India's most iconic circuit links three cities that trace the rise of Mughal and Rajput grandeur — Old and New Delhi's layered history, Agra's marble masterpiece, and Jaipur's rose-pink bazaars and hill forts. It's an ideal first journey through India: short drives, comfortable pacing, and a headline monument every couple of days.
Our representative receives you at the international airport late at night and transfers you to your hotel to relax. Delhi, capital of kingdoms and empires past, is a sprawling metropolis blending the old and the new — the perfect introduction to India. Overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast, tour Old Delhi — Raj Ghat, the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort — followed by a cycle-rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid through the lanes of Chandni Chowk. Then see New Delhi: Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, and a drive along Rajpath past India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, the Lotus Temple and the Diplomatic Enclave. In the evening, enjoy a Dances of India show. Overnight in Delhi.
Drive to Agra (201 km, approx. 4 hrs), stopping en route at Sikandra. Agra, once the Mughal empire's second capital under Akbar and Shah Jahan, is a world of red sandstone and white marble. Visit the Taj Mahal — Shah Jahan's marble memorial to Mumtaz Mahal, 22 years in the making — along with Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, with an English-speaking guide and a battery-van ride. Overnight in Agra.
Drive to Jaipur (221 km, approx. 6 hrs), stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar's deserted red-sandstone capital, and the Buland Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. Jaipur, the Pink City founded by Jai Singh II, thrills the soul with its forts, palaces, temples and gardens. Overnight in Jaipur.
Ride an elephant up to Amber Fort, begun by Man Singh I in 1592. Continue to the City Palace, a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture housing the Chandra Mahal and City Palace Museum; Jantar Mantar, the largest of Jai Singh II's astronomical observatories; and the Hawa Mahal, the 1799 “Palace of Winds” with its 953 windows and niches. Evening free to relax or browse the markets. Overnight in Jaipur.
Check out after breakfast and drive to Delhi (260 km, approx. 5 hrs). On arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy some shopping in the evening. Overnight in Delhi.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport to board your flight home.