Luxury India Tours

October-March

Mumbai and Delhi are India’s two great contrasting cities — Mumbai is the country’s financial and technological hub, while Delhi is the seat of its government. Both pulse with an infectious and unmistakable energy. Rajasthan’s great cities of Udaipur, Jaipur and Jodhpur feature the great fortresses and palaces of the Mughal Empire, along with some of the most opulent hotels in the world. Just to the north lies the city of Agra and its most enduring monument, the Taj Mahal. Varanasi is India’s great spiritual center, where visitors can cruise the Ganges at sunrise and witness the spectacular aarti ceremony in the evening. For nature lovers, India’s national parks abound with opportunity to spot leopard, lion and elephant, along with the country’s living icon, the Bengal tiger. For India at its most serene, visit the backwater country of Kerala for the chance to cruise by rice barge along quiet shorelines dotted with friendly local people.

Known among Indians as “God’s own country,” Kerala offers a peaceful retreat for locals and visitors alike on its tranquil backwaters. Madurai and Tiruchirappalli are known for their famous temples, including sixth-century Meenakshi and Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort, which contains two Hindu temples in a heavily fortified complex. Pondicherry and Chettinad, meanwhile, are a must for architecture buffs: Pondicherry retains many buildings from its days as a French colonial holding, and Chettinad is known for its decorated mansions, which number nearly 1,000.

Choose versatile, casual clothing that can be layered if the weather requires. Smart casual attire is appropriate for evenings. Formal clothing is not necessary.

Visits to select religious sites require modest dress covering knees, shoulders, and upper arms. Guests may also be required to remove shoes.

India is a vast subcontinent with a hugely diverse array of cultures, landscapes, cuisines and religions. Northern India is an ideal way for first time travellers to see the country’s most iconic and notable sites, including the Taj Mahal, along with other major Mughal monuments and stays at some of the world’s most spectacular hotels. Return visitors who want to immerse themselves in local culture, temples and lush scenery will especially enjoy southern India, where incredible festivals and holiday celebrations take place throughout the year, including the Pushkar Fair, an annual livestock sale in Rajasthan which occurs in the fall; and Holi, the Festival of Colors, which celebrates love and spring.

The mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan who died in 1630, the Taj Mahal is often considered to be the "world's monument to love." The Taj complex comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming formal Mughal garden with canals, and a central pool with a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached mosque on the west, with its symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill. Often styled "a dream in marble," it is said to have taken at least 22 years to build.

A great place to see tiger in their natural habitat is Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, one of the biggest and most well-known parks in India and home to one of the largest tiger populations in the country. Panna National Park, located just outside Khajuraho, has undertaken extensive effort to grow its tiger population and is also an excellent locale for tiger-spotting.

Already a year-round pilgrimage site for Hindus, the town of Pushkar in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan swells to bursting each November with some 200,000 livestock traders from around the country. Beyond the livestock sale, the fairgrounds teem with tribal villagers dressed in their traditional best who mingle with acrobats, fortune tellers, puppeteers, musicians and storytellers. Also on display are a bevy of sporting activities, including tug-of-war, and camel and steer races. All of this takes place simultaneously with the Hindu observation of Kartik Purnima, a sacred cleansing ceremony that offers a solemn counterpoint to the robust activities of the fair. The resulting milieu is a true extravaganza not found with most luxury travel in India, the kind of experience that makes a journey to India so deeply rewarding.

Yes. A tourist visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders for entry into India and must be obtained prior to departure. There are currently two options available, an electronic visa (eVisa) and a traditional visa stamp.