HOLI INDIA

DAY 1 | SAT 08 MARCH | DELHI | The Imperial Hotel - 3 nights

Arrive in the colourful and chaotic capital of Delhi this evening, where we will be met and privately transferred to our hotel in New Delhi.

Most flights land late in the afternoon or early evening so we will simply relax in our hotel after our long flight in preparation for the exciting fortnight ahead!

DAY 2 | SUN 09 MARCH | DELHI | New Delhi Touring

Today is a gentle day of acclimatisation.  We will visit Ghandi’s Memorial and wander the beautiful gardens surrounding his tombstone before visiting the largest Sikh Temple in all of Delhi – the Gurdwara Banghla Sahib.  Hundreds of worshippers attend this Gurdwara every day, and lunch is available to all, at no cost.  We will enter the kitchen to watch the preparation of thousands of chapatis and vast vats of dahl, as well as circumambulate the pool where ardent worshippers bathe before entering the temple itself.  The afternoon is at leisure with the opportunity to enjoy a swim or, for those who are keen, a walk & a shop in Khan Market.

A Welcome Dinner will be hosted in our hotel this evening.

DAY 3 | MON 10 MARCH | DELHI | Old Delhi Touring

We’ll commence with a visit to the great Jama Masjid this morning ‐ India’s largest mosque with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees and stunning architecture in red sandstone and white marble.

Climbing aboard rickshaws we will ride through the streets of Chandni Chowk, winding through lanes selling everything from saris to spices and turbans to trinkets. Lunch will be hosted in stunning Haveli Dharampura in the old city before we have time to visit the silversmiths and jewellers, and wander at leisure.

Return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

DAY 4 | TUE 11 MARCH | DELHI to AGRA | Taj View Hotel - 1 night

Depart Delhi by road this morning bound for Agra. Depart by road for Agra and on arrival tour Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar as a military structure and later transformed into a magnificent palace by his grandson, Shah Jahan. This red sandstone fort played a crucial role in the Mughal Empire, serving as its main residence and seat of power for several generations.  After checking in to our hotel we will travel to Mehtab Bagh – the Moonlit Garden – to watch the sunset on the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River.  Return to our hotel for an evening at leisure and an early night in preparation for our early start tomorrow morning.

DAY 5 | WED 12 MARCH | AGRA TO JAIPUR | Samode Haveli - 3 nights

Arriving at the Taj Mahal at dawn this morning allows us to witness the stunning marble mausoleum bathed in the soft, golden light of the sunrise, creating a magical and serene atmosphere. Touring the Tajearly in the morning also offers a quieter experience, with fewer crowds, allowing for a more intimate appreciation of its intricate architecture and reflecting pools.  After our obligatory ‘posed shots’ in front of the Taj and walk through the mausoleum we will return to our hotel for breakfast.  On checkout, we will visit ‘the marble‐restorers’ tasked with keeping the Taj intact,  and will stop at Sheroes Hangout, a little cafe run entirely by female acid attack survivors that we proudly sponsor.   Here we can grab a snack before hitting the road bound for Jaipur.

On arrival in Jaipur we will enjoy a sunset drink on the roof of our Haveli before an evening at leisure.

DAY 6 | THU 13 MARCH | JAIPUR Touring

We will spend the entire morning exploring the historic sights of Jaipur from the famous facade of Hawa Mahal to the imposing Amber Fort.

Jaipur is famous for gemstones so we will be sure to intersperse our sightseeing with an opportunity to secure our own gemstone. We will also visit a fabulous enclave of décor and clothing stores where we can enjoy lunch in a tranquil garden. You may wish to shop for treasures in the nearby markets and return to the Haveli by tuk-tuk. Alternatively, return to the Haveli for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. We will enjoy a hosted dinner this evening.

DAY 7 | FRI 14 MARCH | JAIPUR - Happy Holi!

After breakfast this morning, kitted out in our white kurtas (gifted to you in Jaipur), we will walk to a nearby temple to kick off our Holi celebration. There is no better way to start the day than chanting with several hundred Hindus! Later we will depart for the highlight of the journey ‐ the Celebration of Holi with a local family and their friends.

The festival of Holi is a hugely important date on the Hindu calendar and people celebrate joyously right across the country. It is the most boisterous of all Hindu festivals, symbolising the victory of good over evil, heralding the end of winter and the beginning of spring, rebirth and new life. Celebrated by young and old, crowds of people gather together to sing and dance and throw coloured powder (and often water) at each other in a huge, infectious outpouring of joy.

The occasion is enormous fun and your level of participation is completely up to you ‐ you can stay on the periphery and watch the merrymakers, or thoroughly immerse yourself in the festivities. A transfer vehicle is on standby to return you to our Haveli whenever you wish. The remainder of your afternoon/evening is at leisure so depending on the time you return you may wish to indulge in the spa, relax by the pool, dine in the restaurant or in your room. HAPPY HOLI!

DAY 8 | SAT 15 MARCH | PUSHKAR | Pushkar Palace - 2 nights

Today we head to Pushkar by road via Bagra where we will stop and learn about the famous Indian craft of block printing. We will watch artisans create precise patterned fabrics before selecting a carved wooden block to create our very own block-printed masterpiece!

After stopping for lunch we continue to Pushkar and check in to the Pushkar Palace hotel, dramatically perched over the shimmering Pushkar Lake.

Pushkar is a small but religiously significant town, believed to have been created by Brahma, the Hindu god of creation himself.  Pilgrims come to pay their respects by the sacred lake, said to have been formed by a lotus thrown by Brahma, and visit the Brahma temple – surprisingly the only one in India.

Pushkar is a lively town and the stores stay open late into the evening.  After a browse (if you wish) we will gather in a restaurant close to our hotel for a hosted dinner.

DAY 9 | SUN 16 MARCH | PUSHKAR

A Brahmin priest will bless us on the ghats of Pushkar Lake this morning as he explains the significance of the nearby Temple and the rituals performed in and around the lake itself.  Meandering back to our hotel will, no doubt,  take considerable time as the road is teeming with stores selling everything from incense to leather shoes and handpainted homewares from Kashmir.  Small storefronts are often gateways to cavernous Aladdins Caves of textiles.

Take your time as it is virtually impossible to get lost and we will rendezvous this afternoon for a camel safari.  Pushkar is historically known as a camel trading post,  and this afternoon we head into the desert to ride camels as the sun sets.

DAY 10 | MON 17 MARCH | JODHPUR | RAAS Jodhpur - 3 nights

Today we are bound for the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur arriving at our stunning design hotel with plenty of time to settle into our rooms beneath the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. Early evening we will visit the ancient stepwell close to our hotel and enjoy a hosted dinner with magnificent views of the Fort.