Dream Itinerary - Twelve Days in India Including Rajasthan, Delhi, and the Taj Mahal

The majesty of the Taj Mahal, the glamor of Bollywood, the historic empires of Delhi, and the beaches of Goa. These are some of the places people think of visiting when contemplating a trip to India. India is one of the world's most interesting and rewarding destinations that should not be missed However, travelers can be apprehensive about taking a trip to India because the sights, sounds, crowds, and pace of life there can take some getting used to. 

To enjoy your introduction to the diverse people and culture of the subcontinent, The Traveling American recommends starting a passage to India with a twelve-day itinerary focused on the popular Golden Triangle cities of Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi, but beginning with two days in the tranquil lakeside city of Udaipur. Since the temperature can be scorching in Rajasthan from April through July with daytime temperatures routinely more than 95 degrees, the months between September and March are the most ideal times to visit this section of the country.  

DAY ONE – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO DELHI OR MUMBAI FOLLOWED BY A DOMESTIC FLIGHT TO UDAIPUR

For travelers coming from the United States the best way to reach a destination in the interior of India such as Udaipur is to take a late afternoon or evening international flight to Mumbai or Delhi. After clearing passport control, customs, and switching terminals, you should then take a domestic flight to Udaipur. Fortunately, English is widely spoken and used for travelers in India, so the process is not unduly complicated. 

There are three options available to fly to Delhi or Mumbai from the United States. First, Air India flies direct to both cities from New York, and to Delhi from Chicago and Washington, D.C. Second, American Airlines and United fly direct to Delhi from New York and Chicago. Third, Air France, Delta, and Middle East carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar fly frequently to both Indian cities from the United States after making a connection at their hubs in Paris. Amsterdam, Istanbul, Dubai, or Doha. As a result of the large Indian community around the world, fares to India are competitive and affordable. Economy fares for international flights to these India destinations range from $1,000 to $2,000 per person and premium economy fares range from $1500 to $2,500 per person. Direct flights to Mumbai and Delhi from the U.S. take between 13 and 15 hours, while flights with an overseas connection take over 20 hours. 

After arriving in Mumbai or Delhi, there are three domestic carriers that offer flights on large aircraft to your initial destination of Udaipur. Air Indigo, Air India and Vistara airlines fly there nonstop several times each day for reasonable fare of $100 per person for regular seating plus baggage fees. The flights take under two hours so you can plan to arrive there tired but full of anticipation either late in the afternoon or in the early evening of the second day of your trip.

DAY TWO - SETTLE INTO YOUR SPECTACULAR UDAIPUR HOTEL FOR A VIEW AND TOUR OF LAKE PICHOLA

 After 20 or 24 hours in transit, you land in Udaipur at a hectic but organized airport. Located about halfway between Mumbai and Delhi. Udaipur is a city of 600,000 people known principally for a series of lakes surrounded by hills and the spectacular palaces built alongside them. The largest lake, Lake Pichola, was an artificial freshwater lake created by Maharana Lakha in 1362 and enlarged by subsequent rulers. The Old City, located on its eastern shore, contains most of the tourist attractions and hotels. 

Hotel - For your hotel it is hard to beat the five-star Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur. Inspired by Mughal architecture and furnished with designs reminiscent of Rajasthan’s luxurious palaces, this modern hotel with eighty rooms and suites has been named one of Asia's top resorts by leading travel publications including The Traveling American. Located on the north side of Lake Pichola, it has magnificent views of the entire lake and the city. The hotel is known for its pampered treatment of guests. At the airport, a representative of the hotel will be waiting for you at the baggage area to take you there. After a short ride in a private car, you and your luggage will be escorted to a small vessel for a boat ride to the hotel. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by musicians and provided with a welcoming drink while members of the hotel staff toss perfumed rose petals as you enter the lobby and proceed to your room. The hotel regularly puts on cultural performances in its Courtyard and serves sumptuous continental and Indian food at indoor restaurants or outside under the moonlight. The Leela Palace provides a calming place to relax before you begin your Indian adventure.

Private Guide- For touring in Udaipur you should use a private guide to show you the impressive lake area, explain the history and wonders of the City Palace, and take you around to the other important attractions. Farid Ahmed, who is a guide approved by the Department of Tourism and often used by the Leela Palace, provides excellent information in a pleasant manner, and knows all the sites in the Udaipur region. Otherwise, the hotel concierge will be able to set you up with a guide for your two days of touring around Udaipur.

DAY THREE - EXPLORE UDAIPUR'S LAKESIDE PALACES AND ITS HISTORIC TEMPLE

Palaces- The best way to orient yourself to Udaipur is to arrange with the hotel to take a boat ride with snacks on the calm waters of Lake Pichola. Three palaces dominate the view. First, there is the City Palace originally built by Udai Singh, the Maharana of Mewar who relocated the capital of his Rajput kingdom from Chittorgarh Fort to the area in the 16th century. Expanded by his twenty-two successors over the last five centuries, this hilltop palace is now several blocks long and is used as a museum, a heritage hotel, and the residence of the current Maharana and his family. When you visit the City Palace after the boat ride, you will see bejeweled courtyards, reception rooms for dignitaries, and the harem quarters. But visitors also get to admire the accumulated treasures from centuries of rule such as the Maharana’s antique car collection, a banquet room filled with imported English crystal, the portraits, clothes and swords of numerous ancestors, and an area used for elephant tugs of war.

A second palace located in the middle of the lake cannot be missed. It appears from a distance to be a floating ship rather than a building. Constructed in the 1700s as a summer residence for the Maharana, the Lake Palace is built of white marble and used today as a private luxury hotel by the Taj hotel chain. Featured in many films, westerners recognize it as the place that served as the villain’s lair in the James Bond movie “Octopussy.” A third palace at the southern end of the lake known as Jag Mandir Island Palace is used today as a popular restaurant. It is also a favorite venue for elaborate Indian weddings that often feature days of festivities with fireworks and light shows that illuminate the palaces.

Jagdish Temple- After seeing the palaces, there are many other sites to visit in the Old City. Most can be reached by walking from the City Palace or by private vehicle. The 17th-century Jagdish Temple has engravings of various stories dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and provides a good orientation to the practices of devotees. You can respectfully enter the temple to observe people making offerings of flowers and lighting candles, or singing songs of devotion in the temple, by removing your shoes and leaving your camera behind. Nearby there are merchant shops offering expertly tailored clothes while you wait along with handicrafts, clothes, and other goods for sale.

DAY FOUR - EXPERIENCE THE GLORY AND MYTHS OF THE RAJPUT RULERS AT CHITTORGARTH FORT

The Indian state of Rajasthan attracts visitors from around the world. In addition to Udaipur, it includes other well-known cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Pushkar. During the past thousand years, Rajasthan was made up of twenty independent Hindu kingdoms. Although occasionally united and sometimes conquered by outside empires, the Rajput maharajas who ruled these kingdoms-built forts and fought valiantly for the protection of their kingdoms and their wealth. After India’s independence from Britain in 1947, they retained their titles and some of their properties, but many of their citadels were later converted into national museums or heritage hotels.

Rajput cities have mountaintop forts with fascinating histories that go back for centuries to medieval times. One fort with the most unusual legends attached to it is at Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh Fort was built on a plateau high above the surrounding plains in the eighth century. It protected the temples, palaces, stables, and memorials of the Maharana of Mewar for centuries until it was conquered by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and then abandoned by the Rajputs in the 16th century. Most of the sturdy walls, gates and several dozen buildings within this ancient fortress remain intact. Chittorgarh features a 122-foot-high Victory Tower, built on a ridge by Maharana Kumbha in 1448 to honor a military victory over a rival Rajput sultan, which is magnificent. This sandstone tower is engraved with images of gods, and the vestibule at the top of the staircase offers a commanding view of the entire fort and the countryside. Another unusual feature is the large reservoirs carved into the rock face that hold spring water and rainwater and allowed the fort to withstand attacks over the centuries. 

The most compelling reason to visit Chittorgarh is to visualize the legends that your guide will tell you about concerning this fort. The Rajputs glorify their military history and have a tradition of often fighting to the last man and woman in battle. Legend has it that on each of the three occasions when the Chittorgarh Fort was conquered, thousands of Rajput warriors fought to their death rather than surrendering, while thousands of Rajput women committed mass suicide by immolation to escape capture. Another legend features the beautiful queen Rani Padmini who became an object of desire for the Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi in 1303. To avoid a siege, the Maharaja allowed the Sultan to visit the fort and glimpse his queen’s reflection in the water of a reservoir through a mirror placed in a nearby building. This experience which can be duplicated by tourists today only heightened the sultan’s determination to conquer the fort, but in the end, Padmini escaped capture by committing suicide with the rest of the women in the fort.

 DAY FIVE-   TRAVEL TO JAIPUR AND SETTLE IN

On the fifth day of your trip, it is time to move on to a different part of Rajasthan by taking a short flight from Udaipur to Jaipur on IndiGo Airline for less than $100. The Indian city of Jaipur is known as the Pink City since many of the buildings there are colored pink or made of local red sandstone. Jaipur is one of the most popular destinations in India and was founded by the Rajput Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727. Ji Singh II decided to relocate his prominent kingdom from the mountainous Amer Fort to a large valley about six miles to the south. A renowned general and respected scholar, he built a planned community there containing a beautiful palace and public buildings with high walls and gates. Today, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and has 2.3 million residents. While many of the most notable attractions are in the Old City, there are interesting sites to see throughout the area.

Hotel - Jaipur has outstanding hotels such as the Taj Rambagh Palace and the Oberoi Rajvilas luxury hotel. The Trident Hotel, which is a division of Taj hotel chain, is a modern and moderately priced hotel located opposite the Mansagar Lake. 

Private Driver and Guide - Upon arrival in Jaipur, your arrangements will be managed by Four Wheel Drive India, a comprehensive driving and guide service that covers the entire region and provides guides for each destination along the way. Four-Wheel Drive India has an excellent reputation for services as profiled here in The Traveling American. You will be greeted at the airport in Jaipur by a company representative and brought to the hotel by your driver. The driver will be assigned to you for transportation and companionship for the rest of your itinerary including upcoming stops in Agra, and Delhi. The company's owner will meet with you at the hotel to review your daily plan and charges. 

Mansagar Lake Walk or Experience a Movie at one of India’s Great Theaters - After settling into your hotel, you may prefer to have a nice dinner, a swim, and relax for the evening. If you want to do some initial exploring, however, two options are worth considering. First, it may be enjoyable to look out from the hotel at the Jal Mahal palace located on Mansagar Lake, and then go for a walk with your guide around the lake. This is an excellent place to see local families having fun picnicking, fishing, playing soccer and enjoying the outdoors. Another recommended option is to go to one of India's premier movie theaters, the Raj Mandir Cinema, and see a Bollywood or international movie with or without English subtitles. India generates the largest movie audiences of any country in the world and attending a picture there can be a unique experience. Premiere seats come with access to a special lounge where guests will be served drinks and snacks prior to the show in a living room setting and then led to their comfortable first-class seats which are usually in the center of the balcony section. Theaters like the Raj Mandir have huge screens like those found in most American cities during the 1970s and 1980s. But do not be surprised if fellow guests engage in conversation from time to time with you about the picture or react with shouts or laughter to characters in the film. Like many things in India, going to the movies is a fun communal experience.

DAY SIX - EXPLORING THE SITES OF JAIPUR

On day six, it will be time to explore the wonders of Jaipur with your driver and Jaipur guide after an early start. Some of your experiences will be: 

Visiting the City Palace - The City Palace in the Old City combines the architecture of Mughal and Rajput traditions. In addition to elegant pavilions and courtyards, the palace contains a few interesting museums that display the clothes, weaponry, and jewels of past Maharajas. Visitors also can view the Chandra Mahal residence of the modern royal family. 

Contemplating the Heavens at the Jantar Mantar - The Jantar Mantar is one of five observatories built by Jai Singh throughout Rajasthan to encourage the study of the cosmos and the weather in 1724. The complex includes sixteen gigantic instruments made of stone and metal that were used for everything from forecasting crop yields and locating the planets to telling the time of the day. A sundial there forecasts the time at Jaipur with an accuracy of within 20 seconds. The size and scope of this project is impressive considering that science and astronomy were little understood at the time in most other parts of the world.

Taking a Tuk Tuk Ride - One way to see the sites and observe the daily lives of people is to have your guide arrange a tuk tuk ride to your next destination in the Old City. Think of weaving in and out of streets with no designated lanes on a glorified rider mower while crowded into an attached covered basket behind the driver with six or eight other people. It is an essential part of the experience of seeing India. 

Viewing the Hawa Mahal- The beautiful “Palace of the Winds” is considered one of the most majestic sites in the Pink City. Built in 1799, this palace was just a resting place for the women of the royal court. It allowed them to view the marketplace, catch the breeze, and observe the public from behind a series of screened balconies. Although five stories high, the Hawa Mahal resembles a large wall rather than a building since it is only one room deep. Today, visitors can climb to the top and look out without a veil, or just photograph this unusual building from the street below.

Lunch at Rambagh Palace- Your late lunch in Jaipur will be a special one. Throughout India, there are grand palaces which once served as the residences for the country’s royalty. Many fell into ruin or were turned into museums, so the government of India developed a program for selling or leasing the palaces to resort companies for the purpose of developing “heritage hotels” offering a luxury experience to guests while preserving the character of these historical treasures. 

The ambience of sleeping or dining in a palace is a special experience and surprisingly affordable. Originally used as a guesthouse and hunting lodge in the forest on the outskirts of Jaipur, Rambagh Palace became the residence of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh around 1910. In succeeding years, improvements were made such as adding courtyards, suites, and other amenities. Eventually converted into a luxury heritage hotel in the 1970s by the Taj hotel chain, the Rambagh Palace Hotel became renowned for its extensive gardens, elaborate cupolas, and exotic carvings throughout the grounds. Sometimes, they even arrange a game of polo on elephant back for the guests. Inside, there are choices for fine dining ranging from the chandeliered Suvarna Mahal formal ballroom to the casual Polo Bar or relaxing dining along the outside corridors in the Verandah Cafe.

One way to enjoy the hotel and see the grounds is to book a lunch in the Rajput Room. Service in the elegant dining room is provided by waiters wearing traditional palace garb. Prominently displayed is a striking portrait of Queen Gayatri Devi, who was once named the most beautiful woman in the world by Vogue magazine in the 1940s. During the reign of her husband, the Queen entertained world dignitaries at the palace and her beauty, style and energetic persona created a new role model for Indian women. The food was outstanding for our meal. After a week without beef, some diners will be pleased to find a buffalo steak filet mignon on the menu. 

DAY SEVEN - VIEW THE AMBER FORT AND AN ANCIENT STEPWELL

On day seven of your visit, there will be time to check out of the hotel and then see two more places along the road to Agra, the location of the Taj Mahal. These destinations are:

Amer Fort - Another place worth visiting close to Jaipur is the fort in Amer. This fort, often referred to as the Amber Palace, was constructed by the renowned Rajput ruler Man Singh I in 1592. It served as the capital of the Kachhawaha kingdom until the 18th century when the palace was relocated to present-day Jaipur by one of his successors. Amber Palace is situated in a scenic location on a natural ridge that stretches for miles above a narrow valley. There is a pleasant lake below the fort as well as a small island covered by a Mughal-style Garden. 

The main entrance to Amber Fort is a stone pathway that climbs to the top through a series of switchbacks. Although a back road can be used to drive to the fort, most people reach the fort on the back of one of the several dozen village elephants who have ferried people during morning hours to the top for generations. Guided by a driver or mahout while seated sideways on a small platform, the ride provides an exhilarating view of the village and lake far below. The fort itself features bejeweled chambers which were used by the royal family or by the Mughal Emperor when he visited his allies. It also combined both elements of Hindu and Muslim architecture reflecting the uneasy political alliance of the rulers of this region.

A Stepwell on the Way to Agra - Your excitement will build on the four-hour journey by car from Jaipur to Agra, but first there is an important stop to make after a short detour in the remote village of Abhaneri. The crown jewel of this town is one of the world’s oldest and largest stepwells known as the Chand Baori. A stepwell is a deep well or pond in which water can be reached by descending a set of steps. This one was built in the ninth century by King Chanda and dedicated to the Goddess of Joy and Happiness. 

The stepwell at Abhaneri is a majestic square structure that has a large pavilion on one side, an open courtyard with galleries around the top, and a series of steps descending into the earth on the other three sides. What makes Abhaneri so unusual is that it is about thirteen stories deep with 3500 steps laid out in a geometric pattern. The upper pavilions of the structure served as a village market for residents and a place where merchants and caravans would stop to sell their wares and seek supplies when traveling through the region. There were also areas reserved for the use and relaxation of the royal family. Visitors are no longer allowed to descend into the well for safety reasons. In addition, the water collected in the bottom of the stepwell is not potable presently. Nevertheless, walking around the complex to take pictures and learn about the history of the structure is an enjoyable and unique experience. 

Hotel- After a long day of driving and seeing sites, there will be a temptation to try to drive by the Taj Mahal and get a glimpse of the beautiful buildings there. However, very few hotels are near the Taj Mahal, so you are better off getting a nice dinner and relaxing to prepare a visit to see the Taj Mahal the next day. The Courtyard Marriott in the city is close to the Taj Mahal and offers modern facilities and sound food options for a two-night stay.

DAY EIGHT - SEEING THE MAJESTY OF THE TAJ MAHAL

The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings because of its architectural design, white marble construction and elaborate engravings. It is India’s largest tourist attraction and a major source of pride for the nation. The Taj Mahal was the pinnacle achievement of the Mughal Empire which controlled northern India for three centuries. Islamic Prince Babur marched into India from Central Asia in 1526 and conquered the lands around Delhi. Babur’s descendants, especially the well-regarded emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, expanded the empire into nearby Rajasthan as well as most of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. Agra was the capital of the empire for much of the 16th and 17th centuries. The city was centrally located on the Yamuna River along an important trade route. Many luxurious palaces, gardens and mausoleums were built in the vicinity using the region’s distinctive red sandstone. 

All these structures were dwarfed, however, by the perfect proportions and white marble exterior of the Taj Mahal. Emperor Shah Jahan had many wives, but his favorite was Mumtaz Mahal, who bore him thirteen children before dying in childbirth at the age of 33 in 1631. Legend has it that she asked her husband to build her a monument to demonstrate their love to the world, and he certainly honored her wish. Gathering the best craftsmen from the subcontinent, Turkey and Persia, Shah Jahan oversaw the construction of the Taj Mahal by an estimated 20,000 workers who completed the building only 12 years later. Your guide obtained by Four Wheel Drive India will point out the distinctive features of the building. Surrounded by elaborate gardens and pools of water, the main building is topped by a huge onion-shaped dome. It stands at the center of a marble platform that includes four 130-foot-tall minarets. At each end of the platform, there is a red sandstone mosque that provides stability, symmetry, and contrast to the white marble.

Experiencing the Taj- The experience of seeing the Taj Mahal is worth savoring. There will be time to take pictures so view the buildings from a variety of locations. You enter the site through a large gate that frames the building perfectly and then you see the image of the Taj reflected in a series of ponds. As you get closer, it becomes apparent that this is a massive structure with four symmetrical sides. Mumtaz’s crypt is in the middle of the rotunda and is surrounded by mosaics and marble screens. The interior carvings are impressive, even though the jewels and gold that once filled the inlays have disappeared. At the rear of the building, you can look out over the peaceful Yamuna River, which is considered holy by many but is quite polluted, nonetheless. The great irony of the story of the Taj Mahal is that shortly after it was built, Shah Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb, revolted against the emperor and imprisoned him in the Agra Fort several miles away. If time allows, visit the nearby fort where he lived for the rest of his life in a suite with a distant view of the Taj. Devoted to the end, Shah Jahan was later buried by his daughter in a tomb in the Taj next to his wife.

DAY NINE - DRIVING TO DELHI AND A DAY OF REST 

After a full day of seeing the Taj Mahal, it will be time to drive to your final destination in Delhi and then relax at your hotel for an afternoon and evening of rest. Delhi is by some counts now the third largest city in the world with over sixteen million people. The city extends for thirty-two miles from its northern boundary to the southern one and is thirty miles across. Modern Delhi consists of several ruined capitals in the south that were built by earlier sultanates and later abandoned; the Old City in the north founded by Shah Jahan in 1638; and New Delhi, in the center, completed by the British in 1931. The metropolitan area of Delhi has been expanding rapidly beyond its southern boundary into new places like Gurgaon and Noida, which are striving to become posh suburban towns with high-rise apartments, office buildings for international companies, sports facilities, and shopping malls.

Hotel- Your hotel for visiting Delhi will be the luxurious Trident Gurgaon, a hotel with a modern architectural design, picturesque pool and spa facilities, and elegant restaurants. While located outside of the city center, the hotel is close to the international airport and a shopping mall, and away from the busy city streets of the capital. 

DAY TEN - EXPLORING OLD DELHI, SOUTH DELHI, AND THE GANDHI MUSEUM

Delhi is so full of historic places that it can be difficult to know where to start and what to see. Some places for you and your Delhi guide to explore are:

Old Delhi - Many people start a tour to Delhi by visiting the Red Fort in Old Delhi. This fort was built during the reign of Shah Jahan and remains an important symbol of both the Mughal empire and Indian nationalism. The fort served as one of the focal points for the Indian revolt of 1857 against British rule which gave rise to dreams of independence finally realized in 1947. Nearby in Old Delhi are other well-known attractions including the huge Jami Masjid, India’s largest mosque, and the streets and shops of Old Delhi along the boulevard known as Chandni Chowk. Some people find the sights and sounds of the bazaars and traders of these streets to be fascinating and dive right in, while others are overwhelmed by the chaotic nature of the experience. 

Humayun's Tomb- One of the most beautiful buildings in old Delhi is Humayun’s tomb which introduced some of the designs later used in the Taj Mahal. The tomb features a serene garden and is an excellent place for taking pictures and gatherings of local families for picnics and walks.

Rajpath - To the south of Old Delhi are the various government buildings of the national capital of India including the traditional parliament building which housed the upper house and lower house of India’s bicameral legislature after independence and the Prime Minister’s residence complex known as the Panchavati. In the spring of 2023, a New Parliament Building was opened and it can now be toured. These structures are located along a wide boulevard known as the Rajpath where a grand parade is held to commemorate the nation’s Republic Day along with other extraordinary events. This governmental center and the nearby colonial houses of New Delhi were originally designed by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens in 1911 to combine classic western styles with Indian themes. 

Gandhi Smriti- The most interesting museum to see in the Delhi area is Gandhi Smriti, which is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. India became an independent nation in 1947 due to Gandhi’s leadership of a non-violent movement for political freedom. After independence, Gandhi lived a modest life as a guest of a friend in a colonial bungalow. However, one day in 1948, while walking to daily prayers in the garden, he was assassinated. Today, visitors to the museum at that location can see interesting displays that explain Gandhi’s life, and the revolution that he led seeking political independence and civic equality for all Indians regardless of their class or ethnic caste. In addition to viewing the bedroom in which he slept, you can retrace the footsteps he took on his final walk and see an eternal flame dedicated to his memory. It is a moving experience.

DAY ELEVEN – ENJOYING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK AND A MODERN INDIAN THEME PARK

On your last day in India, there are two experiences that are worthwhile pursuing to top off your Indian adventure. One looks to India’s past and the other to its future.

Mehrauli Archeological Park- In the southern section of the city is an unusual park called the Mehrauli Archeological Park which is a 200-acre historic area that includes over one hundred ruined palaces, mosques, stepwells, tombs and monuments built by the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, and other conquerors of northern India over the centuries. These relics are interposed with traditional parklands and modern developments. Nevertheless, the entire area is a wonderful place to walk around and contemplate the “seven cities” of Delhi which rose and fell over a period of more than one thousand years. One site known as the Qutub Minar is a tapered minaret made mostly of brick that towers over two hundred feet. It is a World Heritage site and one of the most visited destinations in the city. It was built around 1200 AD by the first Islamic Sultan to rule from Delhi as part of a larger mosque and the Qutub complex.

Gurgaon's Kingdom of Dreams- Close to the hotel in Gurgaon is one of the capital areas newest attractions called the “Kingdom of Dreams.” Billed as an Indian Disneyland, the Kingdom of Dreams has an indoor shopping area featuring more than a dozen shops and restaurants representing various parts of the country. It is an opportunity to view in a general way of the distinct cultures and customs found in other parts of India. Another attraction at the Kingdom of Dreams is the two large theaters that present high-tech musical shows with Bollywood themes. 

DAY TWELVE - HEADING HOME AFTER YOUR INDIA ADVENTURE

On day twelve, it will be time to catch a flight back to the United States. There are direct daily flights from Delhi International Airport to New York and Chicago on Air India, American Airlines and United. These fifteen-hour flights cost between $1000 and $2000 per person for an economy fare and about $500 more for premium economy seats. Because of the time differential, these flights arrive only about eight hours after they depart which is a benefit of returning home. However, three of the flights leave in the middle of the night, one departs in the afternoon, and one leaves in the evening, so these unusual flight times need to be considered in your plans. As with the flight over, there are other international carriers such as Air France, Emirates, Qatar, and Turkish Airlines that fly to multiple destinations in the United States after making a connection of a few hours or more in their national hub location.

Notice: The information provided in this Dream Itinerary is true and accurate to the best actual knowledge of The Traveling American. However, my family's experience with any hotel, attraction, airlines, or company mentioned here may not reflect the experience of other travelers using these services. Travelers should rely on their own judgment and information in retaining any company mentioned on the website and in developing their itinerary.