India - 1st time in india; which tour

I plan on going to India next Oct. or November for the first, and possibly the last time. (I've heard India is love-it or hate-it, and anyway, there are lots of places I want to see in the world). I want to see the Taj Mahal, and frankly I'm clueless about the rest. I plan on taking an Intrepid tour, though, and I've narrowed it down to two.
Which of these two trips would you recommend?

Classic Rajasthan
Days 1-2
Delhi
Day 3
Agra
Day 4
Rural Heritage Stay (ahem, "rural Rajasthan to stay at a royal family residence")
Days 5-6
Jaipur
Day 7
Ranthambhore National Park
Day 8
Bundi
Days 9-10
Rural Heritage Stay (Bijaipur)
Days 11-12
Udaipur
Days 13-14
Pushkar
Day 15
Delhi


Or North India highlights:
Day 1
Delhi
Days 2-3
Jaipur
Day 4
Agra
Days 5-6
Orchha
Day 7
Khajuraho
Days 8-9
Varanasi
Days 10-11
Delhi


Thanks for any input.

We did Intrepid's "Slowly Down the Ganges" in Nov 2009. Fabulous and diverse trip! We also did Ranthambore, Dharmamsala and Mumbai on our own. Would recommend this trip. Floating the Ganges and Varanasi are not to be missed.

PM if needed.

Did Intrepid Classic Rajasthan in 2010. No complaints. Excellent value.

Day 4 Rural stay = stay in a fort in a village - waaaaaay off the tourist trail... a nice experience

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/58249_429264108493_505838493_5194761_1467907_n.jpg

This is the Day 9-10 Bijaipur Rural stay

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/58249_429264633493_505838493_5194862_5487391_n.jpg

artemis021, out of your 2 choices i would personally go for the later....i would suggest doing a search in the india forum....you will find lots of info on most of the places you have mentioned in your post....

Thanks for the input kajaz and rankourabu!