ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Upon arrival in Delhi, we'll whisk you direct to your boutique lodge in the heart of Delhis 'Kensington', before our chefs fire up a poolside welcome banquet, eaten right underneath the stars.
DAYS TWO/THREE
Next morning, we take a short drive to Neemrana, a stunning 15th-century Fort set in the heart of rural Rajasthan. One of Indias oldest heritage resorts, we'll use this historic location as the backdrop for learning the basics; zipping off to the local market to get your very own set of utensils, observing and tasting the myriad spices on offer, before crafting your very own dish. The following day - we venture out by jeep to some of the surrounding villages, meeting local farmers and their families, and watching the speed and delicate skill of turning ingredients from land to plate.
DAYS FOUR/FIVE/SIX
Up early to catch the sunrise over the Fort, we head south for the short hop to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, the regal capital of Rajasthan. The many bazaars and palaces are infused with riotous colour and brimming with everyday Indian life. Here, we'll extend our skills further, sampling rare concoctions with our expert guide in the market. Next morning, take some time off to recharge yourself in the spa and pool at our beautifully restored eco-haveli, then we'll head out towards sunset to capture the glowing Amber Fort in all its glory. Final day, we head out to a bio-organic spice plantation, seeing how they are grown and harvested.
DAYS SEVEN/EIGHT
Late morning, we travel to the UNESCO-rated abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. The former empires capital in the 16th century, it contains the largest mosque in India, and is simply breathtaking. We end the day viewing the iconic sunset over the Taj Mahal, from our very own secret vantage point. Next morning, we kick back in our heritage retreat to review our work so far, then tour the palatial Agra Fort and Baby Taj. Around five, we'll board the first-class train to Delhi, observing the rich contradictions and divisions of Indian life, from the well-heeled glitterati to the precarious roof riders of Indian Rail.
DAYS NINE/TEN
We spend the day at our stunning cookery school in the centre of Old Delhi, crafting snacks and desserts, like pakoras, gulab jamuns and pakwan, then create the perfect biryani and tandoor meats. Next day, we weave through the streets of Old Delhi, through the incredible Chandni Chowk, climbing the turret at Jama Masjid, before lunching on Delhi-delights, such as the magnificent lentil-laced crunchy puris, with chick pea and fenugreek curry. We'll explore the narrow lanes on cycle-rickshaws and sample their unique delights - as revealed by Gordon Ramsay. We will round off our 11-day exploration with a celebratory feast at Karims - the favourite of food lovers in Delhi.
DAY ELEVEN
On our last morning, join us for a stroll through the beautifully lush, manicured Mughal Gardens, before we return and review the highlights of the trip. During our final lunch together, we wrap up with our Creative Escapes Foodie awards for all sorts of endeavours and achievements over the last 11 days.
