Days 1-2 Home City/Delhi, India
Depart on your flight to Delhi.
Day 3 Delhi
Delhi is an ideal introduction to India’s unmistakable vitality. Arrive at your hotel, where your room is available for immediate occupancy. The day is at leisure. Meet fellow travelers tonight for cocktails and a welcome dinner.
Day 4 Delhi
Today, embark on a full day of explorations of Old and New Delhi. Highlights include the Red Fort, which represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan (1639A.D); the Jama Masjid, the most important mosque in India; Chandni Chowk bazaar and Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna river. After lunch, visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb.
Day 5 Delhi/Agra
Depart this morning travel overland for Agra, stopping en route at Sikandra, the tomb of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. This afternoon, explore Agra and its two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Agra Fort and the spectacular Taj Mahal.
Day 6 Agra/Alwar
Greet the sunrise at the Taj Mahal before today’s journey to Alwar, which takes you through peaceful rural India. Along the way, stop at the deserted red sandstone 16th-century city of Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Amanbagh (B.L.D)
Day 7 Alwar
The morning is free to enjoy the facilities and activities of your resort. This afternoon, travel by resort jeep to Bhangarh to view the splendid ruins of this now uninhabited city. Then proceed to the surrounding villages for a glimpse of local life.
Amanbagh (B.L.D)
Day 8 Alwar/Jaipur
Travel to the princely city of Jaipur for a day of exploration, including the spectacular outdoor Jantar Mantar Observatory, which houses precise instruments for measuring and calculating the sun’s position and Hindu calendar. View Jaipur’s most famous building, the pink sandstone Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of the Winds." Next, a visit to a local Indian village includes an elephant ride with a skilled mahout. In the afternoon, you visit the Amber Fort.
Day 9 Jaipur/Udaipur
Fly to Udaipur, a serene Moghul city on the shores of Lake Pichola. You visit the opulent City Palace, the beautiful Sahelion-Ki-Bari or "Garden of Friends."
Day 10 Udaipur
A morning excursion takes you to Eklingji and Nagda Temples. Built in 734 AD, Eklingji is a complex of beautifully sculpted temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Nagda is now in ruins but one can still have glimpses of the former glorious days. An evening cruise provides an entrancing view of the city, rising majestically in the middle of the Rajasthan desert.
Day 11 Udaipur/Mumbai
Transfer to airport for a flight to Mumbai, visit the Prince of Wales Museum to enjoy its excellent collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, in addition to priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. Next stop is the Gateway of India, an 85-foot-high arch in front of the sea, followed by Mani Bhawan, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi that includes a reference library with over 2,000 books, a photo exhibition of Gandhi’s life and an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhi used. Afterward, view the colossal Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai’s outdoor hand laundry.
Day 12 Mumbai/Kochi/Kumarakom
After a morning flight, you are met in Kochi (colonial name Cochin) and transferred overland to Kumarakom, where daily life continues unaltered as it has for centuries. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax at the resort, stroll along the shores of Vembanad Lake or enjoy an Ayurvedic spa treament.
Day 13 Kumarakom
An early morning nature tour introduces you to both resident and migratory birds around the banks of Vembanad Lake. This afternoon, travel through lush backwaters by private boat to the Spice Plantation Farmhouse for lunch with the owner and his family.
Day 14 Kumarakom/Vembanad lake
Transfer by jetty to your individual kettuvallam (rice barge). Two boatman using punting poles propel the palm-covered kettuvallam gently through the backwaters of Kerala, a truly unforgettable experience.
Houseboat (B.L.D)
Day 15 Kochi/Delhi
Disembark your houseboat in Alleppey and drive to Kochi. After sightseeing and lunch, board a flight to Delhi where you are transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner.
Day 16 Delhi/Home City
Transfer to the airport to board a homebound flight. (B)
Treasures of India ranges far and wide to offer you an itinerary that features both North and South. Explore the artistic legacy of former Moghal empire and the less-visited cities of the southern subcontinent.
