Darjeeling Express: India by Rail

Begin your day with a short ride on Delhi’s Metro Rail and explore the National Rail Museum, which has a fascinating collection of steam locomotives and carriages, including the former Viceregal Dining Car. Then explore the grand Mughal and Imperial monuments of Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Rise early and board the Ajmer Shatabdi Express to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, the pulsating capital of Rajasthan. Planned by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727, Jaipur is a vibrant city of spectacular forts, beautiful palaces, fine havelis (mansions) and colourful bazaars. In the afternoon, visit Jaipur’s City Palace and view the façade of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), a high screen wall with nearly 900 jharokhas (latticed windows). Proceed to the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and conclude your explorations with a guided heritage walk through the old town.

Set off this morning to explore the yellow-hued Amer Fort, which served as the medieval capital of the Kacchwaha Rajputs until the 18th century. One of Rajasthan’s finest hilltop forts, Amer is particularly noted for the stunning Sheesh Mahal pavilion (Palace of Mirrors). The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Rise early and board the InterCity Express to Agra – once the capital of the Mughal Empire. On arrival, check in at your hotel. Then, after time to rest and relax, enjoy a stroll through Mehtab Bagh, a classic Mughal Garden offering outstanding views of the Taj Mahal at sunset.

Rise early to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Built as a monument to eternal love and described by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of time”, this magnificent 17th-century mausoleum made of milk-white makrana marble was created by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz. The remainder of the morning is at leisure. Spend the afternoon visiting the imposing Agra Fort and the striking tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, popularly referred to as ‘Baby Taj’ and believed to be the first monument built entirely of marble.

Today, a full-day train journey along the Gangetic plains will bring you to sacred Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges and one of the oldest cities in the world. Varanasi throngs with pilgrims and offers visitors an unrivalled cultural experience and spectacle.

Rise early for an early morning private boat ride on the Ganges to observe life unfolding along the sacred river. Later this morning, visit Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. Also visit the magnificent Dhamek Stupa and the museum, which showcases a rich collection of Buddhist relics and antiquities dating back to the 3rd century BC. The afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, just before sunset, proceed to the ghats and witness a lively ‘Aarti’ (prayer) ceremony, where, on a stone platform overlooking the river, priests invoke the gods with flaming lamps, conch shells, and torches to the accompaniment of tablas, temple bells, and devotional chanting.

Fly east to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The capital of the British Indian Empire until 1911, Kolkata is now noted as the intellectual capital of India and has a wealth of striking colonial architecture. Later this afternoon, a cruise on the Hooghly River will enable you to observe life as it unfolds along the ghats and take in the glorious views of the city.

Start your tour of Kolkata with a short ride on Kolkata’s Metro Rail, and then visit the Heritage Rail Museum, where you will see several 19th-century steam locomotives. Then, set off to explore the 19th-century mansions of pioneering Bengali merchants of North Kolkata, which showcase influences from British and Islamic architectural styles. Explore the Marble Palace and the ancestral home of Tagore before returning to your hotel.

Discover historic Calcutta, now Kolkata, which was the capital of British India until 1911. Begin your explorations with a heritage walking tour that includes the Writer’s Building – originally the East India Company’s headquarters. Then, visit the splendid Victoria Memorial – often called the ‘Taj of the Raj’; the poignant Park Street Cemetery and St. John’s Church. In the afternoon, board the Shatabdi Express to New Jalpaiguri, an excellent gateway to the picturesque hill station of Darjeeling. On arrival, transfer to your hotel near Kurseong, set in the historic Makaibari Tea Estate.

Drive to Kurseong train station and board the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s steam locomotive for a scenic ride to Darjeeling. Chugging along at a sedate pace, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway opened in 1880 and is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Railway. On arrival in Darjeeling, transfer to your charming 19th-century boutique hotel.

Set off this morning for a guided walk along Mall Road, the hub of Darjeeling Town. Admire the colonial period buildings set amongst rhododendron trees, visit the beautiful 19th century St Andrews Church built in Gothic style and regarded as one of the oldest colonial monuments in Darjeeling, as well as the 19th-century planters club that was once the private residence of a local Maharaja and walk past the summer residence of the Governor of Bengal before stopping for a cup of tea and freshly baked cakes at Glenary’s one of the famous cafeterias on the Mall. Then, enjoy another short scenic ride, this time on the Toy Train to the sacred Ghoom Monastery before proceeding to the Glenburn Tea Estate, a working tea estate established by 19th-century Scottish Tea Planters and your base for the next 2 nights.

Accompanied by the resident planter, enjoy a guided tour of the tea gardens and learn how the tea bush is grown and the different types of pruning. Observe the tea pickers at work and discover the importance of two leaves and a bud. Then, continue to the nearby tea factory for a firsthand experience, where you will observe the various processes involved and the journey of tea from leaf to cup. Enjoy a tea-tasting session and learn about the different flavours in vogue during different seasons. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Alternatively, explore the surrounding countryside independently.

Drive to Bagdogra and fly to Delhi. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the heart of New Delhi. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

A Corinthian Travel representative will transfer you to Delhi International Airport to check in for your onward flight.