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 Day 01: Arrive
Delhi
Namaste!
Upon arrival at Delhi International airport we are met with the
traditional Indian greeting and subsequently transferred to our hotel.
Overnight:
Day 02: Delhi
Full day tour of India's capital city. We spend the morning
sightseeing in Old Delhi and visit the Red Fort. The fort, constructed in
1648 during the reign of Shah Jehan, is made of red sandstone, giving the
fort its name. Jama Masjid was constructed in the middle of the 17th
Century and is India's largest mosque. It is a grand and lovely structure
built of red sandstone and white marble. Chandni Chowk (Silver Street),
once the imperial avenue down which Shah Jehan rode at the head of lavish
cavalcades, is today bustling with shops, stalls and silversmiths'
ateliers.
Afternoon sightseeing of New Delhi includes a visit to India Gate, built
in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War.
Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial
residence of the Viceroy is today the official residence of the President
of India and Parliament House, a unique circular building with huge
colonnades, houses the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Connaught
Circus is the commercial hub of New Delhi. Humayun's Tomb is the first
Moghul garden tomb. One of Delhi's most striking monuments is the 70m /
230 ft high Qutb Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains
of Delhi. (B)
Day 03: Delhi
Our first of our cooking workshops! Known all over the world, Indian
food is just not Indian. It has a flavour of the different regions of
India and thus in order to know about Indian cooking we have to learn
about the different regions and their taste of food and culture. Delhi,
as the capital of India has various cultural groups residing here and our
half-day workshop will feature well-known North West Frontier, Punjabi
and Kashmiri dishes. This will be a very informative class conducted by a
professional chef.
Balance of the day is Rest of the day at leisure. (B)
 Day 04: Delhi /
Agra
Morning
we take a countryside drive to Agra - the home of the Taj Mahal. Our
afternoon tour of Agra starts with a visit to the red sandstone Agra
Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna River,
enclosed by forbidding 20m / 60 ft high walls, with a 12m / 39ft moat
between them. Three successive Moghul emperors, Akbar, Jehangir and Shah
Jehan, helped create this massive structure which combines both Hindu and
Muslim architecture.
One of the highlights of our tour is the visit to the Taj Mahal, surely
the greatest monument to love and one of the wonders of the modern world.
Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and
Italy and some 20,000 laborers worked for 17 years to build this edifice,
constructed by emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz
Mahal. Marble was brought from Makrana, near Jodhpur and precious stones
of onyx, amethyst, malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade, crystal and
mother of pearl were carried to Agra from Persia, Russia, Afghanistan,
Tibet, China and the Indian Ocean. Overnight: Jaypee Palace (2 nights) (B
)
Day 05: Agra
Half-day workshop on Lucknowi cuisine. This seminar concentrates on
the Moghul style - one that is best for royalty.
Balance of the day is free to enjoy the city of the Taj Mahal. (B )
Day 06: Agra / Jaipur
Today we depart for Jaipur En-route we stop to visit Fatehpur Sikri,
the deserted sandstone city, which was the glorious but short-lived
imperial capital of Akbar, the greatest of Moghul emperors. Lying on a
rocky ridge, it is today a haunting complex of empty palaces, forts and
mosques. A variety of architectural styles are found, since craftsmen
representing many schools were employed in the construction. Late
afternoon we arrive in Jaipur.
Overnight: (B)
 Day 07: Jaipur
/ Ahmedabad
Morning
we visit the Amber Fort. It was the capital for six centuries before
Jaipur was built. Rising majestically on the slopes of a hill, this 11th
century fort and palace complex is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles -
the earlier constructions in the inner apartments designed by the Hindu
founder are austere, while later constructions abound in the rich
flourishes characteristic of Muslim influence. The Diwani-i-Am (Hall of
Public Audience) affords a view of the strategic location of Amber. The
Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) is the finest example of the artistic
exuberance of the day - panels of alabaster, fine inlay work, a
shimmering Hall of Mirrors, renowned for its fine mirror work. The Sukh
Nivas (Hall of Pleasure) has 17th century air conditioning. Experience the
thrill of riding up to the fort on gaily decorated elephants, in the
manner the Rajputs of old made their royal ascent centuries ago.
In the afternoon we explore Jaipur - India's Pink city. One of the
best-planned cities in India, built of rose-pink sandstone by the great
astronomer-king Jai Singh II in 1727. The City Palace stands in the
center of the city. Part of it is still the Maharaja's residence, while
most of the complex has been developed into a museum containing rare
manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Moghul paintings, royal apparel
and an armory. Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is the landmark of Jaipur.
Built of pink sandstone with a delicate honeycomb design and rising five
story's high, it is composed of semi-octagonal overhanging windows, each
with a perforated screen allowing the ladies of the court to look onto
the main street without being seen. The founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai
Jai Singh, built the Jantar Mantar Observatory. The huge stone
instruments were devised to study the movements of the sun, moon and
planets and are incredibly accurate. Evening flight to Ahmedabad where we
are warmly welcomed. Overnight: (B )
Day 08: Ahmedabad
Morning we tour Ahmedabad. Founded in 1411 by Ahmed Shah I on the
site if the ancient city of Karavati, it is today the great textile and
commercial city of western India. Omnipresent is the Sabarmati River over
which four bridges connect the old city with the new. On one side are the
crowded streets leading to Manek Chowk, where rows of traders dealing in
silver jewelry or printed fabrics lean against spotless white
bolster-pillows, waiting for customers. The upper floors of the old
havelis (family homes) have exquisitely carved wooden balconies, windows
and doorways. The most beautiful ones stand in Doshiwala ni Pol. In
Ahmedabad, the Indo-Saracen architecture blends beautifully Hindu and
Muslim styles. Sidi Saiyad's Mosque near Relief Road is one of the most
eloquent examples of the finest such work in sandstone. The shaking
minarets of Rajpur Bibi's Mosque at Gomtipur and Sidi Bashir's Mosque at
Kalipur are very interesting - pressure exerted on the inner walls of the
minarets sets them vibrating. Other places of interest include the Calico
Museum, with a rich collection of fabrics and garments from all over
India; Hridey Kunj, Mahatma Gandhi's austere Ashram set amongst mango
trees where he experimented in non-violent methods of political struggle.
Late afternoon a workshop on Gujarati and Rajasthani cuisines. Both these
cuisines are well known as there are many restaurants in North America
and Europe that specialize in Gujarat and Rajasthani food. (B )
 Day 09:
Ahmedabad
We depart on the 100km / 62m drive to visit the Sun Temple at Modhera,
which is a rare edifice of the Solanki era when the art of temple
building in Gujarat had reached its height. Anahil Patan, the capital of
Gujarat at that time was known for gorgeous temples, imposing palaces and
fine buildings of the kind seen at Modhera.
As we make our return journey to Ahmedabad we visit the Vechaar Utensil
Museum, a 15-minute drive out of Ahmedabad, which houses a remarkable
collection of metal ware: utensils of every imaginable shape and size in
bronze, brass and other alloys have been collected from every corner of
Gujarat. A traditional Gujarati meal at the Vishalla Restaurant is
delicious and appropriately rounds off the visit to the museum. (B, D)
Day 10: Ahmedabad / Hyderabad via Mumbai
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Mumbai then fly
to Hyderabad where we are welcomed the typically Hyderabadi way.
Afternoon we visit Golconda, which lies in the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Rising 150m / 492ft from the plains, the town was built by Quli Qutb Shah
and gained an aura of riches and romance that has never quite been
dispelled. It was the Qutb Shahi capital until the end of the 16th
century. The outer wall, built of huge blocks of local granite, encloses
houses, shops, water reservoirs and fields. There are 87 semicircular
bastions, some still with their armament. Each bastion or burj has a
name. The Petla Burj commands stretches of country to the west. The Musa
Burj, a three-story bastion to the southeast, was built after the first
Moghul invasion and has an inscription with an account of a battle in
both Persian and Telegu. Overnight: (B)
Day 11: Hyderabad / Chennai (Madras)
Morning workshop on regional cuisine with emphasis on Muslim and Kerala
cuisines. This will be another learning experience that is so Indian and
yet very different from the other sessions we have had.
In the afternoon take a tour of Hyderabad. The capital of Andhra Pradesh
is the creation of the Qutb Shahis and dates back to 1512. Among the
monuments of interest is the Purana Pul or 'old bridge,' built in 1578,
which is compared to the Pont Neuf in Paris. The Charminar is the hub of
the city and the masterpiece of Qutb Shahi architecture. The streets in
this area are lined with shops selling gold and silver jewelry, pearls,
paper kites, rough glasses and inexpensive chinaware. Larh bazaar, a
narrow street, is the traditional center for bridal accessories and
bangles. It leads to Chauk, traditional hunting ground for antiques. The
Jami Masjid, built in 1597, is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad. The Makka
Masjid close by is the largest mosque in South India. The Salar Jung
Museum boasts a large collection of Moghul jade, beautifully carved and
inlaid gem-studded boxes, animal headed daggers and delicate translucent
leaf-shaped drinking bowls. The museum also has an exceptional collection
of manuscripts, miniature paintings, arms and armour, Chinese porcelain,
Indian textiles, Indo-Persian glass and beautiful bidri-ware.
In the evening we take a flight to Chennai, formerly known as Madras.
Overnight: (B)
 Day 12: Chennai
Full day excursion to Mahabalipuram, the port city of the Pallavas in the
7th century, situated 55 km / 34m south of Chennai. In this picturesque
setting of sandy beaches and sea we will see 70 monuments that influenced
temple architecture in Tamil Nadu for centuries to come. The first
important group is formed by the five rathas - rock-cut monoliths named
after the heroes of the Mahabharata, which simulate ceremonial chariots.
Some of these rathas are unfinished and in them can be seen the carving
technique used to form temples out of living rock. Also within this
complex are large sculptures of a lion, an elephant and a seated Nandi
(the bull) Lord Shiva's mount. The other cave temples of
Mahishasuramardini and Olalkkannesware (God of the Flaming Eye) are carved
out of the hillside to form pillared halls and enclosed shrines within
which are some magnificent sculptures, some larger than life, of gods and
goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. (B)
Day 13: Chennai / Mumbai (Bombay)
Morning workshop on South Indian cuisine with an emphasis on Chettinad
cuisine.
Afternoon a city tour of Chennai formerly known as Madras. The capital of
Tamil Nadu is also a seat of ancient civilization, with a rich heritage
of fine arts, sculpture and architecture. The British East India Company
established one of its earliest seats of power in India in Madras. The
construction of Fort St. George was begun around 1650. Today the old
buildings in the fort house the Tamil Nadu Government Secretariat and the
Legislative Assembly. St. Mary's Church, consecrated in 1680, is the
earliest English building surviving intact in India and also the earliest
Anglican Church in the east. San Thome Church is associated with the
Apostle St. Thomas. It is believed that he was martyred on St. Thomas' Mount
and his remains are enshrined in this church. The Marina, is a 13km / 8m
long sandy beach running along the whole length of Madras, fringed with
palms and casuarinas. One of the most important localities of Chennai is
the unified complex of Mylapore where the Kapaleswara Shiva temple, the
tank, market area and old Brahmin residential houses are situated.
Overnight: (B)
Day 14: Mumbai
A city tour of Bombay awaits us this morning. From humble obscure
beginnings as a set of seven small islands, Bombay (now called Mumbai)
has today risen to the eminence of India's most important commercial and
industrial center. The Gateway of India was conceived as a triumphal arch
to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi
Durbar in 1911. The Prince of Wales Museum, built of blue-grey basalt and
yellow sandstone, contains some excellent examples of Indian miniature
paintings of the Moghul and Rajasthan Schools, as well as collections of
jade and chinaware artifacts. Marine Drive is a long gracefully curving
road along the buttressed seacoast. Also of interest are the Hanging
Gardens on Malabar Hill, from where you get a magnificent panoramic view
of the metropolis and the Arabian Sea. The city has several fine examples
of colonial architecture including the Afghan Memorial Church,
established in 1847 which has Gothic arches and stained- glass windows;
the Clock Tower - now called Rajabai Tower, the University Hall and
Elphiston College with canopied balconies, the School of Art, built in
the late 1800s, where Rudyard Kipling was born; Crawford Market which has
bas-reliefs designed by Kipling's father; the massive Victoria Terminus,
built of yellow sandstone and granite combined with polychromatic stones
and blue-grey basalt and the Municipal Corporation building.
Today's afternoon workshop is very different as it concentrates on the
seafood specialties of Maharastra and Mangalorian. (B)
Day 15: Mumbai and Departure
Morning a boat cruise to Elephanta Island, which lies 10km / 6m across
the harbor. It contains a fine cluster of 6th to 8th century rock-cut
caves, carved during the Golden Age of the Guptas and inspired by the
worship of Lord Shiva. The most outstanding of the beautiful sculptures
is the Maheshmurthy or Trimurthi, a 5m / 16ft high three-headed bust hewn
from a single rock, representing the three aspects of Shiva - the
Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer.
Checkout time at the hotel is usually noon. Afternoon is at leisure. Time
for independent activities. Evening we bid farewell to India but not to
Indian cuisines as we are transferred to the airport for our departure
flight. (B)
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