ASIA

Guaranteed small group of no more than 24 Smithsonian travelers per departure Featuring Mystical Ranthambore Tiger Preserve 18 days from $5,594 total price from New York ($4,695 air & land inclusive plus $899 airline taxes and departure fees) ystical and spiritual, chaotic and con- M founding, India overflows with riches. While staying at excellent hotels, travel the classic Golden Triangle from bustling Delhi to , great city of the Rajput, to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Plus, search for elusive Bengal tigers, admire Khajuraho’s ancient temples, and absorb the holiness of Varanasi.

Visit the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage site that is considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Avg. High (°F) Jan Feb Mar Apr Oct Nov Dec Delhi 70 75 83 97 89 82 73 Agra 72 77 88 96 91 85 75 Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Delhi, India Day 6: Jaipur Explore the city’s rich history begin- ning with the stunning Hawa Mahal, or “Palace Day 2: Delhi Upon arrival late in the evening, of the Winds,” an elaborate facade of carved pink Your Small Group Tour Highlights transfer to your hotel. sandstone. Tour the famous Amber Fort, a Rajput capital from 1037 to 1728 and considered the Enjoy a private home-hosted dinner with a Jaipur family ... Day 3: Delhi Explore both Old and New Delhi pinnacle of Rajput architecture. Visit Jantar Mantar, Spend two nights at Ranthambore National Park ... Experi- over the next two days, beginning with an afternoon the open-air observatory, then view some of the ence an intimate tour of the holy city of Varanasi and enjoy an exclusive dance performance ... Take a camel safari and tour today of the 16th-century Tomb of Humayun, Maharajahs’ magnificent art collections at the City visit with a tribal family in Kalakho ... Join in a yoga demon- Qutab Minar, and India Gate, honoring the 90,000 Palace Museum. (B,L) stration at a local ashram ... Attend a traditional aarti offering Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Tonight ceremony on the Ganges enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Day 7: Jaipur and Sanganer Early this morning, Day Itinerary Hotel Rating drive to a local ashram and join a yoga demonstra- Day 4: Delhi Today’s exploration of Old Delhi tion and chanting. In the nearby village of Sanganer, 1 Depart U.S. for Delhi begins at the Gandhi Memorial and continues with learn about traditional block printing and handmade 2-4 Delhi Taj Palace Deluxe many highlights including 17th-century Lal Qila, paper industries, then experience the colorful sights 5-7 Jaipur Jai Mahal Palace Deluxe the Red Fort complex of palaces where we stop for and sounds of a local market In the afternoon take 8-9 Ranthambore Taj Sawai First Class photos; Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque ­dating a traditional rickshaw ride, then spend the evening Madhopur Lodge to 1656; a rickshaw ride through Chandi Chowk as dinner guests in the home of a multi-generational Dera Village 10 Kalakho Retreat Not rated market; a Sikh temple; and a tour of the National family. (B,D) 11-12 Agra Taj Gateway Agra Sup. First Class Museum. (B,D) 13-14 Khajuraho Taj Chandela First Class Day 8: Ranthambore Travel today to Ranthambore

15-16 Varanasi Taj Gateway Ganges Sup. First Class Day 5: Jaipur Travel by coach to the “pink city” National Park. Once the hunting ground of the ​ Crowne Plaza of Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Rajput, with ­Maharajah of Jaipur, the park is now a 512-square- 17 Delhi Gurgaon Deluxe historic forts, palaces, and gardens. Upon arrival mile nature preserve that is home to hundreds of 18 Depart Delhi for U.S. late in the afternoon, settle into your hotel, once a species of birds, reptiles, mammals—and of course, Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel Maharajah’s palace. (B,L,D) the endangered Bengal tiger. Arrive in time for an industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too afternoon game drive through the park. (B,L,D) new, too small, or too remote to be listed.

50 On The Web See a colorful slide show of our tour at SmithsonianJourneys.org/India Day 9: Ranthambore Enjoy both morning and World Heritage site of Khajuraho whose collection of afternoon game drives today to see not only game but 22 Hindu temples date to the 10th century. (B,L,D) also picturesque ruins of forts and palaces. (Tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed.) (B,L,D) Day 14: Khajuraho Spend today exploring several of Khajuraho’s well-preserved temples (many adorned Day 10: Kalakho Early today depart for Kalakho and with erotic sculptures), considered the finest examples the Dera Village Retreat. Enjoy an afternoon camel of temple architecture in northern India. (B,D) safari to meet the local Meena tribespeople in their homes. (B,L,D) Day 15: Varanasi Fly to Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest city and a sacred place of pilgrimage. Tonight Day 11: Abhaneri and Agra­ Travel to the vil- attend a traditional aarti offering ceremony during a lage of Abhaneri to see the fortified Chand Boari cruise along the Ganges. (B,D) (c. 800), whose 3,500 steps descend some 13 stories into the ground. Arrive in the ancient Day 16: Varanasi Early this morning return to Mughal stronghold of Agra in the early afternoon. the Ganges, where Hindu pilgrims perform their (B,D) rituals along the ghats (steps) leading to the river. Visit several of the important ghats by boat as you Day 12: Agra This morning visit the Taj Mahal, experience the spiritual mystique of these hallowed the magnificent tomb built by Emperor Shah Jahan waters, and stop at the new Vishwanath Temple of in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. After an white marble at Banaras Hindu University. Later Indian cuisine travel to Sarnath, birthplace of Buddhism and still cooking lesson a major center of the practice. Enjoy a private and lunch, visit Kathak dance performance, then celebrate your the imposing journey with a farewell dinner. (B,D) Agra Fort com- Indian women in their colorful saris plex. (B,L) Day 17: Delhi Fly to Delhi this afternoon where the evening is at leisure. (B) 2014/2015 Tour Dates and Prices Day 13: Kha- including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees juraho Travel Day 18: Return to the U.S. Early today transfer to by train to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. 2014 Jhansi, then by Nov 23 2015 coach to the vil- 2014 2015 Jan 18 lage of Orchha Smithsonian Expert Oct 23 Mar 15 Feb 22 where you’ll Minhazz Majumdar is a writer New York $5,594 $5,794 $5,994 and curator of Indian art, and enjoy lunch. Baltimore, Boston, Search for tigers in Ranthambore. co-founder of the Earth & Grass Continue to the Philadelphia, $5,894 $6,094 $6,294 Workshop, an organization promoting arts and crafts as Washington, DC livelihood. A communications Atlanta, Charlotte, Post-Tour Extension strategist for various Indian and Chicago, Cincinnati, international organizations, Minhazz has worked Cleveland, Dallas, on promotional campaigns on such subjects as Detroit, Houston, $5,994 $6,194 $6,394 Nepal renewable energy, disaster management, affordable Los Angeles, Miami, 5 days/4 nights for $1,295 total price technologies, and women’s issues. She has extensive Orlando, San Francisco, experience leading groups through India. Minhazz Single Supplement: $345 Seattle, Tampa will lead the November departure. Rita Sodha Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan (see page 57) will lead the October, January, and Denver, Minneapolis kingdom on this special journey featuring sacred $6,094 $6,294 $6,494 February departures, and the March departure Phoenix, Portland (OR) shrines, royal cities, and indigenous lifestyles. will be led by a comparable expert. Land Only $4,295 $4,495 $4,695

Your Tour Price Includes Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person • Air transportation: Varanasi/Kathmandu Your Tour Price Includes • 4 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Kathmandu at based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, Crowne Plaza Soaltee (Superior First Class); 2 nights in • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights fuel surcharges, and departure fees of $899, which are Nagarkot at Club Himalaya Nagarkot (Superior First within India subject to change until final payment is made. Single Class) • 16 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First travelers please add $1,795. All 2014/2015 tour prices • 8 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners Class, First Class, and unrated hotels above (excluding airline taxes, fuel surcharges and • Extensive sightseeing, including Pashupatinath shrine • 34 meals: 15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 12 dinners departure fees) are guaranteed. (World Heritage site); Boudhanath monument; colorful • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all Bhaktapur, “city of Devotees;” Swayambhunath Temple, entrance fees Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic royal city of Patan; and Kathmandu and environs • Services of a professional Tour Director flight: $5,195 per person (upgrade is on request and • Services of a professional tour representative • Private motorcoach transportation • Lectures by Smithsonian Expert pricing is subject to change). • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip Please note: This trip involves considerable walking airport and hotel porters, and all drivers • Rail transportation Agra/Jhansi • Luggage handling for one bag per person as well as some lengthy coach rides. You should be in Please note that guests on this extension will leave the India • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest. tour on Day 17 at the conclusion of the Varanasi stay. servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

To Register Call 1-877-338-8687 or visit SmithsonianJourneys.org 51