India's most sacred river corridor — Varanasi's ghats, the great Kumbh Mela city of Prayagraj, Nawabi Lucknow, and Mathura's Krishna temples.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive into Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Travel by metro this afternoon to pick up a tour of street art, cycle through the quiet streets to see the murals that adorn the area. The artworks represent a variety of social issues and give a wonderful insight into today's India. Walking through the 15th century Lodhi Gardens will show you some of the tombs, mosques and bridges typical of the area before you arrive to Khan Market, a busy shopping area.
An early start in Old Delhi today allows you to experience the city in tranquility before the day begins for most. The Yamuna River has an important role in Hinduism, head to one of the ghats to meet a local resident who will discuss the river's role in rituals and beliefs. A stop at an akhada introduces you to the traditional sport of wrestling before you enjoy a local delicacy for breakfast, nahari or aloo puri, a breakfast dish traditionally consumed by royalty after morning prayers. Refuelled you will move on to New Delhi passing the India Gate on your way to Humayun's Tomb, a masterpiece of architecture constructed out of love. End the tour with a stop at a 14th century stepwell, taking a peaceful moment to absorb all you have seen. The afternoon is at leisure.
Take the morning express train to Agra where you will visit two of India's most iconic sights, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Set on the Yamuna River, these two colossal examples of Mughal architecture need little introduction and you will explore the exquisite marble tomb as well as the mosque of the Taj Mahal before stepping through the various rooms and chambers of the fort. Leave the city in the afternoon and travel on to the Chambal Safari Lodge in rural Uttar Pradesh.
Head to the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary for a morning boat trip on the Chambal River, where you will have the chance to spot some of the wildlife known to the region. Gharials, muggers and turtles can often be seen along with an array of birdlife. This afternoon take a walk through nearby Holipura village to experience rural Indian life, while admiring many of the old havelis that blend Mughal and colonial architecture. Moving on to nearby Bateshwar, witness a local evening aarti ceremony on the ghats amongst the 40 temples that line the banks of the Yamuna River.
Journey to the fort city of Kannauj, once a capital of ancient kingdoms, it is known today as the perfume capital of India. Staying at a perfume house will give you the opportunity for the full experience of the industry, starting with a visit to the flower plantation to take part in plucking the petals ready for distillation. At the distillery learn about the 3000 year old process still in use today, producing the most exotic perfumery ingredients in the world. This evening enjoy a 7 course fragrance and flavour menu in which seasonal produce is used in local and regional dishes, each course is paired with a fragrance giving a truly unique dining experience.
Drive to Dudhwa National Park, an area of forest, grasslands and marshlands, the park is home to tigers, rhinos, leopards, elephants and a wide array of birdlife. Join a walking safari this afternoon through the park's buffer zone.
Two game drives today through the remarkable Dudhwa National Park — home to one of the few rhinoceros populations in Uttar Pradesh and an extraordinary diversity of wildlife in the Himalayan Terai ecosystem.
Drive to Lucknow, the city of the Nawabs — one of India's most cultured and refined cities, famous for its exquisite food, its extraordinary Nawabi architecture and its tradition of gracious living called tehzeeb. Visit the remarkable Imambara complex.
Drive or take the train to Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and Hinduism's most sacred destination. Arrive in time for the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
An early morning boat ride on the sacred Ganges, watching pilgrims bathing, cremation fires burning at Manikarnika Ghat, and the extraordinary panorama of the ghats emerging from the morning mist. Afternoon exploration of the old city and Sarnath.
Drive or take the train to Bodhgaya, where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and became the Buddha. Visit the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the descendants of the original Bodhi Tree.
Spend the day exploring one of India's most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites — the Mahabodhi Temple, the Bodhi Tree, the 25-metre golden Buddha statue, and the remarkable collection of monasteries built by Buddhist communities from across Asia including Thailand, Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Transfer to Gaya airport for your flight back to Delhi. Free afternoon in Delhi.
After breakfast the tour concludes. Airport transfers can be arranged.
About This Journey
Journey through Uttar Pradesh — India’s most populous state and the heartland of its spiritual life — on this remarkable tailor-made private tour. Beginning in Delhi with an exploration of the Yamuna River and Humayun’s Tomb, we travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort before heading into the rural Chambal River region and the perfume capital of Kannauj, the wildlife of Dudhwa National Park, the sacred Ganges at Varanasi, and the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Bodhgaya. A journey through the deepest layers of Indian civilisation.
Highlights
Unique Kannauj perfumery experience — a 7-course dinner paired with India’s most exotic fragrances. Chambal River wildlife safari for gharials, dolphins and extraordinary birdlife. Dudhwa National Park — the tiger and rhino reserve on the Nepal border. Sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges at Varanasi. Bodhgaya — where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
The Oberoi Amarvilas
Just 600 metres from the Taj Mahal, every room and suite at The Oberoi Amarvilas has an unobstructed view of the monument. Terraced gardens, fountains and reflection pools in Mughal style descend towards the Taj, and the hotel's spa, dining and service standards are among the finest in Asia.
BrijRama Palace
One of the oldest landmarks of Varanasi, the BrijRama Palace was built in 1812 on the Darbhanga Ghat directly above the sacred Ganges. Its rooms overlook the river and ghats, the morning boat ride begins from its own steps, and the palace's stone corridors and courtyard host evening classical music performances.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
October to March is the most comfortable period, with clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures across North India. December and January mornings can be cold and foggy in Delhi and Agra. April to June is very hot; July to September is the monsoon.
Yes — this route is well-established with excellent hotels and infrastructure, and our experienced guides and drivers handle every practical detail. First-time visitors consistently find it a superb introduction to India.
Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers throughout. For longer distances we use India's excellent express trains or domestic flights where they improve the journey.
Absolutely. Duration, hotels, route and experiences can all be tailored to your preferences and budget — this itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed product. Contact us to plan your ideal trip.
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