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This program is an ideal introduction to India, featuring some of the country's most exotic destinations. Your journey begins with a two-night stay in Delhi. Tour Old and New Delhi, exploring the many layers of the city's rich history including a visit to the Crafts Museum and its sweeping collection of artifacts from across the country. Next you fly to Udaipur, which for many travelers is the ultimate Rajput city, with its shimmering Lake Pichola and magnificent palaces. Spend two nights in Udaipur, basking in its gorgeous lake views and seductive charm.
Your next stop is Mumbai. You spend two nights in this bustling metropolitan and then hop over to Goa. Spend time on the fine beaches of Goa before flying to Thiruvananthapuram via Bangalore. Stay at the Kovalam beach resort. The palm-fringed beaches and golden-baked sand are the ideal place to spend your time. Next fly to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. From here you can drive to Mahaballipuram. Plan an excursion to this marvelous seaport and feast your eyes on the famous collection of temples and carvings that date back to the 7th century. The splendour of the Shore Temples is accentuated by the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal. From Chennai you fly to Kolkata, where echoes of the Raj mingle with Bengal's dynamic artistic and cultural traditions and its culinary delights.
Fly from Kolkata to Bagdogra, from where you will drive to Darjeeling, justly famed for its botanical gardens and panoramic mountain views. Spend three days here, touring the splendid tea gardens and towns surrounding this ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’. The fresh mountain air and agreeable climate make this a perfect environment for tea and orchid cultivation. A view of the sunrise from Tiger Hill, a visit to Ghoom Monastery, and the luscious orchid garden are but some of the highlights of your two days in Darjeeling. You drive back to Bagdogra for your departure flight to Delhi. The next destination is Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, which you will reach via the abandoned Moghul city of Fatehpur Sikri. Visit Agra Fort, which provides an awesome view of the Taj. Nothing can match the sight of the Taj Mahal in the fading evening light. You will also visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, the tomb of Mirza Ghiyath Beg.
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