India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore & Sariska

Fly overnight to India’s capital, Delhi.

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the 4-star Suryaa Hotel for the night. The hotel lies in South Delhi, a serene oasis away from the busy old city, with leafy suburbs, parks and cafés. Settle in before heading out this afternoon to see some of Old Delhi’s highlights. Start at the capital’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, where you can trawl 17th-century marble and red-sandstone buildings and watchtowers. Climb one of the 40-metre-high minarets for city views.

Next, you’ll drive past the Red Fort, catching a glimpse of this sandstone fortress built in elaborate Mughal style by Taj-Mahal creator, emperor Shah Jahan. Finally, continue to the banks of the Yamuna River, where you’ll visit the poignant Raj Ghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, set in a tranquil park. Stop to reflect at the black-marble plinth that marks the site of his cremation, inscribed with his last words: “Hey Ram (Oh God)”.

After breakfast, you’ll tour UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb, which was the blue-print for India’s garden tombs, including the Taj Mahal. Admire the four-quadrant, Persian-style gardens with emperor Humayun’s mausoleum at its centre. Next, stop at one of India’s first Muslim monuments, Qutub Minar, also protected by UNESCO and famed for its namesake 12th century tower, which is carved with verses from the Koran and soars 73 metres high.

Afterwards, drive four hours south to Sariska Tiger Reserve. This protected area in Alwar spans over 800 square kilometres and lies in the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains. Once a hunting ground for the Alwar royal family, it’s now home to a host of exotic wildlife, including a population of 31 Bengal tigers successfully relocated here from Ranthambore by Project Tiger. Check into the boutique Sariska Safari Lodge on the edge of the reserve for the night and enjoy dinner.
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This morning, embark upon a shared Jeep safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve. As you traverse the park’s valleys covered with dry deciduous jungle, an expert guide will help you spot resident wildlife, from hyenas and jackals to wild boar, four-horned antelopes and plenty of langurs and rhesus monkeys. Watch out for some of the park’s 225 species of birds, including the crested serpent eagle, and if you’re fortunate, you may catch a glimpse of a shy Bengal tiger.

In the afternoon, you’ll make the 2.5-hour drive to Jaipur, stopping at Bhangarh Fort on the way. Explore the eerie remains of Bhangarh’s palaces, ramparts and Hindu temples, which were mysteriously deserted around 300 years ago and are said to be haunted. When you arrive in Jaipur, check into the 5-star KK Royal hotel for two nights. This will be your base for exploring the Pink City’s Old Quarter, which is lauded by UNESCO for its walled, grid-like design and Vedic architecture.
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Today, visit some of Jaipur’s most famous sites in the rose-hued Old Quarter. Start at the City Palace, built in the 1720s by Jaipur’s founder, Maharaja Jai Singh. Wander the complex of courtyards and buildings, which feature a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Highlights include an art gallery, an armoury that showcases engraved weapons and a museum home to an impressive royal costume display.

Continue to Jai Singh’s neighbouring observatory, Jantar Mantar, which is one of five the ruler built across India. Witness 18 huge stone astronomical measuring devices that tell time and determine the position of planets and stars, including a 27-metre-high sundial. Finally, make a photo stop at the pink-hued Palace of Winds, Hawa Mahal, which was built to allow high-court women to observe the city below unseen. The rest of the day is yours to explore Jaipur independently or unwind at your hotel.
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Start your day with a trip to the Amber Fort on the outskirts of Jaipur. This UNESCO fortress was built in 1592 and sprawls across a hilltop above Maota Lake. Tour the labyrinthine, yellow-sandstone structure, with its pond-studded courtyards, Mirror Palace and decorative Ganesh Pol gateway. Pause to take in panoramic views from the ramparts and towers.

Afterwards, say goodbye to Jaipur and drive 3.5 hours south to Ranthambore National Park. This former hunting ground covers 1,334 square kilometres of jungle and grassland that now serves as a sanctuary for native wildlife, including sloth bears and around 80 Bengal tigers. You’ll stay at the 4-star Ranthambore Regency for two nights, a family-run eco-lodge in the jungle that lies just 10 minutes from the park.
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Discover Ranthambore’s legendary wildlife on a morning and afternoon game drive. You’ll travel with a guide on a 20-seat, open-top bus called a canter, bumping through a landscape of forest, grassland and jungle dotted with waterholes and lakes. Along the way, look out for striped hyenas, boar, flying foxes, langurs and macaques, as well as rare creatures like sloth bears and leopards.
Watch the trees for colourful birds and stop at lakes to witness basking soft-shelled turtles and crocodiles, including the snub-nosed marsh variety. If you’re extremely lucky, you may spot some of the park’s Bengal tigers, which are safeguarded here by the wildlife conservation scheme, Project Tiger. Afterwards, have dinner at your lodge and relax for the evening.
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If you’re keen for more wildlife watching, take an optional, early-morning game drive in Ranthambore, bookable locally. Afterwards, you’ll have breakfast before making the five-hour drive north-east to Agra. This city was once the Mughal capital, famed for its iconic monument to love, the Taj Mahal.
Tonight, you’ll stay at the 5-star Trident Agra, a modern hotel that lies just 10 minutes from the Taj Mahal. Settle into your deluxe room and enjoy the Trident’s peaceful six-acre grounds with tropical gardens and outdoor swimming pool. To really relax, indulge in a treatment at the luxury spa.
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Get up before dawn to watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous UNESCO site. Marvel at Shah Jahan’s epic mausoleum, which he built to honour his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Watch the sun’s rays bathe the white-marble structure as you wander through the gardens decorated with reflection pools and fountains. Get up close to admire the mausoleum’s precious-stone inlays and exquisite carvings.
Return to the hotel for breakfast before visiting Agra Fort, the city’s walled fortress that’s also set on the Yamuna River. Explore the red-sandstone stronghold, built in the mid-16th century by emperors Akbar and his grandson, Shah Jahan. This UNESCO monument features a collection of palaces, mosques and halls that display a mix of Indo-Islamic, Timurid and Persian architecture. Finally, drive 4.5 hours north to Delhi, where you’ll spend your last night back at the Suryaa Hotel.
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Today your India adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Delhi Airport for your return flight.
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