TAJ  &  RAJ
11 Nights / 12 Days
Delhi - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Kalka - Simla - Delhi

DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
On arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked hotel.

Delhi : India's capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys' past.

DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658; Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple or Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (Sikh Temple).

DAY 03 : DELHI-JAIPUR (260 KMS, 05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Jaipur - The city owes its names, foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior - astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his hillside fortress at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture.

Arrive Jaipur and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 04 : JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance.

Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.

Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons ; Jantar Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.

DAY 05 : JAIPUR-FATEHPUR SIKRI-AGRA (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory.

Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 06 : AGRA-DELHI (203 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
DELHI-KALKA (KALKA MAIL, 2230-0500 HRS)
After breakfast, city tour of Agra : Visit Red fort,which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues ; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653.

Afternoon, leave for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and have dinner. After dinner. After dinner, transfer to the railway station to board train for Kalka at 2230 hrs. Overnight in the train.

DAY 07 : KALKA-SIMLA (TRAIN, KALKA SIMLA EXPRESS, 0600-1100 HRS)
Arrive Kalka and take train for Simla. A narrow railway links Kalka with Simla. This important rail link was built in 1924 and its toy trains still ply between teh two stations, passing through 105 tunnels and beautiful rail-road stations. Half way through, the journey, after Solan the lights of Shimla flow in the distance, looking like glimmering jewels studding the dark green of the mountains. The train takes six hours and at every stop on the journet are smiling faces giving a warm welcome.

Arrive Simla and transfer to prebooked hotel.

DAY 08 : SHIMLA
The British called Shimla the " Queen of Hill Stations " Situated in the north-West Himalayas, Shimla the summer capital of India before independence is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala" - the goddess Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forest that covered Jakhu Hill in the early 19th century. The English named it Simla. Shimla is well connected by air, road and rail with all parts of Himachal Pradesh, and the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashimir and the Union territory of Chandigarh. Covering the area of 18 sq. km. at a height of 7,238 ft. Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Its well developed facilities, easy accessibility and numerous attractions make it one of Indian's most popular and biggest hill-stations.

Day free to visit Shimla - The Mall - The Mall is the main shopping centre of Shimla. It also has many Restaurants, Clubs, Banks, Bars, Post Offices , Christ Church: Situated on the Ridge is Christ Church, which is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility. Shimla State Museum : The Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to project hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region

DAY 09 : SHIMLA
Day excursion to Kufri : 16 kms. from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft. Kufri is the winter sports capital. During winter, visitors have the facility for skiing. The skiing season is at its best during January and February. Equipment for sking is available from HPTDC winter sports club at Kufri. Apart from skiing, Kufri is a lovely picnic spot with a beautiful view of the hills around and the snowy peaks.

Further drive to Chail - is a little mountainous heaven 45 kms. from Shimla. It was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence. The forests near Chail have many species of birds and deer. Chail is known for its cricket pitch, which is the highest cricket ground in the world.
Return to Shimla in the evening.

DAY 10 : SHIMLA
Day free.

DAY 11 : SHIMLA - DELHI (360 KMS, 07-08 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, free. Afternoon, drive to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 12 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.