Based in New Delhi, we have expert knowledge in organizing the Incentive holiday of a lifetime for your most deserving executives or associates, so they can put their feet up and lounge in the lap of luxury. India with her rich history is inimitable and promises every visitor a plethora of historical, cultural and social perspectives and experiences. Leave it to us to take care of all the arrangements.
India the cradle of civilization is like a dynamic cauldron of cultures. This exotic and rich culture diversity has long fascinated the western world since the dawn of time. Yon do not need to be a blue blooded to live like a King or be treated like a royal princess. There is an India beyond the travel brochures and this is the India that AirCruise can take you to… Take a journey back in time to the land of Legends. This triangle is redolent with history and royal splendour where mighty kings and emperors ruled.
Day
1
ARRIVE DELHI
Special reception at the airport with welcome banners and garlanding on arrival at the airport and transfer. Traditionally dressed girls will perform Aarti, tikka ceremony while welcome drinks are being served and room keys distributed in specially designed key pouches. Overnight at the hotel.
Day
2
DELHI
Delhi is the capital of India, and has be called the soul of the country. Since the early days many dynasties and rulers flourished on its regal soil. The legacy of that past survives in the many monuments left behind by the regents, each one a living testament of it’s glory. Today, the city is a curious blend of the modern and traditional, skyscrapers, beautiful gardens and wide tree-lined avenues perpetuate the Mughal passion of landscaping and architectural excellence. More important, however, Delhi blends within its folds the great cultural variety of India, an unceasing range of activity, a million ways of saying 'You are Welcome'.
Morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting the historic Red Fort (closed on Mondays) and the Friday Mosque (Jumma Masjid), built by Emperor Shah Jehan. Visit the Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi – Raj Ghat. Walk or take cycle rickshaw through the fabled Chandni Chowk in the bustling heart of the Old city.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutub Minar – a tower of victory built in the 12th century, the Tomb of Humayun, India Gate – the war memorial and Hindu Temple – Lakshmi Narain Temple. Drive past the Houses of Parliament, the Secretariat Buildings and official residence of the President of India – Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Evening Village Theme Dinner
Villages and village people are the essence of India – hence a typical
village is created with bamboo huts, benches and stalls. Villagers mingle
with guests and display their traditional skills such as doll and puppet making,
pottery “pichwai” painting and other crafts. Entertainment includes
a bandarwala staging a monkey show, a palmist, a snake charmer, kachi ghodi
and dhamal (performance with a dummy horse, dancers and singers). There will
also be fire-eaters and village gymnasts to entertain. Relish a bar-be-cue
dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day
3
DELHI - AGRA
Morning, after early breakfast, leave by surface to Agra (203 kms/4 hours approx). Special welcome with Aarti, Tikka and garlanding ceremony on arrival at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Agra . The main tourist attraction of Agra is the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Once described as a ‘tear on the face of eternity’, the Taj Mahal is an enduring monument to love. The Taj was started in 1631 AD, and took 22 years to be built. Today is is counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its luminescent while marble is intricately carved and is a breathtaking sight.
Later visit Agra Red Fort, the other landmark of the Mughal era, built by Emperor Akbar over the years 1565 – 1573 with its maze of courtyards, mosques, and private chambers.
Evening
Durbar Theme
You will arrive to be adorned with pagris (turbans) and chunnis (shawls) by
traditionally dressed ladies and welcomed as you enter with a shower of rose
petals and perfume. Kathak dancers (classical North Indian) will entertain
and a sumptuous Maharaja dinner will be served by attendants attired in traditional
Royal Durbar (Court) outfits.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
4
AGRA - JAIPUR
Morning after breakfast leave by surface to Jaipur en route visiting Fatehpur
Sikri – an amazing city built by the Mughal Emperor – Akbar the
Great in 1569 and now deserted. Halls of audience, Palaces, Tombs and Mosques
and built in great style but abandoned for political resorts.
Continue your drive (238 kms/6 hours approx.) to Jaipur – the city of Maharajas for a Maharaja’s Welcome – Where else in the world can you enter a hotel to a Royal Welcome? A stunning tableau of decorated camels and elephants wait on the lawns of the palace hotel along with court musicians, and a graceful village belle in traditional costumes to greet you with garlands.
Jaipur the famed Pink City of Rajasthan was India’s first planned city built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1927. This City of Victory, or Jaipur, built primarily of pink sandstone blushes like a new bride at every sunset. In 1853 the city was painted pink to welcome the Royal visitor Prince Albert. Its palaces, forts, Jharokhas and Jalis display typical architectural style of Rajasthan. The colourful procession and festivals further heighten the grandeur of this Royal City. Jaipur has its own pace with colourfully dressed village belles shopping for famed Razais or silver whilst their sleepy camels stand guard.
During the afternoon explore Jaipur city visiting City Palace, the former royal residence. The museum within the palace is a storehouse of culture consisting array of galleries of rare paintings, exquisite miniature, scholarly manuscripts and artefacts. Later visit the Observatory (Jantar Mantar), the largest and best-preserved observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Huge instruments in intricate masonry offer an accurate measure of time, the declination of the sun, the positions of the constellations in the sky for a day.
Evening
Rajput Wedding
A traditional Rajput wedding ceremony where the group members participate
as the baraat party (wedding procession of the bridegroom accompanied by his
relatives and friends) and the bride’s party. The baraat arrives with
a local band, complete with mashaals (torches). The hosts receive the Baraat
party and the wedding ceremony is held under a decorated pavilion. The meena
bazaar (a colourful bazaar for the ladies) also forms an integral part of
the setting. A festive buffet meals laid out for both the parties in the illuminated
palace/hotel is accompanied by spirited shehnai music and folk dances.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
5
JAIPUR
Morning, after breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Ride a gaily-decorated elephant to ascend the hill on which the fort is situated. Once your enter the fortified gates, you discover to your delight, a complex of delicate pleasure palaces and formal gardens. Visit the Sheesh Mahal with its walls literally ablaze with intricately patterned mosaic of mirror work and coloured glass. Light a single candle and watch the iridescence.
In the evening drive through mountainous terrain to the magnificent Samode Palace, where a feast fit for kings awaits you. Samode Palace was transformed into one of the country’s premium palace hotels in 1987, and is a perfect example of Rajput-Moghual architecture. It offers a quite elegant and luxurious atmosphere.
Trumpeteers greet you at sunset into these historic walls and escort you through the torch lit charming village town while you remain safely ensconced on camel back or carts. Be prepared to be swept off your feet as you enter the Palace Gates, illuminated by hundreds of lights. After champagne cocktail, be prepared to dress in the regal bearings of Rajput Royalty. A saafa tying (turbans made of vibrant colours) ceremony precedes a gypsy dinner in the Durbar halls. After a dazzling display of fireworks and coffee/tea on the illuminated terrace, return to Jaipur for overnight stay.
Day 6
JAIPUR - DELHI
Morning drive back to Delhi (258 kms/6 hrs approx) and on arrival check-in at the hotel. Evening farewell diner with Live Classical Dance Performance. India is famous for its rich and diverse classical dance forms. There are as many as 7 different modes of classical dance besides a host of folk dance forms. You can chose from Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri or other folk dances.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
7
DEPART DELHI
____________________________________________________________________________________
Have a great trip! This itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and DOES NOT form part of a contract between the client and AirCruise.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
