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Booking Deadline - 30 June 2008 |
2 Spaces Left |
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$3465 5% Moderate TOUR INCLUDES: - WTT Tour Leader and local tour guides - Breakfast daily, 9 lunches and 4 dinners - Sightseeing and admission to all sights described in the itinerary - Airport transfers if using group air and transportation throughout the tour. - Horse carriage ride to Taj Mahal in Agra - Elephant ride to Amber Fort (subject to availability) - Hotel Day Room in Delhi on departure day
- Hotels: - Delhi: The Park Hotel - Agra: Jaypee Palace - Ranthambore: Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge - Jaipur: Country Inn and Suites __________________
Air Information
Airport:
Arrive: Delhi Friday, 26 September.
(You will depart the U.S. on 25 Sept.) Special Notes Regarding this Trip: - U.S. citizens require a valid passport and valid Indian tourist visa to enter and exit India for any purpose. - Check you expiration date. It cannot expire less than 6 months after your travel completes.
Not Included in the Price of this Tour: - Air from your home and return to your home
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Any personal expenses and any guide/driver gratuities
- You will be responsible for your own airport transfers if you make your own air arrangements.
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About Getting to India - We are sharing everyone's air information so that those who wish to travel together can make the same reservations. If you are interested in this trip and would like to know what flights other women in your area are on, please email WTT at:
ITINERARY
Friday, September 26: Arrive Delhi
You
will depart the US on 25 September. Most flights arrive Delhi late evening
on the 26th or shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, you will clear Immigration and Customs and be transferred to the Park Hotel, excellently located in Connaught Circus, within walking distance of various shops, restaurants, and parks. If you arrive earlier in the day,
the WTT tour leader will assist you with things to do. Saturday, September 27: Delhi City Tour, Crafts Museum, Welcome Dinner The morning is at leisure to relax. We gather this afternoon for a city tour of New Delhi. We drive along the wide boulevards past the majestic Sansad Bhawan (Parliament), Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace), and diplomatic buildings designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s. We continue to the Crafts Museum for a detailed introduction to the nation’s rich craft traditions and culture. The museum’s exhibits are spread over two floors of the complex, divided into separate areas by courtyards. Of particular note is the museum’s extensive collection of antique saris from all regions of India. In addition to touring the extensive textile, mask and pottery collections, we observe as craftspeople-in-residence demonstrate the traditional techniques of folk art. In the evening we are treated to a festive Welcome Reception and Dinner in our cosmopolitan hotel. (B, D)
Sunday, September 28: Old Delhi, Free Time Following a hearty breakfast, we venture to labyrinthine Old Delhi. After navigating the narrow lanes of Chandhi Chowk. stocked with gold jewelry, vegetables, and wholesale goods, we end at the Jami Masjid. This grand mosque, with three imposing black and white marble domes was built in 1656 by the Emperor Shah Jahan and took six years and 5,000 workers to construct. For lunch, we savor northern Indian culinary specialties at a local restaurant. The late afternoon and evening are free for further exploration. Use this opportunity to take your pick of Delhi’s excellent restaurants. (B, L)
Monday, September 29: Qutb Minar, Agra
This morning, we visit the majestic Qutb Minar, one of Delhi’s most ancient sites, as we depart Delhi bound for Agra (approximately 5-hour drive). We stop for a brief lunch en route. As we approach Agra, we are transported back in time as our guide recounts the fascinating tales of the Mughal empire, the enlightened dynasty that ruled India for over 300 years beginning in the 16th century. At its height, the Mughal empire successfully synthesized both Islamic and Hindu cultures as patrons of literature, the arts, and architecture to achieve a more pluralistic and enlightened society. As one of the epicenters of Mughal rule, Agra is home to the most elegant monuments of this fascinating dynasty. We are introduced to Mughal splendor at Sikandra, the magnificent red sandstone and marble inlaid tomb of enlightened Emperor Akbar the Great. Late this afternoon, we check in to the Jaypee Palace Hotel, located a short distance from the Taj Mahal.
Tuesday, September 30: Agra, Taj Majal, Agra Fort Upon entering the red sandstone gateway into the lush garden tomb of Mumtaz Mahal this morning, we encounter pure beauty in the renowned Taj Mahal. The impeccable marble facing, embellished by a remarkable use of exquisite surface design, is a showcase for the refined aesthetic that reached its height during Shah Jahan’s reign. Described as “one of the most elegant and harmonious buildings in the world”, the Taj indeed manifests the wealth and luxury of Mughal art as seen in architecture and garden design, painting, jewelry, calligraphy, textiles, carpet-weaving and furniture. We gain insight into the rule of Shah Jahan as we navigate the opulent tomb. We enjoy lunch together at a beautiful garden restaurant. This afternoon, we explore the grand studios of the Agra Fort, the structure in which Shah Jahan lived out his final days under house arrest by his son, Aurangzeb. The precarious transfer of power from father to son and the subsequent Mughal decline is the topic of our guide’s lecture as we explore this fascinating fort palace. (B, L)
Wednesday, October 1: Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park We depart Agra this morning bound for Rajasthan, the captivating Land of Princes. Just before crossing the border from Uttar Pradesh, we visit the hauntingly beautiful ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, the temporary capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. We gain insight into the secular vision of Akbar through close scrutiny and discussion of the Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Next, we experience a unique glimpse of rural village life as we venture into the countryside of Uttar Pradesh. We are greeted by the village leader and led on an enlightening walk to see the villagers’ homes, school, and temple and observe how agriculture fuels the local economy. Following lunch at a restored noble’s haveli, we board the Kota Jan Shatabdi Express for an air-conditioned train journey through Rajasthan (approx. 2 hour train ride).
Upon arrival in Sawai Madhopur, we transfer to the Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge, a charming colonial hunting lodge on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park. Located amidst 12 acres of lush gardens, this 70-year-old hunting lodge exudes a rustic, earthy charm and an air of history. The lodge is a 20-minute drive from the Ranthambore National Park.
Thursday, October 2: Ranthambore Wildlife Viewing Following a hearty buffet breakfast in our hotel, we embark on an all-day wildlife viewing in Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore National Park is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in Rajasthan. Encompassing over 400 square kilometers, the Park’s steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers, and the terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. Once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park originally became a tiger sanctuary due to the Maharaja’s desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport. As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime asset of the Park, have become more active during the day. They can often be seen lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down sambar around the lakes. Other wildlife we may see on our adventure includes chital (spotted deer), marsh crocodiles, wild boar, hyenas, jungle cats, sloth bears, and much more. Our wildlife expert guide is always on hand to point out these and other species in the Park. We return to the hotel this evening for a sumptuous buffet dinner. (B, L, D)
Friday, October 3: Sanganer, Jaipur An urban masterpiece with fascinating bazaars and opulent palaces, Jaipur is informally called the "Pink City" because the buildings of the walled city are washed in a rich salmon color. The walled city is notable for its spectacular layout; in contrast to other cities in India, Jaipur was designed with broad avenues in perfectly straight lines and cross-cutting streets at right angles. (B, L)
Saturday, October 4: Amber Fort, Free Time Our day begins with a short journey out of Jaipur's center to travel a cobbled pathway by elephant to the Amber Fort, perched on a hill near Maota Lake. We explore this incredible fort palace, marveling at its architectural wonders, pristine beauty and various collections of priceless artifacts. Our focus shifts from the Mughals to the Maharajas as we learn about the patronage of Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of this majestic city. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we enjoy free time to visit a textile or pottery gallery, or simply relax at our hotel. (B, L, D)
Sunday, October 5: City Palace, Bazaar The City Palace complex has been home to the rulers of Jaipur since the first half of the 18th century, and is a superb blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. We explore the open-air astronomic observatory, Jantar Mantar, one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, as well as the Maharajas’ private collection of miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, royal costumes and musical instruments. We savor a lunch of Rajasthani specialties together at the City Palace, and continue to Jaipur’s eclectic bazaar. (B, L)
Monday, October 6: Return to Delhi, Free Time, Farewell Dinner
Tuesday, October 7: Delhi, Return Home The day is at leisure to relax, shop, or explore Delhi independently. There are no activities planned for today so schedule your flight to depart Delhi at your convenience. For those of you who book evening flights, a day room at the hotel will been arranged for your use until your departure. (B)
Important Note: Should a surcharge be necessary, Women Traveling Together will notify those travelers already signed up for the tour. In the event that the surcharge is greater than 5% the traveler will have the option to pay the surcharge or to cancel their booking with a full refund.
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All previous information has been superseded.
