India is a spectacle in itself, but with this festival of lights in the mix you’ve got a serious adventure on your hands. Explore the old city of Delhi, a delightful clash of new and old; gaze out the window of the train as the country rolls by; perhaps catch a Bollywood flick in India’s coolest cinema; and soak up the beauty of the Taj Mahal, that iconic paen to Mughal romance. If you think you’ve experienced India, think again. Time to turn up the volume on India with the Diwali festival and more.Highlights
Watch as the rooftops of Jaipur light up in dazzling colour as the fireworks of the Diwali Festival unfold
Slip into a saree and experience the Diwali night dressed like a local. If you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it right!
In Karauli, you’ll be more than impressed with your new digs – a gorgeous heritage property, with dinner included of course
The Taj Mahal may be one of the most visually striking buildings in the world, but its history is just as breathtaking. A local expert will tell you all about it.
Sit down to a Bollywood blockbuster in one of the most stylish and legendary cinemas in all of India
- You will visit the following places:
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Agra
Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the banks of river Yamuna, 363 kilometres (226 mi) west of state capital, Lucknow and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 (2010 est.), it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most populous in India. Because 80 percent of the city's sewage flows into Yamuna River, it is 20th most polluted city in India. The city is a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur. The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj!
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Jaipur
Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Northern India. It was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amer after whom the city is named. As of 2011, the city has a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City of India. Located 260 km from the Indian capital New Delhi, Jaipur forms a part of the Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Agra (240 km). Jaipur is also a popular tourist destination in India and serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jodhpur (348 km), Jaisalmer (571 km) and Udaipur (421 km).