Immersive Seniors Tour to India in 10 Days

The city of Delhi is the nation’s capital, contains layers of history, and represents India as an amalgamation of diverse cultures. The backstreets around the bazaars brim with activity, and the historic districts shine with tremendous treasures. Your flight will land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where your private transfer will meet you at customs before transferring you to your luxurious accommodation. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.

In the morning, the aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg will fill your hotel’s dining room, stemming from the popular chai masala tea. Your guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby after breakfast to introduce you to the marvelous history and culture of Delhi. At the India Gate, you will find a memorial to Indian soldiers who were killed during the Second World War inscribed in the design. Locals often lounge in the surrounding parkland to enjoy the soothing sounds of the decorative fountains as they trickle nearby. When you reach Jama Masjid, you will discover one of the largest mosques in India. The complex was built in the 17th century and shines with vibrant red sandstone along the cobbled plazas, walls, and twin minarets. You can venture to the top of the tower for a marvelous view over Delhi’s famous Historic District, where the lively streets of Chandni Chowk market will become visible.

After breakfast, you will have a private transfer to Agra, where you will witness the preserved treasures of the Mughal golden age in India. After settling into the luxuries of your hotel, you may choose to visit the Agra Fort, which is one of the finest examples of Mughal forts in the country. In the afternoon, you might decide to find the iconic monument of Agra and greater India: the Taj Mahal. The marble structure acts as an eternal gesture of love of the 17th-century Mughal emperor to his favorite wife. At sunset, you will notice how the color of the sky reflects on the pristine façade with the famous dome that rises 240 feet. The symmetry of elaborate floral carvings and precious stone inlays lead to doorways and are bordered by elegant calligraphy.

This morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby to whisk you out of Agra to the famous Pink City of Jaipur in the colorful region of Rajasthan. Before you leave the Mughal Empire behind, you will stop at the former 16th-century capital of Fatehpur Sikri. The entire city shines with red sandstone and hosts a complex of palaces, plazas, and religious centers that are protected by dramatic fortifications. The Victory Gate crowns the surrounding walls, stands at 177 feet tall, and leads to the complex that hosts the white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti. Women continue to visit the Sufi saint’s tomb and tie threads to the lattice screen in the hopes of getting pregnant. You will follow your guide through the different layers of the city to find the palaces and pavilions where the masterful designs come to light, especially at the Hall of Private Audiences.

The colorful daily life of Jaipur will return to the streets with sunrise, and, when you wake, you can view camels as they pull carts stuffed with produce and merchants as they return to their stalls in Bapu Bazar. Your guide will lead you away from your hotel after breakfast to reach the epic gates of the Amber Fort on the outskirts of the city. The 16th-century stronghold stands on top of the hill and shines with yellow sandstone across the exterior. The Maharaja’s palatial complex contains a mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture, spanning four separate palaces, which are connected by courtyards that feature shades of rose and honey stone, white marble, and gilded accents. In the Hall of Victory, you will find marble panels and a mirrored ceiling that opens to a panoramic view of the walls. Back in the city, your guide will lead you through the historic city center that gave rise to Jaipur’s nickname, the “Pink City.”

The desert landscape and spiritual ambiance of Pushkar will offer you an alluring change of pace as you settle into the magnetic city known as a Hindu pilgrimage destination. The city is often buzzing with drums, peeling with bells, and humming with devotional songs that stem from the ghats of the holy lake and milky-blue temples. You can explore the city to view one of the world’s few Brahma temples, which is marked by a large red spire over the entryway. A goose symbol adorns the door before giving way to the interior that is blanketed with engravings along the floor and walls that are dedicated to the dead. You can spend time at the Gandhi Ghat, which was named for the point at which Gandhi’s ashes were sprinkled after his death, before taking the cable car to reach Savitri Temple at the top of Ratnagiri Hill. Your options in Pushkar are endless, and yours to enjoy at leisure.

This morning, you will depart Pushkar for the city of Jodhpur, which is the second-largest city in Rajasthan. As you travel to the city, you will notice the vibrant blue facades of homes that rise along a foothill of a mountain. The aromas of chili and tamarind will fill the streets from restaurants, and vendors may serve the traditional mirchi bada. You will then follow your guide through the streets of the city, where the scent of spices and teas may drift through the Clock Tower Market, and shopkeepers may bargain over hand-embroidered fabrics. When visiting the Mehrangarh Fort, you will traverse grounds that date back 500 years, spanning an area of more than three miles. You will then continue your exploration of the region at Jaswant Thada, which is a memorial that was built entirely out of white marble at the turn of the 20th century. Carved-marble lattice screens offer views of the surrounding landscape while whimsical domes add to the grandeur of the pristine design.

Before you reach the pearlescent city of Udaipur, you will visit the town of Ranakpur, which is located on the hills of the Pali district. As you explore the streets with your guide, you will find one of India’s largest and most important centers for Jain temples. The milky-white marble shines in the desert sun and embodies the grandeur of the original design, dating back to the 15th century. The temple was dedicated to Adinath, who was the first Jain teacher, and contains images that resemble Buddha amid the 80 domes and 1,444 individually hand-engraved pillars. You can spend hours discovering the distinctive features that decorate each individual pillar, which will reveal how no two columns are alike. The idol depicts Parshvanatha, which was carved out of a single slab, and possesses 1,008 snakeheads. You will then continue to Udaipur to enjoy the city known as “The Pearl of Rajasthan.”

The morning light will wash over Udaipur to showcase the collection of reflective surfaces of Lake Pichola to the narrow alleys between the marble mansions. Your tour will begin at the City Palace, which embodies the grandeur of Udaipur along the shores of the lake. The magnificent structure has a façade that stretches over 800 feet long and stands nearly 100 feet tall. It acts as a collection of 11 separate smaller palaces. Your guide will highlight the eight arches that adorn the Badi Pol gate on the northern end, which represent the times that royal family members were weighed with their weight in gold or silver being distributed to the locals. At Saheliyon Ki Bari, you will discover one of the most elegant gardens in the city. Here, you can stroll along the lush lawns and enjoy the trickling water from the marble fountains.

In the morning, you will see boats crossing the lake to reach the island palace of Jagmandir. Two large stone elephants border the entrance, and the 17th-century tower glints a subtle blue above the water. The streets will return to their lively ambiance around the Bagore-ki-Haveli, which is a traditional mansion that is located near the Gangaur Ghat. The home hosts 138 rooms that are each connected to a collection of courtyards. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in your hotel’s lobby to escort you to Maharana Pratap Airport for your brief flight to Delhi, where you will board your connecting flight home.