Jewish Tours to India
India is the colorful land of nirvana, of glorious Rajah’s palaces, endless sweeps of desert dunes, bejeweled elephants and sophisticated ancient physical and spiritual innovations such as yoga and Ayurveda. From glorious spice and tea plantations to exotic Royal cities hovering in time, you will find this exotic country a treat for the senses and enriching for the soul. While traveling in unhurried luxury, see bustling cities which evoke the height of the British Empire, shop in colorful bazaars, and relax and be pampered in cooling oases that seem to emerge from your dreams. Last but not least, you will find real Jewish roots in India, in an unforgettable town called Cochin. Shal-Om, India!

Day 1 Saturday New York
Evening departure from New York.

Day 2 Sunday In Flight
Getting closer to India as you travel through time zones. The total flight time to India is 18 hours, ample time to shift gears as you approach an exotic new world.

Day 3 Monday Arrival to New Delhi
Arrival in bustling, monumental Delhi, capital of modern India. You are greeted in traditional Indian style with flower garlands at the airport. Welcome to India! Transfer to the hotel in the center of New Delhi. Inter-Continental Park Royal Hotel.

Day 4 Tuesday New Delhi
Breakfast. New and Old Delhi sensuously recall the majesty of bygone empires, while providing a modern buzz. Travel to an exotic world in Old Delhi while resting comfortably in a rickshaw. Here you will see charming marketplaces, as well as the ornate Imperial Red Fort. Then, on to New Delhi, built by the British Empire in the dusk of its heyday. Drive along its grand main avenue, past the impressive “India Gate” and Parliament House. Inter-Continental Park Royal Hotel.

Day 5 Wednesday New Delhi - Agra
Breakfast. Today, we drive to Agra, which boasts the world’s most famous monument to undying love – the Taj Mahal. Built in 1631 by Shah Jahan to commemorate his late Queen, this gorgeously-proportioned marble construction seems white during the day, but takes on all the rosy-golden hues of sunset (and passion) as day fades into night. You will also see the Agra Fort, including a visit to several royal rooms in this residence. Later, time to enjoy the sense of street life in Agra, with its colorful bazaars and bargaining vendors. Yes, love goes on - and life does, too. Agra Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 6 Thursday Agra - Jaipur
Breakfast. Depart Agra and travel west toward Jaipur, famed as the “Pink City.” En route, visit the Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur– a favorite place for a gorgeous array of migratory birds from Northern Europe and Russia. Next, arrive in Jaipur, former capital of Rajasthan and a stronghold of the Rajah’s (King’s) powers. Afternoon at leisure to stroll through the bazaar or enjoy the many comforts of your sumptuous hotel. Jaipur Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 7 Friday Jaipur
Breakfast. This is the day you ride an elephant like a Maharajah! Your tour will take you to Amber Fort, a classic example, with terraces and ramparts, of Rajput architectural style; your personal pachyderm, dressed in finery, will help you ascend this fort. Later, visit the City Palace Museum, with its wide assortment of Indian art. You will also see the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the pyramidal structure of Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). Jaipur Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 8 Saturday Jaipur - Jodhpur
Breakfast. Today, travel to Jodhpur, a traditionally fortified city at the border to the Thar desert. Check into your hotel for rest and relaxation. Later, visit the exquisitely decorated 15th century Mahrangar Fort, as well as the Jaswant Thada Cenotaph, a white-marble memorial to the valiant bravery of this region’s more contemporary leaders. Don’t miss the colorful Sardar Market, where narrow alleys are filled with quaint stores selling textiles, antiques, silverware and handicrafts – it is a truly colorful spectacle. Taj Hari Mahal Hotel.

Day 9 Sunday Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
Breakfast. Today, you are headed for the fortified city of Jaisalmer, a beautiful 12th century city of sandstone which rises out of the desert. This city mirrors the magic of the surrounding dunes, and still evokes the days where caravans stopped to rest from the heat, trading wares from as far away as Persia. Meet the friendly locals who prefer to wear brilliant, rich colors – a sharp contrast to the faded hues of the sandstone. Check in at your luxurious hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure to soak in the unique and unparalleled atmosphere of luxury. Fort Rajwada Hotel.

Day 10 Monday Jaisalmer
Breakfast. Today, visit Garhi Sagar Lake and Fort, followed by a trip to the picturesque and fun local market. Later, visit the Sand Dunes Desert National Park, a truly fascinating and different biosphere preserve. Conquer the desert as you ride camels across the ever- moving sand dunes …. Is this journey turning into a dream? Fort Rajwada Hotel.

Day 11 Tuesday Jaisalmer - Khimsar
Breakfast. You are headed for mesmerizing Khimsar, situated in the heart of rural Rajasthan. Here, it feels as though time stopped centuries ago, and locals keep to their traditional life style rather than conforming to our way of living. View Khimsar Fort, a treasure in this land of fairy-tale palaces. One section of this fort is still the residence of the Royal Family. In the afternoon, enjoy a Jeep Safari, taking you over the Panchla Dunes and through rural villages with traditional and simple painted houses. Time permitting, visit the ancient sites of worship at Osian, once an important place for Jains and Hindus. Then, retire to accommodations eminently suitable for Rajahs. Fort Khimsar Hotel.

Day 12 Wednesday Khimsar - Udaipur
Breakfast, after which you will transfer to the airport for the short flight to the gorgeous lake city of Udaipur. Here, you have reached the cooling oasis of Rajasthan and can enjoy the unique atmosphere of a romantic resort city, with its refreshing and green surroundings. Udaipur Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 13 Thursday Udaipur
Breakfast. Begin the day with a short drive into the idyllic surroundings of Udaipur. Visit one of the many Hindu temples in the region and see the traditional “cowboys” or shepherds who live here. As you return to the city, visit the largest Palace complex in this region, boasting incredible views of the lake and city. Next, see the Sahelion Ki Bari Gardens, which testify to the tastes of the Royal women who once inhabited these palaces. In the afternoon, a cruise on Lake Pichola, where you will see Jagmandir Palace – it is actually on the lake! Later, time to browse the colorful markets in the city. Udaipur Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 14 Friday Udaipur - Cochin
Breakfast. It is time to leave romantic Rajasthan, with its dry land, impressive history and colorful people. Transfer to the airport and, via connecting flights, arrive in Cochin, located in the splendid, relaxed Kerala region of Southern India. Here is where the influence of our Jewish ancestors can most strongly be felt in this country. Transfer to your elegant hotel in the heart of this coastal city, known as “Queen of the Arabian Sea.” Later, visit to the 16th century Pardesi Synagogue, located in an area called “Jewtown,” an important center of the Cochin spice trade. Cochin Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 15 Saturday Cochin
Breakfast. Cochin, with its beautiful harbor, is composed of a series of islands connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries, and reflects the many seafaring cultures, from Portugal to China, with which it traded. See the traditional, very characteristic Chinese fishing nets, still used by local fishermen. Continue to the Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace, with its astonishing murals depicting Hindu legends, and the St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Friars, the original burial place of the famed explorer Vasco da Gama. Enjoy a cruise around historic Cochin harbor. In the evening, learn about Kerala's fascinating dance-drama form, Kathakali, and enjoy a traditional performance, interpreting epic tales, by some of its finest practitioners. Cochin Trident Hilton Hotel.

Day 16 Sunday Cochin – Kumarakom
Breakfast. Today you will experience a delightful sail along the waters of Kerala, which represent an ecology unlike any other. Rivers rush down from the Cardamom Hills to drain into the plains, forming rivulets, canals and shallow, broad lakes. As you journey, view picturesque villages, rice paddies, and majestic, swaying palms. Arrive at Kumarakom, a paradise of mangrove forest, emerald green paddy fields, coconut groves, and enchanting canals adorned with fragrant white lilies. Check in at your luxury resort; the rest of the day is yours to enjoy the Eden-like surroundings, or indulge in the hotel’s excellent Ayurveda Centre. Ayurveda, meaning science of life, is an ancient holistic approach, relying on hundreds of natural herbs to restoring vibrant physical well-being. Perhaps a massage with fragrant healing oils, chosen specifically for you? You may also consult with an ayurvedic doctor about natural ways to enhance your vigor. Coconut Lagoon Resort.

Day 17 Monday Kumarakom - Thekkady (Periyar)
Breakfast. Today begins with a journey to Thekkady, located on the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border and known as the “Spice Village of India” because of its vast spice and tea gardens. The road winds through mountains, descending through a carpet of tea bushes, estates of tall rubber trees, and gardens of coffee, cardamom and pepper. Enticing aromatic fragrances mingle in the air. Upon arrival in Thekkady, check in to your resort, located on the fringes of the Periyar Game Preserve, a unique wildlife sanctuary well-known throughout India. Spice Village Resort.

Day 18 Tuesday Thekkady (Periyar)
Breakfast. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the pride of Kerala and a testimony to nature's splendor. Here, the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist, deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, tigers, lion-tailed macaques and other exotic indigenous species. Enjoy a jungle walk of unparalleled splendor, as well as a scenic lake cruise. In the afternoon, visit a spice plantation to learn about this vital Indian natural legacy to the world of the senses. Later, return to the hotel for, perhaps, another relaxing (and life-altering) ayurveda treatment. Spice Village Resort..

Day 19 Wednesday Periyar- Cochin - Mumbai
Breakfast. This morning, return to Cochin for your flight to Mumbai (Bombay). Transfer to the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. The Leela Kempinski Hotel.

Day 20 Thursday Flight back to the USA
Breakfast. It is time to transfer to the airport for your flight back home, filled with the memories and sensations of unforgettable India.