Indian Temples & Palaces 12 Days Tour from Delhi

Day 1: Welcome to Delhi After arriving in India’s capital city, a staff member will be present to meet and greet you, before escorting you to your hotel. After settling in, we’ll run through what you can expect over the next few days, before arranging a time to collect you tomorrow. OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel EXTRAS: Single room supplement (INSGTP), Extra day in Delhi - pre-tour Day 2: Exploring Delhi & street food experience Our morning starts with a city tour of New Delhi, India’s capital, located on the banks of the Yamuna River. From the back of a vehicle, we’ll visit India Gate, a towering 42-metre Archway which shares a resemblance to France’s Arc de Triomphe. New Delhi is also the seat of India’s government and we’ll drive past the President’s Palace and the Parliament of India, before passing Humayun’s Tomb and the Bangla Sahab Gurudwara Sikh Temple. We’ll then head to Connaught Place Station to board a train to Old Delhi, where we’ll explore is bustling markets and bazars, such as the Chandni Chowk and the Chawri Bazar, well known for its unique copper, paper and brass products. This afternoon, we’ll be treated to some of India’s finest street food cuisine, trying all the unique snacks and delicacies on offer, before we hop into a rickshaw to explore the old city a little more. A visit to one of the largest mosques in India - the Jama Masjid - is also on the cards. OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel MEALS: Breakfast Day 3 Goodbye Delhi, Hello Jaipur. Optional activity available We’ll say goodbye to Delhi for now as we make our way to the largest city in Rajasthan - the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur. On our way there, we’ll visit the impressive Amber Fort situated high atop a hill, made out of sandstone in the 16th century for the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber. We’ll explore its stunning architecture, its towering fortress walls and marble palace. We’ll then go on a Lassi tasting experience, which is a rich, yoghurt based drink, either made sweet or salty and is often flavoured with ground or roasted cumin as well as fruit. It’s a great pairing with spicy foods. We’ll check into our hotel for the night, or as an optional extra, you can head out to the Raj Mandir Cinema to watch a Bollywood movie. OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel MEALS: Breakfast Day 4: Exploring Jaipur. Optional activity available You can either choose to sleep a little later, or you have an option of enjoying a hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, giving you an aerial view of its stunning architecture. We’ll then head out into the city, visiting Jaipur’s most popular tourist attractions, such as the Jantar Mantar monument - India’s biggest astronomical observatory, before making our way to the manicured gardens of the City Palace, which was once the royal seat of the King of Jaipur and the leader of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. After lunch, we’ll visit Jaipur’s popular craft markets, where you’ll watch jewellers, silversmiths and bangle-makers craft all sorts of beautiful creations, before visiting its bustling fruit, vegetable and spice markets. OVERNIGHT: Jaipur hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Jaipur Day 5: A visit to the Tordi Village, optional activities available We’ll start our day with a visit to the rural Rajasthan village of Tordi, founded in the 16th century by Th. Akhey Singh, a descendant of the Khangar Singh, who overthrew the regional chief and built a hilltop fortress here, with its ruins still available today. The family still lives in the palace and in a fort built on the plains below. We’ll stay in a wing of the palace that has been customised for guests. Our village exploration will also take us to a temple, a school and a potter’s house. As an addition, you can do optional activities such as camel cart riding, a jeep safari to a 300-year-old step well, a visit to a shepherds village, watch the sun go down at the Tordi Sagar Dam or if you’re looking to do something more strenuous, a hike to the 400-year old Tordi Fort for snacks and drinks. Horse riding and henna hand art activities are also available. OVERNIGHT: Tordi Garh hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 6: Birdwatching in the Keoladeo National Park and a visit to the world's largest stepwell We leave Tordi and head towards the Keoladeo Ghana National Park via Bharatpur - one of the best bird watching destinations in India. On our way here, we’ll stop at the Abhaneri step well - the largest of its kind on the planet - boasting approximately 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. We’ll have some time to settle in at our accommodation for the day, before enjoying a guide cycle rickshaw ride through the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - formerly a duck hunting reserve but now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home to over 360 species of birds. Keoladeo is also a stopover for the birds who partake in the Central Asian migration, especially for wintering water birds and the endangered Siberian Crane and its huge heronry which in good years can host more than 20,000 nesting birds of various species. Its also home to other wildlife such as wild boar, black buck, sambar, chital, mongoose, porcupine, several different wild cats, and some huge pythons. OVERNIGHT: Hotel next to Keoladeo National Park MEALS: Breakfast Day 7: The magnificent Taj Mahal. Optional activity available After a wonderful time in Keoladeo, we make our way to the ancient city of Agra - the home of the Taj Mahal. Agra was once the capital of the Mughal between 1572 and 1585 and is the only Indian city to have three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. You’ll have some time to relax and settle in, before spending the afternoon exploring the Mughal Heritage Walk through the ancient village of Kachhpura and surrounding farmland on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Mughal Heritage walk was created by a local NGO to provide employment and new infrastructure to the locals. We’ll also tour the village, learning about the local cottage industry for leather shoe making which helps Agra export shoes all over the world. We’ll also visit some of the lesser known, but still important Mughal Era Monuments. Our day ends with a visit to Mehtab Bagh Park, as we witness the spectacular sight of the Taj Mahal at sunset. Watch how the colours of the Taj changes as the sun goes down, as we find out just why it’s listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. This evening you have an option to join a Hindu family for a vegetarian Thali cooking lesson and meal tonight before settling in at your hotel for the night. OVERNIGHT: Agra hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: Cook with a Hindu family in Agra Day 8: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal Today we’ll start early to witness one of the wonders of the world at sunrise - the Taj Mahal. Created by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan over the period of 22 years, witnessing the magnificence of the Taj Mahal at sunrise is spectacular. As the light changes gradually, so does the colour of the Taj Mahal. We’ll have breakfast before visiting the Agra Fort - a huge complex which was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638 before the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. The Agra Fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the afternoon comes around, we’ll continue to explore Agra, this time from the back of an electric rickshaw, enjoying the incredible culture and cuisine that the city has to offer. This hour-long journey gives you an authentic view of Agra, taking you to its old bazaars, traditional eateries and its places of worship. We’ll start at the gurdwara near the Taj Mahal, before visiting Dara Shikoh's library, Mirza Ghalib's birthplace, the home of the Radhasoami faith, the ancient Manka Meshwar Temple, the Jama Masjid as well as Asia’s oldest convent, St. Patrick's Junior College. We’ll also pass the busy Johri Bazar, the paan mandi, the petha mandi and the chaat-pakori street of Seth Gali. After an action-packed afternoon, we’ll be transferred to Tundle Train Station to board an overnight train to Varanasi, the next stop on our Indian adventure. OVERNIGHT: Overnight sleeper train to Varanasi MEALS: Breakfast Day 9: Exploring the villages of Varanasi Once we arrive in Varanasi, we’ll have a tasty breakfast, before making our way to visit the Sarai Mohana Weavers Village. Sarai Mohana is well known for its silk weaving as most of the locals here are indulge in silk weaving. The Banarasi sarees made by these waivers are among the finest saris in India. We’ll also visit Chiraigaon Village famous for its pickles, jams and guavas. As night falls, we’ll be treated to an Aarti ceremony, a devotional ritual using fire and it’s common to place a small candle inside a cup made from leaves and flowers and float it down the river. We’ll offer candles and flowers to the Ganges River. As we place each one in the water, we'll make a wish and watch it float away. OVERNIGHT: Varanasi hotel MEALS: Breakfast Day 10: A boat trip on the Ganges and a Hindu cooking lesson Our second day in Varanasi starts with an early morning boat ride along the Ganges River, as we explore the city. The Ganges is a constant hive of activity throughout the day, as hordes of people come to pray and immerse themselves in its spiritually cleansing waters. We’ll then go on a walking tour of the city, exploring its medieval streets, intricate temples and busy markets, abuzz with the general cacophony of Indian life. After exploring the old city, we’ll make our way to a local Hindu Brahaman family, which has 14 members living under one roof. Here, we’ll be given a cooking master class of Indian cuisine, before having lunch with the family. This afternoon we take the short trip to the ancient Buddhist site at Sarnath where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after becoming enlightened. OVERNIGHT: Overnight sleeper train to Delhi MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch EXTRAS: Varanasi to Delhi flight upgrade Day 11: Free day in Delhi. Flights and transfers included We’ll say our final goodbyes to Varanasi before being transported to the airport to board a morning flight to Delhi. We’ll transfer you from the airport to your hotel in Delhi and you have the afternoon free to do as you please. Why not add an extension to Ranthambore National Park, or head to the beach at Goa. OVERNIGHT: Delhi hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: Salam Balak Trust walk Day 12: Free time in Delhi Airport transfer included We have some free time in Delhi, which is perfect to pick up any souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones back home, before being transferred to the airport to board your flight home. OVERNIGHT: N/A MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: Ranthambore National Park Safari, Extra day in Delhi - post-tour, Spinmonkey cycling tour