Signature Tour for Femme

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Signature Tour for Femme

FOR THE FIRST time visitor to India or for those returning Indo-philes who have limited time available to them, this is the ideal TRAVEL INDIA BY DESIGN. Contrary to many other ‘introductory’ tours, this journey has the added highlight of a visit to one of India’s most romantic cities - Udaipur, home to the glorious Taj Lake Palace Hotel. After this gentle start, travel to Rajasthan’s bustling capital city of Jaipur before proceeding to Agra and Delhi. Replete with marvellous forts, palaces, markets, monuments redolent with history, this short itinerary offers a remarkable insight into the country.

Day 1-3

Depart on your flight to Delhi.

Delhi is an ideal introduction to India's unmistakable vitality. Arrive at your hotel, where your room is available for immediate occupancy. This afternoon, visit the Deepalaya School, which educates underprivileged children. Continue to the Ati Arts Gallery, run by well-known art collector and socialite Mrs. Poonam Sarin, for dinner and cocktails.

Day 4

Embark on a full day of exploration of Old and New Delhi. Highlights include the Red Fort, which represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan (AD 1639); the Jama Masjid, one of the most important mosques in India; Chandni Chowk bazaar; and Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna river. After lunch, visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb. Tonight, you are joined for dinner by a special guest: Mrs. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. She discusses the life and philosophy of her grandfather as well as her involvement in programs that benefit the spinners and weavers of Khadi.

Day 5

After a morning at leisure, fly to Udaipur. Upon arrival, board a motorboat launch (water levels permitting) for a lake cruise, where you view Udaipur rise above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Visit the 17th-century Jag Mandir Palace, built for royal parties and functions on its very own island and fronted by a row of splendidly carved elephants.

Day 6

After visiting the City Palace along the shores of Lake Pichola, enjoy a private visit to the Crystal Gallery, located in Fateh Prakesh Palace. Continue to Sahelion-Ki-Bari, also known as the "Garden of the Maids of Honor." In the afternoon, venture to the outskirts of Udaipur for an exclusive visit to Seva Mandir, an organization dedicated to the promotion of greater equality and freedom in society. Your host is Deepti Ameta, who introduces you to the women's initiatives in which they are involved

Day 7

Fly to Jaipur this morning to begin your exploration of this "Pink City." Visit the spectacular outdoor Jantar Mantar Observatory, which houses instruments for measuring and calculating the sun's position and Hindu calendar. View Jaipur's most famous building, the pink sandstone Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of the Winds." Built in 1799, the palace, part of a huge complex, overlooks one of Jaipur's main streets and was built for women of the court to allow them, from behind stone-carved screens, to watch life in the bazaar below. Tonight, enjoy a guided visit to Jaipur's Johari Bazaar (jewelers' street).

Day 8

Begin your day at the Amber Fort, an architectural masterpiece blending Hindu and Muslim artistry. Next, pay an exclusive visit to a local village for an elephant ride with a skilled mahout (trainer). Return to your hotel where the afternoon is at leisure to simply relax or enjoy the serene surroundings of your hotel. If you wish, you may visit an exclusive jewelry store, where the staff will present a special lecture on precious and semi-precious stones.

Day 9

Travel through rural India today on your way to Agra. After lunch, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. This evening, view the Taj Mahal, considered the world's finest example of Mughal architecture, at sunset. It was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his second wife. Watch as the light dances off the crisp white marble and rich pietra dura (designs inlaid with colored stones).

Day 10-11

Early this morning, greet the sunrise at the Taj Mahal. After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra, including a visit to the Agra Fort. Partake in your choice of activities this afternoon, including henna hand painting, a meeting with an astrologer, or shopping.Travel by express train to Jhansi, gateway to the abandoned Hindu temples of Orchha. After lunch, continue to Khajuraho.

Day 12

Khajuraho is one of the most popular places to visit in India, with the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in the country, famous for their erotic sculpture as well as their depiction of life in all its forms. Spend a full day amid Khajuraho's exquisitely carved temples, which pay homage in delicate detail to Hindu deities.

Day 13

Start the day with a special private yoga session. Then, fly to Varanasi to explore the buried Buddhist city of Sarnath, where the Great Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon 25 centuries ago. Visit the ruins of a once-flourishing monastery, and a museum with an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculpture. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for cocktails and a farewell dinner. Later, you may take part in a spiritual experience as you witness a late evening aarti ceremony on the Ganges.

Day 14-15

Embark on a private sunrise cruise on the sacred River Ganges to view the ghats, embankments of wide stone steps leading down to the water where locals and pilgrims alike cleanse themselves, physically and spiritually. This afternoon, pay an exclusive visit to a local beadmaking factory. Later, fly to Delhi where, upon arrival, you are met and escorted to your hotel.

Board your homebound flight.