12 days Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Ranthambhore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai.
Day 1 Fri: Arrive Delhi
Arrive tonight in India’s bustling capital city of Delhi, where you are greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to THE OBEROI. (Luxury Room)
Day 2 Sat: Akshardham Temple Sightseeing
After a leisurely morning, visit the beautiful Akshardham Temple. Built without steel, it consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 statues of India’s great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities. This evening, enjoy a home hosted dinner with an Indian family. (BD)
Day 3 Sun: Delhi Sightseeing
This morning’s tour of the Old Delhi includes the Red Fort, Raj Ghat — a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, Ashoka Pillar and the mile-long Chandni Chowk bazaar. Afternoon embark on a tour of New Delhi. Drive along Rajpath, the capital’s broadest avenue, for a view of the Parliament House, the President’s House and India Gate. Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar and Birla Temple. (BD)
Day 4 Mon: Delhi / Agra Sightseeing
Drive this morning drive to Agra, en route stopping at Sikandra to visit the tomb of Emperor Akbar. In the afternoon, explore the 16th century Agra Fort with its battlements, apartments, gardens and audience halls. Enjoy an extended visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal and witness the transformation as the monument reflects the warm glow of sunset. THE OBEROI AMARVILAS (Premier Room). (BD)
Day 5 Tue: Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Ranthambhore
An early morning visit to the Taj Mahal presents an opportunity to admire this dream in marble as it welcomes the rising sun. Later, depart by surface for Ranthambhore, en route visiting Emperor Akbar’s 16th century abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. This ghost town is remarkably well preserved and presents a perfect synthesis of Muslim, Hindu and Jain architecture. The sculptured columns bear mute testimony to this gallant experiment to unite Hindus and Muslims. Continue on to Ranthambhore, the remains of a thousand year old fortress, today a wildlife sanctuary, where leopards and tigers prowl. Your luxury camp is located on the private reserve of the local Maharajah. THE OBEROI VANYAVILAS (Luxury tent). (BD)
Day 6 Wed: Ranthambhore Game Reserve
Ranthambhore is one of the few preserves, where the nocturnal camera-shy tigers may be seen in daylight. Almost hunted to extinction by the local royalty and their British overlords, the population of the Bengal tiger is slowly increasing, thanks to the efforts of “Project Tiger” and the World Wildlife Fund. You’ll take thrilling game drives in the morning and evening to scour the jungle for wildlife. (BD)
Day 7 Thu: Ranthambhore / Jaipur
After a morning game drive, leave for the “pink city” of Jaipur, where the old city is surrounded by a massive wall pierced by magnificent gates. THE OBEROI RAJVILAS (Premier room) (BD)
Day 8 Fri: Amber Fort Excursion & Jaipur Sightseeing
Today, you are transported back in time, riding royally atop elegantly draped and painted elephants to the mountain fortress of Amber, a superb example of Rajput architecture with its complex of palaces, temples and ornate apartments. Afternoon tour of Jaipur takes you to Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds,” and continues to City Palace, with its latticed balconies, tiny windows, cupolas, courtyards and arched entrances. A stop at the ancient observatory concludes the tour. (BD)
Day 9 Sat: Jaipur / Udaipur
This morning fly to Udaipur, and tour this famous “City of Lakes,” known as one of the most picturesque and romantic cities of India and maybe the world. Visit City Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari or Garden of Maids and the folklore museum where you can see a presentation of the string puppets typical to this area. THE OBEROI UDAIVILAS (Premier Room) (BD)
Day 10 Sun: Ranakpur Excursion
Today’s excursion brings you to the beautiful 15th century sculpted Jain temples of Ranakpur. The intricately carved white marble temple of Adinath is perhaps the most well preserved and impressive examples of Western Indian Temple rchitecture. The temple dedicated to the Sun God is famed for its erotic sculpture. Stop for lunch at Maharani Bagh, a mango grove and private gardens of the Maharajah of Jodhpur. (BD)
Day 11 Mon: Udaipur/Mumbai (Bombay)
Fly to Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India’s most cosmopolitan city. Today’s tour of Mumbai includes the British-built arch “Gateway of India,” the Hanging Gardens and Malabar Hills where Mumbai’s rich and famous live, the Prince of Wales Museum,
Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Jain Temple. THE OBEROI (Deluxe Room) (BD)
Day 12 Tue: Elephanta Caves
Cruise across the harbor to Elephanta Island and its famous caves, filled with carvings and sculptures dating back to 550 A.D. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and pursue independent activities. Late evening transfer to international airport for flight back home. (BD)
