Grand Treasures of India: From Mumbai to the Taj Mahal

Breakfast. In the city of Bombay we will take a panoramic tour of Haji Ali, Flora Fountain, Central Library, Marine Drive, photo stop at the Laundry, FF.CC station and the Gateway of India. We will then go to the airport to take the flight to Udaipur, one of the most beautiful cities in Rajasthan, surrounded by a wall with five gates, located next to Lake Pichola. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals :Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. In the morning we will take the ferry to cross the placid waters of Lake Pichola and visit the island-palace of Jag Mandir, where, as legend has it, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan lived and was inspired to later build the Taj Mahal. We will also visit the City Palace and its interior museums. It is the largest palace in Rajasthan, as it is actually a conglomerate of buildings. The views from its balconies, windows and terraces are superb. Afterwards, we will see the Garden of Maidens, Sahelion ki Bari, where Maharana Sangram Sigh built a complex of gardens with fountains and lakes for his beautiful daughter. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals :Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. In the morning, at about 0730 hrs, gradually leaving the stony desert arrive in Jodpur, the blue city en route visiting Ranakpur. Ranakpur, in a shady valley surrounded by lush forests, 98 kilometers north of Udaipur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, lies Ranakpur, one of the largest Jain complexes in India and one of the five great holy places of Jainism. Then departure to Jodhpur. Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan and lies on the edge of the Thar Desert. It is a very popular destination among tourists due to its beautiful palaces, forts and temples within a desolate desert landscape. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. Check in at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Meals :Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. In the morning we will visit the Jaswant Thada mausoleum, famous for its cenotaphs that reflect the life of the royal families. Next, we will visit the Mehrangarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most important in Rajasthan, the Maharaja's Palace and the Mehrangarh Museum. Then we will leave by road to Jaipur. JAIPUR: The Pink City of Rajasthan. Jaipur is perhaps one of the most picturesque cities in the world. It was built according to the canons of the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. Divided into seven rectangular sectors, with well-laid-out streets and right angles, its planning is a marvel of 18th century urban planning, when not even in Europe did a similar systematization exist. Surrounded by steep hills on three of its cardinal points, the city is guarded by a powerful fortified wall with seven gates. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals :Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. In the morning, excursion to Amber Fort, the former capital of the state until 1728. A unique experience: we will ride on elephants to reach the top of the hill on which the fort stands. Next, we will take a panoramic tour of Jaipur (named after Maharajah Jai Singh, a prince and astronomer who designed and founded the city in 1727). We will visit the astronomical observatory that the monarch himself built, equipped with instruments designed by himself, of considerable size, and whose precision is difficult to match even today. We will also visit the Maharaja’s Palace, the former royal residence and today a museum of manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings and weapons. We will drive through the residential and business areas of the “pink city”, passing in front of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), one of the best-known monuments in Jaipur. In the afternoon, we will visit the Birla temple of the Hindu religion to see the ‘Aarti’ ceremony. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. In the morning, departure for Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route. FATEHPUR SIKRI: Just over 40 km from Agra is the dead city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned due to his inability to provide it with a water supply. The buildings of the city are incredibly preserved, notably the Jama Masjid mosque, the tomb of Salim Chisti, the Panch Mahal and other places. Arrival in the city and check in at the hotel. Next we will also visit the Agra Fort, on the banks of the Yamuna River, in the heart of the city. It reflects Indian architecture under three Mughal emperors: Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Within the complex are some interesting structures, such as the Jehangiri Mahal, the Anguri Bagh, the Khas Mahal and the Moti Masjid mosque. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Early morning visit including one of the most important monuments in the world, the Taj Mahal, a hymn to love built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630 to serve as a mausoleum for his queen, Mumtaj Mahal. This architectural marvel is a proportioned masterpiece, entirely built in white marble. Artisans from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, France and Italy took 17 years to complete it, helped by 20,000 workers (ATTENTION: THE TAJ MAHAL CLOSES ITS DOORS ON FRIDAYS, A MUSLIM HOLIDAY). Return and Breakfast. Breakfast. At around 08:00, departure by road to Delhi, visiting Sikandra - tomb of Emperor Akbar the Great - on the way. Then departure to New Delhi. Arrival and visit to the Akshardham Temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. We will start the visit with a photo stop at the Red Fort, nearby is Chandni Chowk, once an imperial avenue that Shah Jahan liked to ride along on horseback. From there we will board a bike-cart called a “Riksha” that will take us through the narrow streets of Old Delhi and leave us at the door of Jama Masyid, one of the largest mosques in India, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. Next, we will visit Gandhi’s tomb and drive through the New Delhi area to see India Gate, the Presidential Palace and Parliament. Next, we will visit the Sikh temple and sit for about 10 minutes in the prayer hall to watch the visitors and listen to the prayer. A visit to New Delhi will allow us to discover the Qutab Minar (12th century), gracefully fluted and entirely hand-carved on its shaft; nearby is the Iron Column, which has stood impassively by the misfortunes of Time and is not even rusty, after 1,500 years of history. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to take the flight to the next destination. Check out at 1200 hrs.

Meals: Breakfast.