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Sunrise at the Taj Mahal - Jaipur to Agra

Route: Jaipur - Galta - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

Between Jaipur to Agra you’ll find a number of World Heritage Sites that all rank amongst the most amazing places on Earth. Bharatpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and (last but not least) the unforgettable Taj Mahal, are all incredible and it is really rare to find such amazing sites nestling so closely together.

During this unforgettable India trip, you'll travel from Jaipur to Agra where you'll visit the mystical monkey temple of Galta, watch huge flocks of birds fly across the Bharatpur wetlands, wander through the abanadoned ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri and watch the sun set over the magnificent Taj Mahal.

If you'd like to start building your very own India trip, you can choose from a range of our unique, bite-sized India tours. Or alternatively, take a look at our suggested holidays to India.

Duration	3 days, 2 nights Departs every day except Thursday (the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays).	Accommodation	Charming hotels. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation).
Price	From £169 per person - based on 2 people sharing (£199 per person for an upgrade to a larger hotel).	Includes	2 nights of accommodation with breakfast, private transport and guided tour of Taj Mahal and Agra fort.
Transport	Private car and minibus	Excludes	International flights, entrance fees to Taj Mahal and other historical sites.

Day 1: Jaipur - Galta - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

Travel time - Jaipur to Agra: approx 5 hours

On the first morning of this India tour, you'll begin travelling from Jaipur to Agra as you first head east towards Galta, a secluded mystical spot. The Monkey Temple here is a pilgrimage site that attracts flocks of brightly-robed devotees every day. The stream that trickles out of the rocks here is reputed to be water from the holy River Ganges, although this is geographically impossible. People bathe and sing on the steps (ghats) that lead down into the pools. Their voices echo through the rocky gorge, which opens into a wider valley dotted with temples that have been overrun with monkeys. This stop is optional so just ask your driver to drop you there on the way.

After Galta, you’ll continue driving on your tour from Jaipur to Agra for another three hours before passing through Bharatpur. This is a fascinating waterworld, criss-crossed by all sorts of pathways. Maharajas of the historic Singh family used this region as their hunting grounds, and the scenery is breathtaking. If you like, you can stop off and hire a cycle-rickshaw driver at Bharatpur to drive you around the narrow paths. This stop is optional so just ask your driver if you want to get out and stretch your legs.

There are hundreds of rare birds in the Bharatpur wetlands, such as the rare Siberian crane. Currently, there are several tigers here, originally from Ranthambore National Park, which pounce on the waterfowl as they doze. It’s unlikely that you’ll see this in action, but keep your eyes peeled all the same.

The next stop on your journey from Jaipur to Agra is Fatehpur Sikri. The great ruler Akbar set up his capital here, and built a grand city, but after only 40 years the water supply became too difficult to maintain in this dry area, so all of the inhabitants packed up and moved on. They left behind a phenomenal collection of grand temples and palaces, with the ruins of old houses standing between them. Now it is an atmospheric ghost city, home to flocks of green parrots and troops of monkeys. During this part of your India trip, you can explore at your own pace or arrange for a guide to lead you through the forgotten city, and tell you the stories behind the monuments. This is also an optional stop on our tour from Jaipur to Agra, so if you prefer to head straight to Agra then just ask your driver.

After visiting Fatehpur Sikri on your tour to the Taj Mahal, you’ll drive on to Agra, where you’ll arrive at your hotel near to the centre of Agra. The hotel will be comfortable, with a restaurant and other creature comforts that you might need.

Day 2: Agra - Taj Mahal

Today is the second day of your India tour from Jaipur to Agra and you'll have breakfast before setting off to visit two breathtaking sites. First, you’ll be taken to the Taj Mahal- a highlight of any trip to India. Standing serenely in the first light of the morning, we're sure that this stunning building will beat all your expectations. It was built by Shah Jahan as a token of his love for his deceased wife, and is undoubtedly the most romantic burial site in the world.

After your tour to the Taj Mahal, you’ll head for Agra Fort. This huge but restrained structure seems to be immersed in a dreamy atmosphere when it’s bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, which slants through the pillars and galleries. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal, just as Shah Jahan would have done centuries ago, when he was imprisoned here by his son.

Day 3: Agra

After travelling from Jaipur to Agra, today this India trip comes to an end as you depart for your next destination after breakfast.

If you want to continue travelling in India from Agra, you could, for instance, travel on to our overland trip from Agra to Varanasi or journey back to Delhi.

A Peek at your Accommodation During your Trip from Jaipur to Agra (Click to Enlarge)

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