DAY 1 ARRIVAL DELHI Arrival in Delhi. Transfer to hotel (group transfer). Later meet up with the tour manager and get to know your fellow passengers (before jetlag catches up). DAY 2 DELHI (B/L/D) Exploring Old and New Delhi – Visit a Hindu and Bahai Temple and pass the magnificent Red Fort, built on the banks of the Yamuna River by a Mughal Emperior. Drive by the huge Secretariat buildings, President's house and War Memorial Arch and onto the 12th century Qutab Minar complex. Qutab Minar itself is a tower gracefully hand-carved over its entire height of 234ft, and below it are the remains of the first mosque to be built in India. Lunch with a local family at their home. Then try your bargaining power at Dilli Haat, a huge food and craft bazaar. See food stalls serving authentic Indian food and a bonanza of Indian handicrafts on sale directly from Indian craftsmen. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 3 DELHI-AGRA (B/D) Depart for Agra, midway stop for lunch (own expense). On arrival in Agra check into our hotel. Later in the afternoon visit Shilpgram Market, a feast of stalls selling handicrafts and artworks. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 4 AGRA (B/L/D)First we visit Aga Fort, a massive red sandstone fort and palace which dominates the centre of the city. From here you can get your first glimpse of the Taj Mahal. We then visit the beautiful Taj Mahal. Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is an epitome of love, built by Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife who died giving birth to their 14th son in 1631. A fantastic sight at any time of the day, the white marble walls inlaid with precious stones and carved screens are breathtaking. Lunch at a local restaurant, return to the hotel for some free time to relax. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 5 AGRA-JAIPUR (B/L/D)Depart for Jaipur enroute visiting the abandoned palace Fatehpur Sikri. The palace and city was built in 1564 by Mugal Emperor Akbar and was intended to be the capital city but a shortage of water and unrest in the north-west made the Emperor abandon it. The well preserved buildings are impressive with their unusual architecture. Proceed to Bharatpur for lunch and then visit a village school, later walk around the village to interact with local women to learn about Rajasthani culture and traditions. On arrival in Jaipur, check into our hotel. Evening visit to Nehru Bazaar for textiles. Witness a sari trying-on demonstration and try your hands at it. Dinner at a local restaurant with traditional dancing entertainment. DAY 6 JAIPUR (B/L) Drive past Hawa Mahal. This most famous landmark of Jaipur is not actually a palace but a series of sandstone screens. This pink structure was constructed so that the ladies of the palace could watch the royal processions without being seen by any outsider. Amer Fort - at a short distance of 11kms from Jaipur, the Amer Fort complex stands on a rocky hill with forbidding ramparts reflected in the still waters of Maota Lake below. One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. Elephant or jeep ride to get to the fort complex. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the City Palace, now converted into a museum, except a small portion that is still used by the royal family of Jaipur. Among its best features is a courtyard with four ornamental gates representing the seasons and a textile museum containing royal costumes. Visit the Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory in the world. Time for shopping and bargaining in the jewellery bazaar area of town. Return to our hotel. DAY 7 JAIPUR-PUSHKAR (B/L/D) Morning visit to the home science department at Maharani Gayatri Devi College. The school was founded in 1943 by the Maharani of Jaipur, Gayatri Devi, and was the first public girls school in India. Lunch at a local restaurant. Depart for the holy town of Pushkar. Dinner later at the hotel. DAY 8 PUSHKAR (B/L/D)Visit Brahma’s Temple, the only such temple in India and an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Then proceed for our own private prayer ceremony on the lake edge finishing with an offering of flowers into the lake. Receive your “Pushkar Passport”, a colourful band tied around your wrist. Lunch at the hotel. Free afternoon to wander around this tourist friendly town. Make your own way back to the hotel. Evening sunset camel ride into the desert, on a clear day the colours are fantastic. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 9 PUSHKAR - JODHPUR (B/L/D)Later depart for Jodhpur with a packed lunch. On arrival check into our hotel. Free time for rest of the day to relax by the pool or explore some of the local shops in the area. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 10 JODHPUR (B/L)Half day city tour see Meherangarh Fort, built on a sandstone hill towering over the city of Jodhpur and Chamunda Temple located nearby. Lunch at a local restaurant. Later visit Sadar market, located in the centre of the city. Here you will find stalls and shops selling all sorts of fresh food, produce and spices along with wonderful textiles, which the city is noted for. DAY 11 JODHPUR - UDAIPUR (B/L/D)Transfer to Udaipur. Enroute visit the 15th century Ranakpur temple complex. The main temple, Chaumukha Mandir, is an incredible white marble structure with an ornate interior supported by 1444 carved pillars. This is one of India’s most important Jain temples. Lunch at Ranakapur. DAY 12 UDAIPUR (B/L/D)Morning visit to the City Palace, a majestic palace towering over the lake, it has a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Cooking lesson at a local cooking school and food prepared will be our lunch. Free time for the rest of the day to wander around the old streets, fabulous shopping here. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 13 UDAIPUR - DELHI (B) Free time until our afternoon flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi transfer to a special store for last minute shopping and spend time in a shopping centre before returning to the airport for onwards departure. END OF TOUR. SEE OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS | 
India Inspiration 2009
Our 2009 tour to India uses the same format as Jewel of Rajasthan 2008, except hotels are 3 - 4 star category rather than all 4 star.