Day 1 in Delhi

Welcome to Delhi! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city and explore the streets of New Delhi where many of the city`s famous sights and attractions are located. Check out the sprawling National Museum which holds a massive collection of over 200,000 works of art of both Indian and foreign origin that date back over 5,000 years.

Grab some lunch as you wander around the ancient streets of New Delhi where street food, cafes and coffee shops can be found on every corner. Delhi is one of the best places in the world to sample delicious street food cuisine. Alternatively, you can take the Delhi Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour which will transport you to many of the top attractions in the city.

Visit the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, this is the site where he was assassinated and cremated in 1948. The memorial is located in a beautiful park by the Yamuna River decorated with labeled trees that were planted by notables such as Queen Elizabeth II, President Eisenhower, and Ho Chi Minh. The National Gandhi Museum is located across from the park and a memorial is held in the park every Friday (the day of his death).

Next up is the Jantar Mantar Observatory in Connaught Place, the site consists of 13 terracotta-colored architectural astronomy instruments in a large open-air observatory that was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1725. Check out the giant 90 foot tall Prince of Dials sundial.

As evening time approaches take a relaxing walk along Rajpath also known as `Kingsway`, a beautiful tree-lined ceremonial boulevard bordered by spectacular gardens that lead up to the Presidential Estate. This road is one of the most important roads in the country, the annual Republic Day parade takes place here and the area is especially enchanting at night when all of the buildings are lit up.

Standing in the center of Rajpath is the monumental India Gate which was inspired by Paris`s `Arc de Triomphe`. The gate was built in 1930 to commemorate 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives fighting for their country.

Explore the bustling streets of New Delhi for some delicious dining options. There are plenty of restaurants found in the heart of New Delhi offering some of the best Indian curries in the world. There are plenty of bars and lounges to sit back and relax in after dinner if you fancy a cocktail.

Day 2 in Delhi

This morning head out and grab some fresh coffee and pastries at one of the many coffee shops or cafes located in the city. Take a refreshing walk around Lodhi Gardens, the 90 acres green space is decorated with immaculate green lawns and vibrant gardens along with hundreds of ancient tombs. The Garden Restaurant is a great spot located within the gardens where you can sit outside and enjoy the spectacular surroundings.

Next, make your way to the awe-inspiring Lotus Temple which is one of the newer landmarks in the city. The spectacular lotus shaped temple with 27 marble clad `petals` that reach towards the sky is a breathtaking sight surrounded by extensive grounds and gardens covering over 26 acres of land. The Bahá'í belief is that the house of worship should be open to all, regardless of denomination.

The Hauz Khas Complex is a historical urban village that includes mosques, tombs, and ancient stone monuments that date back to the early 1300`s. Here you can wander around the ancient village and see the ruins as well as do some shopping at the boutiques found here, there are restaurants, cafes, and art galleries, so grab something to eat and explore the attractions.

Up next, Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important places to visit in the city dating back to 1206. The 239.5 foot tall 5-story red sandstone brick minaret is the tallest in the world and part of the Qutab Complex where several historical monuments are located. Wander around the ancient complex and see the intricate carvings and verses from the Koran inscribed on the tower`s façade.

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park is adjacent to the Qutub Minar complex covering 200 acres of land where over 1000 historically significant monuments, tombs, and palaces can be seen. A few of the highlights inside the park are the Jamali Kamli Mosque and Tomb and the ruins of Lal Kot which date back to 1060 CE.

As evening time approaches make your way to the magnificent Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in New Delhi and one of the top sights in the city. Once home to the Mughal Emperor, this beautiful red sandstone structure is a treasure trove of history where various ancient buildings, walls, and ruins cover 255 acres of land along the Yamuna River.

The bustling market at Chandni Chowk (Moonlight square) can be found inside the walled city of the Red Fort. A popular marketplace in the city, one of the oldest and busiest filled with delicious street food and other goods and souvenirs. Enjoy some dinner and shopping before the sound and light show that takes place at the Red Fort every evening. The walls truly come alive at night with this one-hour spectacle recreating 5,000 years of India`s history.

Day 3 in Delhi

Head out bright and early today to the magnificent Akshardham Temple, the Hindu temple and spiritual-cultural campus is a spectacular sight and even more magnificent at sunrise. The temple is the main attraction here standing at 141 feet high and measuring 316 feet wide intricately decorated with deities, dancers, musicians, and flora. The elaborate complex took 11,000 volunteers and artisans 5 years to build and boasts some of the most breathtaking architecture and attention to detail you may have ever seen.

Next, you will want to check out some of the magnificent markets that Delhi has to offer. The ancient streets and alleyways are filled with markets that are all dedicated to a certain product; you can shop at the famous Spice Market, Gold and Silver Market or the Handicrafts Market. Check out Janpath Market near Connaught Place, where shops and open-air stalls line the streets selling clothing, jewelry, carpets, accessories and more. Plenty of restaurants and cafes occupy the area, so you can grab some food and fuel up for a shopping adventure. Dilli Haat is another open-air market in the city and is designed to resemble a traditional Indian village market with over 60 stalls with vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs from all over the country. There is also some delicious local cuisine offered at the market such as delicious `momos` (dumplings) and refreshing fruit beer.

Last stop is the magnificent and mesmerizing Humayun`s tomb, a well preserved luxurious palace and tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is often called the `Red Taj Mahal` and the Taj Mahal was based on its design which features a Persian style chaharbagh garden in a quadrilateral. The spectacular gardens are divided into four sections seperated by walkways and water features and the 2 story mausoleum built of red sandstone and topped with white Persian marble dome. The tomb itself sits 154 feet tall and 298 feet wide on a large platform constructed from yellow and black marble.

A few options for your last evening in Delhi include taking a food tour of the city where you will get to visit some hidden eateries and sample the local cuisine. Delhi is famed for tandoori chicken and roti along with delicious chapattis and naan bread.

Another option is to join the Delhi Bar Crawl where participants get to enjoy a fun night out on the town hopping from different bar to bar in the city.

Additional Days in Delhi

Should you be able to spend additional days in Delhi be sure to visit the National Rail Museum a unique museum that focuses on the rail heritage in India. There are over 100 life-size exhibits spread over 10 acres where real steam, diesel, and electric locomotives can be seen. The main attraction includes the Fairy Queen, the oldest steam engine in the world along with the Prince of Wales Saloon and the Maharaja of Mysore`s Saloon.

The Masjid-I Jahan-Numa or Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in Delhi known as the `World Reflecting Mosque`. Built and designed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal the beautiful building contains three main gates, four towers and tow 131-foot tall minarets with red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate up to 25,000 people.

Your Last Day in Delhi

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.