Tour to Agra and Amritsar 4 Nights/5 Days
Day 1: Arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi. To be met upon arrival and taken to your hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 2: Today early morning, be transferred to the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station to take the Gatiman Express which leaves at 08:10 a.m and reaches Agra Cantt at 09:50 a.m. Breakfast will be served on the train. Be met upon arrival by a guide and embark on your excursion with a visit to the Taj Mahal which is a symbol of an emperor’s grief at the demise of his beloved wife.
It is believed that he spent his last days in a chamber overlooking the Taj and when his eyesight became too feeble for him to see far, his son had clear-glass pebbles embedded in his chamber which would enlarge and reflect the Taj for him. This mausoleum is one of the seven wonders of the world. The monument is closed on Fridays. Suggested places for lunch are the Taj Terrace, Taj Bano, Peshawari or Good Vibes café. Post lunch, visit the Agra Fort and Itmad-Ud-Daula (also known as Baby Taj).
Itmad-ud-Daula:
The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula is situated on the east bank of the Yamuna river and was built between 1622 and 1628 by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir. This tomb was built in honor of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a prominent courtier and minister in the Mughal Court. Mirza Ghiyas Beg had been given the title of “Itmad-ud-Daula” which means pillar of the State. He was also the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, the Emperor who built the Taj Mahal.
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 2.5 kms away from the Taj. Originally a brick fort, it was rebuilt in red sandstone by Emperor Akbar in 1565. Later rulers like Jahangir and Shah Jahan added marble palaces and beautiful structures to it.
Shah Jahan, the Emperor who had the Taj Mahal constructed, was imprisoned here by his son Aurangzeb and is believed to have spent his last days in the Musamman Burj overlooking the Taj.
Walk in the local market with a return drop to the Agra Cantt railway station. Take the Shatabdi Express which leaves at 09:25 p.m and reaches New Delhi Railway Station at 11:50 p.m. Dinner will be served on board. Be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 3: After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport to take an Indigo Airlines flight to the city of Amritsar. The flight leaves at 09:45 a.m and reaches Amritsar at 11:10 a.m. Check into the hotel Regalia Grand or similar.
Amritsar is a city in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. At the center of its walled old town, the gilded ‘ Golden Temple ‘ (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurudwara of the Sikh religion. It is at the end of a causeway, surrounded by the sacred Amrit Sarovar lake, where pilgrims bathe. The city is known for its food, and for the manufacture of wooden chessboards and chess pieces.
The Night Palki at the Golden Temple is a nightly religious procession called the “Palki Sahib” , where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of Sikhism) is placed on a beautifully decorated palanquin and carried in a procession from the main sanctum to the Akal Takht Sahib, which is another significant building within the Golden Temple complex. Visitors may view the ceremonial procession as it moves through the beautifully lit surroundings. The Palki is accompanied by hymn singing and the beats of traditional Sikh musical instruments.
The Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal situated about 40 minutes’ drive away from Amritsar is believed to be the ashram site of Maharishi Valmiki, the writer of the Ramayana. This hut is situated at the Ram Tirath Temple. As per the Ramayana, Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of Rama at the Ram Tirath ashram. The complex is huge and has a very beautiful lake, where one can feed the fishes. Shoes have to be removed while visiting the temple.
Day 3 (continued): In the evening, pick up from your hotel after an early dinner and accompanied by a guide, visit the Golden Temple. Witness the Night Palki procession which begins around 09:30 pm. A head covering is compulsory and shoes have to be removed. The total duration of the visit is 2 to 3 hours.
Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Today morning after breakfast, embark on a visit to the Ram Tirath Temple accompanied by a guide. Visit this temple closely associated with the Ramayana – the sacred text of the Hindus.
Post lunch, experience Sadda Pind, a village style ethnic theme park of village life. Walk through the decorated village huts and interact with the locals as they go about their daily work. You can see artisans making colorful bedspreads and footwear, women engaged in churning buttermilk, children at play and the not to be missed village gossip sessions as women sit in groups at the entrance of their homes. Watch a potter at his wheel or better still, try your hand at making something yourself.
The folk dances of Punjab – the bhangra, kikli, gidda and jhoomar – are a treat to watch in the rustic ambience of the village. At night the lights give it the feel of a village fair with songs and dances at street corners. Before you leave, treat yourself to some authentic Punjabi food in one of the many village style dhabas. This is a great way to experience the best of village life in a few hours. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel.
Day 5: Today after breakfast, check out of the hotel and be transferred to Amritsar airport to take a flight to Delhi.
To be followed by the rest of the tour as planned.
