On arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi, you will be met & assisted by the executive of India Tour Packages and transferred to pre booked Delhi hotel. Have rest and sound sleep for coming out of jet lag and fatigue. Delhi is one of the richest capitals of the world in terms of still existing monumental heritage. A witness to rise and decline of several ruling dynasties, Delhi is presently the capital of Indian Republic. The bustling metropolis of Delhi is a splendid blend of ancient and modern with legacy of British regime as well. During Mahabharata age, it was known as Indraprastha. The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Mughal respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the city's past.

Have sumptuous breakfast in Delhi hotel and move on for full day sightseeing. After early breakfast, move on for full day sightseeing tour of Delhi which comprises monuments of Old Delhi like Red Fort (built by Shah Jehan during1638 to 1648), Jama Masjid (built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658) and Chandni Chowk. After Old Delhi, the Delhi tour guide will take you for New Delhi sightseeing tour which includes Humayun's Tomb (built in mid 16th century, this is an early example of Mughal architecture), Qutub Minar, India Gate, President House, Parliament House, Lotus Temple and Connaught Place. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Temple). After full day sightseeing of Delhi, return to hotel for overnight stay.

Having delicious breakfast in Delhi hotel, proceed for Agra. En route you will visit Sikandara, the mausoleum of Akbar. Afterwards, drive to Agra, arrive Agra & check-in at the pre booked hotel. Relax a bit and move on for visiting world renowned monuments of Agra- Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Tomb of It-Mad-ud-Daula (Baby Taj). Among these three monuments, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Agra Fort was built by Akbar in 1565 and underwent successive additions until the time of Shah Jahan. Agra Fort is home to several magnificent architectural gems. Tomb of It-Mad-ud-Daula was constructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628. The highlight of the Taj Mahal with Ajanta Ellora Tour is the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Arjumand Bano Begum (Mumtaz Mahal). Having seen famous monuments and exploring colourful market of Agra, return to Agra hotel for overnight stay.

Delicious breakfast awaits you in the morning. After getting refreshed, have sumptuous breakfast in Agra hotel before departing for Jaipur. Move for jaipur post- breakfast. On the way to Jaipur, approximately 35 kms from Agra, visit the abandoned town of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar in 1569. Fatehpur Sikri was the town built by Akbar as new capital city of Mughal kingdom. Hence, palatial buildings were built but the plan to inhabit Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned later on due to scarcity of water. But the royal buildings are quite fairly preserved and intact. See the magnificent buildings which include Buland Darwaja, Jama Masjid, shrine of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal, Jodhabai Palace etc.

After visit of Fatehpur Sikri, continue your drive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check-in at pre-booked hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Late in the afternoon, you will be taken by Jaipur tour guide to Govind Dev Ji temple where you will be attending Aarti ceremony. It will be definitely an unforgettable lifetime experience. Overnight stay has been scheduled in the hotel.

The 5th day of Golden Triangle with Ajanta Ellora Tour will start with delicious breakfast and bring forth you lifetime exotic experiences of royal Rajasthan and incredible India. After having breakfast in Jaipur hotel, you will be taken on an excursion to Amber Fort. Here, you will have an opportunity to have an elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the entrance of Amber Fort. Ride on caparisoned elephant will give you a feel of medieval royal lifestyle of Rajasthani kings and nobles. About 13 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the Amber Fort began in 1592. It is a superb example of Rajput architecture.

After visit of Amber Fort, have lunch in a city restaurant. In the afternoon, city tour of Jaipur will be carried out. The Jaipur tour will include City Palace (which has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons), Jantar Mantar (a solar observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728), Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds which is a screen or facade of red sandstones) and lively market of Jaipur which is famous for its handicrafts, printed garments, durries, carpets and jewellery.

After day long sightseeing and leisurely exploration of Jaipur market, return to Jaipur hotel for overnight stay.

After a relaxed breakfast in Jaipur hotel, drive to New Delhi. On the way to New Delhi, about 50 kms from Jaipur is a village town of Samode. Have a stop-over at Samode to behold majestic beauty of Samode Palace, now converted into a heritage hotel. Samode is a village town situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, owned by the landlords. The town was once considered as the richest place of Jaipur under the rule of Amber. The place is known for housing some of the historical structures of India like Samode Palace, Samode Haveli and Samode Bagh. Samode Palace is positioned close to the Samode village on the edge of Shekhawati. The interiors of Samode Palace is made in the ancient architectural style of Rajasthan using marble floors, complexly adorned pillars, mosaic walls, beautiful carpets and historical wall paintings. The scenery of the palace is really fascinating and will make you enthralled with its arresting decoration. Samode Haveli has an exotic ambiance of the ancient times, which is beautifully blended with a contemporary setting. It won't be wrong to say that the interiors of the palace are really mesmerizing and pleasant to eyes.

After visiting royal splendor of Samode, move for Delhi. On arrival at New Delhi, Optima India Tourism representative will receive you and transfer you to New Delhi hotel. He will ensure smooth check in at the pre-booked New Delhi hotel.

Early in the morning, having breakfast in Delhi hotel depart for airport to board flight for Aurangabad. On arrival at Aurangabad, you will be transferred to the pre-booked hotel.

Ajanta & Ellora cave temples, located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, are specimen of the art & architectural zenith attained by Indian craftsmen. The cave temples of Ajanta (2nd century BC) and Ellora, carved out of rocks Sahayadri hills and are the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. Ajanta is older compared to Ellora. Ajanta is more renowned for Buddhist caves whereas Ellora for Hindu cave temples. There are 29 caves in Ajanta and 34 caves in Ellora. These caves were engraved and sculptured to serve the purpose of temple, chaitya (chapel) and monastery. These cave temples remained in obscurity for more than thousand years and thus remained protected from the ravages of the Muslim invaders. John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally discovered these magnificent monuments of Ajanta while on a hunting expedition in 1819. Keeping in view immense importance of this artistic legacy, Ajanta has been allocated the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The World Heritage Site status has been conferred to these marvelous cave temples to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

Today you will be visiting Ellora cave temples. Visit Ellora rock architecture which comprises Buddhist temple, chaityas and viharas; Hindu and Jain temples. Although the chiseling out Sahyadri hills for carving out rock cut temples and chapels was started by the Buddhists during 450 to 650 AD, but later on, they didn't remain exclusively Buddhist. In toto, there are 34 cave architectures which have been dug into sloping side of a low hill running north-south. Cave number 5 is the largest caves among the Buddhist caves with 24 pillared prayer hall. Cave number 6 houses Gautam Buddha and Goddess Saraswati's statues. Dynamic architectural design, execution and embellishment of Hindu cave temples, especially Kailash Temple, are worth watching. Have overnight stay in Aurangabad hotel.

The 8th day of Golden Triangle with Ajanta Ellora Tour is very special as you will be heading for beholding one of the finest legacies of world architecture, sculpture and art. Have delicious breakfast in Aurangabad hotel and move on for an excursion to Ajanta caves. Ajanta caves are though Buddhist and Hindu in art and architecture but they depict the then prevailing lifestyle, rituals, traditions and religious practices. In a way, Ajanta cave temples, chaityas and viharas are indicative of the religious zeal with which the Buddhists and Hindus persevere to propagate the religious views and practices. The 29 caves of Ajanta, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD, are decorated with panels depicting stories from Jataka. Images of nymphs and princesses amongst others, are also elaborately portrayed.

After visiting Ajanta, a treat to your eyes and soul, return to Aurangabad and proceed to Aurangabad airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai airport, move to Mumbai International airport to board flight for your onward destination.

Presently the national capital of Republic of India, Delhi, since the ages, has been a theatre of tumultuous political upheavals. From the times of legendary Pandavas of Mahabharata fame to Rajput rule to Sultanate rule to Mughal rule to British regime and, presently, to Indian democratic rule, Delhi has been centre of political and cultural activities. Now-a-days, Delhi is the largest commercial centre in northern India. Due to glorious past and modern infrastructure, Delhi is an incredible mélange of ancient and modern & alleys and broadways. It is a hotpot of cultural amalgamation. Delhi is a great place to taste spicy and non-vegetarian Mughlai dishes along with vegetarian Hindu cuisines. Probably Delhi is one of the richest capitals in the world in terms of monuments of historical importance.

A few places which attract the masses are Qutub Minar (world's tallest free-standing brick minaret and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Red Fort of Delhi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Humayun's Tomb (first mature Mughal Tomb built in 1560), Akshardham temple (the largest Hindu temple complex in the world), the Lotus Temple (a Bahai worship place & notable for its flowerlike shape), the India Gate (originally called the All India War Memorial, located astride the Rajpath), President House, Parliament Building etc.

Agra finds its mention in epic of Mahabharata as ‘Agravana’. Agra is traditionally and culturally part of Brijbhumi, associated with legendary Lord Krishna. Strategically located on the banks of river Yamuna, the city of Agra has seen many upheavals due to intermittent attacks of the invaders to take control of it. Agra remained under control of the Rajputs, the Muslims, the Marathas and the British. Though the influences of these regimes are quite visible in art, architecture and culture of the city but the Mughal impact is more pronounced, especially in old Agra. Now-a-days, Agra has been synonymous with Taj Mahal from tourism perspective. Taj Mahal can easily be termed as a feather in the cap of India, particularly Agra, which also possesses the most precious jewel in the country’s crown the “Taj Mahal”. Sikander Lodhi, Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan ruled with Agra as capital of their kingdoms. Babur was the first Mughal king who built first Islamic monument in Agra i.e. Gul-e-Afgaan or the Aram Bag -a planned garden. During the rule of Akbar, famous monuments of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort, were constructed. Sikandara and It-mad-ud-Daula are the famous buildings of Jahangiri period. World renowned Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan in fond memory of Mumtaj Mahal, is now one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. Agra is also known for its fabulous handicrafts, made of marble and soft-stone inlay work. Agra's major handicraft products besides inlay work are: leather-ware, brassware, carpets, jewellery and embroidery work.

Fatehpur Sikri, a historical place with nicely preserved monuments of Mughal era, is a must see place while visiting Agra. Located some 37 kms from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri of Buland Darwaja fame was founded by Akbar in 1569 to express his gratitude for Sufi mystic Salim Chishti, who was born in Sikri village. Many historians believe that Fatehpur Sikri was established as a joint capital with Agra but due to paucity of potable and drinking water, the plan to shift a section of imperial officials there had been reversed. Even today, its red stone architecture, richly ornamented with carvings & firework, is in a perfect state of preservation. Buland Darwaja is 15-storied, stands 140 feet on the pedestal and is 54 feet above the ground. A steep flight of 42 steps leads one to the massive gateway and makes it as one of the tallest gateways in the world is made of red-sandstone with marble decoration on it. With Quranic inscription on the front and cenotaph on the heights of the gateway, Buland Darwaja is a splendid blend of Hindu and Persian architecture. The calligraphy work done on the inner façade of Buland Darwaja has very less parallels in India.

Jaipur, present day capital city of India’s largest state Rajasthan, is representative of typical Rajasthani culture, art, architecture and lifestyles. Known as ‘Pink City’ or ‘Gulabi Nagar’ of Rajasthan, Jaipur attracts tourists towards its gargantuan forts, marvelously built palaces, lively market of handicraft products and intricately carved out temples. The sprinkling beauty, the edifices, big havelis and stupendous sky-touching forts of Jaipur attract the tourists immensely. Jaipur is the only city in the world which has been built as per India’s Vaastu Shastra and segmented as per astrology. Jaipur has been laid according to the conventional nine-grid pattern that astrologers believe to be lucky and which has been recommended in the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Its nine rectangular sectors represent nine levels of universe. A boundary wall with eight gates surrounds the city.

Samode, a small hamlet near Jaipur and inhabited by craftsmen, is a prime attraction for those tourists who intend to enjoy watching one of the best kept palaces and living in exotic and luxurious heritage stay. Samode, an erstwhile principality of Jaipur and now-a-days a small village town, is famous for being on tourist map of Rajasthan. Samode is visited by the tourists to watch Samode Palace, Samode Haveli and Samode Bag. Samode Palace is the prime attraction of Samode. The historical features and architectural niceties are very carefully and painstakingly maintained. Samode Palace has been converted by the royal family into a luxurious heritage hotel. Stay in Samode Palace hotel makes a tourist/ visitor feel as if he has come into an oasis amidst arid and desert landscape of Rajasthan.

About 400 kilometers eastward of Mumbai, is Aurangabad, the most convenient base for seeing India's timeless art at the renowned Ajanta and Ellora, both on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. The thirty caves at Ajanta, chiselled out of rock by Buddhist monks between 200 BC and 650 AD as chaityas (chapels)and viharas (monasteries), contain magnificent sculptures and frescoes. At Ellora are thirty-four Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock temples carved top downwards from a two-kilometre escarpment between 350 AD and 700 AD and decorated with a profusion of sculptures. These includes the Kailasa Temple, the largest monolithic sculpture of the world, covered with a variety of finely carved panels, with entailed removing of some 200,000 tones of rocks!

• Stay in the mentioned hotels (modern & heritage) on double sharing.

• Daily breakfast basis on all places.

• Total meals: 08 (Breakfast-09; Lunch-01).

• Total night stays: 07 (Delhi-03; Agra-01, Jaipur-02, Aurangabad-01).

• Well-appointed upgraded air-conditioned base category rooms at all places.

• 01 lunch in Samode Palace.

• Entrance fees for all the monuments mentioned in sightseeing.

• Medieval era market’s (Chandni Chowk) visit on manually paddled rickshaw in Delhi.

• Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur.

• Destination-based English speaking guides at all places for mentioned sightseeing tour.

• Meet & assist at the airport on arrival & departure.

• Sightseeing tours as mentioned in the itinerary.

• Air-conditioned private car for the whole sightseeing tour.

• Driver for the whole tour.

• All prevailing taxes like luxury tax, service tax etc.

• All transfers, city tours, excursions & drives by air-conditioned transport.

• Interstate road tax, toll tax, parking charges, driver’s wages, fuel charges etc.

• Visit and exploration of narrow alleys, humming with social activities, while riding on man-pulled tri-cycle rickshaw.
• Ride a caparisoned elephant like a king at Amber Fort in Jaipur.
• Tonga (horse carriage) ride in Agra- from hotel to Taj Mahal gate.

• Experience Indian hospitality in a comforting cocoon of a heritage hotel in Jaipur.
• Cultural events, puppet shows and traditional dances at Ravindra Manch.
• Evening Aarti at Govind Dev Ji temple in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Agra: Marble souvenirs.
Jaipur: Environment-friendly printed clothes, jewellery and ethnic goods.

Delhi:Street foods/snacks like ‘tikki’, ‘chaat’, ‘Dahi Bhalla’, ‘pao bhaji’, ‘fruit chaat’, ‘rabdi faluda’.
Agra:Biryani at Heeng ki Mandi.
Goa:Eating out in restaurants having themes of Rajasathani village life- Apna Gaon & Chokhi Dhani.

• Prices mentioned are per person on double or twin sharing basis.

• Prices mentioned are per person on double or twin sharing basis.

• Any airfares, international or domestic, are not included.

• Additional conditions may apply, please enquire for further details.

• Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes.

• Additional levies, government charges & other applicable fees, including additional taxes and surcharges on flight routing, may apply and are beyond our control.

• Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.

• Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.

• Prices shown are for payments made through normal bank transfer into our accounts.

• These prices are a guide to the best price and are subject to change without notice.

• Prices are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, please enquire for further details.

• Please provide your passport details to Optima Travels Private Limited at least one month before travelling. Please note that if you do not provide your passport details, you may be denied entry to any Indian National Parks that are visited along this itinerary, or you may be charged a fee by the local government as passport details are now a requirement for entry into all national parks in India.

• Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

• In India normally the check in time in hotels is 02:00 PM and check out time in hotels is 10:00 AM.

• Normally the package cost includes breakfast at all locations but in case of the destinations where availability of restaurants outside hotel not possible, we provide meals there and mention that in inclusions. Meals other than breakfast are as specified above in inclusion.

• Video camera/ still camera fee applicable at various monuments. The same will be paid by you direct on spot on actual basis.

• Items of personal nature like telephone calls, laundry, tips, hard/soft drink etc. Arenot included in the package.

• Any expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances like flight delay/cancellation/hike in fare, strike or any other natural calamities are not part of package.

• Indian visa fees are not included in the package cost.

• Any compulsory meal supplements during festive season is not included.

• Early check in & late check out at the hotels is chargeable in high season.

• Any other Item is not included in " Inclusions" heading.