A Pilgrimage to India

Arrive and meet your driver, who will whisk you off to your hotel, the impeccably designed 5-star Lodhi in the heart of New Delhi.

Settle into your garden terrace room and relax. Because of the long travel day, consider arriving one day early to recover from jet lag. We can help you book your room for an extra night, allowing you to stay in the same room for the entire time.

Book an optional spa treatment to shake off your jetlag, or hang out at the pool and soak in some sunlight to help your body adjust to the new time.

We’ll meet in the late afternoon for a briefing with Clara, your guide. She’ll start with one of her daily talks to help you get into the Indian mindset.

Welcome cocktails in the lounge are on us, followed by dinner at Indian Accent. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a tasting menu at one of the restaurants in our hotel. It is one of Asia’s best.

Let’s make it an early night. There is much to see tomorrow.

After a spectacular breakfast and optional yoga & meditation on the roof with Clara, we’ll head out for a big day of sightseeing. You’ll meet Monika, your guide for the week, Monika. You’ll likely fall in love with her by day’s end because her smile is infectious.

We’ll begin with the Qutub Minar, a giant brick minaret built in 1199 by Muslim conquerors and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Next, we’ll walk through Gandhi Smirti, Gandhi’s residence at the end of his life. You will find this house and the quotes throughout it very moving. You can see where he slept and even his signature round glasses. Rewatch Gandhi (the movie with Ben Kingsley) before you arrive so you can recall his remarkable story. 

Now, it’s time to go to Old Delhi. Before touring the markets, we’ll duck into an ancient Haveli, an old Indian mansion, to enjoy a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we’ll hit the hustle and bustle of Old Delhi, an experience you will never forget. We’ll take a rickshaw ride through the market, pausing for pictures. We'll stop at shops to discover the many Indian spices, sweet tastes, and natural fragrances. You can also buy Indian bangles or other jewelry.

Time to return to our hotel for much-needed rest.

Tonight, we’ll dine at Bukara, a famous tandoori restaurant. It's on the 50 Best in the World list. The menu has remained virtually the same for the past 40 years, and, surprise, tonight you’ll eat with your hands. Don’t worry. Many other celebrities have done it – you can too!

Depart after breakfast for Agra. It's about four hours' drive. We’ll make a pit stop along the way.

We’ll have lunch in the garden at the Public in the city that the Taj Mahal made famous.

Next, we’ll hit the market in Agra to buy saris so we can dress appropriately for our Taj Mahal visit the next day.

Once we're kitted up, we’ll check into the 5-star Tajview Hotel. Your Executive room has a Taj Mahal view!

Why don’t you refresh in the pool or hit the fitness center for a quick workout?

After an early evening chat with Clara, while we get our henna** done, we’ll head up to the hotel's Sky Deck for a vegetarian or non-vegetarian feast with a view. After our repast, we’ll head in for an early night because we’ll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow!

**Henna 

The art of Henna—called mehndi in Hindi and Urdu—has been practiced in India and elsewhere for over 5000 years. Today, Henna is used mainly in celebration of special occasions, like weddings and birthdays, or the joyous gathering of people. The Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity.

Today, we’ll wake up bright and early to see the Taj in the early morning light, but first, we’ll dress in our saris.

A visit to the Taj Mahal is on everyone’s bucket list, so it will feel like a dream come true. We go early for the light (great for photos), and because at this time of day, you can watch the building change colors. These are once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunities.

After hearing the love story that led to the construction of the Taj, and taking hundreds of pictures, we’ll visit Monika, our guide’s home for breakfast and a proper chai. Learning to make a real Indian Chai (nothing like those sweet things you get at Starbucks) is a joy. Plus, it’s an intimate opportunity to witness middle-class Indian family life.

After breakfast, we’ll return to the hotel for a quick snooze or a dip in the pool. We can have lunch together at our own pace before heading back out. 

This afternoon, we’re off to visit a very special inlaid marble atelier whose best works are found in museums. Plus, we’ll have the opportunity to see some of the best embroidery in the region at Zardozi’s.

Tonight, you can relax in your room and order room service after a long day or dine with friends in one of the hotel restaurants.

Today, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel. Then, depart en route to Jaipur, the pink city.

On the way, we’ll stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the city of the Mughal Kings and former capital of the Mughal Empire, dating from the 16th century.

After our tour and a quick history lesson, we’ll take time for a local lunch to fuel the rest of our journey.

Then, we'll continue to Abaneri, the biggest and one of the oldest step wells in the world.

We’ll arrive in Jaipur around 6pm and check into the Jai Mahal Palace by Taj, a 5-star hotel with an 18-acre garden. The hotel is a former palace built in 1745.

After a long journey, we’ll relax and unpack, then meet for dinner at Giardino, one of a few restaurants at the Jai Mahal Palace. For a change of pace tonight, we’ll opt for Italian food.

Today, after a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll head out to the Amber Fort, one of the most impressive buildings in all of India.

Next, we’ll visit the Royal City Palace with its gorgeous mirrored blue rooms. Don’t miss the gift shop. It's small but magical. Afterward, we’ll visit the Observatory, a scientific revelation in its time. 

It’s time for lunch at the enchanting Baradari. Then, we’ll drive by the much-instagrammed Hawa Mahal (aka the Pink Palace) for a photo in front of its distinctive windows.

The afternoon is set aside for shopping because Jaipur has some of the best shopping in India. Jaipur is known worldwide for its textiles, fabrics, and carpets. Many designers from the US, England, and elsewhere create and craft their products here.

We’ll head to a textile shop, where you can have a jacket handmade overnight. Then, we're off to an exemplary carpet shop for an entertaining rug show!  Finally, we’ll stop at a place with exceptional handmade bedding, scarves, and shawls. If time allows today or tomorrow, we’ll stop at the most renowned jeweler in town, Hot Pink.

While in Jaipur, we’ll set aside time on both afternoons for a 60-minute spa service, which is included. Try an Indian aromatherapy massage or perhaps an Ayurvedic foot or head treatment.

Tonight’s meal is on your own. There are several restaurants to try at the hotel, or there is always room service if you'd prefer a quiet night.

This morning is a relaxing one. Wake up late and enjoy doing nothing. It’s time to relax and recuperate after much sightseeing. Let’s ground ourselves in the garden and practice meditation, breathwork, and yoga with Clara.

In lieu of lunch, we’ll take a home cooking class to discover essential spices and flavors in Indian cooking. Then, we’ll feast on our output!

Next, we’ll head out of town to an Elephant Conservation Sanctuary, where we’ll learn about the plight of the Indian Elephant. We'll get up close and personal with them. We want to support this conservation group's work. Since 1995, they have worked to protect elephants and other creatures from poaching in 12 rescue centers throughout India.

Tonight, you're in for a treat. After some time back at the hotel, we’ll depart for the Palladio Restaurant and Bar. The setting is pure fantasy, and the Italian food is delightful. You’ll want to take your camera/phone as the interiors are sublime. It’s the ideal place to celebrate our time in Rajasthan and prepare for our next journey.

After breakfast, those ending their trip in Jaipur will bid farewell to new friends and the sights and sounds of the past week’s adventures. 

We’ll transfer you back to the Jaipur International  Airport for your departure flight back through Delhi and onward home. 

For those continuing on the Rishikesh trip extension....we'll also head to the airport in Jaipur for our flight up north.

After an early breakfast, we’ll depart Jaipur on a 9:05 am flight, arriving at the Jolly Grant airport at 10:30 am, where our private driver will pick us up.

Together, we’ll drive into Rishikesh stopping, along the way to see the Beatles’ Ashram and the Pujya Swamis' Ashram. 

We’ll stop for a nutritious lunch at Jal & Jaleb to sample authentic Northern Indian food, including Thalis and Garhwali dishes. Enjoy views of the Ganges River. 

Next, we’ll experience a guided ritual with Clara at the Ganges to begin our "Ayurvedic transformation". You can even dip your toes in the Holy Ganges river.

Our hotel for the next three nights is Maharishi Ayurveda Retreat.

We have time to rest before meeting for our first Satsang* to receive instructions on how to meditate using the TM process.

We’ll stick to a Satvik diet while at the retreat. Tonight, we’ll savor our first meal in this spiritual place together.

Rest will come easy as the sun sets.

After a healthy breakfast, each person will meet with an Ayurvedic consultant to determine their dosha and the treatments they’ll receive over the next two days.

Yoga for all levels, including absolute beginners, will happen daily. Your treatment over the next several days is designed to help balance the mind, body, & soul and detoxify the body. This 5000-year-old medicinal practice is beneficial for everyone working toward achieving perfect health.

Based on your consultation, your day might include:

Abhyanga - a full-body massage using warmed herbal oils to increase blood circulation, relieve stress & inflammation, and draw toxins out of the body.

Elakizhi therapy helps one perspire, flushing out the toxins by massaging the body with an herb bundle soaked in warm oil. This, in turn, relieves stress, sore muscles, and body aches.

Shirodara - the process of pouring warm medicated oil slowly over the forehead. It includes a gentle head massage, relieving stress and anxiety.

Swedan is simply sweating through steaming. As many cultures recognize, a steam bath helps remove toxins from the body and prolong your life.

Between treatments, we’ll meet for tea, lunch, and dinner. 

Tonight, we’ll participate in an Aarti ceremony, a 1000-year-old ritual that happens at the river, the name of which means “removal of sorrows”. The ritual is performed by a Hindu monk at sunset using a hymn or a song to praise God and rid our minds of worldly thoughts. It’s a ceremony of light. We’ll join many others when we participate in this ancient tradition.

Today is a relaxing one as we move slowly from a treatment to a meal to time set aside to rest, read, or do yoga. Guiding us individually, and as a group along the way, is beautiful Clara, who will talk with us individually and together on our spiritual journey, instruct us in the Mudras, and help us improve our breathing, meditating and mindfulness efforts.

Tonight, we’ll have a celebratory farewell dinner together reminiscing about our incredible time in India, discussing how much we’ve seen and learned in such a short time.

Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Delhi and then onward home.