Kolkata / Day 1 - 2
Arrive in Kolkata. Spend the day sightseeing various places like the Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Kali Ghat Temple, Botanical Gardens, flower market, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church and Mother Teresa’s House. The day is spent getting oriented to the culturally rich city of Kolkata.
Darjeeling / Day 3 - 4
After breakfast transfer to the airport and take a flight to Bagdogra. On arrival continue drive to Darjeeling and check in at the hotel. Nestled among the rolling mountains with the glistening Mt Kanchenjunga towering over the azure sky, Darjeeling is fondly called ‘ Queen of the Hills’. It provides a perfect gateway for those seeking to be in harmony with nature. Darjeeling, though in the state of West Bengal, shares more common history with neighboring Nepal and Sikkim. Overnight in the hotel. Spend the day sightseeing in and around Darjeeling. The key highlights are Tiger Hill, Toy Train to Ghoom, the Ghoom Monastery and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Museum. The Ghoom monastery is correctly known as Yogachoeling Gompa. This is probably the most famous monastery in Darjeeling and is about 8 km south of town, just below Hill Cart road and the train station near Ghoom. It enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha. The HMI is yet another sight that should not be missed. The Mountaineering Museum contains a collection of historic mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna and a relief model of the Himalayas. The Everest Museum next door traces the history of attempts on the great peak. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who conquered Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953, lived in Darjeeling and was the director of the institute for many years. He died in 1986 and his statue now stands beside cremation spot just above the institute.
Cooch Behar / Day 5 - 6
After breakfast drive to Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar is well known for being the maternal home of Princess Gayatri Devi. After breakfast visit the Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Temple. Cooch Behar Palace was designed on the model of Buckingham Palace in London. Conceived from the concept of classical European style of Italian Renaissance, this magnificent palace was built by the famous Koch king Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in 1887.
Delhi / Day 7 - 8
After breakfast transfer to the Bagdogra Airport to fly to Delhi. On arrival check in at the hotel. In Delhi, you will encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary, where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist beside a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored. Overnight in the hotel. Landmark monuments make for a great sightseeing day in Delhi. The 17th century imposing fortress, Red Fort, followed by Jama Masjid, the mosque that can house 20,000 kneeling devotees in prayer and Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial. You also cross the centre of the city where all the government buildings are located. Photo stop at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Jaipur House (now the National Museum of Modern Art) and Qutab Minar are part of the plan. Overnight in the hotel.
Agra / Day 9 - 10
After breakfast drive to Agra. Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an en-shrined romance. It is a town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world. Overnight in the hotel. After breakfast proceed to the world famous monument of India the Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14 child. It employed 20,000 workers from the Central Asia and Europe for 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones. Later visit the Agra Fort, situated on the west bank of the river Jamuna, made by the Mughal King Akbar in the 16th century and completed by his grandson Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb for 8 years in this fort, before his death. Overnight in the hotel.
Jaipur / Day 11 - 12
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. On the way, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The complex consists of religious, residential and administrative buildings. The Mosque is considered a copy for the Mosque at Mecca and is extremely elegant, containing elements of Hindu and Persian design. Housed here is the Shrine of Sheikh Salim Chisti one of the greatest of Sufi saints of the Muslim world. Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the 18th century. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colourful state. The whole city was painted pink to welcome the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. Overnight in the hotel. This day is reserved for the key sightseeing parts of Jaipur. This includes a visit to the glorious Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar. At night, take an overnight train to the western part of the country, to the city of Ahemdabad.
Ahemdabad / Day 13 - 14
On arrival in Ahmedabad transfer to the hotel.
Ahmedabad is the pot-pouri of tradition and modern Islam and practicing Hinduism. A city known for many outstanding institutes and ashrams, it is situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River was the former capital of the state of Gujarat founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411. Today it is metropolis of the Indian Textile Industry. In the afternoon visit to Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) built by Ahmed Shah in 1424, the façade is emphasized by the spacious courtyard paved in marble with a tank in the middle. It has a screen of arches flanked by a pillared portico. Later proceed to Sidi Sayed Mosque- Sidi Sayed Mosque is unique for its exquisite screens, which are praised for their amazing Jhali screen, framed, in the ten semi-circular windows. The screen carved out of one rock is just exceptional. A visit to this superb and outstanding example of delicate carving is an absolute must. Overnight in the hotel. There are a number of things to see in Ahmedabad – Adalaj, Sabarmati Ashram, Dada Hari na Vav, Hate Singh Temple. Of these, the Gandhi Museum at Sabarmati is something you will love. It is one of the places from where Gandhi started the freedom movement. In 1930 it was from here that Gandhi started his Dandi Yatra to flout the salt laws of the British. The ashram, located on the banks of Sabarmati River was founded in 1915. Today it has been converted into a Gandhi memorial.
Vadodara / Day 15
After breakfast drive to Vadodara, once the capital of the Gaikwads. Baroda is a city with traditional heritage. A graceful city with palaces, parks and museums, Baroda is well known for its university and faculty of fine arts and is also a thriving industrial centre. Visit the Laxmi Vilas Palace built as the residence of the royal family. It is an extravagant and flamboyant piece of architecture, which houses royal collection of art treasure.. Kirti Mandir, the family vault of the Gaikwads, is decorated with murals by Nandalal Bose. The Vadodara museum and picture gallery has impressive collection of European oil masters, Mughal miniatures and valuable Buddhist and Jain palm leaf manuscripts. Overnight in the hotel.
Mumbai / Day 16 - 18
After breakfast transfer to the airport and take a flight to Mumbai. Visit Prince of Wales Museum (closed on Mondays). Prince of Wales Museum is the erstwhile name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya of Mumbai. In 1905, George V laid down, the Prince of Wales himself, who came on a visit to India its foundation stone. George Wittet, an architect, designed the splendid structure. The construction work was concluded in 1914, but the structure was converted to a military hospital for the period of World War I. Lady Lloyd inaugurated the full-fledged museum in 1923. The Kamla Nehru Park is next on the list. Perched on the top of Malabar Hill, Kamala Nehru Park is essentially a vantage point that presents a panoramic view of the glittering city - Mumbai. It extends to 3,300 sq m in the most luxurious and posh residential area of the Bollywood city of India. In the afternoon we will arrange the visit to Ball room at Taj Mahal Palace and Towers where Maharani used to hold various official meetings. Today, spend another day in and around Mumbai, taking in sights like the Elephanta caves, Gateway of India, Hanging Gardens, Marine Drive and other important places of the city. Overnight at the hotel. Onward flight.