Agra (01 Nights)
Experience the architectural wonders of Agra while you journey back in time to the
mighty Mughal Empire. The Agra Fort with its sandstone structure and fascinating
gardens houses the picture perfect Pearl Mosque which bears witness to the grandeur
of Akbar’s reign. Your heart will skip a beat at the magnificence of the Taj Mahal. Not
only an architectural wonder, it is also a wonderful example of the excellent
craftsmanship of that era.
| Tour’s Highlight:- | |
| Delhi | India Gate, President’s House |
| Agra | Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, |
Upon arrival, you will be meeting with our representative at outside the airport and transferred to the
Hotel our representative will be holding placard of “Concord Exotic Voyages” with the guests name at exit gate inside the airport Lounge
Later drive to Agra, upon arrival transfer to the hotel
Agra – This was the seat of the mighty Mughal Empire before it shifted its capital to Delhi, and it is home to some of their most inspired architectural creations including the Taj Mahal. In the 16th and 17th century, the Mughal Courts were at their most powerful, and were great patron of the arts, and Agra attracted artisans, poets and musicians from across India as well as Persia and Central Asia, transforming Agra into a cultural and architectural paradise
Upon arrival, Check into the hotel- Later proceed to half day city tour Agra
Agra Fort – The red sandstone structure is surrounded by chahar-bagh, a four-square formal garden. Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat
Overnight at Hotel in Agra
Breakfast at the hotel
Early morning visit Sunrise Tajmahal –
Taj Mahal- Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist’s visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately vehicleved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen (Taj Mahal Closed on Friday)
Later drive to Delhi, upon arrival transfer to airport for own destination
Upon arrival at Delhi drive past India Gate, the parliament buildings and drive past Presidential house
After transfer to Delhi International airport for own destination
We hope that you will find this over view useful – should you need more detailed information on subjects that are mentioned or anything else that we may be able to assist with please do let us know.
Currency India’s currency is ‘Rupee’, abbreviated as ‘Rs’. One Rupee is equal to 100 paise. Coins are in various small denominations of 10, 25, 50 Paisa (these are rarely in circulation these days) & 1, 2, & 5, Rupees. Notes (Bills) are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 Rupees.
You cannot purchase Indian Rupees outside India. Therefore we suggest that you carry some cash in Dollars, Pounds or Euros which can be changed upon arrival in India at the airport (where you will find a fair exchange rate). Please ask us for any further assistance or guidance on this.
Dress / Packing suggestion
Most of the hotels are smart but not hugely formal and the smart casual label is the best description for suggested dress code. Do carry a warm coat/jersey for early morning starts and especially for any train journeys and safaris. Places of religious worship should be respected by covering shoulders and above the knee – it is therefore advised that on any days when you are out sightseeing or exploring that you follow this guide line to be on the safe side. It is strongly advised that you carry a hat when there is chance you will be out in the sun in the middle of the day. Ladies will always find a shawl or Pashmina very useful. If travelling in the hotter times of the year, it is important to wear light cotton clothing and to keep your head covered when out in the heat of the day. (Its very easy to dehydrate, so a note here is to ensure you keep fluids up and consider carrying rehydration salts.)
Dress Code for National Parks / Packing suggestion
Please wear appropriate colours when in any National Park or Tiger Reserves – these should be muted earthy colours. We would also suggest a sun hat and sunglasses for game drives.
Please note from mid-November until end February, the early morning and evening games drives can be very cold – this is attributed largely to the wind factor of the ‘open air’ jeep. We highly recommend you to carry fleeces, jackets, hats, gloves and scarves. By about 8/9am, the sun is out and you will begin ‘de-layering’ and be comfortable in a t-shirt for the majority of the midday.
Electricityin India voltage is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, though some areas also have DC supplies. Visitors are advised to check the voltage before using electrical appliances. Socket sizes vary, so it is as well to take a set of plug adapters, available from most electrical stores.
Foreign Exchange
Visiting foreigners can exchange money at international airports where 24-hour exchange facilities are available, through banks and approved moneychangers. Or, one may change money at the big city hotels.
One can also change money at national or international banks such as Standard Chartered, Citibank, Bank of America, Hong Kong Bank and others in the major metro cities. Most of these have 24-hour ATMs. American Express and Thomas Cook offices may be found in major metros and tourist cities.
Bank timings are usually from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs on weekdays and 1000hrs to 1400 hrs on Saturdays. Please remember that not all banks will exchange foreign currency or travellers Cheques particularly in small towns.
Exchange money only through authorized banks or Money Changers. Insist on a receipt/encashment certificate when changing money. Retain all receipts to facilitate re-conversion of unspent money on departure from India. Current exchange rates of British Pound and US Dollar are: 1 US $: Rs 50 / 1 GBP: Rs 95
Inoculations/Vaccinations:
Before traveling to India it is advised that you get vaccinations for tetanus, malaria, hepatitis, rabies and typhoid. Consult your doctor before taking them / also take advice on other vaccinations for meningitis and tuberculosis. Most vaccination courses are completed within four weeks, best taken before the trip. Malaria preventive course may be taken before your trip, but again this should be consulted with your doctor.
Insurance
While traveling in India it is important that you obtain good personal travel insurance from an insurance agent in your country. A suitable policy will include an unlimited amount for medical, hospital and additional health associated costs. Most policies cover loss of baggage, personal money (usually limited) delay and curtailment. Do make sure your policy covers you for unexpected cancellation of your trip in this unlikely event you will then be covered for financial cost. You should carry your insurance policy with you at all time, preferably in your relevant details in a separate place, with your passport photocopy.
Meet and Greet
On arrival in India at the international airport, when you disembark the aircraft please move promptly to the immigration counter as large queues can build up at this point.
You will first pass through immigration control, and then collect your baggage and pass through customs before the Concord Exotic Voyages representative meets you. He/She will be carrying a paging board with your name on it. This procedure will be followed for domestic flights, albeit without the customs & immigration.
Once you have exited customs you will find a large number of people including taxi tout. Please move very slowly so that you can spot the Concord representative. In the rare event that the Concord representative is not to be found please call up Concord’s emergency number (found on Contact Details).
Payments All foreign nationals must pay their hotel bills in foreign currency (cash, Traveler’s Cheques or even by Credit Cards). This can be paid in Rupees if the visitor has a receipt to show as a proof of currency exchange.
Passport
You must be in possession of a valid passport, which will not expire for at least six months after your journey is due to end. It should have to clear pages for entry and exit stamps as well as your visa. A wise precaution is to carry a photocopy of your passport kept separately, extremely useful in the event of loss or theft.
Photography Visitors to India find varied subjects for photography including people, monuments, wildlife, festivities, and landscapes. Note, however, these formalities, in respect of photography:
Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod and artificial light on monuments.
Special permission of Government of India is required for any photography for the purpose of publicity and commercial use.
Photography is prohibited in tribal areas.
Taking photographs of airports, railway stations, bridges, military installations, and from the air is prohibited.
Prohibited Articles
The import of prohibited articles such as dangerous drugs, live plants, gold/silver bullion and coins, not in current use, is either totally prohibited or restricted. The law provides heavy penalties for the infringement of this restriction, and in some cases punishment can extend to the death sentence. Also, by law, visitors are banned from taking antiques and wildlife products out of the country – any infringement is punishable by fines and imprisonment
Shopping
India can be described as a shopper’s paradise with products such as hand-woven rugs, inlaid marble, semi-precious stone jewelry, silk fabrics, brassware, etc. India’s diversity is expressed though the creation of master craftspeople. Each state has a unique handicraft to proudly reflect the inherited and improved skills to near perfection. Souvenir shops and art & craft emporiums are to be found everywhere. Consult your guidebook or the local guides and people. Usually the “pavement markets” do not guarantee the products and they do not accept credit / debit cards. Genuine products can only be guaranteed at a government showroom or branded showroom. Shopping can be one of the ways to interact with a local. For people who like to bargain, shopping is a true pleasure. For others, fixed priced stores are a relief. Whatever transaction you prefer, we hope your purchase that was made in India, will remind you of your trip. Yes, the guides do take you to shops and showrooms, while you are on tour. You can say “no” when you don’t want to visit the shops or not interested in shopping with a guide. But when you do visit the store with the guide, you do not necessarily pay a higher price for a substandard product. As this is a worldwide phenomenon, we accept it too with its “blues”. What we have done is, selected a few stores both privately owned & government owned (but in both cases Government recognized) at important destinations, where we are sure of two things;
1) Quality of the product 2) The product if too heavy should be delivered at your doorstep without any extra cost even if the extra cost needs to be added to the price of the product. As for price, some are fixed price & some are bargain shops. So go ahead and enjoy the shopping – and please ask our advice at any time.
Travelers Cheques/Credit Cards
Travelers’ Cheques should be of well-known brands like Thomas Cook, American Express and Visa. Large establishments generally accept Major Credit Cards like American Express, Master Cards, Diners Club, Visa, etc, including hotels, shops and airlines.
Unless we have informed you separately you are NOT travelling to a restricted area and it is best to apply for a multiple entry 6 month visa.
They have been known so far to change the details required from time to time, therefore if you have any questions whilst going through the application please do let us know – therefore it is advisable to complete the process during the working day so you can call to clarify anything during the process rather than having to start again.
Visiting Places of Worship
Removing one’s shoes before entering temples, mosques or Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) is essential. Avoid taking leather goods of any kinds (bag, belt etc.) and cigarettes into places of worship, as these are often not permitted. Do not wear shorts or sleeveless tops in places of public worship.
