The golden triangle of India with Varanasi

Delhi
Arrival at Delhi airport. Transfer to hotel for some rest. Around 10 am after breakfast you
will start your guided tour of Old Delhi. In particular, you will visit the Red Fort (visit only from outside), a UNESCO World Heritage since 2007, built in 1639 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (the creator of the Taj Mahal), the the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, where an ancient copy of the holy Quran written on Deer skin is preserved. Visit small lanes of this part of the city such as Chawri Bazar, one of the busiest street of Old Delhi. Later visit Raj Ghat, the site of Mahatma Ghandi cremation. After lunch you will visit new Delhi with its Government buildings such as the India Gate, an arch erected in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I, and the Parliament House. In the late afternoon we will continue the visit with the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship in India, known as the “Sarovar.” Then trasfer to the hotel. Overnight in Delhi (D)

Delhi – Jaipur
Around 10 a.m. will start the visit of the poor district of Paharganj, in Old Delhi, led by special tour guide from a local NGO, which saves street kids, giving them education and job training. This experience aims to show the tragic reality of street kids, watching the world from their perspective. A former street kid will walk you trought the streets of the district of Paharganj and the areas around the train station. This gives you the unique opportunity to visit the city with exceptional guides. Later, transfer by car to Jaipur (about 4 and a half hours), the largest city in Rajasthan and symbol of magnificence and abundance. The city was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II and it was the first Indian city with a reticular planimetry. Jaipur was the capital under the reign of the Kachwaha clan and it is an ideal tourist destination. Overnight in Jaipur (B).

Jaipur
After breakfast, visit to the Hawa Mahal along the road to Amber Fort. Transport by jeep to the castle. After lunch, visit to the Anokhi museum, which shows how important craftsmanship is for the rural economy of India. In the afternoon, visit to the Royal Palace and the ancient city; places full of charm, culture and architecture, with splendid fortresses, majestic palaces, peaceful temples and beautiful Havelis (ancient noble residences). The “Pink City” can boasts of a refined craftsmanship and a spectacular goldsmith tradition, which enhance its uniqueness. Lush gardens and flower beds add serenity to the landscape. All together these ingredients create a picturesque environment that fascinates every visitor. Walking throught the streets of this unique city makes it easier to understand local history and culture. Overnight in Jaipur. (B)

Jaipur – Agra
After breakfast transfer to Agra by highway (about 4 hours). Arrival in Agra and lunch in a small restaurant supported by a local NGO that helps women victims of acid attacks. After lunch visit old Agra. You wll explore the old city on a 3-hour walking tour led by a local guide who shows you daily life away from the typical tourist attractions. Learn about Agra’s history, architecture, and traditions as you discover the old market and its surroundings. The first stop will be the Jama Masjid, a big mosque opposite to Agra Fort. You will continue walking along the narrow lanes of old Agra, meeting a local family living in the area. Later you will visit the ancient Manka Meshwar temple (Shiva temple), followed by the wholesale spice market, Rawatpara, where you can find Agra petha, a candy made from ash gourd. You will also experience the bustle at the shoe mandi in Johri Bazar, the only street of Ayurvedic doctors, the paan (betel leaf), and the food street of Seth Gali. At sunset Visit to the Taj Mahal (closed on friday). It is one of the most famous and visited monuments of India, built at the behest of the Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The majestic white marble building is now a universal symbol of love and romance and it is also one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built in 1653 (symbolically remembered in the 16 gardens and 53 fountains) and it took 16 years of work and the commitment of thousands of artisans
Overnight in Agra (B, L)

Agra- Khajurahoo
Early morning transfer to the railway station and departure by the high-speed train Vande Bharat (departure at 06:00 AM) to Khajuraho (approximately 7 hours). Arrival in the early afternoon (1:00 PM) and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the ancient city of Khajuraho, where a local guide will explain the caste system, showing the different areas inhabited by Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
Overnight in Khajuraho (B)

Khajuraho
In the morning, visit the extraordinary temple complex built between the 10th and 11th centuries, famous for its erotic sculptures and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will explore the temples in the Eastern group, known for their intricate details, the Southern group, and then the Hindu temples in the Western group. In the afternoon, free time will be available to stroll around the town.
Overnight in Khajuraho (B)

Khajuraho – Varanasi
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and take a guided tour of the sacred city, with its numerous attractions and ancient temples, such as Kashi Vishwanath, Kal Bhairava, Durga Kund, and Annapoorna. Varanasi is also an important artistic, cultural, and handicraft center. Visit the main ghats of Benares, the steps leading to the Ganges River, many of which are used for ritual ablutions, while others are dedicated to cremations. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythological episodes, while others are private. The most important cremation site is Manikarnika Ghat, known as Mahasmasana, included in the tour. It is believed that burning bodies at these special places is the correct way to attain Moksha, or salvation. In the evening, you will attend the famous Ganga Aarti Puja ritual, which takes place daily at sunset at Dasaswamedh Ghat, near the Kashi Vishwanath temple. This highly choreographed ceremony is performed on a stage by a group of young pandits, dressed in saffron robes, holding ceremonial plates in front of them.
Overnight in Varanasi (B)

Varanasi
Early in the morning, witness the Aarti Puja ceremony at Assi Ghat. Following this, you will have the opportunity to join yoga lessons alongside pilgrims who attended the prayer. Before sunrise, enjoy a boat excursion on the Ganges River (approximately 2 hours) to admire the rising sun and the city awakening amidst rituals, ablutions, prayers, and chants. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Varanasi is known as Mahashamstana, the great cremation ground; here, death is celebrated in the same way as life. During this guided visit, we will explore the main places to experience how death is perceived in Hindu culture. We will visit a Mukti Bhawan, a “hotel” where people with only a few days left to live stay. People from all over India come here because it is believed that those who die in Varanasi are liberated from the cycle of reincarnations and achieve moksha (liberation). Next, we will visit Manikarnika Ghat, one of the most significant cremation sites, where we will observe funeral rituals. The tour will conclude with a visit to one of the most important temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadev in his form as Maha Mrityunjay, which means “defeating death.” Inside the temple, there is an ancient well whose water is believed to cure any illness.
Overnight in Varanasi (B)

Varanasi
After breakfast, spend time discovering the ghats (steps) that line the Ganges River. In the afternoon, visit the Buddhist city of Sarnath, located 13 km northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Gomati and Ganges rivers in Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath Deer Park is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma. Today, it is one of the four key pilgrimage sites for the Buddhist community (along with Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, and Lumbini in Nepal) and attracts believers from around the world, especially on Purnima (Buddha’s birthday), a day that celebrates Buddha’s life, death, and enlightenment.
Overnight in Varanasi (B)

Varanasi – Delhi
In the morning, transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Delhi, followed by an international departure flight.