A land of magnificence awaits in India, a country with unparalleled heritage and breathtaking scenery.  Venture across India from New Delhi to Mumbai, through the lively, sprawling spice markets, where aromatic heaps of chilies and cumin will awaken the senses. Be inspired by a wealth of captivating architecture from the iconic Taj Mahal, Emperor Shah Jahan’s monument to his beloved wife, to the towering Charminar Mosque, a remarkable testimony to India’s religious past.

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." - Jawaharal Nehru

Walk through exquisitely preserved forts where emperors once ruled and amongst sumptuous, fragrant gardens of princely domains. Across the nation, encounter the warm spirit of the Indian people, whose remarkable nature and exceptional hospitality is as unrivaled as its glorious surroundings.

• 11 Day Itinerary: India: Country Tour
• Day 1: New Delhi

  Old Delhi, New Delhi

  

  Be introduced to New Delhi with a half-day guided bike tour through the cultural attractions of this capital city. With its handcrafted dome and ornate architecture, begin at Old Delhi’s Delite Cinema, a premier theater that has showcased Bollywood and international films for over half a century. Then venture to the nearby Khari Baoli Marg, Old Delhi’s legendary Spice Market, where you will be immersed in the myriad of colorful sights and fragrant aromas of an endless variety of heaping spices at the largest market of its kind in Asia. Travel to the breathtaking Yumana, the River of Twins, for a short boat ride. Your morning tour concludes with a traditional Indian breakfast.
• Day 2: Old and New Delhi

  India Gate, Red Fort, Chandini Chowk, Birla House, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb

  

  Experience a full-day private guided tour of extraordinary palaces and notable holy places throughout the city. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, drive by the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan, India’s presidential palace and the largest state residence in the world, then visit the towering red sandstone and granite India Gate, the historic landmark built to commemorate the soldiers of the British Indian army. Continue onto historic Old Delhi, which is over three thousand years old. There, explore the 17th century Red Fort, the prominent walled palace built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, and a symbol of Indian independence. Nearby stands Chandini Chowk’s busy markets and the black-and-white marbled domes of the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Visit the Birla House, home of the Mahatma Gandhi museum, and then enjoy lunch at one of Old Delhi’s finest restaurants.

  In the afternoon, visit the world’s tallest freestanding minaret, the brick Indo-Islamic Qutub Minar, built in 1193, but not completed until almost two centuries later. As devotional music plays in the courtyards surrounding the golden-domed Sikh Gurdwara, walk through this revered Sikh shrine. Along the banks of the Yumana River, watch the sunset at Humayun’s Tomb, constructed in honor of the 16th century Mughai Emperor, and set amongst four imperial gardens.
• Day 3: Old Delhi

  Kabootar Baz, Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin

  

  Above the narrow lanes and bustling markets surrounding the majestic Jama Masjid Mosque, the noble art of pigeon flying thrives in Old Delhi. Visit the rooftop of a kabootar baz or pigeon fancier, and learn how to control a flock of up to fifty pigeons using only a waving stick, a whistle and a bag of seeds. 

  Then, be transported to the Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin neighborhood for an afternoon devoted to Sufism, the mystical version of Islam and its teachings of Ishq, or love. Walk through ancient alleys and explore monuments and sites associated with famous Sufi saints, including Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusrau and Mirza Ghalib. Your extraordinary experience concludes with a private performance of poetic Sufi music, known as a qawwali.
• Day 4: Agra

   Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah, Padretola, Cantonment, Taj Mahal

  

  In Agra, an architectural expert will showcase some of the most notable buildings in and around the city and explain the vast history and context surrounding those who envisioned, built and lived in these monuments. Begin on the western banks of the Yamuna River inside the crescent-shaped 16th century imperial Agra Fort. Surrounded by 70-foot red sandstone walls, this regal complex includes a marbled, open-air Hall of Public Audience encrusted with jewels plus a myriad of royal palaces, including the arabesque Khas Mahal, built with a stream running through its interior. Nearby stands the jewel-box-in-marble minarets housing the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, also known as the Baby Taj. Set amongst a vast cruciform garden of water walks, this mausoleum is noted as one of the first monuments characterizing the new style of Mughal architecture, when it shifted from using red sandstone to white marble.

  Venture to Padretola, the home of a red sandstone replica of the Taj Mahal, that stands as the tomb of Dutchman John Hessing, a 19th century military officer.  Then travel along the Cantonment area of Agra, where a myriad of colonial buildings attest to the British chapter of India’s history.

  At sunset, visit the legendary Taj Mahal, considered to be "the world's monument to love."  As the day ends, watch how the sun transforms this breathtaking white marble monument into a rose-colored treasure.
• Day 5: Agra

  Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri

  

  Return to the Taj Mahal at sunrise for another view of this spectacular monument, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife in 1653. Learn about the inspiration, history, origin and influences surrounding this iconic Mughal masterpiece.

  Next venture to the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. This City of Victory was considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture, blending the best of Hindu and Islamic traditions. With its imposing gateways, it symbolizes Akbar’s secular vision of India. Discover the secrets of India's once great capitol from detailed conception to subsequent decline, due to its lack of water supply.
• Day 6: Kolkata

  Prinsep Ghat, The Strand, Eden Gardens, Baboo Ghat

  

  Along Kolkata’s Hoogly River stands numerous stepped embankments, known as ghats, which serve as passageways between land and the water. Begin a day exploring the city, once the capital of British India, by visiting the sparkling white memorial, Prinsep Ghat. This archway features Palladian entrances and fluted Ionian columns and was built in honor of the 18th century Anglo-Indian scholar, James Prinsep. Then sample the excellent Bengal street food at the city's popular promenade, The Strand, before taking a boat ride on the Hoogly River.

  With its large moat and three-storied Burmese pagoda in red and matted golden yellow, stroll through the verdant 19th century Eden Gardens and its surrounding areas, including the largest cricket grounds in India. With its beautiful Doric frontage and covered pavilion, conclude your day tour of Kolkata at the Baboo Ghat, constructed in the 1830s.
• Day 7: Kolkata

  Missionary of Charity

  

  Visit the Blessed Teresa of Kolkata’s Missionary of Charity, the Roman Catholic religious order founded by the late Albanian nun orphanage in 1950 to ease suffering amongst the poor, sick and dying.  The main headquarters reside in Kolkata, where she is buried in a simple, white tomb.  Have the opportunity to meet with some of the children that live in her home, along with a chance to view the adjoining museum that proudly displays her signature white cotton sari and her crucifix.
• Day 8: Hyderabad

  Old City, Purani Haveli, Osmania Hospital, Falaknuma Palace

  

  Along the southeastern coast of India lies the region of Andhra Pradesh, once the princely state of the Hyderabad, controlled for hundreds of years by the Nizams. One of the few areas of India that resisted British colonial rule, its capital city of Hyderabad, possesses a long and rich cultural history for exploration. 

  Four fluted minarets, each with four carved rings, welcome visitors to Hyderabad’s signature landmark, the square Charminar Mosque, built by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in 1591. Promenade through the bustling lanes and vibrant bazaars of the Old City surrounding the Charminar in search of antique saris, glistening pearls, and lacquer bangles.

  Then be introduced to the history and significance surrounding Hyderabad's important monuments from the neo-classical Purani Haveli Palace, the grand residence of the Nizams, to the soaring domes of the pastel-colored Osmania Hospital, built by the last Nizam in 1919 and a fine example of traditional Mughal architecture. Recently opened to the public, visit the 19th century Falaknuma Palace, a fusion of Italian and Tudor design, and built in the shape of a scorpion with its wings outstretched.

  Become enchanted by an exact replica of England’s Windsor Palace, the Falaknuma stands as a testimony to the exquisite history of Hyderabad with its vast collection of Venetian chandeliers and intricate frescoes with gilded relief.
• Day 9: Bengaluru

  Old Bengaluru, Bull Temple, Knaya, Kamalini

  

  Along the Mysore Plateau in the state of Karnataka lies the Garden City of India, Bengaluru, named for its scenic parks and warm climate.  Explore the culture of old Bengaluru on a half-day tour of the city, through its streets lined with fragrant flower stalls offering jasmine and its emporiums selling hand-woven textiles and carved figurines. 

  In the nearby Basavanagudi neighborhood, rises the 16th century Basavana Guide Temple, known as the Bull Temple. Adorned with hundreds of white-marbled shivas, their hands reaching towards the sky, the Temple itself is a work of art. Many believe that the source of the river Vishva Bharti begins at the feet of this sacred Bull statue, carved of granite with orange marigold garlands draped around its neck.

  Be welcomed into a century-old-home and witness the graceful practice of a traditional Indian dance class. Continue your day shopping at Kanya, an artisanal sari shop renowned for its extraordinary gold embroidery and luxurious fabrics in a rainbow of saturated colors. Then, venture to Kamalini and view the exquisite work of Karnataka crafts makers, before enjoying an afternoon tea.
• Day 10: Mumbai

  Gateway of India, Bombay High Court, Chhatrapti Sivaji Terminus, Mumbai University

  

  The dynamic city of Mumbai is a microcosm of modern Indian culture, filled with alluring bazaars, glistening skyscrapers, Art Deco landmarks and almost 25 millions inhabitants.  Be guided through Mumbai’s most significant destinations on a one-day private tour of the city.
  Standing majestically above the Mumbai Harbor, the Gateway of India, an Indo-Saracenic archway, welcomes visitors into the city. Built to commemorate the visit of colonial rulers, King George V and Queen Mary, it later served as the exit for the British troops when they left in 1948 and now is seen as a symbol of Indian independence.

  Surrounded by lush palm trees, the elegant Gothic revival buildings of the Bombay High Court is one of the most breathtaking government buildings in the city, renowned for its centerpiece sculpture of a monkey judge attempting to balance the scales of justice.

  The triumphant statue of Progress crowns the 19th century Gothic Victoria Terminus, now known as Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus, the main train station of Mumbai and the hub of this sprawling metropolis. Conclude your day with a visit to Mumbai University, located within the old Fort district, now the financial capital of the city.
• Day 11: Elephanta Island

  Elephanta Caves

  

  Groves of mango, tamarind and palm trees encircle the tranquil Elephanta Island, just off the coast of the Arabian Sea and an hour boat ride from Mumbai. Renamed Elephanta to commemorate a stone elephant statue discovered by the Portuguese in the 17th century, this idyllic complex is a respite from the frenzied pace of Mumbai. Here, discover the region’s most important historical site, the 6th century A.D. Elephanta Caves. Hewed from basalt rock, over 60,000 square feet of intricate frescoes are dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva, the holy Hindi icon. Be amazed by the three faces of Shiva depicted on the 18-foot Mahesamurti statue, representing his roles of creator, protector and destroyer. Your private guide will provide deep insight into the significance of Shaivism, the influential denomination of Hinduism that permeates the art found in these caves.