Donna Salerno Travel

Board an overnight flight to Delhi, awash with a colorful mix of people, aromas and tastes — from its dazzling palaces to its bustling bazaars.   The Imperial

This afternoon, join your guide to explore Humayun's Tomb. From its terraces you have an excellent view over the surrounding countryside. Then visit the soaring Qutub Minar tower and see India's first mosque, the Quwwatul-Islam Masjid. According to legend, if you can make your fingers touch while your back is to the iron pillar that stands before it, your wishes are granted. Drive past the Rajpath (the King's Way) to the India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan, the president's residence. Join the other families sharing your adventure at tonight's welcome dinner.  The Imperial B D

Explore Old Delhi this morning, visiting the Jama Masjid, also known as the "Friday Mosque" for the Muslim day of worship. The largest in India, its courtyard can hold 25,000 people. Then take a thrilling rickshaw ride through the narrow, winding streets of the Chandni Chowk bazaar, a historic shopping district. Continue to the Red Fort with its red sandstone walls and the Raj Ghat, the square platform where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948. You and your family spend the afternoon exploring on your own, perhaps imagining how life was in the time of the Indian emperors.The Imperial B L D

En route to Agra, visit the Dancing Bear Rescue Center to learn about the shy sloth bear and wildlife conservation in India. This evening, as the sun is about to set, climb into a horse-drawn carriage for a visit to the famous Taj Mahal, the eternal monument to love, built for the Empress Mumtaz Mahal by her husband, Shah Jahan. See how the white marble seems to turn a rosy pink from the reflection of the setting sun. Return to the hotel to have your future told by an astrologer before dinner.
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Return to the Taj Mahal at sunrise when the colors change the marble's appearance yet again. Then go to the bend of the Yamuna River, almost in the heart of town, to visit the Agra Fort. Enter it through two enormous red sandstone gates and imagine how the moat that encircles it protected the three emperors who lived here in the 16th century. Tonight, your family attends an engaging live performance of the Mohabbat-E-Taj, a tribute to the love saga of Shah Jahan and his wife.
The Oberoi Amarvilás B L

Stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Akbar as his palace in the 16th century. It is not hard to take yourself back in time to the days of imperial splendor when the Mughal emperor rode triumphantly through the Bulund Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence). Then observe trumpeting flocks of crane overhead as thousands of water birds forage in the shallows at the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. Arrive by rickshaw or boat to see as many as 100 species of birds, including the endangered Siberian crane.  The Oberoi Rajvilás B L

Embark on an exclusive elephant-back safari at a private farm behind the hills of the famous Amber Fort. Travel through villages, fields and hills in search of animals that could be lurking in the jungle: hyena, wolf, antelope and possibly jackal. Then visit the beautiful Amber Fort. This afternoon, young travelers become junior chefs when they don custom-made Rajvilás chef 's aprons and hats and learn to prepare Indian delicacies and desserts. This evening, put on traditional Rajasthani costumes for an exclusive photo shoot.  The Oberoi Rajvilás B D

Your sightseeing includes a photo stop at the famous Hawa Mahal, the pink sandstone façade of a palace built for the ladies of the harem. Continue to the City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory, where you can view instruments to measure "the harmony of heavens." This evening, watch as brightly dressed wooden puppets come alive in a musical dance performance.The Oberoi Rajvilás B L

Fly to Udaipur, a city built around shimmering, clear blue lakes. See the many balconies, cupolas and terraces of the City Palace; the collection of crystal ornaments, fountains and vases at the Crystal Gallery; and the beautiful lawns and flower-lined parks of Sahelion- Ki-Bari, the "Garden of the Maids of Honor." Tonight, embark on a motor launch cruise (water levels permitting) to Jag Mandir Palace, sitting on its own island in the middle of Lake Pichola.  The Oberoi Udaivilás B D