MOHINDER AND MARIA TRAVEL TO INDIA TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF DIWALI DELHI/AGRA/JAIPUR/UDAIPUR/JODHPUR/DELHI 20 OCTOBER 2022 TO 31 OCTOBER 2022
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MOHINDER AND MARIA TRAVEL TO
INDIA TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF
DIWALI
DELHI/AGRA/JAIPUR/UDAIPUR/JODHPUR/DELHI
20 OCTOBER 2022 TO 31 OCTOBER 2022
1|Page
Day Date City Description Hotel
Thu 20 Delhi Arrive Delhi. You are met as you exit the aircraft and you are The
Oct assisted with immigration and custom formalities. You are Oberoi
transferred to your hotel
Fri 21 Delhi The most of this day is at leisure to rest after your flight. The
Oct Oberoi
After lunch your tour takes you to the sights of the new City,
driving past the monumental buildings of the former British
Capital, stopping at Humayun’s Tomb believed to be a precursor
to the Taj Mahal. You also visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib,
the temple of the youngest religion in India – Sikhism which
began in the 14th Century and a religion that was founded on the
basis of philanthropy. Here the key attraction is the community
Kitchen where everyone regardless of their station in life will
come and volunteer. The kitchen feeds over 10,000 people in a
day from pilgrims, to families to the needy.
Sat 22 Agra Today you explore the city of Delhi starting in the morning at the Oberoi
Oct Old City which you explore in cycle rickshaws, disembarking at Amarvilas
the aromatic spice market. You will disembark at the Jama
Masjid, the Friday Mosque and the iconic image of the old City.
You have an early lunch and you depart for Agra the drive taking
four hours.
Sun 23 Jaipur Rising early you will visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. After Rajmahal
Oct breakfast you visit the Agra Fort and you continue to Jaipur. The Palace
drive will take four and a half hours.
Mon 24 Jaipur Your day will start with a private tour of the City Palace, home Rajmahal
Oct to the current members of the royal family. You will be visiting Palace
the private chambers and ceremonial rooms ending with a glass
of champagne in the grand drawing room. Later after lunch you
take a walk of the Old City exploring the living heritage of the
area from shrines and temple murals to small but exquisite
architectural delights.
You are in Jaipur for one of India’s most beautiful festivals –
Diwali, the festival of lights. In the evening you walk through
the old city lit by fairy lamps and butter lamps, and you will stop
at a temple to see the worship of Lakshmi the goddess of wealth,
before returning to your hotel which will lit by hundreds of clay
lamps to enjoy the fireworks over the city and a special Diwali
dinner.
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Tue 25 Jaipur Today you start your day early with a sunrise tour of the city Rajmahal
Oct stopping to join in the laughing yoga at Shivaji park; riding a tuk Palace
tuk through the streets as the street vendors and the tea stalls
start up for the day and wandering through the colorful and very
busy flower and vegetable market. You return to your hotel and
the morning is free with the car at your disposal to go shopping.
In the afternoon you visit the Fort Palace at Amber. From the
Fort you begin a walk through the narrow alleys of the
settlements that surround the fort. You will explore these lanes,
stopping a tea shops making local snacks, a beautifully carved
temple, and a traditional stepwell will feature among the sites
along the way. It is a great way to observe the life in a very
historic area of Jaipur. Amber is a part of the city and yet the
rhythms of life here are slower and much more traditional than
nearby Jaipur. On the walk you will visit the Anokhi Museum of
Hand Printing.
The day ends with a visit to a studio and you will have a lesson
in Bollywood dancing and Indian hip hop. Your teachers will be
experts in the field who train young aspiring actors and
actresses. The session is vigorous and active and better than
most workouts!
Wed 26 Udaipur The morning is at leisure. you will depart today for Udaipur by Oberoi
Oct Indigo Airlines 6E 7322 (6:35 PM/7:50 PM) to Udaipur. Udaivilas
In the morning you will visit the City Palace, considered the
finest in terms of art. From the palace will tour the City Palace
and will visit the Old City stopping along the walk at a small
temple where you have a hands on lesson in the art of Jal Sanjhi
– painting on water.
In the afternoon you have a hands on cooking lesson with
Minakshi Singh. She will meet you at the market so you can shop
with her for the ingredients before returning to her home to
cook a meal using some of her favorite recipes
Thu 27 Udaipur Today you take a cycling tour, your path taking you out of the Oberoi
Oct city to the villages and farmlands just outside the city limits. Udaivilas
Later you drive 45 minutes to Delwara and you take the three
hour walk with Delwara Heritage and Community walk with the
NGO Sadhna who use guides from local communities. After
lunch you visit the atmospheric site at Nagda before returning
to your hotel.
Fri 28 Jodhpur When you are ready you depart for the desert town of Jodhpur. Raas
Oct Your home for the next three nights is the superb Umaid Bhavan
Palace, the only art deco palace in Northern India. You will be
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sharing the palace with members of the former royal family,
who still live here. Before arriving in Jodhpur, you will stop at
one of the architectural gems of the area – the white marble
temples of Ranakpur
Sat 29 Jodhpur In the morning you take a walking tour of the Old City. The Raas
Oct afternoon is at leisure. In the evening you will have a private
champagne tour of the Fort led by the Curator
Sun 30 Jodhpur A short drive today takes you to the unusual Desert Museum Oberoi
where amongst its collection are a collection brooms and rare Gurgaon
musical instruments. You will meet the son of the founder and
later you will watch a performance of the “Langa” desert
musician.
You return to Delhi today and on arrival you will transfer to the
Oberoi Gurgaon until your later transfer to the international
airport
20 October, Thursday
Arrive Delhi. You are met as
you exit the aircraft and you
assisted with immigration
formalities and collecting
your baggage. You are
transferred to your hotel.
DELHI
The capital of India, Delhi is home to 16 million people, making it the third largest city in India.
The strategic location of the city made it an attractive location for invading armies, and it served
as the capital for many great empires that ruled India. Many of these Empires built significant
monuments, and whilst the Mughal and the British are the most visible, while driving through
the city you will see ruins from previous capitals, the earliest dating back to the 12 th century.
Hotel The Oberoi
Room Premier
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21 October, Friday
Delhi
The morning is at leisure to recover from your flight.
Today you will visit Humayun’s Tomb.
One of the earliest examples of a Mughal
Garden Tomb, this mausoleum was
designed by a Persian architect, and
provided the prototype for future tombs,
including the Taj Mahal. Recently taken
over by the Agha Khan Trust, the gardens
have been restored to their former glory,
and the tomb and surrounding
monuments restored.
Later you will visit the Gurudwara Bangla
Sahib, the temple of the Sikhs. Their
turbans and beards make the men easily
identifiable with the sect. Sikhism
developed as an antithesis to the caste
ridden and ritualistic forms of Hinduism and
developed as a simple religion whose
foundation was “sewa” – socially
responsibility irrespective of a person’s
social standing. Thus every Sikh Temple has
the famous community kitchen, where it is
considered a privilege to assist cooking the
food and serving a simple meal to pilgrim and visitors.
Hotel The Oberoi
Room Premier
Meals Breakfast
5|Page
22 October, Saturday
Delhi/Agra
In the morning you visit the Old
City which is a part of a 17th
century planned city, now known
as Old Delhi or Shahjahanabad,
built by the Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan. This was one of the world’s
largest cities. Today Old Delhi,
though cluttered and neglected, is
an extraordinary area to explore.
You will stop at the Jama Masjid or
the Friday Mosque believed to be
the largest mosque in India and dominates the skyline of the old city.
You will explore the Old City starting on a walking tour from the Red Fort to the Fatehpur Mosque.
This is one of Delhi’s oldest
markets, and now with the
area of free of traffic you
can stroll through the wide
boulevard and get a feel of
the market n the morning
you visit the Old City is a
part of a 17th century
planned city, now known
as Old Delhi or
Shahjahanabad, built by
the Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan. You will get into
cycle rickshaws and travel
through the narrow lanes, each side a riot of colors as bangles, textiles, silver, jewelry, spices and
wedding accessories spill out of shops. Imagine this as a rather chaotic department store, each
lane dedicated to an item.
After lunch in the Old City you continue to Agra.
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AGRA
This was the seat of the mighty Mughal Empire before it shifted its capital to Delhi, and it is home
to some of their most inspired architectural creations including the Taj Mahal. In the 16 th and
17th century, the Mughal Courts were at their most powerful, and were great patrons of the arts.
As a result Agra attracted artisans, poets and musicians from across India as well as Persia and
Central Asia, transforming Agra into a cultural and architectural paradise.
Hotel Oberoi Amarvilas
Room Premier
Meals Breakfast
23 October, Sunday
Agra/Jaipur
You visit the Taj Mahal when it is at
least crowded. This monument was
built by Shah Jahan for his wife
Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to
build this sublime garden tomb, an
image of the Islamic garden of
paradise. It’s perfect proportions and
exquisite craftsmanship was the work
of artisans from both India and
overseas. The Taj Mahal represents
the wealth and luxury of Mughal art
and architecture.
7|Page
You will also visit the Agra Fort. This
imposing red sandstone citadel,
which predates the Taj Mahal, was
begun as a defensive fort, but
completed as an elegant fort palace,
highlighting the Mughal talent for
blending art and architecture. The
complex houses robust barracks and
courtly and elegant palaces,
pleasure gardens, and galleries. It
offers a stunning view of the Taj
Mahal from across the river.
From the fort your driver will drive you Jaipur. You will carry a packed lunch for the drive.
JAIPUR
A labyrinth of fascinating bazaars, opulent palaces and a futuristic observatory, Jaipur was the
inspiration of the ruler Sawai Jai Singh, who moved the capital from Amber in 1727. Jaipur was
designed by a young architect from Bengal and together they planned a city along the ancient
Hindu treatise of “Shilpa Shastra”, a science similar to the better known Feng Shui. Jaipur is laid
out in a geometric grid of streets and squares making it one of the earliest planned cities in India.
In honor of the visit of the Prince Edward, then the Prince of Wales, the City was painted a rich
terracotta, a tradition which has continued through the years. This is the reason why Jaipur is
often called the “pink city”. Today it serves as the State capital for Rajasthan
Hotel Rajamahal Palace
Room Palace
Meals Breakfast and Lunch
8|Page
24 October, Monday
Jaipur
Your tour of Jaipur starts with a stop at
the Hawa Mahal, the ornate pink
façade an icon of the city. This five story
high “screen” composed of projected
windows and balconies protected by
fine latticed screens was destined to
enable the ladies of the harem to
observe the lively street scenes of the
city from a position of privacy.
You will continue to the
sprawling City Palace which,
painted pink in keeping with the
color theme of the old city, is a
blend of predominately Rajput
and Mughal styles of
architecture.
You have a private tour of the
ceremonial rooms of the palace
which will include the stunning
mirror room and the rich gold
and red room which were used to
entertain visitors. You continue
through the wedge wood blue balcony where the queens spent the monsoon ending sipping
champagne in the grand drawing room which even today is used by the former royal family to
entertain royalty and VIP visitors from around the world.
9|Page
In the afternoon the
especially curated walk
introduces you to the living
traditions of the walled City.
It show cases the arts and the
artisans, traditional medicine
men, the small exquisite
architectural jewels tucked
away in the lanes and shrines
and temples most over 300
years old. It highlights the old
world life style, a contrast to
the glitzy malls and modern
homes of the city existing outside the walls.
Today is also the festival of
Diwali, the festival of lights and
one of the Country’s most
beautiful celebrations. Oil lamps
are lit to decorate homes, and in
the evening a “puja” is performed
to welcome the Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth. you will stop
at a private home to see the
worship of Lakshmi the goddess
of wealth, before returning to
your hotel which will lit by
hundreds of clay lamps to enjoy
the fireworks over the city and a special Diwali dinner
Hotel Rajmahal Palace
Room Palace
Meals Breakfast, Lunch
10 | P a g e25 October, Tuesday
Jaipur
You take an early morning tour today, visiting the
old and modern city as it is waking and preparing
for the day. You ride a tuk tuk from the Maharaja
Jai Singh circle popularly referred to as “Statue
Circle” and you drive to Central Park where locals
gather for a morning of “laughing yoga”. From
here you continue to the old city travelling
through the narrow lanes stopping take a
photograph at the iconic “Palace of the Winds”,
beautiful in the morning sunlight.
You stop by the flower market and you path leads you to the 300 year old Krishna temple in the
old city which has beautiful frescos and carved pillars. You will arrive in time for the morning
singing and “aarti” Ceremony. During the walk you see the roadside tea shops, street food,
pavement barbers, people at shrines greeting the morning sun – all preparing to start their day.
In the morning you visit the stunning Amber Fort. The
Rajputs built their Forts on high hills and ridges giving them a
360 degree view of the surrounding area and protecting them
from invading armies. Most of the forts they built were built
as a defensive structure but included pleasure palaces, rich in
art and architectural features. Amber is perhaps among the
finest of all the fort palaces, and reflected the opulence and
elegance of the nearby Mughal courts.
11 | P a g eFrom the Fort you begin a walk through the narrow alleys of the settlements that surround the
fort. You will explore these lanes, stopping a tea shops making local snacks, a beautifully carved
temple, and a traditional stepwell will feature among the sites along the way. It is a great way to
observe the life in a very historic area of Jaipur. Amber is a part of the city and yet the rhythms
of life here are slower and much more traditional than nearby Jaipur. On the walk you will visit
the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing.
Bollywood is India’s most enduring movie industry, the movies
an extravaganza of music and dance. This afternoon you will
visit a studio and you will have a lesson in Bollywood dancing
and Indian hip hop. Your teachers will be experts in the field
who train young aspiring actors and actresses. The session is
vigorous and active and better than most workouts! We will
have bindi’s, scarves and bangles for you to wear to get you
into the mood.
Hotel Rajmahal Palace
Room Palace
Meals Breakfast, Lunch
12 | P a g e26 October, Wednesday
Jaipur/Udaipur
The morning is at leisure to shop
and enjoy the hotel. This evening
you will depart for Udaipur taking
Indigo Airlines flight 6E 7322 (6:35
PM/7:50 PM). You are met and
transferred to your hotel.
UDAIPUR
It is said that the ghost of Udaipur looks towards Chittorgarh, for it was after the tragic fall of that
fort, that Udaipur, a fairy tale city of marble palaces and lakes came into existence. The City was
founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559 and became the capital of the region of Mewar. The
rulers of Mewar, the Sisodia Rajputs trace their dynasty to AD 566 and believe they are the
defenders of Rajput honor. Unlike other Rajput royal families, this was a fiercely independent
clan who refused to enter into matrimonial alliances with the Mughals or military alliances with
the British. The city is dominated by the massive City Palace which overlooks the lovely Lake
Pichola with its romantic island palaces.
This morning you visit the City Palace.
The detailed art and workmanship is a
tribute to the skills of local artisans and
craftspeople. Built as a stepped palace
encompassing a hill, the four palaces
illustrate various architectural styles,
reflecting prevailing influences, mostly
Mughal and Rajput. In keeping with the
claim of the royal family that they are
“Surya vansh” – descendents of the Sun,
the whole structure faces east, and a
stunning bejeweled image of the sun greets you at the entrance. Also of interest here is the
remarkable collection of Rajput miniature paintings and the Sliver Gallery with its collection of
the family silver including a wedding pavilion.
13 | P a g eFrom the palace you take a
walk in the old city with your
guide. Sharing space with
cows, elephants, people,
and the walk through the
winding lanes is an
interesting insight into
lifestyles in what is referred
to as “small town India”.
Shops selling a variety of
items, unexpected folk art
decorating the walls of
houses and small
architectural gems like a latticed work Haveli window.
You will also see a rare ritual art in a
small temple dedicated to the Indian
deity Krishna – Jal Sanjhi or the “art of
drawing on water”. A popular religious
ritual performed at temples dedicated to
Krishna, this is the art of drawing iconic
images on water using colored powder.
This is a dying skill and at the small
Krishna temple in the old city you will
watch one the last few practitioners of
this art create a picture. It takes five
hours to complete a picture and you will
arrive in time to see him completing a canvas
14 | P a g eIn the afternoon you meet Minakshi
Singh with whom you learn family
recipes in a private kitchen, cooking
your own lunch. She takes you to the
market and you learn how to pick the
choicest ingredient as well as the art of
bargaining with the vendors. Return
with her to her home and prepare
lunch trying out family recipes passed
down through the generations. All
Indian food is made using a
combination of various spices resulting
in distinctive flavors. Learn the use and
benefits of spices before sitting down to a lunch with the family. As a souvenir you take home a
recipe book written by your teacher and an Indian spice box, and essential item in any Indian
kitchen.
Hotel Oberoi Udaivilas
Room Premier
Meals Breakfast, Dinner
28 October, Friday
Udaipur
OPTIONAL
Today you take a cycling tour, your path
taking you out of the city to the villages
and farmlands just outside the city limits.
The two hour tour takes you through the
city and its outskirts, stopping at small
hamlets which provide great
photographic opportunities. You will
depart at 7:30 AM and you will return by
9:30 AM.
15 | P a g eAfter breakfast you drive 45 minutes to the small but beautiful complex at Nagda. Known as the “Sas” and “Bahu” temples (literally Temples of the Mother in law and Daughter in law), these elaborately carved 10th century temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On the larger Sas temple, there are beautiful friezes with scenes from the Ramayana, meeting of lovers, and images of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Bahu temple has a richly carved archway and columns profusely carved with female figurines. You will also stop at the 16th century at Eklinji dedicated to Lord Shiva. It marks the spot where the founder of Udaipur received special blessings from a sage who lived here. The main temple, where the royal family still comes to worship has an impressive pillared hall and a four faced image of Shiva crafted in black marble with a silver Nandi facing it and will watch the “aarti” ceremony. You will have lunch at the fabulous Devigarh Palace and then visit Sadhna, The NGO that empowered local tribal women and women from urban slums teaching them the skills of appliqué, embroidery and patchwork. It started with just 15 women and grew to a corporative of over 700 women. Sadhna’s artisans create exquisite and exceptional textile products with their signature handwork and appliqué in kurtas, sarees, home furnishings and accessories. Featured in Elle and Conde Naste traveler and awarded a Seal of Excellence by UNESCO, the organization prides itself for its reputation and recognition for fair trade. Hotel Oberoi Udaivilas Room Premier Meals Breakfast, Lunch 16 | P a g e
29 October, Saturday
Udaipur/Jodhpur
You will drive to Jodhpur today
stopping at the richly carved marble
temples at Ranakpur. Belonging to the
Jain religious sect, who are best known
for their skills at commerce and
trading, the temple is unique in that
each of its 1144 pillars are distinct in
their design. The temple is a living one,
with devotees visiting the many shrines
to perform rituals, chant and meditate.
You will stop at Mountbatten Lodge for
lunch before continuing to Jodhpur. Part of the route
travels across the Aravalli Hills, the oldest mountain
range in the world. Along the way you will see a very
traditional way of life still being practiced. Small
hamlets, fields being irrigated using a Persian water
wheel; outdoor schools and sartorially colorful ladies
working in the fields. You will find yourself stopping
often to take a photograph.
17 | P a g eJODHPUR
The Kingdom of Jodhpur was established by the powerful Rathor clan who claim ancestry as far
back as 470 AD. In the mid 15th century, Rao Jodha, the ruler of Marwar, abandoned his old
capital and built a new fort on the rocky cliffs of what is now Jodhpur. According to legend, in
the process of building the fort, he displaced a hermit who was meditating on the site. The hermit
placed a curse on the descendents of Rao Jodha saying they would be plagued by famine every
year. This is the reason the locals claim that the area has drought every three or four years. The
gigantic Umaid Bhavan Palace was built as a result of a project initiated by the Royal family during
a famine to provide employment.
Hotel Raas
Room Luxury
Meals Breakfast, Lunch
30 October, Sunday
Jodhpur
In the morning you take a
fascinating two hour walk starting
at the foot of the fort and
meandering its way through the
Blue City, where history and
present day life continue in the
same space. It is a fascinating and
leisurely insight into local life. The
walk takes you past lovely
architectural features, shrines,
small craft workshops and
examples of folk art. This is a part
of Jodhpur which is largely untouched and retains its atmosphere as a stop on the trade route
through the desert
18 | P a g eIn the afternoon, you will visit the Fort, which
dominates the skyline of Jodhpur. Of all the
forts in Rajasthan, very few compare to majesty
of the Meherangarh Fort. The zenana is
decorated with exquisite sandstone filigree
work. Within the fort is the museum which
among its varied exhibits has an excellent
collection of royal palanquins and the howdah
section which has perhaps the finest collection
of old ornate elephant howdahs in the world.
You will have a private champagne tour of the
fort led by the curator
Hotel Raas
Room Luxury
Meals Breakfast
19 | P a g e31 October, Monday
Jodhpur/Delhi
After breakfast you will drive to Arna
Jharna: The Thar Desert Museum to
watch a performance by the Langas,
desert musicians. This is the largest
single congregation of a musical
community in one village. Here in
the clear air of the desert you will
watch a superb multigenerational
concert, each musician using
instruments which are either
obsolete today or indigenous to the
area. The history and instruments
will be displayed and explained to you individually before the performance.
In the afternoon you transfer to the
airport and you return to Delhi where
you will have rooms at the Oberoi
Gurgaon until your later transfer to
the international airport.
Hotel Oberoi Gurgaon
Room Premier Room
Meals Breakfast, Lunch
END OF SERVICES.
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