The Camel Fair & Holy Ganges

Depart Canada for India. Your international flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment.

Welcome to Incredible India and welcome to Delhi! Delhi is the capital of India and one of the oldest cities in the world. Despite its busy pace, there is a beauty in Delhi that you are about to experience, a beauty unlike anywhere else. On your arrival at Indira Gandhi International airport, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel. Time to relax after your journey.

After a late breakfast, we will discover Gandhi Smriti, (formerly Birla House) the museum dedicated to Gandhi, Father of the Nation. Then we drive past the imposing India Gate war memorial, then on to a Sikh temple locally called Gurduwara Bangla Sahib. We will visit this spiritual Sikh temple with its shining golden dome dominating the skyline. We will discover the kitchen where you can see how the food is prepared for devotees. Later we will proceed with our lunch in Connaught Place, which is the hub of central Delhi. Later, you will enjoy lunch in the heart of the famous Connaught Place.
After Lunch – We will visit Humayun’s Tomb. Emperor Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor of India. The tomb was built by his widow, Biga Begum (Hajji Begum), in 1569-70, 14 years after his death, at a cost of 1.5 million rupees. It was later used for the burial of various members of the ruling family and contains some 150 graves. It has aptly been described as the necropolis of the Mughal dynasty. After our visit, we will return back to our hotel for a small break before we leave for our welcome dinner. This is a welcome dinner indeed in that you are greeted, seated, and then entertained with a cultural dance and music. This amazing dinner and music event also includes beer and wine as well.

After breakfast, we will start our morning tour with a visit to 17th century Old Delhi. Visit the Jama Mosque, the royal mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. We will travel by bicycle rickshaw through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, the spine of Old Delhi that houses the spice market and jeweler’s lane and then drive past Red Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Later visit Raj Ghat, the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation in 1948. In black marble, surrounded by lawn and with an eternal flame burning, Raj Ghat remembers the man who is known as the Father of India. Later we will proceed with our lunch.

After lunch, we will visit the UNESCO world heritage site, Qutab Minar. Located in the district of South Delhi, this magnificent monument in red and buff sandstone is the highest tower in India. Built in the early 13th century, the surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu’l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples.

In the morning, transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight to Udaipur. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your luxury romantic palace hotel. Travel and Leisure Magazine rated the Taj Lake Palace one of the best hotels in the world. After settling in, take in the magnificent views of the City Palace and Jag Mandir from the hotel’s balconies. This will be followed by a hot lunch.

Taj Lake Palace, which was built in the 17th century. When it was transformed into a hotel, its grand interiors drew the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II and the King of Nepal. Occupying a four-acre island in Pichola Lake, Cypress-shaded courtyards, gardens, and fountains dot the graceful white marble complex, which was built facing the east so that residents could pray to the sun god at dawn.

Later this afternoon, we will spend an interesting, educational and social evening with Jyoti, an Indian cuisine expert and  wonderful chef. She and her husband serve up love and hospitality along with their incredible cuisine to their guests. Jyoti is going to teach you some secrets to Indian cooking and the use of spices. This is an interesting cooking class  featuring some great ingredients that are used for the preparation of authentic Indian cuisine. Jyoti has her own style of cooking and specific choices for the utensils to be used for different preparations. After the lesson you will be served the freshly prepared dinner in the beautiful setting at their home. Wine and beer is also offered at this gourmet dinner.

This morning, we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the City Palace, a conglomeration of buildings added by various Maharanas; the palace manages to retain a surprising uniformity of design. Then we head to the Crystal Gallery, which features a rare collection of Osler’s crystal ordered from England by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1877. Next, we will visit the Garden of the Maids of Honor locally called Saheliyon ki Bari, which has retained all its traditional charm. It was designed in the early 18th Century specifically for ladies.

After lunch, we will return back to our hotel for leisure time or an opportunity to you use the spa or pool facilities before we leave for our evening activity.

In the early evening embark on a boat cruise on the placid, mystical waters of Lake Pichola with the sun setting behind the hills. Later dinner at the open air Sunset Terrace at the Fateh Prakash Palace, which is over 400 years old.

After breakfast we will proceed to Pushkar. Along the way you will experience the country with an opportunity to see camel carts, trucks, cows, buffalos and more. Arrive and check into your hotel. Later this afternoon we will visit the local market of Pushkar and along the way we will also visit one of the major thriving temples of Lord Brahma, which can be identified by its red spire and by the image of Hans (the swan considered sacred to Lord Brahma). This temple was built with marble and is decorated with silver coins. This evening you will enjoy a beautiful dinner at the campsite. 

Today we will take part in the Pushkar Camel festival. We will watch village people buying and selling their livestock, which includes camels, cows, sheep and goats. The women go to the stalls, full of bracelets, clothes, textiles and fabrics. This festival is colourful and festive and is enjoyed at the same time each year.

Pushkar Festival is an annual 6-day camel and livestock fair and one of the world’s largest camel fairs. Thousands of people attend the festival each year. Livestock is bought and sold and stalls abound with jewelers and textiles. The festival begins each year with a camel race followed by music and exhibitions. This is a once in a lifetime experience to see everything the camel festival has to offer – its an incredible site to see the camels and the trading all in one place, yet, it manages to create such a peaceful and joyous, almost celebratory energy.

After a leisurely start, we drive to Jaipur. The city of Jaipur owes its names, foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior, astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided to move down from his hillside fortress at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and six rectangular blocks, according to the principles of town planning set down in Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. Arrive and check in at your hotel.
After lunch, the afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure.

Evening Dinner- In the land of Maharajas at Dera Amer, we are greeted at the sprawling lawns by a Royal Military Brass Band which welcome us to our evening dinner in the dessert. During dinner we are treated to Rajasthani music and dance while we enjoy a home-cooked dinner. The camp is situated behind the hills of the famous Amer Fort and is a gorgeous setting to unwind from the day. This is as close to the Indian wilderness you can get without a safari, a memorable evening ahead as this fairy tale like space is decorated with lanterns and lit by the bonfire to create this magical setting.

In the morning after breakfast, enjoy an excursion to Amber Fort including an elephant ride ascent to the fort. Jeeps will also be waiting if you prefer to travel to the top of the fort by jeep rather than elephant. Along the way, we will have a photo stop at Hawa Mahal, the ornamental facade of the “Palace of Winds” which is a prominent landmark in Jaipur.
Amber Fort is the classic romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression. Next visit City Palace, a delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture. The City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. Also, visit Jantar Mantar. This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. The observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

After lunch, visit Jaipur’s flourishing industry area, which is as old as the city itself. Jaipur is world-famous for its beautiful linens and other clothing items and souvenirs. Several hand-picked shops await you to enjoy browsing through the beautiful items there.  The remainder of the afternoon is free for your personal activities.

After breakfast, we will leave for Ranthambore a National Park, the true den of tigers, near the confluence of the lakes namely Padam Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Milak Talab. Apart from the Bengal Tiger, other animals that inhabit the park are Sloth Bears, Jackals, Marsh Crocodiles, Leopards, Gazelles, Indian Hares, Porcupines, Jungle Cats, Sambhars, Chinkaras, Mongoose, Nilgais, Wild Boar and Monitor Lizards. Birds can also be seen in huge numbers here. Arrive and enjoy your lunch. The afternoon is free to be spent as you wish.
The Ranthambore National Park is equally rich in flora. Trees like Banyan, Dhok, Mango, and Pipal are in abundance. Shallow lakes, gentle slopes, and plateaus dominate the landscape of the park.

Your day will begin with pre-dawn coffee and biscuits before setting off on an early morning game drive in search of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. After, return to the hotel for your breakfast. Later, if time permits, we will discover a craft village. It is an intrinsic part of the socio-cultural landscape and offers an insightful peek into life, as it exists in Ranthambore. Return to hotel for lunch. In the late afternoon, we will return to the park for another game drive, ending our day just before sunset. Dinner at the hotel.

After early breakfast, we are transferred to the train station to board our first Indian railway trip to Bharatpur.

Indian Railway, the largest employer in the world, employees nearly 1.5 million people. The history of Indian Railway in India began in the mid-nineteenth century. The core of the pressure for building railways in India came from London. In 1848, there was not a single kilometer of railway line in India. A British engineer, Robert

Maitland Brereton, was responsible for the expansion of the railways from 1857 onwards. Arrive in Bharat, transfer to our coach and drive to Agra. On our way, we will visit Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. This was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to the scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other palaces that are still preserved in their original glory. Later continue to Agra and check in at your hotel followed by lunch.

After lunch, enjoy some time at your leisure to relax before we leave for our evening activity.

In the evening enjoy a fascinating play that depicts the saga of love and a memorable journey into the history of Taj Mahal. The drama portrays the Mughal era in the 16th century. It is series of plays depicting the true and immortal love of Shahjahan for Mumtaz Mahal, his beautiful wife;
the lavish lifestyle of Mughal era; and the hardship of the artisans who worked for 22 years to create the most precious specimen of craftsmanship. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.

We will start our day at sunrise with a visit to one of the most incredible monuments ever built in the world. The Taj Mahal is a monument of love built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.
After breakfast, we will visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site with imposing walls of red sandstone. The fort is almost two miles long and contains palaces, audience halls, and mosques.

After lunch, we will visit a renowned marble factory to experience the artistry involved in the making of fine inlaid stonework. The translucent marble of the region is expertly crafted to create stunning works of art, both practical and for display. The craftsmen of Agra are famous for this  exquisite marble-inlay work. This artistic skill has been passed down for generations and has made the city of Agra, and its monuments famous. Dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast we will drive from Agra to Delhi and board your afternoon flight to the holy city of Varanasi. Varanasi is the religious capital of Hinduism and a most memorable and intriguing city. Formerly known as Banaras during the British Raj, Varanasi is home to one of the wrolds most time honoured and mysterious cultures, which dates back 5000 years. This amazing city has been featured in many movies about India, but nothing prepares you for the magical energy you feel as you discover this ancient city. Its present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the Varuna and Asi Rivers. Arrive and transfer to our hotel.

In the early evening, we will embark on the boat ride of a lifetime as we glide along the mystic Ganges River to see the devotional ceremony of Aarti performed on the ceremonious and elaborate ghats or steps of the Ganges. You will hear the enchanting prayers chanted throughout this area as well as the rhythmic drumming and ringing of the temple bells. This is a memorable experience of learning about the wheel of life and death and how both are celebrated in the ritualistic ceremonies conducted in this ancient city.

Later we head back to the hotel.

In the early morning we leave to board our boat to see the sunrise over the Ganges. You will also witness the people of the area bathing in the Ganges to purify themselves as it is believed that the water of the Ganges can wash away your sins. This can be a very spiritually uplifting experience as you see the devotion of this ritual and the commonality in which the people live and thrive.  Life on the Ghats is bound in an endless string of rituals; ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world. We will also pay a quick visit to Mother Teresa’s missionary. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

In the afternoon visit Sarnath, the site where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gayathe, Buddha went to Sarnath and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the ‘Wheel of the Dharma’. It is one of the holiest sites as in this place, the stream of the Buddha’s teaching first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum.
In the early evening, we will go to the banks of the Ganges to witness the devotional ceremony of Aarti performed by devout Hindus. Back to the hotel.

We leave after breakfast to the airport for our flight to Delhi. Arrive and transfer to your hotel until your flight departure for home.

You will be transferred to Delhi International Airport for your International flight connection to Canada. All good things should come to an end, so does your holiday too. This incredible Journey to India would have filled your mind with too many good memories to be cherished for a life time.