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Illuminating India. Taj Mahal Included
for Your Convenience.
First, Delhi, where the Mughals ruled way before the Raj. We divide our time between Old and New Delhi, both brimming with history. Lal Qila, the red fort. Jama Masjid, final architectural indulgence of Shah Jahan. The tomb of Humayun served as the model for the Taj Mahal. India Gate bears the names of 85,000 Indian troops that fell during World War I. Outside the city limits, spend time at Qutab Minar, a victory tower and India's very first mosque. Next, India's soul, Varanasi, by rickshaw and riverboat. Follow Siddhartha's footsteps to enlightenment. See the holy Ganges at sunrise. Witness the Aarti ceremony. Find yourself transfixed. In Sarnath, examine the roots of Buddhism on your way to Nirvana via an excellent archaeological museum and spectacular ruins. In Agra, the great, white marble dome turns pink in the rising sun. Dawn is the time to see the Taj Mahal. We've arranged it for you. Home is the most opulent hotel in town (with views of the Taj Mahal from your room, of course). While we're here, we also tour Agra Fort, the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulat, and Fatehpur Sikri, a mysterious ghost town built in the 1500s. To Amber, ancient capital city of the Rajputs, where we sample a hybrid of Mughal-Rajput architectural style. Then the pink city of Jaipur, which boasts one of the world's first astronomical observatories, Jantar Mantar. Several palaces seduce us, including one belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Sawai Bhawani Singh, affectionately known as "Bubbles." Udaipur was once home to Mewar rulers. Visit its superb palace and gardens. (James bond came here for "Octopussy.") Drive through the hills of Rajasthan to the Jain complex of Ranakpur. Exactly 1,444 pillars support the main structure, each one unique. Lunch in a Jodhpur maharani's shady mango grove. Back to Delhi and then home to ponder all you've seen. Illuminating India. Taj Mahal Included for Your Convenience.
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nlightenment creeps over you on a jaunt through India. Frantic city scenes and calm countryside. Splendor and rags. Sacred animals. Incense and music that sweep you up with them.