India Tour Itinerary

Value Added Optional Tours Available (Request for prices and detailed information): -

• Private Bollywood dance class tour in Delhi.
• Heritage walking tour of Agra's old city.
• Half day with elephants in Jaipur - feeding, bathing, painting & ridding.
• Discovering Agra's traditional street food.
• Day with the tribal’s in their own obscure village - a full day excursion from Jaipur.
• Block printing experience in Jaipur at Bagru
• Jaipur Heritage Rickshaw Tour Driven By Women

For someone for the West, India provides an authentic adventure - stimulating, absorbing, daunting, sometimes moving and shocking. Here is one of the world's great dramas; an ancient, vast and crowded land committed to the most formidably challenging exercise in mass democracy. It is a spectacle in which hope, pride, paradox and uncertainty mingle and struggle. It is conducted on the whole, and to India's credit in the open. The lasting memories of the land are hospitality, kindness, good humour and generosity. Here is a society of over a 1000 million people, growing by a million a month, divided and united by language, caste, religion and regional loyalties. It has often been described as a functioning anarchy; and it is in many ways an amiable one, of marvellous fluidity and tolerance. Indeed, the true Indian motif is not the Taj Mahal, the elephant or the patient peasant behind the ox drawn plough. It is the crowd, the ocean of faces in the land of multitudes, endlessly stirring, pushing and moving. It is in this human circulation that one sees India's colour, variety, busyness, and, senses also its power, vitality and grandeur.

Day 01: Arrival / Delhi

Late night arrival. Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representatives welcome you and escort you to your car.

Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative would introduce the tour to you and hand over the documents to you.

Welcome to India, or as we say ‘atithi devo bhava’ (the guest is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!

Overnight at Jaypee Siddharth Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Day 02: Delhi

Morning, we embark on a city tour of New Delhi. Our tour includes a visit to the Qutab Minar - 72 meters high and one of the most perfect towers in the Persian world. The Iron Pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for over 1500 years. Then, we will continue our expedition with a drive to the Lutyens Delhi which is considered to be the corridors of power and serenity. Our tour also includes a drive pass through the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House as well a stop at India Gate. Next, we will continue our journey with a visit to the Humayun’s Tomb(1586), built by the Emperor’s widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. Our tour also includes a visit to the Isa Khan’s Tomb complex located adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb and is the resting place of Isa Khan Niyazi, a noble of influence at the court of Sher ShahSuri. We will be also visiting the Safdarjung Tomb. Then, we will make our way to the Agrasen Ki Baoli (Beautifully Sculpted Step Well) - a water reservoir or a step well that is known for its heritage value. Indeed, the builders were way ahead of time when creating this architectural marvel that dealt with sorting out the water problem.

Later we cross the city and into the walled gates of the Old city with visits to the Jamma Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk (aptly translates to Moonlight Square) where the throngs of shoppers and vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi. Visit the Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and thereafter Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated.

The highlight of this tour would be a ride on cycle rickshaws. Now these are 3-wheel cycles with a sofa seat at the back. The Rickshawala (Rickshaw driver) sits on a small cushion in the front and two passengers on the sofa seat behind. This is a remarkable way to explore and picture the hustle and bustle as well as the color of the narrow winding streets bursting with people and pavement shops selling wares of all description - including a laughing set of dentures. The ride would be accompanied by peals of laughter both from the passengers as well as the onlookers.

Overnight at Jaypee Siddharth Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Day 03: Delhi / Neemrana (150 Kms) (03 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast, ride out to the obscure village of Neemrana which is dominated by the majestic Neemrana Fort, which is India's oldest heritage resort. Situated on a majestic plateau, concealed in a horseshoe formation of the billion-year-old Aravalli ranges, Neemrana fort Palace Heritage Hotel has 40 air-conditioned rooms. Each room has its own unique character and history. On the basis of theme the rooms have been named as the Malabar room, Barsat Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Mata Mahal, Surya Mahal, Gopi Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal.

This evening, we embark upon a heritage walk through the pristine town of Neemrana. The walk brings to the visitor the ethnic heritage of the region preserved and sustained over centuries. We have opportunities to witness traditional homes, fields and places of worship. The local temple would be a fascinating venue. We observe pilgrims and devotees arrive to pay their respects in traditional dresses. We will also have opportunities of observing the traditional crafts of Neemrana. A special mention would be a visit to homes that make fascinating cotton runners (durries) using traditional hand looms. Interesting and intricate patterns in different colours are made here. The other local craft would be viewed when we reach the potters village. Hand made pottery of various shapes and utilities are made here. We get to see potters working on their wheels making shapes from clay mounds. We also could see the intricate painting and designing perform on these clay articles. Another fascinating exploration would be visit to the jeweler’s compound. Here, we see the smelting of silver and the making of fascinating silver jewelry. We do get a chance to interact with the natives through the interpretation of our guide. The simplicity and the hospitality with which, the local deals with you would leave an indelible mark upon your heart. The walk continues to the famous step well of Neemrana. This was used by the royal family in the past. About hundred steps lead to the well, and, the stepwell has a grand entrance with ancient steps that meandered nine stories below the ground. Historically, this was used as a caravanserai by tired travelers as also for simply storing water. We will also witness the residence of the Royal family on our journey.

Following the walk, we will return back to our hotel.

Overnight at Neemrana Fort (Moonga Mahal / similar)

Day 04: Neemarana / Jaipur (160 Kms) (03 ½ Hrs Drive)

After breakfast we will drive to Jaipur

Upon arrival, check into Jas Vilas.

Evening, guided walks along the lanes and bye-lanes of the old city. The city is best-explored on foot and only the inquisitive visitor willing to go into the rastaas (streets) and galis (lanes) will feel the spirit of the city. Jaipur’s colorful bazaars tantalize the eye with enameled blue pottery, exquisite gem-studded jewelry, engraved brass work traditional block-printed fabrics and brightly patterned dhurrie rugs together with traditional crafts and miniature painting.

Overnight at Jasvilas (Standard Room)

Day 05: Jaipur

After breakfast, we will visit the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. It was built in 1799 so that veiled royal women could peer down unseen by the world through its 593 stone screens

Then, we visit Amber Fort, the former capital of the royal Jaipurs. Few fail to be moved by the dramatic Rajput grandeur of this hilltop fortress-palace 11 km north of Jaipur. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, and surrounded by fortified battlements, the palace straddles two sepia-hued tundra hills overlooking Maota Lake, and its sprawling crenellated walls lattice the surrounding hills.

We will ride up to this hilltop palace on a Jeep. Our guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.

Later, we also visit the Panna Meena ka Kund. This beautiful place was constructed during sixteenth century. The place was mainly utilized as a place of social meetings. People from nearby places come here for getting water, swimming or just to hang out with their loved ones. During ancient times, this place was utilized mainly as water protects pool. This beautiful Kund has a unique architecture and styling. This Kund was designed by a Brahmin and constructed by craftsmen and engineers.

Then, we would also stop at Jal Mahal palace for photos. (From Outside Only)

In the afternoon, we proceed on a tour Of the City Palace & Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The palace lies in the heart of the city and occupies the whole central grid. The fortified wall has seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and animals that lived in jungles, which surrounded the wall that time. Next, we visit the Solar Observatory - an astronomical treasure house, with solar device that give accurate predictions till date.

Overnight at Jasvilas (Standard Room)

Day 06: Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (245 Kms) (06 Hrs Drive)

Morning we drive to Agra, stopping at deserted Capital City of Fatehpur Sikri. This abandoned capital of the Mughals is a perfectly preserved city at the height of the empire’s splendour. The city divided into religious and secular parts has interesting well-sculpted buildings. From here we continue our ride to Agra

Upon arrival in Agra, check into Crystal Sarovar

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter how high your expectations are the Taj never lets you down - the unparalleled glory and beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations. At sun set we visit the Taj Mahal to witness this spectacular monument built for love. Besides perfect symmetry in every aspect of its construction, the inlay work of semi precious stones into marble in pietra dura style is absolutely remarkable.

Overnight at Crystal Sarovar (Deluxe Room)