DAY 1 -Join trip in Kolkata.

Arrive in Kolkata (Calcutta). Once the capital of British India, Kolkata has had a turbulent past. It was
central to the struggle for Indian independence and thousands of Bengali refugees came here at the start
of the 1900's. It is a city of striking contrasts and can be overwhelming initially, but the unusual sights,
pungentsmells and the chaotic sounds of the country'ssecond largest city are an experience unique to
India.
For those arriving on time today our Leader plansto meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for the
welcome meeting and for those that wish, there isthe chance to go out for dinner. There are no other
activities planned today,so you are free to arrive in Kolkata at any time. If you would like to receive a
complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kolkata Airport (CCU), which is one hour
from the airport. Should you missthewelcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential
information assoon as you catch up.
If your flight arrivesin the early morning your room will be ready for you on arrival. Later in the day you
might choose to take a stroll around the Kalighat area. One of the oldest parts of the city, it is densely
populated and busy, with an interesting temple dedicated to the goddess Kali.

DAY 2 - Explore the bustling city of Kolkata .

This morning we'll begin our exploration of Kolkata with a visit to the colourful flower market and the
clay modeller's village. The potters here spend all year creating a wealth of images and idolsfor the
annual festivals and, asthe time approachesfor the modelsto be prepared for the coming pujas, the
streets are filled with an overwhelming display of brightly coloured and richly attired idols. We'll also
visit the Victoria Memorial, Dalhousie Square and Kolkata's wonderfully intricate Jain temple, an
important pilgramage site for Jainsfrom all over India which set in particularly beautiful gardens.

DAY 3 - Travel to the Buddhist town of Bodh Gaya, an important pilgrimage site.

A free morning affords an opportunity to explore a little more of the city. You may wish to travel to the
Dakshieswar Kali Temple and the Ramakrishna Mission or perhaps visit the Mother Theresa Home and
Orphanage. Thisremarkablewoman, born in Serbia in 1910, has become synonymous with the city of
Calcutta. A member of the Order of the Loreto nuns,shewassent to India in 1937 and spent the next 60
years attempting to alleviate some of the appalling poverty that first assailed her on her arrival here,self
sacrificing actsthatsaw her beatified by the Vatican in 2003.
Transferring to the railway station later this afternoon we then continue our journey by train, heading
for the important Buddhist pilgrimage site of Bodh Gaya, in the Bihar province on the plains of the
eastern Ganges. It was here that the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, making the town an important
mecca for pilgrimsfrom acrossIndia and the rest of the Buddhist world.

DAY 4 - See the sacred Bodhi tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Take a train
to Varanasi .

This morning wewill join the constant flow of the faithful to visitsome of the most importantsitesin the
Buddhist world. Whilst the original Bodhi tree under which Prince Siddhartha Gautama achieved
enlightenment over 2600 years ago no longer remains, its ancestral descendantsstill occupy the same
spot and wewill visit it, along with the majestic Mahbodhi Temple this morning. Built in the 6th century
AD on the site of an original temple erected by the emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC, this
magnificent building, topped by a towering 50m high spire, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002
and is one of the oldest brick built Buddhist templesin India.
Wewill also visit the 25m high Great Buddha Statue, before taking an early afternoon train east, towards
the holy city of Varanasi, certainly one of the oldest Hindu pilgrimage centresin India and believed to be
one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, its age making it a contemporary with ancient
Thebes and Babylon. Lying on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, Varanasi issteeped in the lore and
traditions of Hinduism, and since itsinception as one of the principal centres of Shiva worship some
1200 years ago, it has attracted devoteesfrom acrosstheworld to its myriad of temples and ghats. It is
believed by many that thisis where the material and spiritual worlds cross and countlessthousands come
here to cleanse themselves along the banks of theGanges and partake in the rituals of Aarti. On arrival in
the city wewill transfer to our hotel, wherewewill spend the next two nights.

DAY 5 - Visit Sarnath'stemples and sail on the Ganges .

This morning we make a short journey north, to the sacred site of Sarnath, the cradle of Buddhism, where
the Buddha preached hisfirstsermon following his attainment of enlightenment. Wewill visit the main
shrine, theDharmarajka Stupa and theDhamekh Stupa, the spot where he first espoused the teachings
that were to form the very principles of the Buddhist faith. Wewill also see the nearby Ashoka Pillar and
the monastery, the centre pieces of what isin effect probably the most expansive collection of Buddhist
temples and monasteries on earth. At its height thisremarkable site housed over 1500 monks, before its
decline and subsequent destruction by Muslim armiessaw it all but disappear. It wasrediscovered by
British archaeologistsin the middle years of the 19th century,sincewhich it hasrecaptured some of its
original prestige and now represents one of the four holiest Buddhistsites on earth.
Returning to Varanasi after our visit wewill spend the afternoon exploring the old city and the riverfront
by cycle rickshaw and on foot, before an evening sunset boatride along the sacred Gangesitself,
hopefully catching sight of the local priests performing the revered Aarti ceremonies. Varanasi can boast
some 80 or so riverfront ghats, including a number of 'burning ghats' where public cremationstake place
along thewater's edge.

DAY 6 - Free morning before an overnight train to Agra .

It is possible this morning to take an optional dawn boatride along theGanges, when the city is bathed in
the glow of the early morning and the pilgrims are practising the puja ceremony to the newly awaking
sun. The rest of the day isfree to explore more of this most fascinating of cities at your leisure, immersing
yourself in the eclectic mayhem of the city's narrow streets and alleyways, a truly unforgettable
experience and an incredible insight into the lives and cultures of traditional Indian life. Late this
afternoon wewill transfer back to the railway station for the overnightsleeper train to Agra. 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 is

separated 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 7 - Discover Agra'simposing Red Fort and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri .

Once the capital of the mighty Mughal Empire, the city islittered with some of the country's most opulent
and iconic buildings, and the sandstone majesty of itsimposing fort is no exception. Built by Emperor
Akbar and then embellished by his grandson, Shah Jahan, the fort was once a great city, with palaces,
mosques and halls all lying behind the protective embrace of 20m high walls. Therewill be some free time
to wander the city, perhapstaking in the rich elegance of the exquisite Itimad-ud-Daulah, a 17th century
tomb built for the Emperor Jehangir's chief minister that mirrorsthe marble majesty of the more famous
Taj Mahal (hence itsrather apt title of 'Baby Taj).
This afternoon wewill visit the nearby abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, lying to thewest of Agra and,
for a brief time, the capital of the Mughals under Akbar theGreat. Founded in 1569 it was deserted just
16 yearslater following the emperor's death and today itremains a ghostly testament to the majesty and
power of 16th century Mughal India. Visiting the sitewith a local guidewe take in the splendour of its
perfectly preserved imperial court and the grandeur of the 5-storey Panch Mahal. Wewill also see the
courtyard and pachisi board, where the emperor played an Indian equivalent of chess, using slave girls as
pieces. Perhapsthe finest of all the city's monumentsthough isthe lotusshaped carved central pillar of
theDiwan-i- Khas(Hall of Private Audience), a magnificently column of matchless proportionsthat
supportsthe vaulted roof of Akbar's old debating room.

DAY 8 - Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Travel to Delhi .

This morning we have an early start as we head for the iconic magnificence of one of the most universally
recognised buildings on earth, and surely the greatest testament to love ever constructed. Built by the
emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, the building took some 22 years
to complete 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, the Taj Mahal required the labour of 20,000
men and is estimated to have costsomething in the region of 3 million rupees(at today's pricesthat
equatesto around $70 million). In the afternoon we travel to Delhi by road.

DAY 9 - Explore New Delhi and the narrow lanes of the old city .

This morning we explore the colonial grandeur of New Delhi. The Indian capital haslong been a phoenix,
rising again and again out of its own ruins and is essentially a city divided in two: a magnificent living
monument to the grandiose designs of the Moghals and the British. New Delhi wasthe creation of the
British Raj of the 1930s and itsstreets are filled with a rich collection of the architectural creations of
Edward Lutyens. Our tour this afternoon will include many of the sites of New Delhi and give usthe
opportunity to see for ourselvesthis vibrant city of bustling bazaars and historic sites. Following the
broad expanse of the Rajpath (Kingsway), wewill visit the towering memorial arch of the India Gate, a
testament to the 90,000 Indian troops who lost their lives during WWI and the fighting along the
Northwest Frontier during the early years of the 20th century. Wewill view the imposing buildings of the
Indian Parliament, as well asthe Moghal majesty of Humayun's Tomb, a 16th century mausoleum
commissioned by the emperor's Persian born wife and considered by many to be one of the best examples
of Moghal architecture in the country. We also visit the towering Qutub Minar, a spectacular 13th
century edifice made of sandstone and marble that towerssome 73m above the city and heralded the

final demise of theHindu kings and the arrival of the Muslim sultans.
After lunch we take a tour of Old Delhi by metro and cycle rickshaw. This old city, the former capital of
the 17th century Mughal emperor Shan Jahan, is a magnificent fusion of grandiose architecture and
vibrant chaos, centred around the Chandni Chowk Bazaar, an eclectic cacophony of noise, colour and
deafening barter that isso essentially Indian. Our sightseeing takesin the spectacular Jama Masjid
Mosque, the largest in India and Shah Jahan's magnificentswansong. Taking 14 yearsto complete, the
mosque is a majestic structure, featuring four towers, three gateways and two towering minaretsthat
stand some 40m high. Built from sandstone and marble its vast courtyard can hold upwards of 25,000
worshippers and from the top of the southern minaret you can get a clear view of the colonial designs of
Edward Lutyens acrossthe city.

DAY 10 - Travel on the Kalka Shatabdi and Toy Train to Shimla .

Departing the Indian capital this morning we take a train to Kalka, just to the north of Chandigarh. From
herewe transfer to a narrow gauge track and continue to Shimla on the remarkable 'Toy Train'. Climbing
from the plains below, the train negotiates a meandering journey of some 93km, ascending over 1600m
towardsthe cooling heights of the old British hill station. Whilst traditionally the Toy Train was pulled by
steam enginesthese daysthey are mostly pulled by diesel engines. The journey takes usthrough an
incredible 103 tunnels and pastsome of the mostscenic landscapesin the region, before reaching the
town itself,stretched out along a crescentshaped ridge, its alpine style housesshaded beneath dense
forests of fir.

DAY 11 - Take a walking tour to see Shimla's Vice Regal Lodge .

With a full day in Shimla we have an opportunity to explore this beautiful setting further, first with an
orientation tour of the town, taking in some of its colonial ambience. The opening of the Kalka-Shimla
railway at the turn of the 20th century allowed thewell to do families of the Raj to escape the heat of
Kolkata and Delhi and spend the hotsummer months amongst the cool landscapes of these verdant hills.
Wewill take in the ageing charm of the Christ Church and Scandal Point, where the mock Tudor
architecture presents a quite surreal imitation of Old England against the magnificent backdrop of the
Himalaya. Whilst following the ridge there is an opportunity to visit the Viceregal Lodge, the former
residence of the British viceroy and site of a number of important negotiationsthat preceded Indian
independence.

DAY 12 - Free time to explore the former hill station of Shimla .

A free day for personal exploration in Shimla. Various optional walks are also available today,such asthe
2km walk up to the Jakhu or 'monkey' Temple, which providessome inspiring panoramic views.
Dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman the site is, as you might imagine, inundated with monkeys, many
who find no trouble in chancing their arm at mischief and mayhem,so be careful of bags, food and
anything that isn't firmly nailed down! Back in town, the bazaar isrenowned for itsselection of locally
madewoollen shawls, as well as a range of other locally produced handicrafts.

DAY 13 - Travel to the holy Sikh city of Amritsar .

Departing Shimla this morning we follow the train track asit windsits way down towardsthe town of
Ambala, to connect with an afternoon train to Amritsar in theNorthern Punjab. The holiest city of the
Sikhs', Amritsar wasfounded in 1577 and, in spite of extremist unrest and destructive invaders, itremains
the spiritual centre of the Sikh religion, its magnificent Golden Temple acting as a serene centrepiece.
After transferring to the hotel there may be an opportunity to visit thislandmark monument this evening,
to watch the reflective light of the moon playing acrossthe tranquil watersthatsurround the main
shrine, theHarmandir. The temple is home to the revered texts of the Sikh Holy Scriptures, theGuru
Granth Sahib, and its gilded dome is covered in over 700kg of pure gold. A sumptuousfusion of Hindu
and Islamic influences, the templewasthe scene of the massacre of hundreds of Sikh protestersin 1984,
when the Indian army acting on the orders of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, evicted extremists
from the temple, an act that led to the assassination of Indira Ghandi by Sikh bodyguardslater thatsame
year.

Today we visit the incredibleGolden Templewherewe need to make sure that we remove our shoes,
cover heads and wash our feet before entering. The temple itself is a surprisingly small building
surrounded almost entirely by tanks of holy water in which the Sikh pilgrims bathe (the name of the town
itself comesfrom the Amrit Sarovar - the Pool of Nectar). The atmosphere is one of incredible calm, with

devoteestaking their turn to passthrough the main shrine, where there is a continuous and melodic
recital (known asthe Akhand Path) from theGuru Granth Sahib. This afternoon therewill be an
excursion to Wagah Border to see the 'Flag Down' ceremony, where the border guardsfor both India and
Pakistan make a rather dramatic display of closing the border gates each day.

DAY 15 - Trip endsin Amritsar .

Our tour endsthis morning after breakfast.

If your flight departslater this evening or in the early hours of the next day, we have arranged late check-
out on a shared room basis(1 room every 4 passengers)so that you can freshen up and store your luggage

before you depart.