Locations: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Lucknow - Varanasi and Delhi

Introduction:
Itineraries designed specifically for the savvy travellers who want to fully immerse themselves into the culture and history of exotic faraway lands. These unique culinary tours are led by expert chefs & local foodies who guide us through private kitchens, local bazaars and markets exposing us to tantalizing smells and sights. As we sample the local cuisine and interact with our hosts, we gain insight into how history has influenced their daily diet - how certain spices, fruits and nuts were introduced, how religion, traditions, climate and geography have all played a part in making their cuisine unique and extraordinary.
 

Today you will arrive at Indira Gandhi international airport, meet and greet by our representative. Assistance and transfer to hotel. Delhi - the capital of India, is a fascinating city with complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where the past co-exists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments. Delhi is not only the present metropolis of India but also a Necropolis. Because of its location, being on the banks of the River Yamuna, many cities have risen and fallen over the last five millenniums. Overnight in Delhi.
 

After breakfast take a tantalizing tour of Old Delhi, with delights such as the Parathewali Gali-a whole street lined with shops specializing only in Parathas, a special flat bread which is stuffed with all kinds of vegetables, cottage cheese, spices and everything else the chefs fancy! Watch them create master pieces using exotic flours, spices, vegetables and other ingredients. These simple, melt-in-your-mouth delicacies will leave you craving for more long after you return home. We continue our quest, still in Old Delhi and on to the famous bazaar- Chandni Chowk-bustling with commerce and enterprise. Spices are the specialty of Khari Baoli (Asia's largest Spice Market), so be prepared to be assaulted by exotic smells and fragrances. Very near the Red Fort is the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, also built by Shah Jahan. Take an interesting cycle-rickshaw ride through the famous bazaars of Chandni Chowk, which is adjacent to both the Fort and the Mosque. Also visit Raj Ghat - the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Lunch at Chore Bizarre, easily India's finest theme restaurant. People can't quite decide how to define Chor Bizarre - 'A pirate's galley', an attic', 'Really clever' and 'Quirky' usually rule the roost. Rightly so - 'Chor' means thief and 'bizarre' means totally bizarre! Overnight in Delhi. Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
 

Morning: After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed on a sightseeing tour of New Delhi. Visit the Qutub Minar, a Tower of Victory which was built in the 12th century by Qutbuddin Aibak. Within its spacious courtyard stands the Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD and bears a Sanskrit inscription in the Gupta style. The pillar has puzzled scientists as its iron has not rusted in all these centuries.

The Tomb of Humayun - the magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble is one of the finest examples of the garden tomb, and a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Its proportionate spaces, double dome and refined elegance are characteristic of Mughal architecture.

Drive past India Gate, the memorial of the First World War and the road that leads from there to Rashtrapathi Bhawan - the residence of the President of India, which is flanked by the houses of Parliament and the Government Secretariat buildings. Later, drive to Jaipur. - The capital of Rajasthan is colour- washed pink - the colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This Pink City of fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad avenues are picturesque. The first planned city of its time, a formidable wall encircles Jaipur. On arrival assistance and check in at hotel.

Overnight at Jaipur. Meal: Breakfast Only.
 

Morning: Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel; later proceed for the excursion of Amber Fort. Here you will enjoy an Elephant Ride to reach atop of the palace. This journey on embellished elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort, visit the Hall of Victory or Jag Mandir - is the famed Sheesh Mahal- a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. Continue your journey: with the city tour of Jaipur - visiting Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum, housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. Later visit the Jantar Mantar. - World heritage site.

Later in the evening, get a session of "Authentic Indian Popular Dishes Cooking Classes" in the hotel. The Indian cuisine is as diverse as its culture, languages, regions and its climate. All classes will feature an entire meal from "Appetizers to Dessert" and feature "hands-on recipes". So bring your appetite and enthusiasm for a day of fun and enchantment. Learn easy delicious recipes and later, enjoy dinner.

Overnight in Jaipur. Meal: Breakfast and Dinner.
 

After breakfast, drive to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is an exquisite city built by Akbar the Great in 1569, in red sandstone. It's forts, palaces and mosques were abandoned 14 years after its creation due to political reasons. The Diwane-i-Am - a vast courtyard in which the emperor gave daily public audience; Diwane-i-Khas - a large quadrangle which contained all the major functions of the Palace, Pachisi court, the Emperors private living quarter, Jodha Bhai's Palace, Mariam's Palace, Birbal's Palace, Hawa Mahal and Panch Mahal are some of the important buildings of this residential complex. The Friday Mosque and the exquisite tomb of Sheik Salim Chisti are in the religious grounds set aside in a separate enclosure adjacent to the secular buildings.

Later drive to Agra. Overnight in Agra. Meal: Breakfast Only.
 

Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra was their capital for nearly a hundred years from 1564. A pleasant town, with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are hereditary craft persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes. Morning: Visit the Taj Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble. Built over a period of 22 years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630, for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, it is one of the seven modern wonders of the World. [The Taj is closed on every Friday]. Later visit the Agra Fort, built by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the fort are a number of exquisite buildings including the Moti Masjid, Jahangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal, Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a prisoner. Dinner at Peshawri Restaurant: ITC Mughal. Discover a definitive dining experience with refined cuisine and impeccable service. Taste the authentic flavors of the northwest frontier cuisine at Peshawri. Barbecued specialties and freshly baked Indian breads are prepared in the restaurant's display kitchen. Meal: Breakfast and Dinner.
 

Morning at leisure. Afternoon departure transfer to railway station to board the train for Lucknow. The heritage and the royal splendor of Lucknow have always enthralled people all over the world. The ambience of Awadh has commonly been related with the leisurely habits, fine etiquette, impressive architecture, rich food and refinement, the residues of Nawabi culture. Over the years the city has preserved this spirit of the glorious era that once reigned over Lucknow. Tours to Lucknow will make you experience the rich legacy of India. Assistance upon arrival at railway station and drive to the hotel. Overnight in Lucknow. Meal: Breakfast Only.
 

Visit some of the major tourist attractions in Lucknow which are Asafi Masjid, Rumi Darwaza, Baradari, Residency, Shahnajaf Imambara, La Martiniere College, Clock Tower, Chhatar Manzil, Bada Imambara, Chhota Imambara, State Museum Zoo and Dilkusha.

The most famous dishes of Lucknow are kormas, kaliya, nahari-kulchas, zarda, sheermal, roomali rotis and warqi parathas. It is not just the ingredients that are special but also the way they are made by expert hands and the way they are presented. Just looking at an elaborate layout of Lucknow cuisine will make your mouth water. The most famous of all dishes are the Kebabs or the meatballs that come in different varieties. Some of the most famous (and delicious!) varieties of Kebabs are Kakori Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, Boti Kebabs, Patili-ke-Kababs, Ghutwa Kebabs and Seekh Kebabs. Meal: Breakfast and Dinner.
 

Morning: Assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel. Varanasi is one of India's most important pilgrimage sites and the holiest of holy cities for Hindus. Known also as Kashi and Benaras, Varanasi is one of the world's oldest living cities, and has been a centre of learning and culture for well over 2000 years. In the afternoon you will transfer for excursion of Sarnath. The place where the Buddha turned the Wheel of Law and delivered His First Sermon. See the Chowkandi and Dhamek Stupas, the ruins of 9th and 10th century monasteries and temples, the temple built by the Mahabodhi Society in 1931, and the Tibetan Temple. Visit the famous Sarnath Museum. In the evening, the grand 'Aarti' at Dasaashwamedh Ghat, conducted every sunset by five white-robed priests. These five young men sway in seemingly choreographed movements, worshiping the river goddess with incense, camphor, flowers and earthen lamps. Thousands of illuminated lamps are immersed in the waters of the holy Ganges and the floating lamps add a divine look to the river at dusk. Sit with some 'sadhu' and enjoy knowing their lifestyle from close proximity. You might even run into someone who is more than 100 years old! The Ghats also provide a good option for photography with serene temples and their bustling courtyards creating a perfect backdrop. Overnight in Varanasi. Meal: Breakfast Only.
 

Morning: Transfer for Boat ride at dawn down India's most sacred river, The Ganges. Sun rise at the holy river is a truly tranquil and breath taking sight with pilgrims standing waist-deep in water, praying to the rising Sun. Past these bathing ghats, see the "burning ghats" where the Hindus cremate their dead. This is done with great religious fervor which makes for a moving experience. After boat ride one of Varanasi's highlights is the Samosa and launglata-take after a holy dip in River Ganges from the numerous shops mushrooming on roads and streets nearby. The traditional snack of kachori sold in the old city next to the ghats is also a must try. The 'paapri-chaat' is a hot favorite, with its tangy and spicy flavor of ginger and tamarind chutney accompanied by the cooling and soothing yoghurt. A variety of mango available only in summers called 'Langda aam' with its sour and sweet flavor is very popular, and so the fragrant 'Benarasi paan' added with aromatic essences of rose and 'supari' (areca-nut) along with other goodies. Meal: Breakfast and Dinner.
 

Morning kept free for own activity. Later check-out and drive to the airport to board the flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi airport and connect your flight for onward journey.