India's Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur – A Guided Tour

After breakfast, half-day sightseeing tour of Delhi. Delhi is the capital of modern India. Many dynasties and rulers have flourished in his royal land over the past three thousand years. Their legacy still lives on in many monuments, from the 13th-century Mausoleum of the Lodi Kings to buildings of the British Empire such as the Houses of Parliament or the Presidential Palace. The program includes a tour of the India Gate, the Presidential Palace and the government building (from the side), the Lotus Temple and the Qutub Minaret. The Lotus Temple (closed on Mondays) is one of the most amazing temples in India. Built in the shape of a lotus flower, it is the largest and most beautiful Baha'i temple and serves as a symbol for adherents of this faith around the world. Another place of worship is the 72-meter Qutub Minaret - Minar, built in the 12th - 14th centuries, decorated with calligraphic script and is a symbol of Muslim rule in Delhi. After the excursion, departure to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur, the legendary "Pink City", the capital of Rajasthan. Maharaja Jai Singh II built it yellow, but in the middle of the 19th century, in honor of the arrival of the English Prince Albert, all the buildings were repainted pink - the traditional color of hospitality. Jaipur will give you many pleasant moments if you stroll along the pink stone streets, touch the developing shine of silk saris, walk through the courtyards past narrow doors decorated with swastikas, bringing goodness and good luck to the Indian home. Accommodation at the Radisson City Center 5* hotel in Jaipur, overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning – excursion to Amber Fort (Amber Fort). Amber Fort is located 11 km north of Jaipur. It was there, on the Aravalli hills, that the ancient capital of the state of Jaipur was once located. The construction of the marvelous fort-palace began in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh. The fort is a grandiose complex of palaces, pavilions, gardens and temples. Rising above it all is a quaint honey-colored fortified palace. You will be able to feel the magic of bygone times by climbing to the heights of the fort on the backs of elephants. Along the way, musicians will delight your ears. From the top, the Maharaja's apartment offers stunning views of the narrow gorge. In the afternoon - a city tour with a visit to the unique Jantar Mantar observatory, a majestic structure built by Raja Jai Singh in 1728, where the world's largest sundial is kept, the City Palace in the museums of which you can see beautiful collections of Mughal costume, weapons and miniature painting. Visit to Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This five-story pink stone building, decorated with columns and balconies, was built in 1799. The palace's intricate relief of thousands of lattice windows on the carved facade is considered a symbol of Jaipur. The Lakshmi Narayana Temple, also known as Birla Mandir, is a modern architectural marvel. The majestic temple is located at the foot of the Moti Dungri hill in the state of Rajasthan. Built entirely from high quality white marble, the temple is surrounded by carved sculptures and statues of gods. It is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayan. The three main domes of the temple form a clear representation of secular India, depicting different approaches to the different religions of the nation. The temple has some of the most beautifully crafted statues of Ganesha and other Hindu Gods. Along with the statues of Gods, you can also find statues of great thinkers and philosophers here, such as Buddha and Socrates. Jaipur is famous for its fabrics and is also the main jewelry center of India; it is no coincidence that the annual international exhibition of precious stones and jewelry is held here. You can appreciate the exquisiteness of local jewelry by visiting a jewelry workshop. You will also visit a textile factory, where you will be delighted with the magical art of Indian printing on fabrics. Ladies here will be able to try on a real Indian sari, and gentlemen will be able to try on traditional Indian clothing - kurta. Overnight at a hotel in Jaipur.

After an early breakfast, we leave the hotel. The final destination of today's journey is the city of Agra. On the way you will come to the “dead city” of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri, a city built in a deserted place from red sandstone by Emperor Akbar, is just a glimpse of the majestic past. It was the capital of the Mughals for a very short time, after which the inhabitants abandoned it due to lack of water. Perhaps thanks to this very circumstance we can see it today in its pristine beauty. Arrival in Agra and accommodation at the Ramada Plaza 5* hotel.

After breakfast, tour of Agra, the majestic city, capital of the Mughal Empire. Agra still attracts beauty seekers from all over the world to enjoy the unforgettable Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was built by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. The palace was built by 20,000 artisans over 22 years. A thousand elephants carried white marble for construction. Merchants from Tibet, Persia and Russia sent gems to decorate it. A floral ornament made of jasper, agate and malachite, opal and obsidian, and mother-of-pearl, skillfully inscribed in the perfect symmetry of the snow-white palace, leaves a feeling of lightness and weightlessness. Next, a trip to Agra Fort, built as an army fortress in 1565. Emperor Akbar. Here Shah Jahan spent the last years of his life in captivity, treacherously betrayed by his son, admiring the snow-white Taj Mahal from the window of his room. The huge walls of the fort hide magnificent architectural structures - masterpieces of Indian and Muslim masters. In the afternoon, visit another grandiose monument of Mughal architecture, the tomb of Emperor Akbar in Sikandra. Next, visit Itimad-ud-Daula - a small elegant park tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, the treasurer of the emperors, was built by his daughter Nur-Jahan, the beloved wife of Emperor Jahangir. Construction began in 1622 and lasted six years. The tomb combines white marble, colored mosaics, stone inlay and grilles. In style, it is the most innovative Mughal structure of the 15th century, showing the transition from the massive red sandstone structures of Akbar's era to the sensually refined buildings of Shah Jahan's time (the Taj Mahal). After a busy excursion program, you will be able to visit a marble workshop, where furniture and souvenirs are made from marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. This is a unique opportunity to watch the work of masters whose skills have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Return to the hotel. Overnight at Agra hotel.

After breakfast we will begin our trip to Delhi, en route visiting Mathura (Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple) and Vrindavan (ISCON Temple), associated with the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna, (Temples are closed between 12.00 and 16.00 hours). In Delhi, you can see Akshardham - one of the most grandiose Hindu temples in the world, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records. The height of the palace is 42 m, width and length 94 and 106 m. It is decorated with 234 columns, 9 majestic domes, 20 tetrahedral turrets and more than 20 thousand statues. Along the perimeter of the building there are figures of 148 elephants. The outer part of the temple is covered with pink stone, which symbolizes love, the inner part is covered with white marble, as a sign of purity and the Absolute. In fact, it’s not even a temple, but a whole complex with a light and music fountain, sculptures, and canals along which you can sail in boats. It is not surprising that almost a billion dollars were spent on the construction of the complex. Hotel accommodation.

Airport transfer. Flight to the Maldives. In Male you will be met and escorted to the seaplane check-in counter, which is where the Maldivian paradise begins. Flight to the Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa 5* hotel, accommodation in the Sunrise Overwater Villa for 7 nights on an all-inclusive basis.