Highlights of Northern India

INDIA
Duration

Day Plan

15 Day/14 Night

Group Size

15People

Languages

English

Thistrip is North India at its best. Going beyond the 'Golden Triangle' we search for Bengal Tigersin
Ranthambore, take a boat trip down the Chambal River in search of endangered Gharial crocodiles and
witnessthe spiritual evening aarti ceremony in Varanasi.



RanthamboreNational Park - Search for Bengal tigers and other wildlife in India's most iconic national park
Bateshwar - Explore 40 Hindu templesthat line the banks of the River Chambal
Golden Triangle - Discover Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, North India's historical hub

DAY 1 -Join tour in Delhi; city tour of New Delhi

Arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital which successfully combinesthe ancient with the modern.
Amidst the tall and modern skyscrapers, there are still the remnants of a bygone timewith numerous
monuments and temples.
For those arriving on time today our Leader plansto meet you in the hotel reception at 1.30pm for the
welcome meeting and to take us on our afternoon city tour which will visit Qutab Minar, the talleststone
tower in India and Humayun's Tomb dating from the Mughal Dynasty. We also drive past the imposing
India Gate (war memorial arch), the Parliament buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President's
residence.
If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's
Indira Gandhi International airport (airport codeDEL), which is 18km, around 40 minutesfrom our hotel.
Please note that if you wish to join the city tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 1.30pm. If you are
booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. From the
airport to the hotel is around 45 minutes drive,so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 12.00pm.
Should you missthewelcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information assoon
as you catch up.


DAY 2 - Walk through Old Delhi's narrow lanes and explore the Jama Masjid mosque before
travelling to Jaipur.

Compared to New Delhi, the Old City is much closer to the image conjured up by Rudyard Kipling. This
morning, wewill travel to Old Delhi by metro and walk around the narrow, packed lanes of this
fascinating part of the city, culminating with a jamboree of sounds at Chandni Chowk Bazaar. A short
cycle rickshaw ride then takes usto the Jama Masjid mosque, a sublime example of Mughal architecture
built by emperor Shah Jahan and a bit of an oasisin the midst of the city. Whilst in Old Delhi wewill get
to try some of the capital'sstreet food treatsstraight from the stall sellersincluding aloo chaat (fried
potato and spice mix) or paneer tikka (cottage cheese marinated in spices) along with freshly cooked
breadssuch as parathas and rotis.
In the early afternoon wewill drive to Jaipur by road, a journey which will take approximately five to six
hoursincluding comfortstops.


DAY 3 - Discover Jaipur's hilltop Amber Fort, City Palace and Palace of the Winds .

The capital of the state of Rajasthan,Jaipur wasIndia'sfirst planned city and is considered by many to be
one of the finest planned cities anywhere, the usual Indian urban chaos being replaced by wide streets
and formal gardens. This morning wewill visit the once mighty Rajput capital of Amber (traditionallyknown as Amer) and its magnificent fortress. Lying at the mouth of a rocky mountain gorge, overlooking
Maotha Lake, the fort is a stunning creation of white marble and red sandstone that contains a dazzling
mix of Hindu and Muslim ornamentation, including the breathtaking mirrored halls of the Sheesh Mahal.
It wasfrom these towering wallsthat the Kachchawahasruled over their kingdom for some 7 centuries,
until itsimportancewas eclipsed by nearby Jaipur.
Wewill also take in the uniqueHawa Mahal, the famous Palace of the Winds, whose extraordinary
façade of red and pink sandstone towerssome five storeys above the city streets. Built at the end of the
18th century its 935 windows were designed to allow thewomen of the harem to gaze out on the city
scene below without themselves being seen, the openings also creating a refreshing breeze (hawa), which
kept the palace cool even in the hotsummer months.
Wewill spend some time exploring the lavish and well-preserved City Palace. Here, wewill find a fine
collection of textiles, costumes and armoury. Later this afternoon, wewill visit the extraordinary Jantar
Mantar - a star-gazing observatory built by Jai Singh, the great Maharajah-astronomer.

 


DAY 4 - Free morning to walk around Jaipur's markets before travelling to Pushkar .

This morning has been left free to explore Jaipur in your own time. You may choose to visit one of the
many bazaars which are bursting with delights, from marble statuesto antique textiles; traditional print
blocksto local musical instruments.
In the early afternoon we drive to Pushkar, known for its camel trading fair which happens each year in
November. The town is also an attraction for many Hindus asitslake is believed to be the sitewhere a
lotusthrown by the creator god of Hinduism Brahma landed. On arrival wewill take a short orientation
tour around Pushkar lake and its waterside ghats(stepsleading to a river or lake).

 


DAY 5 - Ride a camel and watch the sunset from Savitri Temple .

This morning we travel by camel through the market place and up to the camel fair grounds. Travelling by
camel capturesthe traditional means of desert travel allowing usto experience something of the remote
life of the tribesmen and their families. Riding camels can be quite relaxing and sitting high up enables us
to appreciate the surroundings. Many people find that they prefer to combine riding with periods of
walking,so ensure that you have appropriate footwear. If you do not wish to take part in the camel safari
your local guide can arrange for you to take a walking tour of Pushkar.
Asthe day starts drawing to an end we hike up into the nearby hillsto visit the Savitri temple for sunset.
Dedicated to Brahma'sfirst wife, the temple lies at the end of a long series of stepsthatrun behind the
Brahma Temple and from itslofty vantage point the views out acrossthe lake and the surrounding dunes
offer a breathtaking setting from which to watch the sun setting over the city.

 


DAY 6 - Take a jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park .

We start early this morning as our drive to Ranthamborewill take about five hours. On arrival, we check
in to our accommodation before setting off for an afternoon game drive, wherewe hope to have an
opportunity to view tigersin thewild.
RanthamboreNational Parkwas declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957, although it wasstill used as a
hunting reserve until the early 1970s. It became part of the Project Tiger scheme in 1974 and, today, is
home to over 40 of the remarkable beasts. We hope to see tigersroaming among thewoodlands and
cooling off in the lakes.
Aside from its more famousresidents, the park is also home to sloth bear, langur,striped hyenas, marsh

crocodiles, pythons and Ganga soft-shelled turtles. There is also the chance to spot a myriad of bird
species, including crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, jacana, parakeet and white-breasted
kingfishers. Aside from itsrich wildlife, the park's beauty is also noteworthy. Once part of the
magnificent jungles of Central India, it comprises of rivers, lakes and foreststhat nestle among a
surrounding girdle of steep cliffs and rocky outcrops.


DAY 7 - Search for tigers before travelling to the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri en route to
Agra .

This morning, an early start affords us more chancesto spot tigers on our second game drive in
Ranthambore. The tigers are usually most active early in the morning, before the heat of the day forces
them to take shelter.
After our safari we drive towards Agra and stop to visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Founded in
1569 and, for a brief time the capital of the Mughals under Akbar theGreat, the city was deserted just 16
yearslater following the political unrest. Today itremains a ghostly testament to the power of 16th
century Mughal India and is a perfectly preserved example of an imperial court. Amongst the many
treasuresleft in the city are the five storey Panch Mahal, believed to have been a pleasure pavilion for the
ladies of the harem, and the stunning lotusshaped carved central pillar of theDiwan-i- Khas(Hall of
Private Audience). The city also features a central courtyard that contains a pachisi board, where the
emperor played an Indian equivalent of chess, using real slave girls as pieces.
Later we continue our drive towards Agra.


DAY 8 - Watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal and visit Agra Fort and the Baby Taj .

An early start this morning as we visit one of the most universally recognised buildings on earth. The Taj
Mahal was built by the emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, and was
once described by Rudyard Kipling as'...the embodiment of all things pure'. Built of marble and
decorated with the most exquisite inlay work, itrequired the labours of 20,000 men and is estimated to
have costsomething in the region of 3 million rupees(at today's prices around $70 million) We visit at
sunrise to watch the colours of the building changing asthe sun slowly risesin the sky.
After returning to the hotel for breakfast we make our way to the imposing Agra Fort, whose grandeur
and importance hasseen it inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage List. Built by Emperor Akbar and
then embellished by his grandson, Shah Jahan, this was once a great city, with palaces, mosques and halls

all lying behind the protective embrace of 20m high walls. Wewill also visit isthe exquisite Itimad-ud-
Daulah on the east bank of the river, a 17th century tomb built for the Emperor Jehangir's chief minister,

also known asthe Baby Taj.


DAY 9 - Drive to Chambal Sanctuary,take an afternoon nature walk .

Leaving Agra this morning we drive for approximately two hours(excluding stops) until we reach
Chambal Safari Lodge, a beautiful eco-lodge that lies amongst acres of sprawling plantation and farmland
in the heart of the Chambal Valley. The lodge accommodation issimple but with everything we need to
enjoy the surroundingsincluding an extensive library filled with books detailing the variousspecies of
birds and mammals we hope to spot over the next few days. After settling in to our rooms we head out on
a naturewalk. Starting off in the grounds of the lodgewe keep our eyes peeled for hornbills, babblers and
barbets and asthe sun goes down we can look out for fruit bats and several species of owls.
The Chambal Sanctuary is a wonderful natural location in an area rich with wildlife, but has very limited
accommodation. For the majority of the year wewill be staying in cottages at the Chambal Safari Lodge.
However, there is a particularly busy period for the area around the time of the Bateshwar Festival which
usually takes place at the end of October or early November. During this period the lodge supplements
itsrooms with tented accommodation. They have proper full sized beds, en suite facilities, hot and cold
running water and carpeted floors. Please note that at thistime of year we may be allocated thistype of
room.


DAY 10 - Search for soft shell turtles and explore the temples at Bateshwar .

Taking to thewater this morning we board small motor boats and explore the River Chambal. The
boatmen are skilled atspotting softshell turtles, gharials and sarus cranesfrom a great distance and
knowing when to cut the boats engine so we can enjoy thewildlifewithout disturbing it. Back on dry land
we drive to Bateshwar, a collection of 40 Hindu Templesset on the banks of the River Chambal.
Originally more than 170 templeslined the river banks but many have crumbled over the years. We spend
some timewandering through the temples and the small market as well assitting to watch people bathing
and washing clothesin the river. We transfer back to our lodge for the evening.


DAY 11 - Free time to relax at Chambal before an overnight train to Varanasi .

Today there is chance to relax in the morning and make the most of the peaceful setting of the lodge, or if
there is a chance to take another river safari In the early afternoon wewill drive to Agra wherewe board
an overnight train to Varanasi. Indian sleeper trains are a fantastic experience and a great way to meet
people as we travel. We make our bookingsin second class air-conditioned sleepers, which have four
bedsin each compartment and all bedding provided. Whilst we try to ensure the group is all together, due
to overwhelming demand and the system for booking train ticketsin India, it may not always be possible
to have everyone in the same carriage and some reservations may be in 3rd class. In such cases our Tour
Leaders will help everyone to find their seats and ensure you get the most out of your journey. For
overnight trains, each berth isseparated by curtains and has 4/6 bunk beds. Bedding (sheet, blanket and
pillow) is provided but you may wish to bring your own sleeping liner for added comfort. Train travel in
India issafe and civilised but for added security whilst you sleep it may be a good idea to bring a bike lock
for your bags. If you do not wish to carry onewith you, your tour leader can help you to purchase one
locally before your train journey.


DAY 12 - Explore Varanasi on a walking tour and watch the evening ceremony on the river
banks .

Arriving in the early morning we take a short transfer to our hotel. Varanasi (Benares) has been the
centre of Hinduism since the dawn of history; its age is contemporary with Babylon and Thebes. Often
known as'Kashi' (City of Light) by Hindusit attracts over a million pilgrims each year - many of whom
come to spend their last years here in the holy city. After breakfast and a freshen up we take an
orientation walk around the narrow winding streets of the city. In the evening we make our way to the

ghatsto witnessthe evening aarti ceremony when the River Gangesis venerated with a display of light
and sound.


DAY 13 - Visit ancient Buddhist temples at Sarnath. Take a train to Delhi .

After breakfast we visit nearby Sarnath. Having gained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha came to
Sarnath to preach hisfirstsermon. The city was at its peak in the 5th century, when it was a respected
centre of religious activity, learning and art. Muslim invaders destroyed much of the city and today
remains of several monasteries and stupas can be seen. In the afternoon time isfree to enable you to
explore the labyrinth of streets, bazaars and templesthat line the banks of the river. In the early evening
we take an overnightsleeper train back to Delhi.


DAY 14 - Free time to explore Delhi .

After arriving in Delhi we transfer to our hotel and check in. After breakfast and time to freshen up the
day isleft free for you to explore the capital city.


DAY 15 - Trip endsin Delhi .

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Delhi.
There are no activities planned today,so you are free to depart from Delhi at any time. If your flight is
departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive
a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from New Delhi'sIndira Gandhi International
airport (airport codeDEL), which is around 45 minutesfrom the hotel.

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