Thursday, April 10
 Upon disembarking from the Crystal Serenity, you will be
whisked to the airport for the two-hour charter flight to
Agra, where you will stay at the Mughal Sheraton, a
luxurious hotel on 30 acres of beautifully landscaped
gardens, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The City of Agra and Agra Fort
 In the 16th century, Babur, founder of the Mughal
dynasty, sent his son, Humayun, to capture Agra from
the Lodi Dynasty. In gratitude for their benevolent
treatment, the Lodis rewarded the Mughals with jewelry
and precious stones. Akbar the Great, Humayun’s son,
built the Agra Fort from 1565-1573 as his citadel.
Lunch and Free Afternoon
After a revitalizing lunch at the hotel, the afternoon is yours to enjoy.
The Taj Mahal
Described by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as a “tear on the face
of  eternity,” the Taj Mahal is the most well-preserved and architecturally
stunning mausoleum in the world. Built in 1631 by the fifth Mughal
emperor, Shah Jahan, as an enduring monument to his love for his wife,
Mumtaz Mahal, it took 20,000 workers and a
team of 1,000 elephants 22 years to complete.
At sunset, you will have an exclusive
opportunity to feast your eyes on the Taj
Mahal—when its splendor is at its most
breathtaking.
Grand Mughal Banquet
Tonight’s evening of royal splendor will transport you back to the golden
era of the Mughal Dynasty as you dine on a lavish buffet of Mughali
delicacies. |
Friday, April 11
Champagne Breakfast Overlooking the Taj Mahal
This morning you will enjoy a delectable champagne breakfast, a short
distance away from the Taj Mahal, where you can gaze in awestruck
wonder at its ethereal beauty as the light of the rising sun graces it.
Fatehpur Sikri
 En route to the pink city of Jaipur, you will visit
Fatehpur Sikri, “The City of Victory,” the site of
the deserted city of Emperor Akbar, whose
audience halls, palaces, and mosques are
preserved in a state of perfection. The vast
imperial capital with its 500 splendid buildings
was abandoned after only 14 years because its
water supply dried up.
 The Pink City of Jaipur
Nestled in the Aravali Hills, the pink city of Jaipur
is one of the jewels of India. Your headquarters
for the next two nights is the Rambagh Palace
Hotel. This exquisite palace-turned-luxury-hotel
has hosted guests such as Lord Mountbatten,
Prince Charles, and Jacqueline Kennedy. After
lunch, you have the afternoon free to enjoy the
hotel’s luxurious spa or wander through its lovely
gardens.
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 Birla Mandir Temple
In the early evening, you will visit the Birla Mandir
temple, dedicated to Vishnu, one of the Hindu trilogy
gods, and his consort Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and
good fortune.
 Indian Village Dinner
A colorfully adorned camel cart takes you to
a charming village setting where a mehndiwalli
will be on hand to apply intricate
designs on your palms with henna; a
palmist will read your fortune, and various
artisans will demonstrate their crafts. Langa
musicians from the Thar Desert, Kalbelia dancers from the heart of
Rajasthan, and a ghoomer from Rajasthan, will entertain you as you dine
under the stars.
Saturday, April 12
Amber Fort
No visit to Jaipur is complete without an
elephant ride up the hill and through the
imposing gates of the Amber Fort, set atop
the crest of a rugged hilltop overlooking
Lake Moata.
City Palace and the Observatory
After lunch, prepare to be mesmerized by a visit to the City Palace, a
dazzling showplace of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture.
Next to the city palace is Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory in
the world.
 Royal Banquet at Chandra Mahal
You will enjoy an evening fit for maharajahs
and maharanis with this lavish banquet at
Chandra Mahal, home of the current
Maharajah of Jaipur. Brilliantly colored saris for
the ladies and kurta pajamas for the gentlemen
will be available for you to dress up in royal
splendor. And should the Maharajah of Jaipur or any of the royal family
be in residence at this time, they may host this special evening.
Rajasthani folk dancers and musicians will entertain you as you dine, and
this magical evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display lighting
up the night sky.
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 Sunday, April 13
Elephant Polo Match
Jaipur is known as the home of elephant polo,
and this is your chance to watch this unique
royal sporting event. For the more
adventuresome, there will be an opportunity to
join a team and go for goals from an
elephant’s back!
After lunch at the hotel, you will fly
back to Mumbai, where you will relax
at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
Hotel until it’s time for the night
flight home.
India post-cruise tour includes internal flights,
hotel accommodations, meals, transfers,
porterage, and private tours. Limited
attendance; pre-registration required. $11,500
double; $6,625 single. Cancellation policy
provided upon booking.
or
call 800/530-0770 today to get the best cabin
selections available. |
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