Touch down at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where warm air and the hum of arrivals signal your first moments in Delhi. After completing immigration, customs and baggage collection, a LUMLE representative will greet you at the arrivals hall and arrange your private transfer to your hotel. Settle in, freshen up, and ease into the rhythm of India’s capital at your own pace.

Few capitals are as steeped in history and legend as Delhi. For centuries it drew Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and the British—each leaving an imprint on the city’s skyline and soul. Abandoned and rebuilt multiple times, Delhi rose again and again, evolving into layered incarnations that today we call Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Together they form the cultural and political heart of the world’s largest democracy, a place where medieval bazaars meet tree-lined boulevards, and mughal domes sit within sight of modern ministries.

Included today: Airport meet & greet • Private hotel transfer • Time at leisure to rest or take a gentle stroll nearby.

Overnight: Delhi • Meals: On your own

Rise early for a combined tour of Old Delhi and New Delhi, a full immersion in the capital’s layered
history—Mughal grandeur, British Raj planning and modern Indian dynamism. Your guide frames the day with context and stories, then you dive into the streets where spice-laden air, temple bells and traffic horns compose Delhi’s unforgettable soundtrack.

Morning — Old Delhi

Begin at the monumental Jama Masjid, among India’s largest mosques, its red sandstone steps alive with pilgrims and pigeon flurries. From here, slip into a rickshaw and rattle through the labyrinth of Chandni Chowk—past silver-smith alleys, sari shops and the heady spice markets of Khari Baoli where sacks of cardamom, cumin and chilli perfume the lanes. Pause for a photo stop at the crenellated walls of the Red Fort (Lal Qila), heart of the Mughal empire, then continue to Raj Ghat, the serene riverside memorial where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Late morning, take a break at a
local eatery for refreshments or lunch (on your own).

Afternoon — New Delhi

The scene shifts to garden cities and grand vistas. Drive past the domed Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House), the Parliament of India and the processional axis to India Gate, the World War I memorial framed by lawns and fountains. Step into the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb—a
masterpiece of Persian-inspired, red sandstone and white marble geometry that presaged the Taj Mahal. Continue to the tranquil Lotus Temple of the Bahá’í Faith (exteriors and accessible areas), its white “petals” reflecting in surrounding pools, before concluding at the soaring Qutub Minar, the
world’s tallest brick minaret, encircled by medieval ruins and delicate calligraphy.

Good to know: Modest attire is appreciated at sacred sites; shoes may need to be removed. Photography can be restricted inside active shrines—follow on-site guidance. Traffic flows can affect order/timings; your guide may adjust the sequence to optimise your experience.

Overnight: Delhi • Meals: Breakfast included at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, you begin your journey to Agra (214 Km /5 Hrs).

Upon arrival in Agra, you will check-in at your hotel and a representative will assist you to complete your check-in formalities.

Agra came into the limelight during the rule of the Afghan King Sikandar Lodhi – who had made it the capital of his empire. Later in 1526 A.D., the Mughal Emperor Babar took upon himself the task for rendering Agra, a unique character, and beauty of its own. The next few hundred years of Agra witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs – Emperor Akbar, Jehangir, and Shahjahan. In modern times, the city of Agra is a thriving carpet industry where you can also find leather workers, sandstone and marble sculptors, some of whom claim to be direct descendants of the craftsmen who had helped build the Taj Mahal.

Visit the Taj Mahal, monument remains closed on all Fridays. Taj Mahal was built by an emperor in memory of his beloved queen. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 and is believed to have taken 18 years to complete, with over 20,000 craftsmen working around the clock. The design and construction are said to be that of the legendary architect, Ustad Ahamad Lahori. What makes the Taj Mahal unique is its perfect proportions, distinct femininity, the medium of construction and ornamentation. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day. It is impossible to visualize the Taj Mahal in any surrounding others than its paradoxical garden. Paradise, in Islam, is visualized as a lush garden where running streams flow.

Later visit the impressive Agra Fort, the seat and stronghold of the Mughal Empire for successive generations. The buildings within this sprawling fort complex represent the assimilation of different cultures, which was the mark of the Mughal period. Most of the structures within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different architectural styles.

Overnight is in Agra.

After breakfast, depart Delhi for Agra, a classic drive of roughly 214 km (about 5 hours) across the plains of Uttar Pradesh. Settle into the rhythm of the highway as farming hamlets, mustard fields and tea stalls flicker past your window. On arrival, you are met and assisted with hotel check-in, then step out to explore a city whose skyline still whispers of emperors.

Once favoured by Sikandar Lodi and later transformed by the early Mughals, Agra flourished under Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Today its workshops hum with marble inlay, leather craft and stone carving—skills said to descend from artisans who served the imperial courts.

Taj Mahal — poetry in marble

Walk through the red-sandstone gateway and there it is: the Taj Mahal, floating above orchards and reflecting pools. Commissioned by Shah Jahan in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, construction began in 1631 and continued for nearly two decades, drawing thousands of master craftsmen under the reputed guidance of Ustad Ahmad Lahori. Up close, the calligraphy, pietra dura florals and lace-fine marble screens reveal breathtaking detail; step back and the whole becomes a study in balance, grace and light. At sunrise the dome blushes pink; by day it gleams ivory; towards dusk it warms to gold—each hour a different mood.

Note: The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. If your date coincides, your visit will be re-sequenced to ensure you still experience it at an optimal time.

Agra Fort — citadel of the Mughals

Continue to the UNESCO-listed Agra Fort, a mighty crescent of red sandstone beside the Yamuna. Inside, palaces and courts unfold in layers: Akbar’s robust audience halls, Jahangir’s delicate pavilions, and Shah Jahan’s marble kiosks framing river views. The architectural dialogue— Persian, Timurid and Hindustani—speaks to an empire at its creative height.

Practical: Modest attire and shoe covers may be required at certain monuments. Photography rules vary by area—please follow on-site guidance.
Distances in Agra are short, but traffic can be busy; your guide may adjust the order for best light and flow.

Overnight: Agra • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, leave Agra for Ranthambore, a journey of roughly 294 km (about 6 hours) across the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The first pause is the haunting, UNESCO-listed Fatehpur Sikri—Akbar’s dream capital in red sandstone, risen in splendour and abandoned within decades. Wander sun-warmed courtyards and carved arcades; imagine processions through the Buland Darwaza, petitions in the Diwan-i-Aam, and private councils in the Diwan-i-Khas. In the shade of Salim Chishti’s marble dargah, the city’s silence feels almost theatrical—court life paused mid-scene.

Continue through mustard fields and dhaba waypoints toward the Aravalli outcrops of Ranthambore. On arrival, check in and unwind; the evening air carries the scent of khair and dhok trees, and distant temple bells drift across the valley from Ranthambore Fort.

Ranthambore National Park — wild heart of Rajasthan

Where ancient ramparts meet jungle, Ranthambore National Park protects lakes, rocky ridges and golden grasslands that shelter the iconic Bengal tiger. Dawn mists reveal sambar and chital at water edges; langurs sun themselves on ruins; marsh crocodiles slide through lotus-studded pools; over 250 bird species stitch the sky—hornbills, painted storks, crested serpent-eagles. With luck and patient tracking, you may glimpse a striped monarch padding across a forest road or reclining in the shade of a banyan.

Good to know: Safaris operate in designated zones by shared canter or smaller gypsy vehicles, accompanied by licensed guides. Bring a light jacket for cool mornings, a hat, binoculars and soft-soled footwear. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed—each drive is a fresh story written by the forest.

Spend the evening at leisure, listening for peacocks calling from the scrub and jackals yipping at dusk.

Overnight: Ranthambore • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

Begin with a relaxed hotel breakfast, then let the day unfold at your own pace amid the wild edges of Ranthambore National Park. With no fixed schedule, this is your moment to slow down—listen to parakeets in the trees, watch langurs leap along old stone walls, and feel the warm Rajasthan light settle over ridges crowned by Ranthambore Fort.

Choose simple pleasures: a gentle swim, a shaded siesta and a book, or a quiet amble along the lodge paths where peacocks fan their tails and kingfishers flash electric-blue by the water. If you’re eager to add a little adventure, you may arrange an optional game drive locally (subject to park availability) to seek out Bengal tigers, sambar deer, chital, and wetland birdlife around the lotus-dotted lakes.

As afternoon cools, the forest grows more vocal—spotted deer bark alarm calls, jungle babblers chatter in thickets, and sunset paints the cliffs in copper tones. Dine unrushed and, if the night is clear, step outside to stargaze; the Milky Way often hangs bright above the Aravalli silhouettes.

Overnight: Ranthambore • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, bid farewell to the forests of Ranthambore and set out for the Pink City of Jaipur—a scenic drive of approximately 170 km taking around 4 hours. The road unwinds past mustard fields, village wells and temple spires, with the Aravalli hills rising and falling like low waves on the horizon. Tea stalls, tractors and colour-splashed turbans animate the route, a vivid slice of Rajasthan rural life.

On arrival in Jaipur, a LUMLE representative meets you for a smooth hotel check-in. The remainder of the day is yours: stretch out after the journey, or take a gentle orientation stroll to feel the city’s pulse—amber-hued walls, havelis with latticed windows, and bazaars perfumed with incense and spice.

Founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727, Jaipur is among North India’s finest examples of a planned city. Its grid of broad boulevards blends Rajput bravura with Mughal refinement: astronomy domes and observatories, forts perched on hill crests, and palaces dressed in rose-tinted stucco. Today the capital of Rajasthan remains a thriving hub for arts & crafts—hand-printed textiles, gemstone jewellery, blue pottery and stone carving. Even a casual wander reveals workshops where time-honed techniques still guide skilful hands.

Evening at leisure. Consider a sunset viewpoint, a heritage café in the old city, or simply the pleasure of watching the facades glow salmon-pink as the lamps come on along the bazaars.

Overnight: Jaipur • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, ascend to the citadel of Amber (Amer) Fort, its ramparts and domes unfurling above Maota Lake like a storybook palace. Within the sprawling complex, wander through frescoed gateways, perfumed courtyards and pleasure gardens to the glittering Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), where a single flame seems to kindle a sky of reflections. The fort’s blend of Rajput and Mughal design—lattice screens, marble inlay, painted alcoves—offers a masterclass in Rajasthani artistry.

Return to the walled city to explore the City Palace Museum, still partly a royal residence and home to galleries of miniature paintings, embroidered robes, ancient armoury and ceremonial textiles. Nearby, step into the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II’s open-air astronomical observatory (c. 1726), where giant stone instruments measure the heavens with astonishing accuracy—sundials casting precise shadows across pale Jaipur stone.

Pause for a photo stop at the honeycombed facade of Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a five-storey icon whose latticed windows once let royal women watch processions unseen. As afternoon softens, take a guided stroll through Jaipur’s bazaars—lanes bright with block-printed cottons, gem-cutting workshops, blue pottery, and spice counters steeped in cardamom and cloves. Expect colour, craft and conversation at every turn.

Good to know: Modest attire is appreciated at palaces and shrines; some interiors request shoe covers. Winter mornings can be crisp—carry a light layer. Monument orders may be re-sequenced to optimise traffic and light.

Overnight: Jaipur • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, depart the Pink City for your return journey to Delhi, a scenic drive of approximately
260 km taking around 5 hours. Villages, roadside shrines and mustard fields roll by as the Aravalli foothills give way to the Delhi plain. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and take time to freshen up.

The remainder of the day is free for shopping and easy exploration. Browse the colonnades and cafes of
Connaught Place, dive into the vibrant lanes of Chandni Chowk, or explore the retail bustle of Karol Bagh. You can also stop by Channa Market for local finds and everyday Delhi energy before returning to the hotel for a relaxed evening.

Tips: Keep small change for tuk-tuks and snacks; bargain politely in market areas. Traffic can be busy—your guide/driver may suggest the best order and timing for neighbourhoods based on current conditions.

Overnight: Delhi • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

At dawn, a LUMLE representative meets you for a smooth transfer to New Delhi Railway Station. Board the Kalka Shatabdi Express (Dep. 07:40; Arr. 11:45; AC Chair Car) and watch the capital’s suburbs give way to mustard fields, canal-cut plains and distant hill spurs. The Shatabdi’s swift run makes for a relaxed morning— settle by the window, sip tea and trace the changing palette of North India.

On arrival in Kalka, continue by private vehicle to Shimla (approximately 120 km / 4 hours). The road ascends through chir pine and deodar forests, hairpins opening to vistas of terrace farms, tin-roof hamlets and peaks stepping away in blue-grey layers. Pause for photos where the valleys yawn wide, then continue as cool mountain air begins to thread through the car—your first taste of the Himalayan foothills.

Set at around 2,213 m, Shimla—now the capital of Himachal Pradesh—was a quiet ridge-top village until the 19th century, when the British fashioned it into the subcontinent’s most fashionable summer capital. Victorian gables, half-timbered facades and promenades along the Mall Road still speak to that era, now layered with cafés, temples and the easy tempo of a mountain town. Check in at your hotel and breathe in the resin-scented air; the rest of the evening is left at leisure for a gentle acclimatisation stroll or a quiet cup of chai with a view.

Overnight: Shimla • Meals: Breakfast at hotel (Delhi) / en route as available; other meals on your own

After breakfast, meet your guide for a deep dive into Shimla’s layered past and crisp Himalayan air.
Your morning opens at the storied Viceregal Lodge—a baronial, stone-clad mansion whose teak-and-walnut interiors, stained glass and sweeping stairways echo the era when Shimla served as the summer capital of the British Raj. It was here that the epochal discussions preceding the Partition of India were mapped, a moment that reshaped the subcontinent. Today the estate houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, yet its lawns, rose beds and panoramic terraces still command quiet, cinematic views across cedar ridges.

From imperial corridors to incense and bells, continue to a local Hindu temple where shrines honour a pantheon of deities—Shiva, Durga, Hanuman—their marigold garlands bright against vermilion. Circumambulate with devotees, watch prayer flags lift on the breeze, and take in a slice of living Himachal spirituality framed by pine forest and sky.

Afternoon unfolds at your own pace. Make your way along the Mall Road—a pedestrian promenade of half-timbered facades, bookshops, bakeries and old-world cafés—to the fabled Scandal Point, a lively meeting place where legends, gossip and sunset colours mingle. En route, time permitting, step inside the restored Gaiety Theatre (a Victorian jewel box once graced by travelling troupes) or pause at Christ Church, its neo-Gothic spire and stained glass watching over the Ridge. On clear days the horizon serrates with snow-capped Himalayan peaks; order chai, claim a bench and let the mountains do the talking.

Practical: Gentle gradients and occasional steps feature on today’s walk—comfortable footwear recommended. Even in sunshine the air can turn cool; carry a light layer and sun protection. Monument access may vary with local schedules; your guide will optimise timings.

Evening: At leisure for café-hopping on the Mall or a quiet ridge-top stroll. Overnight: Shimla • Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Ease into the morning with an unhurried breakfast in the hotel restaurant, steam curling from your cup as the ridge wakes to birdsong and clear mountain light. With the day free at your own pace, choose the Shimla that suits your mood: pine-scented trails, old-world cafés, or a balcony seat over rolling cedar hills.

For gentle exploring, follow the shaded paths skirting the Ridge and Mall Road, dipping into bookshops and bakeries that survived the Raj and learned new tricks. If you fancy a longer stretch, wander through the whispering deodar stands toward Glen or Annandale, where sunlight sifts between branches and a stream braids the valley floor. Those chasing vistas can climb to Jakhoo for panoramic views and temple bells, while culture-seekers browse the Himachal State Museum—miniatures, textiles and hill craft in a quiet heritage bungalow.

Prefer to stay close? Enjoy the hotel’s facilities: a swim, a spa treatment, or simply a novel and a blanket by the window as clouds sail past the peaks. By late afternoon the light turns honeyed; find a bench on the Ridge and watch Christ Church glow as the sky slips from gold to lavender.

Notes: Expect mild gradients and steps on local walks—wear supportive shoes and carry a light layer; air can cool quickly after sunset. Hydrate well at altitude, and keep small cash handy for cafés and viewpoints.

Overnight: Shimla • Meals: Breakfast at hotel; other meals on your own

After breakfast, transfer to Shimla Railway Station for a classic ride on the UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line. Board the Himalayan Queen (Dep. 10:30) for the picturesque run to Solan (Arr. 13:12, Non-AC Chair Car). The little train threads pine forests and tea gardens, clattering over stone viaducts and into cool tunnels as villages flash by in pastel colours. Built by the British in 1904, this Kalka–Shimla Railway is famed for its gentle gradients, toy-sized stations and a ribbon of 105 tunnels carved through the Shivalik foothills—railway romance at mountain pace.

Disembark at Solan and continue by road to Kalka, descending through cedar slopes and roadside hamlets. At Kalka, step aboard the swift Kalka Shatabdi Express (Dep. 17:45; AC Chair Car) for a smooth, evening sprint across the plains to New Delhi (Arr. 21:55). Settle by the window as twilight washes the fields, station lights flicker past, and the day’s mountain memories give way to the hum of the capital.

Good to know: Keep valuables and a warm layer handy for the hill section; coaches can feel cool in motion. Light snacks and tea are available on board the Shatabdi; carry water and small cash for station vendors. Rail timetables and coach types are subject to operational updates.

On arrival in Delhi, meet your representative for a swift transfer to your hotel. Overnight: Delhi • Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, bid farewell to Delhi and the memories gathered across forts, hill towns and bazaars. At the confirmed pickup time, meet your driver for a comfortable private transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). As the city slides past—dome silhouettes, morning chai stalls, the flicker of marigold garlands—carry with you the colour, cadence and warm hospitality that shaped your journey.

Departure notes: Keep your passport, e-ticket and any visa documents handy. Arrive at the terminal at least 3 hours before your international flight. Verify baggage allowances and keep power banks in hand luggage. A final few INR are useful for snacks or souvenirs after security.

Meals: Breakfast • Transfer: Hotel → DEL (private) • Flight: International departure