SPECIAL DEPARTURE trip to India– Diwali in India
A trip to India during Diwali, the festival of lights, is a complete immersion in a world of unique colours, sounds and fragrances. From the moment you arrive in the country, you are surrounded by a festive and energetic atmosphere.
The streets, decorated with garlands of flowers and intricate rangolis, offer a sight that seems straight out of a fairy tale. You can see the excited crowd lighting the small clay lamps, the diyas, as the sun sets on the horizon.
The taste of traditional sweets such as ladoos and jalebis, and typical dishes such as biryani and paneer tikka, offer an extraordinary culinary experience.
Exploring ancient temples and immersing yourself in the local culture provides a deeper understanding of the richness of India. Diwali, with its family and devotional spirit, leaves a lasting mark, merging the spiritual and the cultural in a unique event.
Leaving India after Diwali means taking with you memories of bright lights, intoxicating aromas and the vibrant celebration of life. It is an experience that becomes a treasure trove of memories, marking a special chapter in the book of experiences of those who have the privilege of experiencing it.
What services are not included?
Many of you ask us for trips by booking flights on your own. That is why we have decided to publish this route without including international flights. Of course, it is something that you can request and we will give you the best flights we have available, but we have preferred to leave it as something optional listening to your requests.
The visa is another of the things that are not included. And it is a procedure that you have to do personally. It is done completely online and is paid through a payment gateway. The visa will arrive to your email once it is confirmed. This is the link to process the Indian visa.
Make sure it is the official link, because there are other sites that offer to get the visa, but they may be either fraudulent or charge you a commission for doing the paperwork when it is not really necessary.
We hope you enjoyed this special trip to celebrate Diwali in a small group. In addition, we have other group trips to India.
CUSTOM TRIP TO INDIA: This itinerary is subject to modifications to suit your preferences. Remember that we can organize your CUSTOM TRIP TO INDIA as you request.
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Arrival in Delhi and assistance at the airport by our representative. Transfer by private vehicle to the hotel.
Today we will enjoy a Rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk market, we will see the Jama Mosque, one of the largest in Asia and which we will be able to see from the outside. We will also visit the Raj Ghat, the place where the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was cremated.
We will visit the Red Fort (from the outside), which formerly extended along the course of the Yamuna River (since then, the course of the river has been modified), it was built between 1638 and 1648 when the Mughal Empire was at its peak. We will also visit the Raj Ghat (symbolic tomb or memorial of Mahatma Gandhi). To conclude, we will visit the Sikh Temple where you can attend a religious ceremony. Overnight at Delhi
Check-in time 14H00
Day 2: Delhi – Varanasi
Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport for a flight to VARANASI, one of the ancient seats of learning in India. It is said that its name comes from two streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which still flow today in the north and south of the city. This name seems to have been deformed, in medieval times, to Vanaras, which was in use until May 1956, when it was changed to Varanasi, by order of the Government of India. Arrival, assistance by our representative and transfer to the hotel.
In the evening we will enjoy the Aarti Ceremony at the Ghats of the Ganges River. Return to the hotel and overnight at Varanasi.
Day 3: Varanasi
Before the sun rises, we leave for the banks of the Ganges to take a boat ride along the river to see the cremation Ghats and also the prayers and baths of the pilgrims and devotees at dawn. Back at the hotel, visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Mosque of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. We return to the hotel for breakfast. Then we visit the Bharat Mata Temple, famous for its large relief map of Mother India, engraved in marble.
During monsoon season, the boat trip may be suspended due to the flooding of the Ganges.
We can also visit the Durga Temple, from the 18th century, commonly known as the monkey temple, due to the huge population that lives there. In the afternoon, we will go on an excursion to Sarnath, one of the four holy cities of Buddhism, and the historic place where Buddha first preached Buddhism in 590 BC. Here he revealed the eight steps of the path that lead to inner peace, enlightenment and Nirvana. Overnight at Varanasi.
Day 4: Varanasi – Delhi (Flight) – Drive to Agra (220 km / 3 hours)
Breakfast in the morning and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Delhi. Arrival in Delhi and continue by road to AGRA, where two great Mughals, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the small village of Agra into the second capital of the Mughal Empire, giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat (seat of the Emperor). Today, in the city you can discover endless contrasts when observing the buildings of red stone and white marble. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Agra.
Day 5: Agra
Breakfast at the hotel and visit to the Taj Mahal. A monument to love, that is how the Taj Mahal is defined, impressive for the beauty of its architecture in white marble. Shah Jahan ordered its construction as an expression of the love he felt for his beautiful wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is the work of the Persian architect Ustad Isa and 22 years were invested in its construction. It has become one of the wonders of the world. We continue with the visit of the Red Fort, built in red stone by the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. Inside the fort is the Pearl Mosque.
We will see Itmad-Ud-Daulah, the tomb of Nur Jahan’s father, who was a wazir in King Jehangir’s palace. The carvings and design of the interior of the tomb are an exquisite example of Mughal architecture. Overnight stay.
Day 6: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Abhaneri – Jaipur (265 Km/ 5 hrs drive)
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. En route visit the beautiful Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. It is one of the most beautiful deserted cities in India.
The foundation of this “Ghost” city was dedicated by Emperor Akbar to Saint Salim Chisti, who blessed him and predicted the birth of his son. After his blessing Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri in 1569.
After a short period of time, the city was abandoned due to lack of water. On the way we will stop to visit Abhaneri. Chand Baori (a stepwell) located in the village of Abhaneri, about 90 km before from Jaipur, is one of the oldest and most photographed ancient monuments in Rajasthan. Built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty in the 9th century AD, it is one of the largest stepwells in the world.
We continue to Jaipur, the bustling capital of Rajasthan, which owes its name to its revered founder Jai Singh II, to whom the Mughals bestowed the title of Maharaja Sawai, which literally translates to “one and a quarter,” suggesting that Mughal thought considered this emperor more valuable than just “one.”
Jaipur is known as the “Pink City” in reference to the distinctive color of its buildings. This peculiarity, however, was not part of the original plan, dating back to 1856, when it was decided to paint the city’s buildings pink in honor of the state visit of Prince Albert. Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 7: Jaipur – Amber Fort – Jaipur: Diwali celebration
Breakfast at the hotel and afterward visit to the Amber Fort. We will climb the fortress on elephant back or Jeep or walk (three options). Amber Fort is a palace complex, the construction of which was started by Man Singh I in 1592. Its formidable exterior hides an inner paradise where the beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles prevails. The fort, completed in the early 18th century, took 100 years to build and today, although abandoned, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of Mughal families.
Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of the Winds”, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The palace has five floors and is built of red and pink sandstone. The facade facing the street has a total of 953 windows, designed to allow the wind to circulate and thus keep the palace cool in summer. We continue with the visit of the City Palace, the historic residence of the maharajas, it is a beautiful mix of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture. The City Palace represents one seventh of the area of the walled city. It is home to the Chandra Mahal, the Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
Finally we will visit the Jantar Mantar, undoubtedly the largest and best preserved of the five astronomical observatories built in India by Jai Singh II, who was known for his fondness for astronomy. This observatory consists of instruments of extraordinary size and still remains in use. Overnight at Jaipur & celebrat Diwali Festival.
Celebrate Diwali Festival of Light: Celebrations in Jaipur begin on Dhanteras, the first of the five-day Diwali celebrations. Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness and is observed with extravagant celebrations and rituals.
During your stay in Jaipur, you will join a Jaipur family in their haveli (Heritage House), where you will be welcomed by the host and his family in traditional Rajput attire, then change into traditional Turbans and Sarees.
The Diwali festival celebrations will begin with the special Diwali Puja and prayer ceremony with the family followed by fireworks, Rangoli, flower decoration, and cultural folk dances followed by dinner with a noble family. You will truly be treated like a guest of the family during your visit here, it is an authentic experience and a great way to see the traditional Indian Diwali celebration in action. After the celebration. Dinner at Haveli.
Day 8: Jaipur – Samode – Delhi (270 Km/ 6 hrs drive)
Breakfast at hotel or Haveil. Later drive to JAIPUR. En route we stop at Samode Palace where we will have an included Lunch. This is a palace almost five hundred years old and is a celebration of the senses, modern luxury, magical hospitality. After lunch we continue on our way to Delhi. Arrival and overnight at Delhi.
Day 9: Departure from Delhi
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight back home. End of the trip and our services.
Check-out time is 11H00.