Enjoy breakfast at our hotel before venturing out into the bustling streets of New Delhi.

Our day will start with a visit to Humayun’s tomb, a magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble.  It is one of the finest examples of the garden tomb and a precursor to the Taj Mahal. 

Later we’ll visit the Qutab Minar, Delhi's Eiffel Tower. We’ll visit the mosques, mausoleums and ruins that lie around the fort.   Then, we’ll drive to one of the most colonial parts of New Delhi called Raisina Hill.   We’ll see the Viceroy's House (now the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President of India) and Lutyen's magnum opus, the India Gate, a war memorial arch. 

Our day continues past a Sikh place of worship called a Gurdwara or Temple. The shrine is the scene of constant devotional music; you will hear it throughout the complex.  This Sikh temple represents a community kitchen or “Langar.”   Here, food is serviced in the kitchen of the Gurudwara without any distinction of caste, creed, color, or religion (inconceivable in India).  All castes- high or low, rich, or poor sit in the same queue.  It truly represents the complexity of the many cultures of India.

This afternoon we will go back to your hotel for a bit of free time to relax and have lunch.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll see the Red Fort followed by a rickshaw ride through the lanes of “Chandni Chowk” or Silver Street.  It is one of Delhi's most populated areas and the largest marketplace. This marketplace will allow you to experience the sights and sounds of Old Delhi.  Chandni Chowk means “moonlit crossroads,” an area which best represents the “super-Oriental”, the grandeur and the grime. With its crowded bazaars, twisting lanes, maze of small streets, strange aromas, and the pungent odor of Oriental spices it’s an experience like no other. We’ll conclude the tour by visiting Raj Ghat – Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi's memorial. 

Dinner will be on our own this evening.  

Overnight:  The Oberoi New Delhi

Agra is the only city in the world that boasts of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, and the old capital of Fatehpur Sikri; all legacies of the Mughal Empire from the 16th and 17th centuries. It is no wonder that Agra is the most visited destination in India.

After breakfast, we will depart for our journey to Agra. A royal welcome will await at our hotel. The hotel is located 600 meters from the Taj Mahal and all rooms, suites, lobby, bar, and lounge offer breath-taking views of the monument.

A visit to India isn’t complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. This morning we will experience the sunrise over the majestic architecture of the world’s greatest monument of love. For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters, and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, music, and color. Since the 17th century, travelers have crossed continents to marvel at the ultimate memorial to love.

The Taj was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, an empress who won the heart of a Mughal prince.  Arjumand Bano was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir's third son, Prince Khurram. Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and over 20,000 workers labored for 17 years to build it- a true labor of love. The most skilled architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers, and masons came from across India, Persia, and Turkey to build the Taj. The master mason was from Baghdad, a double-dome engineer from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.  What is most amazing about the Taj Mahal is the fine detailing, the colored inlay is never allowed to overwhelm the design. The ornate pietra dura and relief carvings are of floral, calligraphic, and geometric designs. The skill of the inlay worker is so fine that it is impossible to find the joints, even when as many as 40 tiny pieces of semi-precious stones have been used in the petals of a single flower. Some of the best calligraphy of Koranic verses can be seen around the entrance arches and on the two headstones. The Taj Mahal changes colors with the seasons and the different times of day. At dawn, the marble has a delicate bloom in shell pink, by noon it glitters majestically white, turning to a soft pearly grey at dusk, and in the dark of night it shimmers against the backdrop of star-spangled sky. The many faces of The Taj Mahal display the seductive power of architecture at its best.

OPTION (included): This afternoon enjoy your time at leisure or visit the UNESCO Heritage Site, Agra Fort. The Agra Fort’s construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1565 when he was just 23 years of age. Within the fort are several fascinating buildings – the Pearl Mosque built of marble, the Hall of Public Audiences, the Hall of Private Audiences where the famous "peacock throne" was kept, the Octagonal Tower, and the Jehangir Palace. 

After visiting Agra Fort, we’ll return to our hotel.  The rest of the day will be at leisure to relax.

Dinner will be on your own this evening.  Then, come poolside for a colorful display of traditional music and dancing.

Overnight: Oberoi Amaravilas

After an early breakfast, we will depart for Sawai Madhopur also known as Ranthambhor. When we arrive our representative will meet and assist us at the hotel for check-in at your fabulous resort. 

Sawai Madhopur was founded by Madho Singh II and was known as Madhopur till the time Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, impressed by Jai Singh's wit, bestowed him with a surname of Sawai. From then onwards, Madhopur became Sawai Madhopur. Located in the eastern part of Rajasthan, Sawai Madhopur's claim to fame today is the Ranthambhore Fort and Ranthambhore National Park. 

This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the resort.

Overnight: Nahargarh Ranthambhore, a Heritage Hotel

After breakfast, visit the National Park to catch a glimpse of the majestic tigers roaming around in the open wilderness and visit the imposing fort to turn a page in the history of Rajasthan. 

This afternoon, we’ll go on our first game drive by jeep with our private naturalist. 

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary is 400 sq. kms of dry deciduous forest, perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, dotted with pavilions, and dominated by a hilltop fort. 

Ranthambhore was one of the hunting preserves of the former rulers of Jaipur and because of this the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest and their inhabitants well protected. It has a healthy population of tigers and their prey.  It has been declared a "Project Tiger" reserve. Wildlife includes black buck, spotted deer or cheetal, wild boar, a large variety of bird species and the rarely seen leopard. 

Overnight: Nahargarh Ranthambhore, a Heritage Hotel

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Jaipur. 

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan with a population of over 1 ½ million people. Jaipur is also called the “Pink City”, for by law all the buildings in the old city must be painted a deep saffron pink. It is especially known for its arts and crafts: jewelry, enamel work, hand-painted fabrics, and stone sculptures. Above everything, Jaipur is an extraordinarily colorful place. 

This afternoon we have the opportunity to meet with a tailor and get a few personalized garments made.

The rest of the day will be free to relax at the hotel or walk around the city streets. Stay overnight in Jaipur.

Overnight: Oberoi Rajvilas

After breakfast we start the day with an excursion to Amer Fort. 

Amer was the ancient capital of Jaipur. It is situated atop the Aravalli hills overlooking the city. We will ascend the fort on elephant's back, like a king. Amber Fort is in Amber (Jaipur), which used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, till Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. 

The Amber Fort is stunning, all-built-in white marble and red sandstone. To add to its charm, Maotha Lake makes its foreground. The crystal mirror image of the Fort, on the still waters of the lake, seems to be a beautiful illusion. 

After lunch we will enjoy a city tour of Jaipur starting with a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds).

Hawa Mahal is a major landmark and a famous tourist attraction of Jaipur. The Palace offers a beautiful sight to behold. The splendid Rajputana architecture of Hawa Mahal, still speaks the glory of the royal family. However, one can also find a glimpse of Mughal architecture, which is blended perfectly to make it different from others. The literal meaning of Hawa Mahal is Palace of Winds. 

Jaipur is renowned for textiles, precious and semi-precious gemstones, exquisite jewelry, and blue pottery. 

Later, we’ll have an opportunity to take a journey through the fabric of time and the traditional weaves of India.

Meet artisans & intellects who will describe their world in terms of fabrics and the stories woven within. Later visit gems and jewelry centers renowned for their elaborate traditional, contemporary, and ethnic gold and silver.

Enjoy free time this afternoon in the city’s colorful bazaars or at the hotel pool.  

Overnight: Oberoi Rajvilas

Enjoy your morning at leisure before your flight to Varanasi.

Arrive in Varanasi, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight: BrijRama Palace, Varanasi

Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals. 

The city has been a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries.

Early this morning, at sunrise, visit the ghats, and devout Hindus begin their day by offering prayers to the holy river and the sun. 

Sunrise on River Ganges is indeed magical and has a mystical quality about it. The vivid images of sun rising over the horizon and rising of the sleeping city of Varanasi with the first ray of the sun transfix international and domestic tourists alike. Rituals and ceremonies of Life and Death, considered to be two phases of the journey of soul in Hinduism, take place alongside each other. There are pilgrims and devotees who enter the chilly waters of the river to bathe and wash away their sins with a holy dip in the river; and there are near and dear ones of the departed, who come to flow away the ashes after the cremation ceremony in the hope to seek salvation for the souls of their dead.

We will return to our hotel for breakfast, and later proceed for a city tour of Varanasi visiting the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple, the most sacred of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, patron deity of Varanasi, originally constructed by Rani Ahillya Bai Holkar in 1776. 

The temple was rebuilt in the 18th century; its gold plating on the "shikharas" was a gift from a Sikh king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Proceed to the Durga Temple, another important temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga. It was built in the 18th century, in the Nagara style of architecture. It has five Shikharas (spires), which commence from the bottom and converges to the top. Locally, the temple is known as the "Monkey Temple" due to the large number of monkeys inhabiting the vicinity. Continuing to Tulsi Manas Mandir, built in 1964, devoted to Lord Rama and is believed to have been built on the site where the saint-poet Tulsi Das resided and wrote the epic Ram Charit Manas. The text is engraved on the walls of the temple. Next, visit the Bharat Mata Mandir, a unique temple dedicated to Mother India. It houses a relief map of India, carved out of marble.

We will end our day with a visit to Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Visit the museum, many stupas, ruins and Mulagandhakuti Vihara (housing relics found during the early excavations). 

The rest of the day will be at leisure before our farewell dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Overnight: BrijRama Palace, Varanasi

Enjoy your morning at leisure before your flight back to Delhi. Arrive at Delhi airport and transfer you to your airport hotel.

Relax at the pool, have a drink at the bar or go to the spa.  This afternoon is at your leisure.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight out this evening for your flight back to the USA.

Overnight: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

If you would like to extend your trip with a once in a lifetime trip to Bhutan or elsewhere in India or Asia, we can easily arrange that for you!  We highly recommend adding our Food is Love Nepal journey to the front end of this trip.