The Experience
Experience spiritual India on a journey that includes a Hindu Aarti ceremony, followed by a morning cruise on the Ganges and two visits to the Taj Mahal, one in the afternoon and one at sunrise. Day 1: ARRIVE IN DELHI, INDIA Arrive in Delhi, where an A&K representative is on hand to greet you. The Taj Palace Hotel Day 2: DELHI / India’s Capital Tour New Delhi, visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Humayun’s Tomb, a red-sandstone predecessor to the Taj Mahal decorated with geometrical marble inlays, and 13th-century Qutub Minar, the tallest minaret in India. Meet your fellow guests tonight for a welcome dinner. Make a Neighborhood Connection with a visit to the A&K Philanthropy-supported Deepalaya School, which supports the education of local underprivileged children. The Taj Palace Hotel | Meals: B D Day 3: DELHI / Treasures of Old Delhi Tour some of India’s most historic sites, including the 17th-century Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar for a Market Connection. View the famed Red Fort and afterward visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. The afternoon is at leisure. The Taj Palace Hotel | Meals: B L Day 4: VARANASI / The Holy City Fly to Varanasi, located on the Ganges River. Millions of pilgrims flock to Varanasi’s ghats (riverbank steps), where the devout wash away their sins. This afternoon, visit Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism. Explore the ruins of a Buddhist monastery and a Buddhist museum. Later, witness the Aarti ceremony, as worshippers pray near the water by the light of candles and lanterns. The Gateway Hotel Ganges, Varanasi | Meals: B D Day 5: KHAJURAHO / Medieval Temples Discover India’s spirituality from another perspective by taking an unforgettable sunrise boat ride on the Ganges. Afterward, fly to Khajuraho for an afternoon discovering its exquisitely carved temples. Hotel Chandela, Khajuraho | Meals: B L D Day 6: JHANSI / On the Road to the Taj Mahal Travel to Jhansi to the 17th-century Orchha Palace and its group of Hindu temples. Eat lunch near the temples, and then board a train to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal. ITC Mughal, Agra | Meals: B L Day 7: AGRA / The Greatest Monument to Love Visit the Taj Mahal early this morning to watch as the sunrise decorates its white surface in rosy pinks. Afterward, visit the Agra Fort before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Return to the Taj Mahal at sunset to watch as the light dances off the crisp marble. ITC Mughal, Agra | Meals: B D Day 8: JAIPUR / The Pink City Drive to Jaipur, stopping en route at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch in Bharatpur, continue to the pink city, of Jaipur, so called for its pink-hued sandstone buildings. Jai Mahal Palace | Meals: B L Day 9: JAIPUR / Mughal Treasures Visit the Amber Fort, with its distinctive Mughal architecture, and then set off for a local village to ride an elephant through the countryside. After lunch, visit Palace of the Winds and the City Palace. Stop at the Jantar Mantar Observatory, to see the world,™s largest sundial. This evening, join your fellow guests for a farewell dinner. Jai Mahal Palace | Meals: B L D Days 10-11: DELHI / Return to the Capital and Depart Fly back to Delhi, where the remainder of day is at leisure. The next day, after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Trident Gurgaon | Meals: B
