Best Guided Northern India Tour

Jaipur tour will start with an early breakfast and Tour Guide for the day will join you at the hotel reception itself around 8 am. Drive to Amber Fort and enjoy the elephant ride to go up to the fort from the base. This will be a 20-25 minutes ride at the elephant back and there will be only 2 people allowed at the one elephant along with Mahavat (driver for elephant). This is quite a unique experience sitting on the elephant like Maharajas in the old time. Amber Fort or Amer Fort is one of the most famous heritage sites in Rajasthan and it was the capital for Rajputs who ruled here from 11th to 18th century until the capital shifted to Jaipur city. Amber Fort is a great example of architecture sense of the Rajput kings as they have crafted this well-planned building. The mix of Hindu and Mughal style, Amber Fort does have different courtyards like one as private quarters for Maharajas, Zanana Courtyard which have many living rooms for queens, Sheesh Mahal which is a great example of glasswork, Diwan-i-am or we can call it public audience hall. Jaipur city is the first planned city of India and does have some other good sites too like Jal Mahal (Water Palace) where we can stop to take some pictures from the roadside, City Palace which is the residence of Royal Family of Jaipur and does have a museum also here, Observatory (Jantar Mantar) which has astronomical instruments and it was built by Raja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur city. Jantar Mantar features world largest stone Sundial also. Visit Hawa Mahal (The Wind Palace) which has lots of colourful windows where women sit to see the procession on the road at old centuries. Jaipur is famous for lots of things but what one thing you cannot miss is the colourful and glorious bazaars of Jaipur. One of the most admired markets in the world, The Pink city will easily become your favourite shopping destination. There are variety and quantity here and options like Johri Bazaar for someone looking to buy jewellery, stones etc., Bapu Bazaar for clothing, MI Road for all brander stores and big stores for Silver and Gold jewellery also, Nehru Bazaar for Jootis (flat shoes) and Chandpole Bazaar for Marble Sculptures. Later drive back to hotel and night stay in Jaipur.  

Take breakfast and start drive to Agra. On the outer parts of Jaipur visit Monkey Temple (actual name of the place is Galta G Temple but it called Monkey Temple because of hundreds of monkeys here and they will be jumping around you like a friend, so don’t miss it, would be a great fun). Visit Chand Bawri Stepwell also at Abhaneri village also which is a great experience. Chand Baori consists 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories. It extends approximately 30 m (100 ft) into the ground making it one of the deepest and largest step-well in India). Before getting in to Agra visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was build by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1571. Important buildings here are Buland Darwaza, Shaikh Salim Chisti Tomb, Karkhanas (royal workshop), Palace of Jodha Bai, Khazana (treasury), Birbal’s house, Hall of public (Diwan-e-aam) etc.

On arrival in Agra, check-in and overnight relax at the hotel.

Sightseeing of Agra will start with an early morning start because we always recommend visiting Taj Mahal in the early morning hours before sunrise. This is the time when Taj Mahal supposed to look in different colours with changing effects of sunlight, it would be less crowded in the morning hours and weather would be nice too (depend on the timing of the year you are travelling, can be cloudy and foggy at some particular periods of the year). So, your Tour Guide for the day will meet you at the hotel and start the tour. Taj Mahal, the symbol of Love and a masterpiece is one of the 8 Wonders in the World. It was built in the 17th century with white marble. Taj Mahal was built by Mughal King Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal on the bank of river Yamuna. It was included in UNESCO World heritage sites in 1983. Later visit Red Fort (also known as Lal Qila) which was the residence of Mughal emperors in Agra. Constructed around mid of 16th century with Redstone, some famous parts of the Fort inside are Sheesh Mahal, The Diwan-i-Aam (the court of public), Mina Masjid, Diwan-i-Khas (A hall of private gatherings), Khas Mahal etc. There was around 300 structure at one time inside the fort but only 20 left nowadays and many parts of the Agra Fort is used by the Indian army, only a few parts are open. Other most do places in Agra are Sikandra (Tomb of Mughal king Akbar), Itmad-ud-Daula (also known as Baby Taj) and Mehtab Bagh Garden for the pictures of Taj Mahal at the evening hours. Drive back to the hotel and night stay in Agra. 

Distance from Agra to Khajuraho is around 450 kms with approx. 9 hours drive so we recommend making connectivity of flight or train from Agra. There is one direct flight available with Air India but it operates at the season time only (October to March) mostly. There are 2 good trains with comfortable seats available from Agra to Jhansi and drive from Jhansi to Khajuraho would be approx. 4 hours only. So this would be for transit from Agra to Khajuraho according to decided option. Gwalior Fort (which is one of the best Fort in India) and Orchha are good places on the way if you are driving from Agra to Khajuraho. Night stay would be at pre-booked hotel in Khajuraho.