Heart of India Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi November - December 2016

Transcription

1 Heart of India Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi November - December 2016 Small Groups: Usually no more than travelers! If you re looking for true adventure, explore India, where every moment brings new stimulation: the scent of roasted cumin seeds floating through a Delhi bazaar a young girl s bracelets jangling on her arm as she prepares for a festival a young girl s bracelets jangling on her arm as she prepares for a festival...hindu pilgrims descending into the holy Ganges. From the excitement of the Golden Triangle cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur to the tranquility of the unexpected retreats that lie between them, we explore it all on this amazing journey through India. Expert trip leaders will bring you behind the scenes and off the beaten path with their intimate understanding of this enchanting sub-continent. Best of all, you ll travel in style with your friends from Southern Exposure! REMINDER: Space for this special journey is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and is truly limited. To reserve your place today, please call the Southern Exposure office at (269) If you haven t experienced a Southern Exposure travel adventure before, feel free to ask questions or meet with our staff. 1

2 Snapshot Itinerary: Heart of India This once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure will showcase the very Heart of India in all of its exotic grandeur and cultural diversity. Below is a quick look at our itinerary. Read on for additional details for each day. Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 2 Arrive Delhi, India Day 3 Explore Old Delhi / Raj Ghat / Jama Masjid Mosque / Rickshaw Tide at Chandni Chowk Bazaar Day 4 Qutab Minar / Explore New Delhi / India Gate Day 5 Overland to Jaipur Day 6 Palace of the Winds / Amber Fort / Home- Hosted Dinner Day 7 Optional balloon ride / Jantar Mantar / City Palace Museum Day 8 Overland to Ranthambore National Park / Optional tour of Ranthambore Fort Day 10 A Day in the Life of a Ranthambore community / Overland to OAT Camp / Camel Ride Day 11 Overland to Agra / Optional Taj from the Moonlight Garden Tour Day 12 Taj Mahal / Agra Fort Day 13 Train to Jhansi / Overland to Khajuraho Day 14 View Erotic Carvings of the Chandelas / Fly to Varanasi / Ganges Evening Ceremony & Boat Ride Day 15 Sunrise Ganges Cruise / Visit to Bharat Mata temple / Sarnath Day 16 Yoga & Meditation class / Fly to Delhi Day 17 Return to U.S. For more information, please read on or call the Southern Exposure staff at (269) Space is truly limited, so don t wait to make your call. We encourage you to read on for more detailed information about this amazing adventure. Join us! Day 9 Game-viewing in Ranthambore National Park 2

3 Detailed Itinerary: Heart of India 2016 Day 1 Depart U.S. You depart today on your overnight flight from the U.S. to Delhi. Day 2 Arrive Delhi, India You ll arrive in Delhi today, where your Trip Leader will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. Day 3 Explore Old Delhi / Raj Ghat / Jama Masjid Mosque / Rickshaw Ride through Chandni Chowk Bazaar After breakfast, gather with your fellow travelers for a briefing by your Trip Leader. We start our discoveries this afternoon in Delhi by visiting Old Delhi. Even when Bombay and Madras were mere trading posts and Calcutta a village of mud huts, Delhi had been the seat of an empire for 500 years. Through the centuries, eight cities have been built on this site, by Hindu, Mughal and British rulers with each adding their own flavor. In the old part of Delhi, we visit Raj Ghat, a beautifully serene monument. This is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, and we will see an impressive shrine to India s best-known statesman. Next, after visiting the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, we take a short ride by rickshaw through the crowded lanes of the Chandni Chowk bazaar. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Day 4 Qutab Minar / Explore New Delhi / India Gate The British laid out the broad, tree-lined avenues and neat street grid of New Delhi (in contrast to the narrow alleyways of the old part of the city). We ll begin our explorations by visiting Qutab Minar, a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture topped by a 234-foot-high tower. Begun in the twelfth century, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and the symbol of New Delhi. After lunch at a local restaurant, we ll continue our tour of the former Imperial City which continues to serve as the REMINDER: Space for this special journey is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and is truly limited. To reserve your place today, please call the Southern Exposure office at (269) during business hours. Welcome! 3

4 center of government for the world s largest democracy. We ll see the buildings of India s Parliament and (from the outside) the residence of India s President, a palatial building called Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nearby we see the India Gate, where a popular park surrounds a memorial to Indian soldiers who served Great Britain in World War I and Britain s 19th-century war in Afghanistan. You ll have the latter part of the afternoon at leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own. Day 5 Overland to Jaipur After breakfast, we travel overland to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. We stop en route for lunch and to explore a local market. Then we continue to Jaipur. Arriving at our hotel in the early evening, you will have time to freshen up before dinner at the hotel. Day 6 Palace of the Winds / Amber Fort / Home-Hosted Dinner We begin today s discoveries with a view of the exterior of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This is actually not a palace, but rather a façade of 956 delicate, honeycombed sandstone windows used by the ladies of the palace to watch the outside world without being seen. Next, we ll explore Jaipur s Amber (pronounced am-er, with a silent b ) Fort-Palace. The Fort is a stunning and wellpreserved 16th-century structure, built on four levels. Among its many splendors is the Sheesh Mahal, a small room whose ceiling, covered with tiny mirrors, looks like a sky filled with brilliant stars. Here, in Rajput times, a dancing girl held candles during a dance of love for her Maharaja. We make our way back down the hill and return to Jaipur. After lunch on your own at the hotel, your afternoon is free. Then we are the guests of an Indian family for a Home-Hosted Dinner. Day 7 Optional Balloon Ride / Jantar Mantar / City Palace Museum An optional hot air balloon ride may be offered this morning (weather permitting). Rise early to enjoy a bird s-eye view of Jaipur and its surroundings. Float high above the fort, Jai Mahal Lake, or the countryside, going where the wind takes you. Don t be surprised if you attract attention from the people below along the way! This morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Jaipur, known as the Pink City for the rosy hue of its sandstone buildings. Next we see the Jantar Mantar, a remarkable astronomical and astrological observatory built in the 18th century. The giant Important Travel Notes: sundials here are still accurate to two-tenths of a second. For your comfort and safety, we recommend this tour for individuals in good physical condition. If you have difficulty walking, this may be a difficult trip for you. We reserve the right to cancel this tour due to insufficient registration. Full refund will be given if tour is canceled due to insufficient registration. If traveling alone, we will match you up with a roommate (this tour is double occupancy only). Please read the What to Expect box on the last page carefully. If you have further questions, please contact the Southern Exposure staff at (269) during business hours. Then we go on to the City Palace Museum filled with an array of textiles, arms, carpets, paintings and manuscripts. You ll complete your tour with an optional visit to a fabric block-printing center to learn more about the textiles that are so representative of this area. After lunch in our hotel, your afternoon is free. Dinner is on your own this evening. Day 8 Overland to Ranthambore National Park / Optional Tour of Ranthambore Fort After breakfast, we leave Jaipur and drive through the rural countryside and into the low Vindhya mountain range. The drive is about five hours in length along bumpy roads. Our destination is Ranthambore National Park. Located near the town of Sawai Madhopur, the park is one of the eleven sites chosen for Project Tiger, India s national tiger conservation program, the largest such effort in the world. 4

5 The park comprises more than a hundred square miles of deciduous forest and several large lakes, and until 1970 it was a hunting preserve of the maharajas. After our visit, we arrive at the hotel in time for lunch. Please note: As Ranthambore National Park is closed in August and September, we will visit the Sawai Mansingh Animal Sanctuary instead during those months. In the afternoon, you can join an optional tour to the Ranthambore Fort, a spectacular fortress built more than 1,000 years ago on a rocky outcrop with stunning views. Today it sits in the middle of the Ranthambore sanctuary. You ll ride in an open four-wheel drive vehicle (known locally as a canter), and then hike to the fort, a huge structure with a fascinating history and fine craftsmanship in its interiors. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening, along with a presentation on the local wildlife we ll see tomorrow. Day 9 Game-viewing in Ranthambore National Park Accommodations: Nahargarh Hotel or similar In the early morning, when nocturnal animals may still be active, we head out for game-viewing before breakfast. Once again, our mode of transportation is a canter, a safari truck. We may see all the great Indian species: sambar, nilgai, the shy chinkara and chital, and the always cunning Langur monkey. We return to our hotel for breakfast and the rest of the morning at leisure. Following an included lunch in the hotel, we regroup for a second safari expedition. Though What s Included in the Package International round-trip airfare from Detroit Metro Airport to and from India. Plus all land transportation in India and 2 internal flights. Accommodations for or 14 nights in hotels and one camp night (see details in itinerary). 33 meals daily breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 10 dinners, including 1 home-hosted dinner. Gratuities for applicable local guides, drivers, camp staff and luggage porters on your trip. Personal headsets on all included and optional tours during the cruise portion of your trip. Exclusive services of a resident Grand Circle Program Director. To learn more, or to reserve your place on this amazing adventure, please all the Southern Exposure office at (269) today. it is rare, we may see the Royal Bengal tiger, usually sleeping by day in the tall grass. A recent census showed 26 tigers in the reserve. We also see lakes that hold crocodiles, and a wide variety of water birds in season. More than 450 bird species frequent this area, from crested serpent eagles to painted storks. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening. 5

6 Photo: Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve was among the first such places established by India in Day 10 A Day in the Life of a Ranthambore Community / Overland to OAT Camp / Camel Ride After breakfast, we ll stroll into a local village to visit with the students at a primary school (when in session) that OAT proudly supports through donations from Grand Circle Foundation. Then we ll continue our Day in the Life of this village, meeting local people and seeing their houses and way of life. We ll be the guests of one family for a Home-Hosted Visit. Next we visit a cooperative where women are trained to make handcrafts. We ll learn about this enterprise from one of the women involved, with the opportunity to purchase its products. After lunch, we begin our drive (totaling approximately four hours on a bumpy road) to our village camp retreat. You ll check in upon arrival. Then we mount decorated camels for a trek to a nearby local village. Be sure to have your camera readily available to take photos of the rural countryside (and your travel companions) from the lofty perch of your camel s saddle. You can choose to ride in a camel-drawn cart if you wish. Our campsite is nestled among small plots of land used by local farmers to grow a rich diversity of crops. Often, villagers will stop by to pay us a visit, or farmers will take a break from their work to share a laugh. Especially enchanting are the mustard blooms, which, in season, resemble thousands of buttercups waving in the breeze. Join your travel companions this evening in the relaxed environment of the campsite to enjoy an authentic Indian dinner. Dinner is prepared with the freshest locally grown organic ingredients, especially for you, by our camp cook. After dinner we ll relax around the campfire and enjoy being entertained by local dancers who proudly perform cultural Indian dances for us. Day 11 Overland to Agra / Optional Taj from the Moonlight Garden Tour As we continue to explore India, we experience the vast rural countryside of India as we ride toward Agra. En route, our Trip Leader entertains us with a discussion of the history of the Mughals. 6

7 Photo: Sculptures from the temple complex in Khajuraho, a town in the state of Madhya Pradesh. We break up today s long drive with a stop at Abhaneri to view an ancient baolis, essentially a step-well or waterway built to provide a constant water supply to locals. After lunch at Bharatpur, we continue to Agra. Dinner is on your own this evening. Or join an optional tour to take in the view of the Taj Mahal from the Mehtab Bagh ( Moonlight Garden ) across the Yamuna River. From the garden we ll proceed to a local restaurant to savor a South Indian dinner. Day 12 Taj Mahal / Agra Fort Today we rise early to view a sight unlike any other in the entire world: early morning at the Taj Mahal. Please note: If this day falls on a Friday, we visit the Taj Mahal on the evening of Day 11 instead. This grand edifice, built by Shah Jahan from 1631 to 1653 to enshrine the remains of his Queen Mumtaz Mahal, took 20,000 workers to build. We walk into the inner chambers of this renowned Monument to Love, and seek out several vantage points to see the magnificent play of light. The semi-translucent white marble is inlaid with thousands of semi-precious stones in beautiful patterns and the building has four identical facades, a perfect exercise in symmetry - a wonder of the world! TOUR RESERVATION POLICY: Reservations can be made by calling Southern Exposure Farm at (269) A $500 deposit is required to guarantee your place (check, cash or credit card accepted). Remaining balance due 90 days before departure. Note: The information, dates and prices provided in this document are estimates only based on currently available information. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change. Pricing Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to provide accurate pricing information. Operator reserves the right to correct promotional or pricing errors at any time, or to increase the trip price in the event of cost increases due to changes in airfares, cruise fares, currency fluctuations, park fee increases, taxes, or fuel surcharges, or other reasons, unless you pre-paid according to the terms of the Good Buy Plan prior to the cost increase going into effect. For more information, please contact Southern Exposure at (269)

8 Later in the morning we visit the sprawling Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River. This immense fort and palace were the seat of power for four generations of Mughal emperors; they ruled all of northern India from the early 16th century until the consolidation by British colonial rule in the early 1800s. Agra Fort s architecture is an almost perfect fusion between military might and lavish beauty. We return to our hotel to enjoy the afternoon at leisure, then gather for an included dinner this evening. Day 13 Train to Jhansi / Overland to Khajuraho To enjoy and make the most of this very long, overland, travel day, you ll need to approach it with curiosity, an adventurous spirit, and a healthy sense of humor. We begin our journey early this morning, as we board a train for an approximately two-hour ride to Jhansi, a center of Bundela civilization. Upon arriving at the railway station in Jhansi, we will transfer to our coach and continue overland for a half-hour drive to Orcha. After lunch we continue overland via coach on the long (four-and-a-half-hour drive) and bumpy road to Khajuraho. Although remote and very quiet today, in the tenth century Khajuraho was the center of the thriving civilization of the Chandelas. The magnificent group of temples (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was built between the ninth and tenth centuries by the Chandela Dynasty, which dominated Central India at the time. We ll check in, and enjoy dinner at our hotel in the evening. Day 14 View Erotic carvings of the Chandelas / Fly to Varanasi / Ganges Evening Ceremony & Boat Ride After breakfast at our hotel, we visit the east and west temple complexes that the Chandelas constructed. The erotic stone carvings here have come to symbolize the important role of love and prana energy in Hindu thought. British archaeologists excavated these intricate stone carvings during colonial times, when they scandalized post-victorian English sensibilities. We have time for lunch before transferring to the airport for our 40-minute flight to Varanasi, the holiest of Hindu cities. Known as Benares during British times, Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a written history dating back more than 4,000 years. It has an intense, almost palpable atmosphere of spiritual devotion, a feeling of an unending religious festival. Hundreds of temples propitiate the thousands of deities in the Hindu pantheon. Pilgrims from every part of this vast nation crowd the narrow streets and the riverside ghats. This evening, we ll witness the aarti ceremony on the Ganges. As the day comes to a close, we ll travel to the bathing ghats located alongside the sacred River Ganges. People flock in large numbers every day to bathe and worship in the temples built beside the riverbank. 8

9 Feel the timelessness of Varanasi as the sun sets and as the temple priests perform aarti, the sacred light ceremony, on the banks of Mother Ganga. The aarti performance is best viewed while having a boat ride on the river. After the puja ceremony is completed, dinner will be on your own this evening. Day 15 Sunrise Ganges cruise / Visit to Bharat Mata At sunrise, when the temples are bathed in soft light, we board our small boat for a cruise on the Ganges. From our boat we are witness to the everyday life in the holiest of cities, as the people arrive at the ghats at dawn to take a ritual dip, perform yoga asanas, wash clothes and offer flowers and incense to the river. We can photograph riverside temples and bathing ghats in a rich, golden dawn light. Photography of the cremation ghats, however, is not permitted. We see devotees performing their daily religious rites. At stone steps on the river s edge, we join our hosts in a pilgrimage. We then continue our guided walking tour of the local temples before returning to our hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we ll visit the unique Bharat Mata (Mother India) temple, dedicated not to gods and goddesses, but to Mother India herself. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, this relatively modern temple houses an intricate bas relief map of the Indian subcontinent, carved entirely from white marble. Later, we drive to the nearby ancient Buddhist learning center of Sarnath. Here, Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon to his disciples. We then visit the Sarnath Museum, (except on Fridays, when the museum is closed) which houses some of the great treasures of Indian Buddhist art. We can explore and photograph excavated Buddhist stupas and pillars. We also have the opportunity to visit a silk-weaving workshop. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your traveling companions. Day 16 Yoga & Meditation class / Fly to Delhi This morning we have the chance to begin the day with a relaxing yoga and meditation class before breakfast at our hotel. Learn basic yoga exercises and breathing techniques from a local expert. After lunch on your own, you will be transferred to the airport to board a flight to Delhi, where you ll stay tonight. Or, if you re continuing on the post-trip extension to Kathmandu, Nepal, you will fly to Kathmandu instead. Enjoy an included dinner at your hotel this evening. Day 17 Return to U.S. Transfer to the airport early this morning for your return flight to the U.S. 9 Pricing Summary (Per Person) Trip Name: Departure Date: Return Date: Departure City: Occupancy: Cost Per Person: Heart of India November 2016 (exact date TBD) December 2016 (exact date TBD) Detroit, MI Double $5,495 (including taxes) (Price includes international airfare from Detroit Metro, government taxes, fees and airline fuel surcharges.) Taxes and Fees - (included in the Per Person Cost) Travel Protection Plan - Highly recommended! (See details beginning at right) Motorcoach travel to/from Detroit Metro (Call us for details) Tour Cancellation Policy and Travel Protection Plan Please read the following cancellation policy and Travel Protection Plan. Pricing and coverages are subject to change as we get closer to the departure date for this travel adventure. Cancel For Any Reason Waiver When you purchase the Travel Protection Plan, you also qualify for the Grand Circle Travel Cancellation Waiver Benefit that allows you to cancel your Grand Circle Travel Arrangements before your scheduled departure FOR ANY REASON. Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waiver The exclusion for Pre-Existing Conditions will be waived if payment for this plan is received by Grand Circle Travel within 14 days of your initial deposit, for payment for your Trip. Below is a brief listing of the plan benefits: Part A - The Travel Arrangement Protection Benefits of this Part A are provided by Grand Circle Travel. Schedule of Benefits - Part A Benefit Maximum Benefit Amount Trip Cancellation Trip Cost Trip Interruption Trip Cost Missed Connection $750 Travel Delay $750 (Up to $150 Per Day) Part B - The Travel Insurance Benefits of this Part B are provided by United States Fire Insurance Company. Schedule of Benefits - Part B Benefit Maximum Benefit Amount Accidental Death and Dismemberment $25,000 Medical Expense, Emergency Assistance Accident and Sickness Medical Expense $50,000 Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation $500,000 One Call 24-Hour Assistance Services Included Baggage and Personal Effects $1,500 Baggage Delay $250

10 If your Trip is Canceled or Interrupted, Your Travel Investment is Protected If you are like a lot of people these days, you don t just look forward to your vacations, you need them. A vacation is your opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge your batteries. Or to catch up with friends and family. Unfortunately, many things happen that might cause you to cancel your travel plans or cut them short. Illness or injury. The death of a family member. The worst part is, without adequate protection, you can lose your travel investment. The Grand Circle Travel Protection Plan protects your travel investment if your Trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason such as injury, illness or death of you, a Family Member, a Traveling Companion or a Business Partner. If you must interrupt your Trip or return home early for a covered reason, the plan will pay (up to the original cost of your Trip) for your unused land or water Travel Arrangements, less any refund paid or payable, plus the Additional Transportation Cost to return home or rejoin your Trip. Medical Expense and Emergency Assistance Benefits If you have a serious illness or injury, the last thing you want to worry about is getting the care you need. The Grand Circle Travel Protection Plan gives you peace of mind with benefits that cover, up to the plan s limits, everything from medical expenses (incurred within 60 days of a sickness or injury that began during your Trip) to special transportation (such as an air ambulance) required for medical reasons. Travel Delayed? You re OK! You ll be reimbursed up to $150 per day (to a maximum of $750 total) for meals and accommodations if your Trip is delayed for more than 12 hours for a covered reason. Baggage Lost or Damaged? You re Protected! It s a traveler s nightmare. You arrive at your destination, but your baggage has disappeared. Or has been stolen or damaged. What do you do? If you re protected by the Grand Circle Travel Protection Plan, you ll be reimbursed up to $1,500 to replace or repair your lost or damaged luggage and personal articles. Baggage Delayed? Need Clothes and Toiletries? Count on us! The Grand Circle Travel Protection Plan reimburses you up to $250 to help cover the cost of clothing, toiletries and, or personal items if your baggage is delayed for more than 24 hours while you are on your Trip. Accidental Death Benefit Your beneficiaries will receive payment according to the plan s Schedule of Benefits for Accidental Death which occurs within 180 days of an injury sustained while you are on your Trip. The Travel Protection Plan is Administered by: Trip Mate, Inc Ward Parkway, Suite 200 Kansas City, Missouri Tel: The Travel Insurance is Underwritten by: United States Fire Insurance Company under Form series TP 401. In KS, LA, SD, TX, and UT Form # s TP-401 CW. In WA under Form #TP-401-WA. In OR under Form #TP-401 OR. What to Expect: Heart of India We will make every effort to accommodate your travel needs and make sure you have a pleasant, memorable experience. At the same time, it is important to note the following advisories: Physical Requirements: Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids Must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including scaling several steep steps without handrails. Asian squat-style toilets must be used in some villages without other facilities GCT reserves the right for our Program Directors to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group s experience. Meals will be based on the local cuisine; Western food is limited Climate, Poverty & Land Transportation: Daytime temperatures can range from F. We may see people living in poverty, which could be distressing for some travelers. Travel via bus (no heat or toilet on board), train, rickshaw, and gameviewing vehicle; our vehicles are locally made and are the best available in the region. Several long overland drives of 5-6 hours, including a hour transfer with a train journey on Day 13. Passport & Visa Information U.S. citizens will need a visa for this trip. Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees about 100 days prior to their departure. Your passport should meet these requirements for this itinerary. It should be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S. It should have the recommended number of blank pages (refer to the U.S. State Department handbook for details). The blank pages must be labeled Visas at the top. Pages labeled Amendments and Endorsements are not acceptable. Vaccinations Information For the latest list of vaccinations that may be recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC s Traveler s Health website at In addition, we recommend a routine medical and dental check-up before you travel. You should also have plenty of any needed medications ready in advance. 10