North India Culinary Tour

Assistance on arrival at Indira Gandhi International airport

Arrive Delhi, the Political Capital of India. Delhi is history, and the monuments are tablets on which the history is written. Every conqueror did his best to possess Delhi and make it his capital. It is not a single city but a combination of eight cities that have been established here from as early as 900 BC to 1930 when the British completed the construction of New Delhi as the capital of Imperial India. It is therefore not surprising that the monuments of Delhi successfully mirror the development of the architectural styles in the country. On arrival, once you have completed the Immigration formalities and collected your baggage, please proceed to the arrival lounge where you will be welcomed by the TOTAL HOLIDAY OPTIONS executive holding a placard who will assist you with a transfer.

Full day city tour of Old and New Delhi, visiting Spice Market with Rickshaw ride, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, followed by a drive-past tour of New Delhi

Proceed for a full day city tour, begin with Old Delhi with a drive past Red Fort to reach Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India built in red sandstone. Between the mosque and Chandni Chowk is a narrow shop-lined street along which you will be transported by cycle rickshaws on your most exhilarating journey of the tour. A rickshaw ride will take you through markets buzzing with people going about their daily chores, vendors selling their wares and shops decorated and ready for business. The rickshaw tour is a great way to discover a different aspect of Delhi and experience the energy of the city. Also visit Khari Baoli, a street in Old Delhi, known for its wholesale groceries and Asia's largest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, nuts, herbs and other food products. Conclude your day with a visit to Qutab Minar; being one of the most important landmarks of Delhi, with calligraphy decorated interiors as well as inscriptions of verses of the Holy Quran. Evening enjoy welcome dinner.

Train to Varanasi

In time assistance on departure and transfer to railway station in Delhi to board the train to Varanasi. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ghats of Varanasi is a natural supplement to the concept of divinity and is known as the city that liberates the soul from the human body to the ultimate. The city is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts, and education.

Assistance on arrival at railway station and evening Aarti ceremony

On arrival at the railway station, you will be received by THO executive. He will meet you holding a placard and will provide assisted transfer to your accommodation. Check-in and relax for sometime. In evening witness grand prayer ceremony on the ghats of river Ganges. You will be transferred to a surreal world, as dozens of big lamps are lighted and swayed in a semi-circle, in tandem by the priests to offer prayers and singing of Vedic hymns, playing of the traditional instruments, while the visitors release 100's of small earthen lamps with flickering lights.

Full day city tour with morning Boat Ride and Heritage Walk, followed by excursion to Sarnath

Early morning enjoy the sunrise boat ride on the river Ganges. One can see the perpetual movement of the pilgrims on the steps, the vivid colours of their clothes glistening against the pale gold water, Visit the Banaras ghat, Assi ghat, and various others. Return to the hotel for a buffet breakfast. Thereafter proceed for a morning city tour of Varanasi visiting various temples, including the 18th century Durga Temple, dedicated to the Maa Durga, Bharat Mata Temple, where the map of undivided India is inscribed in stone and prayed instead of any god or goddess. Afternoon excursion to Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon at the deer park after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the four holy Buddhist sites sanctioned by Lord Buddha himself for pilgrimage. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century AD.

Travel to Lucknow

Assistance on departure and travel to Lucknow, the aristocratic city of the Nawabs which still resounds with the reminiscence of the royal heritage and luxurious life. Lucknow is an intriguing blend of old world charm, beautiful architecture, courteous people, warm hospitality, and rich heritage.

Assistance on arrival at the hotel and later in the evening experience food walk

On arrival assistance at your accommodation. In the evening, embark upon a Cuisine Walk of Lucknow to indulge into the never before pampering of taste buds visiting the roadside eateries (these eateries are very traditional, and none can copy the taste that they offer.) Start with Shri Lassi and move to Kaleji Kabab, Rahim's Kulche Nihari, Mobeen's Pasanda Kabab, Tunde's Gilawat Kabab and finally to sweeten the mouth, the Silver foiled Malai Gilori at Radhey's. If you feel heavy after such a heavy diet, we still have a solution to try out the Paan.

Full day city tour visiting The Residency, Bada Imambara, Asfi Mosque, Labyrinth, La Martiniere, Dilkusha Palace & Gardens with a experience of Chikan Kari embroidery works

Morning proceed for the city tour of Lucknow starting with The Residency a place where speechless walls are known to speak the gruesome tale of the 1857 mutiny. Bada Imambara a famous monument of Lucknow that is of historical, cultural and heritage importance. The complex also includes Asfi mosque, the labyrinth, and a summer palace. Later visit the architectural marvel of age, La Martiniere which was designed by a Frenchman Major-General Claude Martin as a palatial home and Dilkusha Palace & Gardens the palace was built by a European architect for the Nawab - Sadat Ali Khan. The palace was used as a country house and hunting lodge by the Nawab and his begums. Lucknow is the centre for Chikan embroidery, renowned for it's timeless grace and gossamer delicacy, a skill more than 2000 years old. In the evening experience Chikan Kari embroidery works followed by a walk-through Colourful Dhobi ghat.

Travel to Agra

Morning assistance on departure and travel to Agra, home to India's most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal. A poem of white marble, the Taj is described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love.

Assistance on arrival, evening visit marble Inlay workshop

On arrival, you will be assisted with a transfer to your hotel. Later after brief rest visit marble factory to witness artisans creating beautiful marble handicrafts whose ancestors had worked during the construction of the Taj.

Full day city tour visiting Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Itimad-Ud-Daulah

Early morning visit India’s most iconic landmark, the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The epitome of love, standing majestically on the banks of the river Yamuna, was built in the 17th century by the Mughul Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his queen. Made with pure white marble, ornated with semi-precious stones and built around a beautiful four gardens plan, it is universally admired as the greatest achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. Next visit Agra Fort built by Emperor Akbar, made with red sandstone, exhibits a fascinating mixture of Islamic and Hindu styles of artistry. Conclude the day visiting Itimad-Ud-Daulah Tomb, nicknamed the Baby Taj, said to have an important influence behind the design of Taj Mahal.

Travel to Jaipur

Assistance on departure and travel to Jaipur, the first planned city of India, is a treasure-trove of culture, art and history. Famous for its color, lifestyle and Rajasthani cuisine. It is a city exuding royal heritage and extravagant richness.

Assistance on arrival, evening cook and dine with Indian Family

On arrival at Jaipur, you will be assisted with a transfer. In the evening proceed to a house of a local family where you will learn the art of Indian cooking. As you watch famous recipes being cooked in your presence. It's all about typical home-style Indian cooking where you can choose to participate in the cooking or merely watch and learn. Indian cooking is a diligent process involving a unique combination of various ingredients such as spices, pulses, grains and oils. Once you are finished with the cooking, enjoy the dinner with the family.

Full day city tour visiting Amber fort with Jeep ride, en-route photo stop at Hawa Mahal; visit to City Palace museum, Jantar Mantar, followed by market exploration

Morning tour of Jaipur starts with a drive to Amber fort. En-route photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace). Next visit City Palace Museum which boasts to have some of the priceless handwritten Hindu scriptures, miniature delicate paintings, preserved painted ceilings and the elephant saddles (haudas). Visit Jantar Mantar; one of the famed observatories, a complex of astronomical instruments chiselled out of stone which provides fairly accurate information to the day. Later explore through the colourful and chaotic streets, shopping for souvenirs like silver jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds, topaz and emeralds, embroidered clothing and quilts, block printed textiles, lacquered brass work, miniature marble carvings and blue potteries.

Travel to Delhi

Morning assistance on departure and travel to Delhi, the bustling capital of India, fondly known as the ‘Cities of Cities’, brings together the old and the new, giving a unique experience of the ancient and the modern, co-existing in harmony with each other. The gateway to the country, Delhi enjoys a strategic location and was one of the key reason why successive dynasties chose to make it their seat of power and rule from here.

Direct departure to airport

Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be assisted by TOTAL HOLIDAY OPTIONS executive for a direct transfer to the airport to board flight for onward journey.