Day 01. October 29, 2021, Depart Toronto - Meet & greet by your tour escort at Toronto Pearson Airport. Assistance with check-in. Fly aboard Air Canada’s non-stop overnight service to Delhi, India

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Day 02. October 30, 2021, Arrive Delhi - Upon arrival at Delhi in the evening, you are met, greeted and escorted to the hotel. You are welcomed in the hotel in a traditional Indian style on arrival and check into the hotel for overnight. Overnight stay at The Lalit Hotel, Deluxe Rooms

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Day 03. October 31, 2021, Delhi - Morning at leisure. During the afternoon, we’ll embark on the Three Religions Tour. India is a melting pot of different cultures, languages and religions, all of which happily co-exists and the entire country celebrates each religion’s festivals. A brief introduction to three of the major religions - Hinduism, Christianity and Sikhism - will be the highlight of this excursion and will bring us into the places of worship offering good insight into the characteristics of each of them. Tonight, we enjoy our welcome dinner at OH Calcutta Restaurant. (B)(D)

 

Day 4. November 01, 2021, Delhi - Explore the classic sights of Old Delhi. We begin with the 300-year old Chandni Chowk - a maze of lanes crowded with shops. Then take a look at Jama Masjid - India's largest mosque, and later, in complete contrast to the noise and crowds of Old Delhi, we visit Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India's independence. A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi will be an exciting experience. In the afternoon, we explore New Delhi. Here is Qutub Minar, the tapering monument dating back to 1199 symbolizing the supremacy of Islam.

 

Lastly, we drive past the India Gate, Presidential Palace and Parliament House, witnessing the grandeur of Lutyen’s urban planning.   

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Our dinner tonight will be at the Indian Accent, This restaurant has been featured in the World's 50 Best Restaurants of 2018 and rated as the No.1 Restaurant in India by TripAdvisor for six consecutive years. Overnight stay at The Lalit Hotel, Deluxe Rooms (B,D)

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Day 05. November 02, 2021, Delhi - Jaipur - Early this morning we board our luxury motor-coach for the drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival, time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s ambience. This evening, we enjoy an engaging cooking demonstration and gracious hospitality of a local family at their humble home and listen to the stories of this ‘Pink City’ from our charming hosts. The delicious home cooked food is but only a small sample of the traditional Rajasthani cuisine which we’ll relish as we dine together with our hosts. Overnight stay at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel, Luxury Rooms (B,D)

 

Day 06. November 03, 2021, Jaipur - Early morning, we take the rickshaw tour and venture into the bustling doodh-mandi (milk market), a bustling distribution system to get the milk to the city’s half a million homes. There also are other fascinating markets to visit this morning as the Pink City wakes up. This afternoon, we explore the Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence and its Armoury Museum as well at the Textile and Costume Museum. Our exclusive unique opportunity arrives as we visit the private area where the present Royal Family still resides. At the center is Chandra Mahal, the seven-tiered moon palace where the present Maharaja lives. Here’s where we savour Hi-Tea. Later we tour the city’s busy streets, making a brief photo stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds, an iconic landmark of Jaipur. Our last stop on the tour is at Jantar Mantar, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Dinner and overnight stay at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel, Luxury Rooms (B,D)

 

Day 07. November 04, 2021, Jaipur - Diwali Festival Special - Taking another step into the past, we’ll explore Amber Fort, a classic and romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Inside the Fort is Jag Mandir (Hall of Victory). The Fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. During the afternoon, rest, relax or explore the Pink City and its colourful markets at your own pace. The 15-day Hindu festival of ringing in their New Year is called Diwali - a fortnight of celebration of lights culminating in the Hindu New Year, perhaps the biggest festival of all in India. We’ll be transferred to our pre-selected venue to celebrate the Diwali, an unforgettable evening of festivities including a specially arranged dinner. Overnight stay at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel, Luxury Rooms. (B)(D)

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Day 08. November 05, 2021 - Jaipur – Agra via Fatehpur Sikri - Leaving Jaipur, we begin our drive to Agra stopping en route to visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, built in 1569. Emperor Akbar built and used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital until scarcity of water forced him to move the capital back to Agra. The ghost-city is remarkably well-preserved with graceful buildings that speak of the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. In the evening, we are booked for “Mohabbat The Taj”, a musical, bringing alive the historical legacy of Mogul era in India and depicting the love story that inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. Dinner and overnight stay at the ITC Mughal Hotel, Mughal Rooms. (B,D)

 

Day 09. November 06, 2021 - Agra - The most memorable moment awaits!  At sunrise, we’ll visit the world’s most photographed architecture - the Taj Mahal.  Built in 1632 it has a fascinating love story to it. This perfectly proportioned masterpiece stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy. Seeing the masterpiece come alive with the first rays of the sun is priceless. In the afternoon we’ll visit Agra Fort, a testimony to Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. We’ll take an evening stroll in Mehtab Bagh (Moonlit Garden) on the banks of the Yamuna River for an exceptional view of the Taj Mahal at sunset. Our memorable day has a fitting and memorable end with dinner at Peshawari restaurant where we’ll relish authentic and traditional North West Frontier cuisine. Overnight stay at the ITC Mughal Hotel,Mughal Rooms.(B,D)

  

Day 10. November 07, 2021 - Agra – Lucknow - From one historic city to another as we board our luxury coach for travel to Lucknow.  During the early evening, we’ll embark on ‘Heritage Walk’, discovering the lanes and the by-lanes of the Chowk to explore and understand the vast history that this city of superlatives holds. Our local expert shares his knowledge of Lucknow taking us into the bygone era of this city. Dinner and overnight stay at the Taj Mahal Lucknow Hotel, Superior Rooms.(B,D)

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Day 11. November 08, 2021 - Lucknow - Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the magnificent monuments of Bara(big) & Chota(small) Immambara built by the early Nawabs of Lucknow in in the 18th century showcasing the glorious princely past. We will stop at the gigantic gate - Rumi Darwaza - built in 1783 and which still remains one of the famous landmarks of the city. After a delicious lunch at a city center restaurant, we’ll leave for The Residency, official abodes of the British in the 1800’s that stand witness to the bitterest battles during the war of independence in 1857. Our final stop will be at La Martiniere College, one of the finest and the largest examples of European funerary monument in the sub-continent. We dine tonight at Oudhyana Restaurant in our hotel, Lucknow’s most famous restaurant. This city of Nawabs offers us their traditional Awadhi cuisine. Overnight stay at the Taj Mahal Lucknow Hotel, Superior Rooms (B,L,D)

 

Day 12. November 09, 2021 - Lucknow – Kolkata (By Flight) - A transfer to Lucknow airport for our flight to Kolkata. We fly on board Indigo flight 244 departing Lucknow at 10:55AM to arrive Kolkata at 12:35PM.  Early in the evening, a guided walk introduces us to the many cultures, as we discover why Chinese breakfast still rules Tiretta Bazar, and how the Armenians gave the city its oldest surviving Christian church. Understand how this city has become a great melting pot of diverse cultures. Dinner and overnight stay at The Lalit Hotel, Superior Rooms (B,D)

 

Day 13. November 10, 2021: Kolkata - Using different modes of transport - a boat ride on Hooghly River, a tram ride in the city and a heritage walk will all serve as the perfect introduction to British Calcutta, so prepare to wet your appetite for all things Raj as we walk through the ‘European’ areas of what was once the capital of the British Empire in India. Next, we we visit a 131-year-old flower market, a riot of colours and a source of flowers not just in the city but to the rest of India and even to Europe.  Visiting the 300 year old settlement called Kumartuli (potter locality) we’ll walk through the narrow maze of lanes and alleyways seeing the artists at work.  And finally, a quick photo stop at Victoria Memorial designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and built of white marble from Rajasthan. Dinner and overnight stay at The Lalit Hotel, Superior Rooms (B,D)

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Day 14. November 11, 2021 - Kolkata - Mid-morning, we embark on a leisurely walk through Kolkata's food markets, a great way to discover the city's diverse food traditions. Capital of the state of Bengal, Kolkata's cuisine has been influenced by the many communities that settled here over the ages, from the Nawab of Oudh through to the thriving Indian Chinese and Armenian communities and of course the colonial powers of Portugal, British and the Dutch. Kolkata’s Gariahat area has an array of street food, and a whole range of textiles on offer. Here we’ll relax in a popular restaurant that serves "thala" – a multi-course platter comprising a full Bengali traditional meal. Balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at The Lalit Hotel, Superior Rooms (B,L,D)

 

Day 15. November 12, 2021 - Kolkata – Bagdogra (By Flight) – Gangtok by road - Today we depart aboard Indigo Air flight 797 departing Kolkata at 10:40AM to arrive at Bagdogra Airport at 11:50AM. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to Gangtok in the Sikkim State. Dinner and overnight stay at Elgin Nor Khill Heritage Hotel, Superior Rooms. (B,D)

 

Day 16. November 13, 2021 - Gangtok - Gangtok is one of the most popular hill stations in India, very cultural and famous for arts, crafts and monasteries.  We’ll visit the Enchey Monastery housing the monks of the Nyingmapa Order of Tibetan Buddhism and the Rumtek Monastery, seat of the Karmapa Lama, the head of one of the main four branches Tibetan Buddhist Sects.. We’ll also see Do Drul Chorten and the Jhang Chub Chorten. Near these Chortens are housed two giant statues of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. Dinner and overnight stay at Elgin Nor Khill Heritage Hotel, Superior Rooms. (B,D)

 

Day 17. November 14, 2021 -Gangtok - Darjeeling - After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Darjeeling, one of India’s top-rated hill-stations in the spectacular settings of the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it is well-known for its distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks. Dinner and overnight stay at the Mayfair Hill Resort, Executive Rooms.(B,D)

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Day 18. November 15, 2021 - Darjeeling - Set your alarm clocks for 3:30AM!  This early morning wake-up is because we are going to witness one of the most beautiful natural sights you’ll ever get to see.  We are taken to Tiger Hill to view (weather permitting of course) a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayan range which includes Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest! You’ll get to see the horizon changing colours just before sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range turning golden. Later, we proceed to Ghoom Monastery, the oldest in the area. A ride on the World Heritage Toy Train is a must when in Darjeeling! We’ll also visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park to see Himalayan animals like the Snow Leopard, the Tibetan Wolf, the Tibetan Yak, and the Himalayan Black Bear and several bird species. Dinner and overnight stay at the Mayfair Hill Resort, Executive Rooms. (B,D)

 

Day 19. November 16, 2021 - Darjeeling - The day is at leisure to enjoy exploring Darjeeling at your own pace. Breakfast, dinner and overnight stay at the Mayfair Hill Resort, Executive Rooms.(B,D)

 

Day 20. November 17, 2021 - Darjeeling – Bagdogra – Delhi (By Flight) A leisurely breakfast, and the day to relax until it’s time to board our motor-coach for travel to Bagdogra Airport. We board the GoAir Flight 551 departing Bagdogra at 5:00PM to arrive Delhi at 7:30PM. Upon arrival in Delhi, we are going to enjoy our farewell dinner at a popular restaurant.  Later return to the airport in time to board our international flight back to Toronto, Canada. (B,D)

 

Day 21. November 18, 2021 - Arrive in Canada Our non-stop flight brings us into Toronto, Canada.

 

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