13 Days India's Golden Triangle Tour Package
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Priced From: $6695 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Oct - Dec

From vibrant Delhi to mystical Varanasi to the “Pink City” of Jaipur, to the “City of Lakes,” Udaipur, India waits to share her treasures and her secrets with you. When the dream of India travel calls to you, come with us on an unforgettable 13-day adventure in India’s spectacular north. This artfully blends India’s fascinating history, breathtaking architecture, priceless artist treasures, varied cultures and beloved traditions in an unforgettable way. Throughout, you’ll enjoy accommodations fit for a maharaja, dine on the finest in Indian cuisine and discover India in a way you never dreamed possible. India travel with us is the experience of a lifetime!

Day 1: Welcome to India
Tour begins: The Oberoi, New Delhi. Your India travel adventure begins with a transfer from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to The Oberoi, New Delhi, your gracious home for your first three nights in India. Get a good night’s sleep before starting a full day of sightseeing on the morning of day 2.
Lodging: The Oberoi, New Delhi, India

Day 2: The essence of New Delhi
An exploration of India’s bustling capital city spans centuries and cultures. Today’s India travel begins at Vijay Chowk, “Victory Square,” and surveys modern-day India as evidenced by the Secretariat Building; the Presidential Palace with its intriguing combination of classical and Indian design elements; and the India Gate memorializing Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Then travel far back in time at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from 1570 AD and the first garden-tomb on the Indian Subcontinent, and the Qutb Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world, begun in 1193 AD. After lunch, discover the life, philosophy and impact on the world of Mahatma Gandhi, called the “Father of the Nation” by many, at the Gandhi Smriti Museum. Please join us this evening for our welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi, New Delhi, India

Day 3: Old Delhi delights
The capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 20th centuries, Old Delhi has much to discover during today’s India travel. A Persian couplet inscribed on a wall in the magnificent Red Fort says, “If on earth be an eden of bliss, it is this, it is this, none but this." No doubt the emperor whose home it became found it pretty blissful, with its many plush private apartments and trappings of Mughal grandeur, wealth and power. Constructed in 1639 AD, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will amaze you with what you find inside it today. And speaking of grandeur, the nearby Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India, has a courtyard that can hold 25,000 worshippers. A poignant visit to Rajghat, the site of Gandhi’s cremation and a memorial to this humble man who so changed the world, proceeds a free afternoon to explore more of Delhi’s delights as you choose.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi, New Delhi, India

Day 4: Virtuous Varanasi
Continue your India travel with a flight to Varanasi, the “Holy City of India,” on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. Since the 6th century BC, devout Hindu pilgrims have flocked to Varanasi from all over India to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges in the belief that doing so washes away sins and cleanses one of all evil. Discover Sarnath, one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, where Buddha is said to have to have preached his first sermon. Later, return to the Ganges to view the spectacle of evening prayers on the great “ghats,” stairways leading down to the river, and the ritual of “putting the river to sleep” this evening before boarding small boats to row along the Ganges for a different perspective. What follows is a magical experience as you enjoy a special dinner in an authentic Brahmin refectory dating from the 19th century, enhanced by traditional songs and dances that bring this oldest living city in the world to life. You’ll always remember the twinkle of numerous diyas (tiny lamps), as they are set afloat on the river.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Gateway Hotel Ganges, Varanasi, India

Day 5: From the Ganges to Khajuraho's temples
You’ll know that sunrise is a special time on the Ganges as, during an early morning cruise, you view thousands gathering on the ghats to bathe in its sacred waters as the day begins. Later, Our India travel continues on to Khajaraho, site of a large group of impressive medieval Hindu and Jain temples dating from 950 to 1050 AD. The intricacy and craftsmanship of the stone carvings and statues found in these extraordinary monuments are awe-inspiring and the temples achieve a perfect balance between art and architecture.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Lalit Temple View, Khajuraho, India

Day 6: The cenotaphs of Orchha
A cenotaph is a monument honoring the dead whose mortal remains lay elsewhere. The historic city of Orchha has fourteen magnificent cenotaphs commemorating deceased heroes and rulers. You’ll be able to admire them, along with the site’s impressive ruins of temples and palaces, before boarding a train bound for Agra.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India

Day 7: Mughal memories
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites that one sees during this India travel are memorable. The fascinating city of Agra is home to three such World Heritage Sites, and you’ll see them today. Visit the hauntingly beautiful Taj Mahal, built by a Mughal king as the final resting place for his beloved wife, which inspires all who see it with both its delicate, symmetrical beauty and the eternal love it represents. You’ll also see the famous Agra Fort, the most important fort in India, continuing to entrance visitors today. The massive, 16th-century walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, which served as the capital of famous Mughal Emperor Akbar for fourteen years, showcases an intriguing blend of varied regional design concepts and architectural skills; you may choose to join us if you wish on an excursion to this remarkable site.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India

Day 8: Pretty in pink
Today you’ll explore bewitching Jaipur, known as the “Pink City” for the striking pink stucco walls of Old Jaipur. A visit to the splendid City Palace Museum opens a door into the opulent world of the Rajput princes and the treasures with which they surrounded themselves. The City Palace complex is home to several palatial buildings constructed by influential rulers that reflect the blending of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jantar Mantar, the world’s biggest stone observatory, between 1727 and 1733 AD. You’ll be amazed by the “tools” he used to study the heavens – and that still provide accurate information today – during a tour. Meet a maharaja this evening at a special dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India

Day 9: The amazing Amber Fort
No India travel would be complete without a visit to the splendid Amber Fort, an architectural masterpiece of great historical significance. Begun in the 16th century and built of red sandstone and marble, the seemingly rough exterior gives no hint of the warm and opulent ambiance of the interior, as you’ll discover this morning. In particular, the intricate and delicate use of mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors in the sumptuous Amber Palace never ceases to astound visitors. It is said that the light of a single candle can illuminate the entire room. Explore more of the “Pink City” on your own during an afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India

Day 10: From the "Pink City" to the "City of Lakes"
Bid farewell to the “Pink City” of Jaipur this morning as your India travel takes you on to Udaipur, sometimes called the “City of Lakes” and the “Venice of the East.” A cruise on picturesque Lake Pichola reveals some of the spectacular palaces of the Rajput princes, for which Udaipur is famous, on islands and along the shore. You’ll feel like royalty yourself as you spend the next two nights at the palatial Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, rated the one of the best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

Day 11: Lifestyles of the wealthy and well-known, Maharaja-style
Your discoveries begin in Saheliyon Ki Bari, the “Garden of Maids,” on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake. Once a favorite spot for a little rest and relaxation among royal ladies, today these lovely gardens are dotted with intriguing fountains, elaborately carved pavilions and marble elephants that add to their charm. Up next is a visit to the magnificent Jagdish Mandir, the largest temple in Udaipur, adorned with bas-reliefs of elephants, alligators, horsemen and musicians, and enshrining a black stone image of the supreme Hindu god Vishnu. The City Palace complex, overlooking Lake Pichola, reveals the splendor with which maharajas and their families surrounded themselves. The City Palace Museum exhibits a remarkable collection of ancient curios, antiques, and sculptures, as well as priceless possessions of ages gone by. Miniature paintings on display depict many aspects of the royal lifestyle enjoyed by privileged few who lived here. Spend the afternoon enjoying the amenities of your lavish resort before joining us to discover the secrets of wearing saris and turbans. Please join us for our farewell dinner tonight as the conclusion of your India travel adventure draws near.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

Day 12: One last day of India travel
Spend your final day of India travel visiting the ancient temples at Eklingji and Nagda. Within the lovely marble complex of Eklingji are 108 intriguing temples, one of which dates back to the rule of Bappa Rawal in 734 AD. The ruins of the Saas Bahu twin temple from the 10th century are found in Nagda. Saas means “mother-in-law” and the translation of Bahu is “daughter-in-law.” After lunch fly back to back to Delhi in preparation for your journey home. Your hotel is very convenient to the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Trident, Gurgaon, India

Day 13: Homeward bound
Our India travel adventure ends in Delhi. A transfer from the Trident, Gurgaon to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is included. Please allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in formalities at the airport. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast

Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252

12/09