India: Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle FACULTY LEADER
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India: Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle A Train Journey aboard the Palace on Wheels October 30 to November 12, 2021 Experience northwest India’s state of Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, bounded by Delhi, the country’s capital; the Pink City of Jaipur; and Agra, home to the majestic Taj Mahal. FACULTY LEADER Scott Sagan Scott D. Sagan, the Caroline S.G. Munro Professor of Political Science and a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, has been teaching in the political science department at Stanford since 1987, offering students courses covering topics such as international security, nuclear weapons, and the ethics and strategies of war. He has served as a consultant to the office of the Secretary of Defense and to the Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, and as a special assistant to the director of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sagan is also a frequent contributor to academic journals, including Daedalus, International Security and Foreign Affairs. He has authored, co- authored and co-edited numerous books on issues dealing with nuclear weapons, the most recent being Insider Threats (Cornell University Press, 2017). He has won numerous awards for his teaching and his research into the risks of nuclear weapons and their proliferation. On this program, Professor Sagan’s lecture topics will include the British, American and Indian independences; and modern India and the global nuclear order. Scott’s grandmother and mother were born and raised in India as daughters of Methodist missionaries, and his understanding of the history of India during the colonial period is informed by that personal background. • Senior fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University • Mimi and Peter Haas University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, Stanford University • Board member, science and security board, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists • Chair, committee on international security studies, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, since 2018 • Consultant, strategic nuclear policy branch of the nuclear and chemical division, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1985–1986 • Author, Inside Nuclear South Asia, Stanford University Press, 2009 • BA, government, 1977, Oberlin College • PhD, political science, 1983, Harvard University ITINERARY Saturday, October 30 Delhi, India Arrive in Delhi and transfer to our five-star hotel, located in the heart of the modern capital. TAJ MAHAL NEW DELHI STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET STANFORD, CA 94305 | TEL: (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] INDIA: RAJASTHAN AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE October 30 to November 12, 2021 Sunday, October 31 New Delhi After an orientation briefing, spend the day exploring this British colonial city of wide boulevards and formal parks. Take a driving tour past Rashtrapati Bhavan, once the awe-inspiring residence of the British viceroys and now the presidential palace; the parliament building; and India Gate, built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed in World War I. Visit Gandhi Smriti, the sacred site where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 that is today a national memorial and museum commemorating his legacy. Discover the Mogul Emperor Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the architecture of which was the first of its kind in India, setting a precedent for future Mogul mausoleums, culminating in the Taj Mahal. Gather this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. TAJ MAHAL NEW DELHI (B,L,D) Monday, November 1 Old Delhi Embark on a tour of Old Delhi, former seat of the Mughal Empire for more than 200 years. After driving past the Red Fort, stop at Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques, and embark on an exciting cycle- rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, a colorful bazaar and bustling business center. Visit Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Ghandi, then choose to take a guided expedition to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Qutub Minar, an elaborate 13th-century 238-foot-tall minaret, the tallest of its kind in the world, or devote the rest of the afternoon to leisure, perhaps browsing the modern boutiques and sipping a designer coffee at one of Khan Market’s trendy cafés, or simply relaxing at our peaceful hotel. TAJ MAHAL NEW DELHI (B,L,D) Tuesday, November 2 Delhi / Jaipur Hop on a morning flight to Jaipur, the rose-hued capital of Rajasthan. Built in 1727 the city was painted pink (the traditional color of welcome) in 1876 to honor the visit of Prince Albert. Investigate the courtyards, audience halls and galleries of Jaipur’s City Palace and the 18th-century open-air astronomical observatory of Jantar Mantar, with 90-foot-high sundial built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Today is Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival. Admire the elaborate rangoli (designs made of flowers and colored powder) that are created on this day to decorate the entrances of homes and businesses, and the diyas (oil lamps), colorful lanterns and holiday lights that are first lit on this night in honor of Laxmi (goddess of wealth) and Dhanvantari (god of medicine), for whom this day of Diwali is named. JAI MAHAL PALACE (B,L,D) Wednesday, November 3 Jaipur Following a photo stop at the ornate Palace of the Winds, set off to Amber Fort, a walled palace of massive ramparts and elaborate living quarters, including the dazzling Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors). Today marks Choti Diwali, or “small Diwali.” This day’s rituals include taking a predawn oil bath, washing the hair, applying kajal, or kohl (black eyeliner) to ward off the evil eye and making offerings of a special sweet made with poha (rice flakes). This afternoon is free for independent exploration of the Pink City, perhaps to shop for the fine jewelry and hand-printed textiles for which Jaipur is renowned. One of the traditions of Diwali is to buy new clothes and jewelry, and there is no better place to engage in this pastime than Jaipur! JAI MAHAL PALACE (B,L,D) STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 INDIA: RAJASTHAN AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE October 30 to November 12, 2021 Thursday, November 4 Jaipur / Embark Palace on Wheels The third day of Diwali, Laxmi Puja, is the most important of the five-day festival. After a morning at leisure, walk through Jaipur’s bazaar to observe people making their final purchases and preparations for the holiday, then participate in a puja (worship ceremony), led by a local pandit (Hindu priest). Ride an auto-rickshaw through the streets to see the ritual lighting of houses and to experience the festive atmosphere as fireworks explode in a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Board the Palace On Wheels, our home on the rails for these next five nights. Savor our first dinner on board as our train departs for an overnight journey to Ranthambore National Park. PALACE ON WHEELS (B,L,D) Friday, November 5 Ranthambore National Park / Chittorgarh Begin the day on an adventurous note with an exciting early-morning safari. Originally the private hunting ground of the maharajas, Ranthambore was declared a national park in 1980. Look for chinkara, chital, sambar, hyena, jackal niglai, sloth bear and wild boar. If we are fortunate, we may even spot the elusive tiger or shy leopard. Return to our train and relax on board as we make our way to Chittorgarh, which boasts the largest fort in India. Wind through the majestic fort’s vaulted passageways and wander among the numerous courtyards and reservoirs of this massive hilltop complex, whose food and water storage were built to support an army of 50,000 for four years without replenishment. PALACE ON WHEELS (B,L,D) Saturday, November 6 Udaipur Arise this morning in charming Udaipur, popularly known as the City of Lakes. Visit the remarkable City Palace, Rajasthan’s largest palace complex, which includes Mor Chowk, a courtyard with lavish peacock mosaics, the exquisite Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Jagdish Temple, a three-storied structure noteworthy for its idol of Lord Vishnu carved from a single piece of black stone. Take a boat ride on scenic Lake Pichola to the Lake Palace. Once the 18th-century summer resort of the Mewar rulers, the palace, its black-and-white marble walls encrusted with semiprecious stones, is constructed to the exact dimensions of the four-acre island upon which it stands, making it appear to float. Stroll among the fountains and marble elephants at Saheliyon-ki-Bari, or Garden of the Maidens, a verdant oasis in otherwise dry Rajasthan. PALACE ON WHEELS (B,L,D) Sunday, November 7 Jaisalmer The scenery changes dramatically today, as we arrive at the heart of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert. Roam around the citadel of Jaisalmer, the Golden City, so named for the way the sun reflects off the ocher sandstone from which its buildings, including 800-year-old Jaisalmer Fort, are constructed. Explore the fort, one of the largest fortifications in the world, within whose walls almost one quarter of the city’s population still resides. Venture to the fort’s seven-storied royal palace; Laxminath Temple; and ornate havelis, stately mansions built by wealthy Rajasthani merchants, many of which the descendants of their original owners occupy. Stop by Patwon Ki haveli, a complex of five exquisitely decorated 19th-century mansions that housed a family of brocade merchants specializing in gold and silver embroidery thread. Late this afternoon drive into the desert to Sam Sand Dunes for a sunset camel ride against a dramatic backdrop.