A traditional Indian Welcome - including marigold garlands and saffron dots on the forehead (tilaks) awaits the group on arrival in Mumbai. After the welcome, we drive for 45 minutes to the TajMahal Hotel, located on the waterfront, a gracious landmark facing the Gateway of India. At the hotel, there will be a express check-in counter for the group. Later this morning, we will explore Mumbai and visit the Prince of Wales Museum, founded in 1905 by the Prince (later King George V) during his first visit to India. Its superlative collection of sculpture, paintings and decorative arts ranks it among the great museums of India. We will also drive past the “dhobi ghat”, where “dhobis” , traditional laundry men, hand wash clothes outdoors. Proceed to Mani Bhawan, a small museum where wax miniatures depict scenes from Mahatma Gandhi’s life and India’s freedom struggle. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, boat tour of the Elephanta Caves, located on a small island about an hours boat-ride from the Gateway to India. These caves, showing some rock cut caves with intricate sculpture of Hindu Gods, were built between the 5th and 8th Century. Evening an exclusive buffet dinner at hotel.

Morning transfer to domestic airport to board the flight to Bhuj. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Prince. This beautiful old walled city leaps out from the pages of the Arabian Nights. You can lose yourself for hours in maze of narrow streets and colorful bazaars or admire the Kutchi people dressed in their heavily embroidered traditional costumes. After buffet lunch at the hotel, visit the richly decorated Swaminarayan Temple - which has been widely featured in several travel magazines around the world. Later in the afternoon visit the Bhuj bazaar and witness a tie and dye demonstration. Evening exclusive buffet dinner at the hotel.

Morning we will visit different Banni Tribal Villages. The dwellings are made of round mud huts called `bhungas’ with a single central support pole and a thatched or tiled roof, all surrounding a large community courtyard. The women tend to be shy with male visitors, but are hospitable and will welcome you into their homes. They have exquisite personal collections of embroidered quilts and garments. Walls, shelves, grain containers and cupboards are fashioned in mud with decorative designs washed with lime paste and embedded with mirrors which throw back hundreds of shimmering reflections. You will also see a variety of handicrafts, including textiles like tie and dye, vegetables color dye printing, `Rogan’ art, glass bead work, woollen shawls, leather articles and more. We will also drive to Sumarsar village, famous for Scoof Embroidery done by the Harijan Community. Nirona Village has `Rogan’ art & bell making by Muslim Community, and the lace work done by the Harijan Community. Drive on to Mundra Village, to see the making of sheep wool, including wax printing and tie & dye work. Evening return back to the hotel.

Morning visit the nomadic Rabari embroiders and weavers of woolen blankets in Bhujodi Village. Later drive for 6 hours to Zainabad. On arrival check-into a unique ethnic camp the Desert Coursers Forest Lodge - with huts built like that of the colorful tribal villages in this area. This western part of Gujarat state has unique barren salt flats known as the Rann of Kutch. During the monsoons this area is flooded with sea water and once this water recedes, this vast land is covered with salt as far as the eye can see. In the winter months (November to February), this area forms a good breeding ground for flamingoes and pelicans. The famous Indian Wild Ass live here in abundance and the isolation from the outside world has helped the local Kutchhi people preserve their customs and traditions more than any other part of the state.

Morning full day excursion, traveling deep into the Rann of Kutch, observing the local Kutchhi tribes and wildlife which includes a thriving population of Wild Asses, Indian foxes, jackals and birds like the houbara bustard, sandgrouse, quails, eagles and falcons just to name a few. Desert

Morning we will drive to Patanto visit some of its 100 Jain temples. We will also visit weavers of the colorful Patola saris of double Ikat (a special weave design) designed threads of natural color. We continue our drive for another 3 hours to Ahmedabad - the capital of Gujarat state. This city is also called the “Manchester of the East “ due the many textile manufacturing units. On arrival, check-in to the Hotel Holiday Inn.Lunch at the hotel. After lunch, we will visit the Sabarmati Ashram, situated on the western bank of the Sabarmati River. This ashram, founded in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi, was the headquarters during the struggle for Indian Independence. It is now a spinning wheel factory and they also make handmade paper, handicraft items etc. Later, visit theSidiSaiyed Mosque famous for its beautiful carved stone windows. In the evening dinner at the hotel.

Morning visit the Calico Museum of Textiles, which exhibits antique and the modern textiles including rare tapestries, wall hanging and costumes. After lunch, return to complete our visit. We will also try and see Mr. Manubhai’s collection of embroideries from all over Gujarat. Later in the evening proceed to Vishala, a recreated Gujarati crafts village and visit the Vechaar Utensils Museum with its remarkable collection of 2500 Gujarati preparation and food cooking utensils. We will have a traditional Gujarati vegetarian dinner at the Vishala.

In the morning visit the National Institute of Design, India’s premier institute of modern design, and the Shreyas Folk Art Museum to see the collection of tribal costumes and crafts of Gujarat. After lunch at the hotel, we drive for 5 hours (260 kms) to Udaipur. This lake city is perhaps the most romantic of all the Indian centers. A fairytale collection of exotic gardens, mirror-calm lakes and fantasy island palaces.On arrival check-in to your hotel Lake Palace.

Morning half day city tour of Udaipur includes the City Palace, Saheliyon-ki-Bari (Garden where women of the royal household would meet) and the Jagdish Temple (Built in 1651 A.D. by MaharanaJagat Singh, this Indo-Aryan temple is the most beautiful temple of Udaipur). Afternoon, we visit some interesting artiste studios, specializing in Rajput-Mughal minature paintings and charming store with packed with Indian artefacts, antiques, paintings etc. Evening will be aboard the Gangaur boat - the royal barge of the House of Mewar. The boat is decorated in a regal way and lit up to resemble a fireball from a distance. The guests are taken around the mystical Lake Palace and buffet dinner will be served on the boat (this will include a short live performance of the `sitar’).

Morning, sightseeing excursion to Ranakpur, the fabulous 500 year old Jain Temples. The temples are superbly preserved in near perfect condition. The most distinctive feature are the 29 halls of the main temple, some octagonal and many more than one story high, each dissected by 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique designs, of which no two are the exactly alike. The carving are on the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. Lunch at the Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat - A hunting retreat owned by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Evening transfer to the airport to board the flight to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Morning photo-stop at the honey-comb designed HawaMahal also known as the " Palace of Wind " from where the royal ladies, who lived in seclusion, observed life on the outside. Later visit the fairy tale like Amer Fort, as you ascend the hill like a Maharaja on the back of an Elephant. This is followed by visits to the City Palace of the Jaipur Maharaja and the amazingly accurate JantarMantar, the medieval stone Observatory. Afternoon, visit a hand knotted carpet weaving unit - where wool is colored in vegetable dyes, making each carpet only one of a kind. We will also see a hand block printing on cotton fabric demonstration. In the evening, we drive to SamodePalace (40 kms from Jaipur) where we have a Durbar evening with a Royal Welcome, including camel carts, musicians & `mashals’ (fire torch lights). The whole palace will be illuminated for the welcome followed by special Rajasthani Dinner on the terrace with sitar music in the background and folk dances of Rajasthan. To end the activities there will be a fireworks display over the neighboring hill. After all this we will return back to our hotel in Jaipur.

Morning we depart for Jaipur. This will be a 6 hours drive through the vast farmlands of Uttar Pradesh State. On the way we will first visit the Ghost Capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, FatehpurSikri, built entirely of red sandstone and now declared as a World Heritage Monument. Continue our drive to Agra. On arrival, check-in to the Taj View Hotel.Afternoon, visit the Agra Fort, reminiscent of the glorious and powerful Mughal empire. From Agra Fort drive to see the TajMahalat sunset.

Early morning at the time of sunrise visit one of the Wonders of the World, the famous TajMahal, poetry in marble and a symbol of eternal love. Return back to hotel. After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Varanasi. Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world, contemporary of Thebes and Babylon. It is also one of the holiest Hindu cities and still thriving on its religious past. Transfer to the Hotel Taj Ganges. Afternoon, excursion to Sarnath, is the place where Buddha preached his first lessons on Nirvana. Also, visit the museum with an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures.

Early morning Boat ride at the Holy River Ganges to see the devout praying and bathing on the Ghats (Banks), with funeral pyres burning in the distance. Return back to the hotel. After breakfast, visit the Institute of Khadi Handloom (Cotton Weaving), All India Handloom and Marketing Co-operative, Oriental Arts and Silk Looms as well as India Art Palace. Also visit the Benares Hindu University.

Early morning transfer to railway station to board the Varuna Express train (Departs Varanasi at 0515 hrs and Arrives Lucknow at 0950 hrs)toLucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh state, and one of the major centers from where India’s first War of Independence got its initial momentum in 1857. Lucknow is also famous for its rich and distinct cultural heritage, mainly promoted by the Nawabs (rich noble lords) known for their luxurious lifestyle, and extreme politeness. On arrival, you will be met & transferred to the Hotel TajMahal.Morning at leisure.Afternoon, visit to the Oudh dress section of the State Museum, and the State Design Center.

Morning hull day city tour of Lucknow visiting the HussainbadChhotaImambara (Built in 1837 by Mohd. Ali Shah to serve as his own mausoleum) and Bada Imam Bara (Built in 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula and its one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world ), and the Residency ruins. Afternoon, visit a traditional Zardozi and Kamdani work centre and a chikan work unit. Zardozi is one of the finest surviving arts of intricate gold and jewel embroidery on cloth. It is still used by some India’s best fashion designers in their most expensive outfits. Chikan is the art of fine cloth applique work on muslin. Evening, see a Kathak dance performance - the court dance form of the erstwhile Oudh kingdom.

Morning transfer to the airport to board the flight for Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will be met & transferred to the TajMahalhotel. Afternoon visit the National Museum which has a good collection of Indian bronzes stone & wood sculptures dating back to the (2nd and 3rd Century BC) and costumes of tribal people, and the Crafts Museum, containing a collection of traditional Indian crafts in textiles, metal, wood and ceramics.

This morning enjoy a combined city tour of Old and New Delhi which will include visits to Raj Ghat(the site where Mahatma Gandhi’s was cremated), the Jama Masjid (The Universal mosque which can accommodate 20,000 people at a time for prayers), the fabled ChandniChowk (Silver Street) where will ride through the Gold / Silversmith market etc. on a Rickshaw (tricycle). After the visit to the ChandniChowk we proceed for theQutabMinar(A 70 meters high victory tower built about 800 years ago) and Emperor Humayun’s Tomb (This tomb has served as the base model for the other mughal monuments to follow - including TajMahal). Enroute we drive through India Gate (Built to pay tribute to the 30,000 Indian soldier who lost their lives while fighting for the British during the First World war) and the Houses of Parliament. Afternoonat leisure.This we will have a Farewell Dinner for the group.

Transfer to the International airport to board the flight for onward journey.