Highlights / General details

Shatabdi Expresses are a series of superfast passenger trains which are being operated by Indian Railways, to serve as connections between Metro towns and important cities and business centers. Shatabdi Expresses are day trains and they return to the station of origin, the same day.

Shatabdi Expresses offer fast connectivity with very few stops in between. They are fully air-conditioned and of a much higher standard than most Indian rail coaches. So the best and fastest way to get to Agra is by Shatabadi Express, India's "high-speed" train. The trip takes two hours and 10 minutes.

Points of Interest: Agra - Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri - Ancient Mughal city.

Inclusion

Hotel -Railway station- Hotel transfers; Train tickets for Delhi-Agra-Delhi in air-conditioned chair car; Assistance on arrival / departure at railway stations; Professional English speaking tour guide in Agra; Sightseeing by exclusive air-conditioned private car; Horse and cart/buggy ride to Taj Mahal - Agra; Delicious Buffet Lunch at the ITC Mughal 5* Hotel in Agra; Breakfast and Dinner in the train; All taxes, driver allowances, parking.

Exclusion

Entry fee to monuments (approximately USD 28 per person); Gratuities.

Hours of operation

Available daily except Friday, depart at 5:15am.

Duration

Approximately 18-19 hours.

Location

Pick up / Drop off from New Delhi hotels only. If pick up point is outside Delhi like Gurgoan, Noida, Ghaziabad, or Faridabad, there will be an additional charge collected in cash on the day of pick up.

Itinerary

5:15am - Pick up from hotel and transfer to Railway Station to board the superfast air conditioned train to Agra.

6:00am - Shatabdi Express departs New Delhi. Breakfast in the train.

8:06am - Arrive Agra, Pick up from Railway Station and transfer to hotel for the use of Rest Rooms, etc., and introduction to the Guide.

9:00pm - Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World, where our professional local guides will explain you about the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men labored for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. The Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its color changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.

11:00am - Visit the Agra fort – Built by Emperor Akbar in 1566, the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

12:45pm - Lunch: Transfer for a buffet lunch in ITC Mughal Hotel a Five Star Hotel. Sprawled over 35 acres of luxurious gardens, and in close proximity to the Taj Mahal, The only Indian hotel to have won the prestigious Aga Khan Award for its excellent representation of Mughal architecture, it now boasts of a brand new accommodation wing - the 'Khwab Mahal' - Palace of Dreams.

Rated among Agra’s best restaurants, ITC Mughal’s offerings present an eclectic selection of fine dining options that include a range of Indian and international cuisines.

2:00pm - Excursion to Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town" which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. The places to see within Fatehpur Sikri are numerous. From the Buland Darwaza, the main entrance to this ancient city, to the Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chisti, there are numerous noteworthy monuments. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the historic monuments, which is timeless and has rightly earned the status of a world heritage site.

6:00pm - Free to explore the Agra’s rich heritage of handicrafts or at Leisure. Agra is famous for its marble and soft-stone inlay work, leather goods, brassware, carpets and chilan work fabrics, which involve delicate yarn overlays. Semi-precious and precious jewellery in ornate Mughal style is also available.

7:30pm - Transfer to Railway Station to board the train to Delhi.

9:15pm - Shatabdi Express departs Agra. Dinner in the train.

11:30pm - Arrive Delhi: Pick up from Railway Station and transfer to hotel.

Policies

Cancellation: 7 days prior 25% penalty, 3 days prior 50% penalty, 1 day prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty. Tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**