THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
The renowned “Golden Triangle” of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur highlights some of the great delights and most memorable sights of Mughal and Rajput India.

MALE & THE MALDIVES
As well as being rightly famous for its tropical islands, the Maldives has one of the world’s most charming – and smallest – capital cities, Male. As you stroll through its local market and narrow lanes, you will appreciate the unique flavour of life in Male. No visit to this atoll nation would be complete, however, without the desert-island paradise experience and so your trip also includes a cruise through the remote islands for a leisure afternoon and a beach party on uninhabited Kuda Bandos.

MARMAGAO, INDIA
Today, Goa is chiefly known for its magnificent beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It is, however, one of the most architecturally beautiful and historically interesting places in India. Old Goa was founded by the Portuguese and is enclosed by a fortified wall. It is home to magnificent churches dating back to the mid-16th century. As well as visiting the historic villas of the Portuguese era and the Basilica of Bom Jesus to see the tomb of St Francis Xavier, you will also experience Goa’s other attractions: the wonderful tropical scenery and fragrant flower market.

COCHIN, INDIA
With an overnight stay there’s plenty of time to explore Cochin, its sleepy “backwaters”, native village life and enjoy a Kathakali dance performance on board. Situated in the State of Kerala, Cochin has a remarkable history: here you will see the oldest church in India, 500- year-old Portuguese houses, a long established Jewish community and 16th-century synagogue and a palace from the days of the Raj. Also, it is here in 1524 that the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died and his body was entombed in the chapel of Santo Antonio until it was removed to Portugal in 1538.

MUMBAI, INDIA
Fly from Delhi and join our ship, Aegean Odyssey, in Mumbai. Trade has always been at the heart of this amazing city and today it is at the centre of India’s remarkable economic renaissance. It was made the headquarters of the British East India Company in 1687 but it was the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that transformed the city – then known as Bombay – into one of the world’s great trading centres. New York may be known as the city that never sleeps but Mumbai never even stops to take a breath: this truly is a vibrant and dynamic place. Your tour will visit all the main sights of Mumbai including Mani Bhavan, a museum that was once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, the Victorian architectural monuments of the British Empire, the Prince of Wales Museum and the Gateway of India.

AGRA & THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
There are a number of places that should be on every traveller’s “must see” list; the Grand Canal in Venice, Rome’s St Peters and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt spring to mind. A visit to Agra, however, most definitely warrants inclusion. In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lod moved his capital from Delhi to Agra but it was under the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 that the city achieved fame and glory. Since Agra (known then as Akbarabad) was one of the most important cities in India under the Mughals, it witnessed a great deal of ambitious and splendid building activity. Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the Yamuna river and his grandson Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort. Shah Jahan, known for his keen interest in architecture, gave Agra its most prized monument, the Taj Mahal.

JAIPUR & FATEHPUR SIKHRI
Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, Jaipur is a city of magnificent palaces built from rose coloured stone. You will visit the opulent Maharaja’s City Palace, one of the grandest of these royal buildings and also see the splendid Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Another highlight is the Amber Fort with its lavish interiors and panoramic views of Jaipur. Fatehpur Sikhri served as the Mughal Empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though the court took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years because the water supply was unable to sustain the growing population. Today, the complex of buildings, including the royal palaces and courts is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DELHI INDIA
In 1639, the Mughal emperor Shahjahan built a new, walled city in Delhi that served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. After the British East India Company had gained control of much of India during the 18th and 19th centuries, Calcutta became the capital both under Company rule and under the British Raj, until George V announced in 1911 that it was to move back to Delhi. A new capital city, New Delhi, was built to the south of the old city during the 1920s. Your visit will include a tour of the Old City and the immense Jama Masjid (Great Mosque). You will see the famous Red Fort and Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Also, British-built New Delhi offers a fascinating contrast: here, the dusty alleys are replaced by broad, arrow-straight boulevards and the monuments of Empire. Walking the imperial mall, Rajpath, to the mighty arch of India Gate, designed by Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s, is another highlight of New Dehli.

COLOMBO & KANDY, SRI LANKA
A jewel of an island, Sri Lanka offers a unique combination of scenery, culture and history. Although Colombo is a thriving modern city, it has not lost its Old World charm, spiritual heart and historical interest. This contrast will become apparent as you see the colourful Pettah Bazaar and visit the Asokaramaya Buddhist temple. Here you will see the incredible murals: the details and colours are exquisite and the Asokaramaya is truly a worthy destination to explore. Also included is a full day’s excursion through Sri Lanka’s stunning hill country to the picturesque, naturally fortified town of Kandy. Here you will visit the Temple of the Tooth containing the famous dental relic of the Buddha, the lush Botanic Gardens and the National Museum.