Passage to Northern India

Meet your Ross Tour leader, Brendan Moar, at Sydney Airport. Depart via Singapore to Delhi. India’s fascinating capital, a treasure trove of ancient culture with remnants of lost empires. Check into our luxury hotel, The Imperial for 3 nights.

Explore the intricate, bustling streets of Old Delhi, visit the Jama Masjid Mosque and experience a rickshaw ride. Visit Red Fort, a fine Mughal building. Then stop at Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then we explore Qutab Minar, the tallest minaret in India.

Flowers triumph in the residence of the President of India, known as Rashtrapati Bhavan. It feels like all the flowers of the world have flowered at once. The gardens are a blend of Mughal and English styles. Lunch in local restaurant. Drive past the India Gate monument to reach Lodhi Garden where Delhi’s rulers were buried. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, built in the 16th C.

We continue to Agra, home to the immortal Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, built the Taj Mahal as a monument of love to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Our two night stay is at ITC Mughal, the only Indian hotel to have won the prestigious Aga Khan award for architecture.

This morning we visit the Agra Fort, a 16th C. Mughal monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the banks of the river Yamuna. Later we visit one of the last Mughal-built gardens, Mehtab Bagh.

Sunrise at the Taj is unforgettable. Then, Fatehpur Sikri, an enigmatic deserted Mughal city now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel to Jaipur, the Pink City, in Rajasthan with a stop at the
Vidyadhar Garden. Our hotel for the next 3 nights is a former Maharaja’s Palace.

The pink city awaits. We take a market walk to greet the flower vendors and the fruit and vegetable sellers. The Amber Fort is our highlight for a glimpse of Mughal luxury. Our guide will reveal a bygone era, dominated by the opulence of the maharajas. Lunch included. Afternoon visit to Kanak Ghati Garden & Sisodia Bagh.

Visit Jawhar Circle Garden, Palace of the Winds, Jantar Mantar Observatory and City Palace. Lunch at a local restaurant. This evening we explore the narrow lanes of Jaipur’s colourful old city bazaars.

Home tonight is the Deogarh Mahal, still occupied in part by the family so guests with experience personalised royal hospitality. Dinner included tonight.

Today we drive to Udaipur, stopping to see the renowned Jain Temple at Ranakpur. For the next two nights our home will be the Taj Lake Palace, one of the most photographed hotels in the world. Arrive by boat. Dinner included.

Gardens and palaces today. First to Sahelion-Ki-Bari, then Gulab Bagh, filled with roses. Towering over the lake is the magnificent City Palace, a blend of Mughal and Rajput influences. Stop at Jagdish temple. Stroll through the colourful lanes of the Rajasthani Bazaar, filled with pottery, jewellery, antiques, paintings and handicrafts. Sunset cruise tonight, with views of the palaces & the mountains.

Fly to Mumbai, a vibrant city on India’s west coast. On arrival, transfer to our luxury accommodation, The Taj Mumbai, the city’s centre of art, culture & glamour.

Explore Mumbai, from the flower markets to the World Heritage, Fort Mumbai, Victoria Terminus & the iconic Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest outdoor laundry. Farewell dinner tonight.

Morning flight to Sydney via Singapore.

Arrive home today.