Golden Triangle Tour

study tour to India, study abroad in india, internship in india
Overview

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur form the most popular Golden Triangle tour in India. Delhi, the capital city of India is famous for its monuments, forts and pilgrimage places. The city is a starting point for all the golden triangle tours. Jaipur is another famous destination in North India. Known by the name of Pink city, it has forts and palaces, heritage hotels and shopping markets. The forts and places were built by the erstwhile rulers of this region. Home to Taj Mahal (the monument of love), Agra is the third destination in golden triangle packages

Duration

5 Days - Customizable

Locations covered

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur.

Destinations Covered

DELHI : The history of Delhi, the capital of India, goes back to 3000 years. Various rulers built eight successive cities in and around present day Delhi. Few capitals in the world have as many monuments of which Delhi is justly proud. Capital to seven different cultures over the course of its history, Delhi is a fascinating fusion of them all. The art and architecture reflects its ancient and multifaceted heritage. A Hindu fortress, Mughal tomb, Islamic minaret and mosque are examples of the cultural richness of this city.

Explore Old Delhi, beginning with a drive pass the Red Fort, seat of the Mughal Empire. It is a huge fort, housing within its precincts, imposing palaces and impressive public buildings. Enjoy a Pedi cab ride around Chandni Chowk (an old shopping street). See Jama Masjid, which means Friday mosque. It was built in 1656 and is the largest and the most splendid mosque in India. On to visit the gardens of the Bahai Temple, completed in 1986. It is set among pools and gardens and adherents of any faith are welcome to visit and pray or meditate according to their religion. The structure is in lotus shape so it often called the Lotus Temple. Also see Raj Ghat, a memorial to the great Mahatma Gandhi. Visit the Crafts Museum, a collection of traditional Indian crafts in textiles, metal, wood and ceramics. Then see the Temple of the Sikh, Gurudwara.

Also visit New Delhi designed in 1911 by the British, and one of the greenest Capitals in the world. See the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234 foot high red sandstone minaret. The buildings date from the onset of Muslim rule in India. Visit Humayun’s tomb, built in the 16th century, a predecessor to the famous Taj Mahal. Continue past the government buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace) along the broad and majestic Rajpath.

AGRA : The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic, the Mahabharat. It was, however, in the medieval period that Agra earned prominence as a capital city under the Mughals. Its many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, have given it a unique position as a major tourist centre. The Taj Mahal, simply, is beauty not just in design and technique, but also in desire and intent. It was built as a monument to love, a manifestation of life’s most powerful emotion. When his wife died unexpectedly, Emperor Shah Jahan vowed to honour her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. A delicately carved, white marble jewel, which seems to float on a sea of red limestone, the Taj Mahal generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture; became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Also visit the important 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5 km long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many Fairy tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

FATEHPUR SIKRI : The once fabled Mughal capital has taken on a sleeping beauty quality, lying quietly but wonderfully preserved. The Emperor Akbar built Fathepur Sikri during the second half of the 16th century; Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some ten years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. A large number of masons and stone carvers worked hard on an area that was over two miles long and a mile wide. They used brilliant red sandstone available locally, which provides the buildings with much of their lustre. Shortly after the work was completed fifteen years later, it was realized that there was a lack of an adequate water supply and the pristine complex was abandoned.

JAIPUR : The rose pink capital of Rajasthan, is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills. The city was founded in 1727 by the astronomer king, Sawai Jai Singh II and built according to the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture and sculpture. It is a walled city with seven rectangular blocks. The Maharajahʹs palace stands in the centre of the city amidst lovely gardens.

The excursion takes you to Amber Fort. Riding on elegantly caparisoned elephants, approach the palace in the traditional way. The high gateways allow us to enter on these broad backed animals. Amber was once the ancient capital of Jaipur. Construction of the fortress palace started in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput Commander of Akbar’s army. It was later extended and completed by the Jai Singh. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and over‐looking a lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts.

Explore Jaipur visiting Jantar Mantar, an observatory equipped with instruments of astonishing size and precision, including a 90 foot high sun dial. See the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a major Rajput landmark built in 1799. This five story building in the old city; is a pink sandstone masterpiece with semi octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows. The monument was originally conceived to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the city’s everyday life and royal processions in absolute privacy. The City Palace is the royal residence of the erstwhile King of Jaipur. It houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes, armoury of Mughal and Rajput weaponry, and swords of different shapes and sizes with ornamental handles – some of them inlaid with enamel, embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards. Continue past Moti Doongri Palace – a privately owned hilltop fort built like a Scottish castle – to Ram Niwas Gardens and architecturally impressive Albert Hall.

Housing

Accommodation in pre checked and approved guest houses, home stays and 4 star hotels.

Students must show proof of medical coverage while overseas.