Individual Trip: India’s Golden Triangle Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, 8 days

Day 1: Athens / Thessaloniki – Delhi

Departure from the airport and flight to Delhi via an intermediate station, arriving the next day in the populous capital of India, which combines old and modern life in a unique way. Old and New Delhi harmoniously connect the past with the present and present the course of a people from the era of the maharajas and the British colonial rule until today.

Day 2: Delhi

Arrival in Delhi, meeting with the representative, transfer and check-in at our hotel, and overnight stay. After breakfast, we begin our tour. Our introduction to the city will start in the afternoon with the Grand Mosque, the seat of the Muslim community, built of red sandstone and white marble, which dominates the local hill and stands out for its size, as it can accommodate up to 25,000 people.
We continue to New Delhi where, among other things, we will see the Raj Path avenue on the border of Old and New Delhi with the government buildings, the India Gate (a memorial to the fallen of World War I), the Parliament & Humayun’s Tomb. This is a large area that was imperial gardens – cemeteries from the time of the Mughals (Indo-Mongol dynasty). The first Mausoleum was built in 1570, which was intended for Emperor Humayun. The order for its construction was given by Humayun’s wife, Hamida Banu Begum in 1562, while it was designed by a Persian architect. This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural importance, as it was the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. At the end of the day, enjoy a bicycle ride through the narrow streets of Old Delhi. Optional visit to the archaeological site, where the Qutub Minar dominates. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Delhi – Jaipur (approx. 265 km, 4-5 hours)

After breakfast, we depart for Jaipur. We arrive in Jaipur, the “Pink City”. The course of the route, passing through towns and villages, such as Kalako where we will board the Juggad, a local small open vehicle to tour the specific village, and we will end up at the Umaid Mahal Boutique hotel for lunch. At 10 km from Jaipur, we will visit the ancient Hindu temple Galta Ji, with the location consisting of a series of temples built in a narrow passage in the ring of hills surrounding Jaipur. A natural spring emerges high on the hill and flows downwards, filling a series of sacred kunds (water tanks) in which pilgrims bathe. This impressive temple is designed to look more like a large palace than a traditional temple amidst lush green vegetation. The temple is known for the many tribes of monkeys found here. Afterwards, we arrive in Jaipur and check in at the hotel.
The city of Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India. It was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, from whom the city took its name. The city’s designation as the Pink City is due to the rosy color in which the buildings are painted in the old walled city. In the evening, we will visit a palace for a traditional dinner with local dances. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 4: Jaipur

After our breakfast, our tour of the city will start from the Amber Fort, with its characteristic amber color that will impress us. A fort built by Maharaja Mansingh in the 17th century, and its walls are located along the entire length of the hills, where we will be able to go to the top on elephants (….there is also an alternative by jeep). At the top, we will wander through the corridors and its many rooms with amazing traditional frescoes and precious stones and, of course, in the most impressive room with mirrors. Then we will stop at Hawa Mahal – known as the Palace of Winds – whose extraordinary facade is a jewel of the city. We will continue in the early afternoon with the Maharaja’s Palace, a panoply of small palaces, gardens, corridors, a museum with armor, carpets, local costumes, etc. We will continue the tour with the Jantar Mantar observatory, the most important of the five that exist, and then we will visit the famous Bapu Bazaar for local shopping. In the evening, we will visit a special Hindu temple (Birla) with white colors and marble, where we will attend the Aarti religious ceremony, a group prayer in the central Hindu temple which dominates the city’s palace complex. The colorfulness of the crowd, the religious reverence, and the multitude of chants will impress us. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (approx. 238 km, 3-4 hours)

After our breakfast, we leave Jaipur for Agra with an intermediate visit to the 1,500-year-old Abhaneri stepwell, which served as a source of water for all nearby villages for centuries. We will then arrive at Fatehpur Sikri, the red city with its magnificent palaces which was abandoned just 14 years after its founding and is one of the most important monuments in India. Arrival in Agra and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit Mehtab Bagh to enjoy a unique panoramic view of the Taj Mahal at sunset from the other side of the Yamuna River.
Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Agra

Breakfast and we start our visit to the Agra Fort. “Sundar sama” “wonderful view,” we exclaim while climbing to the castle, where the impressive complex of palaces that housed emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan dominates. The wonderful red fort is surrounded by double walls with a moat and consists of palaces, gardens, and inner courtyards, creating a castle-city with walls. In the afternoon, we continue with the impressive Taj Mahal mausoleum, built by Sultan Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Thousands of craftsmen worked for 22 years to complete this wonderful monument of love. Its architectural perfection, the amazing engravings with the pietra dura technique, and the inlaid decorations surprise us. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 7: Agra – Mathura – Delhi (approx. 204 km, 2-3 hours)

Departure from Agra for Delhi. En route, we will visit the temples of Mathura – starting our tour from the birthplace of Krishna. The Dwarkadhish Temple, built in 1814, is the main temple of the city. Known for its festive days, it is decorated on a grand scale. Another main attraction is the Jama Masjid from 1661 AD, with its bright colored mosaic. Arriving, visit to the Akshardham temple. The temple is counted among the most admired in the world, combining elements of modernity with the traditional architectural style of the place. The building is located in New Delhi and covers an area of over 8,000 square meters, on the banks of the Yamuna River. The complex was built in 2005 in the Noida Mor area in New Delhi. 70% of tourists in Delhi visit this temple complex. This temple is a beautiful place for touring, exploration, and pilgrimage. The main attraction of the complex is the temple, which is beautifully decorated with sculpted statues of dancers, deities, fauna, flora, etc. It is built with Rajasthani sandstone (pink color) and Italian Carrara marble and features 234 pillars, 2,000 statues of deities, nine domes, and much more. The temple maintains 148 life-size elephant statues weighing a total of 3,000 tons. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Delhi – Athens / Thessaloniki

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our return journey.

Travel Notes