JAIGARH FORT - The Western skyline
is dominated by the extensive parkotas (Walls), watch-towers
and gateways of Jaigarh. It is one of the few military
structures of medieval India preserved almost intact
containing palaces, gardens, open and covered reservoirs,
a grannary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundry,
several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted
cannon the Jai Ban the largest in the Country.
LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE - Situated in the south
of Jaipur, Laxmi Narayan Temple is one of the many
such temples built by wealthy Birla family in India,
thus it is also known as Birla Mandir. The temple
is a great reminder of the secular traditions India
has shown over the centuries. The temple has been
constructed in white marble and has three domes, each
portraying the different approaches to religion.
The temple is situated at the foot of Moti Doongri
Fort, converted as a small palace by Ram Singh II
for his wife Gayatri Devi.
Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 05 / Jaipur - Agra (By Car)
After breakfast drive to Agra enroute visiting 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. Continue drive to Agra and transfer
to hotel. Evening free to explore the rich handicrafts
of Agra. Night stay in Agra.
Day 06 / Agra - Delhi (By train Dep 2025
Hrs Arr 2300 Hrs)
Early morning at sunrise visit TAJ MAHAL- the fifth
Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in 1631 in the
memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim
Persian princess. She died while accompanying her
husband in Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion,
after giving birth to their 14th child. Her death
so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard
were said to have grown snow white in a few months.
When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four
promises from the emperor: first, that he build the
Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that
he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he
visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the
first and second promises. Construction began in 1631
and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people
were deployed to work on it. An Iranian architect
designed it and it is best appreciated when the architecture
and its adornments are linked to the passion that
inspired it. It is a "symbol of eternal love".
Also visit Agra Fort-the rusty and majestic red-sandstone
fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna
and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar
in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience),
a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove
of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public
petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience)
where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an
ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded
Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers
of friendly kingdoms. Late evening transfer to railway
station to board the superfast airconditioned train
to Delhi. Dinner in the train. Arrive Delhi and transfer
to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 07 / Departure
Transfer to airport for onward journey.
