Golden Triangle with Varanasi & Mumbai

After breakfast visit of old and New Delhi.  With India Personal tours and your private tour guide you will get to see authentic and real Delhi. We will take you to Old Delhi where you will enjoy heritage walking tour. Old Delhi is fascinating and a total contrast to New Delhi. Shajahan the fifth Mughal emperor shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. We start our walk through Silver street, Decoration market (Kinari Bazaar), Food street (Parathe wali Gali), Spice Market (Khari Baoli). It is Asia's biggest wholesale spice market. You will be mesmerized once you enter the market with the sight of various spices and dry fruits accompanied with a rich smell of each.
After we visit Old Delhi, drive to India Gate, a memorial to 70,000 soldiers who died during the First World War. Drive past Parliament house, President house. Later visit of Humayu's tomb and Qutab Minar. Both are classified as world heritage sites by UNESCO. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: The Imperial or Leela Palace or The Oberoi New Delhi.

265 km
After breakfast drive to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan known as Pink City.
In India’s Pink City, the streets are filled with palaces, temples and, sometimes cows. Street markets are awash in color and handicrafts, and Hindu temples can be found nearly every 100 yards. The fortified city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Jaipur was established on the plain and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture. Jaipur is believed to be the first planned city of India. Arrive and check into hotel. In the evening you will visit Govind Dev ji temple and witness the prayer ceremony. Overnight in Jaipur.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Rambagh Palace or The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Visit of Hawa Mahal, also known as ‘Palace of Winds’, was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 A.D. There are 953 small windows in the palace, known as ‘Jharokhas’.The reason for the king to build this palace was to let the royal ladies see the streets of the city and observe day-to-day life without being seen by any outsider. Then you will visit Amber Palace located 11 km from Jaipur. The Amber Palace houses palaces, gardens, halls and temples which were built by Raja Man Singh, Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Sing II. Return to city and enjoy a heritage walking tour in Old city. With authentic walking tours we aim to bring alive all the diverse elements of city’s living heritage. Whether traditional temples, monuments and building, or living craft and culture, or tradition cuisines like sweets making. The entire heritage of people, culture and architecture becomes appealing through the process of walking leisurely and engaging with the community along our City Walks. Our unique walking tours will present you a rare glance into the rich history and culture of these fascinating cities, that only walking can give. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Rambagh Palace or The Oberoi Rajvilas.

235 km
After breakfast drive to Agra. On the way visit of Abhaneri Step well. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones. Stepwells, also called bawdi or baori, are unique to this nation.  The wells have steps built into the sides that lead down to the water. Chand Baori [Abhaneri] was built during the 8th and 9th centuries and has 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, which descend 20m to the bottom of the well. Centuries ago, the stepwells were built in the arid zones of Rajasthan to provide water all year through. About 64 feet deep, it is India's largest and deepest stepwells with 13 floors and was built in the 9th century for water harvesting. Continue drive to Agra. Just before reaching Agra you will visit Fatehpur Sikri an imperial city founded by 3rd Mughal king Akbar. Continue to Agra. Arrive and check into your hotel.
Your stay in luxury hotel: The Oberoi Amarvilas

335 km
Early morning sunrise visit of Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. (Taj Mahal is closed on Friday. In December and January due to heavy fog you may not have a proper sunrise view of Taj Mahal. Please consult with your tour guide and he will suggest you what would be the best time to visit the Taj Mahal on that particular day). Return to hotel for breakfast and shower. Check out. Then visit of Agra fort built by Akbar and expended by his grandson Shahjahan. Later in the afternoon drive to Lucknow. Arrive and check into your hotel in Lucknow. Overnight.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Mahal Lucknow or Renaissance hotel.

Ranked India’s second happiest city, the country’s potential street food capital, Lucknow, is often overlooked by travelers and tourists. Lucknow is well known for its own distinct cuisine patronized by the erstwhile Maharaja. Polite comportment, Nawabi biryanis and kebabs, classical music and poetry characterize Lucknow. The city abounds with the heritage structures built during the Raj era and the time when it used to be the capital of Awadh. Lucknow is about history, culture, traditions, shopping, architecture, food, leisure, spirituality, and more. You will visit Bara Imambara built in 1784 who was a well-known Nawab of Awadh. Then you will visit British Residency and Rumi Darwaza to witness the grandeur of the Mughal architecture. Then we will go to visit Hussainabad Clock Tower which is one of the tallest clock towers in India. Finally we will take a walk in Aminabad market which is one of oldest and busiest markets in the city. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Mahal Lucknow or Renaissance hotel.

By Train at 8:10/13:10 - 5 h Journey
After breakfast we will transfer you to Lucknow railway station. Board a train for Varanasi. Arrive and check into your hotel.
Free time at leisure. Varanasi is truly unlike any other place in the world. One of the world’s oldest and holiest cities, you can really feel it in its atmosphere. The holy river, the ghats filled with life, the chaotic spirituality and so much more make this a city you can’t forget. From early morning to night, Varanasi is one magical place. Most people agree that Varanasi is both magical and mysterious, with rituals of life and death taking place in open view, whilst the sights, sounds and smells along the Ghats are something you’ll never forget. Later in the evening go to Ghats of river Ganges and witness the prayer ceremony.

A visual treat – Ganga aarti of Varanasi: The Ganga aarti of Varanasi is a shining beacon of devotion and bliss that makes us experience the divinity in and around us. Since ages, no day has gone by when the holy Ganga River has not been adored. It is one of the must-see activities included in every traveller’s itinerary, and people from all walks of life visit the city with the desire of beholding the Ganga aarti. After the ceremony return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Nadesar Palace or Brijrama Palace or Taj Ganges

Early morning your guide will pick you up from hotel and go to river Ganges. Enjoy sunrise boat ride on river Ganges. The boat ride at sunrise offers you the most amazing spiritual experience. It’s also the best way to observe the fusion of life on ghats and temples and the Ganga and the deep sacred connection between them. Set off at dawn, as the sun rises above the vast horizon, painting the pale and pastel-coloured sky with streaks of rich amber and red. Accompanied by an expert guide, on an exclusive boat ride across the Ganges, be captivated with spectacular views of the vibrant, animated culture and traditions of the Hindu people. Watch the intimacy of life and death play out in this City of Light and absorb the dynamic sights and smells that settle in the labyrinth of crooked streets and bustling ghats (riverside steps). A magical place, marvel at the masses of colourfully dressed, devout pilgrims as they wade into the depths of the Ganges, immersing themselves as they perform their daily ablutions and religious devotions.

Return to hotel for breakfast and shower. Later enjoy a heritage walking tour in old city. There are several undiscovered and hidden gems in Varanasi which can only be truly experienced by taking a walk within these winding roads. All this walking is bound to make you hungry, which can be satiated by gorging on the delicious street food, whose taste is unmatched.
This special walk tour will take you through Varanasi’s colourful markets, captivating places of worship, ancient building of stupendous architecture, and even greater stories. You may get to know the key elements of Hindu philosophy, how Varanasi’s unique Geography led to its becoming India’s spiritual capital, and the city’s compelling take on Death & Moksha. The walk perfectly emulates the eccentricities of Varanasi. Overnight in Varanasi.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Nadesar Palace or Brijrama Palace or Taj Ganges.

After breakfast we will transfer you to Varanasi airport and fly to Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai airport you will be met by our local driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Mumbai. Arrive and check in. Evening free at leisure. Overnight in Mumbai.
Your stay in luxury hotel: The Taj Mahal Palace or The Oberoi or The Leela

After breakfast take a city tour. Mumbai, the city where dreams are made and fulfilled! From jam-packed railway platforms to the famous Dabbawalas, multi-millionaires to suburban slums, the dazzling Bollywood to the quintessential vadapav, bhel puri, and sev puri, the uniqueness of Mumbai is beyond words. Visit of Gateway of India, Dhobi Ghat [open air laundry], Mani Bhawan, CST terminus. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Mumbai.
Your stay in luxury hotel: The Taj Mahal Palace or The Oberoi or The Leela

After breakfast we will transfer you to Mumbai airport to fly back to Delhi. Connecting flight back home.
Alternatively you could also take your flight back home from Mumbai. In this case your arrival city in India should be New Delhi and departure will be from Mumbai.