Day 3. Delhi - Agra
Overnight – The Oberoi Amarvilas
You are assisted with your check-out from your hotel after breakfast and you are driven towards Agra, with a stop to explore Old Delhi along the way. You can have your hotel pack a lunch or snack for your journey, or enjoy a very late lunch in Agra. Your first stop in Old Delhi will be the Jama Masjid (1650 A.D.), the largest mosque in India. The Masjid is a magnificent example of Mughal architecture and is constructed of red sandstone and white marble. It is an active place of worship and its courtyard can hold 25,000 worshippers. Bare legs and shoulders are not permitted inside the mosque and we include rented sarongs and scarves from the vendors at the entrance.
One of your most enduring memories of India will be your next experience as you walk through the ancient Chandni Chowk Bazaar. The cacophony of sounds which have echoed through the centuries, the cries of hawkers and the animated bargaining, along with the incredible colors and the diverse smells emanating from the street food stalls and spice markets combine to make for an experience that is unique to this ancient bazaar.
You will drive around the 1.5-mile perimeter of the massive walls of the Red Fort, the city inside which was the seat of the Mughal Empire for more than two hundred and fifty years – this is obviously a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both this fortified city and the Jama Masjid were built by Shah Jahan, the emperor who created the Taj Mahal. Since the design and structures of the Agra and Red Forts are similar, and much of the Red Fort is occupied by the Indian Army and inaccessible to visitors, you will save time here and explore the Agra Fort on the next day. Get on North India’s best highway (which begins near Old Delhi), an elevated tollway that does not permit most of India’s chaotic road traffic to impede your approximately two-hour journey. No pedestrians, cows (or other livestock), bicycles or other two-wheel traffic is permitted, and you will be able to see the fertile farmlands and rural activity surrounding the tollway.
Upon arrival at your iconic luxury resort you will be assisted with your check-in. Trehan Journeys includes an upgraded room with a private balcony that overlooks the Taj Mahal, framed by the lush gardens and trees of the Amar Vilas. Please note that all four Oberoi Vilas Resorts offer multiple experiences, including private cooking lessons with their master chefs. These can be reserved by us, or at the resort.
Lunch can be at your resort, or a local restaurant, and after lunch you will proceed for a late afternoon visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the incomparable Taj Mahal. The world’s greatest monument dedicated to love is obviously a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal was completed by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 A.D. as a memorial to his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular white marble mausoleum was created by about 22,000 skilled craftsmen, many of whom were brought here from far away nations, and it took twenty two years to complete. Experience the amazing Taj and its surroundings in bright sunlight, culminating with an opportunity to admire the sun’s rays setting on the façade of the world’s finest monument. When the Taj Mahal closes right after sunset you will enjoy the short walk to your resort which is just a few hundred yards away.
You are assisted with your check-out from your hotel after breakfast and you are driven towards Agra, with a stop to explore Old Delhi along the way. You can have your hotel pack a lunch or snack for your journey, or enjoy a very late lunch in Agra. Your first stop in Old Delhi will be the Jama Masjid (1650 A.D.), the largest mosque in India. The Masjid is a magnificent example of Mughal architecture and is constructed of red sandstone and white marble. It is an active place of worship and its courtyard can hold 25,000 worshippers. Bare legs and shoulders are not permitted inside the mosque and we include rented sarongs and scarves from the vendors at the entrance.
One of your most enduring memories of India will be your next experience as you walk through the ancient Chandni Chowk Bazaar. The cacophony of sounds which have echoed through the centuries, the cries of hawkers and the animated bargaining, along with the incredible colors and the diverse smells emanating from the street food stalls and spice markets combine to make for an experience that is unique to this ancient bazaar.
You will drive around the 1.5-mile perimeter of the massive walls of the Red Fort, the city inside which was the seat of the Mughal Empire for more than two hundred and fifty years – this is obviously a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both this fortified city and the Jama Masjid were built by Shah Jahan, the emperor who created the Taj Mahal. Since the design and structures of the Agra and Red Forts are similar, and much of the Red Fort is occupied by the Indian Army and inaccessible to visitors, you will save time here and explore the Agra Fort on the next day. Get on North India’s best highway (which begins near Old Delhi), an elevated tollway that does not permit most of India’s chaotic road traffic to impede your approximately two-hour journey. No pedestrians, cows (or other livestock), bicycles or other two-wheel traffic is permitted, and you will be able to see the fertile farmlands and rural activity surrounding the tollway.
Upon arrival at your iconic luxury resort you will be assisted with your check-in. Trehan Journeys includes an upgraded room with a private balcony that overlooks the Taj Mahal, framed by the lush gardens and trees of the Amar Vilas. Please note that all four Oberoi Vilas Resorts offer multiple experiences, including private cooking lessons with their master chefs. These can be reserved by us, or at the resort.
Lunch can be at your resort, or a local restaurant, and after lunch you will proceed for a late afternoon visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the incomparable Taj Mahal. The world’s greatest monument dedicated to love is obviously a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal was completed by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 A.D. as a memorial to his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular white marble mausoleum was created by about 22,000 skilled craftsmen, many of whom were brought here from far away nations, and it took twenty two years to complete. Experience the amazing Taj and its surroundings in bright sunlight, culminating with an opportunity to admire the sun’s rays setting on the façade of the world’s finest monument. When the Taj Mahal closes right after sunset you will enjoy the short walk to your resort which is just a few hundred yards away.