Indian Wildlife and Cultural Tour - 9 days

Namaste and welcome to Delhi, the capital of India. Our representative will pick you up from the international airport and drive you to your hotel. On reaching your hotel, check-in and sleep off the jet lag.

Overnight in Delhi.

Today you will visit the major tourist hotspots in Delhi. Delhi is a vast city divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi. Your guide will take you to the major sites in both parts of Delhi.

In New Delhi, you will get to visit the majestic India Gate, Qutub Minar, Akshardham Temple, and National Art Gallery.

India Gate which looks a lot like France's Arc de Triomphe is a war memorial dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War and the Afghan War of 1919. It was built during the British Raj in 1931.

Qutub Minar is an ancient and iconic structure that was built by the first Muslim invaders in India. Made of red sandstone and marble, the victory tower is the highest masonry tower in India. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutub Minar complex has several old mosques, gateways, and mausoleums.

The magnificent Akshardham Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the world. Stretching as long as 356 ft and 141 ft high, the temple is built in red sandstone and Italian marble. Complying with ancient Vedic architectural guidelines no concrete or steel has been used to build the temple.

The National Art Gallery houses works of Indians who have made a name for themselves in the art world – Jamini Roy, Raja Ravi Verma, Amrita Sher Gill, Rabindranath Tagore, etc. The gallery showcases artworks and relics that date back to the nineteenth century.

In Old Delhi, you will visit the beautiful Lotus Temple, a white marble temple built in the shape of a lotus bloom. This is a Bahai Temple where people of all faiths are allowed to enter.

Another temple you will visit is Birla Temple. The temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes and creeds would be allowed to enter the temple.

A visit to the sacred Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is also included in your itinerary. As the gurudwara is associated with the Sikh's eighth guru, it is one of the holy pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. 

After your sightseeing tour, you can explore the old markets and shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Delhi.

You leave Delhi and head towards Agra, a city loved by the Mughal kings who made it their capital. After reaching Agra you check into your hotel and later head out for a sightseeing tour. You will visit the mausoleum of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the father of Mughal empress Nur Jehan.  Known as Itimad –ud-Daulah or ‘Baby Taj,’ the mausoleum is built on the banks of the river Yamuna. It is said that the marble mausoleum served as the blueprint for the world-famous Taj Mahal.

Later your guide will take you to the local market where you can shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Agra.

Your sightseeing tour starts after breakfast. Today you will visit the iconic Taj Mahal, the grand Agra Fort, and marble factories where artisans create marble inlay work.

Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal is one of the world's Seven Wonders. Standing beside the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal, built entirely of white marble is the best example of Islamic art and architecture in India. Artisans from the Mughal Empire as well as Central Asia and Iran were employed to decorate the mausoleum with delicate carvings and filigree work. Precious and semi-precious stones and metal were used to create inlay work on the marble.

The Agra Fort served as the residence of the Mughal royals till 1638 after the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. The fort was built by Akbar, the great Mughal emperor whose ancestors came from Central Asia. Diwan-i-aam, Sheesh Mahal, Khaas Mahal, Macchi Bhavan, Diwan-i-khaas, etc. are some of the beautiful palaces you can explore inside the fort.

Later you will visit the marble factories where artisans produce delicate works of art on marble slabs. In the evening explore the local bazaar and shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Agra.

Leaving Agra you head towards your next destination Ranthambore. En route, you stop at Fatehpur Sikri and explore the palace complex built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Center, is a planned city built by Akbar. Among the most visited sites in Fatehpur Siri include the Bulund Darwaza, the tomb of Sufi Saint Salim Chisti, Jodha Bai's Palace, Khwabgah, Paanch Mahal, Diwan-i-khaas, etc.

After exploring the old city you head towards Sawai Madhopur, another ancient city where Ranthambore National Park is located. After reaching the city you will be driven to a jungle resort. Check-in and chill out enjoying the natural vibe.

Overnight in Ranthambore.

Today you will get to enjoy a wildlife tour within the park's grounds. The Ranthambore National Park is home to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, sambhar deer, nilgai or blue bull antelope, jackal, crocodile, langur, and a variety of birds. The park lies under the shadows of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges and is covered by dry vegetation and huge deciduous trees.

Back in the old days, Ranthambore used to be a royal hunting ground for the royal house of Jaipur. The Maharaja with his large entourage used to spend days and weeks hunting for game in the forest of Ranthambore.  During your safari, you can see the ruins of an old fort, hunting lodges, and other structures built by the kings. 

Your expert guide will take you around the habitat of the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. As per the size of your group, you can either take a jeep or canter safari.

Overnight in Ranthambore.

After your wildlife adventure, you head towards Jaipur, the 'Pink City'. On reaching the city you will be driven to your hotel. Check-in and freshen up. Later in the evening, you can opt to visit either Raj Mandir Cinema Hall or Chokhi Dhani.

Raj Mandir Cinema Hall, built in the seventies, is designed like a giant cake. The interiors have a fantasy-like ambiance with huge chandeliers, spiraling staircases, lush velvet curtains, and walls decorated with swirls of plaster to give the feel of a huge meringue. The movie theater, which is one of a kind in India, was designed with the objective to make the audience feel like royal guests.

Chokhi Dhani is a traditional village-themed restaurant where you can enjoy the ambiance of a typical Rajasthani village. You can taste authentic Rajasthani food and enjoy Rajasthani songs, dances, and puppet shows. Please note you will have to pay for the food yourself.

Overnight in Jaipur.

After breakfast at your hotel get ready to explore Jaipur. You will be driven to the majestic Amer Fort where you take an elephant ride to the rampart of the fort. Built by a Rajput king in the sixteenth century, the palaces inside the fort served as the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and his family for centuries. The palace complex includes several palaces, temples, courtyards, and gardens.

Built using pink and yellow sandstone, and marble, the grand palaces give you a peek into the lifestyle of the Indian royals. Sukh Niwas(the private quarter of the king), Zenana Mahal(the palace of the royal womenfolk), Sheesh Mahal, and Suhag Mandir, are some of the architectural gems you will discover inside the fort.

Later you will get to visit Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and Jal Mahal. Hawa Mahal was built in the eighteenth century by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. This five-storied red sandstone palace has intricately carved nine hundred and fifty-three windows. Built in the shape of the crown of Lord Krishna, this palace also resembles a honeycomb. Hawa Mahal is the only palace in the world built without a foundation.

The City Palace was built by the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The palace complex includes Mubarak Mahal which now houses a museum, Chandra Mahal or the private residence of the royal family, Diwan-i-khaas, courtyards, etc. 

Jantar Mantar which dates back to the eighteenth century has the world's largest sundial. It's an astronomical observatory center where one can study the movement of the sun and earth.

Jal Mahal or Water Palace is a beautiful palace in the middle of Mansagar Lake. The palace used to serve as a monsoon retreat and a place for bird hunting for the Rajput royals.

After the sightseeing tour, you will get the time to explore the local market and shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Jaipur.

You return to Delhi by road. On reaching Delhi your tour ends and you bid goodbye to the city. Our representative will drive you to the airport on time to catch your flight to your destination. If you want to explore more of the country do let us know. We also have some fabulous Nepal and Bhutan itineraries if you are interested in exploring the Himalayas.