25 Captivating Color Photographs of Jackie Kennedy in India in March 1962

First lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrived in New Delhi on March 12 for a nine-day visit. Mrs. Kennedy’s first engagement was a visit to the Central Secretariat, where she watched Indian President Rajendra Prasad ride by in state after opening a new session of Parliament. The first lady spent two days at Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s house with him and his daughter, Indira Gandhi. Mrs. Kennedy conveyed President John F. Kennedy’s greetings and his pleasure that Mrs. Kennedy could return the visits of Nehru and Mrs. Gandhi to the United States the previous year.

Accompanied by her sister, Princess Lee Radziwill, and escorted by Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith, Mrs. Kennedy saw the Taj Mahal by daylight and moonlight, Mughal monuments in Fatehpur Sikri, and the Amber Palace in Jaipur. She attended receptions and formal dinners, had an elephant ride in Jaipur, a horse ride at the president’s estate polo grounds, and went on boat trips on the Ganga in Varanasi and Pichola Lake in Udaipur. She also met a cross section of people from officials and ministers to children in hospitals, fed bamboo shoots to Himalayan pandas in Prime Minister Nehru’s garden, and purchased some of the handicrafts of India.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy holding a silver encased coconut to her forehead in the Rajasthani mark of luck and respect as she is welcomed at the Jaipur Airport during her tour of India.

Jackie Kennedy with sister Lee Radziwill on goodwill tour to India.

Jackie Kennedy in white coat and hat with Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith (R) and unident. Indians on a visit to India.

Jackie Kennedy standing by the reflecting pool in front of the Taj Mahal during visit to India.

Jackie Kennedy wearing pink dress and three-stranded pearls during visit with Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru (L) & Ambassador to US B.K. Nehru.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wearing coral silk dress and three-stranded pearls during visit with the Maharaj of Mewar.

Jackie Kennedy greeted by Gov. Gurmukh Nihal Singh at Jaipur Airport.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy in blue dress and hat walking with Indian Prime Minister Jawarhalal Nehru in the garden of his residence.

Jackie Kennedy in blue sheath dress and white gloves with Maharani of Jaipur, Gayatri Devi at Polo Ground on a visit to India.

Jackie Kennedy standing on the grounds of the Taj Mahal during visit to India.

Jackie arriving at Udaipur.

Jackie attends a reception in her honor at the United States Embassy in New Delhi.

Jackie Kennedy wearing a fitted silk apricot dress and triple strand of pearls, walking through crowds at Udaipur.

Jackie cruising around Pichola Lake in Udaipur.

Jackie and Ambassador Galbrath look at objects from the medieval armory of the Maharana of Udaipur.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy gets a warm welcome after arriving at the airport in New Delhi.

Jackie Kennedy and sister Lee Radziwill riding an elephant while visiting India.

Jackie feeds a horse while attending a polo match in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Jackie and Lee ride an elephant, Bibia, in the courtyard of Amber Palace, Jaipur.

Jackie at a reception at Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur.

Touring the island palace of Jag Mandir on Lake Pichola.

Feeding an elephant, Urvashi, in the garden of the prime minister’s residence.

Observing a minute of silence after laying a sheaf of roses on the Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

(Photos: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)