Your India group tour starts today. You fly to Delhi, where you arrive at the end of the evening or the next morning (time depending on the airline you fly with). You have a transfer to your hotel which is located near a lively market area. You're definitely coming up short.

Free day in Delhi. You will begin the group tour of Rajasthan in India's chaotic capital , Delhi. The history of this city goes back at east three thousand years. Delhi consists of two parts, between which the contrast is enormous. New Delhi is spacious with long, wide, straight streets, pavilions and parks. It is a city that almost seems empty compared to the old part. Old Delhi is a colorful oriental anthill full of alleys, temples and mosques. Here you will find the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, the largest and most beautiful mosque in the country. Around both boroughs, Delhi spreads for miles in all directions.

Today's tour of North India continues to Nawalgarh in Shekhawati, a rural region in western Rajasthan known for its beautiful frescoed merchant houses and colorful population . Shekhawati was an independent state from 1471 until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Jaipur in 1738. The area was traditionally on the caravan route from the ports of Gujarat and Central India to Delhi. There was a lively trade in opium, cotton and spices. The wealthy merchants built beautiful buildings for themselves called ' havelis ' and had cisterns , temples and caravanserais built.

Day off. You can explore the villages and towns of the Shekhawati region on your own or join a tour organized by your tour leader. Now that Shekhawati is no longer on the trade route, the original owners of the havelis no longer live here, they have moved to Delhi or Mumbai. Many havelis have a 'guard', who lets tourists in for a small change, and who (with his family) lives in one of the rooms of such a building. Most of the havelis are covered with frescoes from between 1760 and 1920. Some are badly dilapidated, others are still in good condition or have been beautifully restored, but all without exception are well worth admiring.

In the morning you continue your India tour by bus to Jaipur. You sleep here for two nights. The ' Pink City ' is the capital of the colorful state of Rajasthan. On the north side, the city is surrounded by hills full of fortresses and palaces . One of the most beautiful palaces is the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. Despite the large population, Jaipur is a pleasant city, not least because of the small number of cars that enter the walled part. You can view the city at your leisure. On the streets, the Rajasthani men walk with their huge mustaches and turbans, and the jeweled women in India's most brightly colored saris.

You will travel to the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri (entrance fee not included). Emperor Akbar had his capital built here. Between 1571 and 1585 he held sway over almost all of northern India. The supply of sufficient water soon proved to be a problem and the city was abandoned. The red buildings still show what kind of wealth reigned here.

Free day in Varanasi. In a great meander on the banks of the Ganges lies India's holiest city and, according to many traditions, the oldest living city in the world: Varanasi . This is the city of the most powerful of the Hindu gods: Shiva/Viswanath. It has also been the most important theological city since time immemorial. The center of Varanasi is busy, like any major North Indian city. However, the number of buffaloes and sacred cows on the streets is even greater here than elsewhere. But when you walk behind the center through the narrow alleys to the stone steps (the 'ghats') you come to the soul of India, Mother Ganges. Thousands of people every day take a bath here to wash away their sins and the ashes of the dead are also spread over the holy river.

You still have a whole day to discover Varanasi. At the end of the day, take the overnight train back to Delhi . Again you sleep in reserved air-conditioned couchettes. The ride takes about 12 hours (of course this time is subject to change).

After arriving by train, you are free in Delhi for the rest of the day. If you haven't gotten to everything at the start of the tour, you now have a second chance. But you might prefer to shop for souvenirs at the city's many markets . In Delhi you have access to a day room,

so you can leave your things at the hotel and freshen up before you travel back home. In the evening you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the home country.