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India, 11 Days · Classic tour
Golden Triangle and Amritsar
Travel to the spiritual capital of Sikhism
Near the border with Pakistan is Amritsar, the spiritual centre of Sikhism. There in the centre of a sacred pool, we find the most important temple of this religion, the Golden Temple, which houses the Holy Book during the day. Every night, in a mass ritual, the Book is taken back to its chamber. A very enriching experience indeed. In this programme, in addition to visiting Amritsar, you will tour the classic Triangle formed by the capital, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple on the same trip. Raring to go?
Departure date
Departures from May 2024 till March 2025
From
Dublin, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Donegal, Cork, Kerry county...
Travel details
City of origin - Delhi
Departure with destination Delhi. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Delhi
Breakfast. In the morning we'll visit Old Delhi, stopping at Jama Masjid (the country's largest mosque) and the Red Fort (one of the most opulent forts of the Mughal empire), followed by a fascinating rickshaw ride along the streets of the historic quarter. We'll continue our tour round Delhi with a trip to the Raj Ghat (memorial to Gandhi), the India Gate, the Parliament building, the presidential palace and Qutub Minar, the tallest minaret in the world at seventy-three metres. And to round the day off, a tour of a fascinating Sikh temple. Dinner and overnight stay.
Delhi - Jaipur
Breakfast. Morning departure by road to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, with its famous dark pink buildings, the colour representing hospitality in Rajput tradition. Founded by Raja Jai Singh in the eighteenth century, it's surrounded by hills crowned by forts and palaces that have inspired many a fairy tale. Camels roaming around and locals dressed in bright colours reflect the unique cultural heritage of Jaipur. Meanwhile, the markets are bursting with wonderful handicrafts that reflect the true Rajasthani character. A perfect day in the city of love, legends and traditions. In the afternoon, we will visit a Hindu temple. Dinner and overnight stay. Note: a technical visit to a textile factory is included.
Jaipur - Amber - Jaipur
Breakfast. Early departure from the hotel to Amber Fort. We'll climb to the top of the hill where we'll find Amber Fort and its ramparts, which command fantastic views over the historic city of the Kings of Amber and over to Maota Lake. In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of Jaipur, stopping at places such as the Maharaja Palace (also known as the city palace). It's a former royal residence converted into a museum, although a small wing is still used by the royal family of Jaipur. The tour continues with a stop at Jantar Mantar, which is the world's largest astronomical observatory, built in stone and marble by Jai Singh between 1728 and 1734. En route there'll be a brief stop for the typical photo of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Breeze). This five-storey palace was built in 1799 and is one of the best examples of the artistic talent of the Rajputs, who built it so that the ladies of the court could entertain themselves by watching the hustle-and-bustle of the city. Dinner and overnight stay.
Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Breakfast. Morning departure by road to Agra. En route we'll visit the Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri. Onward journey to the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and its palace, built by King Akbar in the sixteenth century, where prominent civil buildings include Diwan-i-Am (the Hall of Audience), Diwan-i-Khas (the Hall of Private Audiences), the Jodhabai Palace, Birbal's House, Mariam's House, and the Panch Mahal Palace. Onward journey to Agra. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Agra
Breakfast. At first thing, we'll head off to the Taj Mahal, a truly jaw-dropping monument to love with architecture in white marble. Shah Jahan ordered its construction as an expression of his love for his beautiful wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Work of Persian architect Ustad Isa, it took twenty-two years to build and has become one of the wonders of the world. It has a stunning design, perfect symmetry, elegantly carved domes and the best stone inlays ever seen, among other works of genius. Later we'll visit Agra Fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573 and reflects the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. This fort-palace was started by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel and was later completed by two successive generations, who added the delicate marble mosaic work and the magnificent palaces. The fort commands a magical view of the Taj Mahal. Then we'll visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed the Baby Taj, an exquisite tomb in honour of Mirza Ghiyas Beg built by his daughter. Dinner and overnight stay. Note: a technical visit to a marble workshop is included.
Agra - Delhi
Breakfast. Departure by road to Delhi. Upon arrival, time permitting, we recommend a visit to the Akshardham Temple. (not included, paid directly at destination). Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer back to the hotel.
Delhi - Amritsar
Transfer to the station to take the Shatabdi Express train to Amritsar, the most sacred and important place for the Sikh religion with its famous Golden Temple. The name Amritsar comes from the word Amrit, which means "holy water," and sarover, which means "tank", meaning sacred water that surrounds the temple. The city was founded by Guru Ram Das in the 16th century. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Amritsar
Breakfast. Golden Temple visit; built in the 16th century by Guru Ram Das, it is also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib. The temple has four beautifully decorated doors and arches. The walls of the temple are gold plated, and the top dome is solid gold. In the afternoon, we visit the border town of Wagah to see the famous changing of the guard and the flag raising ceremony by the security forces of India and Pakistan at sunset. Return journey to hotel for overnight stay.
Amritsar - Delhi
Breakfast. At the specified time, transfer to the station to take the Shatabdi Express train to Delhi. Upon arrival, transfer by road to the airport.
Delhi - City of origin
Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Train segment as per itinerary.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated as optional.
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English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners.
Your trip doesn't include
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Electronic Visa to enter in India.
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
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Insolvency protection.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Category B
Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida
13B Mayur Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi
The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi
1 Cbd, Maharaja Surajmal Road, Near Yamuma Sports Complex, Delhi
Eros Hotel New Delhi, Nehru Place
Nehru Place, Delhi
Category A
Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida, An Ihg Hotel
13A Mayur Vihar, District Centre, Delhi
Park Plaza Delhi CBD Shahdara
Plot 32, Delhi
Fortune Park, East Delhi - Member ITC's hotel group
DDA Community Center, Fortune, Plot D, opp. to East End Club Delhi, Block C, Vivek Vihar, Nueva Delhi
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in India are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- The baggage allowance on domestic flights of most airlines in India is usually 15 kg per person, so lower than on international flights. Please take account of this when packing your bags.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in India.
- The tours include cultural stops at local workshops so you can learn about the production of traditional crafts.
- To reconfirm services at the destination, please send us your passport details within 24 hours of booking.
- Please check which documents are required to enter the country.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.