KASHMIR WITH THE TAJ

 

TOTAL DURATION – 09 NIGHTS / 10 DAYS 

05 NIGHTS SRINAGAR / 01 NIGHT PAHALGAM / 01 NIGHT AGRA / 

02 NIGHTS DELHI    

 

ITINERARY

DAY 01: SRINAGAR 

Arrival at Srinagar Airport, transfer to houseboat, get freshen up and free for leisure in Srinagar

 

Kashmir one the most visited places in India, known for its scenic landscape, cultural heritage, shrines, castles and natural lakes. Destination Kashmir often dubbed ‘Paradise on Earth’ mountainous beauty of this place has attracted travellers for centuries. It is at a collection of images, this unique destination offers beautiful verdant mountains and valleys, remote mountains and, highly cultures people. Each of these regions has its own culture. A valley between the Great Himalayan range and the Pir Panjal mountain range, Kashmir is a place of beautiful simplicity and pristine natural beauty, painted with a unique culture that keeps you intrigued throughout your journey 

 

 

DAY 02: SRINAGAR 

Enjoy a relaxing Shikara Ride & Move for Sightseeing / Visits in Srinagar 

 

Srinagar located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level. Spread on both sides of the river Jhelum the city is famous for its natural beauty, gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. Srinagar with its beautiful picturesque Himalayan backdrop, glittering lakes that are surrounded by houseboats and Shikaras and the majesty of Mughal architecture

 

Small boat popularly known as Shikara ride is one of the most enjoying experiences for tourists visiting Srinagar. A Shikara ride on lake Srinagar is a thrilling experience and a fun adventure for anyone who seeking a mix of nature and adventure in Srinagar. 

 

Dal Lake the vast sheet of water reflects the carved wooden balconies of houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal Mountains. The effect is truly stunning. The Lake, famous for its scenic location and its floating gardens, Imagine waking up to a quiet morning by the lake with a spectacular flower show, which changes its hues by the minute. The lake covers an area of approx. 18 sq km including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Kashmiri and Nigeen Lake (Nageen Lake) in Srinagar is sometimes considered a part of the Dal lake and is connected to it via a narrow strait. The Nigeen lake is surrounded by a large number of willow and poplar trees. Hence, it has come to be referred as a “Nageena”, which means “The Jewel in The Ring”. The word “Nigeen” is a local variant of the same word.

 

Houseboats in Srinagar, Kashmir provides unique staying options, better known as the floating houses.  These floating houses are blessed with elegant interiors and unique amenities, anchored on the banks of the two beautiful lakes, Dal and Nigeen surrounded by mighty mountains. The warm, cozy haven keeps you snug all night and let you enjoy the splendid views as the sun starts to rise

 

Visit at Mughal Gardens Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, The Royal Chashma Shahi 

 

Visit at Hazratbal Mosque 

 

 

DAY 03: SRINAGAR – GULMARG / SRINAGAR

After breakfasy move for Day Excursion trip to Gulmarg,

 

Gulmarg (Meadow of flowers) Gulmarg valley which is about 03 kms long and up-to 01 km wide. It is exquisitely situated in a pine surrounded basin of the Pir Panjal range at an altitude of 2,730 meters above sea level and one of the most famous tourist destinations of Kashmir. 

 

Gulmarg Gondola one of Asia’s largest and highest cable cars surrounded by pine forests and Himalayan mountain peaks in the ski resort of Gulmarg. Gondola became prominent attraction of the Gulmarg and the prime reason of people visiting this beautiful place 

 

 

DAY 04: SRINAGAR – SONMARG / SRINAGAR

After breakfast move for Day Excursion trip to Sonmarg 

 

Sonmarg (Meadow of Gold) a place of enthralling beauty, lies in Sindh Valley, streamed with flowers,   surrounded by mountains and perched at an altitude of 2690 m above sea level. Visited less frequently by tourists, it has as its backdrop, snowy mountains against a clear sky. It is a quiet alpine retreat surrounded with sycamore, silver birch, fir and pine trees and the last halt on the Kashmir side for the drive from Srinagar to Leh. It is also the base for some interesting treks to the high altitude of Himalayan Lakes

 

 

DAY 05: SRINAGAR – PAHALGAM 

After breakfast drive to Pahalgam En-route Visit at Saffron fields of Pampora  

 

Pahalgam (Valley of Shepherds) a beautiful hill resort set in a pristine village lying next to the Lidder River. Once a humble shepherd’s village with breathtaking views. Now it is Kashmir’s premier resort, cools even during the heights of summer. It is situated at an altitude of 2,130 m above sea level. Surrounded with fragrant pine forests, the idyllic resort includes a golf course and spots for angling

 

 

DAY 06: PAHALGAM – SRINAGAR  

After breakfast move for Sightseeing / Visits in and around Pahalgam and drive continue to Srinagar – Arrival at Srinagar  

 

The Aru valley is popular among the tourists for its peaceful environment and scenic beauty. Located around 12 km from Pahalgam. Noted for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains, it is a base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake

 

Betaab valley originally called as Hajan Valley or Hagan Valley is situated at a distance of 15 km from Pahalgam. An iconic place for Bollywood movies to shooting many romantic numbers. It is surrounded by lush green meadows, snow clad mountains and covered with dense vegetation

 

Chandanwari situated at an elevation of 2,895 meters, and located about 16 kilometers from Pahalgam. If you are looking for an offbeat tourist place in Kashmir where you can relax in the company of nature, then you should visit this place

 

 

DAY 07: SRINAGAR – DELHI / AGRA

After breakfast transfer to Srinagar Airport to Board at Morning Flight to Delhi – Arrival at Delhi, assistance upon arrival and proceed to Agra – Arrival at Agra transfer to hotel / resort, get freshen up and move for Sightseeing / Visits as per the timings 

 

Heritage city Agra the prominent tourist destination, one of the most visited places in the world, home of three world heritage sites and one of those heritage sites which the world has chosen to be the ‘Wonder of the World’. Symbolising the eternal love, incredible paragon of Indo-Islamic architecture and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage ‘The Taj Mahal’. Agra was founded in the beginning 16th century by Sultan Sikandar Lodī, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. After the Sultan’s death, the city passed on to his son, Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī. He ruled his Sultanate from Agra until he fell fighting to Mughal Emperor Bābar in the battle of Panipat fought in 1526 

 

Visit at World heritage site The Taj Mahal “The Jewel of Indo-Islamic architecture” and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. Regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India’s rich history. It was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects

                                                      

 

DAY 08: AGRA – DELHI (210kms / 03hrs Approx.) 

Morning Visit at Taj Mahal and get an amazing view at Sun rise, The cool breeze with shade of sun lighht on white Taj Mahal get you the wonderful view of Taj Mahal, drive back to hotel / resort get freshen up and After breakfast move for Sightseeing / Visit in Agra – by late afternoon drive continue to Delhi – Arrival at Delhi as per the timings 

 

Visit at World heritage site Agra Red Fort sprawling over an area of 380,000 sq m, the great fortress is situated on the right bank of river Yamuna. This amazing monument linked with many rulers and wars. After the first battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur stayed in the fort, in the palace of Ibrahim Lodi. The historian, Abul Fazl, recorded that this was a brick fort known as ‘Badalgarh’. It was in a ruined condition and Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone. Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 4,000 builders worked on it daily for eight years, completing it in 1573. It was also known as the ‘Qila-i-Akbari’

 

Visit at Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb one of the most beautiful Mughal tombs. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, this tomb comprises cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, who were parents of Mughal Empress Nur Jahan. Many believed this monument is considered to be the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal. For this fact it is known as the ‘Baby Taj Mahal’ 

 

Visit at Sikandra Tomb the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar.  Interestingly Akbar himself selected the site of the tomb, planned the structure, completed and laid out a beautiful garden during his lifetime. However, the topmost portion of mausoleum in marble was constructed by his son, Mughal Emperor Jahangir

 

 

DAY 09: DELHI

After breakfast move for Sightseeing / Visits in Delhi – We will take you to some different kind of tour Walking and Car Tours in Delhi. These tours have been designed by people with a deep understanding of the ‘Real’ Delhi. 

 

Visit at The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā (Jama Mosque of Delhi)

The principal mosque of Delhi, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. The foundation of the historic Jama Masjid was laid on a hillock in Shahjahanabad by the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shahjahan, on Friday, October 19,1650 AD, (10th Shawwal 1060 AH). The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 6,000 workers, over a period of six years (1650–1656 AD). 

 

Visit at Old Delhi the walled city has been the capital of numerous empires that ruled India, where you will get the sights of eye-catching monuments and unique structures and sounds of the colourful bazaars.  You will experience at one the busiest and oldest areas of the world. This ancient part of the city is a labyrinth of tiny lanes crowded with rickshaws and lined with crumbling 17th-century haveli, temples and mosques. The theme of these tours is the pre-Shahjahanabad period and we will introduce you to the culture, food and people, as well as a look at and feel of some valuable ancient traditions

 

Visit at World heritage site Red Fort (Lal Qila)

Built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. The Palace fort of his capital Shahjahanabad, famous for its massive red sandstone walls, which stand 75 feet (23 metres) high. This monument represents the grandeur of the Mughal Court, which was constructed during the 17th century. The construction of this fort took over 10 years to complete the work in 1648. It was originally called as ‘Qila-i-Mubarak’, Meaning ‘The Blessed Fort’ listed as UNESCO world heritage site 

 

Visit at World heritage site The Humayun’s Tomb The Tomb of Emperor Humayun the second Mughal ruler to ascend the throne stands as a magnificent testament to the style of Mughal royal mausoleums. This tomb, built in 1560, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The construction of this tomb was commissioned by Humayun’s wife Hamida Banu Begum, Makbara-e -Humayun is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments and listed as UNESCO world heritage site 

 

Visit at World heritage site Qutub complex the world heritage site, the layers of cultural, religious, and political history converge in the Qutub archaeological complex. It was commissioned by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty, who later became the first ‘Sultan of Delhi’

 

Visit at Qutub Minar ‘the victory tower’ named after the religious figure Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki was begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. It was continued by his successor Iltutmish (a.k.a. Altamash), and finally completed much later by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Sultan of Delhi from the Tughlaq dynasty in 1368 AD. It is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site along with surrounding buildings and monuments 

 

Evening timings get another picture of Delhi with modern culture and traditions. New Delhi OR Modern Delhi, the capital of British India, was built after 1911 AD as a symbol of British dominance over the Indian subcontinent. The intent was to create a grand, monumental, larger-than-life city space, which would inspire awe and be symbolic of the implied socio-cultural, architectural and political superiority of the British Empire few of them are War Memorial India Gate, Passing by President House, Parliament Street and Raj Path

 

Connaught Place one of the main financial, commercial and business centres in India, a major shopping, nightlife and tourist spot in New Delhi. The area was originally named after the Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria of Britain, Prince Arthur. It was developed as a showpiece of Delhi. Connaught Place’s Georgian architecture is modelled after ‘The Royal Crescent in the city of Bath’ England, that designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, which is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom

 

 

DAY 10: DELHI 

After breakfast move for Optional Visits in Delhi and transfer to Delhi Airport as per the timings,