INDIA

From vibrant Delhi to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, to the ‘Manchester of India,’ Ahmedabad, India waits to share her treasures and her secrets with you. When the dream of India travel calls to you, come with Millennium Tours on an unforgettable adventure. The Costume Society of America and Millennium Tours has artfully blended India’s fascinating history, breathtaking architecture, priceless artist treasures, textile museums, varied cultures, and beloved traditions in an unforgettable way. Traveling to India is the experience of a lifetime!

Today our trip begins at a New York airport where we will meet our group. We board our flight for New Delhi, India. BON VOYAGE!

This evening we arrive at Delhi airport. Our representative will meet us as we exit the arrival terminal building, after which we will be transferred to our first class, centrally located hotel.

Delhi, the capital of India, is a fascinating city with complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where the past co-exists with the present. Delhi is a bustling metropolis that successfully combines in its folds the ancient with the modern. Its strategic location was the prime reason why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. In fact, more mythological cities are believed to be here, such as the city of Indraprastha from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, which was founded around 5000 B.C. Numerous monuments were built over several centuries by different rulers. In the first half of the 20th century, much of New Delhi was planned by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who laid out a grandiose central administrative area as a testament to British rule in India.

This morning we will enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, the 17th century walled city of royal Shah Jahanabad. First, we visit Raj Ghat, the site of Gandhi’s cremation and a memorial to this humble man who changed the world. Then we will visit the historic Red Fort, built in the year 1648 by Shah Jehan, and the nearby Jama Masjid. The stunning Jama Masjid mosque is the largest in India and is the final architectural magnum opus of Shah Jahan. Construction of the mosque began in 1644, but it was not completed until 1658. It has three gateways, four angle towers, and two minarets standing 40m high, and it is constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. The main entry point is Gate No 3. The mosque's courtyard can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people. Later, we walk down or take a rickshaw ride through Chandi Chowk, the old marketplace of Shah Jahanabad, which is now a picturesque bazaar.

In the afternoon, we visit Gurudwara Shish Ganj, which is built on the land where the Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, was martyred by the Mughals in 1675 A.D. We then see the Tower of Victory and drive past India Gate, a memorial built in 1931 to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in World War I

This morning we will visit the delightful tree-shaded Crafts Museum near Pragati Maidan. This museum is exhibit-packed, with craft stalls where artisans sell directly to buyers. It is part of an enjoyable 'village life' complex and is certainly a soothing escape from the madness of the city. Peruse the well-presented galleries that house over 20,000 exhibits from around India, including metal ware, woodwork, old silver jewelry, tribal masks, paintings, and terracotta figurines. There is also a huge, 18th-century wooden jharokha (elaborate balcony) from Gujarat. The on-site shop sells quality crafts. We will have time to shop local retail stores such as FabIndia and local designers such as Rita Kumar. We will also visit State Emporia at Baba Karak.

This morning we drive to Agra, beautifully situated on the banks of River Yamuna and home of the magnificent Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal achieved prominence as the capital of the Mughal Emperors in the years 1526 to 1628. It remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era monuments. En route, visit Sikandara, Akbar's tomb. Upon arrival in Agra, we will check in at our hotel.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Agra, which will include a visit to the 16th century Agra Fort and the magnificent monument to Eternal Poetry of Love, the Taj Mahal— one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his queen, it is one of the world's most magnificent monuments to conjugal love. A colossal, perfectly proportioned mass of marble, the Taj Mahal is literally a jewel, fashioned over 17 years by 20,000 craftsmen and laborers. It seems to float, like a fantastic mirage, upon the banks of the River Yamuna. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery, and leather shoes.

This morning we drive to Jaipur, and enroute we stop at Fatehpur Sikri (Ghost Capital), the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign. It was abandoned in 1585 due to lack of water. We will visit Emperor Akbar’s residential complex, Mosque, and the Tomb of Salim Christi.

We continue our journey to Jaipur, popularly known as the ‘Pink City,” the flamboyant and colorful capital of Rajasthan. Approaching Jaipur, we drive past stretches of golden sand and low, rocky hills dotted with tiny fortresses. Even the occasional camel-drawn carts can share the roads! The camels’ riders wear the colorful turbans and fierce mustaches of the fabled Rajput clans.

The fortifications surrounding Jaipur give it a medieval atmosphere. The delicate honey-comb design of the ‘Palace of Winds' glows in the light of the setting sun. Quaint bazaars thrive around this edifice. High above the city, the towers and domes of the Amber Palace are reminiscent of scenes from a fairy tale. Indeed, Jaipur embodies all that you may have heard about the pomp and pageantry of India, its Maharajahs and their fabulous palaces, and the marvelously colorful drama of life on its bustling streets.

With its rich and colorful past and resplendent with tales of valor and bravery, Jaipur is now one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city was founded in the year 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. It remains the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through nine rectangular sectors. Upon arrival, we check in at our hotel. Tonight, we will enjoy a Gala New Year’s dinner at our hotel.

Happy New Year! A highlight of our India tour, today's sightseeing includes the many gems of Jaipur. First, we visit the massive gateways and pillared pavilions of Amber Fort; the palace complex was commenced under the reign of Raja Man Singh. Enjoy a unique experience of riding a caparisoned elephant from the foothills of the ramparts of the ancient fort.

Later we visit the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture; Jantar Mantar (Solar Observatory)—an astronomical treasure house with solar devices that give accurate predictions; Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)—a five-storied structure of pink sandstone; and Maharajah's observatory, originally built in the city's early years.

We then visit Anoki textile museum. A beautiful museum dedicated to the traditional art of hand block printing textiles, this museum is housed in a recently restored heritage haveli tucked into the back streets of old Amber. We will also visit the city Bazaar—a brilliant, colorful explosion of flowers, elephants, ox carts, and wares! The traveler will smell the deep aroma of spices in canvas bags; the sweet waft of tea; and the crusty, acrid burn of dust and exhaust.

This morning we will be transferred by our deluxe motor coach to Jaipur airport, where we board our Jet Airways flight to Ahmedabad. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our first class hotel.

Ahmedabad, the largest city and former capital of Gujarat, nurtures a striking blend of the glorious past and a vibrant present. Named after a Sultan who founded it in 1411, the city is associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, whose simple ashram on the banks of river Sabarmati is now a site of national pilgrimage. Ahmedabad is a great textile and commercial center and is known as the ‘Manchester of India.’ Today the city is the second largest prosperous city in Western India and a place where tradition and modernity coexist in perfect harmony.

In the afternoon, we visit the Calico Museum in Ahmedabad with our local guide. The Calico Museum of Textiles, widely regarded as one of the finest textile museums in the world, was constructed in 1949. The Museum houses no less than five centuries of the finest fabrics spun, woven, printed, and painted in different parts of India as well as antique tapestries, wall hangings, costumes, and antique looms. It also has a collection of marble, sandstone, and bronze icons as well as busts split into two thematic sections, for religious and historical textiles. We will also visit artisan shops for tie-dye/babddhini and mirror-work. We will head to Paldi to see unique embroidery.

Today we will visit the Fashion Design Institute. For a country like India, which has absorbed a Western influence, ethnicity has been fused with Western, and a completely new dimension of fashion designing has emerged. In fashion designing, the color combos, weaving, and fabric are the most crucial elements, with the entire look and feel dependent upon these three aspects. Then it is up to the professionals to render the cut, design, accessories, trimming etc., to give the full and final flavor of the outfit.

This morning, we will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport for our flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival at Mumbai airport, we will be transferred to our motor coach for a Mumbai sightseeing tour. Among other sights, we will visit ‘The Gateway of India,’ Mumbai’s foremost landmark, which overlooks the harbor. This structure was conceived following the visit of King George V in 1911, and it officially opened in 1924. A drive up to the Malabar Hill, to the hanging gardens, gives a panoramic view of the city and the ‘Queen’s Necklace,’ a road called Marine Drive.

During our tour we will also visit the Taj Hotel, the Dabbawallas, Dobhi Ghat, and the famous Crawford Market. With an aura of Victorian London, Crawford Market owes its name to Arthur Crawford, Bombay's first Municipal Commissioner. The market exhibits mountains of fruit and fresh vegetables that are sold here at wholesale rates. Built in 1871, Crawford Market is also known as Jyotiba Phule Market is and more than just a wholesale market dealing with food items. You can marvel at the grand architecture of this covered market and its striking colonial imprint. The market is nestled between the British fort and the local town.

Today we will visit and shop at the InOrbit Mall, one of Asia's biggest malls. Committed to setting benchmarks in the Indian retail industry, its success is attributed to their unique positioning as a true one-stop lifestyle destination. In its core lies the understanding that shopping is a multifaceted experience. Here you will find all kinds of shopping, including stylish garments, accessories, cosmetics, appliances, and furniture.

This morning we will be transferred to Mumbai International airport for our flight home. We arrive this afternoon from our memorable trip of India.

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