The history of Wine-making in India dates back several hundred years. The Mughal kings were as devoted to fine wines as they were to grand architecture, and the British made wine fashionable.

This tour introduces you to not just the Golden Triangle of India, but it presents some exclusive locations to check out an assortment of the best of Indian Wines which are now finding an international audience.

We welcome you on this truly magical experience and take this opportunity to offer this heady combination of rich art, architecture, culture and the Indian wines.

Arrival at Delhi. You will be met at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Innovative Destinations representative who will accompany you to your hotel where accommodation will be booked on immediate occupancy basis.

Besides assisting you to check in at the hotel our representative will also hand over your travel documents and discuss your travel itinerary. Please feel free to discuss your arrangements and ask for any further information pertaining to your trip.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Begin your experience of Delhi with a trip through the Nostalgia lane - the Old City Tour. Among the places visited are the Red fort, the Jama Masjid & The Raj Ghat. A ride on a cycle rickshaw through the crowded lanes and by lanes of Chandni Chowk to relive the glorious days by gone is strongly recommended.Lunch at a city hotel / restaurant before resuming the tour towards the New Delhi area. ( various options are available depending on the menu choices and the time available at hand.)

Moving towards the New Delhi area begin the tour with a drive past the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan - The President's Palace which is located atop the Raisena Hills, The North and South Blocks and the Parliament House of India which symbolizes the World's largest democracy.

Drive along the majestic Rajpath an imposing Avenue connecting the Rashtrapati Bhawan with the India Gate (photo stop) before continuing the drive to visit the Humayun's Tomb - a precursor to the world famous Taj Mahal . Last monument on your itinerary for the day is the majestic Qutab Minar.

Return to the hotel for a short rest. In the evening attend a meeting with the members of the Indian Wine Club for a special tasting session of an assortment of Indian wines.

Among the recommended restaurants (outside hotels) the Diva in Greater Kailash II and the Olive (Near Qutab Minar) are a connoisseur's delight. At any given moment they stock close to 100 wines in their list with recommendations by a sommelier chef regarding the most appropriate wines with each main course.

India's wine market is estimated at five million bottles a year and is growing at 25-30 per cent annually. Exports currently make up about 10-15 per cent of total output.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Later drive to Agra. Being part of the Golden quadrilateral project the highway has been modernized and offers a comfortable experience. Along the route are cities of Mathura and Vrindavan - the birth place of Krishna. A little short of the city limits of Agra is Sikandara - the tomb of Akbar the Great which he himself started constructing but was completed in 1613 during the reign of Jehangir who made some modifications to its original design and added the top terrace with marble cloisters containing a false grave of the emperor.

Upon arrival at Agra check in at the hotel on arrival.

After a leisurely lunch visit the TAJ MAHAL - One of the seven wonders of the world, built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan. This beautiful mausoleum is built of pure white marble in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal and took over 22 years of continuous labour almost 20000 laborers.

Beneath the dome are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jehan. Reaching a height of almost 75 metres, the Taj Mahal with its luminous exterior is a monuments of many moods with light effects playing different roles with the gradual passage of the day.

Return to the hotel for dinner. The food in Agra is like its monuments, it bears the impressions of the mughal kings who had a great appetite for food besides arts and literature. The great connoisseurs of Agra had a liking towards flesh. The meat dishes served all over Agra were once the specialty of royal food. The baked meat, bread and chicken are the best in the menu. Kababs which are made by baking meat in an earthen oven called tandoor is one of the most delicious things offered in Agra. Tandoori Chicken and Tandoori Fish are other specialities. The recipes watering recipes prepared with milk sauces, curd, cream and crushed nuts are served by most of the restaurants in Agra.

Overnight in the hotel.
I mportant : TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS.

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Morning tour of the Agra Fort (Fort and Palace) - situated on the West Bank of river Yamuna the Red Fort was built by Emperor Akbar over the years 1565 - 1573 though most of the buildings originally built by him inside were destroyed and were replaced by his grandson Shah Jehan. The only surviving structure from his period apart from the solid sand stone ramparts and the gateway is the Jehangir Mahal. Shah Jehan built the The Diwan-I-Khas where the famous Takht - E - Taus was kept. Among the other surviving buildings built by Shah Jehan include the Khas Mahal, The Jasmine Towers, the Octagonal Tower, the Sheesh Mahal, and the Hamam's.
Rest of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening watch sunset over the Taj Mahal from the airconditioned comfort of the Oberoi Amar while checking out the best of Indian Wines. Later move on to the Indian Restaurant for dinner. Overnight stay at Agra.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Later drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri the abandoned capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar for 12 years. The red-stone buildings of Fatehpur Sikri combine characteristics of Indian architecture along with that from Central Asia and Iran. However, within a short time the Mughals abandoned this city due to a severe shortage of water in the region.

Continue drive to the Pink City. On arrival at your hotel check in and overnight stay.
The capital of erstwhile Kachwaha Rajputs, Jaipur city was founded in 1727 AD. By the great King Maharaja Jai Singh who was not only a great statesman but also a keen astronomer and an architect. The city was laid out by his architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya.

In the evening dinner at the majestic Rajput Room at the Rambagh Palace combining the best of Rajasthani cuisine with some of the best wines from leading wineries in France as well as New World wines from around the world.

Overnight stay at Jaipur.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning drive to the Amber fort - located approximately 10 kms away from Jaipur. Amber was the capital of he Kachhwaha Rajput's until 1727 when the capital was shifted to Jaipur.

The Amber Fort has a beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh, and Sawai Jai Singh. Highlight of any visit to Amber is a ride atop gaily decorated elephants which have been ferrying visitors and guests to the main palace courtyard for centuries. The main Palace complex consists of the spectacular pillared Diwan-e-aam , the Ganesh Pole, the Sukh Niwas, the Jas Mandir etc.

Return to Jaipur city and after a lunch break resume the city tour with a photo stop at the Palace of Winds - also known as Hawa Mahal.

Next stop on the agenda is the City Palace and Museum - Spread over almost one - seventh area of the total walled city of Jaipur and the residence of the erstwhile Royal Family of Jaipur. Among the main points of interest in the complex are the Chandra Mahal, The Badal Mahal, Shri Gaovind Dev ji Temple, and the Museum.

Within the same complex is the Observatory or Jantar Mantar which is rated as the largest stone observatory in the world. Its splendid collection of sundials and various other instruments function flawlessly even today thereby indicating towards the availability of advanced knowledge of astronomy during those days.

Jaipur is also a major center of precious and semi precious stones, jewelry, cotton textiles and the typical Blue Pottery. It is possible to spend days after days browsing through the handicrafts and shopping delights in the colorful bazaars of the pink city.

reakfast at the hotel.

Morning is free to explore the colorful and bustling bazaars of Jaipur which offer everything from traditional silver to hand block printed cotton textiles, leather items, precious and semi precious stones and diamonds, gold and silver jewelry, woolen and silk carpets, miniature paintings and other specialties from each area.

A leisurely lunch at one of the city hotels before setting off for Samode. Upon arrival at Samode check in and rest.
The Samode Palace was converted to open as a heritage hotel in 1987 and is today considered to be one of the most charming small hotels in the country. It is built on a hillock in Rajput - Mughal style of architecture and the building rises in a progression of courtyards of increasing height.

Among the various dining options at Samode the Main Dining room offers a buffet or traditional thali meal, where as the central courtyard offers an a-la-carte menu. In addition light snacks are served at the Pool side and special candle lit dinners in complete privacy can be organized in one of the many terraces of the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is free to explore the small village on your own for a short walk. Return to the hotel and check out. Drive to Neemrana approximately 90 kms away.

Built around 1464 AD, Neemrana Fort-Palace is among India's oldest heritage resorts. It covers 25 acres /10 hectares and the stepped palaces of this architectural jewel cut into the hillside to sprawl over 3 acres / 1.2 hectares and rises to 10 levels commanding the most splendid views including a vista pool to the horizon. From 1986 onwards, the ruins of this Fort-Palace have been sensitively restored and reconstructed. The rooms are furnished with an eclectic mix of traditional Indian and colonial furniture, antiques and objets d'art. Samode is also fast emerging as a center for various art related activities including Dance and music concerts, workshops by some of the best known painters and artists as well as poetry and prose reading by some of the most famous writers in the country today. After Lunch drive to Delhi. The highway to Delhi is an important stretch along the new Golden Quadrilateral scheme. The entire stretch is a limited access toll highway and allows comfortable travel at comparatively high speeds. Upon arrival at Delhi check in at a hotel close to the International Airport for a short stay. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Later in the evening transfer to airport to board the flight for onward journey. The reporting time at the airport varies from 2 ½ to 3 hours before departure and our representative shall coordinate the exact departure time from your hotel.

Transfer to the IGI Airport to check in for your onward flight Back home. End of the tour.

Early morning transfer to the Jaipur airport to board flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival drive on to Nashik approximately 180 kms away.

Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Nashik has a climate which is not just perfect for wine grapes but is also on par with the winegrowing regions of Spain, California and Australia. Encouraged by the relaxations given by the Maharashtra government for wine making the industry has expanded rapidly within the last 2 decades.

In the evening a visit to some of the Vineyards of Nashik. Today almost 20 different wine makers have made Nashik their home and grow French Sauvignon Blanc and Californian Chenin Blanc, varieties that had never before been planted in India. Other varieties planted include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Zinfandel and Merlot.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day at Nashik visiting the Vineyards. Among the biggest is the Sula Vineyard which is spread over almost 400 acres under plantation. With almost 1 million litre winery it is among the biggest wine makers in the country today.

The day's schedule includes a visit to the Vineyards and a tasting session in a special tasting room overlooking the vineyards and the surrounding lakes and hills.

Optional visit to the Panchwati Ghat - the site of the Kumbh Mela and the Kala Ram Temple built in 1794.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive back to Mumbai. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.

From obscure, almost humble beginning as a set of seven small islands with tidal creeks, today Mumbai is India's most important commercial and industrial center. With over 17 million inhabitants it is India's largest city today. It is the home to people of all creeds and cultures

In the afternoon a short tour of Mumbai city, which is a rich blend of East and West. The tour includes the 26 meters high British-built Arch " Gateway of India", Mumbai's landmark built to honor the visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Drive past the Marine Drive which is dubbed as the Queen's Necklace & is Mumbai's most popular promenades and a favourite sunset watching spot. Also visit the Kamla Nehru Park which offers a picturesque view of the city , Hanging Gardens are so named since they are located on top of a series of tanks that supply water to Mumbai. Pass by the `Towers of silence' the crematorium of the Parsis. Also visit Mani Bhawan a private house where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay when he visited Mumbai. It is now a museum and research library with 20,000 volumes.

Farewell Dinner at a city restaurant before returning to the airport to connect your flight back home.

End of the services.