Tours of Old and New Delhi

Delhi the capital of India with its strategic location has given it a focal position in Indian history and many great empires have been ruled from here. The monuments and ruins are scattered throughout the city along with modern structures and high rise towers. But the city continues to exert its traditional charm and the pull of history is evidenced by the medieval monuments that strew its landscape, besides the British legacy of Lutyen’s Delhi which formally divided the city into Old and New Delhi, each beautiful in its own way. While Old Delhi is a maze of narrow serpentine lanes lined with shops, New Delhi with its wide avenues and colonial mansions built by the British in the 1930s as their imperial capital houses the grand capital block built in muted red sandstone.

The city is lush with a plethora of temples, forts, mosques as well as parks, gardens and beautiful colonial mansions.

As befits a national capital, Delhi provides plenty of opportunities to learn about the rest of the country.

Gateway Program in Delhi :

Day 1 : Arrival Delhi
Meals Included: None
Welcome to Delhi. Reach the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-In and Overnight.

Day 2: Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. You will begin sightseeing of Delhi with a stop at the India Gate and Parliament buildings for photo opportunities. You will then proceed on an orientation tour of Old Delhi, with a visit to the 17th Century Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. Enjoy a rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid through the narrow lanes of the old city terminating at the ramparts of the Red Fort. Visit the Memorial of Mahatama Gandhi.

Free for Lunch at Veda Restaurant in Connaught Place.

After lunch continue the tour with a visit to the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara (a Sikh Temple). And Later visit to Humayun’s Tomb, the 16th Century tomb of the 2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. The first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent, it said to have inspired the design of the Taj Mahal.

You will be free for Dinner this evening. Overnight in Delhi.

Day 3: Delhi / Next Destination

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Continue to next program.

Delhi Hotels we recommend:

Bed & Breakfast: Thikana Bed & Breakfast (www.thikanadelhi.com)

Standard :
Hotel Vikram ( www.hotelvikram.com )
Hotel Connaught ( www.theconnaughtnewdelhi.com )

Deluxe :
The Manor (www.themanordelhi.com )
Hotel Maidens (www.maidenshotel.com )

Luxury :
Taj Mahal ( www.tajhotels.com )
The Oberoi ( www.oberoihotels.com )

Heritage :
The Claridges (www.claridges.com )
Hotel Imperial ( www.theimperialindia.com )

AIRPORT HOTEL:
Ashok Country Resort (www.ashokcountryresort.com )
Radisson (www.radisson.com/newdelhiin )
Leela - Gurgaon (www.theleela.com/hotel-gurgaon.html )
Trident- Gurgaon (www.tridenthotels.com )

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Optional tours:

Delhi Heritage Walks with our historians:

1:  The Mughal city of Shajahanabad

This tour allows you to savor a 350 year old culture. The highlight of the experience is the Garden Palaces and Halls of the Mughal Citadel of Red Fort and the market lanes of Dariba Kalan and Kinari Bazaar.

Duration – 4 hours

2: The Mehrauli Walk

A walk in Mehrauli Archeological Park covering 100 acres of green land alongside the Qutab World Heritage site. The walk covers Balban’s Tomb, Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb, Rajaon ki Baoli (the well preserved step well) and Dilkusha – a tomb that was converted into a residence by Sir Thomas Metcalfe, an officer of the British Empire.

Duration –4 hours 

3: Humayun’s Tomb Walk

Duration –4 hours   

4: Blessedness of Sufis

This experience takes you to a little mohalla (neighborhood) in Delhi called Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin. Here you will be introduced to Sufism, a mystical version of Islam, and its teachings of Ishq (love), Aql (intelligence) and Ilm (knowledge). You will walk the ancient crowded alleys to explore monuments and sites associated with famous Sufi saints including Nizamuddin Aulia, Amir Khusrau and Mirza Ghalib. Finally you will enjoy a private Sufi music concert called a qawwali. Highlights:

•  Dargahs of dargahs of Nizamuddin Aulia and Amir Khusrau

•  Qawwali

•  Access to closed monuments

Duration – 4 hours 

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Optional activities in Delhi:

1: Kabootar Baazi (Pigeon Flying)

This is an experience where you will be introduced to the art of pigeon flying by a kabootar baz (pigeon fancier). First you will explore the lanes and markets around the Jama Masjid. From there you will you will head on to meet our pigeon fancier. It is here, on the rooftop of his home, that you will experience a truly unique activity - the art of controlling 50 pigeons using a whistle, stick, and a bag of seeds.

Duration – 3 hours                             

2: Modern Hinduism- A New Perspective on an Ancient Tradition

The Akshardham Temple in Delhi represents the most important spiritual and cultural monument to come up in north India in modern times. Join us for a journey though the gateway to the essence of ancient India and experience the best of Hindu culture and Vedic civilization. Architecturally stunning domes, gateways, and pavilions, sculptures of Hinduism’s gods and goddesses in astounding detail offer an awesome backdrop ideal for an introduction to the myriad facets of Hinduism.

Duration –4 hours

3: Art Appreciation 

This experience includes a visit to the National Gallery of Modern Art, a study of the private art collections and also meetings with   experts on contemporary art.  Introduction to private art collectors and access to their collections could be arranged on request.

Duration – 4 hours

4: Tea Appreciation

Tea from India is now world famous and one of our major exports, in fact “Darjeeling” is synonymous with exclusive tea from the rolling hills of West Bengal.

Visit to a 55 year old quaint Tea outlet in Delhi and meet a tea expert who could be a planter or a merchant or just a connoisseur.  Enjoy an interactive session on Indian Tea and actually feel, smell and taste the different blends of tea available in the country.  This experience introduces you to the best tea from different parts of the country and also teaches you to prepare the ‘perfect cup of tea’

This activity can be arranged at your hotel also.

Duration – 2 hours   

5: Connect with the "real" Delhi

Visit an Indian home and meet the family over a meal.  Explore Indian culture and cuisine interacting with people who have lived here for years.

Duration –4 or 5 hours    

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