HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA -
JOURNEY FOR WOMEN
ITINERARY:
OCTOBER 04, 2008
Board an overnight flight to London. In Flight
OCTOBER 05, 2008 London/Delhi, India
Connect with a flight to Delhi, where your room is ready for
immediate occupancy when you arrive early tomorrow morning.
The Taj Mahal Hotel
OCTOBER 06, 2008 Delhi
Your day is at leisure to rest after your long journey. A
sprawling metropolis, Delhi is divided into two parts, Old and
New Delhi, and is steeped in history that dates back 3,000
years. This evening, join well-known art collector and socialite
Mrs. Poonam Sarin for a welcome cocktail and dinner at her Ati
Arts Gallery. The Taj Mahal Hotel B, D
OCTOBER 07, 2008 Delhi
Visit Old Delhi, pausing on the way at Raj Ghat. This monument
to Mahatma Gandhi was erected on the site of his funeral pyre
and is an important place of pilgrimage for people from all over
the world. In Old Delhi, see the Jama Masjid Mosque and the Red
Fort, both built by the Emperor Shah Jahan. Then walk through
the winding, narrow walkways of the Chandni Chowk bazaar, where
entire streets are devoted to the sale of a particular item.
After lunch, tour New Delhi, a city established by King George V
as a new capital for the Indian Empire. Begin at Humayun's Tomb,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site constructed in the 16th century as
a monument to the Mughal Emperor Humayun. In the former Seven
Capitals, visit the Qutub Minar (also a UNESCO World Heritage
Site), a five-story sandstone tower inscribed with quotations
from the Koran and built to commemorate the victory of Muhammad
Ghuri and Qutub ud Din over the infidel Chauhans of Prithvi Raj
in 1192. Then drive along the Rajpath and Janpath, past the
India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan (the President's Palace). Mrs.
Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandh, joins
you tonight for dinner and an informative talk about the life
and philosophy of her grandfather. She is actively involved in
various programs for the benefit of the spinners and weavers of
Khadi. The Taj Mahal Hotel B, L, D
OCTOBER 08, 2008 Delhi/Udaipur
Fly to the serene desert city of Udaipur on the shores of Lake
Pichola. If water levels permit, board a motor launch for a
cruise on the lake. Observe the city as it rises majestically
above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Stop to
visit the Jag Mandir Palace on the island of the same name.
Built in the 17th century by Maharana Karan Singhji in 1622 AD
as a pleasure palace for royal parties and functions, this
magnificent monument is supported by domes and marble pillars
and adorned with fountains and a row of marble elephants that
seem to guard the island. (Please note: water levels at Lake
Pichola can vary widely and may affect some sightseeing options.
Alternative sightseeing options may be necessary.) Taj Lake
Palace B, D
OCTOBER 09, 2008 Udaipur
Explore Udaipur's highlights, beginning with the opulent City
Palace that towers over Lake Pichola. Its balconies, towers,
cupolas and terraces offer beautiful views of the city and lake.
Enter the palace (now a museum) through Hathi Pol (elephant
gate) along the main street of the old city and past Jagdish
Temple, which enshrines a black stone image of Vishnu as
Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. Then explore the Crystal
Gallery, a grand collection of more than 600 rare objects
obtained from different parts of the world. Continue to the
Sahelion-Ki-Bari Park or the "Garden of the Maids of Honor,"
located along the shores of Lake Fateh Sagar. Conclude your
sightseeing with an exclusive visit to an NGO (non-governmental
organization) operated by the Seva Mandir organization, which
helps in natural resource development and health and women's
empowerment. Long-time Seva Mandir representative Deepti Ameta
hosts your visit and discusses their involvement in women's
initiatives. Taj Lake Palace B, L
OCTOBER 10, 2008 Udaipur/Jaipur
Fly to Jaipur and check in to your grandiose hotel, once the
palace of the Maharajah of Jaipur. In spite of growing into a
bustling metropolis, Jaipur, the "Pink City," still retains its
character and history as well as its extensive use of the
locally abundant pink plastered stone used in its architecture.
During a sightseeing tour, stop at the famous Hawa Mahal, the
pink sandstone façade of a palace built for the ladies of the
harem by Swai Pratap Singh, and the City Palace, a huge walled
complex that covers one-seventh of the area of Jaipur.
At the Jantar Mantar Observatory, see precise instruments used
for measuring "the harmony of the heavens." Join your guide
tonight to visit Johari Bazaar (jewelers' street). Taj
Rambagh Palace B, L, D
OCTOBER 11, 2008 Jaipur
Travel outside the city to the Amber Fort, its architecture a
melding of Mughal and Raiput styles built between the 12th and
18th centuries. Wander through the chambers and hallways of its
palace, including the spectacular Hall of Mirrors. Journey to a
local village for an opportunity to experience an elephant
interaction and ride with a professional mahout. Return to your
hotel to relax or visit an exclusive jewelry store and attend a
lecture on precious and semi-precious stones. Taj Rambagh
Palace B, L
OCTOBER 12, 2008 Jaipur/Agra
An all-day journey to Agra, home of the renowned Taj Mahal,
gives you a glimpse into rural Indian village life. Stop en
route at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by
Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th
century. It was a veritable fairytale city, and its ruins are
still in pristine condition. Then visit the Bulund Darwaza, the
largest gateway in the world. When you arrive in Agra, check in
to your hotel that is just 600 yards from the breathtaking Taj
Mahal. As a visitor you are caught in a world of contrasting
edifices of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and
quaint buggies, and the irresistible charm that this favorite
city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that
modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most
conspicuously as you walk down the narrow bustling streets,
wafting with the aroma of Mughlai cuisine. Tonight visit the
ethereal Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to watch the
beautiful white marble turn slowly to soft, rosy pink as the sun
sets. The Oberoi Amarvilás B, L, D
OCTOBER 13, 2008 Agra
Weather permitting, return for a sunrise visit to see the
glorious Taj Mahal, the "world's monument to love," in a
different light. This mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal was
built over the course of 22 years by her beloved husband, Shah
Jahan. Continue to another World Heritage Site, the Agra Fort
that lies on a bend of the River Yamuna. Explore the citadel of
Akbar: its imposing gates, red sandstone walls and moat. Design
Your Day this afternoon with options that include henna hand
painting, a meeting with an astrologer or shopping. The
Oberoi Amarvilás B, L
OCTOBER 14, 2008 Agra/Jhansi/Khajuraho
Board the Shatabdi Express train to Jhansi and continue overland
by coach to Khajuraho, stopping in Orchha en route. View the
long-abandoned Hindu temples that stand along the river just
outside the city, and visit the 17th-century complex of three
palaces. After lunch, continue to Khajuraho and your hotel. The
city's temples are India's unique gift to the world and
represent every conceivable form of life, immortalized in stone.
Taj Chandela B, L, D
OCTOBER 15, 2008 Khajuraho
Explore the various temples of Khajuraho today, including
Kandariva Mahadeo, dedicated to Shiva; Lakshmana, showing the
trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Lakshmi; Varaha, with a
boar incarnation of Vishnu-Varaha; Patasyanath, a large Jain
temple; and Adinath, a lavish dedication to a Jain saint that
echoes the true spirit of the khajuraho temples. Taj
Chandela B, L
OCTOBER 16, 2008 Khajuraho/Varanasi
Start the day with an exclusive yoga session at your hotel or
enjoy a leisurely morning. Later, board a flight to Varanasi, a
city of more than a thousand temples and shrines and resting on
the holy Ganges River. Miillions of Hindus come here to wash
away their sins in the bathing ghats that line the river.
Renowned for its silk saris and carpets, Varanasi draws huge
crowds of people who throng the shops to buy the famous Benarasi
saris. This afternoon, visit the buried Buddhist city of Sarnath,
as important to Buddhists as Varanasi is to the Hindus. See the
ruins of a once-flourishing Buddhist monastery and visit a
museum housing a collection of Buddhist art and sculpture. Join
fellow travellers this evening for a farewell dinner. Later, you
may participate in a spiritual Aarti ceremony on the Ganges,
during which deepas (oil lamps) are offered to God in thanks for
the light given to the people throughout the day.
Taj Ganges B, D
OCTOBER 17, 2008 Varanasi/ Delhi
Drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a sunrise boat ride on the
sacred Ganges River. Watch people walk down steps into the river
to perform their religious ablutions. You may also see a funeral
pyre that is a part of the traditional Hindu funeral ceremony.
This afternoon, visit a unique bead-making factory before flying
to Delhi.
The Taj Mahal Hotel B, D
OCTOBER 18, 2008 Delhi/USA or Canada
Board an early morning departure flight. B
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