Excursion tour "Golden Triangle and Varanasi"

Day 2. Friday. Delhi. At 09.00, after breakfast, 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, a minar built in the 12th–14th centuries, decorated with calligraphic script and a symbol of Muslim rule in Delhi. Next we go to 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. Overnight and dinner at a hotel in Delhi.

In the morning after breakfast we head to Samod, located 40 km from Jaipur. Samod is famous for its palace, which was inherited by the aristocratic Raval family. The palace is over 400 years old, but has gone through several restorations. On the ground floor there is a hall called Sultan Mahal - a hall with marble columns, tiles and carved furniture, once brought from Nepal. Let's walk through the halls, see the Mirror and Durbar hall - finding ourselves in a past era, in a time loop. Above the palace, on a hill, is Fort Samod. Time has not been very kind to it, but the surrounding panorama opening from the walls of the fortress will give odds to many other historical places. We will then board camel carts and drive through a traditional Rajasthani village. The journey will end at Samoda Bagh Garden, 3 km from the palace. A lot of effort and money was spent on restoring this garden. 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. Overnight and dinner at a hotel in Jaipur.

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. View from the outside of 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. 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. In the evening in Jaipur, we will visit the Birla Temple. 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 Jaipur. 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 several 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 such as Buddha and Socrates. Accommodation at a hotel in Jaipur, overnight and dinner at the hotel. Overnight and dinner 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. But the first stop is the Giriraja Dharan temple complex. This temple dedicated to Krishna is built in South Indian style. A bright gopuram with skillful bas-relief will give us an idea of what temples look like in the south of the country. In Abaneri you will get acquainted with the step well - Chand Baori, built in the 7th century. The appearance of the Chand Baori well is surprising - such wells were generally built only in India, so similar architecture can only be seen here, and Chand Baori is also the deepest well of this type. This is an amazing structure, consisting of thousands of steps running down to the water, and it is very difficult to believe that this entire huge and ingenious structure is just a well, designed to fulfill one single purpose, to give people water. You will see the Temple of Harshita Mata (Goddess of Happiness) with medieval Indian architecture, and also find yourself in 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 hotel, dinner at the Agra 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 Akbarav Sikandra. Next visit Itimad-ud-Daula - the 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). In the afternoon, transfer to Delhi, on the way visiting the city of Vrindavan, which is called “the city of five thousand temples.” Vrindavan is a holy place of pilgrimage for followers of Vaishnavism, associated with the birth and childhood of the god Krishna (temples are closed between 12.00 and 16.00). We will visit the spiritual complex Prem Mandir and the Temple of the Society for Krishna Consciousness. Overnight and dinner at a hotel in Delhi.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Meeting and check-in at the hotel. Varanasi, the “eternal city of India”, has a history of more than three thousand years. Varanasi is located on the banks of the Ganges River and is one of the most important Hindu centers in the world, the “holiest of holy” pilgrimage centers for millions of Hindus. In the morning after breakfast, a city tour with a visit to the Vishnavat and Hanuman temples, Benares University and the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Next, departure to Sarnath (12 km from Varanasi), where Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment and launched the Wheel of the Law. It was here that he proclaimed the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The remains of monasteries dating from the third century BC to the first century AD indicate a once thriving monastic order. Inspection of the huge Dhamek Stupa and Mahabodhhi Temple. In the evening, visit the banks of the Ganges River, where the exciting Indian ritual “Arti” takes place. Overnight and dinner at a hotel in Varanasi.

Early in the morning, before dawn, around 05:00, a boat cruise on the Ganges River. Watching the solemn sunrise over the horizon. Adding to the soft pink streak of dawn is the sound of bells and shells emanating from the adjacent temples. At first, the quiet muttering of Sanskrit shlokas gains strength, merging into one voice, giving a feeling of unsurpassed piety and pleasure. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Free time to explore the city on your own. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, transfer to the international airport for your flight. (Hotel accommodation is not provided)

The tour ends and we are transferred to the airport.