Golden Triangle with Goa

---

Duration of Trip -::- 8 Days
Key Places covered -::- Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Mumbai

Golden Triangle with Goa itinerary is one for the leisure loving traveller, a fascinating journey through the length and breadth of the country. Beginning in Delhi, the capital of the country, this Golden Triangle Tour package takes you to the city of the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, a quick visit to Mumbai, and then to the Mecca of relaxation in India – Goa. Make sure you carry your beachwear to enjoy the delightful beaches of India!

---

Day 01 Arrival at Delhi:
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the DELHI AIRPORT and transfer to your hotel.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02 Delhi:
After breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of the city.

Start with the sightseeing of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive past the Red Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia's largest mosques. The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Jamuna was built during the years 1638 - 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak. The tour continues to Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques and which is viewed from the outside.

People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.

Enjoy the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi.

After visiting Old Delhi, you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where one will be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets, colours and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city trying to live up to the best of 21st century standards.

Imperial Delhi will include the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence.

Proceed to see DANCES OF INDIA SHOW and FAREWELL DINNER. Overnight will be in Delhi.

Day 03 Delhi - Agra: By Road 201 km/04 hrs
Proceed by surface to Agra after breakfast. Reach and check into the hotel.

AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.

Proceed for sightseeing of the city.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.

Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj).

A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city in the evening will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.

Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 04 Agra - Jaipur: By Road 221 km/05 hrs
After breakfast drive to beautiful Pink City - Jaipur.

Drive to Fatehpur Sikri. The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Proceed to Jaipur and check in at hotel.

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India. Proudly belonging to the KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made fearsome foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain their wealth and authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to the central power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors and also the British Raj that followed.

The bustling Rajasthan capital of Jaipur takes its name from its venerated founder Jai Singh II, who was given the title Sawai Maharaja by the Mughal. Literally translated this would mean 'one and a quarter', suggesting that the Mughal thought this emperor to be more valuable than just 'one'. Jaipur is known as the 'Pink City' on account of the distinctive colour of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State Visit from Prince Albert.

This evening, visit the Birla Temple to learn more about the fascinating religious life of Jaipur. The marble structure, built as recently as 1985, houses ornate statues including one of Lakshmi (goddess of Wealth and Beauty) and Narayan dressed in gaudy robes, representing a Hindu vision of heavenly luxury. Carvings in the temple and on pillars supporting the covered walkways include images of the Hindu pantheon, as well as Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Francis of Assisi. Your visit will coincide with the AARTI Ceremony, which involves oil lamps being lit and waved, in order to awake and invoke the deity. Enjoy the experience and spend night at Jaipur.

Overnight will be in Jaipur.

Day 05 Jaipur:
After breakfast drive to Amber Palace. Enjoy Elephant Back ascent to the Fort.

AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.

Continue city sightseeing.

CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

In the evening enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the bustling bazaars. Jaipur is renowned for textile block printing, blue pottery, carpet weaving, semi-precious stones and local crafts which still thrive from the day of Maharaja Jai Singh's patronage when he designed special areas in the city for the 'bandhanas', the 'cheepas' and the 'meenakari' workers.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Day 06 Jaipur - Mumbai: By Flight Number : 9W 709
Airlines : Jet Airways
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 0700 hr
Arrival : 0935 hr
Mumbai - Goa: By Flight Number : 9W 475
Airlines : Jet Airways
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1200 hr
Arrival : 1300 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.

Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Reach and take connecting flight to Goa.

Goa, variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers around the world. Nestled on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges), Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharasthra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar Districts of Karnataka, and on the west by Arabian Sea.

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa. Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa. Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonization on 19th of December 1961 and became a Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and Diu. On 30th of May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the Indian Republic. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax.

Reach and transfer to hotel. Relax at the beach in the evening.

Overnight will be at Goa.

Day 07 Goa:
Relax at the beaches of Goa. You would also take a tour of the churches and beaches on one of the mornings.

Overnight will be in Goa.

Day 08 Goa - Mumbai: By Flight: Number : IT 132
Airlines : Kingfisher Airlines
Aircraft : Airbus 320
Departure : 1620 hr
Arrival : 1720 hr

Breakfast will be at the resort.

Enjoy the morning in the resort.

In the evening take flight to Mumbai.

Reach and proceed to the international airport in time for connecting flight home with sweet memories of India.

TOUR ENDS

THE TOUR WILL INCLUDE:
a) ACCOMMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY,
b) SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY,
c) AIR-CONDITIONED CAR FOR ALL TRANSFERS & SIGHTSEEING,
d) ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDES FOR ALL TOURS,
e) MEET AND ASSIST AT THE AIRPORT(S) ON ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE,
f) DAILY BREAKFASTS AT HOTELS,
g) DANCES OF INDIA SHOW AT DELHI,
h) TOLL TAXES, DRIVER ALLOWANCE, PARKING,
i) ELEPHANT BACK ASCENT AT AMER FORT, JAIPUR AND
j) ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES.

Hotels:

City	Deluxe Hotels	Nights
Delhi	The Park / Taj Palace / Claridges	02
Agra	Taj View	01
Jaipur	Taj Jai Mahal Palace	02
Goa	Taj Fort Aguada	02

PLEASE ASK US FOR MORE HOTEL OPTIONS
You can put this in the form below