INDIA Rajasthan & the Festival of Colors with 15 Days/ 13 Nights March 17-31, 2019
Program outline: Day 1: Sun, Mar 17 Day 2: Mon, Mar 18 Day 3: Tue, Mar 19 Day 4: Wed, Mar 20 Day 5: Thu, Mar 21 Day 6: Fri, Mar 22 Day 7: Sat, Mar 23 Day 8: Sun, Mar 24 Day 9: Mon, Mar 25 Day 10: Tue, Mar 26 Day 11: Wed, Mar 27 Day 12: Thu, Mar 28 Day 13: Fri, Mar 29 Day 14: Sat, Mar 30 Day 15: Sun, Mar 31 Leave USA Arrive in Delhi / Delhi Delhi sightseeing / Delhi Drive to Agra - sightseeing / Agra Holi Festival celebrations / Agra Visit Fatehpur Sikri / Abhaneri Ranthambhore National Park / Sawai Madhopur Bengal tiger game viewing / Sawai Madhopur Drive to Jaipur / Jaipur Jaipur sightseeing / Jaipur Drive to Jodhpur - sightseeing / Jodhpur Drive to Rohet - sightseeing / Rohet Ranakpur - Udaipur / Udaipur Udaipur sightseeing / Udaipur Departure
India Highlights: Festival of Colors - Holi Celebrations, Taj Mahal under Full Moon, Taj Mahal during Sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri Fortress, Overnight at Deluxe Tents in the countryside with Folk Dance-Dinner Experience, Bengal Tiger Game Drive, Amber Fort in Jaipur, Dinner with a Rajastani Family, Local Bazaars, Local Food, Jain Temples in Ranakpur, Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Holi is a Hindu spring festival, originating from India, also known as the "festival of colors". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Full Moon day which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.
INCLUDED SERVICES: 13 Nights Accommodation at stated hotels or similar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner as indicated in the itinerary. One domestic flight - on Mar 31, from Udaipur to Delhi for return connection. Transfers - for travelers on suggested flights. Sightseeing, excursions and drives as indicated in the itinerary; related entry fees. Professional English speaking knowledgeable guide throughout the tour. Cycle rickshaw ride at the old bazaar of Old City in Delhi. Camel cart ride at Abhaneri village. Puppet Show with special dinner in Agra. Jeep safari in Ranthambhore National Park. Village safari by jeep at Rohet. Elephant/jeep ride at the Amber Fort. Private boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur (depending on water levels.) Two small bottles of water per person every day on the bus. Porterage at the hotels NOT INCLUDED: International airfare. Visa fees. Drinks with included meals, except drinking water for meals and tea or coffee for breakfast. Gratuities for guides & drivers. Personal expenditures like phone calls, laundry, medical expenses. Travel insurance (can be provided on request.)
ACCOMMODATIONS DELUXE & BOUTIQUE-HERITAGE HOTELS Delhi The Metropolitan http://www.hotelmetdelhi.com/ Agra Oberoi Trident Agra https://www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-agra Abhaneri Deluxe Tents http://www.aagmanindia.com/camp/abhaneri_village.aspx Sawai Madhopur Vivanta by Taj https://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/sawai-madhopur-ranthambore/ Jaipur Oberoi Trident Jaipur https://www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-jaipur Jodhpur Vivanta Hari Mahal https://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/hari-mahal-jodhpur/ Rohet Rohet Garh http://houseofrohet.com/rohet_garh/ Udaipur Oberoi Trident Udaipur https://www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-udaipur
India FLIGHTS Suggested flights are on UA+Air Canada: March 17 UA 2073 Houston to Newark dep: 1:10 pm / arr: 5:48 pm March 17 Newark to Delhi UA 82 dep: 9:00 pm / arr: 8:30 pm on March 18 Apr 1 AC 43 Apr 1 AC 591 Delhi to Toronto dep: 12:20 am / arr: 5:10 am Toronto to Houston dep: 9:30 am / arr: 12:07 pm Fare for these flights are $1183 on economy class, per person as of October 1, 2018, including all taxes, surcharges and fees. These are subject to change based on availability.
Program Details Day 1: Sun, March 17, 2019 Leave USA Day 2: Mon, March 18 Delhi Upon arrival, we will meet our guide and driver who will take us to our hotel. Mysterious eternity Imperial past and pulsating present! India s capital Delhi, a product of over 5000 years of history, houses two UNESCO World Heritage sites and the finest museums of India. Shops offer traditional and contemporary handicrafts. Its plethora of fine dining restaurants and a throbbing nightlife add zest to this historical city. Overnight: Delhi Meals: None Day 3: Tue, March 19 Delhi This morning we will visit Old Delhi, which is a striking contrast to New Delhi. Here are very narrow streets with unregulated traffic of all kinds (where might is always right). The Red Fort, built when the Mughal (Muslim) architecture was at its peak, is surrounded by a 2 km red sandstone wall and houses several splendid buildings. The Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) opposite the Red Fort is the largest mosque in India and one of the greatest examples of the architectural extravaganza of the Mughal era. Then we will have a brief stop at Raj Ghat - Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in black marble. The highlight is a walk through Chandni Chowk (Silver Square), the main shopping street, and a legacy of the Mughal era.
In the afternoon, we will visit New Delhi. Visit Qutub Minar - a tall tower, built to call the devout for prayer at an adjoining mosque. The India Gate (War Memorial) is a 42 meter high stone arch and has names of 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in the first world war. The President's house is a huge building with 340 rooms in the middle of sprawling well laid out gardens. The architecture here is purely British. We will also visit the National Museum - one of the largest museums in India- and the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun. Overnight: Delhi Day 4: Wed, March 20 Delhi - Agra After breakfast, we will drive to Agra. At the time of the Mughals, in the 16th & 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of the grand Mughal Empire. During this period the city became a leading centre of art, science, commerce and culture. Akbar the Great made Agra great. The city's origins are dim but Akbar's grandfather Babur is credited with Agra's founding. The short golden age of Agra came to an end with the seventeenth century reign of Shah Jahan, mastermind of the unforgettable Taj Mahal.
Upon arrival we will visit Itmad-ud-Daula, one of the most beautiful Mughal tombs, which stands a mile upstream from the Taj Mahal across the River Yamuna. Often described as a jewel box, sometimes called the Baby Taj the tomb if often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg who was also the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, responsible for the construction of the Taj Mahal. Tonight, the Holi Eve called Holikan Dahan takes place. Effigy of Holika, the devil minded sister of demon King Hiranyakashyap is burnt in a bonfire. According to tradition, Holika tried to kill Hiranyakashyap's son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. The ritual symbolizes the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of a true devotee. Children also hurl abuses at Holika and pray pranks, as if they still try to chase away Dhundhi who once troubled little ones in the Kingdom of Prithu. Some people also take embers from the fire to their homes to rekindle their own domestic fires. We will also see Taj Mahal at the moonlight. Overnight: Agra Day 5: Thu, March 21 Agra Holi Celebrations At 6 AM we will depart our hotel to enjoy the sunrise view of Taj Mahal, one of the most extravagant monuments in the world. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day. Then we'll return to our hotel for breakfast. Today is the main day of Holi celebrations. The day is called Dhuleti and it is on this day that the actual play of colors takes place. People take extreme delight in spraying color water on each other with pichkaris or pouring buckets and buckets of it. Singing Bollywood Holi numbers and dancing on the beat of dholak is also a part of the tradition. Amidst all this activity people relish gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other traditional Holi delicacies with great joy. We will enjoy a special celebration at a location with other travelers, play with colors, watch some cultural performances, taste Indian snacks and have a buffet lunch. We will be given white kurtas (tops) so we can immerse in colors of Holi. We will return to our hotel to take a bath and change before we visit Agra Fort. Its construction along the bank of Yamuna River was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565. Further additions were made, particularly by his grandson Shah Jahan, using his favorite building material white marble. The fort was built primarily as a military structure, but
Shah Jahan transformed it into a palace, and later it became his gilded prison for eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658. Tonight we will have a special puppet show before dinner. Overnight: Agra Day 6: Fri, March 22 Agra Fatehpur Sikri - Abhaneri After breakfast, we will drive to Fatehpur Sikri - a hilltop ghost fortress and site of the mausoleum of Salim Chishti, a medieval Muslim saint. The city itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this role from 1571 to 1585, when Akbar abandoned it due to a campaign in Punjab and was later completely abandoned in 1610. After occupying Agra in 1803, the English established an administrative center here and it remained so until 1850. In 1815, the Marquess of Hastings ordered repairment of monuments at Sikri.
Then we'll continue to Abhaneri, City of Brightness. Upon arrival, we will check into our deluxe tents for lunch. In Abhaneri, we will visit its Chand Baori, or step well which was invented by the natives to harvest rain water. It was used as a cool place of retreat and as a water source/ reservoir during parched times of the year. Chand Baori remains one of India's deepest and largest step-wells. Adjoining the baori is the architecturally splendid and sculpturally beautiful Harshat Mata Temple which was built between the 7th and 8th centuries, but was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni. Tonight we will stay in deluxe tents in a rural setting. We have a chance to enjoy a camel cart ride and we'll have dinner with folk dances by the bonfire. Overnight: Abhaneri Day 7: Sat, March 23 Abhaneri Ranthambhore National Park Sawai Madhopur After breakfast, we will drive to Ranthambhore National Park which is spread over an area of 151 sq miles. Being the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the park is mostly popular for its Bengal tigers. We will have lunch at the hotel. In late afternoon to early evening, we will enjoy game viewing in the park. The park terrain alternates between dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plans. The current population of tigers in the park is 70. Overnight: Sawai Madhopur
Day 8: Sun, March 24 Ranthambhore National Park We will enjoy morning and evening game viewing at the park. Watching tigers roaming around, seeing greenery, pictorial ruins that dot the area, a wide variety of bird life and animals is a priceless experience. Overnight: Sawai Madhopur Day 9: Mon, March 25 Ranthambhore - Jaipur After enjoying a leisurely morning, we will continue our journey to Jaipur, the Pink City of the Rajas. Jaipur was the capital of Rajasthan province. Everywhere we will see the monuments of its Mughal rulers. Jaipur is one of the main centers for shopping in India, especially with regard to textiles, jewelry and carpets. Jaipur is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Jantar Mantar and the Amber Fort. It is also located in the middle of Dehing Rainforest. Upon arrival, we will check in our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. We stroll through the local bazaars or rest a little bit. Overnight: Jaipur Day 10: Tue, March 26 Jaipur In the morning we will go up to the palace of the Amber Fort, either on elephant top or in a 4X4 vehicle. The fort is an exquisite structure boasting expansive views over the former Rajput kingdom. We will examine delicate inlay work, colorfully painted walls, carved candle niches, mirrored halls, and elegant gardens. We will have our lunch at Samode Haveli, a splendid example of regal Indo-Saracenic architecture. In the afternoon, we will visit Jaipur's City Palace complex, a superb blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, and see the Maharajas' private collection of miniature paintings, fine carpets, royal costumes, and musical instruments. Then we will explore the fascinating open-air astronomical observatory, Jantar Mantar Observatory, and Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds), a landmark of Jaipur made of pink sandstone with a unique design. In the evening, we will enjoy dinner with a local family at their city home. Savor the great flavors of Rajasthani cuisine, and admire the traditional décor of Hindu gods. Learn about the culture of Jaipur for a more authentic experience. Overnight: Jaipur
Day 11: Wed, March 27 Jaipur - Jodhpur After breakfast, we will drive to Jodhpur, the Blue City. Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan, founded as the capital of the Marwar Kingdom. Mighty Mehrangarh Fort, the imposing fort that towers over the city, is a magnificent spectacle and an architectural masterpiece. Around Mehrangarh there's a 6-mile long, 16th century city wall. Inside, the winding streets, scented by incense and roses, take you to bazaars selling everything from handicrafts to saris. Evening is ours to explore the local bazaars. Overnight: Jodhpur Day 12: Thu, March 28 Jodhpur Rohet Garh After a leisurely morning, we will drive to Rohet, and check in our hotel. In the afternoon, we will have a heart warming experience of tribal India by visiting Bishnoi Village near Jodhpur. The village is beautiful with Khejri trees and deer. Bishnoi villagers, called Bishnois, are the protectors of nature for over five centuries. One of the world's first ecologists, the Bishnoi community is responsible for the conservation of species such as the Black Buck and Antelopes. Overnight: Rohet
Day 13: Fri, March 29 Rohet Ranakpur - Udaipur After breakfast, we will drive to Udaipur, visiting Ranakpur on our way. Ranakpur is widely known for its marble Jain temple complex, said to be the most spectacular of the Jain temples. The complex was built in the 15th century AD, and is one of the five major pilgrimage sites of Jainism. Within the complex are a number of temples, some of which are dedicated to individual tirthankaras, the 24 spiritual masters in Jainism. But what really stands out are the 1444 beautifully carved and stunningly decorated white pillars, each one completely unique and unlike any other. Afterwards continue your overland journey to Udaipur City of Lakes. Upon arrival, we will check in our hotel. Evening free to enjoy the city on your own. Overnight: Udaipur Day 14: Sat, March 30 Udaipur After breakfast we will have a sightseeing tour of Udaipur city starting with the City Palace, which towers over Lake Pichola. It is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. We will continue on to Jagadish Temple, which enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu and his vehicle - a mighty bird called Garuda. The temple is a very fine example of Indo-Aryan art. After lunch, we will visit Sahelion Ki Bari - the spectacular garden displaying the unique life style of the royal ladies who once lived in the palaces. Then we will spend some time in the bustling market that sprawls behind the City Palace Complex. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a boat cruise on the mystical waters of Lake Pichola (subject to water level). There is no more delightful way to see this city. While boating in Lake Pichola, you will see the City Palace and its crenellated walls, draped gracefully along a high ridge. You will also see the beautiful island of Jagmandir, dedicated to the Lord of the Universe, and Jag Niwas (the Lake palace), mirrored in the waters of Lake Pichola. Tonight we will have a special farewell dinner at a palace complex. Overnight: Udaipur Day 15: Sun, March 31 Departure After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport to fly back to the US via Delhi. Meals: B