Swagatam Tours Private Limited

Cultural Tours

Highlights of India

Duration : 13 Nights / 14 Days
Destinations : Delhi - Udaipur - Jaipur - Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

Highlights of India vacation takes you through 5,000 years of spectacular history and a kaleidoscope of cultures, religions and landscapes….

A true sense of the exotic splendor that is India can come only from exploring the place itself, from standing humbled before the Taj Mahal, the world's grandest monument to everlasting love; admiring its centuries-old, ornate temples; encountering a Bengal tiger in its lush jungles, or exploring its bustling, teeming cities. Our 14-day India tour is an introduction to the varied splendors of the subcontinent on an itinerary planned to show you only the best. India has contributed much to Western culture and society, including the number zero, herbal tonics, and yoga. Owing to its past as a British colony, this intriguing, foreign destination is surprisingly easy to navigate.

Highlights
» Sunrise and sunset visits to Agra's Mughal Masterpiece, the Taj Mahal.
» Private evening cruise on Lake Pichola.
» Private dawn cruise on the Ganges.
» Elephant-back passage to Amber Fort.
» Superior deluxe rooms at The Oberoi Amarvilás.
» Superior Lakeview Rooms at the Lake Palace.
» Deluxe rooms at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
» Luxury rooms at Jaipur's Rambagh Palace.

The cuisine offers an exciting variety of regional fare. Highly trained chefs will take care to introduce you gently to the delights of this rich culinary tradition. The Mughal-influenced dishes of the north are often seductively spiced, rich meat dishes, while the devoutly Hindu city of Varanasi specializes in flavorful, richly satisfying vegetarian meals often featuring rice, lentils, and a variety of fresh produce unimaginable to the Westerner from less tropical climes.

Also unimaginable is the incredible warmth and generosity that is an integral part of the Indian spirit. Far from impoverished, Indians are eager to extend their hospitality, and few other destinations can boast such a rich and friendly culture. Most Indians you encounter will speak English - and many of them, graduates of fine British-style preparatory schools, might even have mastered it better than you! Signs and directions everywhere are posted in English.

Adventure Information

14 Day Highlights of India

Departures are limited to 28 passengers. For 2005, new dates, itineraries and prices may apply. The price shown (USD) is per person, based on double occupancy, and does not include international or internal air.
throughout India, Thailand, and Angkor Wat …
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Itinerary

Day 1 : Delhi
India here local Delhi sight seen.

Day 2 : Delhi
The day is at leisure. We gather tonight for welcome cocktails and dinner. The Taj Mahal Hotel

Day 3 : Delhi
We view the Presidential Palace and Parliament House; stop to see the Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and India Gate; and end at the Diplomatic Enclave. This afternoon we tour the Raj Ghat, Delhi's monument to Mahatma Gandhi, the Red Fort citadel and the Jama Mosque. The Taj Mahal Hotel

Day 4 : Delhi - Udaipur
We fly to Udaipur, on the shores of Lake Pichola. We visit the City Palace, the Sahelion-Ki-Bari or "Garden of Friends," the Crystal Gallery and the Jagdish Temple. Lake Palace Hotel

Day 5 : Udaipur
We travel to Eklingji and Nagda Temples. An evening cruise provides enchanting views of the city and the island of Jag Mandir, with its domes, marble pillars and fountains. Lake Palace Hotel

Day 6 : Udaipur - Jaipur
We fly to Jaipur, where we visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the City Palace, and the "Palace of the Winds." Rambagh Palace

Day 7 : Jaipur
We ride to the Amber Fort on elephant back. We wander among glittering inlays and the Hall of Mirrors. Rambagh Palace

Day 8 : Jaipur - Agra
Our journey to Agra, takes us through peaceful rural India. We stop at Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned capital, and we visit the Bulund Darwaza, largest gateway in the world. The Oberoi Amarvilás

Day 9 : Agra
We visit the imposing Agra Fort and stop at the local bazaar. We return to the Taj Mahal at sunset to watch the beautiful white marble turn slowly to soft, rosy pink. The Oberoi Amarvilás

Day 10 : Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho
We take a train ride to Jhansi, then continue by road to Khajuraho. En route we visit the small town of Orcha, with its abandoned Hindu temples and 17th-century palace fort. Hotel Jass/Clarks

Day 11 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
We visit the exquisite temples of Khajuraho before our flight to Varanasi, the holiest city in India. Hotel Taj Ganges

Day 12 : Varanasi - Delhi
We take a boat ride on the Ganges, where thousands of Hindus perform rites of prayer. Then we visit Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon. Sarnath's temples and Archaeological Museum are full of Buddhist art treasures. This afternoon we fly to Delhi. We gather tonight for our farewell dinner. The Grand New Delhi

Day 13 : Delhi - USA or Canada
Board a homebound flight.

Extend Your Stay on an optional South India Extension : Not quite ready to end your holiday? Call Katy or Dori at our Tucson offices at 1-800-955-5769 for information on the optional Guilin Extension. We recommend this independent option as an extension to this escorted program. It can be taken as shown, or revised to meet your individual requirements. (New prices may apply.)

Day 14 : Delhi - Cochin - Kumarakom
Fly to Cochin and continue by road to Kumarakom. Hotel Coconut Lagoon

Day 15 : Kumarakom
Relax and enjoy the surroundings and your hotel's facilities. Hotel Coconut Lagoon

Day 16 : Kumarakom - Cochin
Transfer by boat to Allepy. View Kerala's village lifestyle, then continue to Cochin. This evening enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Hotel Brunton's Boat Yard

Day 17 : Cochin
Tour Cochin's Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi, and St. Francis Church, the oldest church constructed by the Europeans in India. Hotel Brunton's Boat Yard

Day 18 : Cochin - Mumbai
Fly to Mumbai. Hotel JW Marriott

Day 19 : Mumbai - Depart
Board your homebound flight.

Optional South India Extension (Price per person):
Double Occupancy: $2,785; Single Supplement: $485; Holiday surcharge: $205
Air transportation to join this extension from Delhi to Cochin is not included in your land price.

Active Options :
In the course of your tour, you will have many opportunities to take advantage of active options (some at additional cost). These include:
» Swims at hotel pools.
» Workouts at hotel fitness centers.
» Golf at the Rambagh Palace and The Grand New Delhi.
» Horseback riding at the Rambagh Palace.
» An elephant ride to the Amber Fort in Jaipur.

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