Day 3
Delhi - Agra {by train- Bhopal Shatabdi/12002}- Agra sightseeing- Jaipur {by train-Agra Fort Jaipur Shatabdi/ 12036)
Early in the morning, around 5 am, you will be picked up from Delhi hotel and transferred to New Delhi railway station to board Bhopal Shatabdi Express train. Your breakfast is scheduled onboard. After approximately two hours of train journey, reach Agra to be received by our Agra representative.
Agra, a UNESCO world heritage site, is without doubt ‘the site and the place’ associated and linked with India the most, by most international tourists and visitors to the country. It could even be said that, in the minds of many foreign tourists, Agra and the Taj Mahal are to India what the ancient pyramids are to Egypt. But, it is also true that Agra is indeed a town and city which is ancient and finds mention (as ‘Agravena’) in some of the ancient Indian texts (the Mahabharata). In more modern times, the city finds mention as a city founded by Rajput warriors and kings. Recorded history of course, testifies that it was the capital of some of the Lodi kings and later the Mughal Empire for a long period of their reign and many of its incredible monuments including the Moghul era fort, tombs of various kings, nobles, masjids, etc. belong to and were built during the Mughal era. The Taj Mahal is itself the delicately and beautifully architected, built, carved, embellished and ornamented marble mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan conceived and built in memory of his beloved queen and wife, Mumtaz Mahal, on the banks of the river Yamuna. Other historical monuments and wonders in Agra which would delight any visitor, tourist and student of history include the Agra fort (also a UNESCO world heritage site), Jama Masjid, Chini Ka Rauza, Mariyam’s tomb, Sikandra (the tomb of Emperor Akbar) Mehtab Bagh, and many modern temples of Hindu, Sikh and Jain persuasion. In the present times, Agra city is the capital of the district, which goes by the same name, Agra district, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
On arrival at Agra, our representative will receive you. You will be introduced with Agra tour guide and driver for the city tour. It will be morning hours when you will be taken by Agra tour guide to Taj Mahal. During morning hours the Taj Mahal looks most stunning and beautiful. Visit the world famous Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is often called the most beautiful monument and building in the world. The city of Agra is world famous for the Taj Mahal, which was built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture. The Taj Mahal has attained and achieved a special place because of the inspiration behind it. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures
After visiting Taj Mahal, move on to visit Agra Fort. Agra Fort is a fine story in stones depicting the very journey of Mughal architecture over almost 100 years. The fort is built on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone and several buildings inside. The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate.
After visiting Agra Fort, visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a famed historical town in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal ruler Akbar, at age 28, to serve as his capital city, after his seventh attack on Sikrigarh, a fort and a palace located close by and held by Rajput kings, led to his victory (‘Fateh’ in Persian) there. This well planned, walled city’s entire architecture, structure and construction were conceived, planned and executed under the direct supervision of the young king. The young king also chose this site and place in particular for his capital city, as it was in proximity to Sikri village, the place of residence of the Sufi mystic, Sheikh Salim Chishti. The city combines elements of both Hindu and Islamic architecture and is built with red sandstone and is highly ornamented with carvings, embellishments, etc. The walled city has a series of royal palaces, harems, courts, a mosque, private quarters and other utility buildings. The other main parts of this historical walled city are the Diwan-I-Am, the first enclosure of the palace, Diwan-I-Khas, a chamber or hall for private audiences and the pachsisi court, a live game (the game of Pachisi) board.
After visiting Fatehpur Sikri, return to Agra. You will be transferred directly to Agra railway station to board AF-JP- Shatabdi Express Train (5 pm). Your dinner is scheduled onboard the train. On arrival at Jaipur, you will be received by our representative and directly transferred to Jaipur hotel.
Jaipur, the Pink City of Rajasthan, was founded in 1727 AD by Sawai Jai Singh II. Jaipur is the capital city of modern-day Rajasthan state and is popularly known as the ‘Pink City’. The city has broad avenues and spacious gardens and is steeped in history and culture. Its past comes alive in its magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where the maharajas once lived. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for Rajasthani jewellery, fabrics and shoes, possess a timeless quality about them and are surely a treasure trove for the shoppers. This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes one to an epoch of royalty and tradition. Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and constitutes a part of the ‘golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur’. It is a bustling business center with all the trappings of a modern metropolis, but yet retaining an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a visitor and traveler. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can easily evoke any visitor’s admiration. The stunning backdrop of its ancient forts, Nahargarh, Amer, Jaigarh and Moti Doongari are apt testimonials of a bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance and chivalry. One of the most magnificent marvels of Jaipur is the City Palace Complex, which is a rare combination of the finest blends of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The famous places to visit in the Pink City are Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Palace, etc. Many royal festivals – apart from the religious festivals – are celebrated in Jaipur and these include the Elephant Festival, Gangaur, Teej and Kite Festivals.
Spend the evening in leisure and have overnight stay in Jaipur hotel.