Indian School Adventure. Arthur Mellows Village College

Transcription

1 Indian School Adventure Arthur Mellows Village College

2 Indian School Adventure: Visit India and follow the famous Golden Triangle. Enjoy the perfect introduction to India's three most popular destinations - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - as we explore the icons and discover the secrets of this fascinating region. Experience the history of massive forts, the opulence and splendour of Rajasthan's palaces, the bustle and buzz of markets and bazaars, and the traditions of a heritage homestay. Travel through a land full of contrasts on this compact India tour, jam-packed with unforgettable highlights. This is an exciting journey filled with exciting sights and sounds designed to ignite interest and inspire pupils outside the classroom. Day 1&2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Morning arrival in Delhi / Afternoon City Tour of both Old and New Delhi Train to Agra / Taj Mahal / Agra Fort / Demonstration of Marble inlay work Fatehpur Sikri, the Deserted City / Journey to Karauli for a Rural Heritage Stay Travel to Jaipur (3 to 4 hours) / Afternoon City Palace & Observatory visit Morning Amber Fort / Afternoon Cooking class / Evening Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Morning Public School Visit in Jaipur / Drive to Delhi Transfer to the Airport for Flight Home

3 Day 1&2 Overnight flight to Delhi / Afternoon City Tour of both Old and New Delhi (D) Departure Time Arrival Time Flight number London Heathrow 2045 Delhi Virgin Atlantic Flights subject to change & subject to availability +1 denotes next day arrival Namaste! Welcome to India. Your group will be met on arrival in Delhi and met by your tour leader who will be with you for your whole trip. A word about our tour leaders - an incredible trip doesn't just come from the itinerary - it's our tour leaders who deserve most of the credit. Without them, you would barely scratch beneath the surface of a destination! Our school groups frequently tell us that having an Adventure Company guide feels like a friend showing you around their country, introducing you to their culture and revealing the local hot spots, we pick our leaders who have had experience running school & family trips so are used to interacting with teenagers & happy to fully engage with this age group. But our leaders offer more than just insider knowledge. Having passed our rigorous training with flying colours, they are masters of organisation and logistics, who have experienced almost any situation that comes up while travelling. Whether it's a local showing you around their country, or an impassioned expat who loves adventure travel, your Adventure Company leader will make sure your trip is unforgettable for all the right reasons. After an early lunch leave for the city tour mainly focusing on city s top art & culture museums. Today s half day tour will take you to the old Delhi first where you will have a chance to take rickshaw ride (own cost) in the narrow but colourful streets of Chandni Chowk bazaar. You can also visit the largest mosque called Jama Masjid here. There will be an opportunity to click some pictures of the Delhi Red Fort. You

4 will then head to see the Lutyen s Delhi stopping at India Gate and drive by Presidential Palace and Parliament building. Overnight: Southgate Hotel. Day 3 Train to Agra / Taj Mahal / Agra Fort / Demonstration of Marble inlay work This morning, you ll make an early start for your train journey to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Indian trains are a great way to see the country and are the life line of commerce and trade. Our train journey will take around 3 hours. Alternating with Delhi as the capital of the Moghul Empire, the city s past is inextricably linked with the most famous of India s rulers. Today it is best known as the home of the Taj Mahal but also boasts a fort, a Friday Mosque and the royal tombs on the opposite bank of the river. Upon arrival in Agra we will head to see the impressive Agra Fort. Beside the main Mughal history behind this monument, the fort was the site of a battle during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, and led to a century of direct rule of India by Britain. Agra Fort has some marvelous carving on the Red Sandstone and also beautiful display of the stone inlay work on marble. After visiting the fort we will check in to the hotel and have lunch. Later in the afternoon we visit the world famous Taj Mahal. It is fascinating to see that the amount of inlay work you saw at the Agra Fort was not even two percent of what you witness at the Taj Mahal. It took some twenty two years and over twenty thousand workers to complete the Taj Mahal. No book & explanation does the palace justice to the beauty of this marvel in marble. After your visit you will head to a place where descendants of the families who worked on Taj Mahal are still carrying forward the dying art of Marble inlay work. It is estimated that only fifteen hundred artists who know this art are left in the city today. You will get a full demonstration of the marble inlay work carried by some artisans and you will even get a chance to try your hand at carving a stone. Overnight: Hotel Yamuna View or Hotel Amar (B,L,D)

5 Day 4 Fatehpur Sikri, the Deserted City / Journey to Karauli; Rural Heritage Stay (BLD) Travelling on to Karauli in the state of Rajasthan, we stop en route at the deserted Mughal kingdom of Fatehpur Sikri (approx 4 hrs). The magnificent deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, but was abandoned after 15 years due to the scarcity of water. A highlight of the settlement is Jama Masjid, a striking mosque featuring elements of both Persian and Hindu design. The main entrance of the mosque is the impressive 54 metre-high Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, constructed to commemorate Akbar's military victory in Gujarat.

6 Founded in 1348 by Raja Arjun Pal, Karauli is a delightful town packed with rural ambience. You will stay at a palace which was built as a royal residence for the ruler of Karauli in 1938 feedback from schools who have done this trip have mentioned that this rural heritage property is a real highlight not only because of its location but because it feels like your transported back in time and staying during the height of the Raj. Day 5 Travel to Jaipur (3 to 4 hours) / Afternoon City Palace & Observatory visit Optional Puppet show (BLD) This morning we will take a walk around our rural village, interact with the friendly locals and learn about rural Indian life, we will see the local markets, and witness locals going about their trade - a fascinating way to witness life off the tourist trail. Mid-morning we drive to the capital of Rajasthan - the 'Pink City' of Jaipur (approx 5 hrs). A friendly, busy town crammed with palaces and bazaars full of jewellery, textiles and folk-based arts, Jaipur is a firm favourite with travellers. You will make a stop at India's most photographed building after the Taj Mahal, the Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of the Winds'. Our next stop is Jaipur's Royal City Palace - one of India's finest - and spend time exploring the various rooms and apartments. After this you will visit one of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. There is the option of a puppet show this evening. Overnight: Bissau Palace (BLD) Day 6 Morning Amber Fort / Evening Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir (BLD) This morning we travel 11km from Jaipur to the Aravalli Hills. Here we will see the historic fort-palace of Amber. This is the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs who gave their loyalty to Moghul overlords. From the spoils of war they gradually built a fabulous complex of royal rooms. Today these rooms remain lavishly decorated with murals, jali-work and scalloped niches that once held candles to reflect the soft light from tiny mirrors, embedded in eggshell plaster.

7 This evening you will get to experience the the extravagance of a Bollywood blockbuster, with all the Hollywood-style elements of action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all rolled into one), at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema, a real highlight of the trip!

8 Day 7 Morning Public School Visit in Jaipur / Drive to Delhi (BLD) This morning we will visit a Public school before journeying back to Delhi by bus. On our last evening we will join the family of our local Indian partners for a traditional Indian home cooked meal, students are encouraged to join in and help with the food preparation as we learn traditional cooking techniques. It s a great opportunity to learn more about Indian life and a wonderful way to end your Indian adventure. Overnight: Southgate Hotel (B,L,D) Day 8 Transfer to the Airport for Flight Home (B) Departure Time Arrival Time Flight number Delhi 1345 London 1830 Virgin Atlantic Flights subject to change & subject to availability This price includes the following services: International flights to Delhi from London Full Board, all meals included Services of an English speaking guide and driver. Entrance fees as detailed in the itinerary Arrival & departure airport transfer All ground transportation (train and private air conditioned bus) This quote excludes the following services: Tips for your guides (allow 15) Drinks Travel Insurance we can provide a quote for Travel Insurance Transport to the airport in the UK Visa costs (UK passport holders do require a visa, cost around 95 but there is talk of this being reduced considerably)