Many Magical Moments in India

Five

Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Rishikesh, Delhi 
10 days 

Day 01: Delhi: On your arrival, you will be met by our representative who will personally escort to your pre-arranged hotel through an exclusive vehicle at your service. In hotel, you will be accorded traditional Indian welcome, be briefed about the tour planned ahead and be provided with relevant documents. After initial greetings, interactions and check-in, the rest of the day will be kept entirely free at leisure. Your personal representative will remain at your back & call to arrange any schedule or activity of your interest that you may like to indulge in. Assistance will also be provided for locating the best places to see, eat, shop and entertain.   

Day 02: Delhi: Guided sightseeing of the city begins in the morning with Humayun’s tomb (a sprawling Mughal architectural masterpiece reminiscent of India’s rich medieval past), followed by Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation site, now a memorial). Further you will be dropped off at the busy Chandni Chowk bazaar (used to be the main promenade in the Mughal times, the bazaar is still strongly a spectacle of exotic India of old times) where you will walk through the interesting lanes & bazaars (including a Rickshaw ride to the Jama Masjid) finally reaching the Khari Baoli spice market (this extremely busy spice market is a scene of enormous quantities of spices being traded and a whole street carries the air of very strong spicy smells). Walk to the nearest underground station to catch the fastest connection to the Lutyen’s New Delhi (recognizable by broad boulevards and administrative buildings). Board your vehicle back and drive past some of the most impressive buildings of India like the President’s House, Secretariat, and Parliament House & India Gate. The sightseeing of the day will end at Qutub Minar (pre Mughal era Islamic style minaret). Note the massive iron pillar dating back to ancient Hindu era which never gets rusted. Reach back your hotel by evening.           

Day 03: Agra: Early morning transfer to the Railway Station (20 minutes drive) to board the Shatabdi Express train to Agra. Reach Agra in less than 02 hours. After your pick up, your sightseeing begins with the visit to Taj Mahal (the World’s incredible marble wonder, a mesmerizing sight to behold at any moment of the day), followed by Agra Fort (India’s most important fort in the medieval times). The schedule is followed by your hotel check-in and subsequent lunch. Join in for the excursion to Fatehpur Sikri (an abandoned dream city of Emperor Akbar housing several still intact buildings made of red sandstone). On return interested guests may pay a visit to marble arts workshop (akin to Taj Mahal’s pietra-dura interiors in which colored stones are neatly inlaid in marble). The day ends with dinner in your hotel.    

Train Name: Bhopal Shatabdi Express. Departure from New Delhi - Arrival at Agra Cantt.    Class of travel: AC Executive Class 

Day 04: Jaipur: Breakfast at 7 in the morning followed by check-out at 7.30. Transfer to the airport for one hour long flight to Jaipur. On your arrival you will be escorted to the magnificent ‘Samode Haveli’ hotel where you will be accorded a Grand Royal Welcome. After check-in and subsequent lunch, you will be escorted by a professional guide for the sightseeing of architectural & cultural heritage zone in Amber. Stop by Man Sagar Lake on the way for some photography putting an old water palace in the backdrop. At Amber, a majestic Rajput Fort perched on a hill side overlooking a sprawling landscape of old buildings, pleasure pavilions, gardens, lake and crenellated walls, hike all the way from the drop off point to the fort entrance. 

After an absorbing visit to the magnificent interiors of the historic fort, hike further to the Jaigarh Fort located on the hilltop. This fort was the main defence fort of Jaipur and houses the largest working canon in the World. Hike over the fort walls to see the sprawling heritage landscape all around. From the fort gate you will be transferred by your vehicle to the Nahargarh fort located on the other corner of the hill range. Watch a spectacular sunset over the sprawling Jaipur city beneath. This visual effect has been rated among the best touristic experiences in this part of India hitherto unknown to most travelers. Join in an exclusive high-tea event with snacks & wine on the Fort turret under the sky just turning dark. Later transfer back to your hotel followed by dinner.

Airline: Kingfisher Airways. Departure from Agra. Arrival at Jaipur. 

Day 05: Jaipur: Today you will visit the legendary Pink City built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the later Mughal period. The city with colorful exotic bazaars, uncountable temples, and beautiful old havelis, all painted in Pink color, is among the best places inIndia to explore, photograph and shop. You will first visit the City Palace Museum housing the rare collection of Rajput armoury, miniatures, textiles & royal objects. Also, visit the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, possibly the most fascinating pieces of Jaipur’s history. Watch a delicate façade of Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) from front & back. Afterwards, take a couple of hours long walk in the famous bazaars of Jaipur. Jaipur’s bazaars are interminably long, connected to each other and all shaped & colored in one design. Several bazaars meet at large cross-over intersections presenting to the visitors a colorful spread of Indian daily life. The bazaars and the narrower lanes are home to old traders, artistes of exotic Indian crafts and various traditional markets from expensive jewellery and block printed textiles to colorful bangles, everything is available in this Shopper’s Paradise. Lunch at the popular restaurant of your choice. Return back to the hotel for spending rest of the day at leisure. Interested guests may join in for shopping trip of Jaipur’s famous artifacts. Special dinner arrangements in your hotel.

Day 06: Ananda: Early morning wake up followed by tea/coffee and snacks. Transfer to airport to board the connecting flight to Dehradun. On reaching Dehradun, you will be transferred to your retreat – Ananda in the Himalayas (2 hours drive). After checking-in this World Class luxury Spa Retreat, you will be left free for whole day to hold consultations with the expert Spa therapists and Yoga masters. Fix up your therapy sessions, massages, spiritual consultations and meal choices for your entire stay. The resort also has a small golf course, large swimming pool, large hydro-therapy centre and jogging tracks. 

Airline: Kingfisher Airways. Departure from Jaipur.  Arrival at DelhI

Airline: Kingfisher Red. Departure from Delhi. Arrival at Dehradun. 

Day 07: Ananda: First half of the day would be kept free for your own activities & sessions. After lunch, you will be transferred to Haridwar for the walking tour of this one of the most important centres of Indian Spiritualism. The walking tour beginning from the very epicenter of the city known as ‘Har Ki Pauri’ (the series of bathing ghats considered to be the exact spot where the holy River Ganga enters the Indian Plains) leads further into the cool shaded alleys marked with endless number of temples, shops, religious activities, sadhus, processions and pilgrims. You will ascend the hilltop temple of Mansa Mata through a cable car to afford the sprawling view of this holy city along the river. By the end of the day, just before sunset, you will walk back to the Har Ki Pauri to watch the ceremony of ‘Ganga Aarti’ (see description below). After the ceremony, you will be transferred back to your resort followed by dinner. 

Day 08: Ananda: The whole day free after the morning Yoga session. Choice of hike on the nearby hills and to the old Narendra Nagar town. At 3.30 PM, you will be transferred to Rishikesh, well known for its Ashrams, Yogis & Sadhus. A nice walk across the rope bridge on the river Ganga to Swargashram & Geeta Bhawan will finally culminate at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram. A guided visit to the Ashram will be organized. Spend the last one hour of the day at the ashram’s riverfront where the disciples of the ashram chant hymns & prayers. Dinner in the resort after the dawn. 

Day 09: Delhi: Day till afternoon free for relaxation and your own activities. At 2 PM, you will be transferred to Dehradun airport (2 hours drive) to board the flight back to Delhi. Transfer to your hotel after arrival at Delhi, which will be followed by a special farewell dinner in your hotel.     

Airline: Kingfisher Red. Departure from Dehradun.  Arrival at Delhi. 

Day 10: Departure: Day free till international departure flight time. At appropriate time, transfer to the international airport for your flight back home. 

Ganga Aarti: A mesmerizing river worship ceremony sure to leave you spell bound. Despite presence of thousands of worshippers, the scene is of serenity, sound is of bells, and chanting is of prayers only. Burning oil lamps are released to float on the river while prayers are going on. This daily event at sunset in Haridwar is perfect to sit and watch the time standing still.

 Proposed Accommodations:
Place                          Name of hotel                       Room Category

Delhi (1st visit)              Manor                                    Superior

Agra                             Mughal Sheraton                    Chamber of Princess

Jaipur                           Samode Haveli                       Deluxe

Rishikesh                     Ananda in the Himalayas         Deluxe Palace View

Delhi (2nd visit)             Taj Palace                              Superior

Per Person Cost on Twin Sharing basis             : USD 5787
Single Room Supplement: USD 1667 

Please note: The above-furnished costs shall remain valid subject to minimum 05 full paying passengers. 

The Tour Cost includes:

• Accommodation in the above-specified hotels.
• Daily breakfast, lunch & dinner.
• All ground transfers through a luxury air-conditioned Tempo Traveler.
• Driver’s allowances & parking charges.
• One-time entrances to the monuments.
• Services of an English Speaking Guide during all the sightseeing tours.
• Services of a full-time English Speaking escort, throughout the tour.
• Tips & Portage charges.
• All airfares mentioned in the tour itinerary, in economy class.
• Train fare for Delhi – Agra sector in AC Executive Class.
• All other specified expenses & activities.

The Tour Cost does not include:

• Any kind of personal expenses such as tips, laundry, telephone bills & beverages.
• It also does not include any meals unless and otherwise specifically mentioned.
• Camera fees (still or movie).
• Domestic (other than the ones mentioned above) & International airfare.
• Optional, suggested or unspecified activities