India with Barkha Cardoz

Welcome to India, vibrant, chaotic, and kinetic! New Delhi is the perfect place to start. Once we’ve settled in from our arrival, we’ll regroup for a celebratory feast and get acquainted for the perfect start to our 10-day journey together.

Our day begins with a rickshaw ride through bustling New Delhi. It’s a 300-year-old walled city packed with street food, bazaars and artisans. It’s also home to Jama Masjid; this Mughal architectural opus is one of India’s largest and most awe-inspiring mosques, a masterpiece of red sandstone and marble. From here, we explore Chandani Chowk, one of Asia’s oldest and busiest markets. Lunch here will be a moving feast of regional delicacies, and we’ll try it all.

After we’d filled our bellies at the market, we’ll make our way to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples responsible for feeding more than 10,000 people every single day as an integral part of ‘seva’ or service in their faith. While there, we’ll get an inside look into the kitchen and the service of thousands of people in New Delhi. Afterward, we’ll stop for a visit at the National Gandhu Museum for a look at their collection of original relics, books, journals, and more. 

Dinner tonight is a treat: a multi-course meal led by an expert in local and regional food in India.

All aboard to Agra! This morning we’ll check out of our hotel and head to our next destination: Agra. The city hums with history, its streets a blend of old-world grandeur and daily life permeated by the sweet scent of marigold garlands strung for temple offerings. Just beyond the city’s vibrant chaos, the Agra Fort rises from the banks of the Yamuna River, its imposing red sandstone walls glowing warm in the afternoon sun. Once the seat of the Mughal empire, you’ll trace the footsteps of emperors.

We’ll take a mid-afternoon break to check into our new hotel and reconvene for Chai time. Akin to High Tea in Great Britain, chai time in India is a daily ritual of connection. As bubbling masala chai simmers in well-worn steel kettles, we’ll pause to immerse ourselves in the practice of slowing down. 

In the late afternoon, as the sun begins its descent into night, we will embark on a guided visit to the Taj Mahal. It’s marble glows as the sun dips lower, shifting from soft rose to deep violet. The iconic, nearly 400-year-old domes alight, reflecting over the shimmering canals below; creating the perfect backdrop for the photo of a lifetime. 

Dinner tonight is a traditional Mughlai dinner—think spiced tandoori chicken with tangy yogurt and fragrant biryani—with entertainment by local Kathak dancers. 

Today we’re heading several hours further west into Rajasthan to Jaipur, where our opulent 300-year-old palace awaits. City Palace is resplendent and meticulously ornate, as intricate marble inlays and vibrant frescoes tell the story of Rajput royalty. From there, we’ll stop by a few other local landmarks. Nearby, the towering astronomical instruments of Jantar Mantar stand in quiet brilliance, a testament to Jaipur’s scientific legacy, and the Hawa Mahal’s honeycomb façade gives a final, breathtaking reminder of the city’s regal past.

This evening we’ll escape the city for a bit of reprieve in the sanctuary that is Dera Amer, a preserved wilderness creating a place for animals—both domestic and wild—to live. After we’ve spent time with elephants, camels, and an array of birds, we’ll sit down under the stars for an intimate dinner of traditional Rajasthani dishes and dances.

As Jaipur awakens, we’ll start our morning by weaving through a bustling local vegetable market, where the scent of fresh coriander and ripe kinnow oranges mingles with the sizzle of street foods crisping on a nearby griddle. Steaming cups of chai warm our hands as we taste our way through the city’s beloved breakfast dishes. From there, we’ll embark on a jeep ride up the ancient ramparts of the Amber Fort, where grand courtyards and mirrored halls whisper tales of Rajput royalty.

By midday, we’re welcomed into a local home for a hands-on introduction to our hosts’ favorite dishes. A local family will teach us how to prepare—really, how to unlock the secrets of—coveted house recipes. This is India at its most hospitable, flavorful, and artful.

Our day together comes to a close with our hands in cool clay during a pottery lesson with a local craftsman, shaping intricate designs—an age-old craft passed down for generations.

Dinner tonight is on your own.

Today, we start our day with the sunrise before savoring a traditional breakfast of kachori and chai and catching a flight to Udaipur. Known as the “City of Lakes,” We’ll begin our expiration with a boat ride of Lake Pichola, a freshwater lake created in the 14th century, known for its stunning vista of the city’s palaces, temples, and spellbinding sunsets.

We’ll have a light lunch of regional dishes favored by Indian royalty while admiring the views in the gardens of Taj Lake Palace, It’s not by the lake, or even at the shore—this stunning retreat was built in the middle of the lake, 

Afterward, the afternoon is free before we regroup for a wander of the local market to source ingredients for dinner like vibrant turmeric, tangy Gunda, and fresh paneer to name a few.

For dinner, we’ll continue to dine like royals with a meal of traditional, local Marwari-Rajput cuisine.

This morning, we’ll continue our exploration of Udaipur. It’s been romanticized through the ages for its rich cultural legacies and sparkling bucolic scenery. We’ll get a look into the lives of ancient Udaipur royalty at the City Palace complex, with towering marble and granite walls, ornate glass works, and intricate paintings. We’ll also explore Jagdish Temple, a stair-stepped, 16-century stone masterpiece, and the city’s old quarters meeting local artists and craftspeople.

After an afternoon at your leisure discovering all the city has to offer, we’ll finish the day with a cooking class and dinner in traditional Indian dress. 

Today, we return to where we started: New Delhi. After a short flight, we’ll be joined by a local top chef for lunch to learn all about age-old cooking techniques of tribes in North East India and how their methods are deeply rooted in their connection to nature. 

Once we’ve finished our meal, we’ll make our way to Qutb Minar for a journey through centuries of Delhi’s layered history. This UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as the world’s tallest brick minaret, an architectural marvel of Indo-Islamic design. Set within the Qutb complex, the minaret is surrounded by ruins that whisper stories of Delhi’s past.

The rest of the day is on your own and dinner tonight is yours to embellish. 

On our last full day in Delhi, we’ll continue our discovery of what the city has to offer. in a dynamic blend of sensory experiences and historic grandeur. The chaos fades into the tranquility of Lodhi Gardens, where Mughal tombs stand among lush pathways shaded by banyan trees. In stark contrast, the aroma of cardamom, cumin, and dried chilies as you weave through the bustling spice markets, where vendors have traded fragrant treasures for centuries. From the imposing India Gate to the grand boulevards of Rashtrapati Bhavan, every corner of the city reveals layers of history, where ancient traditions and modern life pulse in unison.

After a few hours of independent exploration in the afternoon, we’ll meet up again for a truly magical farewell dinner to celebrate our unforgettable time together in India.

After our final breakfast at the hotel, we bid farewell to our fellow travelers—hearts and spirits full of all things India. Then it’s time for a group transfer to the airport. Until next time!