Welcome to a tour during which you will see India’s main sights. We travel along the so-called “Golden Triangle” and visit New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, among other places, and experience the fantastic world heritage sites that are usually on most Indian travelers’ wish list. During the trip you will visit the lively city of millions in Delhi, the Mughal rulers’ grand palace and the fabulous Taj Mahal. In addition, you get to know a little more about the wonderful state of Rajasthan and all that this northern part of India has to offer with attractions that may be slightly outside the usual itineraries. Among other things, we visit the holy cities of Ajmer and Pushkar where we get an insight into the imaginary world of Sufism and Hinduism, respectively. In the Thar Desert we visit a community where one professes to the Hindu branch bishnoi within which, according to tradition, everything is done to protect the ecological diversity. We also visit the main sanctuary of Jainism, in which religious people follow a strictly vegetarian lifestyle and attach great importance to not using violence or otherwise harming other living beings. In addition, you get to experience magnificent nature and the most fabulous cities, palaces and fortresses in all of India!
Day 1 Travel to India (Delhi)
Flights to India’s capital Delhi. Meals are included on board the long-haul flight.
Day 2: Delhi
Arrival in Delhi in the morning. After breakfast, a city tour awaits in Delhi’s Old Town. We start the tour by riding a rickshaw along the lively streets at the Bazaar area of Chandni Chowk and get acquainted with the exotic environment. We are now in the heart of the million city of Delhi in populous India! We then visit India’s largest mosque Jama Masjid (“Friday Mosque”) which was built in the middle of the 17th century by Mogul Shah Jahan (the Mughal ruler who also had the Taj Mahal built). Before lunch, we visit the Sikh temple Gurudwara Shis Ganj Sahib for an introduction to Sikhism, a 16th-century monotheistic religion that adopted Hindu reincarnation teachings but distances itself from the caste system. In the afternoon we take a tour of the more modern district of the Indian capital (New Delhi) which has a more structured cityscape with wide boulevards, avenues and parks. During the tour, we travel along New Delhi’s parade street Rajpath and pass, among other things, the triumphal arch India Gate and the Dhyan Chand National Stadium. We also get to see the parliament building, the presidential palace and the government buildings. We then visit two world heritage sites, the tall Qutb Minar minaret from the end of the 12th century and the tomb monument of the great mogul Humayun built in 1570. Overnight in Delhi. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.) We also get to see the parliament building, the presidential palace and the government buildings. We then visit two world heritage sites, the tall Qutb Minar minaret from the end of the 12th century and the tomb monument of the great mogul Humayun built in 1570. Overnight in Delhi. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.) We also get to see the parliament building, the presidential palace and the government buildings. We then visit two world heritage sites, the tall Qutb Minar minaret from the end of the 12th century and the tomb monument of the great mogul Humayun built in 1570. Overnight in Delhi. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 3: Agra (Taj Mahal)
After breakfast we travel south to Agra which was the capital of the Mughal Empire 1586 – 1658. Today Agra is one of the biggest tourist attractions in India with its fortress dating from the 12th century. The Swedish Armed Forces is built of red sandstone and behind its walls you will find some of the finest and best-preserved buildings from the Mughal period. We continue to the next world heritage site, the Taj Mahal. This palace-like mausoleum was completed in 1631 and was erected by order of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth. Overnight in Agra. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 4: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur
After breakfast we head towards Agra. During the journey there we visit Fatehpur Sikri (“Victory City”) built during the latter half of the 16th century after the great mogul Akbar the Great fortified and expanded his kingdom. Fatehpuri Sikri served as the capital of the great mogul 1572 – 1585 before the city was finally abandoned. However, all the magnificent buildings with their magnificent architecture remained for posterity to view. The “Victory City” with its beautiful palace area and large mosque is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We also stop in the town of Abhaneri which is known for its footbridge Chand Baori dating from the ninth century. Chand Baori is a strange construction on 13 floors that has a total of 3,500 narrow steps. The lowest floor is 30 meters deep. Chand Baori was not only the local water source but also the villagers’ natural gathering place during the hot summers. Overnight in Jaipur. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 5: Jaipur
After breakfast we visit the famous Amber Fortress located just outside Jaipur. The fortress built in red sandstone and marble is a fantastic sight with its mighty retaining walls reflected in Lake Moala below. We go up to the fortress by jeep and go for a walk through the palace complex behind the walls and see its beautiful interior with high-class murals, ivory inlays and mosaics. The fortress dates from the 10th century and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We view the fabulous Hawa Mahal (“Palace of the Winds”) in red and pink sandstone and continue to City Palace which is the residence of the current Maharajah. If the flag is raised, he’s home! Parts of the palace have been turned into a museum with collections of art, carpets and weapons. Nearby is the strange Jantar Mantar Observatory where we see, among other things, the 27 meter high sundial. Overnight in Jaipur. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 6: Jaipur – Ajmer – Pushkar
After breakfast, the journey to Pushkar stops in the holy city of Ajmer which is an important place of pilgrimage for Indian Sufis. Here we visit the tomb monument of Muinuddin Chishti who was a Persian missionary in the 13th century who spread the Sufi branch of Islam in India. Arriving in the holy city of Pushkar with its 500 Hindu temples, we visit the ancient Brahma temple dedicated to the Hindu creator god. We also stop at the nearby Pushkar Lake where orthodox Hindus bathe to receive spiritual purification. Overnight in Pushkar. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 7: Pushkar – Jodhpur
In the morning we travel through the dramatic landscape of Rajasthan to the city of Jodhpur at the edge of the Thar Desert. We visit the Mehrangarth Fortress located at a 125 meter high altitude above the city. The fortress was built in the middle of the 15th century, surrounded by thick walls and is the largest fortification of its kind in all of India. Then we visit the fabulous Umaid Bhawan Palace built in yellow sandstone and marble. The palace was completed in 1943 and is the residence of Jodhpur’s Maharajah. Overnight in Jodhpur. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 8: Jodhpur – Thar Desert – Jodhpur
After breakfast we go on a day trip to visit a bishnoi community in the Thar Desert. Bishnoi is a religious movement in Hinduism, founded in the latter half of the 15th century. Practitioners follow certain principles to protect ecological diversity, including not felling trees or killing animals, all in order to preserve the natural flora and fauna. On site, we get to know more about the inhabitants’ culture and outlook on life. Back in Jodhpur, we have some free time to discover the city on our own before we gather during the evening to visit the bazaar area at the exotic Sardar Market. Overnight in Jodhpur. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 9: Jodhpur – Udaipur
After breakfast we travel to Udaipur and stop in Ranakpur to visit Ranakpur Jain Temple. The temple is the largest and most important shrine in Jainism – one of India’s oldest religions. Believers follow a strictly vegetarian lifestyle and attach great importance to not using violence or otherwise harming other living beings. The beautiful temple, dating from the 15th century, is built in an architecture that reflects Jain ideas about the cosmos. We arrive in Udaipur in the afternoon and check in at our hotel. Overnight in Udaipur. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 10: Udaipur
In the morning we head to the 15th century fortress Kumbhalgarh which occupies 280 hectares and has a 38 kilometer long defensive wall. The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located just outside Udaipur on top of a 180 meter high mountain from which you get a magnificent view of the plains and valleys below. Back in Udaipur, in the evening we take a boat trip on the artificial lake Picholasjön to visit the charming 17th century palace Jag Mandir (note: in bad weather or too low water level, the boat trip is canceled). (Breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Day 11: Udaipur – Delhi
In the morning we do a tour of Udaipur during which we visit the beautiful City Palace built in the 16th century. We pass Feteh Sagarsjön and visit the court ladies’ garden Sahelion Ki Bari. After lunch we return to Delhi by plane. Overnight in Delhi. (Breakfast.)
Day 12: Flight back to the boarding place
During the morning transfer to the airport before returning home. Meals are included during the long-haul flight.
