Iconic cities, desert landscapes, magnificent temples and local life

Saturday, 17 May 2025

Fly to Mumbai

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Mumbai.

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Sunday, 18 May 2025

Mumbai

Arrive in Mumbai, where you will be met by our guide and transferred to your chosen hotel for a 3-night stay including breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.

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Monday, 19 May 2025

Guided tour of Mumbai

Today explore Mumbai with your guide, visiting the Elephanta caves, and continue in the afternoon to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum), founded in the early years of the 20th century. The museum houses approximately 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history.

We then visit Mani Bhawan, located on leafy Laburnum Road which is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use. 

Finally, we drive around Mumbai’s colonial heritage sites such as Rajabai Clock Tower, Mumbai University, High Court and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. These buildings exhibit a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture. As we drive past the Marine Drive, the beautiful promenade stretches from Nariman Point to Chowpatty in crescent shape along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea.

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Tuesday, 20 May 2025

Local life in Mumbai tour

Start very early in the morning for the unique experience to see the bustling city of Mumbai at dawn on a walking tour. Return to the hotel and relax at the hotel for the rest of the morning.

In the afternoon, visit one of the Asia’s largest Slums – Dharavi. In spite of all the grunginess and squalor, Dharavi is the most bustling part of Mumbai. An erstwhile fishing village, Dharavi has over the years become the prime contributor to the GDP of Mumbai. With thousands of small scale industries thriving in the area, Dharavi generates revenue of almost a billion US Dollars annually. Exploring this part of Mumbai throws up constant surprises not associate with a slum – the industrious nature of the people, the secular harmony and a zeal for life and hope of a better future. Your co-explorer is a native, for whom Dharavi has been home since childhood. Contrary to popular belief, they are educated, employed, speak impeccable English and more importantly, are very happy. After the tour, you won’t call Dharavi a ‘slum’, but a “land of opportunity.

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Fly to Jaisalmer

Transfer to the airport and fly to Jaisalmer. On arrival, your guide will transfer you to your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast

Later in the evening visit conclude your day at Vyas Chhatri, a stunning example of Rajasthani architecture located within Bada Bagh. This old Brahmin cemetery, adorned with local versions of cenotaphs, is dedicated to Ved Vyaas, the sage who penned the epic, Mahabharata. The entire place is filled with cenotaphs and is often referred to as the sunset point of Jaisalmer, providing a mesmerizing view of the setting sun.

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Thursday, 22 May 2025

Guided tour of Jaisalmer

After breakfast, visit the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort Palace, which was constructed in 1156 AD. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the Thar Desert and has witnessed numerous battles throughout history. Continue to Patwa Haveli, an intriguing piece of architecture and one of the most significant havelis in Jaisalmer. It holds this distinction for two reasons: firstly, it was the first haveli to be erected in the city, and secondly, it is a cluster of five small havelis. 

Friday, 23 May 2025

Overland to Dera Dune Village

Today we drive through the That Desert to Dera Dune Village, a very special lodge where you can experience the unique rural way of life in the Rajhastani countryside. We stay for 3-nights including breakfast and dinner.

This is an exclusive property that is set atop a 100' high sand dune with panoramic views of the Thar Desert. The Resort features exquisite examples of traditional Rajasthani architecture throughout, with stonework and carvings using local design and sustainable materials and, most importantly, utilizing the skills of local craftsmen. It has individual deluxe cottages, a swimming pool and an excellent restaurant.

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Saturday, 24 May 2025

Exploring the desert

After breakfast, visit the Potters village and Salt Pans, the sandy soil of the Thar Desert absorbs all the water but here at the foot of the sand laden dunes lays an area by some mysterious quirk of nature that does not absorb any water and is saturated with salt. Locals harvest this seemingly endless supply of salt for sale in the local markets.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

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Sunday, 25 May 2025

Local villages and camal safari

Morning at leisure at the lodge.

In the afternoon, embark on an exciting adventure, traversing cross-country on dirt and sand roads, continuing your exploration of "Jamba-ji's" land. These excursions offer a wonderful opportunity to experience traditional Rajasthani hospitality and get a close-up view of rural Rajasthani life. The villages, with their painted adobe walls, preserve a way of life unaffected by the nearby big cities.

As you visit the Bishnoi villages, you will be captivated by their immaculate appearance, thanks to the daily efforts of brightly clad women adorned with silver jewelry and bangles that extend up to their arms. In contrast, the tall men of the villages dress entirely in white, with their large turbans gracefully wrapped around their dark-skinned and weathered faces.

You will also have an opportunity enjoy a camel safari followed by a sundowner.

Monday, 26 May 2025

Travel to Jodhpur

After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur visiting Khichan, a local village where they feed over 30,000 demoiselle cranes every day. Continue to Jodhpur and check-in to the hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

Located on the foothill of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. The city is known by three names as the "Sun City" for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the "Blue City" due to the vivid blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort.  Being at the onshore of Thar Desert, referred as the “Gateway to Thar”, life has been influenced with ways of the desert folks (gypsies can be found in many parts of the city). The forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, colour and texture, a booming handicrafts industry, all add up to make this historic city worth a visit.

Later explore the lively local markets of the city with a concluding a visit to the clock tower.

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Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Guided tour of Jodhpur

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Mehrangarh Fort, which has stood since 1459 and is one of the most astounding architectural marvels of its time. The towering structure features extremely high walls and gates, and the closer you explore it, the smaller you begin to feel! Inside the fort, you'll discover a network of courtyards and palaces, including a museum that houses a splendid collection of items from the Maharajas, proudly displayed to honor their long history of warding off attackers.

We also visit the Jaswant Thada, a calming and soothing architectural wonder. Constructed entirely of milky-white marble, the whimsical essence of this memorial can be felt by all in the surrounding area. 

Next, visit Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, which sprawls over 72 hectares near the historic Mehrangarh Fort near Jodhpur. The park contains ecologically restored desert and arid land vegetation. Established in 2006, the park's purpose is to restore the natural ecology of a large, rocky area adjoining and below the fort.

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Travel to Jaipur

Drive to Jaipur and check into your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

Jaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is often called the Pink City in reference to its distinctly coloured buildings, which were originally painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The city is rich in heritage, culture and architecture with its splendid fortresses, majestic palaces, tranquil temples and beautiful havelis. Jaipur city has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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Thursday, 29 May 2025

Guided tour of Jaipur

After breakfast we visit Amber Fort built by the Kachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 to 1728 and considered the pinnacle of Rajput architecture. The impressive room of mirrors, walls of jewel-encrusted marble, and the royal apartments offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.

We continue to Jantar Mantar, the incredible open-air Royal Observatory (ca. 1728) housing oversized astronomical instruments and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We also visit the City Palace, former residence of the Maharajas of Jaipur, built in the shape of the city itself and now converted to a museum that houses the rulers’ magnificent art collections. Explore the local markets as Jaipur is most famous for its handicrafts.

In the evening, we are dinner guests of a local Rajasthani family in their home.  This provides a fascinating window on Indian life and an opportunity to witness up close the traditional society from which India is transitioning to a more urban lifestyle.

Friday, 30 May 2025

Travel to Ranthambore National Park 

After breakfast, drive to Ranthambore and check into your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

Ranthambore, for many decades was the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, offering a fascinating combination of crumbling monuments, living temples, wild beauty, and a chance to spot a wild tiger. Ranthambore was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and became part of Project Tiger in 1973. This is one of the best tiger reserves of the country, known to have "friendly" tigers and chances of sighting one here is reasonably better than many other tiger reserves of India.

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Saturday, 31 May 2025

On safari

Today, you have the opportunity to explore Ranthambore National Park on an exclusive Jeep safari led by local naturalists. Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s best known national parks; a mix of rolling hills and crags, meadows, lakes and rivulets, this dry-deciduous forest system is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Although the park offers an opportunity for sighting of tiger, the park is home to leopards, flying foxes, langurs, macaques, sloth bears, crocodiles, and pythons – over 400 resident and migrant species.

Sunday, 01 June 2025

Gadoli

After breakfast, drive to Gadoli and check into the Dera Village Retreat for a 1-night stay including all meals. This is a welcome break from the regular tourist visits to monuments, museums and market places and the hustle and bustle of the crowded cities and move towards the pristine and untouched lives of the real people of the land. The villages visited are tucked away within a valley inside the Aravalli Hills, where a community of the Meena Tribals are living. The joy and spirit of rustic life is palpable in the lively faces of the village folks. Here, in many ways, time has stood still and  globalization has had little impact

Later in the afternoon, enjoy the camel/camel cart safari to visit a charming village and meet its friendly people who are eager to share their life with you.

 

Monday, 02 June 2025

Fatehpur Sirkri and Agra

After breakfast, drive to Agra, En route visit Fatehpur Sikri, built in red sandstone, during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. This place was abandoned then due to scarcity of water which could not support the growing population and due to turmoil brewing from the North West. Fatehpur Sikri’s history is rich and nostalgic, with the empty walls of the imperial town echoing a past that could not sustain a future.

Though Agra's history is largely recognized with Mughal Empire, the place was established much before it and has linkages since Mahabharata, the Mythological history.  The golden age of the city began with the Mughals. Akbar made it the center of art, culture, commerce and learning. During the peaceful reign of Shah Jahan, his passion for architecture came to the fore and the world-famous architectural masterpieces were constructed including the Taj Mahal.

Check-in to your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

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Tuesday, 03 June 2025

Sunrise at the Taj & Agra tour

Early in the morning enjoy a tour of the Taj Mahal, the magnificent tomb of white marble built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, who had implored her husband to build a monument symbolising their undying love for each other. We then visit the imposing Red Fort of Agra (also known as Agra Fort). A creative, architectural, and strategic masterpiece, the Fort is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

We continue to the Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah. Even though it’s called the ‘Baby Taj’, it was built before the Taj, and known to be the 1st Marble Mausoleum on the banks of river Yamuna. It too has beautiful carving and its own serene peaceful aura. It is the first building finished with white marble and marks the transitional phase from red stone to white marble.

Wednesday, 04 June 2025

Drive to Lucknow 

Drive to Lucknow and check into your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

The first thing that you will notice about Lucknow is its old-world charm, mirrored by its exquisite monuments, British-era buildings, and the well-known ‘Lakhnawi Tehzeeb,' the etiquette of the people of Lucknow. The ‘City of Nawabs’ is the capital of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh thrives along the banks of Gomti river. Lucknow is also known for its elaborate cuisine and Chikankaari, or exquisite shadow-work embroidery on fine muslin cloth. The legacy of the Nawabs of Lucknow has been passed down through generations, bestowing the city with its well-known culture and delectable cuisine.

Later in evening enjoy a heritage walk showcasing the culture of this fabled city and a guided culinary walk tasting the best of meat dishes from the Awadhi menu.

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Thursday, 05 June 2025

Guided tour of Lucknow

This morning visit the Sadat Ali & Begum Tombs and the Chatar Manzil and the Husainabad Complex - the Clock Tower is the highest Clock Tower in Asia and in some ways superior to its counterpart, 'Big Ben'. Today the clock stands motionless but has witnessed all times, the good, the bad and the ugly. Continue to the Babylon of East, The Husainabad Imambara - known for its beauty and pieces of décor. Later we will visit the Husainabad Picture Gallery that houses life-size hand painted portraits of Nawabs of Awadh.

We end the tour at the Lucknow Residency a place where speechless walls are known to speak the gruesome tale of the 1857 mutiny. The sprawling British campus witnessed nothing less than 3000 deaths to keep the Union Jack flying. Yet the British could not defend their domain and the buildings were lost to the high spirited and enthusiastic Indians who fought till their last breath. 

Friday, 06 June 2025

Travel to Varanasi & boat ride

After breakfast, drive to Varanasi and check into your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.

Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world and offers a breath taking experience to every visitor - the rays of the dawn shimmering across the Ganges, the high banks, the temples and shrines along the banks bathed in a golden hue, soul stirring hymns and mantras along with the fragrance of incense filling the air. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation/nirvana and so they make the trip to the city when they realize that they are close to death. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education.

Later in the evening take a boat ride in the holy River Ganges where you will witness the beautiful and captivating 'Aarti' ceremony at twilight. ‘Aarti’ is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, in which wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor are offered to one or more deities. An absolute must see in Varanasi, the evening Aarti is conducted every day at sunset by priests, worshiping the river goddess with incense, camphor, flowers and earthen lamps. 

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Saturday, 07 June 2025

Guided tour

Early this morning you return to the Ganges, where Hindu pilgrims perform their time-honored rites along the ghats (steps) leading to the sacred river. Visit several of the important Ghats by boat as you experience for ourselves the spiritual mystique of these hallowed waters. In the afternoon, visit Sarnath one of four holy Buddhist sites and an exceedingly tranquil place. 

Sunday, 08 June 2025

Fly to Delhi

After breakfast, transfer to Varanasi airport and fly to Delhi. Transfer to your chosen hotel for a 3-night stay including breakfast.

Delhi is a dynamic city where the past coexists with the present. While historic evidence shows that the area around Delhi was first occupied around 2,500 years ago, Hindu mythology predates that by another 500 years. The British captured the city in 1803 and when they decided to make it the capital of India in 1911, they commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to draw up the plans. The result is slightly surprising with spacious tree-lined avenues punctuated with architecture which is among the most striking in the world.

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Monday, 09 June 2025

Guided tour of Delhi

After breakfast, experience the combined charm of Old and New Delhi in the company of our expert local guide. On the tour of “Old Delhi,” explore the exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colourful bazaars. Drive past the Red Fort, and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk.

Drive past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy.  Today, it is the official residence of the President of India.

Continue to Sikh Gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi. It was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, a 17th century Indian ruler. We also visit the capital's most striking monument, the 70-meter high Qutab Minar.

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Tuesday, 10 June 2025

At leisure in Delhi

Your final day in India. Relax, shop and explore Delhi at your leisure. 

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Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Fly back to the UK

Transfer to the airport and fly back to the UK, arriving later the same day.