Author's tour Golden Triangle and Varanasi

Day 2. Friday. Delhi. At 09:00, after breakfast, a sightseeing tour of Delhi. Delhi is the capital of modern India. Many dynasties and rulers have flourished on its royal soil over the past three thousand years. Their legacy still lives on in many monuments, from the 13th-century Lodi Kings’ Mausoleum to British Empire buildings such as the Parliament House or the Presidential Palace. The program includes a visit to India Gate, the Presidential Palace and 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 followers of this faith all over the world. Another iconic place is the 72-meter Qutub Minar, built in the 12th-14th centuries, decorated with calligraphy and serving as 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 listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The height of the palace is 42 m, the width and length are 94 and 106 m. It is decorated with 234 columns, 9 majestic domes, 20 tetrahedral towers and more than 20 thousand statues. Along the perimeter of the building are figures of 148 elephants. The outer part of the temple is faced with pink stone, which symbolizes love, the inner part is covered with white marble, as a sign of purity and the Absolute. In fact, this is not even a temple, but a whole complex with a light and music fountain, sculptures, canals along which you can sail in boats. Night and dinner at a hotel in Delhi.

In the morning after breakfast we set off for Samod, located 40 km from Jaipur. Samod is famous for its palace, which was inherited by the aristocratic Rawal family. The palace is over 400 years old, but has undergone several restorations. On the ground floor there is a hall called the Sultan Mahal - a hall with marble columns, tiles and carved furniture, once brought from Nepal. We will walk through the halls, see the Mirror and Durbar Halls - getting into a past era, in a time loop. Above the palace, on a hill, is the Samod Fort. Time has not spared it much, but the surrounding panorama, opening from the walls of the fortress, will give odds to many other historical places. Then we will board camel carts and drive through a traditional Rajasthani village. The journey will end in the Samod 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 the state 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 walk along the stone pink streets, touch the developing shine of silk saris, walk through the courtyards past the narrow doors decorated with swastikas, bringing goodness and luck to the Indian home. Night and dinner at the hotel in Jaipur.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning - excursion to Amber Fort. Amber Fort is located 11 km north of Jaipur. It was there, on the Aravali Hills, that the ancient capital of the state of Jaipur was once located. The construction of the marvelous fort-palace was started in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh. The fort is a grandiose complex of palaces, pavilions, gardens and temples. Above all this rises a quaint honey-colored palace-fortress. You will be able to feel the magic of bygone times, climbing to the top of the fort on the backs of elephants. Along the way, your ears will be delighted by musicians. From above, from the Maharaja's apartments, a stunning view of a narrow gorge opens up. 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, which houses the world's largest sundial, the City Palace, in the museums of which you can see beautiful collections of Mughal costume, weapons and miniature paintings. Exterior view of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This five-story building made of pink stone, decorated with columns and balconies, was built in 1799. The palace's bizarre relief of a thousand lattice windows on a carved façade 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 it hosts the annual international exhibition of precious stones and jewelry. You can appreciate the sophistication of local jewelry by visiting a jewelry workshop. You will also visit a textile factory, where you will be delighted by the magical art of Indian printing on fabrics. Ladies can try on an authentic Indian sari here, while gentlemen can try on a traditional Indian dress, the kurta. In the evening in Jaipur, we will visit the Birla Temple. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple, also known as the Birla Mandir, is a modern architectural marvel. The majestic temple is located at the foot of the Moti Dungri Hill in Jaipur. Built entirely of high-quality white marble, the temple is surrounded by carved sculptures and statues of gods. It is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi and god Narayan. The three main domes of the temple are a vivid representation of secular India, displaying the different approaches to the various religions of the country. The temple has several beautifully crafted statues of Ganesha and other Hindu gods. Along with the statues of gods, one can also find statues of great thinkers and philosophers such as Buddha and Socrates. Check in at a hotel in Jaipur, overnight stay and dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay and dinner at the 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 the South Indian style. A bright gopuram with skillful bas-relief will give us an idea of what temples in the south of the country look like. In Abaneri, you will get acquainted with a stepwell - Chand Baori, built in the 7th century. The appearance of the Chand Baori well is amazing - such wells were generally built only in India, so such architecture can be seen only here, 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 Harshita Mata (Goddess of Fortune) temple with medieval Indian architecture and also get to the "dead city" of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a city built in a desert place from red sandstone by Emperor Akbar, just a reflection of the majestic past. It was the capital of the Great Mughals for a very short time, after which the inhabitants left it due to lack of water. Perhaps due to this circumstance, we can see it today in its pristine beauty. Arrival in Agra and check-in at the hotel, dinner at the hotel in Agra.

After breakfast, a tour of Agra, a majestic city, the capital of the Mughal Empire. Agra still attracts beauty seekers from all over the world, 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 craftsmen over 22 years. A thousand elephants carried the white marble for the construction. Precious stones for its decoration were sent by merchants from Tibet, Persia and Russia. The plant ornament of jasper, agate and malachite, opal and obsidian, mother-of-pearl, skillfully inscribed in the perfect symmetry of the snow-white palace, leaves a feeling of lightness and weightlessness. Then a trip to Agra Fort, built as a military fortress in 1565 by 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 Sikandra. Then visit Itimad-ud-Daula - a small elegant park tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, treasurer of the emperors, built by his daughter Nur Jahan, the favorite wife of Emperor Jahangir. Construction began in 1622 and lasted six years. The tomb combines white marble, colored mosaics, stone inlay and latticework. Stylistically, this is the most innovative Mughal building of the 15th century, bearing the features of the transition from the massive red sandstone structures of Akbar's time to the sensually refined buildings of Shah Jahan's time (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 from 12.00 to 16.00). We will visit the spiritual complex of Prem Mandir and the temple of the Society for Krishna Consciousness. Night and dinner at a hotel in Delhi.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Varanasi. Meet and check-in at the hotel. Varanasi, the “eternal city of India,” has a history of more than three thousand years. Situated on the banks of the Ganges River, Varanasi is one of the most important Hindu centers in the world, the “holiest of holies” pilgrimage centers for millions of Hindus. In the morning after breakfast, a city tour with a visit to the Vishnavata and Hanuman temples, Benares University and the Jantar Mantar observatory. Then drive 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 speak of a once flourishing monastic order. Visit the huge Dhamek stupa and the Mahabodhi Temple. In the evening visit the banks of the Ganges River where the exciting Indian ritual of Aarti takes place. Overnight and dinner at the hotel in Varanasi.

Early in the morning, before dawn, around 05:00, take a boat cruise on the Ganga River. Watch the sun rise majestically over the horizon. The gentle pink streak of dawn joins the sound of bells and conch shells emanating from the nearby temples. At first, the soft murmur of Sanskrit slokas gains strength, merging into one voice, giving a feeling of unrivaled piety and enjoyment. 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. On arrival, transfer to the international airport for your flight. (Hotel accommodation not provided)

The tour ends and we are taken to the airport.