Secrets of India (14 Days) 

     Today you board your transatlantic flight to India.

     Welcome to India’s capital city of Delhi! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in.

     Meet your traveling companions and Tour Director before an afternoon sightseeing tour. Your Local Guide will show you the sights of "New" Delhi. Visit Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar. Then, see the grand government buildings, the President's House, and Parliament House. Tonight your Tour Director hosts a lavish welcome dinner. (B,D)

     This morning's sightseeing tour focuses on "Old Delhi." Start with a visit to the Jama Mosque followed by a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, a colorful local bazaar. Next, explore the magnificent Red Fort with its red sandstone walls bedecked in marble, jewels, gilt, and inlay. You’ll also visit the Ghandi Memorial Museum and Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. (B)

     Fly to Varanasi, the holiest of Hindu pilgrim cities, on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. Sightseeing today visits Sarnath, the cradle of Buddhism, where Buddha first spoke of his philosophy. (B)

     Around dawn, board a boat to watch a striking religious ritual - the Hindu's devotional bathing in the Ganges. You’ll observe hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the river's edge, some practicing yoga, others meditating, still others bathing fully clothed. You'll visit the Bharat Temple, housing a relief map of India carved out of marble, and time permitting, drive by the Durga Temple, popularly known as the Monkey Temple. A late morning flight takes you to Khajuraho, where sightseeing focuses on the mysterious Temples of Love that have been isolated for centuries. Art historians have long puzzled over myths and legends in an attempt to understand the bizarre combination of prolific religious and erotic temples. (B,D)

     Enjoy a rare visit this morning to the impressive Medieval Palace Complex, once the capital of a locally powerful Rajput kingdom. Later, board a train to Agra, where much of the city’s impressive past is still evident today in the majesty of her buildings. (B)

     Today’s sightseeing includes the incomparable Taj Mahal, an extravagant marble monument to love. The Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan built it as a memorial to his beloved wife, who died during childbirth. To add to this memorable experience, you’ll also travel by tongas, or horse carriages, during your visit. Later, see Agra Fort, built in sandstone by the Moghul Emperor Akbar, as well as the beautiful pearl mosque, Moti Masjid. (B,D)

     Today, visit Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) en route to Jaipur. The evening is free to enjoy the "Pink City," known for its arts and crafts including jewelry, enamel work, hand-painted fabrics, and stone sculptures. (B)

     The highlight of today's sights includes the amazing Amber Fort. Later on, enjoy an in-depth walking tour of the fascinating "Pink City," including the City Palace; the adjoining Museum, which houses a collection of rare manuscripts; and the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). You’ll also see the 17th-century observatory with its 90-foot sundial. (B,D)

     A short early morning flight brings you to Udaipur, where you will see some of India’s most beautiful palaces. During your morning sightseeing you will visit Sahelion Ki Bari followed by a panoramic drive through the city. This afternoon, visit the Crystal Gallery, probably the single-largest private collection of crystal in the world. See an exquisite collection of crystal objects d'art, dinner sets, perfume bottles, and the only crystal bed in the world. Then, enjoy a cruise on Lake Pichola (water levels permitting), with an included visit to the island palace of Jag Mandir. (B,D)

     This morning, discover the massive granite and marble City Palace. Then, visit Eklingi Temple, dedicated to Shiva, the guardian deity of Mewar, followed by the Jain Temples of Nagda which date back to the 11th century. Tonight your Tour Director will host a festive farewell dinner to celebrate an unforgettable journey through India. (B,D)

     Morning at leisure before flying to Delhi. (B)

     Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)