School Religious Studies Trip to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

Explore the birthplace of a number of world religions on a religious studies school trip to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

The Indian subcontinent was the birthplace of several major world religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. And modern India is home to a multi-racial society adhering to a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Muslim, Sikhism, Buddhism and Christianity. Where better to gain greater knowledge of some of the world’s great religions than this ancient, fascinating country?

The three cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur form India's golden triangle, and give students some incredible insight into how different religions and cultures have influenced the Indian subcontinent over the centuries.

Many dynasties have ruled India, and Delhi is rich in their architecture. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character, and so exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.

Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire and the heart of Muslim India. This is the perfect place to discover iconic Mughal architecture (like Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal) and the influence of Islam and Persian culture on India.

Jaipur is known as the Pink City due to the hue of many of its most important buildings. Founded in the early 18th century, it was planned in accordance with the Hindu principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra. While Hinduism remains the majority religion in the city, like Delhi, it is a melting pot of all India's religions.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Evening

Flight to India

Day 2

Morning

Begin your day exploring Old Delhi with a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk’s winding lanes, taking in the spice and trinket shops before visiting the impressive Jama Masjid Mosque.

Continue with a drive past the historic 17th-century Red Fort, one of Delhi’s main landmarks.

Afternoon

Discover New Delhi on a sightseeing tour that includes the India Gate, a 42-metre-high arch built to honour Indian soldiers of World War I, and the Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple, renowned for its serene atmosphere and large community kitchen.

Visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India.

End the day at the ISKCON Temple, home to spacious halls and three shrines dedicated to Hindu deities.

Evening

Evening meal at hotel or local restaurant.

Day 3

Morning

Depart Delhi and begin your drive to Agra, stopping en route at Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Explore this revered Hindu pilgrimage site, steeped in mythology and history, and visit the famous Dwarikadhish Temple, one of the city’s most prominent landmarks.

Continue to Vrindavan, known as Krishna’s spiritual home, a town celebrated for its divine legends, the sound of flute melodies, and its many sacred temples.

Afternoon

Visit some of the most revered sites, including Govind Dev, Rangaji, Bankey Bihari, and the ISKCON (Krishna Balaram Mandir), before proceeding onward to Agra.

Evening

Evening meal at hotel or local restaurant.

Day 4

Morning

Begin with a visit to the Bear Rescue Centre in Sur Sarovar Sanctuary, where you’ll learn about Sloth Bears through an informative video on the near-extinct ‘dancing’ bear practice, engage in expert talks on conservation, interact closely with keepers, and observe natural bear behaviours.

Explore the historic Agra Fort, a magnificent fortress showcasing the rich art and culture of the Mughal rulers.

Afternoon

Visit Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, founded in 1950, and tour the premises to see the care provided to children and the elderly.

Conclude your day at the breathtaking Taj Mahal, the UNESCO World Heritage Site built by King Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, located beside the Yamuna River.

Evening

Evening meal at hotel or local restaurant.

Day 5

Morning

Drive from Agra to Jaipur, stopping en route to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569.

Explore its stunning Mughal architecture and learn about its history as the former capital, abandoned due to water scarcity.

Afternoon

Continue to Chand Baori in Abhaneri, an impressive 8th–9th century stepwell featuring 3,500 symmetrical steps descending 20 metres over three floors, famously featured in films like The Fall and The Dark Knight Rises.

Evening

Evening meal at hotel or local restaurant.

Experience the Aarti ceremony at the Govind Dev Ji Temple in Jaipur, where locals offer sweets and sing bhajans, accompanied by temple bells and traditional instruments.

Day 6

Morning

Start with a brief photo stop at Hawa Mahal, the iconic Palace of Winds, renowned for its intricate latticework and honeycomb façade designed to provide privacy and ventilation for royal women.

Then explore the majestic Amber Fort, famous for its detailed interiors, miniature paintings, embedded stones, and the sparkling Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace).

Afternoon

Visit the Maharaja’s City Palace, a former royal residence and museum featuring a fortified campus and the Armoury Museum with its royal weaponry collection.

Continue to Jantar Mantar, the world’s largest stone and marble observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing 17 large astronomical instruments.

Take a cycle rickshaw ride through the bustling bazaars of Old Jaipur, immersing yourself in the local culture.

Evening

Evening meal at hotel or local restaurant.

Enjoy the Jaipur Night Safari, a Jeep tour of illuminated landmarks including Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Jal Mahal, and the Amber Fort gate, concluding with panoramic views from Nahargarh Fort.

Day 7

Morning

Drive from Jaipur to Delhi. Stop at Dilli Haat, an open-air cultural and shopping zone showcasing handlooms, handicrafts, regional snacks, and occasional festivals.

Afternoon

Continue to Connaught Place Market, a lively area known for its colonial-era architecture, shops, and cafés.

Evening

Evening meal at local restaurant.

Transfer to Delhi Airport for return flight to the UK.

Day 8

Morning

Arrival in the UK.

24-hour assistance from Halsbury Travel in the UK
6 nights' full board accommodation
Airport tax and passenger duty at current rates
Airport transfers in resort
Detailed information pack
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Local English-speaking guide during the tour
Return flights from London
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
VAT at current rates to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level

Influences of religion on society
Similarities and differences between religions
Multicultural societies
Religious pluralism in modern society
Religious heritage within art and architecture

GCSE

Influences of religion on society
Key beliefs and practices of Buddhism
Key beliefs and practices of Islam
Freedom of religious expression

Accommodation

City Park Hotel

Cutting an impressive landmark out of the native sandstone of the area, Hotel City Park offers travelers hospitality of an international standard. The hotel’s plush and warm interiors, decorated with traditional works of art, hand picked local artifacts and tasteful furnishings, is coupled with the excellent service from staff who care.

Howard Park Plaza

Howard Park Plaza International, Agra, offers travellers 83 first class rooms and suites. The hotel’s cuisine is renowned for its taste and splendour. Howard Park Plaza guests can enjoy a view of the Taj Mahal from the rooftop-viewing gallery. All the rooms are equipped with Minibars, STD & ISD Direct Dialling and 24hrs Room Service.

Park Prime Hotel

Park Prime Hotel offers a serene refuge of comfort and hospitality where Indian tradition and modern services are blended. The hotel has now become one of the landmarks of the city with its highly professional and delightful service.Facilities include a roof top swimming pool, an international restaurant and currency exchange amongst others.Rooms at the hotel are well equipped with an electonic safe, tea and coffee making facilities, central air conditioning, mini bar and much more.

Tour highlights

Visit the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is considered the jewel of Muslim architecture in India and is also a symbol of the love that the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had for his favourite wife. When Mumtaz Mahal died at the age of 37 in childbirth, her husband, Shah Jahan, had the Taj Mahal built as her mausoleum. Shah Jahan’s reign is viewed as the golden age of Mughal architecture – other buildings he commissioned include the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, but the Taj Mahal remains his most famous contribution. It’s estimated that it took over 20 years to build the Taj Mahal, and even longer to complete the other buildings in the complex. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials and more than 22,000 labourers and craftsmen were involved in its construction.

Did you know?

Scaffolding has been erected around the building several times to protect it during wartime – first in 1942 for fear of aerial attacks by the Japanese, and then again in 1965 and 1971 during the India-Pakistan wars

See the Qutab Minar

Considered one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised, the Qutab Minar has inspired many subsequent minarets throughout India. Part of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi, one of the earliest surviving mosque complexes on the Indian subcontinent, this 12 th century minaret is of huge cultural significance. At 72.5m it is the highest brick minaret in the world, and there are 379 steps inside. A visit here offers your students the opportunity to learn more about the rise of Islam in India.

Did you know?

There is some dispute over who the minaret was named after – it seems likely that it was either Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of India, or Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki, a Sufi saint.

Visit the Buddha Jayanti Park

This lovely park was built to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment! Buddha Jayanti is an annual Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth of Prince Siddartha Guatama, who went on to become the Gautama Buddha and founder of Buddhism. It also celebrates the enlightenment and death of the Buddha. At the centre of the park sits a beautiful gilded statue of the Buddha, sheltered by a magnificent pavilion on its own little island.

Did you know?

Sri Lanka gifted a sapling of the Bodhi tree which grow in Anuradhapura to the park. And that tree is said to be the southern branch of the historical Sri Maha Bodhi, under which the Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment.

Educational Activities

Bahai Temple

The Baha'i temple in New Delhi is known locally as the Lotus Temple, as it was built to resemble the

Buddha Jayanti Park

Buddha Jayanti Park was founded on the auspicious eve of 2500 years of completion of Buddha's salvation.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a major landmark and famous tourist attraction in Jaipur.

Humayun's tomb

Humayun's tomb is a complex of buildings of Mughal architecture.

India Gate

At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of

Red Fort

The largest of old Delhi's monuments is the Lal Quila, or the Red Fort, whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built under the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.