India: Romance Eternal

Board an overnight flight, connecting through Europe. Arrive in Delhi shortly after midnight and transfer to your elegant downtown hotel. The balance of the day is at your leisure to relax after your long journey or begin exploring on your own. Delhi, steeped in a history that goes back 3,000 years, is an ideal introduction to India’s unmistakable vitality.

Explore Old Delhi, pausing on the way at Raj Ghat. The monument to Mahatma Gandhi, Raj Ghat was erected on the site of his funeral pyre and is an important place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world. Visit the great Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India. A 17th-century architectural extravagance of Emperor Shah Jahan (who built the Taj Mahal), its courtyard can hold 25,000 people. You also see the massive and magnificent red sandstone Lal Qila, the Red Fort, with walls facing the city that tower more than 100 feet high. Hop into a rickshaw for a ride along the main street to Chandi Chowk bazaar, an area of narrow, winding walkways with entire streets devoted to the sale of a particular item. After lunch in a local restaurant, head to New Delhi and Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it represents a synthesis of Persian and Indian styles. Visit the 11th-century Qutub Minar, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then drive along the Rajpath and Janpath, passing the massive India Gate and the official residence of India’s president. Your evening is at leisure.

After a leisurely morning, fly to Udaipur and drive to your romantic hotel, nestled in the Aravali hills. Devi Garh is an 18th-century palace with 39 luxury suites embellished with marble and semi-precious stones. The hotel’s gorgeous contemporary landscape design was created with traditional materials and motifs, effectively fusing the past with the present. The balance of the afternoon is at your leisure to wander around the grounds or enjoy the facilities. Early this evening, embark on a private safari on camelback that takes you to Lake Bapparawal in time to watch a beautiful sunset. Afterward, sit on traditional low Indian seating amid rows of candles and enjoy a romantic, private dinner at your hotel’s Sheesh Mahal restaurant. Faded frescoes, mirror work and broken Chinese ceramic decoration lend charm to its historical atmosphere.

The evocative ruins of the ancient city of Nagda feature exquisitely carved temples and offer fine examples of both 10th-century Hindu and 15th-century Jain architecture. The Eklingji Temple is a beautiful marble complex that features a number of erotic carvings from the Kama Sutra. Afterward, drive to Udaipur, a desert city on the shores of picturesque Lake Pichola, and check in to your hotel. Romantic, wistful and serene, Udaipur is built around shimmering, clear blue water lakes, which reflect Aravali’s green hills. This evening, board a boat for a private sunset cruise, watching as Udaipur rises majestically above the lake. Cruise to Jag Mandir Palace, a magnificent monument with domes, marble pillars and fountains, located on an island in the middle of the lake.

Embark on an in-depth sightseeing tour of Udaipur, beginning with the opulent City Palace. Towering over Lake Pichola, it is surmounted by balconies, towers, cupolas and terraces, offering fine views of the city and lake. View its Crystal Gallery, housing a grand exhibit of more than 600 rare objects collected from different parts of the world. Continue to the beautiful lawns and shady walks of Sahelion Ki Bari Park (Garden of the Maids of Honor), located along the shores of Udaipur’s second major lake, Fateh Sagar. Return to your hotel for time at leisure to enjoy a spa treatment.

Board an early-morning flight to Jaipur, known as the “Pink City” because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone. This afternoon, stop for photos at the 18th-century Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), the pink sandstone façade of the palace built for the ladies of the harem. Each of its 953 small casements has a balcony and crowning arch, enabling cool air to circulate and the women to processions below without being seen. Continue to the magnificent City Palace, surrounded by a high wall, and the Jantar Mantar Observatory that houses precise instruments for measuring “the harmony of the heavens.” The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.

Travel outside the city to the Amber Fort, a beautiful, fortified palace that was the capital of the state of Jaipur until 1728. Wander the chambers and hallways of the palace, famous for their design and decoration, and see the spectacular Hall of Mirrors; then set out to the foothills of the Aravali range for an exclusive elephant safari. From your perch atop an elephant, follow a route through fields, hills and past ancient monuments for a firsthand look at rural India. Afterward, sit down to an al fresco lunch at the elephant camp. During your stay at Rajvilás, you have the phenomenal opportunity to renew your vows in a ceremony in an ancient Shiva temple. On your special day, don traditional, colorful Indian wedding garments and proceed to the ceremony, which is presided over by a Hindu priest who follows Hindu rituals and traditions. He chants mantras, offers prayers and uses symbolic items, such as coconut, flowers and kumkum (vermillion), to signify good luck and beauty. At the conclusion of the ceremony, celebrate your renewed love with a private candlelit dinner in a setting decorated with flowers and accompanied by live instrumental music.

Glimpse local life as you travel overland through the countryside, stopping at Bulund Darwaza, the world’s largest gateway, and Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century, it was a veritable fairytale city; its ruins are still in pristine condition. When you reach Agra, check in to your elegant hotel, where every room as an unobstructed view of the breathtaking Taj Mahal — just a stone’s throw away.

Begin the day with a sunrise visit to the glorious Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan, who died in 1630. It is often considered to be the “world’s monument to love.” Continue to the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Akbar as his citadel. Afterward, return to your hotel for some free time and an hour-long private session with an astrologer to see what is in store for your future. Later, return to the Taj Mahal to see how the beautiful white marble seems to turn slowly to a soft, rosy pink as the sun sets.

After breakfast, depart for Delhi, stopping en route to visit Sikandra, the tomb of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Your hotel in Delhi is set amid seven acres of landscaped gardens, walkways, courtyards, reflection pools and fountains. The balance of the day is at leisure and is a perfect opportunity for last minute shopping or exploring on your own.

Board your homebound flight.