India does not reveal itself through a single image — it requires many. This journey was designed with exactly that in mind. In twelve days, you move from the layered chaos and grandeur of Delhi to the sacred banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, through the royal pink city of Jaipur and the eternal marble of the Taj Mahal, and finally up into the cool pine-scented hills of Shimla, where the Himalayas meet the sky. Each destination offers something the others cannot — and together, they form a portrait of India that is as complete as any single journey can offer.
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Explore the historic landmarks and living streets of Delhi
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Board a train across India — a journey within the journey
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Witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges at dusk
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Glide along the ghats of Varanasi by boat at sunrise
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Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the ancient ruins of Sarnath
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Explore the royal forts, palaces, and craft workshops of Jaipur
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Stand before the Taj Mahal at sunrise — one of the world's most extraordinary sights
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Experience the living tradition of marble inlay craftsmanship in Agra
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Ride the UNESCO-listed Shimla Toy Train through the Himalayan foothills
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Wander Mall Road and the colonial ridge of Shimla
Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, our representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Delhi does not reveal itself all at once — it accumulates, and your first hours are simply an invitation to begin. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an orientation drive through the ceremonial heart of New Delhi — past India Gate, the great sandstone arch that has stood witness to the nation’s history, and along the broad boulevards leading to Rashtrapati Bhavan. As evening settles, step into the lanes of Connaught Place for your first taste of Delhi’s energy. .
A full day to move between two Delhis — the old and the new — each with a completely different relationship to time. After breakfast, begin at Raj Ghat, the serene memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, set quietly beside the Yamuna River. Continue to Qutub Minar, the soaring 12th-century minaret that marks the dawn of the Delhi Sultanate in India. Drive past the colonnaded facades of Parliament House and the broad symmetry of Lutyens’ New Delhi. The afternoon belongs to Old Delhi. Climb into a cycle-rickshaw and plunge into Chandni Chowk — one of Asia’s oldest and most alive markets, where spice merchants, silversmiths, and sweet-makers operate shoulder to shoulder as they have for centuries.
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board the train for Varanasi. Train travel in India is an experience in itself — the landscape unrolling slowly past the window, chai sellers moving through carriages, the country revealing itself at a human pace. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. To arrive here is to arrive somewhere ancient in a way that few places still manage to be. Check in at the hotel and rest before the evening draws you to the river. At dusk, make your way to the ghats for the Ganga Aarti — one of the most profoundly atmospheric ceremonies in India. Priests in saffron robes raise fire to the river as bells ring and smoke curls over the water. It is devotion made visible.
Rise before dawn for a boat ride on the River Ganges. In the early morning light, the ghats come alive — pilgrims bathing, priests performing rituals, the city waking in the way it has for thousands of years. There is no better way to understand Varanasi than from the water. Later, visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most sacred Shiva temples in India, its golden spire rising above the dense lanes of the old city. Continue to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment — a place of extraordinary quiet and historical weight. Browse the local markets for Banarasi silk sarees, some of the finest handwoven textiles in the country.
After breakfast, transfer to Varanasi Airport for your flight back to Delhi. Upon arrival, the road continues westward into Rajasthan — the landscape shifting to the drier, sun-baked terrain of the desert kingdom as Jaipur draws near. Check in at the hotel on arrival and rest. The Pink City will reveal itself tomorrow.
A full, rich day in the Pink City, moving between its monuments and the living craft traditions that have sustained its artisans for centuries. After breakfast, ride a Jeep up to Amber Fort — the majestic hilltop fortress where Rajput military genius and Mughal decorative sensibility meet in its mirrored halls and carved courtyards. Pause at Jal Mahal, the Water Palace appearing to float serenely on Man Sagar Lake. Stand before Hawa Mahal — the Palace of Winds — its 953 latticed windows designed so royal ladies could observe the city below, unseen. The afternoon takes you into Jaipur’s thriving craft world — textile mills, carpet weaving centres, and gemstone cutting and polishing workshops where traditional artistry continues without interruption. As evening falls, join a traditional cooking class and share dinner with an Indian family — an evening of warmth, laughter, and the kind of hospitality that cannot be arranged in advance.
After breakfast, begin with a visit to Jantar Mantar — Jai Singh’s remarkable 18th-century observatory, where enormous stone instruments once tracked the movements of the heavens with extraordinary precision. Then the road turns east toward Agra. Upon arrival, visit Agra Fort, the great red sandstone citadel that served as the seat of Mughal power for generations — its halls and riverside pavilions speaking quietly of an empire at its height. Explore the local markets, and visit a marble inlay workshop where craftsmen press semi-precious stones into white marble using techniques unchanged since the 17th century — the same art that adorns the Taj Mahal itself.
The morning belongs entirely to one of the world’s most extraordinary sights. Rise early for sunrise at the Taj Mahal. In the first light, the white marble shifts from pale grey to rose to brilliant white. Shah Jahan built it as a monument to eternal love; standing before it, that intention is felt rather than simply understood. After breakfast, the Yamuna Expressway carries you north back to Delhi. Check in at the hotel and rest — the journey is only pausing, not ending.
After an early breakfast, transfer to the railway station for the train to Chandigarh. From there, the road begins to climb — through winding mountain passes and pine-forested slopes — toward Shimla. Once the summer capital of British India, Shimla sits at 2,200 metres in the Himalayan foothills, its colonial architecture and cool mountain air a world apart from the plains below. Arrive, check in, and breathe the difference.
After breakfast, board the famous Shimla Toy Train — a UNESCO World Heritage listed narrow-gauge railway that winds through tunnels, across viaducts, and past valleys of breathtaking depth. It is one of the great small journeys of India, and one that has delighted travellers since 1903. Later, stroll along Mall Road, the heart of colonial Shimla, past Victorian storefronts and old churches. Visit Christ Church, one of the oldest churches in northern India, and walk the Ridge with its sweeping Himalayan panoramas. Continue to Kufri for mountain views and the brisk, clear air of the high altitude.
After breakfast, the long road back to Delhi unwinds through the foothills and out onto the plains — the mountains gradually receding in the rear-view mirror. It is a drive that gives you time to sit with everything the past ten days have offered. Arrive in Delhi by evening. Check in at the hotel for a final night of rest, or venture out for a last round of shopping and a quiet farewell dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi Airport for your onward journey — carrying with you the memory of the Ganges at dawn, the Taj in the first light, the bells of Varanasi, and the cool silence of the Himalayan hills.
Note: The hotels listed reflect the standard and character of stay you can expect. We aim to confirm these exact properties; however, where availability shifts, we arrange a similar hotel of equivalent category. Final hotel details are shared 30 days ahead of departure.
Questions? Reach us at enquiry@travelmore.co.in or +91 83330 45566.
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