India Travel Luxury and Oberoi Hotels

Itinerary Summary for The Grandest India Tour - 20 days

Day 2 - Delhi - Tour Old Delhi, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid India's largest mosque. Ride a rickshaw through the main street. Visit Chandni Chowk with its bustling jumble of shops, temples, mosques and craftsmen's workshops. Then to Raj Ghat, site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation, and on to New Delhi and the famous India Gate and the splendid Lutyens architecture of the government offices. End the day with a visit to Qutab Minar, a tower of victory, completed in 1368, and the Humayun Tomb of the second Mughal Emperor. Overnight at The Oberoi New Delhi.

Day 3 - Delhi - Agra - Drive to Agra along one of India?s finest freeways (4 hours) stopping on the way. Tour the Taj Mahal and stay until sunset. (Taj Mahal is closed for visitors on Friday). Overnight at The Oberoi - Amarvilas.

Day 4 Agra Visit Agra Fort and Itimad-Ud-Daulah, known as "Baby Taj". Overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas.

Day 5 Agra - Ranthambore Drive to Fatehpur Sikri (about 1 hour) the abandoned 16th century sandstone city. Two and a half hour rail journey on the Golden Temple Express to Sawai Madhopur, transfer to the Oberoi Vanyavilas for Ranthambore, a former private hunting reserve of the royal family of Jaipur. Ranthambore has for more than a century been one of the most sought after hunting grounds for tiger on the Indian subcontinent. Drive in open jeeps, escorted by naturalists, to view the great diversity of birds and mammals. Major predators in this reserve include leopards and tigers. Overnight at The Oberoi Vanyavilas.

Day 6 Ranthambore Early morning game drive with naturalist. Visit to Ranthambore Fort. Overnight at The Oberoi Vanyavilas.

Day 7 Ranthambore - Aman Early morning game drive with a naturalist for another chance to view tiger, other animals and birds. Drive to Alwar (about four hours) through the Rajasthani countryside. At sunset, enjoy a camel ride to the nearby Madar Baba Ki Chattri, for spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding area and provides a panoramic experience of Amanbagh's breathtaking setting. Overnight at the Aman Bagh in Ajabgarh

Day 8 Aman Day at leisure at this wonderful spa or sightseeing. Overnight at the Aman Bagh in Ajabgarh

Day 9 Aman - Jaipur Drive to Jaipur (two hours). Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas

Day 10 Jaipur Visit the Amber Fort, the former seat of the Rajput rulers of Jaipur, and the Shiladevi temple, which continues to be the private temple of the Royal family, with its exquisite marble carving and silver door. Lunch at The Rambagh Palace,former Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur, then explore Jaipur, the famed "Pink City" and the Hawa Mahal, Palace of Winds. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Day 11 Jaipur Visit The City Palace with its museums. The royal family still lives in part of the City Palace in the centre of town. then on to the 15th century open-air royal observatory,the Jantar Mantar, built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Day 12 Jaipur - Udaipur - Devigarh Fly to Udaipur then drive to Udaipur. (45 minutes.) Morning is at leisure. After lunch visit the ancient temples at Eklingji and Nagda. The marble temple of Eklinga was first built in 734 AD and was rebuilt again in the 15th century. The temple is known for its silver door and screen. Overnight at the Devigarh Fort & Palace

Day 13 Devigarh Drive to Udaipur (about 45 minutes) for a day excursion. Visit the City Palace and its museum across the lake, and the Crystal Gallery at the Shiv Niwas Palace which houses the crystal collection specially commissioned by the House of Mewar. Before returning to the hotel visit a local studio of miniature painting artists who have helped keep this fine tradition alive. Suggest Lunch either at the beautiful Lake Palace or at the beautfiul Oberoi Udaivilas. Explore the city and view the miniature painting artists before an evening cruise around Lake Pichola with its majestic backdrop of the City Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace, skirting the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir Island. Overnight in the Devigarh Fort Palace

Day 14 Devigarh Picturesque drive to Ranakpur (about two hours) to visit the famed Jain temples in a remote and peaceful Aravali valley. Lunch at the Maharani Bagh orchard retreat belonging to the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Overnight at the Devigarh Fort & Palace

Day 15 Devigarh - Udaipur - Mumbai - Goa Day at leisure. Overnight at the Taj Exotica, Goa

Day 16 Goa Leisure, beach and sight-seeing. Board the Deccan Odyssey train which departs Goa on Saturdays to travel across India to Pune. Dinner and overnight on board Deccan Odyssey.

Day 17 Deccan Odyssey - Pune Arrive Pune. Visit the famous Rajneesh Ashram, lushly landscaped 24-acre commune, the Tribal Museum and the David Synagogue, believed to be one of the largest in the world. Built by a Jewish merchant, Sir David Sassoon in 1867, it is one of the finest synagogues in India. Then on to the Aga Khan Palace, an historical monument where Mahatma Gandhi and his wife were imprisoned along with other national leaders after he started the Quit India Movement. Return to your private train. Dinner and overnight onboard Deccan Odyssey

Day 18 Deccan Odyssey - Aurangabad Arrive Aurangabad to visit the Ellora Caves and the Ajanta Caves, two World Heritage Sites. (The Ellora are closed on Tuesday. The Ajanta are closed on Monday) Drive to Ellora Caves (40 minutes). The 34 caves are 2,000 years old and are compared to the Pyramids for their amazing construction, sculptures and frescoes. Dinner and overnight onboard Deccan Odyssey

Day 19 Deccan Odyssey - Jalgaon Arrive Jalgaon railway station for the Ajanta Caves. (closed on Monday). The Ajanta Caves are closed on Monday. They are older than the Ellora caves, dating from 200 BC to 650 AD. Amazingly they are hewn from the volcanic rock of the Deccan Trap in a steep crescent shaped hillside. Lost to the world after the 7th century it was discovered by accident in 1819, by a party of British officers on a hunting expedition. Afternoon visit to the famous Sula vineyards then on by train to Mumbai. Dinner and overnight onboard Deccan Odyssey

Day 20 Deccan Odyssey - Mumbai Arrive Mumbai and transfer to Hotel Taj Mahal. Sight-seeing and shopping.

Day 21 Depart early hours for onward destination.


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