INDIA
15 DAYS
A magnet for travelers since
ancient times, India today is still veiled in mysteries. The land where history
lives on in music and dance. The land that retains the chivalry and romance of
the past.
After
exploring the bustling capital city of Delhi, we will fly to Udaipur, ‘Venice
of the East’. Pause and admire the island palace that seems to float on a
magical blue lake. We are going to take an elephant ride up into the high
mountain fortress of Amber in Jaipur. For the next three days we will roam the
Ranthambore National Park in search of tigers and later will visit the Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary. In Agra, the last capital of the Mogul Empire, we will visit the
magnificent Taj Mahal, the monument to eternal love. We will explore some of
India’s finest Hindu temples in Khajuraho, and get an insight into a golden
time when art and devotion were at their peak.
Finally,
we will travel to Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities on Earth. Feel
transported to an entirely different
world, as you sail down the Ganges with the temple bells ringing and thousands
of pilgrims immersing themselves in the holy waters of the river…
Day
1.
Arrive in Delhi
Upon
arrival in Delhi, you are met at the airport and transferred to our comfortable
hotel.
Day
2.
Delhi
In
the morning we are going on a tour of New Delhi, the
new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. We will drive down the main avenue,
the impressive Rajpath, visit the India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan
(Presidential Palace) and the secretariat buildings. We will also visit
Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar.
In
the afternoon we will explore Old Delhi, the 300 years old walled city built by
Emperor Shah Jahan. We will visit Raj Ghat, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk (silver
market) by bicycle-rickshaw, Kinari bazaar (bangle market), and Jama Masjid.
Day
3.
Udaipur
In
the morning we are transferred to the airport for a flight to romantic Udaipur,
cradled in green hills and surrounded by beautiful lakes.
The old Udaipur is filled with narrow medieval lanes, with a small temple
at each turn. In the afternoon we take a 3-hour boat trip on Lake Pichola.
Day
4.
Udaipur
We
explore the city of Udaipur, visiting Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden of Maidens), City
Palace Museum and Jag Mandir Palace, occupying an island on Lake Pichola. We are
also going to drive around Fateh Sagar Lake.
In the afternoon we travel through the scenic landscape of Aravalli Hills
to visit Eklingji and Nagda temples located 25 km from Udaipur.
Day
5.
Jaipur
Today
we fly to Jaipur. In the afternoon we are going to explore the city, visiting
Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) and Jai Singh’s observatory. Another
highlight is the City Palace, the former royal residence built in a blend of
Rajasthani and Mughal styles.
Day 6. Jaipur
In
the morning we drive to Amber Fort, the former capital of the royal family of
Jaipur, located in Aravalli Hills. The palace rests on a hill beside the Maota
Lake. To reach the place, we will ride on elephant-back from the base. The
palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and
armory of Mughals and Rajputs.
Day
7.
Ranthambore National Park
We
drive to Ranthambore. In the late afternoon we start our tiger safari in the
Ranthambore National Park. This park was once the private tiger reserve of the
Maharaja of Jaipur. In 1972 the Sanctuary came under the project Tiger
Conservation Scheme. The Ranthambore tigers are famous; they are not merely
nocturnal but rather often stalk their prey in full view of visitors. This has
made Ranthambore a favorite place for wildlife fans and photographers.
Day
8.
Ranthambore
We
spend the whole day in Ranthambore, taking early morning and evening game drives
to watch wildlife.
Day
9.
To Bharatpur
We
travel from Ranthambore to Bharatpur. The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home to 400
bird species. The park's shallow waters and marshes provide an oasis in the
heart of the desert and have become an important stopover for a variety of
migratory bird species from Central Asia and even Eastern Europe. Other
inhabitants of the park include the blue bull, the spotted dear, the wild boar,
and mongoose.
Day
10.
Bharatpur. Agra
In
the morning we will visit the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by bicycle-rickshaw.
Later we proceed to Fatehpur Sikri - a ghost city built in honor of Saint Salim
Chisti, who foretold the birth of 3 sons to Mogul Emperor Akbar. We travel to
the Mughal splendor of Agra. We will admire the world famous Taj Mahal, the
monument to eternal love. It took 22 years and 20,000 skilled artisans to
complete. We also visit Agra Fort. One can get a fantastic view of the Taj
Mahal from the little octagonal tower of the fort.
Day 11.
Jhansi, Orcha. Khajuraho
We
travel by train to Jhansi, giving you the chance to experience India by rail.
From here we carry on by road to Orchha. Orchha
is the former capital of the region but is now just a village. We visit the old
fort on an island in the Betwa River and a palace that was built for Jahangir -
they are impressive in size and provide pleasant views of the countryside. After
stretching our legs, we continue to Khajuraho. Khajuraho was the
religious capital of the Candela dynasty at its height during the 10-14th
century.
Day
12.
Khajuraho
We
explore Khajuraho, visiting the temples that represent Central India
architecture at its best. Out of the original 85 temples, 22 still remain. The
temples are carved with hundreds of sculptured figures, a galaxy of gods and
goddesses and multitude of erotic couples that represent a paean to life.
Day 13.
Khajuraho. Varanasi
Morning
will be at leisure. Later we take a flight to Varanasi. Varanasi - the city of
Shiva on the banks of the sacred Ganges is one of the holiest places in India.
Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the waters of the Ganges, a ritual that washes
away all sins. The city, also known
as Benares, is an auspicious place to die, since expiring here ensures release
from the cycle of rebirths and transports straight to heaven. It is also called
Kashi (The City of Lights) by Hindus. It has been a center of learning and
civilization for over 2000 years, and claims to be one of he oldest living
cities in the world. In the
afternoon we travel to Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon.
The Buddha came to this hamlet to preach his message of the ‘middle way’ to
nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Later, the great Buddhist
Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here.
Day
14.
Varanasi. Delhi
Early
in the morning we drive to the banks of the River Ganges. We take the sunrise
boat-ride on the River Ganges and witness the morning rituals of
pilgrims. In the afternoon we fly to Delhi. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day
15.
Delhi
We are transferred to the international airport for
our flight back home.
SUMMARY
Inclusions:
4 domestic flights, 1 train ride, all meals, transportation, entrance fees,
escorted throughout
Start and Finish:
Delhi
Group Size: Maximum 16 travelers
Accommodation: Comfortable
accommodation with private facilities throughout
Trip Grade: Easy
Dates:
Jan 8-22, 2008
Nov 11-25, 2008
Jan 6-20, 2009 (price TBA)
Land Cost: US$ 4,245
Note: Please note that all itineraries and prices
are subject to change.
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