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Tour Schedule
Day 1
Depart USA Your journey
starts today aboard a flight bound for the exotic subcontinent.
Day 2
Arrive Delhi, India After
a late-evening arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel. Delhi stands
as the capital of modern India, though it is made up of seven ancient
cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries.
Day 3
Explore Delhi You'll
start the day with a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi. Here you will
see the Red Fort, the most opulent Fort and Palace of the Mughal
Empire. Its main gate (Lahore Gate) faces Chandni Chowk, the
bustling and colorful market of the old city. A memorable stop is
made at Raj Ghat, the impressive and emotional memorial to Mahatma
Gandhi. After lunch on your own, the tour continues through New
Delhi, designed and built by the British in the 1920s. King George
V's architects, Lutyens and Baker, designed an "Imperial
City" with palatial sized buildings set amid broad tree-lined
avenues punctuated by Mughal style gardens. You'll begin at Delhi's
main avenue, the Rajpath, and see the India Gate and the imposing
Presidential Palace before stopping to visit Qutab Minar and
Emperor Humayun's Tombs. (B)
Day 4
Travel to Agra Today's
destination is Agra, home to the incredible Taj Mahal. After
arriving you'll head directly to the Taj Mahal for a first look at
this beautiful structure. When his wife died, Emperor Shah Jahan
vowed to honor her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. The result
stands before you today: a massive, delicately carved white marble
jewel. The Agra Fort is also on today's tour and we see the fabulous
courtyards, fountains, and gates of this hilltop citadel. As you
drive through the city, you'll witness the local life and bazaars
and the hustle and bustle of everyday India. The evening is free to
spend on your own. (B)
Day 5
Travel to Jaipur On the
drive through the Rajasthani countryside you see age-old villages,
women dressed in the brilliantly colored saris of the region,
camels, elephants and scenes of rural life. Along the way, you'll
stop at the perfectly preserved, red sandstone "ghost
town," Fatehpur Sikri. Wearying of Agra, Emperor Akbar built a
new capital here only to mysteriously abandon it a few years later.
It was a veritable fairy tale city and its 'ruins' are still in
pristine condition making it easy to imagine what court life must
have been like in its heyday. You'll arrive in Jaipur in the early
evening. (B)
Day 6
Explore Jaipur This
morning's exciting excursion takes us outside Jaipur to the Amber
Palace, former capital of the Rajput kingdom. We step back in time
as we are transported up the hill to the palace on brightly
caparisoned elephants—true to the style of the Maharajas of the
past. Inside we find lavish courtyards, beautifully decorated halls
and a lovely Chamber of Mirrors. Sightseeing in Jaipur also includes
the City Palace Museum with its fabulous displays of miniature
paintings and traditional Rajasthani royal costumes and the lovely
Palace of the Winds. You'll also see Jantar Mantar, an accurate
observatory built in 1726. Don't miss the opportunity to do some
shopping in Jaipur— the state of Rajasthan is famous for its
brightly embroidered fabrics, carved wooden boxes and screens,
silver jewelry and semi-precious stones. (B)
Day 7
Return to Delhi Following
breakfast, you'll drive back to Delhi. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city
on your own. Delhi is famous for its great shopping—be sure and
check out the miniature paintings, silks, handicrafts and handmade
carpets. (B)
Day 8
Republic Day Parade
Commemorating the day India became a Republic, each January 26th is
celebrated in Delhi with a lavish parade— a colorful spectacle of
marching soldiers, the mounted camel corps, bands, decorated floats
presented by the states of India and folk dancers from the diverse
regions of the country. Watched by both citizens and visitors, the
parade starts from the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Presidential
residence) and winds its way through the heart of the city, ending
at the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi
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Day 9
Return to USA You'll be
escorted to the airport for your trip home.
Tour
Price Includes the Following:
• Transportation: Round trip transatlantic airfare, ground
transportation, and all transfers
and luggage handling whenever you arrive and depart
• Accommodations: 6 nights in luxury hotels
• Meals: Daily buffet breakfast
• Privately-Guided Tour
Highlights
• Services of a professional tour manager and local guides
• Enjoy comprehensive tours of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra
• Drive down Delhi's impressive Rajpath to the India Gate
• Travel by rickshaw through bustling Old Delhi
• Stand before the world's most famous monument to love, the Taj
Mahal
• Ride an elephant to Jaipur's hilltop Amber Palace
• Travel bag, document folder and luggage tags
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