Luxury Exotic India

1. Day 1 - Arrive Delhi
   Arrival. Namaste! We are warmly welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax
2. Day 2 - Delhi
   An introduction of India with a tour of New Delhi. We visit Birla House, the last residence of Mahatma Gandhi which is now a museum depicting his illustrious life. We then visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and Humayun's Tomb*. This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.  The remainder of the day is free for personal activities.  In the evening we enjoy welcome dinner at famous Indian restaurant with glass of wine or pint of beer.  Please note, Birla House remains closed on Monday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
   • Dinner
3. Day 3 - Delhi
   Today we visit the Old Delhi, drive past to the Red Fort Complex*. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex.  We embark on a captivating journey on a Rickshaw passing through the narrow lanes of the famous Chandni Chowk Bazaar, it was originally built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his daughter Jahan Ara in 17th Century since then many changes have taken place however it still remains Old Delhi's one of the Oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. Finally end our rickshaw ride at Jama Masjid, Mughal majesty and India's largest mosque.  Please note, Shops at Chandni chowk remain closed on Sunday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
4. Day 4 - Delhi/ Varanasi by flight
   A short flight gets us to Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world. On arrival, we are met and transfer to our hotel Brijrama Palace, one of the oldest landmarks of the city. Evening we get to the banks of the Ganges to witness the Aarti ceremony, a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities after sunset. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
5. Day 5 - Varanasi
   Early morning sunrise boat ride on the River Ganges (Boat decorated by flowers with on board music by Sitar, Tabla & flute). One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges. Every morning scores of pilgrims and priests fill the riverbanks bathing in the holy waters and perform various rituals. This unique experience literally transports you to another world. After boat ride explore old Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata Temple, which houses a huge marble relief map of India; the Durga Temple & the Tulsi Manas Mandir. After the tour we come back to hotel for breakfast & relax till afternoon.  In the afternoon we explore Sarnath, the site where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Varanasi is also famous for its silk sarees and we visit some of the houses where the beautiful silk sarees are actually woven.  Please note, Sarnath museum remains closed on Friday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
6. Day 6 - Varanasi/ Khajuraho by flight & Khajuraho/ Panna (Drive:50 Km/ 01 ½ Hour)
   (Varanasi – Khajuraho flight from April to June operates only on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday)  Today we are transferred to airport for our flight to Khajuraho. On arrival in Khajuraho we explore the Khajuraho Group of Monuments* The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Today only 20 temples remain and they fall into three distinct groups and belonging to the religions of Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temples are decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.  Later we are driven to Panna National Park, home to some of the best wildlifes in India and is one of the most famous Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope. The Pashan Garh team will greet you at the lodge entrance with a refreshing drink. A butler will then escort you to your stone cottage, spread out along a small stream on 190 acres of private jungle wilderness. (Drinks payable directly). 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
   • Dinner
7. Day 7 - Panna National Park
   Today, your personal wake-up call will include the delivery of freshly squeezed orange juice, tea, coffee and homemade biscuits through the butler hatch for you to enjoy before departing on your morning jungle safari. After a morning filled with adventure, return to the lodge. After that free time for rest and personal activities.  Mouthwatering lunch platters are served on the terraced veranda of the dining room or delivered to the privacy of your cottage through an unobtrusive butler hatch. Then you have the option to relax in your private veranda machan, try your hand at traditional Indian recipes in the interactive kitchen or enjoy a guided birding walk in the extensive grounds. Afternoon is free to relax at the lodge.  Dinner may be served in the dining room or you may enjoy a surprise palanquin dining experience with a jungle dinner in an ox cart. Savour delicious Indian cooking, including Haandi dishes served in earthenware pots. After dinner, indulge in decadent desserts, served with tea, coffee or cognac. You will then be escorted back to your stone cottage for a peaceful night's sleep.  Please note, Afternoon Safari will not be operational on Wednesday of every week and No Safari on Diwali & Holi festival

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
   • Lunch
   • Dinner
8. Day 8 - anna- Jhansi (Drive: 220 Km/ 06 Hours) & Jhansi- Agra train # 12001- Shatabdi, Departure: 18:38 Hrs, Arrival: 21:11 Hrs,
   Today, your personal wake-up call will include the delivery of freshly squeezed orange juice, tea, coffee and homemade biscuits through the butler hatch for you to enjoy before departing on your another morning jungle safari. After a morning filled with adventure & a hearty breakfast, we drive to Jhansi. On arrival in Jhansi we are transferred to railway station to board our express train to Agra. On arrival in Agra we are transferred to our hotel.

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast
9. Day 9 - Agra
   At sunrise we visit one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal*. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mogul garden, this funerary monument combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. After enjoying a sunrise visit to Taj, we return to our hotel for breakfast.  After breakfast we visit Agra Fort*. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.  Please note, Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday. 

   Meals Included

   • Breakfast

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Mehtab Bagh - USD 19

   We visit Mehtab Bagh, The Garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal, is known as Mehtab Bagh, or "The Moonlight Garden". Recent excavations revealed a huge octagonal tank furnished with 25 fountains, a small central tank and a baradari (twelve door) on the east. The site is also associated with the myth of black Taj, but the excavations have provided ample evidence for a garden complex. This is also corroborated by a letter of Aurangzeb, addressed to Emperor Shah Jehan stating the condition of this garden after a flood in 1652 AD. 

   OPTIONAL: Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti - USD 14

   Evening enjoys Mohabbat The Taj Show at Kalakriti - a unique Musical Dance Show performed by the renowned stage actors from Mumbai.

   OPTIONAL: Visit to Itmad-Ud-Daulah- Agra - USD 21

   We visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah, often called as Baby Taj. A highly ornate edifice, this mausoleum is considered as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as elaborate carvings and inlay work are concerned. Though the structure does not have much to offer architecturally, it makes a clear departure from the earlier Mughal tombs built during the period and is softer and with a lot of inlay carvings

   OPTIONAL: Dinner at PESHAWRI Restaurant in ITC Mughal - USD 75

   In an ambience reminiscent of the rustic charm of dining in the warmth of tents under a starry sky in the cold desert terrain of the North West Frontier, Peshawri brings to Agra an award-winning menu of delicacies cooked in the clay tandoor. Experience the wonder of this cuisine in Agra only at Peshawri, with a lavish spread of delicious kebabs – vegetarian and non-vegetarian that are cooked in myriad ways, a range of Indian breads – from the decadently indulgent to light and fluffy breads and of course, the inimitable Dal Bukhara – all of which is paired with an exclusive collection of wines and other beverages.

   OPTIONAL: Visit Taj Mahal under Full moon- Agra - USD 75

   Night visit to Taj Mahal is open for only 5 days including full moon and two days before and after the full moon date. Remains closed on Friday.  Night View is allowed between 0830 hrs to 00:30 hrs in batches of 50 person per slot. Duration of each slot is only 30 minutes. Tickets are issued a day before the visit and are subjected to availability. 

10. Day 10 - Agra / Ranthambore (Drive: 290 Km/ 6 Hours)
    A countryside drive takes us to Ranthambore, the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore National Park lies at the edge of a plateau, and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. There are several lakes in the park. It is named for the historic Ranthambhore Fort*, which lies within the national park. The rugged terrain and the dense deciduous forests are major features of this national park, which has among the largest and most diverse collection of wildlife species in India. The remainder of the day is free to relax. 

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

    OPTIONAL: En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri – A World Heritage Site - USD 28

    A short drive gets us to Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1569 by the Mughal King, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir. From here we continue a countryside drive to Jaipur

11. Day 11 - Ranthambore
    An early morning safari in time when animals are looking out for their prey. We try and spot nilgai, chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar, muntjac, jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, rhesus macaque and black-faced langur. Ranthambhore was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and spotting the big cat in its natural habitat is an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon we take another safari through the National Park, where we encounter a variety of mammals, including tigers. About 150 bird species have their habitat here and in winter a variety of migratory birds can be seen

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
12. Day 12 - Ranthambore / Jaipur (Drive: 180 Km/ 4 Hours)
    After breakfast we drive to Jaipur, the rose-pink capital of Rajasthan, since most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone. Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. 

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast

    OPTIONAL: Dinner at Suvarna Mahal in Rambagh Palace - USD 149

    With its high ceilings, gilded mirrors and Florentine frescoes, Suvarna Mahal embodies the rich heritage of erstwhile rulers. Our chefs have mastered royal cuisines from the princely states of Rajasthan, Awadh, Punjab and Hyderabad to give you the best of India in Jaipur.

13. Day 13 - Jaipur
    This morning we visit Amber Fort, located in a valley formed by a range of Aravalli’s known as Kalikho hills. The Palace and Fort are located on top of the hill with the city on slopes, and the valley protected by fort walls with four gates in the four cardinal directions. The construction of the fort began in 1592. It shows the evolution from the purely defensive fort settlements of the early medieval period to the palace fortress type of architecture typified in the 16th century. This palace fortress was never attacked or invaded. The fort comprises of number of gardens, courtyards and palatial spaces derived from Mughal architecture and are a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture.  After that we explore Jaipur City* visiting the beautiful Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade.  We also visit the Jantar Mantar*, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century that includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. It is an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period. The evening is free to enjoy both shopping and the cultural experience in the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. 

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast

    OPTIONAL: Elephant ride at Amber Fort (Subject to availability) - USD 37

    One of the highlights of a visit to the stunning Amber Fort is the chance to ride an elephant up the hill to the main entrance. The Amber Fort elephant ride is a fantastic experience, but visitors must arrive early to guarantee a ride.

    OPTIONAL: Visit the majestic City Palace - USD 49

    We visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art. 

14. Day 14 - Jaipur/ / Delhi (Drive: 260 Km/ 6 Hours) & Delhi / Onward Destination
    After an incredible tour of the Golden Triangle, we are driven to Delhi where we check in at hotel for day room until 8:30 PM. After a farewell dinner we are transferred to the international terminal for our flight home. We bid farewell to India after what will have been a memorable journey into history, culture, art, architecture, making new friends and lots of memories. 

    Meals Included

    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

* DENOTES UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES INCLUDED