Delhi needs little introduction – but however much you think you know about India’s capital, we guarantee it can still surprise you. Get beneath the surface of both Old and New Delhi with the help of one of our hand-picked local guides, interspersing classic sights with local secrets and lesser-known spots. Rattle through Chandni Chowk market on a rickshaw, gaze up at the Red Fort, then spend the afternoon hearing the stories behind the stately British buildings of New Delhi. Conclude with a visit to a golden-domed Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where you can mingle with the locals as you volunteer in the community kitchen – a tradition maintained in Sikh temples across the world.

During the heyday of the Mughal Empire, in the 16th century, Agra was the center of the world and the pinnacle of human civilization. Four hundred years later, what they built remains unsurpassed in world architecture, and is deservedly among the most visited sites in the world. We’ve talking, of course, about the Taj Mahal – but not just that. A heritage tour of Agra will take you beyond its most famous monument, traveling by e-rickshaw from the exiquisite Agra Fort to lesser-known attractions: a Mughal library, Asia’s oldest convent, a street of ayurvedic doctors and an eclectic selection of mosques, temples and churches.

It’s a quirk of traveling in India that certain spots get all the attention while others inexplicably slip beneath the radar. Traveling from Agra to Gwalior is a case in point, sweeping you from one of the most-visited cities in the world to one that nobody’s ever heard of – despite it having two of India’s most spectacular palaces. Explore Gwalior Fort, the only intact pre-Mughal palace in India, and marvel at the extreme wealth of the Scindias as you wander extravagant Jai Vilas. Either one can rival anywhere in India for splendor, and yet both are practically empty on any given day. It’s a novel contrast after Agra’s crowds, and a welcome change of pace as you begin your journey south.

Boarding a train at Gwalior, you’ll spend the morning chugging through the countryside of Madhya Pradesh, arriving in Bhopal in the early afternoon. Bhopal doesn’t crop up on many India wish lists, but it should. The City of Lakes has everything: wide-open green spaces, a unique and fascinating history, tangled bazaars and spacious modern suburbs. It’s also the home of one of our favorite local guides, who’ll lead you on a gripping tour of the city’s highlights – its pink sandstone mosque, its tribal and folk art museums, its archaeological treasures and its lakeside promenades. Finally, spend you evenings soaking up the atmosphere of one of our favorite cities in India.

A stay in Maheshwar is a real treat. Often called a mini-Varanasi for its riverside location and bathing ghats, this little town revolves around Ahilya Fort – a mini paradise where guests stay in beautifully restored bedrooms, eat home-cooked food, and participate in community-based activities organized by the Fort’s custodians: descendants of the Maratha queen Ahilya Bai Holkar. You could spend all three days here ensconced in one of the Fort’s shady courtyards and we wouldn’t blame you. Venture beyond, though, and you’ll find sunset boat rides, Hindu pilgrimage sites, weavers’ workshops and countryside temples to bewitch and amuse you.

It’s a change of pace today as you fly onwards to your final destination: the glittering city of Hyderabad. Known for the phenomenal wealth of its diamond-mining Nizams, Hyderabad is still one of India’s richest cities today, offering historic royal splendor alongside shiny modern suburbs. Join one of our expert local guides to uncover some of its stories, combining the city’s more famous landmarks (the Charminar, Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi Tombs) with its forgotten corners, including little-visited Sufi shrines and crumbling deori mansions. Perhaps the highlight of your stay, however, will be your accommodation: a Nizam’s palace perched 2,000 ft above the city.