a city where royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces, where fighting for the honor of the clan has never been a need but a way of life, and where treating guests as gods has been a tradition from time immemorial. Jaipur got its name from its founder Sawai Jai Singh (1693-1743), who had the vision to create a meticulously planned city as his capital. All the houses in the old city are painted pink, including the famous Hawa Mahal / Palace of Winds, thereby giving the city its alternative name, the Pink City.

Jai Singh - a prince, soldier, planner and astronomer founded the rose pink capital city in 1728. The beautifully planned city is a tribute to the king considering that western world perhaps had very few-planned city at that time. The observatory-Jantar Mantar-is an excellent example of the marvelous precision in astronomical calculators built in solid concrete. The City Palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal art and architecture. Now a museum, it has fine collection of sculpture, carpets paintings, manuscripts and armory.

A short drive from Jaipur is Amber Fort, perched atop a hill. Within its precincts are Sheesh Mahal or chamber of mirrors - reputedly the best in the world, Victory Hall and Pleasure Palace. The fort is reached by riding an elephant or by jeep.

Shopping: Jaipur is a place to find hand crafted diamond and gold jewelry, Rajasthani hand woven fabric, carpets, handicrafts, curios, paintings, Indian musical instruments etc at a bargain.

A morning elephant ride will take you to Amber Fort and its sandstone palaces perched atop a hill. Within its precincts are Sheesh Mahal or chamber of mirrors reputedly the best in the world, Victory Hall and Pleasure Palace.

City tour visiting Haw Mahal - the Palace of Winds, the facade of which is all pink windows and filigree screens, the Jantar Mantar - the largest and best preserved 18th century stone observatory, the City Palace - still the home of the former royalty of Jaipur housing an extensive collection of art, carpets and old weapons and local bazaars.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight
TajJai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Trident, Jaipur

DAY 7 - Udaipur

Fly / drive to Udaipur. It is interspersed with shimmering lakes, marble palaces and fountains. The City Palace is the largest of its kind. It is remarkable for its octagonal towers, brilliant multicolor mosaics of peacocks inlaid in tiles, inlaid mirror work and exquisite paintings. Sahelion ki Bari is fascinating garden-adorned by Lotus pool, a marble throne and finely sculptured cenotaphs.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight
Trident Hotel, Udaipur
The Lalit Laxmi Vilas, Udaipur

DAY 8 - Udaipur

City tour includes City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Sahelion ki Bari (Garden of maids of honor), Shilpgram, Monsoon Palace and Jag Mandir.

Optional:Sunset cruise on Lake Pichola, Udaipur.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight
Trident Hotel, Udaipur
The Lalit Laxmi Vilas, Udaipur