Explore India the Taj Way
Delve deep into the splendors of India with this fabulous itinerary featuring stays at some of our very favorite hotels in the renowned Taj collection.
Taj Lake Palace (photo courtesy of Taj Hotels)
With India easier to visit than it has been in years, we knew a sample itinerary featuring the opulent Taj Hotels would be just the ticket to reignite your wanderlust for this much-loved destination.
This sample itinerary will give you an idea as to how a stunning trip like this one can flow, but of course your Poe Travel itinerary will be totally customized to your interests and vision for your own trip.
Day 1
Delhi
You’ll arrive in Delhi and make your way to your home for the next two nights. Enjoy some time to settle in and become acclimated to your new surroundings.
Hotel Spotlight: Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi
The Taj Mahal Hotel is New Delhi’s most distinguished address, at Number One Mansingh Road. This tribute to timeless hospitality and service complements the broad boulevards and leafy splendor of India’s capital city. Its stateliness and security, culinary innovations, and the air of quiet, restrained luxury have made it a favorite of visiting dignitaries and heads of state many times over.
Near the bustling city center, you’ll find the hotel’s 294 executive rooms, including 27 suites. All rooms feature classical décor and a refined ambiance. Taj Club Rooms offer panoramic views of the city and added amenities. You’ll find a wide variety of delectable dishes and refreshing drinks at the hotel’s restaurants, which range from casual all-day eateries to fine dining. The dining options on offer give you the chance to explore Indian cuisine while also enjoying international dishes.
Other notable facilities include a wellness spa, fitness center (with steam baths, Jacuzzi, sauna, and swimming pool), golf and tennis nearby, beauty salon, babysitting services, and more.
Day 2
Old & New Delhi
Enjoy your breakfast this morning at Capital Kitchen before setting out to discover both Old and New Delhi today. Take a short rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, where you’ll visit the Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques dating back to 1650. Along with a few other notable sites, you’re sure to enjoy the food alleys, where you’ll find mouth-watering samosas, pakoras, and parathas.
Drive through the city’s tree-lined avenues to discover India Gate and the Diplomatic Enclave. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, which is considered the predecessor of the great Taj Mahal. Finally, visit one of the most perfect towers in the world, the 12th century Qutub Minar, before enjoying your evening back at the hotel.
Day 3
Off to Jaipur
After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, your private driver will transfer you to Jaipur (about 4.5 hours). There will be plenty of time for stops along the way. If you prefer, we can arrange a flight. Once you’ve arrived in Jaipur, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax at your hotel.
Hotel Spotlight: Rambagh Palace
The romance of Rajasthan—which evokes images of erstwhile royalty, princely living, and legends—comes alive at Rambagh Palace. Spread over 47 acres of tranquil, landscaped gardens, this is Jaipur’s foremost Royal Palace residence. It is right in the middle of the best of Jaipur, from the walled “Pink City” to spectacular forts to the unique shopping bazaars.
Built in 1835 for the queen’s favorite handmaiden and later refurbished as a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge, the mansion was renamed Rambagh after the then-reigning Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. His grandson, Sawai Man Singh II, actualized his dream of making Rambagh his permanent home by converting it into the magnificent palace you see today, completing the project in 1925. In its many years, it has played host to illustrious guests such as Prince Charles, Jackie Kennedy, and more.
Live like royalty in the restored suites—former chambers of the maharaja—which are adorned with rich silk drapes and colorful artwork. After a day enjoying the royal treatments available at the Jiva Spa (including Indian aromatherapy massages), ask the palace butlers to arrange an intimate meal or take you on a drive in a vintage car.
Day 4
Jaipur
Spend your morning at the Amber Fort in the ancient capital of Amber. Stop along the way at the Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds.
After a break for lunch, visit the City Palace, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens, and courtyards. Full to the brim with decorative art and carved doorways, the City Palace Museum also houses collections of rare manuscripts, armor, and more. The adjacent Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Observatory) is home to a collection of architectural astronomical instruments from between 1727 and 1733. There will also be time for shopping in the local bazaars.
This evening, join some of Rambagh Palace’s butlers for an insightful walk around the palace. You’ll be enthralled by anecdotes of the maharajas of yesteryear as you watch history come alive before you.
Day 5
Off to Udaipur
After breakfast at Rambagh Palace, you’ll be transferred to Udaipur. This is a 7-hour drive, or we can arrange for a flight between the two cities for your ease. On arrival, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy your hotel.
Hotel Spotlight: Taj Lake Palace
The Taj Lake Palace is a marble fantasy that floats magically on the still blue waters of Lake Pichola. The hotel features 83 breathtakingly beautiful, centrally air-conditioned rooms including 18 suites. While you’ll feel removed from the worries of the world, Taj Lake Palace is only a kilometer from the city center. This 273-year-old palace is considered the most romantic hotel in the world by many, offering a unique blend of serenity and opulence.
With four dining options, you’ll have plenty of choice. Jharokha is an informal all-day dining spot featuring international delicacies. Neel Kamal is an Indian specialty restaurant overlooking the lily pond that will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a royal banquet hall. Bhairo is the hotel’s open-air rooftop restaurant, offering views of the beautifully lit Palace of King Mewar and the sparkling waters of Lake Pichola, along with delicious plates of contemporary western cuisine. Finally, Amrit Sagar is a stylish bar renowned for its selection of vintage wines, spirits, cigars, and martinis, also serving light meals during the day.
Other recreational facilities include a swimming pool, wellness center, yoga and meditation, private boat rides, birdwatching, and more.
Day 6
Udaipur
This morning brings you to the City Palace, a museum that was once home to Mewar’s rulers. Its palaces overlook the clear blue of Lake Pichola. Drive around Fateh Sagar Lake, excavated in the late-17th century by Maharaja Jai Singh, and past the Kala Mandir (Puppet Museum) and the Cenotaph of the Maharana Pratap.
Last but not least, visit the Jagdish Temple. If you’re interested, you can also see the crystal gallery inside Fateh Prakash Palace, where many exquisite pieces are on display. The antique car museum also houses a priceless collection of vintage cars belonging to the Maharana of Udaipur.
This evening, why not take a shikara boat ride around Lake Pichola? In and amongst the many islands on the lake, you’ll spot the two where the maharanas of Udaipur constructed their pleasure palaces, the Jag Mandir and the Jag Niwas.
Day 7
Udaipur
Today is for relaxing and unwinding at your incredible hotel. After breakfast, we would suggest a signature Jiva Spa experience on the Spa boat.
Day 8
Off to Mumbai
A domestic flight this morning will take you to Mumbai and the flagship hotel of Taj Hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
After a break for lunch, enjoy a city tour of Mumbai beginning at the Gateway of India monument and the onto the modest—and revered—Mani Bhawan, Mahatma Gandhi’s headquarters from 1917 to 1934.
Hotel Spotlight: Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Overlooking the majestic Gateway of India, this legendary five-star hotel has played host to kings, dignitaries, and eminent personalities across the globe. It is an architectural marvel, bringing together Moorish, Oriental, and Florentine styles seamlessly. With panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, this hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai. Vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, graceful archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers, and the hotel’s magnificent art collection all come together to create a feeling of genuine opulence.
The hotel’s renovated rooms and suites show you what it was like to live in a maharajah, in the lap of regal luxury, with the pampering of every modern amenity and a personal butler on call.
The Taj has long been considered a culinary pioneer in Indian gourmet circles, and The Taj Mahal Palace is where it all began. From age-old favorites to contemporary palate pleasers, the hotel offers a varied and luxurious dining experience, encompassing the world’s favorite cuisines. From rooftop Souk’s eastern Mediterranean cuisine to Japanese favorites at Wasabi to Sichuan and Cantonese fare at Golden Dragon and beyond to the sweets at La Patisserie, English delicacies at Sea Lounge, and poolside bites at Aquarius, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.
Day 9
Mumbai
Today, continue yesterday’s exploration of Mumbai with a visit to Dharavi, Mumbai’s “city within a city.” This giant slum is where cottage industries and small businesses thrive.
The afternoon is for the city’s Heritage area, including a stop at the Baroque-style train station and Central Railway Headquarters Building, Mumbai’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site! You can also visit the Prince of Wales Museum before heading back to your hotel for a final night of relaxation and delicious dining.
Day 10
Departure
Your Indian itinerary comes to an end as you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Poe Perks
Best of all, Poe Travel clients will enjoy extra amenities at each of these Taj properties in India. These include:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily breakfast for two guests per bedroom
Complimentary one-way private airport transfers (in Mumbai)
Complimentary lunch or dinner for two people/room, once during stay, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities (not in Mumbai)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
What a whirlwind this itinerary is! While ten days is a fabulous amount of time to zip around to some of India’s highlights, we can also slow this down and create an even more in-depth itinerary, giving you time to balance activity and relaxation while you explore this fascinating country.
Contact us to Go Away to India (or anywhere else in the world). A Poe Travel advisor is waiting to create a customized itinerary just for you.