12-Day Golden Triangle Tour with Orchha, Khajuraho and Varanasi

• Meet our representative at a pre-decided location in Delhi.
• Get transferred to your pre-booked hotel, complete the check-in formalities, and relax for some time.
• After that, head to Chandni Chowk and take a cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli Spice Market, a busy shopping area filled with spices, dried fruit, silver jewellery, and vivid saris, while the narrow side streets are crowded with tiny shops selling essential oils, stationery, and traditional Indian sweets.

Overnight stay at the Delhi hotel.

• Visit the Red Fort, constructed by Shah Jahan in 1638 when the capital shifted from Agra to Delhi. It was the primary residence of the Mughal Dynasty and is located in the city centre. It is made from red sandstone, which is where it gets its name. The Red Fort has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.
• Travel to Qutub Minar, a unique five-storey tapering tower with a height of 73 metres. This famous historical monument is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• See India Gate, a war memorial near the Rajpath. It is dedicated to the soldiers of British India who died in the war.
• Visit Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. It is a black stone platform in an open-air complex that marks Gandhi's cremation spot.
• Pay your respects at Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the country. Jama Masjid is made of red sandstone and marble. It was constructed by Shah Jahan and is visited by hundreds of people every day.
• Head to Humayun's Tomb, the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, in 1558 and designed by the Persian architects Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad.

Overnight stay in the Delhi hotel.

• After breakfast and check-out, drive to the beautiful city of Jaipur, also known as the Pink City of India.
• Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India due to the extensive use of pink sandstone in various city buildings. Its monuments showcase a myriad of architectural styles, and its vibrant bazaars are famous for traditional handicrafts and jewellery. The ambience of this city speaks volumes about the rich lifestyle of the Rajput Kings.
• Shop at Johari Bazaar, a shopper's paradise and a must-visit in Jaipur. This market of exquisite jewellery and artefacts can immerse shoppers in its glittering glory. It is considered to be one of the oldest markets in Jaipur city.

Overnight in Jaipur.

• Visit Amer Fort, situated on top of a hill and built by Raja Man Singh I. It is known for its artistic elements and unique architecture. The Maota Lake located in front of the monument acts as a source of water for the fort.
• Spend time at the City Palace and learn about its history. It was originally the administrative and ceremonial seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur, constructed in 1721. It was also the location of religious and cultural events that took place at that time. It now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and continues to be the home of the Jaipur royal family.
• Check out Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, which is made with red and pink sandstone, distinguishing it from the surroundings. The palace is a five-storey pyramidal-shaped monument and was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799.
• Explore Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1734. It is a collection of nineteen astronomical instruments built by Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye.
• Travel to Jal Mahal, a floating palace situated in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. The palace and the lake were renovated and expanded in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.
• Shop at Johari Bazaar, a shopper's paradise and a must-visit in Jaipur. This market of exquisite jewellery and artefacts can immerse shoppers in its glittering glory. It is considered to be one of the oldest markets in Jaipur city.
• Travel back to the hotel and stay the night in the Jaipur hotel.

• After breakfast, proceed to Agra. On the way, visit two hidden gems of India.
• Visit Chand Baori, built during the 8th and 9th centuries. It has 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, descending 20 metres to the bottom of the well.
• Then halt for sightseeing at Fatehpur Sikri, a small city in northern India founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor. Red sandstone buildings cluster in the city centre. Enter through the grand Buland Darwaza gate, which leads to the entrance of the Jama Masjid mosque. Nearby is the marble Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti. Also, check out Jodha Bai's Palace, a unique fusion of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles.
• Later, check in at the Agra hotel. The rest of the time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in the Agra hotel.

• After breakfast, visit the Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the River Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. It is one of the world's seven wonders and is a magnificent sight for the eyes.
• Then head to Agra Fort, a historic fort that was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Before colonial rule, the Marathas were the last Indian rulers to occupy the fort.
• In the evening, enjoy free time for leisure or visit the market on your own. Overnight stay in the Agra hotel.

• After breakfast, head to Gwalior.
• Visit Gwalior Fort, known as 'the pearl among fortresses in India'. This impenetrable fort has witnessed many wars and events. Standing tall atop a rocky mountain, this architectural marvel spreads over an area of 3 sq. km and is visible from all corners of the city. Several attractions inside the fort include palaces, temples, and water tanks, and it might take almost a day to explore the place.
• Then visit Jai Vilas Palace Museum, which is only 650 metres from Moti Mahal. Jai Vilas Palace is a grand structure built by Jayaji Rao Scindia in 1874. The building has European-style architecture and is quite famous for its Durbar Hall, which is adorned with some of the grandest chandeliers in the world and a huge carpet that took nearly 12 years to weave. The rooms in the palace have been converted into a museum and exhibit furniture, paintings, sculptures, decorative art, textiles, and more collected by the royal family.
• After that, check in at the hotel. The rest of the time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in the Gwalior hotel.

• After breakfast, proceed to Orchha. On the way, see Jhansi Fort.
• Visit Jhansi Fort, built by Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha in 1613 CE. It served as a stronghold of the Chandela Kings from the 11th to the 17th century AD. In the 18th century, Jhansi served as the capital of the Maratha province and later the Princely State of Jhansi from 1804 to 1853 CE. The fort was the residence of the great Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, who fought the British East India Company during the 1857 War of Independence. This fort witnessed the fiery battle led by Rani Lakshmi Bai, and the queen and her army fought fiercely for two weeks during the mutiny.
• After reaching Orchha, visit this small town. Orchha is a city dotted with artistically beautiful palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries that still retain much of their pristine perfection. After some relaxation, go sightseeing at the Orchha Fort Complex. Visit Jehangir Mahal, built in the 17th century by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. Delicate chhatris and trellis work counterbalance its strong lines. Explore Raj Mahal, crowned by chhatris and exquisite interiors with boldly colourful murals based on religious themes. Visit the Ram Raja Temple, which is most unusual as it is a palace-turned-temple where Rama is worshipped as a Raja (King). Head to the Laxminarayan Temple, linked by a flagstone path to the Ram Raja Temple. Its interiors contain some of the most exquisite wall paintings in Orchha.

Overnight stay in the Orchha hotel.

• After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho. On arrival, check in at the hotel.
• Khajuraho was the capital of the Chandela kings, and its temples were built in a short span of one hundred years from 950-1050 AD. Most of them were destroyed by Muslim invaders. Adorned with exquisite sculpture, only 22 temples remain out of the original 85. Khajuraho's temples are covered with hundreds of sculptured figures - a galaxy of gods and goddesses, beasts and serpents, and a multitude of erotic couples that represent a passion for life, love, and joy.
• After some relaxation, head for Khajuraho sightseeing, which includes visits to the Khajuraho Group of Temples that speak volumes about the grandeur of the Chandela Kings. These temples were built around 200 years ago. They are a set of temples divided into eastern, western, and southern wings. Meticulously designed Jain temples majorly dominate the eastern wing, and the Parsvanath Temple is the largest temple in this wing. The western wing features some of the finest temples, including the Andariya Mahadev Temple, Devi Jagadambe Temple, Chausat Yogini, and Chitragupt Temple, while the southern wing comprises three temples: Duladeo Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple, and Beejamandal Temple. All these temples display exquisite detailing and erotic carvings that are hard to find anywhere else in India.

Overnight stay at the Khajuraho hotel.

• After breakfast, our driver will take you to Khajuraho Airport to board your flight to Varanasi.
• On arrival in Varanasi, our company representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.
• In the evening, see the Ganga Aarti held every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat. It starts at about 6:45 PM, after sunset, and lasts 45 minutes. People gather around the ghat almost 90 minutes before the beginning of the beautiful procession. You can head to the ghat an hour earlier, grab a spot on the stairs, or hire a boat to watch the aarti. Even though arriving an hour early may sound like a long wait, with all the preparations and the crowd around you, the time will fly by in the blink of an eye.

Overnight stay in the Varanasi hotel.

• Have an early morning breakfast and take a boat ride on the River Ganges.
• Enjoy soaking in the spectacular sunrise, then return to the hotel for breakfast.
• Head to Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first sermon.
• Visit the New Vishwanath Temple, also known as the

• After breakfast, our company representative will drive you to Varanasi Airport to board your flight back home.