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Day 1
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Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, you will be greeted and escorted to The Imperial - 5* for two nights.
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Day 2
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Delhi (B)
After breakfast this morning, enjoy riots of colors at the flower market in front of a lively Hindu temple. A short walk from here will take you to a prominent and magnificent “Gurudwara” the Sikh Temple buzzing with morning prayer activities. Afterwards, proceed for a full day tour of Old and New Delhi. See the 17th century Jama Masjid and walk through the narrow, winding lanes of colorful and bustling Chandni Chowk. You will have the option of taking a rickshaw ride through these bazaars. Also visit the Mughal Empire’s most opulent fort, the Red Fort. In the afternoon proceed to New Delhi, and visit the Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in Honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings. Visit Qutab Minar, the 12th century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India. Also visit the 16th century Humayun’s tomb.
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Day 3
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Delhi - Agra (B)
This morning, drive to Agra (approx. 4 hrs), where you will arrive around noon. In the afternoon you will be taken on a tour of Agra city – visiting Agra Fort and the incomparable Taj Mahal (the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays). Shah Jehan’s son imprisoned him in the magnificent fort at Agra. Here you'll see the art and crafting of the white marble that has made the area so famous, the Pearl Mosque and the Halls of Public and Private Audience. In the evening walk through Kachhpura village to Mehtab bagh a Mughal era garden which is being restored, just behind the Taj Mahal across the river Yamuna. The walk is conducted by an NGO working for the local community and includes some lesser known Mughal era monuments along the way. Overnight at the Oberoi Amarvilas - 5*.
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Day 4
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Agra - Jaipur (B/D)
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur visiting Fatehpur-sikhri enroute. The city of Fatehpur Sikhri was built of red sandstone by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century and deserted soon after because its water supply failed. Continue your drive to Jaipur. On arrival, check-in to your hotel. Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. In the evening drive to the outskirts of Jaipur to Dera Amer to experience a wonderful Elephant safari through the forest followed by a lovely dinner under the stars at an exclusive venue. Overnight at the Taj Rambagh Palace - 5*. |
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Day 5
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Jaipur (B)
After an early breakfast, visit Amber Fort. Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. With its honey-colored fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills which can be mounted on elephant back, Amber has been described as the sleeping beauty of Rajasthan. In the afternoon, proceed for a city tour of Jaipur. Start your visit from the City Palace, the former Royal residence part of which has been converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as the Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world built by Jai Singh from 1728 to 1734. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. This evening enjoy a Bazaar walk. The pulse of the city often lies in its bazaars or markets and you will be shown around by a person who is extremely proud of his roots and who was born there. |
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Day 6
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Jaipur - Jodhpur (B)
In the morning, continue your journey to the next destination, Jodhpur. The city is referred to as the Blue City due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. The forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, color and texture, a booming handicrafts industry, all add up to make this historic city worth a visit. On arrival you will be transferred to the Umaid Bhawan Palace - 5*. |
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Day 7
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Jodhpur (B)
After breakfast, visit the Meherangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. The palace apartments like Sukh Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal are beautifully decorated and house jewellery, costumes, armoury, palanquins, howdahs and other remnants of the past. See the Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II built in 1899. Visit the museum located in the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Enjoy a special Bishnoi village showcasing the best of the land. From the warm and hospitable people, to the various customs and ceremonies and the abundant wildlife, you will have the rare privilege of being welcomed into people's homes and interacting with them. You will get to experience and understand a way of life that takes them closer to their roots. You will meet the 'Premier ecologists of the world', the Bishnois, who have protected nature for more than 500 years. |
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Day 8
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Jodhpur - Udaipur (B)
Today enjoy the morning at your leisure before you are driven to Udaipur. Enroute you will visit the Ranakpur Jain Temples, an exceptionally beautiful excursion through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan in the Aravalli Valley, to see one of the best complexes of Jain religion which is particularly noted for the grandiose scale of its architecture and the highly decorated ceilings, walls and 1444 different pillars. On arrival in Udaipur, check-in to the Taj Lake Palace Hotel - 5* for two nights. Udaipur is often called the "Venice of the East" and the most romantic city in the state of Rajasthan. |
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Day 9
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Udaipur (B)
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace, and tour the private collection of precious and rare crystals from the Royal treasure. Tour the Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and located in the centre of the old city. See the Sahelion-ki-bari, a spectacular garden displaying the unique lifestyle of the royal ladies who once lived in the Palaces. A visit will also be made to the exquisite Crystal Gallery, followed by tea or coffee at Durbar Hall. In the evening, take a boat cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola towards Jag Mandir Palace, which covers almost four acres and is noted for its marble pavilion and an imposing dome. |
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Day 10
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Udaipur - Delhi (B)
Head to the airport for your flight to Delhi. |
| Grand Palaces of India |
| Land Only*2012 |
January -
April 15 |
April 16 -
September 30 |
October 1 - December 21 |
| Twin Occupancy |
5,850 |
4,350 |
6,250 |
| Single Occupancy |
9,500 |
7,000 |
10,200 |
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Taxes are included. Price includes hotel with daily breakfast, private car transportation, comprehensive sightseeing with admissions & English-speaking Guide.
Rates are not valid from Nov 20-28, and peak season surcharges apply from Dec 22-31, 2012. Please inquire.
Price per person, minimum 2 persons traveling together.
Entry Regulations:
All Canadian citizens require a Canadian passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into the country. An entry visa is necessary to enter India. Visas must be acquired from the nearest Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate.
Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Canadians and Americans.
Climate:
Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from December to February, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant is between March and May. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between late June to September.
Currency:
The Indian Rupee is the basic unit of currency. At present, the exchange rate is INR44.31 for CAD$1 and INR44.50 for US$1. As exchange rates fluctuate each day, please check the current exchange rate near your date of travel.
Electricity:
The current used in India is the 220V, 50-cycle system.
Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room.
Language:
India has 22 officially recognized languages, however 33 different languages and 2000 dialects have been identified in India. Hindi, in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Federal government of India. English is an associate official language.
Health Requirement:
Vaccination certificates are not required of Canadian or American tourists unless they have visited a country where Yellow Fever is endemic. If you are from another part of the world, please check with a travel medicine professional for more information on possible requirements.
Many travel illnesses are prevalent in India. Please visit a travel medicine professional wherever you are departing from.
Airport Facilities and Tax:
There are main international airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Calcutta. There is a departure tax of 500 Rupees, which is formulated into the price of your airline ticket.
Shopping:
Each region has its own specialties, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork and antiques, India is a shopper’s paradise. Bargaining is expected. You can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia. One of India’s main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye’ design is usually brilliantly colorful, while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding’ effect after a few washes.
Cuisine:
The cuisine of India is characterized by its sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and herbs. Considered by some to be one of the world's most diverse cuisines, each family of this cuisine is characterized by a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. Diversity is a defining feature of India's geography, culture, and food. Indian cuisine varies from region to region.
For more information please visit:
http://travel.indiamart.com/places/index.html
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=128000
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- Tour old & new Delhi
- See the Taj Mahal
- Visit India’s most impressive forts
- Stay in luxurious palatial style accommodation
- Special elephant safari & dinner under the stars in Jaipur
- Cooking class in Jaipur
- Tour Jodhpur, India’s ‘Blue City’
- Boat cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
- Dellhi: The Imperial *****
- Agra: The Oberoi Amarvilas *****
- Jaipur: Taj Rambagh Palace *****
- Jodhpur: Umaid Bhawan Palace *****
- Udaipur: Taj Lake Palace *****
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