Splendors of the Golden Triangle of India with optional Nepal extension

You will be amazed by the sounds, sights, aroma and tastes of the GOLDEN TRIANGLE OF INDIA - NEW DELHI - eternal capital of India,  AGRA - the erstwhile Mughal capital and the city of the world famous TAJ MAHAL & JAIPUR - famous as the Pink City. Be fascinated by 6 World Heritage Sites among many other interesting places in this introductory tour of India. Enjoy the thrill of rickshaw ride in narrow lanes of old Delhi that was formerly Shahjahanabad - capital of the 5th. Mughal Emperor. Take your imagination to the era of Rajput chivalry with a colorfully decorated elephant ride up to the hilltop palaces at Amber Fort. This tour of 6 overnights in India / 8 days is packed with mesmerizing sites of India. Stay in centrally located, small  boutique hotels in all three cities.

Enrich your  India experience with an optional  4-day awesome, extension  journey to explore the historical & natural wonders of Nepal.

Itinerary: New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

Day1 : Departure from US Airport (Flight carrier and schedule will be conveyed with confirmation of booking).

Day 2 : DELHI - Arrival in Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, traditional Indian reception and transfer to hotel for overnight in Florence Inn.

Day 3 : IN DELHI - After breakfast visit Red Fort (photo-stop) - massive sandstone fort built by Shah Jahan on the banks of river Yamuna; Jama Masjid - was the largest mosque in India built in 1656 CE by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan followed by Rickshaw ride in narrow lanes of old Delhi through the famous Chandni Chawk Bazaar and historical Sikh Gurudwara. Afternoon sightseeing of New Delhi includes the Qutub Minar- Sultan Qutub-Ud-Din-Aibak started building it in 1199 CE - many later Sultans of Delhi renovated and extended its height. Remains of Hindu and Jain temples are still visible in this mosque. Later visit the Baha'i  Lotus temple and the India Gate war memorial. Drive by parliament house, Prime Minister's office  and the President's mansion (from outside). In the evening enjoy the sound & light show in the Red Fort of Delhi. Overnight and dinner in Florence Inn.

Day 4 : DELHI / AGRA (200 kilometers or 125 miles / 4 hour's drive) - After breakfast drive to Agra with stop for sightseeing of Sikandara - 3rd. Mughal Emperor Akbar's mausoleum. After lunch  proceed for sightseeing tour of Agra Fort. The palaces built by Emperor Akbar in Agra Fort reflect his eclectic architectural style. His grandson, the 5th. Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, replaced many original red sandstone palaces with grand white marble ones in Agra Fort. After lunch in a city restaurant enjoy a demonstration of traditional craftsmanship with inlay of precious and semi precious stones in marble. Overnight in and dinner in Crystal Inn, 1/2 a mile from Taj Mahal.

Day 5 : AGRA - Early morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal in pink glow of sunrise. After breakfast  visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, the father of Mughal Queen Nur Jahan - a two storied white marble mausoleum with Pietra Dure art work using various shades of Jasper and Black Marble inlaid in white marble. The tomb stones of the queen's parents are made of solid Jasper blocks. The queen designed this mausoleum for her parents herself. On the way back stop for lunch in a city restaurant. Afternoon is free to relax or shop. In the evening there will be a Kathak dance performance exclusively for our group in our hotel. Overnight and dinner in Crystal Inn.

Day 6 : AGRA / JAIPUR (232 kilometers or 144 miles / 5 hour's drive) - After breakfast drive to Jaipur with stop to visit the 3rd. Mughal Emperor's deserted capital of Fatehpur Sikri. Emperor Akbar built this city to enjoy the company of a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chistie, who predicted that the emperor would not only have a male heir to the Mughal throne but also two more sons. The city was populated for only 14 years and then deserted for almost 400 years until beginning of 20th. century. After lunch in Jaipur enjoy a GEM-CUTTING & POLISHING demonstration - Jaipur is famous worldwide for its industries of cutting & polishing of colored precious and semi-precious stones. Overnight in Umaid Mahal Hotel.

Day 7 : JAIPUR - After breakfast take a short drive for a sunrise view of the Hawa Mahal in the pink city on the way to Amber Fort, crowning a hilltop in Aravali Mountains north of Jaipur. A royal ride on colorfully decorated elephant up to the hill will transport your imagination to the bygone era of Maharajas. After sightseeing of the palaces built by Maharaja Man Singh and Mirza Raja Jai Singh with glass mosaic inlay interior decoration, drive back to walled city with stop to view the Jal Mahal Palace island in the center of a lake. After lunch enjoy a visit to the wood block printing demonstration and the world of Jaipur textiles. In the afternoon sightseeing of Jaipur Maharaja's City Palace including museums with its collection of original medieval paintings and majestic portraits, royal garments and typical Rajasthani handicraft. Later visit the Jantar Mantar - a functional astronomical observatory with very precise masonry and metal instruments. Drive through the walled Pink City. Overnight and dinner in Umaid Mahal Hotel.

Day 8 : JAIPUR - DELHI (260 kilometers or 162 miles / 5 hour's drive) - After breakfast visit the Sisodia Rani Palace in a terraced garden and drive further to Galta Springs Pilgrimage Center in the Aravali Mountains east of Jaipur. After lunch drive to New Delhi. Farewell dinner at Ashok Country Club and later transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport to board your flight back to USA. Some flight may arrive the next day.

For prices from other US and international airports please call or email Brijesh at (559) 446 0499 or brij@indiatravelerusa.com.

Price includes:

• International flight with airport taxes/fees
• Fine centrally located hotels on double/twin-bedroom sharing basis in air conditioned rooms with ensuite facilities as per the itinerary
• All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
• Traditional Indian style welcome at the time of arrival at airport.
• All arrival/departure transfers, drives and sightseeing by one chauffeur driven private air-conditioned Coach.
• Tour Escorted in India
• Services of local English-speaking representative for all arrival and departure transfers to assist you at the airport.
• Entrances to monuments listed in the itinerary
• Services of a local English-speaking guide during sightseeing at all the destinations as per the itinerary
• Rickshaw ride in Chandni Chawk Bazaar
• Elephant ride at Amber Fort near Jaipur
• Complimentary mineral water
• All applicable taxes

Not included in price:

• Visa fees for India - India Visa can obtained by filling out an online application on the website of Consulate General of India responsible for your area.
• Travel Insurance (Travel Guard Insurance is compulsory for all participants. Premiums:
  up to 34 years of age: $ 82, from 35 to 59 years of age: $ 102 and more than 60 years: $ 139)
• Any expenses of a personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, internet fees, beverages, gratuities etc.
• Still and Video camera fees at monuments or other places of interest.

Payment: Full amount of the tour cost and travel insurance  is payable by check or Visa/MasterCard credit or debit cards with registration. There is an addition charge of 3.75% on payments by credit or debit cards.

NEPAL  Optional Post-Trip Extension - Please call for price.

Day 8, Delhi: After farewell dinner with the group, transfer to boutique hotel - The Peppermint in Gurgaon near Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

Day 9, Delhi - Kathmandui: Enjoy your breakfast in Peppermint Hotel in Gurgaon at leisure. Around 11 AM transfer to airport to board the Kingfisher flight at 1.30 PM to arrive in Kathmandu at 3.25 PM. After visa formalities, baggage checkout and customs, reception at Tribhuvan International Airport by our Nepal representative. Kathmandu, situated at an altitude of 1400 meters or 4600 feet above sea-level, is the capital of Nepal, and is surrounded by Himalayan Mountains on three sides. Transfer to Hotel Yak & Yeti Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Kathmandu for a relaxed evening. Later dinner and overnight.

Day 10, Kathmandu Patan - Bhaktapur - Nagarkot: After breakfast drive to Patan to visit its Durbar Square that consists of three courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshar Narayan Chowk. The Tibetan Handicrafts Center is well known for its carpet weaving. After lunch visit Bhaktapur that is famous for  the palace of 55 windows, the stone temple of Batsala Devi full of intricate carvings, architectural landmarks like the Lion Gate, the statue of king Bhupatindra Malla, the Batsala temple and two other Hindu temples called the Surya Vinayak and Changu Narain. The National Art Gallery has a rich collection of ancient and medieval paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools. Later drive to Nagarkot for dinner and overnight in Club Himalaya Resort - the best hotel in Nagarkot.

Day 11, Nagarkot - Kathmandu: Early morning the awesome view of the sunrise over the highest mountain peaks in the world would be an everlasting experience. After breakfast drive to Kathmandu. After check-in the hotel, you will have an amazing sightseeing program in Kathmandu including: (1) the sacred Pashupatinath Hindu Temple dedicaed to the Hindu deity Shiva, first established in 5th century CE. This holiest Hindu pilgrimage place in Nepal has attracted millions of devotees from all over Nepal and even from India for the last 1500 years. The temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati river.

A circuit of the Pashupati area takes visitors past a 6th. century statue of the Buddha, an 8th. century  idol of Brahma the Creator - freshly painted, skeletal images guarding temple gates, among many other magnificent temples dedicated to various Hindu and Buddhist deities. (2) Swayambhunath temple is the oldest Buddhist shrine. Looking east from here, you have a panoramic view of the entire Kathmandu valley below. Swayambhunath is a best place to observe religious harmony between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus.  The stupa is one of the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshippers come from diverse ethical backgrounds. Situated on the top of a hill. It provides an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries. It also has the largest Buddha statue in the country. Special butter lamps are lit after the monetary gifts are offered to the images. (3) Kathmandu Durbar Square – the temple of the Living Goddess and the old Royal Palace. (4) Finally, visit Kasthamandup – a temple built from a single tree from which the Kathmandu derives its name. The Square is always vibrant with throngs of locals and tourists. In the crowd are the Hindu pilgrims who come here to pay their homage to the various deities, Kal Bhairab, monkey headed god Hanuman, Shiva and his consort, Parvati. These buildings comprise the most remarkable heritage from the Malla Dynasty period. Kathmandu became the seat of Valley’s royalty when King Jayasthiti Malla unified the valley in the 14th century (although it was divided later by his descendants). (5) The Malla kings’ royal palace was located at Hanuman Dhoka, and it is still retained as the ceremonial palace of the present Shah dynasty. Although the recently dethroned King Birendra does not reside there, important traditional royal ceremonies including the crowning of the head of the former royal family and other family events are still conducted at Hanuman Dhoka. Kneeling in his usual posture on a pedestal, Hanuman is a hero from the Hindu epic Ramayana, who endows military success to his devotees - the reason why he has been placed there. Lunch will be arranged in Darbar Square in Kathmandu. (6) Boudha Nath Temple - the world's largest stupa, a sight of great veneration for the Buddhists, Boudha Nath is situated in north east of Pashupatinath about two 2 kilometers by road. The origin of this stupa is rather obscure. A legend says that a woman named Kangma was banished from heaven by Indra for stealing flowers and was reborn on earth as a swineherd’s daughter. Rearing and selling geese, Kangma accumulated a considerable amount of wealth. One day, she went to request the king for a plot of land to build a temple dedicated to the Buddha Amitabha. She asked that she be given land the size which a buffalo’s hide would cover. The king agreed to what he thought was a harmless request, but Kangma very shrewdly cut the hide making it into one very long strip of leather and stretching it out to form a very large circle. She requested and was granted the huge area of land that lay with the circle made of this strip, that area is today the entire complex of Boudha Nath. Dinner and overnight in Yak & Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 12, Kathmandu - Mount Everest Flight - Delhi - USA: In the morning transfer to airport for the unforgettable experience of the amazing Mount Everest Flight. After breakfast relax at the hotel before transfer to Kathmandu International Airport to board the Kingfisher flight at 4.35 PM to arrive in Delhi 6 PM. In the evening transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to board the flight back to USA. Some flights may arrive in USA on the next day.

Nepal tour program may be altered for international flights leaving in the morning from Kathmandu.

The Price includes:

• Round trip international flight from New Delhi to Kathmandu with airport taxes/fees
• Arrival/Departure transfers in New Delhi and Kathmandu
• Private transport throughout the tour
• Mount Everest Flight including transfers to the airport for boarding it
• English speaking guide throughout the trip
• Accommodation in hotels mentioned in the itinerary on double or twin bedroom occupancy basis
• All meals mentioned in the itinerary
• All entrance fees for places mentioned in the itinerary
• 2 mineral water bottles per day/per person
• All applicable hotel taxes

The Price does not include:

• Lunch and Dinner on last day
• Tips, personal expenses such as bottled drinks, laundry etc.
• International Travel Insurance - this will be compulsory for all participants of the Nepal Extension tour. Premiums: up to 34 years of age: $ 60, from 35 to 59 years of age: $ 68 and more than 60 years: $ 94.
• Air ticket Home-Kathmandu-Home