IPL 2023 - Hosted Tour

Overnight flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai.

Should you wish to upgrade your flights or depart from a regional airport please speak to the Black Opal Team who will be able to discuss options with you

On arrival in Mumbai, you will be met as you disembark and assisted through immigration and baggage reclaim and onwards to your private transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: The Taj Mahal Palace

This morning we will visit the Gateway to India and from here explore the historic Kala Ghoda, the heart of the Fort Mumbai area.  A feast of architecture ranging from Gothic to art deco, the area is a lively area to explore on foot, Street vendors, cafes, galleries, local cricket matches and food stalls all find place to exist in this area.  The tour will end at the soaring Victoria Station, a landmark of the area.  A UNESCO world heritage site, it is a busy station for both local commuter and national rail services.

You will visit Mani Bhavan, the museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.  Housed in a private residence where he stayed during his visits to Mumbai, the collection includes some of his personal items photographs, and follows the key events in his life. You will also visit the Synagogue.

This evening we will attend the Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals match.

Accommodation: The Taj Mahal Palace

Late morning we will head out in time for lunch at a favourite local restaurant followed by a visit to the Cricket Club of India for a look around and a drink. Following this we will visit some of our favourite spots in the city including Leopolds Café, a stop by Chowpatty Beach just before sunset for excellent people watching and end the afternoon with refreshments at The Dome.

Accommodation: The Taj Mahal Palace

This morning you have the option to see a very unusual side of the city.  Whilst Mumbai is a busy bustling city during the day, the early mornings reveal a completely and less frenetic face of the city. You start the tour at sunrise stopping at the Victoria Terminus station where the cities newspapers is assembled every morning for delivery to the city and suburbs;  milk vendors cycling with their huge canisters of milks and bread being transported from the bakeries to retail outlets through the city.   You continue to the Sassoon Docks, arriving just as the Kohli fisher folk are pulling in with their catch.  These are the original inhabitants of these islands, and as you watch as they unload their catch and you will see local fish including the curiously named Bombay Duck.

From here you continue to the colourful and aromatic wholesale flower market before ending at the Crawford Market, arriving as the fruit and vegetables arrive.  It is believed that 3000 tones of produce are traded here every day.

Return to your hotel for breakfast and enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure.

Later we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Chandigarh departing late afternoon.

On arrival in Chandigarh we will transfer to our hotel.

Accommodation: The Taj Chandigarh

This morning will enjoy a city tour of Chandigarh accompanied by a local guide.

Chandigarh a union territory is the capital city of Punjab and Haryana, unlike most of the other places, the city is famous for the modern architectures and the exotic landscape, rather than the ancient historical monuments. Be it the magnificent Capitol Complex or the unique Rock Garden, the tourist attractions of Chandigarh are quite unusual in their very nature. Your visit will include Rock Garden, an embodiment of imagination and novelty, only one of its kinds; the garden is put up with the urban and industrial wastes. It displays various sculptures made up of broken ken glass bangles, china ware, discarded fluorescent tubes, clay and coal. Walls of terracotta pots and the maze of paths, canyons and chambers proffer the glance of a dream world. You will visit Rose Garden & Sukhna Lake. You will also visit Le Corbusier buildings and the local markets.

Return to the hotel for a late lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

This evening attend the Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians match.

Accommodation: The Taj Chandigarh

This morning we will transfer to the airport for our mid-morning flight to Jaipur

On arrival in Jaipur, we will transfer to our hotel.

In the late afternoon visit the sprawling City Palace, home of the royal family and known for its clutch of excellent private museums that display royal memorabilia, particularly armaments, art, books, costumes and textiles. We recommend a visit to the Albert Hall that houses the central museums superb collection of fine art and traditional crafts from across Rajasthan.

Afterwards continue to the Old City to explore on foot and by rickshaw.

You can choose to either return to hotel for dinner or we can suggest dining options in the the city.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Rajvilas

Early this morning we will enjoy a dawn walk in the colourful flower and vegetable markets just as they are starting their early morning trade; a fantastic opportunity for taking photographs. End the exploration by visiting a temple where we will arrange a short ‘Puja Ceremony’ where the temple priest will perform worship for you and give you blessings.

Enroute to Amber Fort we will enjoy a traditional Indian breakfast before arriving at the Fort just as it is opening to the public.

Amber Fort - Amber, the ancient capital of the region, still recalls its heydays in the majestic ramparts rising steeply along the contoured hillsides. Here, elephant still carry visitors in stately splendour to the Main Palace, through unusually high gateways, obviously designed to accommodate this archaic mode of transport. It is an extremely well preserved building and very delightful to explore. Visit the Jagmandir or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors.

There will be an opportunity for some shopping before returning to the hotel in time for lunch.

This evening we will attend the Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans match.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Rajvilas

Today you will be continue on by road to Delhi, the drive will take approximately 4.5 hours.

This afternoon enjoy an optional tour of New Delhi to see the highlights from the vehicle.

This evening we will attend the Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match.

Accommodation: The Imperial, New Delhi

Today we bid farewell to our guests returning to the UK.

Alternatively you can choose to extend your stay with our 4-night extension to include an extra night in Delhi and a visit to Agra.

This morning explore New Delhi. Your tour will start at Humuyun’s Tomb and will include also a visit to the Sikh Temple, Bangala Sahib and in addition through of New Delhi which stands in formal splendour. It is a city of wide boulevards that offers ever-changing perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is also a city known for its formal parks, magnificent Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India in the 330 acres of land and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens) and India Gate.

Accommodation: The Imperial, New Delhi

In the morning, after breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and will take for the sightseeing tour of Old Delhi.

Pulsing with energy and colour, Old Delhi is laced by a maze of narrow lanes, which twist and turn between the tall, leaning buildings. You will witness the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars where you will experience the full sights, sounds and aromas indicative of the Indian sub-continent and Red Fort (from outside). In Old Delhi you will visit walk through the shops and bazaars, visit Jama Masjid with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes and Chandni Chowk.

We will then return to the hotel to freshen up before driving onwards to Agra which will take approximately 4 hours.

This evening we will enjoy a visit to Mehtab Bagh which are the Moonlit Gardens located opposite the Taj Mahal to view the monument at sunset.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Amarvilas

This morning visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. The Taj Mahal is at its best at sunrise and sunset - just when the light, playing on the marble of the tomb and the reflections in the stillness of the waters, presents this incredible building in all its beauty, majesty and splendor. It is a monument of love built by Shah Jehan in 1630 for his Queen, Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. For twenty two years 20,000 men labored day and night to build this masterpiece, which has held the world awe struck ever since. The Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world.

Return to the hotel for breakfast and the rest of the day at leisure. In the late afternoon you will visit Agra Fort: The Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son in Agra's magnificent Fort. Here you will see the art and crafting of the white marble that has made the area so famous, the Pearl Mosque and the Halls of Public and Private Audience. After visiting Agra Fort you will visit the Tomb of Itimad ud Daulah. Before the Taj Mahal was built, its design was already standing in the form of Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, hence it is affectionately known as the 'Baby Taj'. Built to represent a silver jewel box in marble, this mausoleum houses the body of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the father of the Mughal Empress Noor Jahan.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Amarvilas

Later this afternoon we will return by road to Delhi airport to stay at the nearby Oberoi Gurgaon, conveniently located to the airport for our morning departure tomorrow.

This morning you will be transferred to Delhi Airport in time for your return flight to the UK.