Arrive Delhi

Met & assisted on arrival at Delhi airport by our representative and straight transfer to your guesthouse.
Check in at the Homestay/ Hotel and meet your hosts. Rest of the day at leisure.

In the evening, leave for Tarami Restaurant where in you experience the Kashmiri Wazwan cuisine (typical of North India), prepared by one of Delhi’s most experienced chefs. Tarami is one of the few Kashmiri Wazwan restaurants outside the Kashmir Valley, and has access to the secrets of this particular type of cooking. The chef gives a personal demonstration of the Wazwan cooking describing the spices used and the difference each spice makes to the complete flavor of the dish.

Overnight stay

Delhi

After breakfast, leave for a heritage walk of Old Delhi. Drive to Old Delhi, from where the heritage walks begins, visiting;

Chandni Chowk (The Silver Square) is the most happening street and a place to hang out in the walled city of Old Delhi, which was originally called Shahjahanabad. The walled city, which includes the Red Fort of Delhi, was established in 1650 AD by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. While walking through silver market your will find yourself at a corner sweetmeat shop The Jalebiwallah, famous for its Jalebies- Jalebis, the golden-colored rings of deep-fried wheat flour batter, soaked in sugar syrup, fill the mouth with a warm liquid of such excessive sweetness that modesty blushes in shame.

The Spice Bazaar, or Khari Baoli, is a street in Old Delhi known for its wholesale grocery and is one of Asia’s largest wholesale spice markets selling all kinds of local spices, nuts and herbs. Operating since the 17th century, the market is situated just a walking distance to the historic Delhi Red Fort. A walk to spice market will take you back to the 17th century; Learn about the spices on sale and smell their aromas.

Pay a visit Karim’s to experience Delhi’s premier North West frontier cuisine try the famous Butter chicken and Mutton Stews here simply reveals the fine fusion of Indo – Persian cooking style and tastes.

Return to Homestay/ hotel, after a short nap, evening visit nearby vegetable market with your hosts to prepare an Indian cuisine dinner. You can also interact with the family and get to know more about Indian culture and diversity. You get to join in with the cooking learning about the staples of Indian cuisine and the various types of Indian breads.

Dinner starts with a welcome drink, soft drinks followed by hot starters. The main course includes lentils, meat and vegetable curries, seasonal vegetables, parantha, papaddums, pickels and salad. The meal is sealed with a sumptuous Indian dessert.

Overnight stay

Delhi / Lucknow by train # 12004: 0615 – 12430 Hrs

Early morning transfer in time to New Delhi railway station to board train to Lucknow.

Lucknow - this name is synonymous with architectural beauties of 'Lakhauri' bricks, the fragrance of 'itra', musical notes, the sound of dancers' trinklets, the sweetness of 'dussheri' mangoes, 'malai' and 'gulab revadis', and of course it’s 'Mehman Nawazi'. Known for its refinement in speech, entertainment, dresses and manners, Lucknow is also called the 'City of Adab'. Infact, it is here that one can experience hospitality in the true sense of the term. Various cultural ingredients have contributed to the richness of this unique city.

Upon arrival, transfer and check into your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, proceed for visit a local aristocratic residence and enjoy a Nawaabi hospitality by the host himself. After the customary greetings - Aadab - you are seated in his decked-up family museum that houses antiques and artifacts inherited by him. A short introduction with Nawaab’s family with a delightful serving a local soft beverage called Sharbet (herbal or fruit preparation made differently in different seasons). Unwind and chat with the host and his family, where you can hear all about Indian art, culture, cuisine, craft, architecture and history.

Later move on to the kitchen to learn secret recipes from the Awadhi menu, and finally to the dining hall where the nawaab himself serves you Awadhi delicacies on the floor setting called Dastarkhwan. Tryout the different delicious regional specialties, including: Kebabs, Korma, Saalan, Pulao, Biryani, Sheermal, Rumali Roti, Roghni, Shahi Tuqda and Phirni.

The meal ends with Paan (A sweet mouth freshner with aromatic herbs wrapped in fresh betel leaves) and a lot of knowledge about cooking, serving and eating these exotic preparations. Return to your hotel.

Overnight stay

Lucknow

After breakfast, leave for a sightseeing tour of Lucknow - the City of Gardens and the 18th century capital
of the Nawab Wazirs, a centre of culture and tradition. Visit sites including the husianabad Imambara, Jama Masjid, Picture Gallery, and more.

Late afternoon, enjoy a boat ride at River Gomti - River Gomti is the life line of Lucknow. One can enjoy a sip of tea or coffee with light snacks on the boat beautifully decked up for you. For entire one hour you are away from the materialistic world and in the lap of Gomti river which is one of the scared rivers of this region. After having tea / coffee on the boat you land on an island temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Disembark the boat at the same place.

Later in the evening we wander and sample the food from Lucknow's fabulous roadside eateries. Lucknow is the only city in India which has a colony of chefs called “Bawarchi Tola”. In this colony one may still find the chefs whose forefathers use to cook a special kind of dish to the royals of Avadh. There is also a street where one can find the best from Lucknow’s very own kitchen. This is a mustdo experience for all foodies! Your guide will be on hand to explain all of the delicacies on show. For those not wanting to eat with hands, cutlery will be available. If you do not wish to sample these road sight delights, then alternative arrangements for dinner can be made in a local restaurant.

Return to your hotel
Overnight stay

Lucknow/Varanasi

After breakfast, leave for Varanasi. On Arrival, transfer straight to your homestay/ hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure late evening, visit the ghat to witness Ganges aarti ceremony.

Overnight Stay

Varanasi

Get up at the crack of dawn with us on an early sunrise morning boat ride up the sacred Ganga River. Morning are called Subah-e-Banaras in local lingo and as the sun rises you will see the pious pilgrims and locals who flock to the riverside for worship and hear about the interesting history of the Ghats and their patronage by the Maharaja’s who built them. Along the way you will be filled with insider stories that end with a short walking tour around a hidden sun temple. You will come away refreshed and ready for the rest of the day.

Later proceed for a culinary tour of Varanasi, accompanied by an expert;

Plunge into the mess, get lost in the alleyways and hope to come out on the other side of Kachori gali with some taste of sweet paan in our mouths. Visiting the roadside paanwalla to buy a paan and eating it leisurely, is a way of life but in Banaras, paan is a habit with a deep social significance. We will also have chai on the ghat, Kachori on a leaf plate, mungfali (peanuts) in a paper cone and cool Thandai and lassi for the brave-hearted.

Return to your hotel
Day at leisure for independent activities

Overnight stay

Varanasi / Delhi by Morning flight Delhi / Patan

After breakfast, transfer to airport to board flight to Delhi, arrive Delhi and leave by road for the ancient fortified hill town of Patan in Rajasthan, on the way enjoy an Awadhi cuisine lunch at Lavana Restaurant at Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon,

Lavana Fine dining specialty restaurant which serves authentic Awadhi cuisine and recreates the magic of the bygone Nawabi era with home style dishes, a private dining space. The restaurant offers a captivating ambience and a repertoire of royal favorites with intricate wooden trellis work on a backlit ceiling, artistically carved wooden arches and exquisite antique objects d'art.

Later continue drive to Patan;
Patan – Located above the city of Patan is Patan Mahal, a delightful palace representing traditional Rajasthani architecture. The city dates back to the 12th century and has been home to one of the erstwhile ruling families of Delhi. Historically, Patan has been an important out-posts for the capital, having played the backdrop for numerous wars featuring many ancient Northern rulers.

Upon arrival, check in at Patan Mahal and day at leisure to overcome journey tiredness in the evening gather in the garden for drinks and the cooking demonstration. Learn traditional Rajasthani cooking in the beautiful outdoor surroundings.

Evening free to relax.

Overnight stay

Patan / Jaipur

Post breakfast, check out and leave for Jaipur.
For lunch, visit Dera Amer where you will learn more about typical Rajasthani cooking in vast open gardens.
Afterwards, board your elephant for a safari in the nearby forests.
Transfer to your hotel

Overnight stay

Jaipur

Morning after breakfast, you leave for city sightseeing visiting; Amer fort, city palace & Jantar Mantar Return to your hotel

In the evening, Proceed for a cooking demonstration at the hotel followed by the dinner the experience the Rajputana Hospitality at its best, enjoy a lavish dinner with the host, the Thakurs of Naila

Overnight stay

Jaipur / Agra

After breakfast, visit the local spice market and bazaars. Later on take in some more sights, including the ornate (Hawa Mahal) Wind Palace. Afterwards leave for Agra, and have lunch en-route. Stop off at the fortified ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, before arriving early evening at your hotel in Agra.

Fatehpur Sikri - the 'City of Victory' - is a UNESCO protected World Heritage and was built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar. It was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. (Credit: www.unesco.org)

Upon arrival check in at the hotel
Overnight stay

Agra

Early morning, visit Taj Mahal at sunrise
Return to hotel for breakfast

For Lunch visit at Mrs. & Mr. Rajbansh home, Madhu, an excellent cook (They say that way to man's heart goes through his stomach.) and has gardening as a hobby. She has won several prizes and won recognition in garden competitions organized by the city of Agra. The cooking sessions at Krishna’s home are not the classroom style cooking classes, but are an eclectic mix of socializing, cultural exchange, bonding and of course, delicious food!

After an introduction with your hosts, move on to the kitchen and participate in cooking preparations, after a cooking demonstration, enjoy a sumptuous lunch with the family.

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight stay

Agra / Delhi
Delhi / Amritsar by Train: 1630 – 2215 Hrs

After Breakfast, drive to Delhi
Upon arrival, Enjoy lunch at a downtown restaurant in Connaught place, visit Connaught place complex, famous for its window shopping and Victorian architecture

Later transfer in time to Railway station to board train to Amritsar
Upon arrival, met & assisted at station and straight transfer to Hotel

Overnight stay

Amritsar

After breakfast, proceed on a sightseeing tour of Amritsar. Visit the famous Golden Temple located in the heart of the city. Amritsar is at the epicenter of the Sikh faith, where the Golden Temple is the holiest of Sikh shrines. For Sikhs it is both a place where Punjab's wealth is on full display, as well as an important pilgrimage.

Visit temple’s kitchen and witness the unique mass meal management of the place, where food is prepared 24 x 7 for thousands at a time on daily basis.

Afternoon pay a visit to Wagah border witnessing the change of Guards ceremony at Indo – Pak border.

Visit an authentic, rustic Punjabi restaurant called The Glass. Enjoy delicious tandoori (clay oven cooked) food while getting the most perfect view of the Golden Temple.

Ovenight stay

Amritsar / Delhi by Train: 0515 – 1115 Hrs

Early morning transfer to railway station to board flight for Delhi, Arrive Delhi and met & assisted and transfer to Hotel

Late evening, meet our tour manager at hotel lobby and proceed for a farewell dinner at one of the fine and most happening city’s restaurant The Dhaba at The Claridges - Dhaba recreates the ambience of the archetypical rustic highway eatery, complete with a truck mural, rustic interiors and servers dressed in traditional Punjabi garb. The ambience takes inspiration from a typical North Indian eatery dotting the highway - rustic wooden tables and chairs upholstered in vibrant traditional phulkari work, natural flooring, thatched ceiling, traditional lanterns and walls replicating the uneven mud painted texture of a village hut.

Enjoy a Traditional chef special Thali, sharing your experiences with us during your Indian food safari for past 2 weeks.

Return to Hotel
Overnight stay

Depart Delhi

Breakfast at hotel, transfer intime to airport to board flight for onward Journey.

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