Chennai
Cochin
Warm welcome with fresh flower garlands at New Delhi International Aiport. You will be greeted by our company representative.
Transfer to hotel. Check-in. Overnight.
(This day can be treated as previous day, in case flight arrives early morning to secure immediate check-in. )
Delhi
Mystery, magic, mayhem. Welcome to Delhi, City of Djinns, and 25 million people. Like an eastern Rome, India’s capital is littered with the relics of lost empires. Modern Delhi is a chaotic tapestry of medieval fortifications, Mughal mausoleums, dusty bazaars, colonial-era town planning, and mega malls.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing of Delhi and then visit the Spice market at Old Delhi.
[1] Walking Food Tour of Old Delhi, exploring the local small food shops serving snacks & delicious savories.
[2] High Tea session at a Heritage Haveli in the lanes of Old Delhi. This session includes local Old Delhi snacks & savories, tea/coffee and a session for kite flying.
Return to the hotel, overnight.
Old Delhi Sightseeing
Lotus Temple(Photography Stop): Designed by Iranian-Canadian architect Fariburz Sahba in 1986. Styled after a lotus flower, with 27 immaculate white-marble petals, the temple was created to bring diverse faiths together. (closed on Monday)
Humayun’s Tomb: The most perfectly proportioned and captivating of Delhi’s mausoleums, Humayun’s tomb seems to float above the gardens that surround it. This monument strongly influenced the Taj Mahal. Red Fort (drive pass): A drive pass Red Fort in Delhi, converted into a barracks by the British, this massive fort is a sandstone carcass of its former self, but it still conjures a picture of the splendor of Mughal Delhi.
Raj Ghat – A simple black-marble platform marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.
Jama Masjid: A calm respite from the surrounding mayhem, One of India’s largest mosque can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people.
You will embark on your local ride from now onto a Rickshaw ride for Old Delhi Market.
Cruising past the amazing Spice Market, Silver Market & market for shopping of wedding stuff.
Old Delhi Walking Food Tour
This tour is designed for foodies who want to explore, experiment and experience the savouries at Old Delhi. This tour will take you through the Paranthe Wali Gali, Kinari Bazaar to try Samosas & Jalebis. You will also relish Cholla Bhaturas, Lassis & end with some sweets and the local Halvai.
This tour not only takes you through the foodie lanes but you will imbibe a lot of history hidden in the nooks of this area.
Heritage Haveli Dharampura – High Tea
In the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, explore a hidden Gem known as Haveli Dharampura. As you walk through the cusp-arched gateway to a serene hideaway in the heart of Old Delhi. Rejuvenate in the Indian boutique-style haveli equipped with all modern amenities screened from the brouhaha of the surrounding streets by thick stone walls.
Kite Flying & Hi-tea experience: Pair flying kites and a decadent 3-course High-tea on the Haveli’s rooftop. Enjoy the breath taking view of Old Delhi and of a blue sky filled with vibrant colourful kites soaring in a breeze.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing of New Delhi. Also visit the Kitchen at the Sikh Temple of Bangla Sahib.
In the evening proceed for dinner, options as below:
[1] Visit a famous/iconic food joint in Delhi such as Gulati’s, Rajinder da Dhaba, United Coffee House etc.
Note: Such places might have some waiting time before you are seated. ss
[2] Dinner at Delhi Iconic Fine-dine restaurant ‘Bukhara at ITC Maurya’
Return to the hotel, overnight.
New Delhi Sightseeing
Qutub Minar: is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top.Visit a Kashmiri Co-operative, enjoy a Kashmiri Tea ‘Kahwa’ here when you witness the artisians presenting their local arts & products.India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan & Parliament Street: A drive past Lutyen Delhi’s major monuments, a symbol of the colonial development in the capital.
(Note: This is a high security area & access to roads are many a times restricted. Hence the panoramic ride is subject to all security clearances)
Sikh Temple Bangla Sahib: Topped by golden domes, this handsome white-marble gurdwara was constructed at the site where the eighth Sikh guru, Harkrishan Dev, stayed before his death in 1664. Also visit the Kitchen at the Sikh Temple to see how they serve thousands of people daily.
Iconic Delhi Food Joint
Have a meal at one of Delhi’s iconic food joint. Here you will find a mix of Punjabi & Mughlai Cuisine depicting very aptly that Delhi is a mixture of multiple cultures and it shows in our food as well. These famous joints are thronged by locals on all days and evenings, weekends can be very crowded. There can be some wait times to secure seats.
Enjoy the real Delhi meal in these places with dishes like Butter Chicken, Pindi Cholle, Shahi Paneer with the famous Naan Bread.
Bukhara at ITC Maurya
Bukhara at ITC Maurya allows you to experience more than just the cuisine. It is the finest representation of Indian culinary traditions through the showcase of the region. The experience of the culture through the food is as subtle as the flavours themselves. In an era when change is the order of the day, Bukhara epitomizes timelessness with a menu that has remained unchanged for almost 4 decades. It stands testimony to the very roots of a culture that is defined by its 5,000-year old tradition.
Packed breakfast from hotel and transfer early morning to Raliway Staion. Board train to Lucknow
Train Dep time: 0610hrs
Train Arr time: 1250 hrs
(optional: take flight to Lucknow)
On arrival in Lucknow, check-in at the hotel. After short rest, proceed for Lucknow Food Tour.
Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Lucknow – Home of Nawabs of Avadh
Sprinkled with Islamic and British Raj–era architecture, stuffed with fascinating bazaars and famed throughout India for its food, the capital of Uttar Pradesh is something of a sleeper: plenty worth seeing, but often overlooked by travellers. Central Lucknow features wide boulevards, epic monuments and several parks and gardens that contribute to an atmosphere of grandiosity.
The city rose to prominence as the home of the Nawabs of Avadh (Oudh), who were great patrons of the culinary and other arts, particularly dance and music. Lucknow’s reputation as a city of culture, gracious living and rich cuisine has continued to this day – the phrase for which conveniently rhymes in Hindi: Nawab, aadaab (respect), kebab and shabab (beauty).
Lucknow Culinary Walk
Lucknow as a city has carved a niche by attracting gastronomes, for the want of discovering and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine. Till date Lucknowites spend the most of their earnings and time on their kitchens. Lucknow is one place that has a full colony of chefs called, ‘Bawarchi Tola’ and then there is a full street, where one can find the best from Lucknow’s very own traditional kitchens. We take you for this evening walk and make you hop-in, hop-out of the traditional roadside eateries, making you try the best that is on the menu. This is a guided tour with our own set of cutlery and basic dining essentials. It allows you to experience the best of the best, at the unpretentious eateries, without having to worry about how to eat without a fork or to wipe your hands clean after you are done.
Breakfast at the hotel, Proceed for sightseeing of Lucknow.
Later, drive to Agra. On arrival, check-in and ovenright.
Lucknow sightseeing
Sightseeing for Lucknow includes Bara Imambara: This colossal Imambara (Shiite tomb complex) is worth seeing in its own right, but the highly unusual labyrinth of corridors inside its upper floors make a visit here particularly special. Chota Imambara: This elaborate black-and-white tomb was constructed in 1832 by the third king of Oudh, Mohammed Ali Shah (who is buried here, alongside his mother). Adorned with calligraphy, it has a serene and intimate atmosphere. Mohammed’s silver throne and red crown can be seen here, as well as countless chintzy chandeliers and some brightly decorated tazia. Just beyond the Bara Imambara, the striking Rumi Darwaza was built in the 1780s by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula. It’s unusual but imposing, and said to be a copy of an entrance gate in Istanbul. ‘Rumi’ (relating to Rome) is the term Muslims applied to Istanbul when it was still Byzantium, the capital of the Eastern Roman empire. Sadat Ali & Begum Tombs: Not far from Kaiserbagh, built in a green grassland, is a pair of grandiose Maqbaras. Passersby cannot fail to admire the architectural grandeur of these edifices.
Agra
Agra has been immortalized as the City of the Taj. Yet, it doesn’t take much for the roving eye to discover that there’s more to Agra than just the fabled Taj Mahal. The city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery. A freeze-frame from a resplendent era that’s long since gone by.
Today, for breakfast we will visit the Halwais of Agra. If you are on a culinary tour of North India, its important to know and undertand the halwai culture.
Retunr to the hotel (breakfast is still available).
Proceed for Agra Sightseeing with Taj Mahal & marble workshop.
In the evening, optional Mohabbat the Taj Theatre show.
Later, enjoy a special farm to table dinner in a small boutique run hotel.
Local Breakfast Run
Eat your way through the most iconic local breakfast joints serving some of the finest local delicacies.
This is our ode to the halwaais of the city who specialize in individual dishes. Halwaais are traditional sweet-makers, who over the centuries have refined the art of making savory snacks as well. A trip to each one of them is feast for the senses – sweet and spicy combination of bedai-jalebi, freshly fried samosa, saffron-flavoured hot milk with the topping of fresh malai or cream, thick creamy lassi, a yogurt-based cooling drink with a hint of fragrant spices and dry fruit and much more.
All you need is an appetite.
Agra Sightseeing
Agra Fort: Built by Akbar in 1565 A.D, this Fort is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the Fort are a number of exquisite buildings, including Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas etc. Itmad-ud-daula: Built entirely in white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones, this mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna exhibits a strong Persian influence.
Taj Mahal Sightseeing
Post Lunch, visit the Taj Mahal: Taj Mahal was built by a grief stricken Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is phenomenal not in its beauty alone that shines forth, but in the deep planning and design that went into its making, and the ethereal idea of immortalizing love. Delicate carvings in marble vie with gorgeous pietra dura for attention.Lapis-lazuli, Cornelian, Mother of pearl, Agate and Emerald are inlaid in floral and geometrical patterns in the marble itself. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays)
Optional – Mohabbat The Taj Show
Optional
Enjoy an evening at the ‘Mohabbat The Taj’ show. Watch this popular show: a retelling of the Taj Mahal’s story. Be swept up by the dance, music, and songs as you learn how the love between Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz inspired the Taj.
Multi-lingual show headsets are provided. Enjoy a musical extravaganza that tells the story of the Taj Mahal Trace the love story of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal Be swept up by colourful dance, songs, music, and sets, including a replica Taj.
Eka – Farm to Table Dining
Bringing the local close to you, we take you to a Farm to Table Dining Experience in Agra. With all ingredients sourced within 50kms of radius, this meal ensures great flavours packed with maximum nutrition and zero shelf time. The craft-fully designed menu and home-like experience will increase your appetite before you start. The stories from the chef and the host team will make you feel like home and welcomed.
Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Jaipur.
En-route visit the Abhaneri & Fatehpur SIkri Fort.
On arrival in Jaipur, check-in and overnight.
Fatehpur Sikri: An epic in red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1572-1585 A.D. A sonless Akbar had gone to Sikri to seek blessings of Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti and he was blessed with a son. In gratitude, he constructed his capital city and named it Fatehpur Sikri. Later, due to shortage of water and unrest in north-west, Akbar had to abandon this city.
You will be taken from parking to the fort in Govt. run buses. The beautiful marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti attracts thousands of tourists at places like Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai’s Palace, Pachisi and Birbal Bhavan.
Abhaneri – Chand Baori Stepwell
Chand Baori is a stepwell situated in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It extends approximately 30m (100ft) into the ground, making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India.
Jaipur – The Pink City
Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. Renowned globally for its coloured gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. Jaipur traces back its origins to 1727 when it was established by Jai Singh II, the Raja of Amber. He shifted his capital from Amber to the new city because of the rapidly-growing population and increasing water scarcity. Noted architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya used the established principles of Vastu Shastra to build the city.
Breakfast at the hotel, proceed for sightseeing of Amer Fort & Jaipur.
Lunch at Baradari Restaurant at City Palace.
Later, in the evening, dinner at a heritage hotel.
[1] Dinner in Narain Niwas Palace with folk dance
[2] Dinner in Taj Rambagh or Raj Mahal or similar.
Return to the hotel, overnight.
Amber & Jaipur Sightseeing
We start with Amber Fort. Elephant ride uphill & Jeep ride downhill at the fort. Amber (pronounced Amer) is at a distance of about 11 kilometres from Jaipur. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the bastion of the Kachwahas of Amber. The palace is a beautiful melange of Hindu and Mughal styles. The contrast between the harsh exterior and the inviting interior couldn’t be more surprising. During downhill, visit a very heritage structure – Panna-Meena ka kund, which is a square-shaped stepwell, with adjoining stairs on all four sides and a room on the northern wall.
We will make our way back to the city, en-route we will stop at Jal Mahal, Possibly the most serene sight amidst the chaos of Jaipur is the beautiful Jal Mahal Jaipur, the Water Palace. Short stops at the Jewel & Carpet Workshops in Jaipur are must to witness how the local artisans create marvels from raw materials.
Later in the second half of the day, visit Jantar Mantar, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is considered to be the largest of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. It contains sixteen geometric devices, designed to measure time, track celestial bodies and observe the orbits of the planets around the sun.
City Palace, A beautiful fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the palace is still home to the last ruling royal family which lives in a private section of the palace. The City Palace Complex includes the Mubarak Mahal (the palace of reception) and the Maharani’s Palace (the palace of the queen).
Before you start exploring the local markets, stop for photography at the one world’s most famous façade Hawa Mahal.
Post your exploration in the local market. Return to hotel .
Dinner in Heritage Hotel
Enjoy dinner in a heritage hotel in Jaipur with cultural dance & music.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Delhi, en-route visit Cyber Hub in Gurgaon. A look at how the contemporary places in India look like. How the millenials or Gen Z, go out, party & eat.
Later, check-in at the hotel in Delhi. Overnight.
Cyber Hub – Gurgaon, Delhi NCR
CyberHub is a unique, one-of-its-kind concept in India – A premium Food , entertainment and Retail destination however it is the ambiance that makes CyberHub an unparalleled experience and an ideal destination for Stepping out, art and cultural shows , media launches, lifestyle & movie shoots. Cyber hub is a place where one finds where the current locals/youngsters hangout and spend their time in the evenings or weekend. A big contrast of the other India that you see, Cyber hub is full of bars, restaurants, lounges, pubs, discotheques etc.
Enjoy some free time in this area.
Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport for flight back home or onwards destination.
