DAY 01 : ARRIVE MUMBAI
Namaste! Welcome to India.
With a civilization that is over 5,000 years, richly steeped in history; a land that is diverse and colorful, mysterious and exotic; a land that offers a bewildering mix of adventures; the land of the Himalayas, INDIA has some of the most beautiful luxurious resorts to offer to the world, rich architectural marvels to feast your eyes on, and food fit for an Emperor. A visit to India is a power-package of changing spectacles of religions, customs, festivals, sights and sounds.
Arrive in Mumbai, India’s most bustling city. On arrival, you are given a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to your hotel in Mumbai
Overnight stay in MUMBAI

DAY 02 : MUMBAI – SIGHTSEEING
Mumbai, a cluster of seven islands, derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, who are the oldest inhabitants. Mumbai, today, is more than just a metropolis. It is in fact an enigma of mud huts and sky- scrapers, age-old traditions and high fashions, the industrialists’ heaven and moviemaker’s Hollywood.
Drive through Hanging Gardens (now known as Sir K.P. Mehta Gardens), where the old English art of topiary is practiced. Perched at the top of Malabar Hills, on its western side, the terraced gardens provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea. Visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, earlier known as Victoria Terminus – modeled on the lines of the St Pancras Station in LONDON, Victoria Terminus is the Raj’s piece de resistance. Continue onwards to the Prince of Wales Museum another building designed by Witted to commemorating George V’s first visit to India in 1905 before becoming king. There are extensive collections of fascinating 18th and 19th century miniatures. On the same floor are elegantly carved ivory artworks as well as jade and Indian bronze images. The Gateway of India situated on the waterfront in South Mumbai greets all those who come to Mumbai from the harbor; the monument is a testimony to the imperial bygone era of the city.
Overnight stay in MUMBAI

DAY 03 : MUMBAI – UDAIPUR
This morning cruise across the harbor to the Elephanta Caves.
Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD, and attract more visitors each year than the entire city of Mumbai. No wonder: this place resonates with the spiritual energy of India. The cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is situated on Gharapuri Island in Mumbai’s harbor, about an hour’s boat ride from the Gateway Of India. At the entrance to the caves is the famous Trimurti, the celebrated trinity of Elephanta : there’s Lord Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva the Destroyer Unfortunately, many of the sculptures inside have been damaged by iconoclastic Portuguese rulers who took potshots at Hindu Gods with their rifles. And yet somehow, nothing has disturbed the sublime beauty of this place for centuries.

Later this afternoon you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Udaipur.
On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight stay in UDAIPUR

DAY 04 : UDAIPUR
Basking in the glory of its natural beauty, historical legacy, and fabulous palaces, Udaipur shows Rajasthan’s most colorful face and holds special charm for romanticists and for those with an eye for days gone by. Udaipur is an oasis in the desert, a white city built on three lakes – Pichola, Fateh Sagar, and Swaroop Sagar, good enough to give it the title of ‘Venice of the East’.

While the lakes contribute to its physical appeal and beauty, Udaipur’s main attraction is the cluster of stately structures built by its rulers.
Visit the City Palace, a stately domed and turreted structure that makes fantastic reflections in Pichola Lake. The maze of corridors and courts that make up its vast interiors, show exquisite tile and mosaic work and miniature paintings in wall frescoes, best seen in its palaces like the Krishna Vilas.

Move on to ‘Saheliyon ki Bari’(women’s garden), the former haunt of the women of the court. A well laid out garden with fountains in a quiet setting, it is the perfect isolated retreat.
Continue onwards to the Doll’s Museum, a world of stuffed dolls and figurines, dressed in brilliantly bright costumes, depicting particular sects or clans.

Overnight stay in UDAIPUR

DAY 05 : UDAIPUR – JODHPUR
Drive down to Jodhpur – the Citadel of the Desert

The Thar Desert has always had a magical allure, conjuring up visions of camel safaris and veiled denizens of this hardy land. All this comes together in Jodhpur which stands on the edge of the Thar Desert, a city studded with lakes, palaces and temples.

For long, a citadel of promise and hope for locals, it is today a major trading centre, bustling town and popular tourist destination. This is a proud city with a proud past, perhaps the most Rajput-oriented of all Rajasthani cities.

Enjoy a walking tour in the evening in the local colorful Sardar Market..

Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a heady experience with a colorful display of the rich collection of exquisite handicrafts. The winding narrow maze of bazaars offers an abundance of traditional and exotic sights of craftsmen at work. The tie and dye fabric, embroidered ‘jutis’ or slippers in suede, cancel skin, velvet and more color to the city. It was from here that the popularly worn baggy-tight horse riding trousers,-” Jodhpurs” took their name.

Overnight stay in JODHPUR

DAY 06 : JODHPUR
Enjoy a full day City Tour of JODHPUR

Visit the Jaswant Thanda, a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh 11, a pretty building with an unusual façade and a collection of portraits of the various local rulers. A monument not to be missed is the Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur’s main monument, a massive structure topping a sheer, rocky hill in the middle of town, totally dominating the landscape. Among the most impressive in fort-studded Rajasthan, Mehrangarh is grim, grand, almost awesome in its physical proportions, its solid walls breached by seven formidable gates.

Overnight stay in JODHPUR

DAY 07 : JODHPUR – JAIPUR

Today you will be transferred to the train station for your early morning train to Jaipur. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Universally known as the ‘Pink City’, thanks to its pink sandstone buildings, Jaipur is the gateway to Rajasthan and the fabled Thar Desert. Considered to be among the world’s first planned cities, it combines architectural beauty with rich heritage and culture. Not surprisingly, it’s among India’s premier tourist destinations. Jaipur owes its founding and name to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh 11 who laid out the city in a systematic way with

surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, with the walled city featuring seven gates. It is this old part that boasts of the famous historical buildings that have given Jaipur such fame.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day city tour of Jaipur.

In the old city, still encircled by a crenellated wall, visit the Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds,” Jaipur’s central landmark, an extraordinary façade of multiple airy windows used by the court ladies to watch the outside activities without being seen. Explore City Palace, characterized by balconies, tiny windows, cupolas, courtyards and arched entrances. It now houses an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniatures and an armory of weapons.

Jantar Mantar, The Maharajah’s observatory, originally built in the city’s early years, first appears as a collection of abstract sculptures, but is in fact a collection of the huge masonry instruments for studying the movement of constellations and stars in the sky.
This evening enjoy dinner in a Rajput Mansion.

Overnight stay in JAIPUR

DAY 08 : JAIPUR – FATEHPUR SIKRI – AGRA
This morning after breakfast, visit the 16th century Amber Fort.

Amber was once the capital of the Mina tribes believed to be the original inhabitants of this area. History recalls the glory and wealth of Amber’s association with the Mughals. Raja Man Singh was the Commander-in-Chief of Akbar’s army and Mirza Raja Jai Singh was a powerful ally of Jahangir. You will have a unique experience of riding a caparisoned elephant heralded by musicians from the foothill to the ramparts of the ancient fort. Once inside we explore the Palace of Mirrors inlaid with millions of tiny glistening mirrors, the hall of Public Audience and the beautiful manicured gardens.

Later drive to Agra, and en route visit the well-preserved Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri.
Visit the abandoned and nearly intact Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, a masterpiece of Muslim architecture. It comprises the remains of the new capital that Akbar built. Predominantly red

sandstone buildings sprawl over a huge area. The architectural style is very much in tune with the emperor’s dreams and includes both Hindu and Muslim styles. The shortage of water at the site was one of the main reasons for it being deserted.

Upon arrival in Agra, check into your hotel.

AGRA is universally famous as the City of the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful monument to love, and the most photographed building in the world. Agra has a rich and old history. It finds mention in the Mahabharata (3rd Century B.C.) in which it is called Agrabana or ‘Paradise City’. It was the capital of the Mughals in the 16th and 17th Centuries, and many of its monuments were built during their reign. The city reached its zennith in the period 1556-1658 under the successive rules of Akbar, Shah Jehan, and Jehangir. Akbar’s reign was the most memorable in the city’s history, when it visibly became a leading centre of art, commerce, and culture. Thenceforth it continued to draw intellectuals and artists to its darbars and havelis.

Visit the Taj Mahal as the sun sets for a memorable experience. Your romantic encounter is further enhanced by the opportunity of viewing this magnificent edifice in the warm glow of sunset.

Overnight stay in AGRA

DAY 09 : AGRA – DELHI
After capturing the breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, return to the hotel for a buffet breakfast.
Visit the Agra Fort, the huge red-sandstone construction built by the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 AD. It is shaped like an irregular triangle, encircled by two and a half km of walls, 21 metres high, and surrounded by a 10-metre wide moat. Its vast interiors contain Akbar Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-I-Am (Hall of Public Audience), and Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque).

In the afternoon drive to Delhi – India’s capital and tourist gateway and check into your hotel.

Overnight stay in DELHI

DAY 10 : DELHI
This is a city steeped in history, having seen the rise and fall of many empires, all of which have spawned an interesting mix of cultures, monuments, and handicrafts. What is now known as DELHI was once seven independent cities, with the Delhi of today being the eighth in succession. Each empire also left behind monuments that commemorate important personalities and events, which explains the profusion of local architectural styles. Sightseeing revolves around these monuments from the past, built by the dynasties that ruled in the region.

Start the tour with Old Delhi, the 17th century walled city of royal Shahjehanabad.

Visit the imposing Red Fort, the opulent residence of Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) which dominates the skyline. Just across lies Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque and adjacent is Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s vibrant nerve centre, a busy, bustling commercial centre literally bursting at the seams.
Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the Bazaar and end the morning’s tour with a visit to Raj Ghat—the cremation site of the Father of the Nation.

In the afternoon focus on New Delhi. Geographically and culturally, there is a fine dividing line between Old and New Delhi.

Visit India Gate and Amar Jyoti, the memorial constructed in the memory of our soldiers. Drive past the triumphant House of Parliament, Presidential Palace, both grandiose masterpieces of the British Raj and end the drive along Rajpath, New Delhi’s broadest avenue. Continue onwards to Jantar Mantar, a famous astronomical observatory with masonry instruments, built by Jai Singh the astronomer king. Minutes away lies the National Museum with its collection of artifacts spanning several centuries. Get spiritual with a visit to The Birla Temple; also known as the Laxmi Narayan Temple & enjoy a brief respite from the otherwise bustling city.

Explore the magnificent Mughal monument Humayun’s Tomb, architecturally the forerunner of the Taj Mahal and continue on to Qutub Minar, Delhi’s signature monument, a 72.5 metre high tower dating back to the 13th Century.

Enjoy an early dinner at a local restaurant before proceeding to the Airport to take your onward flight.

IMPORTANT
• THE TAJ MAHAL is closed on Fridays
• RED FORT & LOTUS TEMPLE in DELHI are closed on Mondays