Itinerary for Textile & Lifestyle Tour

Transcription

1 Itinerary for Textile & Lifestyle Tour 01 Dec (Thu): Arrive/Delhi by Int l flight Arrive at Delhi International airport. Meet & assistance on arrival by our travel executive. Transfer to your Hotel. (Check-in time is 12 noon) Briefing of the tour by the executive Delhi discover that India s capital is sprinkled with glittering gems: captivating ancient monuments, magnificent museums, a vivacious performing-arts scene and some of the subcontinent s yummiest places to eat. Overnight at Hotel. 02 Dec (Fri): Delhi Depart for half day sightseeing tour of New Delhi. Delhi, the capital of India comprises of conspicuously contrasting Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries and one can find mosques, monuments and forts related to Muslim history. New Delhi is the imperial city created as India's capital by the British intricately planned and comprises of imposing buildings displaying various modern style of architecture.

2 Humayun's Tomb (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Humayun's tomb is believed to have been designed in 1565 AD by the widow of Mughal emperor Humayun. Its plan is based on the description of Islamic paradise garden and is known to have inspired the Taj Mahal and many later Mughal tombs. This type of garden is known as a charbagh and is based on a grid) Continue your tour with Qutab Minar (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Qutab Minar is 73 meters high which tapers from a 15 m diameter base to just 2.5 m at the top. The walls consist intricately carved quotations from Koran. The tower is one of the most perfect towers of the Persian world). The tour would also include a drive through the Lutyens Delhi and a photo stop at India Gate (The war memorial) as well drive past President's Palace & Parliament House. Afternoon is free to relax. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel. 03 Dec (Sat): Delhi Depart for half day sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting Red Fort (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Red Fort was built by the mughal emperor famous for its architectural wonders one of which is Taj Mahal - Shah Jahan. Red Fort is famous for its delicately carved inlaid and Royal chambers) Monday closed.

3 Stop at Jama Masjid the Great Mughal Mosque (It is the largest mosque in India. Located in Old Delhi, the mosque has the capacity to accommodate devotees. Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD and it again the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is behind this architectural masterpiece. Close to some 5000 craftsmen were in the construction of the mosque) Nation Mahatma Gandhi) Then visit Raj Ghat (The cremation ground of the father of the Rest of the day is free to relax. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 04 Dec (Sun): Delhi/Lucknow by 2004 LKO Shatabdi Express at 0615/1230hrs Today morning you will be transferred to New Delhi train station in time to board 2004 Lucknow shatabdi Express (Travel in AC Chair Car) to Lucknow. Meet/Assist on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, was also the capital city of the Nawabs of Awadh. The city was a favorite of the nawabs and many magnificient buildings and monuments have been built by them. Situated on the banks of River Gomti, the city of Nawabs is famous all over the world for its etiquettes and Tehzeeb or the graceful and polite behavior. Famous for its lovely monuments, architecture, dance and handicrafts, Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is today one of the growing metropolitan cities of India. Known for its Urdu poetry or Shayari, the city offers its travelers a perfect blend of its glorious past and the modern present.

4 Afternoon visit the weaving center of Chicken Kari the famous textile of Lucknow embroidery mostly local design using white thread upon very fine cotton. Also visit the self employed women s center famous for its hand embroidery. You will of course get a chance to buy some of this great embroidery. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 05 Dec (Mon): Lucknow Depart for half day sightseeing tour of Lucknow visiting Bada Imambada or Asafi Imambada (Imambada: patriarch's place) is an important tourist attraction of Lucknow. It was built by the then Nawab Asaf-ud- Daula in 1784 to provide succor to the famine-stricken people. Apart from the galleries in the interior, there is no woodwork anywhere. The interior vaulted hall, measuring 162 feet long, 53 feet broad, and 50 feet high is said to be one of the largest apartments of its kind in the world. From the outside, a staircase leads to a series of artfully designed labyrinths (bhoolbhulaiyan) where it is very easy to get lost! You could wander through the zigzag narrow galleries for hours without finding your way out! It's a very eerie sensation, moving towards the sunlit corridors that seem to be going out, only to find that you are actually deeper in the labyrinth! Most visitors therefore are only allowed inside with guides who are, quite amazingly, familiar with the maze.

5 The Hussainabad or Chota Imambada is an exquisite building built by Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah in 1839 as a burial place for himself. As you enter the compound, you step into a large courtyard with a rectangular raised tank spanned by a small bridge. The beautiful Imambada, reflected in the placid water of the tank is one of the prettier sights in Lucknow. On either side of the courtyards stand a miniature version of the Taj Mahal. In one of them lies buried Zinat Asuja, the daughter of Muhammad Ali Shah and in the other are preserved the remains of her husband. The walls of the Imambada are embellished with calligraphic verses in Arabic. The interior of the Imambada houses an exotic assortment of objects ranging from elaborate chandeliers and gilded mirrors to tazias made of sandalwood, wax, and paper. A silver railing encloses the graves of Muhammad Ali Shah and his mother. During Muharram, both the Imambadas are ablaze with illumination. Apart from the Bada Imambada, Asaf-ud-Daula also built the great Roomi Darwaza as a relief work during the famine of Said to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople, this soaring edifice, which is 60 feet high, can match any similar structure in point of beauty and splendor. The Hussainabad Clock Tower, rising to 221 feet, was started in 1880 and completed seven years later. The clock itself, which was designed by M. J. W. Wanson of London, is said to be the largest in India. Nearby is the Picture Gallery, a double-storey redbrick building built by Mohammed Ali Shah as a baradari. Today, it houses enormous portraits of all the Nawabs of Avadh, most of which were painted in the late 19th century by European artists. The portraits, which have recently been restored, give a good insight into the grand costumes and jewelry favored by the Nawabs. This afternoon we shall take you to the bustling market of Lucknow where you can enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

6 06 Dec (Tue): Lucknow/Varanasi by road Depart for Varanasi and check in at Hotel. Varanasi, the city was founded by the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, around 5,000 years ago, thus making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus. Many Hindu scriptures, including the Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, mention the city. Afternoon walk through the bazaar of Varanasi a heaven for the rich merchant wholesale markets for brocade and Banarasi Sari. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 07 Dec (Wed): Varanasi/Agra by 4863 Marudhar Exp at Leaving at 1815hrs, Arise early morning for boat ride on river Ganga to witness the ritual bath at Ghats The sunrise is worth watching. You would also be able to walk through the narrow lanes of Varanasi or Kashi. Stop outside the famous temple of Shiva the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Depart for tour of Sarnath - It is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India at Sarnath have revealed many structures which represent facets of the Buddhist history visit the Archaeological Museum, Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Tibetan Temple, Thai Temple and the Deer Park. The Archaeological Museum in Sarnath is one of the most famous museums of its kind in Southeast Asia. The museum is situated very near the historical ruins. It contains a huge collection of sculptures.

7 Afternoon is free to relax. In the late evening you will be transferred to Varanasi train station in time to board 4863 Marudhar Express (Travel in AC 2 Tier Sleeper Class) to Agra. Overnight in the train 08 Dec (Thu): Arrive Agra at 0555hrs Today morning you will arrive at Agra train station. Meet/Assist on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world - The Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the Moslems, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. While it's significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jaha, it's architectural wealth has secured it's place on the international map. In the afternoon you will be taken on a half day sightseeing tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE) Describe as a most extravagant monument ever build for love, this sublime Mughal mausoleum is India s most ogled icon. The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began in the same year and was not completed until Not long after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort where, for the rest of his days, he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside Mumtaz.

8 then you will depart for AGRA FORT (sometimes called the Red Fort), was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565, and is another of Agra's World Heritage Sites. A stone tablet at the gate of the Fort states that it had been built before 1000 but was later renovated by Akbar. The red sandstone fort was converted into a palace during Shah Jahan s time, and reworked extensively with marble & Pietra dura inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque, the Diwan-e'Ām and Dīwān-e- Khās (halls of public and private audience), Jahagir Palace, Khās Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (mirrored palace), Also visit local market and a marble factory where you can actually see the inlay work being done on marble like it was done for Taj in the past. Dinner & overnight at Hotel.

9 09 Dec (Fri): Agra/Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri Depart for Jaipur en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. the Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fatehpūr Sikrī about 35 km from Agra, and moved his capital there. Later abandoned, the site displays a number of buildings of significant historical importance. A World Heritage Site, it is visited by most tourists. The name of the place came about after the Mughal Emperor Barbar defeated Rana Sanga in a battle at a place called Sikrī. Then the Mughal Emperor Akbar wanted to make Fatehpūr Sikrī his head quarters, so he built a majestic fort; due to shortage of water, however, he had to ultimately move his headquarters to Agra Fort. Continue your drive to Jaipur and check in at Hotel. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and is the first well planned city of India, located in the desert lands of India, Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. In the present date, Jaipur is the major business centre for the natives of Rajasthan with all requisites of a metropolitan city. In the late afternoon you will be taken to visit Saganer where you will see the villages at work, fascination art of Tie & Dye (Bandhani) and Block Printing with wooden blocks and the art of hand made papers. Return to Hotel. Dinner & overnight at Hotel.

10 10 Dec (Sat): Jaipur Depart for Amber fort (Situated atop the Aravali hills, it is the ancient capital of Jaipur and a magnificent example of Rajput architecture). We ascend to the fort on Elephant's back and come down in Jeep. Pronounced Amber and meaning High, this wraithlike fort palace beautifully illustrates Rajput artistry in the faded shades of the reddish pink. Situated on the rugged hills 1 Km north of town, Amber was once the ancient capital of the Jaipur state. Later sightseeing of Jaipur city visiting Hawa Mahal- Palace of Winds (This five storied building which looks out over the main street of the old city is one of Jaipur's major landmarks. This is a stunning example of the Rajput artistry with it's pink, semioctagonal and delicately honey combed and stone windows. Originally Hawa Mahal was built to enable the ladies of the royal families to watch the daily life and processions of the city), Jantar Mantar (The Observatory, built by Raja Jai Singh in1728. It is an excellent example of the marvelous precision where in each construction has a specific purpose to measure the position of stars, altitudes and azimuths or calculating eclipses. The most striking instruments the Sun Dial which is 90 feet high) and

11 City Palace Museum (City Palace is delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture. A part of the palace is still the house of the former Maharaja of Jaipur). Visit the various galleries displaying the armory, clothes and paintings of the Rajput clan. The tour of Jaipur is not complete without shopping as Jaipur is known as a shopper s paradise famous for jewellery, handicraft, carpet, blue pottery and textiles Dinner & overnight at hotel. 11 Dec (Sun): Jaipur/Udaipur by Road Breakfast in the hotel. Depart for Udaipur and check in at Hotel. Udaipur was the capital of the Rajpur kingdom of Mear, ruled by the Sisodia clan. The founder of Udaipur was Rana Udai Singh. The ancient capital of Mewar was Nagda, located on the Banas River northeast of Udaipur. Legend has it that Maharana Udai Singh came upon a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit blessed the king and asked him to build a palace on the spot and it would be well protected. Udai Singh established a residence there. In 1568 the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, and Udai Singh moved the capital to the site of his residence, which became the city of Udaipur. As the Mughal empire weakened, the Sisodia ranas, and later maharanas, reasserted their independence and recaptured most of Mewar except the fort of Chittor. Udaipur remained the capital of the state, which became a princely state of British India in After India's Independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur acceded to the Government of India, and Mewar was integrated into India's Rajasthan state. The city's pride, the 'Lake Palace' was once a prison. Rest of the day is free to relax. Dinner & overnight at Hotel.

12 12 Dec (Mon): Udaipur Depart for half day sightseeing tour of Udaipur also known as City of Lakes visiting City Place - standing on the east bank of Lake Pichola is a massive series of palaces built at different times from The balconies of the palace provide panoramic views of "Jag Niwas" (the Lake Palace Hotel), Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. Its main entrance is through the triplearched gate - the Tripolia, built in The way now leads to a series of courtyards, overlapping parations, terraces, corridors and gardens. There is a Suraj Gokhda, where the maharanas of Mewar presented themselves in the times of trouble to the people to restore confidence. The Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), gets its name from the mosaics in glass decorating its walls. The chini chitrashala is noteworthy while a series of wall paintings of Krishna are on display in Bhim Vilas. There are numerous other Palaces such as Dilkhush mahal, Sheesh mahal, Moti mahal and Krishna vilas - in memory of a princess of striking beauty who poisoned herself to avert a bloody battle for her hand by rival princes. Now the palace contains many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils and attracts thousands of visitors every day, Sahelion ki Bari was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. The gardens set below the embankment of the Fateh Sagar Lake have lotus pools, marble pavilions and elephant-shaped fountains. These fountains are fed by the water of the lake gushing through ducts made for the purpose. Afternoon is free to relax.

13 Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 13 Dec (Tue): Udaipur-Nathwada-Udaipur Depart for half day tour of Nathdwara know for its pigment printing textiles depicting Lord Krishna. Return to the Hotel. Late afternoon, approximately an hour before sunset, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola and visit the Jag Niwas Palace by motor launch. The palace, built of granite and marble, covers four acres and is built almost in the middle of the lake. Visit the Borra Mahal, Khas Mahal and the courts, gardens and fountains. Also visit Jag Mandir Palace Dinner & overnight at Hotel.

14 14 Dec (Wed): Udaipur/Ahmedabad by Road Depart for Ahmedabad and check in at Hotel. Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate. The city is named after its founder. Under British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernised and expanded. Although incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during the British rule in India, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname "the Manchester of the East." [4][5] The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century. [6] It was the centre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights, civil rightsand political independence. Rest of the day is free to relax. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 15 Dec (Thu): Ahmedabad Depart for sightseeing tour of Ahmedabad visiting Sabarmati Ashram - this This ashram was Gandhi's headquarters during the long struggle for Indian independence. His ashram was founded in 1915 and still makes handicraft, handmade paper and spinning wheels. Gandhi's spartan living quarter are preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial record of the major events in his life. The ashram is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (7 pm between April and September). Admission is free. There is a soundand-light show for a small charge at 6:30 pm (in Gujarati) and 8:30 pm (in English on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and in Hindi on the other nights. The beautiful ashram complex of Ahmedabad, with it's shady trees populated by thousands of parakeets, beeeaters, sunbirds and squirells, offers a refuge from the loud streets of the city, and is one the foremost tourist attractions of Ahmedabad.

15 Also visit Jama Masjid, built in 1423 by Ahmed Shah, is beside Mahatma Gandhi Rd, to the east of the Teen Darwaja. Although 260 columns support the roof, the two 'shaking' minarets lost half their height in the great earthquake of 1819, and another tremor in 1957 completed their demolition. Much of this early Ahmedabad mosque was built using items salvaged from the demolished Hindu and Jain temples. It is said that a large black slab by the main arch is actually the base of a Jain idol, buried upside down for the Muslim faithful to tread on. In the afternoon visiting Shreyas Folk Museum Exhibiting the finest arts and crafts of Gujarat, Shreyas Folk Museum is situated 2.5km west of Sabarmati. Set in suburbs of Ambavadi in Ahmedabad, the museum has a huge display of textiles and clothing in Gujarat. One of the major attraction of the museum is a complete skeleton of an elephant with a height of about 3.19m. Old coins, weapons, toys, costumes, masks, puppets, musical fountains and animal caparisons also lure foreign tourists. The museum remains open daily from 10:30am-05:30pm except Mondays and public holidays. It remains close during lunch hours.i.e. 01:30pm to 02:00pm. also visit National Institute of Design. We shall also try and take the permission to visit Calico Museum. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 16 Dec (Fri): Ahmedabad/Mumbai by 2010 Shatabadi Exp at 1430/2135hrs Morning free to relax. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Ahmedabad train station in time to board 2010 Shatabadi Express (Travel in AC Chair Car) to Mumbai.

16 Meet/Assist on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Bombay, is the capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra. The city is the second mostpopulous in the world; with approximately 14 million inhabitants along with the neighbouring cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane it forms the world s 4 th largest urban agglomeration, with around 19 million people. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. Overnight at Hotel. 17 Dec (Sat): Mumbai Depart for Half day sightseeing tour of Mumbai visiting Gateway of India Mumbai's most famous monument, this is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Ironically, when the Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England left from the Gateway. Today this symbol of colonialism has got Indianised, drawing droves of local tourists and citizens. Drive past Marine Drive is a 3-kilometrelong boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. This is a windswept promenade, flanked by the sea and a row of art deco buildings. Looped between the concrete jungle of Nariman Point, Mumbai's Manhattan, and the leafy green slopes of Malabar hill, Marine Drive was once called the queen's Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like an

17 enormous strand of imperious jewels. It is also one of Mumbai's busiest roads, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. Like other seafronts, this is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air. Crawford Market Crawford Market is one of the prominent markets of Mumbai. It is located in South Mumbai, to the north of Victoria railway station and opposite the Police headquarters. The market is called so, after the City's Municipal Commissioner Arthur Crawford. Though it is now officially known as the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market, it is still popular by its former name. The construction of the market building was completed in One of the main features of the building is the Clock Tower, which is adorned with beautiful Victorian carvings. Mani Bhavan in Mumbai is a must visit for all those who are curious about knowing Mahatma Gandhi, the torchbearer of Ahimsa or Non-violence. The memorial is dedicated to this legendary freedom fighter of India & the Father of the Nation, who stayed here between 1917 and 1934 during India's freedom struggle. Dhobi Ghat The Dhobi is a traditional laundryman, who will collect your dirty linen, wash it, and return it neatly pressed to your doorstep. The "laundries" are called "ghats": row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone. The clothes are soaked in sudsy water, thrashed on the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of boiling starch and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled into neat bundles. The most famous of these Dhobi Ghats is at Saat Rasta near Mahalaxmi Station where almost two hundred dhobis and their families work together in what has always been a hereditary occupation.

18 Hanging Garden Perched at the top of Malabar Hill, where the elite have built their plush modern palaces is Kamala Nehru Park, the hangout of the bourgeois middle class. It has little to offer by way of entertainment, apart from a "Old Woman's Shoe" relegated to a distant corner, but the view of the city is spectacular and should not be missed. For most Mumbaiites, Kamala Nehru Park is to Mumbai what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris -- a vantage point that casts a proud eye on the entire city. Afternoon is free to relax. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. 18 Dec (Sun): Depart/Mumbai by Int l flight Today you will be transferred to Mumbai International airport in time to connect your onward flight to next destination. Note: In India Hotels check-in/check-out time is 1200hrs.

19 COST SHEET PER PAX ON TWIN SHARING IN US DOLLAR (MAPAI) Minimum 10 pax US$ 2220 Single Supplement US$ 1210 HOTELS USED IN THE PACKAGE PLACES HOTEL DELHI HOTEL RADISSON BLU LUCKNOW LA PLACE SAROVAR PORTICO VARANASI HINDUSTAN INTL. AGRA HOWARD SAROVAR PORTICO JAIPUR PARK PRIME UDAIPUR HILLTOP PALACE AHMEDABAD SAROVAR PORTICO MUMBAI FARIYAS The Cost Includes Meet & Greet upon arrival. Indian Tour Leader throughout the tour. English speaking local guide in each city for sightseeing tours. 4 Star Hotels as mentioned above or similar. Breakfast throughout the tour. Dinners throughout the tour. All Transfers, Sightseeing Tours & Excursion as mentioned in the itinerary by air conditioned vehicle. Train fare Delhi/Lucknow & Ahmedabad/Mumbai in AC Chair Car. Train fare Varanasi/Agra by TwoTier AC sleeper class. Elephant ride at Jaipur, Boat ride at Varanasi, Udaipur & Mumbai. Present applicable taxes as on 30 th April, 2011 and if any new taxes will be imposed by Govt. of India, the same shall be charged as per actual. Service 2.575% (subject to change).

20 The Cost Does Not Include Cost for service not mentioned under the Cost Includes Head. Cost for International Air tickets to/from India. Visa Fee. Insurance Charges (we recommend comprehensive insurance). Entrance tickets to the monuments/museums visited. Tips to porters, restaurant staff, guides etc. (same would be collected before the start of the tour by the Tour Leader) Payment for service provided on a personal request basis. Personal expenses such as laundry, soft drinks, bottled water, incidentals, etc. Expenses incurred due to change in oil price, mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc. In such case extra will be charged as per actual which will be collected from the guest directly.