Taj Mahal and the Treasures of India

Arrive in Mumbai, India’s largest city and a loud whirlwind of experiences: impromptu cricket matches in winding gullies (alleys); a twinkle-eyed barter in the Chor Bazaar; the first fiery bite of a potato-stuffed vada pav street snack. Lavish, dome-topped palaces stand as grand bookmarks in a storied past, while the Gateway of India – a symbol of the nation, on the city’s busy waterfront – is brought to life as the saffron beams of the setting sun pass through its graceful arch.

Experience Mumbai’s incredible vibe as you visit a dance studio and try some choreographed steps yourself. At a local spice market, take in the dazzling array of colors and scents. View the Gateway of India, with its design reflecting Muslim and Hindu traditions, and hop a train for a short ride, as millions do here daily. Finish at Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, a spectacle to behold. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner.

Fly to Udaipur and settle into your stunning palace hotel set on an island in the middle of scenic Lake Pichola. Romantic, wistful and serene, Udaipur is a city built around shimmering lakes. After some free time, embark on a private cruise past Jag Mandir, a marble palace with eight life-size sculptures of elephants flanking its entrance.

Visit the stunning marble City Palace complex as well as the Crystal Gallery in Fateh Prakash Palace. Stroll through the Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden of the Maids of Honor). Later, watch a chef-led cooking demonstration, followed by lunch, learning about royal Mewar cuisine in a local family’s home.

Fly to Jaipur for a stay at the former residence of a Maharajah. Capital city of northern India’s Rajasthan state, beautiful Jaipur traces its origins to the 18th century and is today a bustling metropolis replete with archaeological splendors. Explore the City Palace, a complex of pavilions, gardens and temples, viewing textiles at the “Auspicious Palace.” Head outdoors to visit Jantar Mantar, an open-air array of astronomical instruments.

View the Palace of the Winds — built so the women of the royal household could watch street life unobserved. Explore the Mughal-style Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to your hotel for some time on your own.

Drive to Agra, observing the colorful rural life of Rajasthan. Poised on a bend of the Yamuna River, Agra is a magnet for those who come to behold the Taj Mahal. Visit the peerless structure in the late afternoon, as the setting sun bathes it in a soft orange glow.

Return to the Taj Mahal in the morning, when the rising sun lends a warm pink tint to its marble face. Then visit the Agra Fort, once the prison of the same Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal.

Board a train to Jhansi and the remote Panna National Park, renowned for its recovering population of Bengal tigers. On an A&K-exclusive experience, meet with a member of the local Pardhi community to learn their role in efforts to grow the park’s precious cohort of the big cats. Also learn about the Wildpines Center, dedicated to empowering young women from the Pardhi community through block printing and artisan training, an initiative supported by A&K Philanthropy.

Rise early for a 4x4 game drive, spotting crocodiles and searching for tigers, with your chance of sighting one improved by the park’s diligent conservation program. Return to the lodge for an Indian cooking demonstration led by a chef. Set off on one more game drive for a last chance to see India’s tiger in the wild.

Drive to Khajuraho to see all of life — joy, love, divinity, war — depicted in detail on every inch of its 85 Hindu and Jain temples. Then, fly to Varanasi, a city of more than a thousand Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines. At dusk, beside the Ganges, witness the aarti ceremony. Chanted prayers and rhythmic drumming fill the air as you watch lantern-bearing priests bid the gods and goddesses a restful slumber.

Rise early for a private sunrise cruise on the Ganges River to observe activity along the ghats, where locals and pilgrims cleanse themselves, both literally and spiritually. Later, fly to Delhi for a farewell dinner.

Visit the great Jama Masjid, the most important mosque in India. Then ride by rickshaw through the narrow alleys and stalls of bustling Chandni Chowk bazaar. After lunch, tour New Delhi, including Humayun’s Tomb, an architectural precursor of the Taj Mahal.

Transfer privately to the airport early this morning for your flight home, or begin your post-tour extension to Kathmandu.