The Incredible India Tour 2023-24

• Luxury and Heritage  hotels
• Specially handcrafted itinerary to ensure authentic Indian experiences
• Visit to world famous Taj Mahal at sunrise
• Interact with local tribes (especially women) of Kutch, Agra and Kullu engaged in traditional Handicrafts 
• Explore UNESCO Heritage city – Jaipur
• visit to Silk Saree Weavers in Varanasi
• Morning Boat Ride in The Ganges
• Handicrafts shopping in Varanasi, Bhuj and Kullu
• Short Yoga session and body massage
• Insights into culture and history of India by our expert guides
• 24X7 assistance through out the tour

Day 1: Arrival in Mumbai

Welcome to India! Our representative will pick you up from the airport and help you get transferred to the hotel.

The arrival time of flights can vary from late evening to early morning and hence, there are no activities planned for this day. You might want to get rid of that jetlag and prepare yourself for the adventure that lies ahead.

Hotel: Trident Nariman Point, Mumbai  (view image gallery)

Meals: NA

 

Day 2: Mumbai

Mumbai, the city of Bollywood and the financial capital of India, can give you a cultural shock and the most rewarding experiences at the same time. After breakfast, we would go to the Dharavi slum – the largest of its kind in Asia! This slum consistently features in many magazines and tops TripAdvisor’s most recommended travel destinations in India. It stands out from your everyday ghettos because it is a thriving multi-million-dollar entrepreneurial hub that has a unique ecosystem.

Next stop, the ‘Dabbawallas’ – the century-old traditional food network that feeds the city. It is a peculiar set of some 2000 unskilled men that deliver lunch boxes from customers’ homes to their offices, just in time for lunch. But do not let their traditional approach fool you, their six-sigma rated logistics set-up is recognized amongst the best in the world

Further, we discover the ‘Dhobi Ghat’ – a large, open-air laundromat where millions of clothes are washed every day by generations of washermen.  It is a one-of-a-kind place that many foreigners have never seen earlier.

Hotel: Trident Nariman Point, Mumbai  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 3: Bhuj

Boarding an early morning flight (AI 9625, 0620/0825) from Mumbai, we land in Bhuj, the westernmost city in India, known for its forts and palaces built in European style exteriors, and of course, the Rann of Kutch. The city is renowned for its skilled craftsmen that produce amazing tie-and-die clothing, leatherwork and embroidery.

We would start by visiting the ‘Aina Mahal’ (the hall of mirrors) – a stunning palatial complex with a European style exterior and white marbled walls, studded with mirrors and ornaments. ‘Darbargadh’, a collection of royal apartments once used by the local royal families for settlement, is also nearby. The interiors are adorned by Kutchcee artwork, opposed to the European style exteriors of the building.

We then move to ‘Prag Mahal’, an Italian Gothic style palace commissioned by an Indian ruler, designed by a British Colonel and constructed by Italian workers. The clock tower here gives an amazing view of the entire city.

Our next attraction is the Kutch museum, where relics as old as the first century A.D. are on display. Stone tablets from one of the oldest civilizations in the world – the Indus valley, take you back to a bygone era of history.

Hotel: Regenta Resort, Bhuj (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 4: Bhuj

Right around the corner from Bhuj, is the art and crafts hub of Bhujodi, a village where every house produces world-class handicrafts. The Vankar community residing here has been creating gorgeous shoes, bags and textile from several generations.

Our next destination, the village of Nirona is known for the gift that the Indian Prime Minister presented to Barack Obama during his visit to India. An extended family in this little village has kept the art of Rogan painting alive, after it was brought from Iran hundreds of years ago. This award-winning art utilizes a mixture of castor oil and stone pigments to create mesmerizing designs on cloth.

Hotel: Regenta Resort, Bhuj  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 5: Bhuj

Continuing our adventure in Bhuj, we visit the Khavda village which is also called the ‘Flamingo City of India’. These birds flock in large numbers to this place, making it a paradise for bird watchers. This village is also known for its women entrepreneurs producing pottery, handmade dolls, block paintings and leatherwork in little mud houses.

Finally, we discover the signature ‘Rann of Kutch’, the gorgeous white desert that leaves visitors awe-struck. One of the largest salt deserts in the world, the Rann is a paradise for photography lovers.

Hotel: Regenta Resort, Bhuj  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 6: Varanasi

We take the connecting flight to Varanasi (AI 9626, 0850/1045  ||  SG 246, 1445/1710), the holy city. Varanasi or Banaras, is one of the oldest known cities on the planet, that is inhabited to this day! It carries huge importance to the Hindu and Buddhist faith, reflected in its countless temples and sites such as Sarnath.

After you check into a hotel and rest for a while, we go to witness the ‘Ganga Aarti’, the daily ritual where priests pray reverence to the Goddess Ganga (river Ganges). It is a mesmerizing sight where hundreds of ghee-lit lamps are used to perform an elaborate act of worship.

Hotel: Guleria Kothi, Varanasi  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 7: Varanasi

The day begins with a morning boat ride that takes you through the holy Ganges so you can witness the bustling daily life along the river. The city of Banaras has preserved a lot of its ancient culture through daily rituals reflected in the everyday lives of its citizens. Now that we’ve built some appetite, we get breakfast before proceeding to view the famous Ghats – where temples, local businesses and priests present an outstanding contrast between the roots and modernity of the city. Visit gurukuls – the traditional Vedic schools were Indian students practice the traditional Indian way of knowledge transfer through masters who teach in Sanskrit. The streets of this town are unlike anything you have even seen.

Our next stop would be Sarnath – the site where Gautama the Buddha preached his first sermon. It is a complex that is considered sacred by the Buddhist teachers, scholars and practitioners of the faith.

Hotel: Guleria Kothi, Varanasi (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 8: Varanasi – Jaipur

Banaras is world-renowned for its high-quality sarees that display unmatched craftsmanship. Hundreds of hours can go into preparing these and hence, they fetch high prices, not only by casual buyers, but also from collectors of art. These sarees differ from other Indian variants because of their intricate embroidery made with gold and silver. We visit the weavers who have kept this art alive from several generations and witness first-hand, what goes into making the most amazing Banarasi sarees.

The afternoon is at your disposal. This is our last day in the holy city and in evening, we board a flight to Jaipur (SG 2982, 1540/1745), the UNESCO heritage city aka the pink city.

Hotel: Trident Jaipur  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 9: Jaipur

Jaipur, the royal capital of the Rajputana invokes opulence through its forts and palaces. We visit the Amer fort, the signature four-levelled epitome of Mughal architecture that used to be a royal residence. An optional hot air balloon ride that offers breath-taking views of the forts and palaces of this beautiful city can also be enjoyed.

Next up, is the Anokhi museum, a speciality museum inside a 400-year-old building, committed to the preservation of hand block painting – rare artform. Further, we visit the architectural marvel, City Palace, which has been made iconic through viral Instagram posts with its gates in the background. This used to be the administrative headquarters of the government, prior to India’s Independence. We would also drive past the Hawa Mahal – the palace of winds which was constructed specifically for the royal ladies to witness the daily life of the city from its countless windows, without being observed themselves.

Hotel: Trident Jaipur  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 10: Jaipur – Agra

After breakfast in Jaipur, we embark on a road trip to end up in the city of the Taj Mahal – Agra. We visit the Mehtab Bagh, a symmetrical garden complex built behind the Taj. It is said to be commissioned by Shah Jahan – the emperor who is believed to have ordered the construction of Taj. We then move on to a cafe that is unlike any other in the world. The Sheroes cafe is operated entirely by the victims of acid attacks. Presenting a sharp contrast to the Taj, this is beautifully decorated with graffiti and art in multiple shapes and colours.

Hotel: Crystal Sarovar Premiere, Agra  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 11: Agra – Delhi

The iconic Taj Mahal, of course, cannot be missed when you are in India. Its sheer white-marbled grandeur calls millions from near and far each year. Discover this monument in all its glory at sunrise – one of the best times to check it out. It is so because the changing colours of sun rays paint the Taj into orange and yellow hues, making it appear other-worldly.

We head back to the hotel for breakfast and post check-out, we visit the Agra Fort, another marvel of Mughal architecture. After this, we hit the road to reach Delhi for our next adventure.

Hotel: Taj Palace, New Delhi  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 12: Delhi

The capital of India is a vibrant city that presents an interesting cocktail of the old and the new to visitors. Several dynasties that once ruled this region have left their trails throughout the city through monuments, cuisine and culture.

We visit the Old Delhi area, famous for its street food, where some of the recipes date back hundreds of years. The Mughlai cuisine made in the gullies of old Delhi is the favorite of millions of people around the globe due to its rich aroma and flavors. A rickshaw ride around the streets here is a uniquely Indian experience. Further, we visit the largest Spice market in Asia, the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun and take a walk through the narrow heritage streets of the oldest part of the city.

Hotel: Taj Palace, New Delhi  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 13: Kullu

After an early morning flight out of Delhi (AI 9805, 0640/0900), we reach Kullu, the Himalayan town. The Kullu valley boats of beautiful temples created in Pahari architectural style, pristine forests, apple orchards and the river Beas. The nearby Parvati valley is also another picturesque area, full of pine trees, fresh streams, handicrafts and a culture distinct even from the nearby Himalayan regions.

Hotel: The Himalayan Village, Kullu  (view image gallery) OR Span Resort & Spa, Kullu  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 14: Kullu

We visit the women who make some of the finest shawls without much industrial equipment. Initially, the shawls were made to protect people from harsh winters, but as the region progressed, multiple artists from nearby regions joined in to create complex geometric patterns on the shawls. These skills have been passed over many generations and this is predominantly done by females now, although the product can be worn both by females and males.

The traditional houses these women work in, are usually made of locally sourced natural materials like timber, mud and are covered with slate.

Hotel: The Himalayan Village, Kullu  (view image gallery) OR Span Resort & Spa, Kullu  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 15: Kullu

Himachal is one of top women-employing states of India. We would be visiting some of the local female entrepreneurs who produce high quality food products like Jams, pickles and items like plates and bowls from leaves.

In the evening, enjoy a dance performance by young local artists – this is a special performance of a dying artform called ‘Nati’, where local bands beat traditional drums and invoke the favourable spirits of demi-gods called ‘Devta’. Savour some freshly prepared Himachali food and enjoy bonfire along with this to bid adieu to the valley and Himalayas.

Hotel: The Himalayan Village, Kullu  (view image gallery) OR Span Resort & Spa, Kullu  (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 16: Delhi

This marks the last day of our tour. After a flight for a few hours (AI 9806, 0930/1020), we go back to the national capital of New Delhi, from where you can execute your plans of either continuing the tour or returning back home.

Hotel: Leela Ambience Gurugram (view image gallery)

Meals: Breakfast

• Stay in luxury 5 star hotels on double/twin sharing
• Buffet meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Pick-up and drop at airports as per itinerary
• Services of air conditioned van/bus with driver throughout the tour
• Services of professional English speaking city guides
• Accompanied English speaking tour leader
• Entrance ticket for all activities mentioned in the itinerary
• All applicable taxes

• International airfare
• Domestic Air Package (starting from $600)
• Any kind of travel insurance
• Any tour, meal or services not mentioned above
• Any expense of personal nature like telephone, laundry, room services, minibar etc.
• Anything not mentioned in the ‘Inclusions’ column

Payment

• 20% of total package cost to book your seat
• Balance 80%, 120 days prior to your tour start date

Cancellation

• 10% deductible if cancelled 120 days before date
• 50% deductible if cancelled between 60-120 days
• No refund if cancelled after that

• Tour will be operated on min. 6 adults
• Read more…

To book this tour, please write to us at contact@virsatravels.com or call/whatsapp us at (+91)7206770770. You can also fill this form below and our team will contact you shortly.

(Virsa Travels scores avg. of 4.88 out of 5)

“We have just returned from a month long trip in India arranged by Rahul Walia from Virsa Travels. Thanks to his skills, knowledge, attention to detail and sincere efforts to provide the highest quality of service, it was one of the best trips we have ever taken.” – Mrs. Deborah Ralph

“Rahul….the trip was wonderful. Your excellent organizational skills helped to make our trip to India one of the best trips we have ever taken. We would definitely recommend your tour company to others should they be going to India. You did a great job. Again, thank you.” – Mrs. Vera Asquith