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Tuesday. February 18, 2020. (D)* UNITED STATES – DELHI
Depart this evening abroad any airline of your choice to Delhi, India. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.
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Wednesday. February 19, 2020. (D)* DELHI
Continue flying on your airline to Delhi. Lunch and Dinner on the plane. You arrive late night at the Delhi International Airport. We meet you outside the customs and transfer you to the hotel, where we stay three nights at the deluxe centrally located ITC Maurya hotel.
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Thursday. February 20, 2020. (B, D). DELHI
This afternoon we will begin our sightseeing of the Old City to see the Qutub Minar built in 1210, drive by India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House), and other government official buildings built with wide boulevards, epitomizing the spirit of the British Raj. Briefing and cocktails followed by Welcome Gala Dinner at the hotel.
DELHI is a sprawling metropolis of 12 million, with a stunning backdrop of ancient and modern architecture. Geographically as well as historically, it consists of seven successive cities, with the British- built New Delhi making an eighth. Monuments in marble and sandstone are dotted around the Old City, whereas the colonial-style buildings from 1911 and the modern architecture after Independence on August 15, 1947, are found next to each other in New Delhi, which has been the seat of the central government since 1931. Delhi’s brand new metro system, designed by American engineers Parsons Brinckerhoff, opened first phase in December 2002 and is expected to be completed in 2020. In the meantime, one has to weave a path through bicycles, auto- rickshaws, mopeds, cars, vans, buses, trucks, cows, bullock carts and hand- pulled trolleys to flow with the traffic, looking at Hindus and Moslems dressed in orthodox clothes, women wearing colorful saris or businessmen dressed in suits and ties going about their daily ordeals.
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Friday. February 21, 2020. (B). DELHI
This morning, we visit Humayun’s Tomb with its lovely gardens, The RAJ GHAT, site of the cremation of three of India’s most revered leaders, Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, Indira Gandhi (no relation to the saintly man) in 1984 and her son Rajiv in 1991, all three assassinated by fanatics. We will drive around the state Government buildings designed by Sir Lutyens, visiting Rajpath, the Kings Road leading up from the India Gate the war memorial arch, up to the imposing presidential palace – the Rashtrapati Bhawan built on Russia hill and flanked by the secretariat buildings. In the afternoon we will drive around Old Delhi, the capital of kingdoms and empires.
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Saturday. February 22, 2020. (B, D). DELHI - AGRA
Today we drive southeast witnessing the mass of people moving about or selling goods along the highways, dressed in the most colorful clothes imaginable. We arrive in Agra where we stay two nights at the deluxe ITC Mughal hotel. This afternoon we will visit Agra Fort built by the great Moghul emperor Akbar and augmented by successive emperors until the last one Aurangzeb, who imprisoned his old father Shah Jahan here. From there you can catch a fabulous view of the TAJ MAHAL across River Yamuna, lit up by the setting sun. Special dinner arrangement for the evening at the hotel.
AGRA, the capital of India under Moghul rulers is the third apex of the “Golden Triangle”. Jaipur and Delhi are others. It fully merits its status due to the magnificent Taj Mahal, which was best described by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as a “tear on the face of eternity”. It is above all, a mausoleum built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan (meaning Ruler of the Universe) over the tomb of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631 and later his tomb. Only he, of all his predecessors, had experience since the age of sixteen in designing monuments, and the recent discovery of an enigmatic diagram inscribed with numerous Islamic scriptures on the façade, leads scholars to believe that his tomb was intended as a reproduction of God’s throne in Heaven.
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Sunday. February 23, 2020. (B). AGRA
This morning we will visit the most alluring monument, The Taj Mahal built of white marble, with inlaid precious stones on its facades shinning like multi – colored garlands around one of mankind’s greatest creations. This afternoon we will visit the Itmad-ud-Daula described as “jewel box” or sometimes called the “Baby Taj”, built between 1622 and 1628. This mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan’s mother Nur Jahan. Overnight at the hotel.
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Monday. February 24, 2020. (B, L). AGRA – JAIPUR
This morning, we drive west to stop first at the former capital of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri, now a ghost city. We visit the Royal Palace, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal’s Mansion. Lunch enroute. Late afternoon we will arrive in the beautiful pink city to stay at the super – deluxe Raj Palace hotel, formally a residence of the Maharaja’s family members.
JAIPUR is one of most attractive and enchanting cities of India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. He designed Jantar Mantar, the largest stone built observatory in the world. In 1876 the city was spruced up for the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince of Wales. Entire city was painted in terracotta pink color wash, and since it is known as “Pink City”.
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Tuesday. February 25, 2020. (B, D). JAIPUR
Morning sightseeing of this flamboyant showcase of Rajasthani architecture begins with driving by Jaipur’s landmark, Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds” built in 1799 to enable women of the court to watch street processions, while remaining unseen behind finely screened windows. Late afternoon, start getting ready for wedding ceremony. All men will wear their evening suits with nicely tied turbans. Someone will be there to help them tie the turban to attend the Wedding reception. Bride’s family arrange this ritual to welcome the groom and his family. All family members meet the bride and groom and have photos taken with them. We will have dinner at the hotel.
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Wednesday. February 26, 2020. (B). JAIPUR
Today we drive northeast to visit Amber, the ancient Capital of Maharajas of Jaipur, where we begin the sightseeing of the Amer Fort. We visit the Palace Complex, with its lofty Hall of Public Audience, the dazzling Seesh Mahal – private chamber of former Kings and queens, and Sukh Mahal, where the marble rooms were cooled by water cascading through fine perforations in the center of the wall, an early and very efficient system of air -conditioning. We have organized special elephant safari in foot-hills of Amer fort. The Afternoon will be free for leisure.
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Thursday. February 27, 2020. (B, L). JAIPUR
Today, we will visit the unique Jantar Mantar observatory to see a total of 18 instruments erected by Maharaja Jai Singh, many of them his own inventions, built between 1728 and 1734. Jaipur was one of the well-planned city of it’s time. We visit part of the City Palace Museums, Mubarak Mahal and the Hall of the Private Audience. This afternoon we will have Indian cooking demonstration followed by lunch. Late afternoon we will have a walk around the Old City.
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Friday. February 28, 2020. (B). JAIPUR – UDAIPUR
This early morning, we will board a flight to go to Udaipur. In afternoon we will arrive in Udaipur where we will stay two nights at the Lake Palace, which is still inhabited by the royal residence. This evening we will go for a boat ride. Overnight at the hotel.
UDAIPUR: Udaipur, built around Lake Pichola is set majestically at the base of the rolling hills of the Aravali Range. Its skyline of whitewashed elaborately decorated mansions and tapering temples, covered with domes, and ornately carved balconies of the famous City Palace makes it the most romantic city in Rajasthan.
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Saturday. February 29, 2020. (B, L, D). UDAIPUR
Today, we will go on an excursion to RANAKPUR to visit the marvelous Jain temples, the largest complex of its kind in India. We will see the main temple built in 1439, according to a strict system of measurements that had the number 72 at its core. The entire temple sits on a pedestal measuring 72 by 72 yards and is held up by 1444 individually carved pillars. Inside, there are 72 elaborately carved shrines and the main Jain deity, the four – faced Adinath which measures 72 inches tall. Lunch enroute. Afternoon return to Udaipur. Tonight we will have our gala farewell dinner.
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Sunday. March 1, 2020. (B). UDAIPUR – U.S.A.
Morning sightseeing begins with a visit to the City Palace founded in 1559, where the present Maharana still lives. We will see the massive courtyard Toran Pole, where elephants once lined up for inspection before battle, brilliant miniature paintings on marble and granite walls, and three large peacocks composed of 5000 pieces of glass, glittering in green, gold and blue. We will also visit the Sahelion Ki Badi. This afternoon, we take a domestic airline flight to Delhi. We transfer you to the Delhi International Airport, for the flight on the airline of your choice back to U.S.A., arriving home the next day.
* B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Departure: February 18, 2020 - 13 days
Return: March 01, 2020
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