Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with palms held together. After immigration and custom formalities, we are met and driven to Kovalam. After checking into our hotel, and before dinner, Paul Saltzman will welcome you on this unique journey at the Neera Bar outdoor patio. As an added treat, one lucky person will win a draw for Paul’s Special Limited-Edition box set (value $325).
Morning Yoga session, if you wish to join us. (Optional) The day is free to relax on the beach, explore the local shops and surroundings, or visit nearby Trivandrum, Kerala’s capital. Those who want to go for Ayurveda can book this at the Taj Spa (Optional), which is one of the best Spa’s in the south. Evening we join Paul for film screening “Meeting the Beatles in India”
Scenic coastal drive to Alleppey where we board traditional rice boats—Ketuvallam—converted to house boats and begin our magical journey through Kerala’s picturesque inland waterways, relaxing in the tranquility of the backwaters and lakes, experiencing the way of life and activity of the locals. A special treat is the authentic and exquisite Kerala cuisine cooked on-board. Boats have one or two bedrooms.
After breakfast, we disembark from our houseboats and drive to Cochin Airport for our flight to the magical city of Mumbai, where we are transferred to our hotel Taj Lands’ End. Evening we enjoy a scrumptious dinner in a private dining room at our hotel, prepared for us by the executive chef.
A long but exciting day ahead of us in Mumbai. Arrangements are in the works for a meeting with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, considered to be the foremost bansuri flute player of his generation. He may give us an informal recital. Pandit Chaurasia toured and recorded with George Harrison on ‘The Inner Light’ and George’s ‘Dark Horse Tour’. This will be followed by a guided city tour of Mumbai including the famous Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market) and the Victoria Terminus, a World Heritage Site and pass by the EMI Studio where, in 1968, George Harrison recorded Inner Light. Then we have a high tea in the Heritage wing of the Taj Mahal Hotel. Please note that as one of the largest cities in the world, Mumbai is known for its traffic.
A short flight takes us into Rajasthan, to the city of Udaipur, named as the world’s 7th best city in 2007. We travel by bus and boat to the Lake Palace Hotel—Paul Saltzman’s “favourite hotel in the world.” Later in the evening we enjoy dinner on the Royal Barge. ‘Gangaur’ is an antique royal barge of the House of Mewar. Its regal décor and vibrant splendor were featured in the James Bond film Octopussy and guests continue to enjoy its magnificence. Six rowers in traditional attire steer us around the mystical Lake Pichola while we unwind with cocktails and enjoy barbequed snacks and hors d’oeuvres served by our own personal butlers. The highlight of the evening is a floating buffet that attaches to our barge. Our chefs have created for you the finest Indian feast. Gentle, live music is on board.
Day is free for personal activities and spa services at the hotel on direct payment. In the evening we join Paul for his slide show and talk: ‘The Inner Journey. Fusion of East and West’ followed by conversation.
Today we tour Udaipur, visiting the City Palace followed by a visit to the world-famous Crystal Gallery in the Fateh Prakash Palace. It has been hailed as the single largest private collection of crystal anywhere in the world. It was in 1877 that the Maharaja Sajjan Singh custom ordered this collection from the F&C Osler Co. in Birmingham. It includes a bewildering number of objects d'art, dinner sets, perfume bottles, decanters, glasses, washing bowls and even furniture, including the only crystal bed in the world. In the afternoon, we visit Sajjangarh Fort, the ‘Monsoon Palace’, high above Udaipur, affording a marvelous, panoramic view of the area. En-route to our hotel we can visit an excellent gallery/fine crafts emporium.
After breakfast, we take a short flight to Jaipur, capital of India’s most romantic state, Rajasthan. On arrival in Jaipur, we are transferred to our hotel. This evening, we’ll see a 23-minute video on a Jaipur family of Master Meenakari craftspeople who create exquisite gold and silver enamel jewelry, chess sets and more. The film, made by Paul Saltzman in 1975, follows Gopal Deen Dayal, age 11, as the craft is passed to him and his brothers by their father. We’ll visit them the next day in their home/workshop.
This morning we drive to Amber to explore Amber Fort, situated on top of a hill rendering a majestic panoramic view of the city. Amber was the capital of Rajasthan before Jaipur. The Palace is laid out on different levels on the hillside and surrounded by a fortress. A shopper’s paradise, Jaipur is noted for its gems, puppets and artisans, skilled in brass inlay, enamel and lacquer work and pottery. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone and one of the most beautiful is the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, from where the ladies of the royal harem would watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Gopal’s home and workshop in the old bazaar area of Jaipur. Evening is dinner at Diggi Palace, where we are entertained with a Rajasthani cultural show. Shopping at the bazaar is an option
After an early breakfast, we head out for a lovely countryside drive to Agra. En route we visit Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1640 by the Mughal King, Akbar the Great. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We tour the Palace-Fort and visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty before continuing to Agra. On arrival in Agra, we check in to our hotel. Later in the evening, we have a gala dinner at the Peshawari restaurant at ITC Mughal. Overnight
We begin our day with a sunrise visit to the most well-known of the ‘Seven Modern Wonders of the World’, the Taj Mahal. It is a unique and exquisite experience to stand in front of the huge wooden Mughal doors as they are swung open and be the first to view the Taj Mahal in the soft morning light, with the grounds empty. Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, visiting the Taj is beyond any photographs or film one can view. While there, Paul will share a few of his favourite stories of the Taj and of ancient India. After breakfast, we drive to New Delhi and check in our hotel.
Please note- Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday and Akshardham temple remains closed on Monday
Today, we explore wonderful sights and experiences of New Delhi and Old Delhi. The British Raj built New Delhi as their capital, while Old Delhi is a reflection of both its Mughal past and the 7 city kingdoms of earlier times. We could easily spend a month exploring exotic corners of both cities and some of the highlights for today include:
Jama Masjid, in Old Delhi, is the second largest mosque in Asia and the most important in India. A center of Muslim importance, it was built in 1656 by Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal. The best over-views of Old Delhi are to be seen by climbing the narrow steps to the top observation level of one of its two towering minarets.
We take bicycle rickshaws through the gullies, or narrow pathways, of Old Delhi which hold the most wonderful specialty markets: spices, gold and silver, wedding saris, antiques and much more. Then we will drop in at the Rikhi Ram Music Store in Connaught Place where the Beatles shopped for their musical instruments. 
India has the world’s largest train network and it is said that on any given day there are some 25 million people on the trains of India. Any train journey adds a lot to the flavour of our Indian adventure. We take the deluxe, early-morning Shatabdi Express ride to the foothills of the Himalayas, to Haridwar, on the banks of River Ganges. Haridwar is a jumping off point for the short drive up to Rishikesh, one of the four holiest sites of Hinduism and a center for meditation, yoga and spiritual studies. It was the site, in 1968, of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram where the Beatles spent a number of weeks and Paul Saltzman spent a week with John, Paul, George and Ringo. Evening, we’ll join a candlelight Aarti ceremony on the Ghats of the Ganges at Parmath Ashram. 
Handled Superbly Tour of India - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul
5/5
This was a journey of a lifetime and thanks to travel company and his travel team everything from initial discussions to every detail of a complicated itinerary was handled superbly.
