Beautiful buildings in India

The Colors of India

March 4–12, 2028

Pricing: $10,950 per person; For a single room add $3,175

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For more information, contact ATA at 855-395-6100 or CHQtravels@academic-travel.com

Overview




Join Chautauqua Travels and Chautauqua Institution’s Senior Director for Community and Belonging, Amit Taneja, on a colorful 9-day journey through northern India and experience a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and scents unlike anywhere else in the world. Begin in the bustling metropolis of Delhi, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly into everyday modern life, with visits to classic landmarks such as the Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, India Gate, and Lotus Temple. Travel to Agra and witness the timeless alure of the Taj Mahal, then continue to Jaipur, known for its historic and palatial cotton-candy-colored buildings that dot the skyline. Dig deeper into the complexities of India and see the Golden Triangle in a new light as you meet with skilled artists and performers, take a hands-on cooking class, and participate in a unique community service experience at one of the largest food pantries in the world. Your travels in India culminate as Jaipur comes alive with a celebration of Holi, an annual Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring with the playful throwing of vibrantly colored powders and water. Prepare for an elevated luxury experience with stays at unique, historic hotels for a once in a lifetime trip!

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover the busy streets of Delhi and see how the city perfectly fuses Old and New, from Humayun’s Tomb and ancient spice markets to the Eternal Gandhi Museum the Lotus Temple, a symbol of excellence in modern Indian architecture.
  • Partake in a unique community service experience by helping prepare food at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a temple that offers free meals to tens of thousands of people each day.
  • Travel to Agra and visit the iconic Taj Mahal.
  • In the “Pink City” of Jaipur, explore Rajput art and architecture with visits to the honeycombed Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, and traditional Blue Pottery ceramicists.  
  • Experience the festival of Holi, a major Hindu holiday celebrated with colorful powders, playful water fights, and traditional music and dance to mark the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil.

Trip Expert: Amit Taneja 

Amit Taneja currently serves as the Senior Director of Community & Belonging and Senior Gift Officer at Chautauqua Institution. He provides leadership on a number of institutional priorities to make Chautauqua more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible, including the creation of the IDEA strategic plan, hiring, training, policy issues and practice updates. Amit previously served as the associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion at the College of the Holy Cross and as the chief diversity officer at Hamilton College. He is a first-generation college student and completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of British Columbia, and a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University. He is ABD (all but dissertation) status in the Higher Education doctoral program at Syracuse University. He has previously worked professionally in academic affairs, residence life, disability services, multicultural affairs and LGBTQ resources. He serves as a consultant and speaker on a range of leadership, diversity and inclusion topics. Amit enjoys gardening, flying kites, and making bow ties, and he is a techno DJ with his own podcast.

Amit Taneja in a dark gray suit with a red bow tie and glasses

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 1

Arrival in India

Arrive in Delhi on individual flights, likely landing in the evening, and transfer independently to your hotel in Delhi. The rest of the evening will be yours to rest and adjust to the time change (9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of New York).

Accommodations: The Imperial New Delhi

Day 2

Welcome to New Delhi

Begin your day with an introductory coach tour through the tree-lined streets of New Delhi, a city designed and constructed by the British in the 1920s. Pause to hear the history of important monuments like India Gate and Parliament House. Visit the Eternal Gandhi Museum on a guided tour and learn about the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, the civil rights leader who used nonviolent resistance to campaign for India’s independence from British rule. Engage in community service by chopping vegetables, rolling flatbread dough, or passing out plates to diners at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a Sikh temple that serves tens of thousands of free meals every day thanks to the generosity of a massive volunteer team. Afterwards, marvel at the architecture of Lotus Temple, a Baha’i House of Worship inspired by the lotus flower and composed of 27 free-standing marble “petals” arranged to form a nine-sided structure. In the evening, gather as a group for a Welcome Dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: The Imperial New Delhi

 

Day 3

Delights of Old Delhi

This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Old Delhi, traversing the bustling streets of this historic city. Visit vibrant markets like Kinari Bazaar and Old Delhi Spice Market, discover the intricate architecture and frescoes of havelis, or large manor houses, and breathe in the tantalizing aromatics of one of the world’s largest spice markets. Travel through the labyrinthine medieval streets of Old Delhi on foot or in a cycle rickshaw, one of the most quintessential modes of transportation in India. Visit Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques that serves as the traditional gathering site for the city’s Muslims during Friday communal prayer. Explore Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that set the precedent for Mughal architecture and acted as the direct inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure in Delhi.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: The Imperial New Delhi

Day 4

Onward to Agra

Depart Delhi and travel via private coach through the plains of Uttar Pradesh to Agra. Pause on the way for lunch at leisure; the drive to Agra will take approximately four hours. After checking in to your hotel, catch a glimpse of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, a sprawling garden complex on the banks of the Yamuna River that perfectly aligns with the famous mausoleum on the opposite side. Dine as a group at a local restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Oberoi Amarvilas

Day 5

Crown of the Palace

No trip to India is complete without a visit to the Taj Majal. On a guided tour of the iconic monument, observe the perfect architectural symmetry, the exquisite marble latticework, and pristine tree-line gardens that work in such harmony the temple is considered one of the modern-day Seven Wonders of the World. Discover the old city of Agra during lunch and a walking tour, and learn about the city’s history, architecture, and unique traditions as you visit temples, 200-year-old shops, and the vibrant scents of the spice market. The rest of the day will be yours to enjoy in Agra.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Oberoi Amarvilas

Day 6

This Pink City 

Check out of your hotel and depart for Jaipur, known as the “Pink City” due to the many pink sandstone monuments that dot the skyline. Travel to Jaipur via private coach will take approximately four hours. En route, visit a textile workshop and observe skilled artisans who use traditional weaving and block printing methods to create exquisite Indian handicrafts. Check in to the Raj Palace in Jaipur, a former 18th-century palace that has been restored into an opulent hotel. Gather for dinner as a group and end your evening with a Rajasthani folk dance performance, a vibrant expression of desert culture characterized by colorful costumes, energetic movements, complex musical traditions.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: The Raj Palace

Day 7

Architectural Wonders

Delve into the world of Rajput art and architecture, a style that blends indigenous Indian forms with Islamic and Persian influences. Pause for a view of Hawa Mahal, known for its 5-story pink honeycomb exterior with hundreds of small windows that allowed royal ladies to observe everyday life on the street below without being seen. Enjoy a guided tour of Amber Fort, an extensive palace complex constructed in 1592, then learn the secret to rolling the perfect roti during a cooking class and lunch with a local home cook. In the afternoon, visit with Blue Pottery makers, a traditional ceramic technique developed in Jaipur in the 19th century that uses quartz stone, glass, and a unique low-fired glaze. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure in Jaipur.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: The Raj Palace

Day 8

A Festival of Colors

Celebrate Holi, one of India’s most joyful and visually striking holidays that marks the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil. This morning, take part in a private celebration designed exclusively for the group. Don a traditional kurta-pajama and join in the playful tossing of vibrantly colored powders and water as music and laughter fill the air and watch as everyone becomes a living canvas of colors. Savor festive Indian snacks and sip on thandai, a refreshing local beverage, before enjoying a celebratory lunch. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure then raise a toast to tour travels during a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: The Raj Palace

Day 9

Departure 

Check out of your hotel and transfer via private coach to Delhi for individual flights home. The drive to Delhi will take approximately 5 hours, with a stop along the way for lunch.

Included Meal: Breakfast

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in each itinerary
  • Expertise of an expert, ATA-hired travel director, and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted
  • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing on tour
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

The Imperial New Delhi – Delhi, India
Opened in 1936 and designed to highlight a mix of Art Deco, Victorian, and colonial architectural styles, this elegant and historic hotel has long been a favorite of dignitaries, business tycoons, and Hollywood stars. In 1947, Jawaharlal Nehu, Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and Lord Mountbatten met in the Imperial’s Patiala Peg cocktail bar to discuss the Partition of India and the birth of Pakistan. Today, comfortable rooms feature flat-screen televisions, tea and coffeemaking equipment, and luxury toiletry products. Three onsite restaurants offer a world of cuisines including classic Indian, hearty Italian, and modern pan-Asian at the highly rated The Spice Route, while after dinner drinks are best enjoyed in the cozy Hardinge Bar or the aforementioned Patiala Pig. 3 nights

The Oberoi Amarvilas | Agra, India
Drawing inspiration from traditional Mughal palace architecture, the Oberoi Amarvilas features terraced lawns, reflection pools, fountains, elegant pavilions, and unparalleled views of the Taj Mahal at every turn. Ornate rooms are outfitted with handcrafted furnishings, Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, tea and coffeemaking facilities, and a pillow menu to suit every personal preference. Two elegant restaurants offer a diverse culinary experience, while the large windows of the lounge bar allow guests to watch the play of light and shadows on the Taj Mahal. A spa, fitness center, and temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool are also available. 2 nights

The Raj Palace | Jaipur, India
Once the residence of Jaipur royalty, the Raj Palace blends 18th-century grandeur with modern luxury in the heart of the Pink City. Lavishly restored, the palace showcases ornate architecture, antique furnishings, gilded interiors, and expansive courtyards that reflect Rajasthan’s regal heritage. Elegant guest rooms feature traditional décor alongside contemporary comforts, including Wi-fi, televisions, and luxury bath amenities. Dining options range from refined Indian cuisine to international specialties served in opulent settings, while the hotel’s spa, outdoor pool, and tranquil gardens provide space to relax after a day spent exploring in Jaipur. 3 nights