Beautiful buildings in India

The Colors of India (Sold Out)

September 25–October 3, 2025 

Pricing: $8,695 per person; For a single room add $1,775
Trip is limited to 25 participants

This trip is sold out. Please contact ATA at 877-298-9677 or Reservations@academic-travel.com to join the waitlist.

Overview

Join Chautauqua Travels and Chautauqua Institution’s Chief IDEA Officer 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 Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, and Parliament House. 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, have candid conversations with local businesswomen, 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 Dussehra, an annual Hindu festival that marks the triumph of good over evil with dazzling parades, sparkling fireworks, and symbolic burning of effigies.  

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover the busy streets of Delhi and see how the city perfectly fuses Old and New, from the Red Fort and ancient spice markets to the 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, meet with local artisans, dancers, and entrepreneurs for insightful conversations on living a creative life in India.  
  • Experience the festival of Dusshera, a major Hindu holiday celebrated with traditional music, firework displays, colorful street processions, and giant effigies that commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over Demon King Ravana. 

Trip Expert: Amit Taneja 

Amit Taneja currently serves as the inaugural senior vice president and chief inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) 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

Thursday, September 25 – Arrival in India 

Arrive in Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport – DEL) 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). 

Included Meals: None 

Accommodations: The Imperial New Delhi

 

 

Day 2

Friday, September 26 – Delights of Old Delhi  

Begin your day with a guided introductory 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 was the imperial mosque during the Mughal Empire and today, is the traditional gathering site for the city’s Muslims during Friday communal prayer. Explore the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors between the 16th and 19th centuries. In the evening, gather as a group for a Welcome Dinner.  

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodations: The Imperial New Delhi

Day 3

Saturday, September 27 – Envisioning a New Delhi   

This morning, travel via private coach 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 Gandhi Museum on a guided tour and learn about the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, the civil right 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 everyday 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. 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

Sunday, September 28 – 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 during a sunset boat ride on the River Yamuna (pending availability). Dine as a group at a local restaurant. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Accommodations: Taj Hotel & Convention Centre 

Day 5

Monday, September 29 – 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 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. Enjoy lunch as a group at a local restaurant. Pause in Mehtab Bagh, a garden perfectly aligned with the gardens of the Taj Majal. Take in a postcard-perfect view of the mausoleum and watch the colors of the world’s most famous tribute to love shift underneath the setting sun. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure.   

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Accommodations: Taj Hotel & Convention Centre 

Day 6

Tuesday, September 30 – 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 Jai Mahal 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 Kathak dance performance, a form of classic Indian dance where artists tell stories through hand movements, extensive footwork, and facial expressions.  

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodations: Jai Mahal Palace  

Day 7

Wednesday, October 1 – Architectural Wonders 

Delve into the world of Rajput architecture, a style that blends indigenous Indian forms with Islamic and Persian influences. Enjoy guided tours of Amber Fort, an extensive palace complex constructed in 1592, and Hawa Mahal, known for its five-story pink honeycomb exterior with hundreds of small windows that allowed royal ladies to observe everyday life on the street below without being seen. In the afternoon, gather with representatives from a local nonprofit for a cup of classic Indian tea and a discussion on women in the Indian workplace. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be yours to explore Jaipur. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Accommodations: Jai Mahal Palace  

Day 8

Thursday, October 2 – Festivals and Fireworks 

Visit with Blue Potter makers, a traditional ceramic technique developed in Jaipur in the 19th century that uses quartz stone, glass, and a unique low-fired glaze. Meet a local family for a unique culinary experience. Begin with a visit to a fruit and vegetable market where you’ll learn the secret to picking the freshest seasonal ingredients, then join the family in their home to help prepare and share a homemade lunch together. Afterwards, participate in the festival of Dussehra, a major Hindu holiday commemorating the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons. Celebrated with fireworks, colorful processions, traditional music, and giant effigies of Ravana, you’ll enjoy a front row seat to the symbolic burning as communities come together to mark this auspicious occasion. Raise a toast to your travels in India during a festive Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodations: Jai Mahal Palace  

Day 9

Friday, October 3 – Departure 

Check out of your hotel and transfer via private coach to Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport – DEL) for individual flights home. The drive to Delhi will take approximately five hours, with a stop along the way for lunch. 

 

Included Meal: Breakfast 

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations and meals as listed for the duration of the tour
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in each itinerary
  • Expertise of an expert, ATA-hired tour manager and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the 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 flatscreen 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.

Taj Hotel & Convention Centre – Agra, India 
239 plush rooms whisk guests into a world of repose, just steps away from the iconic Taj Majal, with air conditioning, Wi-fi, flat screen television, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. Dining options include Daawat-e-Nawab, serving authentic Nawaabi and Mughlai (Indian) cuisine, as well as a tea lounge and two cocktail lounges with notable wine and whisky collections. The hotel is also home to a rejuvenating spa, large fitness center, and a rooftop infinity pool with magical views of the famous monument. 

Jai Mahal Palace – Jaipur, India   
Set within 18 acres of landscaped Mughal gardens, the Jai Mahal Palace is located in a former 18th-century Indo-Saracenic palace and has been the residence of three former prime ministers of Jaipur. Restored and refurbished, the hotel’s 94 elegantly decorated rooms give a taste of the best of Rajasthani heritage and culture alongside luxury toiletries, Wi-fi, televisions, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. Three onsite restaurants serve cuisine from authentic Indian to contemporary Italian, while the trendy Marigold Bar features innovative cocktails. An outdoor pool, tennis courts, jogging track, fitness center, day spa, and games room ensure all modern amenities are met amidst a piece of history.