Gourmet India
This tour unravels the history, tradition and culture behind the “house specialities”. Mughulai cuisine is rich, creamy, deliciously spiced and liberally sprinkled with nuts and saffron. The ever popular Tandoori cooking (chicken, meat or fish marinated in herbs and baked in a clay oven) and kebabs are also northern cuisine. In the south, curries are mainly vegetable and inclined to be more hot. Coconut is a major ingredient of South Indian cooking.
The Punjabi tandoori cooking is celebrated as one of the most popular cuisines throughout the world. Huge earthen ovens are half buried in the ground and heated with a coal fire lit below it. Marinated meat, chicken, fish, paneer, rotis and naans of many types are cooked in this novel oven and the results are absolutely scrumptious!
The Moghulai cuisine is literally ‘fit for royalty’ with it’s rich sauces, butter-based curries, ginger flavoured roast meats, and mind-blowing sweets. Although available throughout the country, the best place to try this royal cuisine is in Delhi.
Rajasthani cooking was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in the desert region. Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred, more out of necessity than choice. Princely feasts flaunt meat delicacies that are incomparable. In contrast are the vegetarian Rajasthanis who cook their food in pure ghee.
Besides a splendid choice of sweets and sweetmeats, there is an abundance of fruit, both tropical – mangoes, pomegranates and melons – and temperate apricots, apples and strawberries.
The variety of Indian cooking is immense, it is colourful and aromatic, it can be fiery or not as desired and it is inexpensive even at the top class hotels. No wonder, then that it is now the third most popular cuisine in the world!
- An aromatic day-out choosing spices, nuts and local pickles from the markets of Old Delhi.
- Introduction to one of the oldest and largest distributors of saffron, the most expensive spice in the world!
- Visit traditional food stalls and experience the street food culture of Old Delhi ending with lunch.
- Indulge in an “Awadhi cuisine” cooking class conducted by the head chef of a leading hotel.
- Partake in traditional Indian meals, using the thali (plate) or banana leaf decorated with rangoli (a design drawn with white and colored powders).
- Horse and carriage ride in the town of Lucknow.
- Sunset visit to the famous Taj Mahal in Agra.
- City tours.
- Try out the “Sari” – the traditional Indian female dress and be presented with a beautiful embroidered sari.
- A cooking demonstration and lunch in Devra.
- Boat cruise on Lake Pichola.
- Excursion to Elephanta Island.
Day 1
Delhi
Arrive Delhi.
Met on arrival by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Rest of the day free to relax.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2
Delhi (B/L/D)
Morning tour of Old Delhi.
Lunch at Veda Restaurant.
Cooking class with dinner at a private house.
Overnight at your hotel in Delhi.
Day 3
Delhi / Lucknow (B/L/D)
Transfer to airport for flight to Lucknow at 08.05 a.m.
Arrival Lucknow at 09.00 a.m. and transfer to hotel.
Cooking demonstration with the head chef of the hotel followed by lunch.
City tour of Nawabi Lucknow including a Tonga (horse carriage) ride.
Return to hotel for dinner.
Overnight at your hotel in Lucknow.
Day 4
Lucknow / Agra (B/L/D)
Morning sightseeing tour of Lucknow.
Lunch at Nawab’s House.
Afternoon tour Hazratganj.
Dinner at the hotel.
Departure transfer to train station.
Overnight on Train.
Day 5
Agra (B/D)
Arrive Agra and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon enjoy city tour of Agra including sunset visit to Taj Mahal.
Dinner at hotel.
Overnight at your hotel in Agra.
Day 6
Agra / Jaipur (B/L)
Drive to Jaipur, en-route visit Fatehpur Sikri.
Lunch at Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Bharatpur.
Overnight at your hotel in Jaipur.
Day 7
Jaipur (B)
Excursion to Amber Fort and city tour of Jaipur.
Overnight at your hotel in Jaipur.
Day 8
Jaipur / Udaipur (B)
Transfer to airport for flight to Udaipur at 02.40 p.m. on IT 4306.
Arrive Udiapur at 05.10 a.m. and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at your hotel in Udiapur.
Day 9
Udaipur (B/L)
Morning city tour.
Cooking demonstration with lunch at Devra.
Boat cruise on Lake Pichola.
Overnight at your hotel in Udaipur.
Day 10
Udaipur /Mumbai (B)
Early morning Yoga session.
Morning at leisure to enjoy the spa facilities.
Departure transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai at 03.50 p.m. on IC 471.
Arrive Mumbai at 05.05 p.m.and transfer to hotel in Mumbai.
Day 11
Mumbai (B/L/D)
Morning excursion to Elephant Caves.
Lunch at Khyber.
Afternoon city tour of Mumbai.
Dinner at Zodiac Grill at hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Towers.
Room held till departure.
Day 12
Mumbai / Departure
Transfer to international airport for departure flight.
- Meet and greet on arrival at Airport.
- Accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner).
- Entrance fees where applicable.
- Tours as indicated in the itinerary.
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver guide.
- Transfers
- Travel Protection is offered on all packages at an additional cost.
