Arrive Delhi. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to hotel. (Hotel check-in 1400 hrs ). Overnight

Following breakfast at hotel, proceed for sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi including a rickshaw ride (Pedi cab) in Chandni Chowk [Red Fort is closed on Mondays]
Old Delhi – Situated in a strategic position on the west bank of the Yamuna River, between the Himalayas and the Aravalli Hills, Delhi is the gateway to the rich alluvial soils of the Ganges plain and has, according to Indian folklore, been occupied since 2500 BC. The original city, Indraprastha was the first of nine. Shahjahanabad or Old Delhi, the 7th city, was built when the Mughal Emperor moved his capital back to Delhi from Agra in 1638. Planned out in blocks with wide roads, residential areas and bazaars, Chandi Chowk, now thought to be Asia’s busiest street, was the main artery. Literally translated as ‘Silver Street’ this bustling market area of Old Delhi is good for hunting down new and antique gold and silver jewellery from craftsmen whose forefathers served the emperor. At the 1911 Delhi Durbar, King George V announced that the capital of India was to move from Calcutta to Delhi. Inaugurated in 1931, the ambitious work of British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, New Delhi is an audacious statement of Imperial British control over India. Today the difference between bustling Old Delhi and the calmer, tree lined avenues of New Delhi is striking.

New Delhi – Was planned and built by the British in the 1920’s and is characterized by Sir Edwin Lutyens’ monumental architecture. Driving through the city, with its wide tree lined avenues discover India Gate and the Diplomatic Enclave, the Central Secretariat and the President’s House. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, aptly called the predecessor of the Taj Mahal because of its ornate Mughal style of architecture, later perfected in the Taj Mahal. Finally, see the 12th century Qutab Minar, considered one of the most perfect towers in the world, measuring 72m high. Continue to Connaught Place, New Delhi’s main shopping area and central hub. Rest of the day at leisure Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.

Breakfast at hotel and drive to Agra. Arrive and check-in at hotel. Afternoon visit Taj Mahal & Agra Fort .[Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays]

Taj Mahal – Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1631, the Taj Mahal is described by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as ‘a tear drop on the face of eternity’. Heartbroken by her death, legend has it that Shah Jahan’s hair turned grey overnight and that he turned his back on running the empire, concentrating instead on the construction of this monument to love. Construction took 22 years and the Taj was completed in 1653 at a speculated cost of 3 million rupees, equivalent to around 70 million US Dollars today. Overnight stay at hotel in Agra.

Following breakfast at hotel, check-out from hotel and transfer by road to Jaipur en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri – Despite having many wives, 26-year old Akbar had no living heir as all his children had died in infancy. Sheikh Salim Chishti, a Sufi saint living in the village of Sikri predicted Akbar would have three sons, and with the birth of Salim, (named after the saint and later known as Jahangir) and in recognition of the saint’s prophecy, Akbar built a new capital at Sikri in his honor. 37km southwest of Agra, this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the Mughal capital from 1571. Due to an ever-increasing population and erratic water supply, the red sandstone city was abandoned in 1585. Fatehpur Sikri, the town of victory, was the Mughals first planned city to feature designs that amalgamated Hindu, Persian and Islamic design. Today, the complex of buildings, including the Diwan-i-Am and the Diwan-i-Khas, the Panch Mahal and Jodha Bai’s Palace are perfectly preserved. Inside the Jama Masjid Mosque, completed in 1571 is the stunningly carved white marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti.

Today childless couples hoping for a son visit the tomb and in seeking the saints blessing tie a woolen thread to the outer Jali screens. Continue your drive to Jaipur before stopping again to pay visit Abhneri Step well or The Chand Baori – a stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones. Located in the eastern part of the province of Rajasthan, it was built by King Chanda somewhere in the 9th century. Arrive Jaipur and check-in at Hotel. overnight Hotel.

Following breakfast at hotel, excursion to Amber to visit Amber Fort with Elephant ride uphill and jeep ride downhill Amber – Originally the ancient capital of the Kachawahas clan from 1037 the ancient town of Amber, 12km from Jaipur, is dotted with ancient temples, Havelis, and step wells. High above the town and surrounded with defensive fortification walls sits the impressive Amber Palace. Built by Raja Man Singh in the early 17th century it houses mighty gates, temples, huge ornate halls, palaces, pavilions and gardens. Amber Palace is a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture and once at the top the Palace affords excellent views of the surrounding countryside and town below. The 10-minute walk though a series of five defensive gates will bring you to the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate), the main entry to the Palace.As an alternative it is possible to arrive at the Palace on the back of an elephant or drive up by jeep. Having visited the fort it is also possible to take a guided heritage walk of the often over-looked Amber village. This walk takes in seldom-visited temples, havelis, step wells and a fascinating museum of textiles.
Afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of Jaipur visiting City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Observatory Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur (City of Victory) is the state capital and largest city of Rajasthan. It was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 and was planned according to Indian ‘Vastu Shastra’ principles. The city was divided into 9 blocks representing the ancient Hindu map of the universe; 2 blocks housed the state buildings and palaces, the other 7 allotted to various public buildings. A fortification wall was built around the city with 7 gates for entry. Originally, the buildings were painted in a variety of colours but in 1853 when Prince Albert visited, the old city was painted pink, a traditional colour of welcome. It has remained pink ever since. The City Palace in the centre of Jaipur took 4 years to complete. Tour the Palace by passing through the main entrance and begin by visiting the Mubarak Mahal, built in 1890 it houses the Textile and Costume Museum. Visit the Armoury then proceed through the Rajendra Pol gate into the main complex.

Here the Diwan-i-Khas is home to 2 giant silver urns used by Sawai Madho Singh to carry Ganges water to England when he attended Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. After visiting the Chandra Mahal and the museums proceed to the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Built between 1728 and 1734 on a grand scale, the 17 astronomical instruments were built in stone and marble. The collection, built by Jai Singh includes the large Samrat, a 27.4m high sundial accurate to 2 seconds! Overnight stay at hotel in Jaipur.

Breakfast at hotel and drive back to Delhi. Arrive and check-in at hotel . Rest of the day free for independent activities/relaxation or last-minute shopping before flying back home. Overnight

In time transfer to airport to connect flight back home