Jewels of India

Arrive in Mumbai

On arrival at the airport, you will be driven to your hotel in Mumbai, where you can freshen up and head out for a tour of the city. Mumbai is a bustling metropolis, a city of contrasts—5-star hotels and street food joints, luxury cars and retro Premier Padmini cabs, glitzy malls with super luxury brands and buzzing local markets all co-exist side by side. You will spend the night at your hotel in Mumbai.

A tour of Mumbai

After breakfast, we kick the tour off with a visit to Elephanta Caves which consists of the more massive Hindu caves, the smaller Buddhist caves and the main cave (also known as the Shiva Cave). You can see several sculptures depicting various aspects of the life of Lord Shiva. After this, we will return to Mumbai for a tour of the city going to Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Flora Fountain, Hutama Chowk, Victoria Terminus (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the English Gothic Mumbai High Court Building, Rajabai Clock Tower, and the Colaba area. You can dine at one of the local seafood restaurants or the hotel, after which you can retire at the hotel.

Flight to Hyderabad

The next morning, you will be dropped at the airport in time for your flight to Hyderabad. Upon reaching you will be taken to the Palace to check-in. Hyderabad is a cosmopolitan city, rich in culture and heritage while being a center for urban growth and enterprise. You will spend the night in Hyderabad.

A tour of Hyderabad

After breakfast, you will proceed to the famous Charminar, one of the most popular and best tourist destinations in India. You can shop around at the local bazaars with pearl, bangles and jewelry shops, and perfume and attar dealers. Other attractions include the Tank Bund Road which is lined with 33 statues of famous personalities and the Hussain Sagar lake, a venue for water sporting events, where you can enjoy boat rides and speed boats. The highlight of the day will be the light and sound show at Golconda Fort, complete with massive illumination of the fort from all sides and narration of historical events from the 13th century onwards by Amitabh Bachan, after which you will stay overnight at the hotel.

Hyderabad tour continues

The next morning, the first site will be Salar Jung Museum, the third largest museum in India. Some of the architectural beauties you can check out include Qutub Shahi Tombs, Jama Masjid, Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and the tombs of Asaf Jahi rulers. At Purani Haveli, you can visit the Nizam’s Museum for a historical dive into Hyderabadi royalty. You will spend the night at the hotel.

Flight to Kolkata

On day 6, you will fly to Kolkata, a cradle of history, nationalism, arts, science, and a memorial ground of India’s colonial past. Kolkata is famous for its many prominent historical figures—Rabindranath Tagore, S.N. Bose, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, and Mother Teresa among others, making it a city of national importance.

A tour of Kolkata

The first spot you will visit is the Victoria Memorial, which was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and houses a museum of oil paintings depicting her life. It is among the best tourist destinations in India. Next is the Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River, Kolkata’s most iconic and most photographed landmark. The red-clad Howrah Station, the largest railway station in the world and an important port during the British Raj, is nearby. Next, we have the Birla Planetarium, and finally, you will get to enjoy a sunset cruise on the River Ganges, as the city lights up and the night comes to life. The cruise starts with some welcome drinks and snacks from the jetty point and lasts three hours. Lastly, we have dinner and retire for the day at the hotel.

Flight to Jaipur

Next morning, you will be dropped at the airport for your flight to Jaipur, the “Pink City”, filled with Havelis (or traditional mansions), opulent palaces, bazaars, and forts that showcase the glorious past of the Rajputs. In the evening, you will get to enjoy a special Rajasthani folk dance performance and puppet show, performed by a local tribe, followed by a delicious Rajasthani dinner.

A tour of Jaipur

After breakfast, we start with a trip to Amber Fort, which is situated on top of a hill. It was established in 1592, and it provides a panoramic view of the city. Here’s the fun part—you will be taken to the port atop an elephant! Up next is the Sheesh Mahal or the “Chamber of Mirrors,” Jas Mandir with its ornate ceilings and latticework and the gorgeous Shila Devi temple having an intricately carved silver door. Another attraction is the City Palace and attached museum that showcases the history of the Mughals. The most iconic spot on our list is Hawa Mahal or the “Palace of Winds” which has a honeycomb-like structure designed to maximize air ventilation. It is undoubtedly among the best tourist destinations in India. Last is the Birla Temple, a stunning white marble building dedicated to the three religions of India, complete with the evening Aarti, the traditional ceremonial event of lighting oil lamps. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Jaipur tour continues

There’s much more to see in Jaipur, and the first event today, after breakfast, is a visit to Samode village which was once a large flourishing town and one of the wealthiest territories of Amber, before it was relinquished to the British Raj. The 400-year old Samode Palace is nearby with a plethora of frescos and a Durbar Hall. This is also a good spot for shopping items like gold and silver jewelry, blue pottery, tie-dyed materials, silk, sarees, wooden handicrafts, and carpets. The evening is set aside for a local walking tour of Old Bazaar with particular focus on the evening bazaar, cuisine, and crafts, with our local guide. It is a wonderful opportunity to try the local street foods like pakoras, aloo tiki, samosa, and sweets and also observe the local artisans, jewelers, silversmiths, gold and silver foil makers in their workshops. The day ends with dinner.

To Agra by road

We start the day with breakfast and hit the road on a long drive to Agra. En route, we will check out Fatehpuri Sikri or the “City of Victory” built by Emperor Akbar. It has white marble buildings with intricate carvings, including the tomb of Salim Christi, Jodhabai’s palace, Birbal’s house, and other structures marking the victories of the Mughal Empire. Following this, we continue the drive to Agra and check-in to the hotel, the Mughal capital situated on the banks of the Yamuna, a bustling city, and home to the Taj Mahal.

A tour of Agra

At sunrise, we will proceed to the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world—a memorial of white marble and rare stones built by Shah Jahan for his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is undoubtedly one of the best tourist destinations in India. After the visit, we return to the hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the day sightseeing in Agra. The sites to see include the tomb of Akbar the Great, Agra Fort, and Itmad-ud-Daulah. In the afternoon, we go for a heritage walk to the other side of the Yamuna with your guide, where you can see remnants of the Mughal Empire and enjoy some delicious Masala chai on the Tea Terrace. The day ends with dinner and early slumber at the hotel since we need to wake up early for the next day’s activities.

Drive to Delhi

After breakfast, we will proceed to Delhi. Upon reaching, you can freshen up and get ready for our visit to Akshardham Temple, the highlight of the day. Akshardham Temple houses exhibitions on Hinduism, the life and teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, prayer sessions, and more. Apart from the exhibitions, you can enjoy the calm atmosphere within the temple, the sculptures, carved pillars, domes, the open gardens, courtyards, and water bodies. There is also a mesmerizing light and sound show to which you can book tickets. You will end the day with dinner and stay at your hotel in Delhi.

A tour of Delhi

On this leg of the tour, you will enjoy a guided tour of Delhi after breakfast, which includes Raj Ghat, Red Fort, Jama Masjid (which we can reach by bicycle rickshaws), the markets of Chandni Chowk and Moonlit Square. In the afternoon and evening, we can visit the Qutub Minar, Humayun’s tomb, India Gate, Parliament House, the Rastrapathi Bhawan, and the Mughal Gardens which are open to the public in springtime. These are some of the best tourist destinations in India. Your overnight stay will be in Delhi.

Back home

The tour ends with breakfast, after which you will be taken to the airport in time for your return flight. We hope you take home with you fantastic memories of some of the best tourist destinations in India.