Maharani Gayatri Devi, a symbol of royalty in India, was the third Maharani consort of Jaipur from 1940 to 1949 through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. She was born in Cooch Behar and travelled the length and breadth of the country with her role as a princess and then a queen.
An avid polo player, she was one of the most modern Queens in India, who did a lot for the city of Jaipur, the capital of the Kingdom that she was queen to. Later, the Maharani was seen a fashion icon with her glorious collection of special saris. This journey trails her footsteps.
Day 01 Arrive Kolkata (By Flight)
Arrive in Kolkata. Meet-assist at airport & transfer to hotel.
Day 02 Kolkata
Breakfast at hotel. Spend the day sightseeing various places like the Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Kali Ghat Temple, Botanical Gardens, flower market, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church and Mother Teresa’s House. The day is spent getting oriented to the culturally rich city of Kolkata.
Day 03 Kolkata–Bagdogra (By Flight) / Bagdogra–Darjeeling (67 Km/ 3H)
After breakfast transfer to the airport and take a flight to Bagdogra. On arrival continue drive to Darjeeling and check in at the hotel. Nestled among the rolling mountains with the glistening Mt Kanchenjunga towering over the azure sky, Darjeeling is fondly called ‘ Queen of the Hills’. It provides a perfect gateway for those seeking to be in harmony with nature. Darjeeling, though in the state of West Bengal, shares more common history with neighboring Nepal and Sikkim. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 04 Darjeeling
Spend the day sightseeing in and around Darjeeling. The key highlights are Tiger Hill, Toy Train to Ghoom, the Ghoom Monastery and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Museum. The Ghoom monastery is correctly known as Yogachoeling Gompa. This is probably the most famous monastery in Darjeeling and is about 8 km south of town, just below Hill Cart road and the train station near Ghoom. It enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha.
The HMI is yet another sight that should not be missed. The Mountaineering Museum contains a collection of historic mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna and a relief model of the Himalayas. The Everest Museum next door traces the history of attempts on the great peak. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who conquered Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953, lived in Darjeeling and was the director of the institute for many years. He died in 1986 and his statue now stands beside cremation spot just above the institute.
Day 05 Darjeeling – Cooch Behar (By Road) (200 Kms. / 5H 20M appx.)
After breakfast drive to Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar is well known for being the maternal home of Princess Gayatri Devi.
Day 06 Cooch Behar
After breakfast visit the Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Temple. Cooch Behar Palace was designed on the model of Buckingham Palace in London. Conceived from the concept of classical European style of Italian Renaissance, this magnificent palace was built by the famous Koch king Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in 1887.
Day 07 Cooch Behar–Bagdogra (186 Km/ 5 Hrs) / Bagdogra–Delhi (By Flight)
After breakfast transfer to the Bagdogra Airport to fly to Delhi. On arrival check in at the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 08 Delhi
In Delhi, you will encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary, where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist beside a modern metropolis.
Delhi is a city waiting to be explored. Overnight in the hotel. Landmark monuments make for a great sightseeing day in Delhi. The 17th century imposing fortress, Red Fort, followed by Jama Masjid, the mosque that can house 20,000 kneeling devotees in prayer and Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial. You also cross the centre of the city where all the government buildings are located. Photo stop at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Jaipur House (now the National Museum of Modern Art) and Qutab Minar are part of the plan
Day 09 Delhi – Agra (By Road) (230 Kms. / 4H 20M appx.)
After breakfast drive to Agra. Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an en-shrined romance. It is a town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 10 Agra
After breakfast proceed to the world famous monument of India the Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14 child. It employed 20,000 workers from the Central Asia and Europe for 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones. Later visit the Agra Fort, situated on the west bank of the river Jamuna, made by the Mughal King Akbar in the 16th century and completed by his grandson Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb for 8 years in this fort, before his death. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 11 Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur (By Road) (233 Kms. / 4H 45M appx.)
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. On the way, visit Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The complex consists of religious, residential and administrative buildings. The Mosque is considered a copy for the Mosque at Mecca and is extremely elegant, containing elements of Hindu and Persian design. Housed here is the Shrine of Sheikh Salim Chisti one of the greatest of Sufi saints of the Muslim world.
Day 12 Jaipur
Full day city tour of Jaipur.
Overnight at hotel
Day 13 Jaipur – Ahemdabad (By Flight)
Transfer to airport for flight to Ahemadabad.
On arrival in Ahmedabad transfer to the hotel. Ahmedabad is the pot-pouri of tradition and modern Islam and practicing Hinduism. A city known for many outstanding institutes and ashrams, it is situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River was the former capital of the state of Gujarat founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411. Today it is metropolis of the Indian Textile Industry.
In the afternoon visit to Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) built by Ahmed Shah in 1424, the façade is emphasized by the spacious courtyard paved in marble with a tank in the middle. It has a screen of arches flanked by a pillared portico. Later proceed to Sidi Sayed Mosque- Sidi Sayed Mosque is unique for its exquisite screens, which are praised for their amazing Jhali screen, framed, in the ten semi-circular windows. The screen carved out of one rock is just exceptional. A visit to this superb and outstanding example of delicate carving is an absolute must. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 14 Ahemdabad
Full day visit Ahemdabad.
There are a number of things to see in Ahmedabad – Adalaj, Sabarmati Ashram, Dada Hari na Vav, Hate Singh Temple. Of these, the Gandhi Museum at Sabarmati is something you will love. It is one of the places from where Gandhi started the freedom movement. In 1930 it was from here that Gandhi started his Dandi Yatra to flout the salt laws of the British. The ashram, located on the banks of Sabarmati River was founded in 1915. Today it has been converted into a Gandhi memorial.
Day 15 Ahemadabad – Vadodara (By Road) (111 Kms. / 1H 55M appx.)
After breakfast drive to Vadodara, once the capital of the Gaikwads. Baroda is a city with traditional heritage. A graceful city with palaces, parks and museums, Baroda is well known for its university and faculty of fine arts and is also a thriving industrial centre. Visit the Laxmi Vilas Palace built as the residence of the royal family. It is an extravagant and flamboyant piece of architecture, which houses royal collection of art treasure.. Kirti Mandir, the family vault of the Gaikwads, is decorated with murals by Nandalal Bose. The Vadodara museum and picture gallery has impressive collection of European oil masters, Mughal miniatures and valuable Buddhist and Jain palm leaf manuscripts. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 16 Vadodara – Mumbai (By Flight)
After breakfast transfer to the airport and take a flight to Mumbai.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 17 Mumbai
After breakfast Visit Prince of Wales Museum (closed on Mondays). Prince of Wales Museum is the erstwhile name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya of Mumbai. In 1905, George V laid down, the Prince of Wales himself, who came on a visit to India its foundation stone. George Wittet, an architect, designed the splendid structure. The construction work was concluded in 1914, but the structure was converted to a military hospital for the period of World War I. Lady Lloyd inaugurated the full-fledged museum in 1923.
The Kamla Nehru Park is next on the list. Perched on the top of Malabar Hill, Kamala Nehru Park is essentially a vantage point that presents a panoramic view of the glittering city – Mumbai. It extends to 3,300 sq m in the most luxurious and posh residential area of the Bollywood city of India. In the afternoon we will arrange the visit to Ball room at Taj Mahal Palace and Towers where Maharani used to hold various official meetings. Today, spend another day in and around Mumbai, taking in sights like the Elephanta caves, Gateway of India, Hanging Gardens, Marine Drive and other important places of the city. Overnight at the hotel. Onward flight.
Day 18 Depart Mumbai (By Flight)
Departure transfer to airport for flight back to home.
| City | Night (s) | 5* Hotels |
| Kolkata | 02 | Hyatt Regency |
| Darjeeling | 02 | Mayfair Darjeeling |
| Cooch Behar | 02 | Tourist Lodge |
| Delhi | 02 | Radisson Blu Paschim Vihar |
| Agra | 02 | Jaypee Palace |
| Jaipur | 02 | Radisson Blu |
| Ahemdabad | 02 | Hyatt Regency |
| Vadodara | 01 | Welcom Hotel |
| Mumbai | 02 | Hotel Sun-N-Sand |
– Meet assist at the airport and hotels.
– 17 nights accommodation as per the program.
– Meal: Breakfast + Dinner.
– Services of English-Speaking Local Guide for the sightseeing as per the itinerary.
– Air-ticket (CCU-IXB-DEL / JAI-AMD / BDQ-BOM) in economy class.
– 01 SGV accompanying tour escort throughout the tour on 06 pax onwards
– One-time entrances to the monuments as per the itinerary.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing and excursions by private AC vehicle and driver.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.