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**
Get in touch with one of our destination specialists to discuss your plans. Whether you want to discuss this particular itinerary or you have specific requirements that mean we create a totally unique holiday just for you. You can call us or send us an online enquiry and we will call you back to discuss your holiday plans.
Our destination specialists are here to help. They will have firsthand knowledge of the destinations that mean they can answer your questions, make suggestions and give relevant advice to put together your dream holiday.
Your own dedicated specialist travel advisor will help to carefully create your tailor made holiday and send you a detailed itinerary via email for you to look through and refine until you are 100% satisfied.
Once your holiday itinerary has been agreed we will ask you to pay the relevant deposit, if applicable, or full payment if your holiday is departing within 14 weeks of booking. You will then receive your full confirmation, payment receipt and ATOL certificate via email within 24 hours of booking.
Even after you have booked and paid for your holiday there are bound to be questions you have before you depart on your holiday. We pride ourselves with the Customer Care that we offer and are always here to assist with any pre or post departure assistance you require.