HERITAGE TRAINS OF INDIA TRAINS MAGAZINE TOUR February 14-27, 2019 ITINERARY
Heritage Trains of India 2019 Travel with TRAINS Magazine and Special Interest Tours on this two week railroad adventure through historic India.. Tour Highlights Include: Private Charter on the DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow gauge rail) Private steam charter on Kalka Shimla Railway National Rail Museum in Delhi Rewari Steam Center Taj Mahal Tour Tours of Palaces and Tombs in Delhi and Jaipur Privately chartered ground transport 3 Meals Daily 13 nights luxurious accommodation
Please Note ** Group Flights Available ** Please contact us if you are interested in joining our group flight. Day 1 Feb 14th Fly to the Delhi International Airport, where we will greet and transfer you to the grand Imperial Hotel. In the evening our group will gather for dinner in the hotel's restaurant, dine with the group, and settle in for the night. Day 2 Feb 15th After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will board the Express train to Kalka from the New Delhi Railway Station. Upon arrival at Kalka Station, we will board a chartered rail-bus to Shimla on narrow gauge. The ride on this historic rail-bus passes through beautiful scenery of the Himalayan foothills. Upon arrival in Shimla we will settle into the Cecil Hotel for a two night stay. Day 3 Feb 16th You have the day free to explore Shimla and all its highlights, including the Viceregal Palace.
Day Day 4 4 Feb 17th Our return journey to Delhi begins with a ride via steam train from Shimla to Kathleeghat, on the narrow gauge Kalka Shimla Railway (KSR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This route features spectacular scenery and marvels of construction. It has hundreds of bridges and viaducts, numerous tunnels, and a gradient of 1 in 33. Our train will be hauled by the British-built steam locomotive KC520, which has recently returned from overhaul at the Northern Railway workshops in Amritsar. The two railway stations are 23 km (14 miles) apart, but the 2 hour journey each way will provide ample opportunity to appreciate the breathtaking views and amazing infrastructure. Upon arrival in Kathleeghat we will drive to Chandigarh for our flight to Delhi where we will overnight.
Day Day 45 March, Feb 18th 11th Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and return to Fairbanks. Along the way, we will stop briefly at the Alaskan Pipeline, a great architectural feat in the harshest of climates. Today, a series of flights will bring us east to Bagdogra. From Bagdogra we will transfer to Siliguri, a town located in the foothills of the Himalayas. Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and Color in the Universe. At the Siliguri steam locomotive depot of the famous narrow gauge Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, Darjeeling we will charter Himalayan a coach to Railway transport our (DHR), group to we a special will remote board location, a specially in an attempt chartered to experience the impressive aurora lights! train, hauled by a 'B Class' steam locomotive to travel to Rangtong. En route, we will pass Sukna Station, where the landscape changes from flat plains to the wooded lower slopes of the mountains, and the gradient of the railway changes dramatically. We will spend the night in the quaint hill station of Kurseong, at Chochrane Place, a unique colonial bungalow turned hotel. The DHR tracks run through the length of this former rest town from the days of the British Raj.
Day 6 Feb 19th This morning we will travel by jeep to Kurseong Station where we'll board a steam train on the DHR, nicknamed the Toy Train. En route, we will pass through the famous Batasia Loop and - weather permitting - might be able to take photos of the train against the background of Mt. Kanchenjunga and the rest of the Himalayan range. Upon arrival in Darjeeling we will transfer to the Windamere, a stunning historic colonial hotel and settle in for a 3-night stay. Day 7 Feb 20th Today we re-board the Toy Train, for the DHR steam-hauled service that runs daily on a return trip from Darjeeling to Ghum, the highest railway station in India. There may be another opportunity to photograph the spectacular Himalayan Mountains when the train pauses at 'Batasia Loop'. Later we will stop at Ghum and visit the museum above the station before we return to Darjeeling by jeep. After lunch we will visit the Tibetan Refugee Center to see traditional handmade textiles and crafts. --
-- We will also visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Day Institute 4 (HMI) which houses March, artifacts 11th of the legendary Sir Edmund Hillary and the Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and local return Sherpa to Fairbanks. of Darjeeling, Along the way, Tenzing we will stop briefly Norgay, at the who Alaskan were Pipeline, the a first great to architectural feat in the harshest of climates. conquer Mt. Everest. Day 8 Feb 21st Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and Color in the Universe. Early risers are in for a real treat today with our excursion to Tiger Hill Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, (subject we will charter to clear a coach weather to transport as advised our group to by a special our local remote team). location, Tiger in an Hill attempt is about to experience the impressive aurora lights! 12 km from Darjeeling and is the place to see the spectacular sunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga - the world s third highest mountain. As the sun appears, the mountain dramatically changes color; an awe-inspiring experience not to be missed. On a perfectly clear day, Mt. Everest can also be seen. Along our return to Darjeeling, we will visit the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery at Ghum, which was built in 1875, and contains a 15 foot high statue of the Buddha. Breakfast will be provided upon our return to the hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to enjoy this famous hill station.
Day 94 March, Feb 22nd 11th Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena We leave Darjeeling today, traveling and return to Fairbanks. Along the way, we will stop by briefly road at to the Bagdogra Alaskan Pipeline, Airport a great where architectural feat in the harshest of climates. we board an afternoon flight to Delhi where we will spend the night. Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and Color in the Day Universe. 10 Feb 23rd Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, Today we will charter we will a coach depart to transport Delhi from our group to a the special Cantonment remote location, Railway in an attempt Station to experience the impressive aurora lights! and journey by steam train to the Rewari Steam Center. Our train will be hauled by one of India s iconic steam locomotives, a WP class Pacific built post World War II for use on prestigious express trains. The Rewari Steam Center houses preserved broad gauge and metre gauge steam locomotives. The site also includes a library, small exhibits, a steam crane, and a restored saloon carriage. The latter will be our venue for having a boxed lunch that has been specially arranged for us. Following this visit, we will travel by road southwest to the majestic state of Jaipur.
Day 11 Feb 24th Today in Jaipur, the "Pink City", we will visit the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Observatory, and drive through the Hawa Mahal. Day 12 Feb 25th This morning we travel east to Agra the city of Taj Mahal. En route we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival in Agra, we will check into the ITC Mughal Hotel. In the late afternoon we will visit the Red Fort, Itmad Ud Daulah, and witness the art of Pietra Dura (the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished, colored stones to create images). Day 13 Feb 26th We will rise early to visit the Taj Mahal at dawn. Sunrise, with its shifting colors and soft light, is the best time to visit this iconic site.
After the Taj Mahal tour, breakfast will be provided at the hotel followed by free time to rest and relax. In the afternoon we will check out & drive to Delhi. Day 14 Feb 27th After breakfast, we will take a rickshaw ride through the Old Delhi bazaars and visit the sights of Old Delhi including Jama Masjid, one of the oldest mosques in India, and Humayun's Tomb. After lunch, we will visit the National Rail Museum. In the evening, we will gather one last time for a farewell dinner at our hotel. After dinner we will transfer to the airport. Guests will have a late check out and can keep their hotel rooms until dinner, in order to rest and freshen up in before their international flights home.
Day 4 Included in Tour Price March, 11th 13 nights luxurious hotel stay Three meals daily Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and return Ground to Fairbanks. Transportation Along the way, we will stop briefly Internal at the Flights Alaskan Pipeline, a great architectural feat in the harshest of climates. All train rides and activities mentioned above Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and Color in the Universe. Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, we will charter a coach to transport our group to a special remote location, in an attempt to experience the impressive aurora lights! Day 15 Not Included in Tour Price Airfare to and from Delhi (**Group flights available**) Items of a personal nature Alcoholic Beverages Additional snacks Travel Insurance is available for purchase Total Cost of Tour Per person, based on double occupancy: $7684 Singles Supplement: $1435 Per person deposit, due upon registration: $500 Full Payment Deadline: November 15th, 2018
2017 Tour Guest Testimonials "We had a great time! Wonderful trains, lovely hotels, excellent guides, and the Taj Mahal this trip had it all!" "The railways were wonderful. The Kalka Shimla was a real surprise the railcar ride echoed the Galloping Geese on the Rio Grande Southern, which I m not old enough to have ridden. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was great, and the Fairy Princess charter train felt like a throwback to the India of the Raj that is seen in movies and TV shows. " "It was a masterful blend of railroading, Raj hill station heritage and general India interest. To include all of these themes in such a short time period, would seem impossible. However, it was accomplished in a quick paced but not tiring manner. The choice of hotels was an added benefit as they enhanced the Raj experience with the utmost of comfort, service and menu. Overall, I was very pleased with the entire experience and would not hesitate to recommend it to any Railfan. I also, highly recommend SIT. It is a well-organized company with the customer s interest foremost."
Hotels Please see below for a list of hotels we will be staying at: The Imperial Hotel & JW Marriott (Delhi) The Cecil (Shimla) Royal Sarovar Portico (Siliguri) Cochrane Place (Kurseong) The Windamere (Darjeeling) The Trident (Jaipur) Courtyard by Marriott (Agra)
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