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Overview

Privately guided tour in India

The famous Golden Triangle of India actually covers three most beautiful and captivating cities of the country ­ Delhi (the capital of India), Agra (the city of Taj) and Jaipur (the land of Rajput kings). It is actually a kaleidoscope that presents the Indian pageantry in its most colorful forms and offers you a dazzling vista of stately and grandiose architectural buildings, forts and palaces with a legendary heritage and a fertile and affluent tradition of art and culture. These cities are undoubtedly, the epitomes of Indian cultural, historical and architectural heritage and have all been the capitals of the princely states at least in the past. The blessed experience of viewing the world-famous monument of Shahjahan's love - Taj Mahal, the imperial, elegant and imposing buildings of Lutyens' New Delhi and the regal splendor of the desert city of Jaipur, will certainly leave an indelible expression in the deepest recesses of your heart.

Each city has its own unique identity made up of a combination of different sights, sounds and experiences. Delhi is as modern as any big cosmopolitan city with a degree of sophistication that comes from being the ruling capital of a nation and modernity that comes from being frequented people of all nationalities and cultures. Agra showcases the opulence of the Mughal Empire while a royal elephant ride and warm welcome in the city Jaipur are not the only reminiscent of to the city's medieval Rajput culture. This Golden Triangle is one of the hot-picks and has beckoned tourists for long and no city is more than 250 km away from another of the triangle and is connected well by roads and trains. Being popular tourist destinations, all of these cities have good hotels and tourism facilities too.

Don't hesitate to contact our India expert at Unimtour to get more information about this tailor made escapade to India!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| New Delhi
Arrival at New Delhi international airport. Welcome and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3| New Delhi - Agra (200km/4h00)
After breakfast, morning drive to Agra, the ancient capital city of the Mughal emperors. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Thereafter, visit Red Fort, the forbidding exteriors of which hide an inner paradise. Its palaces, gardens and mosques formed at the time of its splendour a real city, surrounded by ramparts of red sandstone.
If time allows, you will also discover the « Baby Taj », built on the eastern bank of the Yamuna river.

Day 4| Agra - Jaipur (250km/4h30)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning visit of the Mughal empire's jewel: Taj Mahal. It is the second most visited monument in the world after the ... Eiffel Tower! Set amidst landscaped gardens, the main monument reflects the genius of the architects and the work of thousands of labourers. Built entirely of white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones (rubis, jade, agate, turquoise, coral, onyx, lapis-lazuli....), it is considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture. A walk in the gardens is highly recommended.
After the visit, you will depart to Jaipur, the pink city and capital of Rajasthan. On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the capital city of Akbar in the 16th century that he had to abandon only after fifteen years due to scarcity of water in the town. Four centuries later, the city is amazingly well- preserved. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in at the hotel.

Day 5| Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel. Prior to visiting Amber Fort, you will take a look at Jaipur's most famous monument: -Hawa Mahal- or the Palace of Winds. Built in 1799 of red and pink sandstone, its original intention was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below, without being seen.
You will then proceed to Amber Fort, the ancestral residence of the maharajas of Jaipur, a magnificent citadel perched on a hilltop that you will reach on elephant back. Visit of the palace made of numerous staircases, courtyards, gardens, and walls covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings, or intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work.
In the afternoon, visit of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, the amazing observatory built by Jai Singh II in the 18th century. The collection of architectural astronomical instruments were meant to measure time, predict eclipses, track stars in their orbits...
Rest of the day at leisure to wander in the colourful bazaars of the city.

Day 6| Jaipur - Delhi (270km/5h00)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure to the capital city of India that you will reach in the early afternoon. Rest of the day will be at leisure to visit two major sites of New Delhi: Humayun's Tomb and India Gate. In the evening, transfer to the international terminal for your onward journey to Canada.

Budget

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Overview

From the snow-covered peaks of the Himalaya to the splendors of medieval Rajasthan, India never fails to bewitch and bewilder. A land of contrasts where history and tradition survive side by side with high-tech industries, fascinating India leaves no one indifferent!

Your customized trip to India will send your senses into permanent rapture. Imagine letting yourself become one with the soothing sounds of sacred music, or gazing into the desert on camelback, marveling at the immensity of the Himalayas, sampling countless unique flavors and aromas, and feeling the warm stones of ancient temples with breathtaking architecture under your bare feet. India is an endless source of wonder and spellbinding fascination.

Geography

With a total surface area of 3 165 596 km², India is the world’s seventh largest country. The Indian peninsula forms its own sub-continent, totally distinct from Asia, from which it was separate until the first tertiary period.

India’s geographical profile is very varied, featuring snowy landscapes, deserts, hills, plains, and plateaus. Each of India’s regions has its own climate: equatorial at the southern tip, rigorous in the Himalayas. Since India covers most of the Indian subcontinent, it boasts more than 7000 kilometers of coastlines. India is bordered by the Oman Sea (also called the Arabian Sea) to the west and to the east by the Bay of Bengal.

The fertile plains through which flow the Ganges and the Indus occupy the northern, central, and eastern territories of India, which the Deccan plateau stretches to the south. In western India lies the rock and sand of the Thar Desert. The eastern and northeastern border follows the Himalaya. The highest point of India is a controversial point following conflicts with Pakistan. According to Indian authorities, it is K2 (8 611 m) in Jammu and Kashmir. Outside this area, the highest point is Kanchenjunga, at an altitude of 8 598 meters.

India shares borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are Island states located south of the Indian peninsula. Politically, India is divided into 28 states, 6 federal territories and the territory of New Delhi. These divisions follow linguistic differences rather than geographical ones.

Culture

Cultural Heritage
From Agra to Delhi by way of Rajasthan, India is home to monuments of incomparable beauty. Proud protectors of their country’s rich historical and cultural heritage, essential visits include sites like Agra’s Taj Mahal, the second-most visited monument in the world, independent India’s pride, Delhi’s Red Fort, Kajuraho, the second-most visited site in India, and the Qutb Minar. Such a bounty of forts showcasing myriad architectural styles can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the country’s most impressive fortresses and palaces can be found in Rajasthan: Hawal Mahal and the City Palace in Jaipur, Jaisalmer Fort, not to mention Delhi’s Havelis.

On top of all this abundance of great sites, India also offers visitors many festivals of varying origins. In the Indian calendar, there are national, local, regional, religious, seasonal, and social celebrations bursting with color, energy, and enthusiasm. Well-known festivals include the harvest festival (Pongal), the Ganesh festival in Mumbai, and the festival of lights in honor of the goddess Lakshmi. Known as Holi, the spring festival is undoubtedly one of the most popular Hindu celebrations in India. Movie studios also make for an interesting visit. After all, movies are certainly one of the most popular forms of entertainment in India. Each year, Bollywood produces around 900 feature films, placing India at the top of the list of the world’s biggest movie producers.

Customs and lifestyles

Customs and ways of life vary greatly in India, depending largely on region and religion. Vegetarianism, dress code, cows allowed to roam freely in the city, and seeing life as a transitory stage all follow from strong belief in religion, which has a central place in the daily life of Indians. A good example of this is seen in the dress code and the tilak: this mark worn by Hindus on their forehead represents the “third eye” of Shiva or “the eye of truth”. It is also a good luck charm that can indicate social status: married women wear red tilaks, while single women will have black tilaks.

The sari, a traditional garment, can also have many meanings: different colors and ways of wearing these can express a wide variety of moods, events, occasions, ethnic background, and religion. For example, newlyweds will wear crimson, while white symbolizes mourning. To greet someone, join your hands together under your chin and lower your head: some find that shaking hands is impure. Shorts, tank tops, and short skirts should also be avoided.

Also, try to avoid kissing in public or making too many compliments, as this is frowned upon. It is also considered disrespectful to have your feet pointed at the person you are talking to, at religious statues and representations, and to step over someone in a public area.

Cuisine

India boasts many different culinary traditions, which vary according to religion, caste, and region. Spices vary in the same way, which leads to countless novel flavors. This being said, there are two main cuisines in India: vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Some of the best known dishes among the many specialties of this rich and varied culinary tradition include dhal, a lentil-based dish that serves as the basic meal across the country, biryani and pulao (pilaf rice with saffron and cooked with or without meat and fish), rotis (bread), naan and dosai (white flour biscuits and pancakes made from rice and lentil flour). Pastries and sweets also come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure you try halwa or kulfi, a pistachio or almond flavored ice cream. But the best way to enjoy the myriad flavors of India is to eat with the locals: recipes are passed down from one generation to the next, carrying with them family secrets that give even more character to an already rich culinary heritage. Apart from the national drink, tea served with milk, people also love masala tea boiled with milk, sugar, cardamom, and countless other spices. Also popular are lassis (plain, sweet, or salty), fresh fruit juices, nimbu pani, limejuice served sweet or salted, and coconut juice straight from the coconut.

Climate

With such an immense territory and varied topography, India features all kinds of climates, from the alpine regions of the Himalayas to the tropical climates of the south.
There are three main seasons in India: winter, summer, and monsoon. During the winter months – from November to March – the weather is pleasant throughout the country. Temperatures drop dramatically as one enters the mountains, where snowfall is common. Generally speaking, April has the mildest weather. Summer months – from April to June – are hot almost everywhere in the country, with temperatures rising above 30, and even above 40 degrees inland. Going for a stroll in the pollution of the big cities becomes a real challenge under such intense heat.
The southwest monsoon usually stops around early June on the West coast. Apart from the southeast regions, most rainfall in India occurs between June and September. Some regions receive up to 10.000 mm of rainfall annually.