TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
Heart of India 2020
Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 14) Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Small Groups on the Road Less Traveled 1 Overseas Adventure Travel ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
Dear Traveler,
We've always felt that real travel is about meeting new people and discovering unfamiliar cultures—elements that are at the heart of every O.A.T. adventure.
In the following pages, you'll find detailed information about the adventure you've expressed interest in, including a detailed day-to-day itinerary. We've also included visa requirements, regional weather conditions, local currency and health information—even a few film and book recommendations for further inspiration about this destination.
Exploring the world with O.A.T. allows you to experience the awe and wonder of familiar and far- flung destinations in a small group of 8-16 travelers (with an average of 14). And since no one brings a new location to life better than someone who makes his or her home in that destination, you'll be accompanied by one of our local Trip Leaders, who will serve as your chief experience leader—helping to ensure you're getting the personalized experiences you're looking for.
With O.A.T. you'll benefit from our decades-long experience introducing the world to American travelers at the best value anywhere. We have the lowest prices in the industry and offer FREE Single Supplements—which means solo travelers never pay more for their own hotel or cabin. Plus, you can join the 85% of travelers who are choosing to personalize their experiences. From extending your travels—whether with us or on your own—to building in time to ensure a smooth beginning and end to your adventure, the choice is yours.
We hope you find the information inside helpful. If you have any further questions about this trip, don't hesitate to contact one of our Adventure Specialists at 1-800-955-1925. Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to welcoming you soon on a life-changing adventure.
Warm regards,
Alan E. Lewis Harriet R. Lewis Chairman Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. Visit us online to find videos and films about our adventures—from independent films featuring the destinations you'll visit, to itinerary highlights. Go to www.oattravel.com and enjoy the show!
1073 POD PMA-LET.indd 1 5/31/12 4:11 PM
2 WHAT’S INSIDE
TRIP SUMMARY
It’s Included ...... 4 Departure Dates and Prices ...... 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6
DETAILED DAY -TO-DAY ITINERARY ...... 7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP...... 50
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements ...... 52
Health ...... 54
Money Matters ...... 58
Preparing for Your Trip ...... 61 Packing ...... 64 Climate ...... 72 About Your Destinations ...... 76
Demographics & History ...... 82
Resources ...... 90
MAP ...... 95
3 Visit a women’s cooperative during our A Day in the Life experience to see how its empowering women in the community
Heart of India Small Group Adventure India: Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi
Countries: 1 | Cities: 5 | 2̵pĢėĞŶŭRłÖłŶĞÖĿðŋũāpÖŶĢŋłÖķÖũĴ
Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 14) • International airfare, airport transfers, • 2 5 small group activities government taxes, fees, and airline fuel $ Explore in a small group of 8-16 17 days from surcharges unless you choose to make • 3895 travelers (average group size of 14) Includes international airfare your own air arrangements Services of a local O.A.T. Trip $230 All land transportation and • Travel from only a day • Experience Leader 2 internal flights Gratuities for local guides, drivers, $ Accommodations for 14 nights in hotels • 16 days from 2695 • camp staff, and luggage porters and 1 night at an O.A.T. camp Without international airfare 5% Frequent Traveler Credit 34 meals—daily breakfast, 9 lunches, • Single Supplement: FREE • toward your next adventure— and 10 dinners (including 1 Home- an average of $301 Hosted Dinner)
Maximize Your Discoveries & Value To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure, Optional extension s : watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/hoi2020 Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom 8 nights pre-trip from $2395 Travel from only $300 per night The South of India: Kerala & Cochin 6 nights post-trip from $1595 Travel from only $266 per night Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara 6 nights post-trip from $1895 Travel from only $316 per night Stopover in Dubai 3 nights from $595 Travel from only $199 per night Single Supplement: $295
A local market, Rajasthan Heart of India
4 Heart of India FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE From spending more time abroad or adding extensions, to 2020 Dates & Prices choosing your air preferences, our Adventure Specialists are here to discuss your personalization options at 1-800-955-1925. Visit www.oattravel.com/personalize-hoi2020 for details.
OCT; NOV 3-12, 24, DEPART FROM JAN 2-21, 30 JAN 22-28 FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL 26; DEC 1-8 NOV 16-23
Chicago, New York $4295 $5195 $4395 $4195 $3895 $4795 $5695 Boston, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, $4395 $5295 $4495 $4295 $3995 $4895 $5795 San Diego, Washington, DC Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, $4495 $5395 $4595 $4395 $4095 $4995 $5895 San Francisco, Seattle Baltimore, Detroit, Minneapolis, $4595 $5495 $4695 $4495 $4195 $5095 $5995 Newark, Tampa Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix $4695 $5595 $4795 $4595 $4295 $5195 $6095 Portland $4795 $5695 $4895 $4695 $4395 $5295 $6195
Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.
OCT; NOV 3-12, JAN 2-21, 30 JAN 22-28 FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL 24, 26; DEC 1-8 NOV 16-23
$3095 $3995 $3195 $2995 $2695 $3595 $4495
HOI2020
Critical Air Information Below, you’ll find the East and West Coast cities with the longest flight times. For more information on average flight times based on your gateway city, visit www.oattravel.com/hoi2020. GATEWAY DEPART RETURN
Hours Typical Connection Hours Typical Connection San Diego (West Coast) 26 hrs 2 27 hrs 2 Tampa (East Coast) 21 hrs 1 21 hrs 1
*Departure dates feature the Nagaur Festival. Call for details. Some October-November departure dates feature the Pushkar Festival. Call for details. Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. A visa is required for entry into India, Bhutan on the pre-trip extension and Nepal on the post-trip extension. You will receive application information after you reserve.
For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/hoi2020pricing
FREE SINGLE RESERVE EARLY & SAVE SHARE YOUR LOVE COMBINE ADVENTURES SUPPLEMENT with our Good Buy Plan OF TRAVEL & SAVE We offer FREE Single New travelers you refer will The earlier you pay by check or See more of the world—and Supplements on your main instantly save $100, and trip and all extensions. electronic funds transfer, the you’ll earn increasing rewards— avoid another international more you SAVE! up to a FREE trip! flight—by combining this Each departure has limited solo adventure with Soul of India. space available—c all today For details, visit For details, visit to reserve. www.oattravel.com/gbd www.oattravel.com/va
Publication Date 10/2/19
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oatt ravel.com/hoi2020
5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Adventure, Your Way
We recommend you spend extra time in a destination to truly make your adventure everything you’ve ever dreamed about—in fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 90 countries. Call us at 1-800-955-1925 to discuss personalizing your adventure today or visit us online at www.oattravel.com/personalize-hoi2020.
'āƩ łāÈŋŽũRùāÖķdāłėŶĞŋĕŶÖƘ̝arrive early, 3-night Stopover in Dubai from $595: More than 7,000 travelers stay later & more arrive early Extending your time in a destination can improve your overall Arrive early in Dubai for a fresh start before your main adventure. travel experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening An O.A.T. representative will meet you at the airport in Dubai and cultural interactions. Your local Trip Experience Leader will help to assist with transfer into the city for three nights in a centrally- ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking located hotel with daily breakfast—the rest is up to you. for. With their unmatched understanding of Indian culture, it’s no Back-to-Back Adventures: 90% of travelers who combined two surprise that 94% of our travelers rate their Trip Experience trips anywhere in the world rated it excellent Leader excellent. One of the most common adventures travelers combine with this one From extending your travels—whether with us or on your own— is Soul of India: The Colorful South. If you’re already overseas, why not to building in time to ensure a smooth beginning and end to your see more of the world and avoid another international flight? Plus, Small Group Adventure, the choice is yours. Here are some of you’ll save $250-$350 per person when you reserve two trips right your options: after one another. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of travelers take an extension ũĢƑÖŶāùƑāłŶŽũāŭ̆¦ũÖƑāķĢłÖłāƗóķŽŭĢƑāėũŋŽťŋĕÖŭ Trip extensions give you more time, allowing you to get refreshed and acclimated before your adventure begins or before your return to ĕāƒÖŭ˓ the U.S. On this adventure, you have three extensions to choose from, Reserve an exclusive departure with your friends and family. It’s including The South of India: Kerala & Cochin, Nepal: Kathmandu simple: You choose the people you travel with, the departure date, & Pokhara, and Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom—which 97% of our and the size of your group. O.A.T. does the rest. travelers have rated excellent. “Break Away” Options: 30% of travelers spend more time abroad ĢũzťŶĢŋłŭ̆mŋũāŶĞÖł˔ˏͮŋĕŶũÖƑāķāũŭóŽŭŶŋĿĢơā Before or after your main adventure or trip extension, “break away” ŶĞāĢũƪ ĢėĞŶŭ anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring entirely on your • Choose your departure city and airline own. Extend your time abroad with the following options: • Depart from one city and return to another • Spend more time before or after your adventure in Delhi • Upgrade your seat or choose a specific meal option • Stay overnight (or for a few days) in Amsterdam, a common connecting city on this adventure, or in a destination of your choice Please note: Our Adventure Specialists can help you plan your airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers.
Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/hoi2020
6
Heart of India 2020 17-Day Small Group Adventure
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
PRE-TRIP Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom POST-TRIPS The South of India: Kerala & Cochin OR Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary
7 OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended O.A.T. trips. But our most impressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.
A WORD ABOUT ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Our Heart of India trip is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. We seek out unusual adventures, in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. India is a developing FRXQWU\DQGWKHRYHUDOOTXDOLW\RIWUDYHOVHUYLFHVLVQRWZKDW\RXZRXOGͫQGLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVRU Europe. To enjoy this trip, you need an open curiosity, an adventurous spirit, and a healthy sense of KXPRUDERXWWKHXQSUHGLFWDEOHQDWXUHRIWUDYHOLQ,QGLD̜ͬH[LELOLW\LVLPSRUWDQW
And of course, India is a populous nation without the smooth infrastructure you’re familiar with. You can expect dusty and bumpy roads, long drives, streets teeming with vendors and supplicants, unfamiliar (and spicy) foods, uncertain weather, and primitive public toilet conditions—most are of “bush” quality at best.
Part of the adventure of travel in India is the distinct possibility that things may change—which may make it impossible for us to follow this trip itinerary exactly. When we are confronted with changing circumstances, this plan is the one we strive to follow. However, it’s important for you to know in advance that we may not be able to follow this plan exactly; the sequence of places visited may vary.
Also remember that coaches in India are locally built. Though comfortable, they cannot be compared to those from Europe or other developed nations.
To best enjoy this trip, bring an open curiosity, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to adapt and PDNHWKHEHVWRIHYHU\VLWXDWLRQ$IWHUDOOWKDWLVWKHGHͫQLWLRQRIDGYHQWXUH
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
8 INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» International airfare, airport transfers, » 25 small group activities government taxes, fees, and airline fuel » Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers surcharges unless you choose to make your (average group size of 14) own air arrangements » 6HUYLFHVRIDORFDO2$77ULS » $OOODQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQDQGLQWHUQDOͬLJKWV Experience Leader » Accommodations for 14 nights in hotels and » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, camp 1 night at an O.A.T. camp staff, and luggage porters » 34 meals—daily breakfast, 9 » 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your lunches, and 10 dinners (including 1 next adventure—an average of $301 Home-Hosted Dinner)
WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE
PACING » Northern India experiences poor air » 7 locations in 17 days with 2 one-night stays quality in November and December, especially in Delhi » Multiple pre-dawn departures » Winter months are cold and foggy PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION » Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids » Travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus » Must be able to withstand hot temperatures, and on foot including averages around and beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit » Travel through India via bus (no heat or toilet on board), train, rickshaw, and » Must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted game-viewing vehicle each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including scaling » 6HYHUDOORQJRYHUODQGGULYHVRIKRXUV several steep steps without handrails including a 10-12 hour transfer with a train journey on Day 13 » We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some FLIGHT INFORMATION circumstances send travelers home, if their » Travel time will be 14-27 hours and will limitations impact the group’s experience most likely have two connections CLIMATE ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES » Daytime temperatures range from 90-100°F » One night in a comfortable but basic tented (particularly in April) camp with private baths » $XJXVWDQG6HSWHPEHUDUHKRWDQGKXPLG with heavy rains
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
9 » Asian squat-style toilets must be used in some villages without other facilities » Most hotels in Bhutan do not have elevators, so if you are taking the optional extension in Bhutan, you must be able to climb stairs
CUISINE » Meals will be based on the local cuisine; Western food is limited
CULTURAL INSIGHT » We may see people living in poverty, which could be distressing for some travelers
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
10 Heart of India 2020
If you’re looking for adventure, explore India, where every moment brings new stimulation. The scent of URDVWHGFXPLQVHHGVͬRDWLQJWKURXJKD'HOKLED]DDUD\RXQJJLUO̞VEUDFHOHWVMDQJOLQJRQKHUDUPDVVKH prepares for a festival ... Hindu pilgrims descending ghats into the holy Ganges. From the excitement of WKH̡*ROGHQ7ULDQJOH̢FLWLHVRI'HOKL$JUDDQG-DLSXUWRWKHWUDQTXLOLW\RIWKHXQH[SHFWHGUHWUHDWVWKDW OLHEHWZHHQWKHPZHH[SORUHLWDOORQWKLVDGYHQWXUHWR,QGLD7KDQNVWRWKHVPDOOJURXSVL]H̜MXVW WUDYHOHUVZLWKDQDYHUDJHRI̜H[SHUW7ULS([SHULHQFH/HDGHUVFDQEULQJ\RXEHKLQGWKHVFHQHVDQGRII the beaten path to have authentic cultural experiences with local people, including a family in Jaipur, the members of a women’s cooperative, and more. We’ve also recently added a new destination on this itinerary: /XFNQRZFDSLWDORI8WWDU3UDGHVKDQGWKHVHDWRISRZHULQWKHWKDQG WKFHQWXULHVIRUVHOIJRYHUQLQJ Muslim rulers. We’ll explore this fascinating history, as well as get to know some of the locals connected to it. )RUWKRVHLQWHUHVWHGLQDXQLTXHO\FHOHEUDWRU\MRXUQH\ZHRIIHUWZRDGGLWLRQDOYHUVLRQVRIWKLVLWLQHUDU\HDFK featuring a local festival and two additional nights. The Nagaur Festival is the second largest fair in India, where locals come to trade animals, primarily cattle. Around 70,000 animals are traded here each year, often GUHVVHGLQRUQDWHRXWͫWVDORQJZLWKWKHLURZQHUV,QWKHHYHQLQJ\RXPD\ZLWQHVVJDPHVRIWXJRIZDU KHQQDSDLQWLQJDQGHYHQFDPHOUDFHV7KH1DJDXU)HVWLYDOGHSDUWXUHGDWHVDUH-DQXDU\-DQXDU\ and January 27, 2020. Another festival of interest is the Pushkar Festival, centered around the holy lake of Pushkar. This celebration takes place annually during the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon, and attendees FDQH[SHFWWRKHDUWUDGLWLRQDOPXVLFHQFRXQWHUDQXPEHURIORFDODUWLVDQVDQGRQWKHIDLU̞VͫQDOGD\ZLWQHVV religious devotees stepping into Pushkar lake for a sacred bath. The 2020 Pushkar Festival departures dates DUH1RYHPEHU1RYHPEHU1RYHPEHU 1RYHPEHUDQG1RYHPEHU And whenever you’d like, you have the freedom to explore more of India on your own: Break off from the JURXSIRULQGHSHQGHQWGLVFRYHULHV̜OLNHDVXQVHW\RJDOHVVRQQHDUWKH7DM0DKDORUDVLONZHDYLQJOHVVRQLQ 9DUDQDVL̜GXULQJIUHHWLPH
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
11 EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom 8 NIGHTS PRE-TRIP )HZWUDYHOHUVKDYHHYHUKHDUGRI%KXWDQ̜PXFKOHVVSDVVHGWKURXJKLWVPDMHVWLF EXWUHPRWH ERUGHUV7KH kingdom cautiously controls tourism to protect its legacy as one of the world’s top ten biodiversity hotspots. ([SHULHQFHDPDJLFDOP\VWLFDOZRUOGRIHODERUDWHWHPSOHIRUWUHVVHVDQFLHQWFXVWRPVDQGPLQGERJJOLQJ Himalayan scenery.
The South of India: Kerala & Cochin 6 NIGHTS POST-TRIP 6RPHPLOHVVRXWKRI'HOKLOLHVDSDUDGLVHRIVDQGDOZRRGVFHQWHGEHDFKHVVWXQQLQJVRXWKHUQ,QGLDQ DUFKLWHFWXUHDQGPXOWLFXOWXUDO(XURSHDQSRUWV'LVFRYHUWKHEHVWRILWE\ODQGDQGE\FUXLVLQJLWVLG\OOLF backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat for two nights.
Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara 6 NIGHTS POST-TRIP ([SHULHQFHWKHGLYHUVLW\DQGWKHPDJLFRI1HSDODPLGDQXQIRUJHWWDEOHZRUOGRISURIRXQGDQGDJHOHVVEHDXW\ At the ancient crossroads of Asia, an enchanting kingdom gilded in Hindu and Buddhist culture nestles beneath the rugged peaks of eight of the world’s ten highest mountains. On this adventure, you’ll experience WZRVLGHVRI1HSDORQDMRXUQH\WKDWWDNHV\RXIURPWKHPRGHUQFDSLWDORI.DWKPDQGXWRWKHODNHVLGHFLW\ of Pokhara.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12 DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Depart to Delhi, India Freedom To Explore: During your three days in Delhi, you have the freedom to explore this Afternoon/Evening: You depart today on your sprawling city on your own during your free RYHUQLJKWͬLJKWIURPWKH86WR'HOKL,QGLD time. Below are a few recommended options for independent explorations: Day 2 Arrive in Delhi, India • Explore The National Handicrafts and • Destination: Delhi Handlooms Museum: Glimpse India’s past • Accommodations: The Claridges New Delhi through the museum’s collection of more or similar than 33,000 textiles, folk paintings, bamboo Afternoon/Evening: You’ll arrive in Delhi sculptures, and other handcrafts. in the afternoon or evening, depending on • How to get there: A 25-minute WXNWXN \RXUVSHFLͫFͬLJKWDUUDQJHPHQWV$Q2$7 ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ representative will meet you at the airport and • Hours DPSP7XHVGD\6XQGD\ escort you to your hotel via bus—a transfer of • Cost $ERXW86' DERXWDQKRXUGHSHQGLQJRQWUDIͫF+HUHZH̞OO • *HWDWDVWHRI,QGLD̞VPDQ\ͬDYRUVDWDilli be joined by travelers who took our optional Haat: Browse the stalls of this open-air food Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom pre-trip extension. market, where a rotating selection of vendors 8SRQDUULYDOZH̞OOFKHFNLQDQGUHFHLYHURRP offer dishes from every state in India; you can assignments. We stay for three nights in a also shop for goods like colorful pashminas centrally-located hotel. Depending on which alongside locals. hotel you stay at, your hotel may feature • How to get there: A 25-minute WXNWXN an outdoor swimming pool, on-site dining ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ options, and a spa. Typical rooms include • Hours DPSP7XHVGD\6XQGD\ a minibar, safe, air conditioning, Wireless • Cost $ERXW86' Internet, and a private en suite bathroom. • 6HH'HKOLWKURXJKGLIIHUHQWH\HVGXULQJD After settling in, our group will have the Salaam Balak Trust City Walk: Gain deeper opportunity to join our Trip Experience Leader insight into the lives of Indian street children in a short vicinity walk around 5pm. We’ll during this tour led by a member of the familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood, 6DODDP%DODN7UXVWZKLFKSURYLGHVUHVRXUFHV DVZHOODVZKHUHWRͫQGDQ\WKLQJZHPD\QHHG for youth who live and work on the street. such as an ATM or pharmacy. Dinner is on your Admire the resilience and independence own this evening, so this may be a great time RIWKHVHFKLOGUHQDV\RXOLVWHQWRͫUVWKDQG to get suggestions from your Trip Experience accounts about their experiences and bright Leader, should you want any. futures ahead. How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride, The rest of the evening is on your own—you • DERXW86'URXQGWULS are free to rest in your room after your long Hours: DPSP0RQGD\6DWXUGD\ ͬLJKWWRSUHSDUHIRUWRPRUURZ̞VGLVFRYHULHV • Cost: %HWZHHQ86'IRUHDFK or reach out to your Trip Experience Leader for • admission. recommendations on activities in the area.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13 Day 3 Sikh Temple Visit • Community The underlying principle of this practice is kitchen volunteer opportunity that everyone who comes here, regardless of religion, social caste, gender, or other • Destination: Delhi socio-economic factors, are welcomed and • Included Meals: Breakfast provided a meal. Today, our group will have the • Accommodations: The Claridges New Delhi FKDQFHWRWDNHSDUWLQWKLVVHOͬHVVVHUYLFHE\ or similar volunteering in the kitchen or serving meals. Activity Note: India is a kaleidoscope of Lunch: On your own between 1pm and 2:30pm. extremes and will engage all of your senses. If you’d like, you may choose to enjoy a meal Throughout your explorations of Delhi, you’ll with locals at the community kitchen. Food also be exposed to local residents. These served is always vegetarian, as traditional LQWHUDFWLRQVPD\EHGLIͫFXOWIRUVRPHWUDYHOHUV 6LNKVGRQRWEHOLHYHLQKDUPLQJOLYLQJWKLQJV to witness. You will also experience a plethora Alternatively, you are free to eat elsewhere of smells and sounds—some of which may be on your own if you prefer. Check with your jarring—so come prepared with an open mind Trip Experience Leader for restaurant to all of these new experiences. recommendations. Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO Late Afternoon: We’ll depart around 2:30pm by from 7am-10:30am, with Indian and American bus for the short ride back to the hotel. Around options available. 3pm, we’ll gather at the hotel for a 1-hour Morning: This morning, enjoy some free time :HOFRPH%ULHͫQJZLWKRXU7ULS([SHULHQFH before we meet with our Trip Experience Leader /HDGHU'XULQJWKLVEULHͫQJZHZLOOUHYLHZRXU DURXQGQRRQIRUDVKRUWPLQXWHEULHͫQJ itinerary in more detail (including any changes about what we’ll see today. After, we’ll depart that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience by bus for the approximately 15-minute ride Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and WR%DQJOD6DKLE6LNKWHPSOHZKHUHZH̞OO emergency procedures, and answer questions learn about one of the largest world religions. we may have. Then, rest of the day is free for 6LNKLVPLVDPRQRWKHLVWLFIDLWKWKDWRULJLQDWHG you to enjoy exploring this multi-faceted in the Punjab region of India in the late 15th metropolis on your own, or retire to your century, and currently is practiced by tens of room to rest. millions of people around the world. At the Architecture buffs may want to visit temple, we’ll have a chance learn more about +XPD\XQ̞V7RPEDWKFHQWXU\WULEXWHWR this religious minority, who believe strongly the Mughal emperor by his Persian-born wife. in giving back to the community, as we’ll The tomb is believed to have been inspired by H[SHULHQFHͫUVWKDQGWKLVDIWHUQRRQ WKH7DM0DKDOHUHFWHGMXVW\HDUVHDUOLHU7R Early Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll have the learn about one of the most prominent Indian opportunity to explore the temple, as well ͫJXUHVWKURXJKRXWKLVWRU\\RXPD\FKRRVH as the community kitchen housed within it. WRYLVLW*DQGKL6PULWLDPXVHXPGHGLFDWHGWR 8SZDUGVRISHRSOHDGD\DUHVHUYHG Mahatma Gandhi, the political activist most meals here by volunteers. This type of famous for leading India to independence from philanthropy goes far back in the history of British rule through non-violent protest. The the religion; in fact, there is even a Punjabi precise location of the museum is where Gandhi WHUPIRUD6LNKFRPPXQLW\NLWFKHQ langar. VSHQWWKHODVWͫYHPRQWKVRIKLVOLIHDQGZDV
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14 assassinated on January 30, 1948. Alternatively, Around 9:45am, we’ll break into pairs of two if nature is what you seek, Lodhi Garden is a people, hop on rickshaws, and ride for about sprawling 90-acre park situated in the urban a half-hour through Chandni Chowk, one of district of New Delhi. But nature is not all you the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. As ͫQGWKHUH̜WKHSDUNFRQWDLQVYDULRXVWRPEV your rickshaw squeezes through the tiny lanes, architectural works, and gardens. soak up the lively atmosphere of congested alleyways of stalls, people, and animals on Dinner: On your own, whenever you’d like. the streets—smelling everything from freshly Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to prepared food to the less savory body and provide recommendations. One specialty you animal scents. may want to seek out here is butter chicken, or 3XQMDELPXUJKPDNKDQL, chunks of chicken Our destination after our rickshaw ride will VHUYHGLQDPLOGO\VSLFHGWRPDWRVDXFHͬDYRUHG be the Muslim section of Old Delhi. Here, we with butter and spices. will enter the 400-year-old home of a local family for a controversial conversation about Evening: On your own—you are free to return WKHRQJRLQJUHOLJLRXVFRQͬLFWEHWZHHQ0XVOLPV to your room to rest before your explorations and Hindus in Indian society. Members of the tomorrow, or join fellow travelers in the main family—led by their daughter—will discuss hotel area for a nightcap to discuss the day’s the continued struggles and acts of violence activities. that still occur in the area, and travelers have a chance to ask their own questions about this Day 4 Explore Old & New Delhi • Local YHU\GLIͫFXOWWRSLF Interaction At around 11:45am, we’ll walk approximately 5 • Destination: Delhi minutes to a local restaurant. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: The Claridges New Delhi Lunch: Around 12pm in a restaurant established or similar in 1913 and run by fourth-generation owners. This lunch spot is not well known by tourists Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO and offers traditional Indian cuisine, including from 7am-10:30am, with Indian and American hot options like kababs and korma. options available. Afternoon: We’ll depart the restaurant around Morning: We depart our hotel by bus around 1:15pm and drive for 30 minutes to New Delhi, 9am for an approximately 45-minute ride to one of eleven urban districts of Delhi, and the see some of Old Delhi’s highlights, guided by country’s capital since 1931. This afternoon, our Trip Experience Leader. Built by Mughal ZH̞OOVSHFLͫFDOO\EHH[SORULQJ/XW\HQV̞'HOKL (PSHURU6KDK-DKDQLQWKHPLGWKFHQWXU\ DVHFWLRQQDPHGDIWHUWKH%ULWLVKDUFKLWHFW6LU Jahan decided to shift the country’s capital Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens led the charge on much from Agra to Old Delhi, which it remained of the architectural design of the area when until the fall of the Mughal empire in 1857. India was still part of the British Empire. This Through the centuries, eight cities have been afternoon, we’ll begin with a 30-minute bus built on this site by Hindu, Mughal, and British drive through this historical section, observing UXOHUV̜ZLWKHDFKDGGLQJWKHLURZQͬDYRU important landmarks as we go along and through architecture, clothing, language, learning background on them from our Trip and more. Experience Leader. We’ll also make a stop at the
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15 India Gate, a towering war memorial honoring Dinner $WDORFDOUHVWDXUDQWDURXQGSP2XU more than 80,000 fallen British Indian Army meal will feature an appetizer, hot entree, soldiers during the First World War. Like much dessert, and the drink of your choice. This will of the area, this almost 138-foot tall monument be a great opportunity to continue getting to was also the work of Lutyens. Around 2:15pm, know your fellow travelers, and to toast to the we’ll wind down our tour with an ice cream journey ahead. at India Gate Public Park. This park is popular Evening: You have the freedom to spend your among locals, making it an opportune time to evening as you wish, whether you want to mingle and perhaps even have a conversation retire to your room to rest before tomorrow’s with the ice cream vendor. discoveries or to head back out by cab or WXNWXN Around 2:45pm, we’ll board the bus for to explore the nearby bazaar. the 15-minute ride back to the hotel. From 3pm-5:30pm, you are free to explore as you Day 5 Fly to Jaipur wish. Perhaps you want to relax a bit before • Destination: Jaipur our group Welcome Dinner this evening, or for • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch those who wish to continue their discoveries, WKHUHDUHDQXPEHURIRSWLRQVDW\RXUͫQJHUWLSV • Accommodations: Trident Jaipur or similar For those interested in visiting a historical Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO shopping spot, head over to Khan Market. EHJLQQLQJDWDPZLWK,QGLDQDQG$PHULFDQ Established in 1951 by Freedom Fighter Khan options available. Abdul Jabbar Khan, this concentration of shops is Delhi’s most expensive place to rent Morning: We’ll rise early this morning to a shop in India. Inside, it boasts a number of board our bus around 7:15am and transfer boutiques and places to eat and drink. Another to the airport—about an hour ride from the option is to visit Nizamuddin Dargah, a shrine hotel—where we will check in and board our EXLOWRYHUWKHJUDYHRI0XVOLP6XͫVDLQW ͬLJKWWR-DLSXUD81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWH Nizam-ud-din Auliya, one of the most famous city. We’ll arrive in Jaipur, referred to as the 6XͫVRIDOOWLPH7KLVP\VWLFDOKRO\SODFHLV “Pink City” for the rosy hue of its sandstone located amidst a labyrinth of bazaars and buildings, around 10:15am. After deplaning alleyways and attracts regular devotees who and making our way through the airport, we’ll UHJXODUO\OHDYHͬRZHUVDQGRWKHURIIHULQJV board our bus around 11am and travel about Alternatively, you could visit Hanuman Temple, 15 minutes to a local paper factory. Here, we’ll an ancient Hindu place of worship dedicated to take a tour of the factory with a worker, and the revered god Hanuman or “Monkey God.” meet with local artisans who make paper by And it’s appropriately named, as you will hand, using traditional methods. You’ll have a almost certainly be greeted by monkeys upon chance to observe them at work, ask questions exploring, as they are fed by temple staff. about their process, and even try your hand at the artform. This is a wonderful opportunity Later, we’ll depart the hotel around 5:45pm to take what you’ve learned and cement your for a 15-minute auto rickshaw ride to our understanding of it with an interactive tutorial Welcome Dinner. provided by the artists.
Around 12:15pm, we’ll board our bus for a 15-minute drive to a nearby restaurant.
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16 Lunch: At a local restaurant popular with Freedom To Explore: During your three days students around 12:30pm, featuring traditional in Jaipur, you have the freedom to explore the dishes of the region. Perhaps you will choose “Pink City” on your own during your free time. to sample one of the restaurant’s many Below are a few recommended options for varieties of tea. independent explorations:
Afternoon: Around 1:45pm, we’ll depart for • Give back at the Akshaya Patra Foundation: the 45-minute bus ride to our hotel, where we Tour the kitchens and lend a helping hand at will check in and get our room assignments for WKLVQRQSURͫWRUJDQL]DWLRQZKLFKSURYLGHV our two-night stay. Depending on which hotel school lunches for more than 1.7 million ZHVWD\DWLWZLOOOLNHO\IHDWXUHDͫWQHVVFHQWHU children in India. and several on-site dining options. Each room • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute typically includes a television, minibar, sitting WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ area, Wireless Internet, and modern en suite • Hours DPSP0RQGD\6DWXUGD\ bathroom. • Cost (QWUDQFHLVIUHHEXWD86' After about 30 minutes to settle in, join your donation is expected. Trip Experience Leader for an orientation • Discover the Anokhi Museum of Hand walk around the hotel’s vicinity at about 3pm. Printing: Explore the museum’s collection of Around 3:30pm, the rest of the day is on your block-printed textiles. own—free to make your own discoveries. • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute Consider asking your Trip Experience Leader WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ for recommendations on things to do in the • Hours DPSP7XHVGD\6XQGD\ area. You may be interested in exploring Kanak • Cost $ERXW86' Vrindavan Gardens, a sprawling, 275-year-old • 6HHDPRYLHDWWKHRaj Mandir Movie Hall: garden complex just 5 miles north of the city. Watch Bollywood stars on the silver screen The garden grounds contain a temple, a number inside a cotton-candy pink cinema. of fountains, as well as detailed marble accents. Or, perhaps you’ll visit the Grass Farm Nursery. • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute Here, you can strike up a conversation with a WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ local as this is a popular park for residents, or • Hours SPSPGDLO\ sit and look out for around 20-30 species of • Cost $ERXW86' native birds that reside here. Day 6 Jaipur • Home-Hosted Dinner Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience • Destination: Jaipur Leader can provide recommendations on the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner best locales for whatever your preferences are. For a regional specialty, ask your Trip • Accommodations: Trident Jaipur or similar ([SHULHQFH/HDGHUZKHUH\RXFDQͫQGlaal Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO maans, mutton curry simmered in a yogurt beginning at 7am, with Indian and American sauce with various spices. options available.
Evening: Free for your own discoveries. You Morning: Around 9am we’ll transfer a little can retire to your room to rest for the night, RYHUDQKRXUͫUVWE\EXVDQGWKHQE\MHHS or ask your Trip Experience Leader for their to begin our explorations of Jaipur’s Amber recommendations. (pronounced “am-er,” with a silent “b”)
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17 Fort-Palace, putting us at the hilltop fort governmental seat of the 0DKDUDMD. It was also around 10:15am. One of the largest forts in a venue for a number of important religious and 5DMDVWKDQWKLV81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWHLV cultural events. FRQVLGHUHGDYHU\ZHOOSUHVHUYHGWKFHQWXU\ Around 5:30pm, we’ll reconvene at our hotel structure. Built on four levels out of pink and and set off for a 30-minute bus transfer to yellow sandstone and white marble, the fort a Home-Hosted Dinner. Being in a small boasts a number of unique courtyards, one of group will come in handy as we blend into which is known as the Sheesh Mahal (mirror local life and break into even smaller, more palace). Located in the Jai Mandir section of intimate groups. the fort and once the private quarters of the 0DKDUDMD (Indian prince) and his family, we’ll Dinner $URXQGSPLQWKHKRPHRIDORFDO ͫQGLQWULFDWHO\HPEHOOLVKHGZDOOVDQGFHLOLQJV middle-class family in Jaipur, which will featuring glass inlaid panels and convex mirror feature a traditional Rajasthani dish you’ll be mosaics. Depending on the lighting, this ornate able to help prepare. Typically, we’ll have the decoration can have a shimmering effect, opportunity to dine with multiple generations creating an almost ethereal aesthetic. Another of the family, offering insight into the varying aspect to enjoy about this particular courtyard viewpoints within society. As they share the is the vistas afforded to us of surrounding details of their lives with us, we’ll gain a more Maota Lake, famous for the dense, mature authentic perspective on what it is really like to standing of trees that line it. live in India.
We make our way back down the hill around Evening: We’ll bid farewell to our generous 12:15pm by jeep for an hour-long transfer to hosts around 7:30pm and make a 30-minute our hotel in Jaipur by bus, with an estimated bus transfer to the hotel. You’ll have the arrival of 1:15pm. remainder of the evening free to do as you’d like. Lunch: On your own at about 1:30pm—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations. Day 7 Overland to Ranthambore National Afternoon: You have about 4.5 hours free to Park • Game drive spend as you choose. Perhaps you’ll take a cab • Destination: Ranthambore or WXNWXN to Albert Hall Museum, the oldest museum of the state and considered a prime • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner H[DPSOHRI,QGR6DUDFHQLFDUFKLWHFWXUH • Accommodations: Nahargarh Hotel Alternatively, you may wish to join your Trip or similar Experience Leader on a walk through Kathputli Activity Note::HZLOOGULYHIRUDERXWͫYHKRXUV Colony, a settlement of street performers—in through rural countryside and along bumpy particular puppeteers or kathputli. Kathputli roads to reach Ranthambore. Ranthambore was founded by these performers in the National Park is closed in August and 1950s, and today thousands of families of 6HSWHPEHU:HZLOOYLVLWWKH6DZDL0DQVLQJK magicians, snake charmers, acrobats, and $QLPDO6DQFWXDU\GXULQJWKHVHPRQWKVLQVWHDG more, call it home. If you’d prefer to explore more royal palaces, another free time option Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO is visiting the City Palace of Jaipur. For over EHJLQQLQJDW DPZLWK,QGLDQDQG$PHULFDQ 200 years, this palace was the ceremonial and options available.
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18 Morning: We will depart our hotel by bus this the tall grass; therefore, an optical instrument morning around 8am for an approximately ZLOOGHͫQLWHO\FRPHLQKDQG\$UHFHQWFHQVXV 4.5-hour drive to the wildlife reserve of VKRZHGWLJHUVLQWKHUHVHUYHDQLQFUHDVHRI Ranthambore, with an estimated arrival at approximately 34 tigers in the last couple of the hotel around 12:30pm. We’ll check in just years and a clear indication conservation efforts in time for lunch. Depending on where we DUHKDYLQJDSRVLWLYHHIIHFW6WLOODOWKRXJKWKRVH stay, our hotel will likely be located near the leading the charge have reason to hope, there 5DQWKDPERUH7LJHU6DQFWXDU\DQGIHDWXUH have been setbacks throughout the process, an on-site restaurant and two outdoor VSHFLͫFDOO\FRQͬLFWVEHWZHHQORFDOYLOODJHUVDQG swimming pools. Each room typically features a wildlife. telephone, radio/alarm clock, and private bath After game viewing, we’ll make the short drive with shower. back to our hotel around 5:30pm, and you will Lunch: At our hotel around 12:45pm, featuring have some time to refresh before dinner. a buffet of typical Rajasthani cuisine. Dinner: At our hotel around 7pm, featuring Afternoon: This afternoon, we will explore traditional dishes. Ranthambore National Park, known for its Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Bengal tiger population. Located near the rest of your evening as you wish, whether WRZQRI6DZDL0DGKRSXUWKHSDUNLVRQH you want to retire to your room to rest before of the eleven sites chosen for Project Tiger, tomorrow’s discoveries or join your fellow India’s national tiger conservation program, travelers in the lounge to discuss today’s the largest such effort in the world. The park wildlife sightings and compare photos. is comprised of more than a hundred square miles of deciduous forest and several large lakes, and until 1970, it was a hunting preserve Day 8 A Day in the Life of a local village of the PDKDUDMDV. In addition to tigers, we’ll • Destination: Ranthambore have a chance to spot leopards, wild boars, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner striped hyenas, sloth bears, and more during • Accommodations: Nahargarh Hotel this afternoon’s game drive. We’ll also come or similar across various lakes, home to a large population of crocodiles, as well as a wide range of water Activity Note: We will ride in open-air vehicles birds in season. More than 450 bird species on our way to this morning’s village and will frequent this area, from crested serpent eagles travel over bumpy, dusty roads. The morning to painted storks. school visit is dependent on whether or not school is in session. At about 2:30pm, we’ll set out into the park in an 18-passenger canter (an open safari vehicle Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO which offers a rustic but effective mode of beginning at 7am, with Indian and American transport) in the company of a naturalist guide. options available. We’ll search for wildlife, as well as unique Morning: We’ll depart our hotel this ORFDOͬRUDVXFKDVPDVVLYHbanyan trees. An morning by bus around 9:45am. After important tip: Pack your binoculars for this driving about 15 minutes, we will reach a excursion. Though it is rare, we may see the village school—supported by Grand Circle Royal Bengal tiger, usually sleeping by day in Foundation—where we will meet the principal,
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19 who will tell us about the school, give us a tour, conversation, we’ll then enjoy a hands-on and participate in a Q&A with us before we split experience with local art, such as toy-making into smaller groups and begin our interactions and hand block printing. with the schoolchildren. This is a wonderful We’ll leave the woman’s cooperative around opportunity to learn more about the education 12:45pm for the short ride back to the hotel. system in a remote Indian village, as well as how religious traditions in India have become Lunch: At the hotel between 12:30pm-3pm, VHFXODUL]HG6RPHRIXVZLOOVLWZLWKWKHROGHU served buffet-style. students in their classrooms and help them with their lessons, while others will interact Afternoon: We’ll enjoy a few hours of free time with the younger children outside in the school this afternoon before departing for a 20-minute yard. The children speak little English, so you bus ride to a local village, where we’ll engage may need to get creative in your interactions in a controversial conversation with village with them—perhaps you’ll consider using women about female empowerment and social hand gestures, pointing, or drawing on paper. status in India. Throughout this open dialogue, ,I\RXZLVK\RXFDQEULQJDORQJGHͬDWHGVRFFHU we’ll learn whether these women feel their balls and basketballs, educational books with country is progressing in this area, or if not, pictures for the school library, maps of the why. As we engage in conversation, we’ll also ZRUOGDQG86FUD\RQVFRORULQJERRNVDQG have the opportunity to prepare a traditional pads of drawing paper to donate to the school. dinner together, such as roti ,QGLDQͬDWEUHDG Alternatively, you could check with your Trip mixed vegetables, and homemade lemonade. Experience Leader for suggestions on what they Dinner: In the village around 5:45pm may need. we’ll enjoy the meal we prepared with the Around 11:15am, we’ll depart the school and local women. transfer 15 minutes by bus to a local women’s Evening: Free for your own discoveries. cooperative that is developing women leaders Join fellow travelers in the hotel lounge for and entrepreneurs within the community. We’ll a nightcap, or preserve your memories of hear how this group got started and how their today’s cultural experience by writing in your efforts are helping to provide much needed travel journal. items, like farming equipment, to the village. This interaction will provide an in-depth understanding of what it means to be a woman Day 9 Overland to O.A.T. Camp in modern India, especially in a society where • Destination: O.A.T. Camp, rural Rajasthan men are usually the providers for the family. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: O.A.T. Camp :H̞OODOVRJHWDͫUVWKDQGSHUVSHFWLYHIURPD woman at the cooperative on a controversial Activity Note::HZLOOGULYHIRUDERXWͫYHKRXUV topic plaguing Ranthambore: poaching. through rural countryside and along bumpy Although poaching is illegal, it is also often roads, with stops along the way, to reach the a lucrative way for men to provide for O.A.T. Camp. their families in this rural area, which has Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO limited economic opportunities. After this beginning at 7am, with Indian and American options available.
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20 Morning: Enjoy a relaxed morning at the hotel Day 10 Abhaneri step well • before our transfer this afternoon. Overland to Agra
Lunch: At the hotel around 11am, featuring • Destination: Agra traditional Indian dishes. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Jaypee Palace or similar Afternoon: We’ll check out of the hotel around 12:15pm, and board our bus to begin our nearly Activity Note::HZLOOGULYHIRUDERXWͫYHKRXUV 5-hour overland transfer to the O.A.T. camp from the O.A.T. camp to Agra along bumpy in rural Rajasthan, making a few stops along roads, with stops along the way. the way. We’ll arrive at camp around 4:30pm, Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWFDPS and you’ll have some time to freshen up, settle beginning at 7am, with Indian and American in, and enjoy the calm of your surroundings. options available. Each of the camp’s 14 tent-roof cottages is air-cooled and features a veranda and private Morning: We depart camp at 8am by bus and bath. During our time at camp, we’ll take all of VHWRXWIRUWKH81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJHFLW\RI our meals in the facility’s separate dining area. Agra, making stops along the way to break up our long drive. First, we’ll visit Abhaneri, just 10 Our campsite is nestled among small plots minutes from our camp site, to view an ancient of land used by local farmers to grow a rich baolis, essentially a stepwell or waterway built diversity of crops, offering a true taste of to provide a constant water supply to local rustic village life in India. Look for the mustard inhabitants—a site many travelers do not blooms, which, in season, resemble thousands get to experience. We’ll spend about an hour of buttercups waving in the breeze. Enjoy walking around the well. This once-isolated approximately 1.5 hours of free time to explore spot, now home to a bazaar and various shops, your new surroundings before gathering for allows us to conjure scenes of the past, when dinner this evening. You may wish to join the entire communities gathered here to get water, camp staff in playing a round of cricket, a socialize, and settle disputes. popular pastime throughout the country. Or, perhaps you’d like to take a walk or bike around Around 9:30am, we’ll continue our drive the village. toward Agra, while our Trip Experience Leader regales us with stories of the ancient Mughal Dinner $WRXUFDPSDURXQG SPIHDWXULQJ Empire. We’ll also enjoy sweeping views of the local Indian fare. Rajasthani countryside from the vantage point Evening: We welcome locals from the nearby of the open road. YLOODJHWRRXUFDPS7KH\PD\EXLOGDERQͫUH Lunch: At a local restaurant in Bharatpur and share their traditional songs and dances around noon, featuring traditional Indian fare. with us. You are free to join in the festive GDQFLQJRUZDWFKIURP\RXUVHDWE\WKHERQͫUH Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll continue on to Agra around 1:15pm, putting us at the hotel around 3pm, where we’ll check in and receive room assignments. Depending on which hotel we stay at, the property may feature a restaurant, cocktail lounge, swimming pool, and sauna. Our air-conditioned rooms will
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21 likely feature a TV, telephone, coffee- and • 6HHWKH7DM0DKDORQVWDJHDWWKHMohabbat tea-making facilities, and a private bath with E Taj Show: Watch the love story of Emperor shower and hair dryer. 6KDMDKDQDQGKLVEHORYHGZLIH0XPWD]XQIROG during this dramatic performance. After we check in, you’ll have some time to relax in your room after the long drive or set • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute out on your own to get acquainted with Agra. WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ You might consider taking a short WXNWXN ride • Hours SPGDLO\ to the old quarter, to meander the winding back • Cost %HWZHHQ 86'GHSHQGLQJRQ lanes and browse the rainbow-hued wares of the day. the bazaars. • Find your center during a Sunset Yoga Class: 6RDNXSWKHVSOHQGRURIWKH7DM0DKDODW Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience sunset during this 1-hour yoga class, suitable Leader can provide recommendations on the for experienced yogis and newcomers alike. best locales for whatever your preferences are. • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute Evening: Free for your own discoveries. WXNWXN ride provided by yoga class. You can retire to your room to rest for the • Hours: 5pm, daily. night, or ask your Trip Experience Leader for • Cost: Class fee, including roundtrip trans- recommendations. For a local dessert, ask your SRUWDWLRQDERXW86' 7ULS([SHULHQFH/HDGHUZKHUHWRͫQGpetha, a chewy candy made from a gourd vegetable and Day 11 Taj Mahal • Agra Fort typically eaten dry or dipped in sugar syrup. • Destination: Agra Freedom To Explore: During your two days • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner in Agra, you have the freedom to explore this • Accommodations: Jaypee Palace or similar legendary city on your own during your free Activity Note: The Taj Mahal is not open on time. Below are a few recommended options for Fridays. If this day falls on a Friday, we visit the independent explorations: Taj Mahal on the evening of Day 10 instead. Visit Mother Teresa’s Missionaries • Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHODW of Charity Home 6HHWKHOHJDF\RIWKH EHJLQQLQJDWDPZLWK,QGLDQDQG$PHULFDQ late saint’s work at this orphanage and options available. care center. Morning: Today we depart the hotel around • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute 8am for a 15-minute bus ride to view a sight WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ unlike any other in the entire world: the iconic • Hours: 8am-8pm, daily. Taj Mahal. • Cost (QWUDQFHLVIUHHEXWD86' donation is expected. 7KLVJUDQGHGLͫFHEXLOWE\6KDK-DKDQIURP WRWRHQVKULQHWKHUHPDLQVRIKLV Queen Mumtaz Mahal, took 20,000 workers to build. We walk into the inner chambers of this renowned “Monument to Love,” and seek out several vantage points from which to soak up the scene. The semi-translucent white marble is inlaid with thousands of semi-precious
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22 stones and the building has four identical the neighborhood, or a visit to the opulent facades, a perfect exercise in symmetry. It’s Itmad-ud-Daula tomb, nicknamed the “Baby truly a wonder of the world—and an essential Taj.” You might also consider a visit to the part of any India travel itinerary. Throughout Botanical Gardens or taking a stroll through the our exploration, our Trip Experience Leader bustling spice market. will bring this scene to life as they describe Dinner: At our hotel around 7pm, featuring a the history, culture, and personal stories of buffet with both Indian and American options. this monument. We’ll have plenty of time to explore and take photos during the two hours Evening: Free for your own discoveries. we spend here. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for their recommendations. Next, we’ll board our bus around 10:45am and drive about 25 minutes to a local café run by the survivors of acid attacks. While there, Day 12 Overland to Lucknow • we’ll learn the remarkable stories of these Bazaar visit brave and resilient women, who have forged • Destination: Lucknow a new life for themselves after tragedy. This • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner will be an intimate, and at times maybe even • Accommodations: Taj Mahal Lucknow overwhelming, exploration of the status of or similar women in modern India; we’ll also have the opportunity to watch a short documentary Activity Note: Today’s transfer to Lucknow surrounding this topic. will take about 5 hours by bus, with two stops along the way. Lunch: On your own around noon. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend some of Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHODW their favorite options. Perhaps you’ll try bedai, EHJLQQLQJDWDPZLWK,QGLDQDQG$PHULFDQ the spicy, puffy bread this region is known for. options available.
Afternoon: Our small group will reconvene Morning: Around 8am, we’ll check out of around 1pm and drive approximately 20 our hotel and board our bus to continue our minutes to the sprawling Agra Fort on the adventure in Lucknow, the capital city of bank of the Yamuna River. This immense fort QRUWKHUQ,QGLD̞V8WWDU3UDGHVKUHJLRQDQGD and palace were the seat of power for four recently added destination. After enjoying generations of Mughal emperors; they ruled all the scenery and stopping twice to stretch our RIQRUWKHUQ,QGLDIURPWKHHDUO\WKFHQWXU\ legs during our 5-hour transfer, we’ll arrive until the consolidation by British colonial rule LQ/XFNQRZDWDERXWSP8SRQDUULYDODWRXU in the early 1800s. We’ll admire the Fort’s hotel, we will check in and receive our room architecture, an almost perfect fusion between assignments for our two-night stay. Depending military and ornate designs, during the hour or on which hotel we stay at, it will likely feature so that we spend walking around the Fort. DQRXWGRRUSRRORQVLWHͫWQHVVFHQWHUDQGVSD Typical rooms include air conditioning, safe, We’ll depart the fort around 2:45pm for minibar, and a private en suite bathroom. the 15-minute return to our hotel. You may spend the rest of the day as you wish. Your Lunch:6HUYHGDWWKHKRWHODURXQG SP Trip Experience Leader can recommend featuring a three-course chef’s choice menu. local sites and activities, including a walk in
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23 Afternoon: You’ll have some free time • Learn a local craft with the Potters of from about 2pm-4:30pm to make your own Khajuraho: Visit the homes of some local discoveries in Lucknow, or perhaps spend potters and see where they work, sell their some time refreshing in your hotel room. products, and live with their families. You Ask your Trip Experience Leader for their might be able to experience a hands-on recommendations. demonstration of making pots.
Then, around 4:30pm, we’ll reconvene at the • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi hotel and take a 30-minute drive to explore a ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ bustling Lucknow bazaar, likely dating back • Hours: From about 9am, daily. to the 18th century. When we arrive, our local • Cost: Free. guide will lead us on a 1-hour and 15-minute • Visit the homes of local Basket Weavers of gastronomical tour of authentic Lucknow Khajuraho 6HHZKHUHWKHVHORFDOFUDIWVSHRSOH street food dishes, many of which originate OLYHZRUNDQGVHOOWKHLUͫQLVKHGSURGXFWV from recipes handed down from generation You can even try your hand at weaving bas- to generation. Perhaps you will taste malai kets with the locals. paan, a delicate dessert traditionally made • How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute taxi with malai (a popular ingredient derived from ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ KHDWLQJZKROHPLON DQGͫOOHGZLWKGULHGIUXLW • Hours: From 9am, daily. while you rub elbows with locals and wheel • Cost: Free. and deal with traders selling fragrant spices, richly-colored garments, and glittering jewelry. Day 13 Explore Old Lucknow • Other traditional food options will be chicken Home-Hosted Lunch • Kathak dance biryani, beef biryani, local ice cream called NXOͫ, school visit and more. • Destination: Lucknow Dinner: Our included dinner tonight takes place • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DW\RXUFRQYHQLHQFHEHWZHHQ SP SP • Accommodations: Taj Mahal Lucknow during our exploration of the market. or similar Experience the local delicacies that can be found at the various food vendors. Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO beginning at 7am, with Indian and American Evening: After returning to the hotel around options available. 7pm, the evening is free for your own discoveries. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around recommended activities this evening. Perhaps 9:30am for our 20-minute transfer by bus to you’d like to stroll through Ambedkar Park, the historic Imambara neighborhood, also a public park dedicated to the 20th century known as Old Lucknow. Lucknow is the capital Indian polymath and father of the Indian RI8WWDU3UDGHVKDQGRQHRIWKHFRXQWU\̞V Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar. PRVWSRSXORXVFLWLHV6LQFHWKHWKDQG WK centuries, it has served as the seat of power Freedom To Explore: During your two days in for Nawabs, a title for semi-autonomous Khajuraho, you have the freedom to explore Muslim rulers of the Mughal Empire. “Nawab” on your own during your free time. Below are comes from the Persian “Nuwwab,” which a few recommended options for independent translates to “deputy.” As we discover the explorations: neighborhood, we’ll uncover local life and
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24 have the opportunity to better understand this Originally constructed as a summer palace for historical area, especially with a visit around French dignitary Claude Martin, who rose to the 10am to Bara Imambara, an 18th-century title of Major-General of the British East India DUFKLWHFWXUDOZRQGHUFXUUHQWO\XVHGE\6KLD Company after landing in India as a 17-year-old Muslims for the purpose of Azadari, the stowaway, the sprawling estate is now home to mourning of Imam Husayn ibn Ali’s death a renowned school— the only in the world to DQQLYHUVDU\DWWKH%DWWOHRI.DUEDODLQ be awarded Royal Battle Honors for defending Built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, the /XFNQRZGXULQJWKH6HSR\0XWLQ\RI)RU structure’s central hall is believed to be the alternative activity ideas, check with your Trip largest vaulted chamber in the world and the Experience Leader. Imambara itself is the oldest in Lucknow. We’ll Around 4pm, we will reconvene at our hotel have the opportunity here to rub elbows with and embark on a 20-minute journey by bus local people participating in worship. to the Kathak Dance Training Center, where At around 11am, we’ll depart on a 15-minute we will interact with students and teachers transfer by tanga, a traditional carriage drawn of this traditional dance form as well as by a single horse, to our next destination: watch a performance. Celebrated as a form WKHKRPHRIUR\DO1DZDE6DKHE+DYHOL2QFH of storytelling through rhythmic footwork, we arrive, we’ll try our hand at Chikankari, hand gestures, and facial expressions, Kathak a detailed embroidery method traditional to performances have been patronized by /XFNQRZWKDWRIWHQIHDWXUHVSDLVOH\DQGͬRUDO Lucknow’s nobility for centuries. designs and dates back 200 years. Our lesson Around 5:45pm, we’ll depart by bus for ZLOOEHOHGE\1DZDE6DKHE+DYHOL̞V\RXQJHU Hazratganj, an upscale neighborhood and brother, Nawab Massoud Ali, who lives in the VKRSSLQJGLVWULFW,QͬXHQFHGE\(QJOLVKVW\OH same building. Lucknow is best known for this architecture, the buildings that line type of textile decoration, formed from a long Hazratganj’s streets are often adorned with running or darning stitch. Victorian-era touches. When we arrive around Lunch: At around noon, we’ll enjoy a SPZHZLOOVHWRXWRQDPLQXWHZDONWR +RPH+RVWHG/XQFKZLWK1DZDE6DKHEDQG explore the area’s most notable examples of the his family, one of the Nawab royals. Over the Victorian style and familiarize ourselves with course of the meal, we’ll hear from our host this shopping area’s rich history. We’ll pass about how his family used to be one of the most through Hazratganj market area, dating back powerful under the British administrative head. to the early 19th century and at one time only We’ll learn how they lost power and how his accessible to the British elite. It wasn’t until family has coped with it over the years. 1947 that it was controlled by India. Our walk will end at a local restaurant. Afternoon: At around 1:15pm, we will take a 30-minute bus ride back to our hotel. You will Dinner $URXQG SPDWDORFDOUHVWDXUDQW have a little more than a couple of hours of near Hazratgani, featuring traditional free time to spend as you wish. Perhaps you’ll Lucknow fare. venture to La Martinière College and Residency, Evening: After dinner, we’ll depart the where you can admire the distinctive buildings restaurant around 7:45pm by bus to return to and grounds of this French-style property our hotel, arriving around 8pm. The rest of situated on the banks of the River Gomti.
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25 the evening is free for your own discoveries. believe that spreading their ashes in the holy Ask your Trip Experience Leader for their waters will end their cycle of reincarnation, recommendations. JLIWLQJWKHPZLWKWKHLUͫQDOGHDWK
We’ll arrive in Varanasi around 1:30pm and Day 14 Train ride to Varanasi • depart for our 15-minute ride to our hotel, Farewell Dinner where we’ll check in and receive room • Destination: Varanasi assignments. Depending on where we stay, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner our hotel may feature landscaped gardens • Accommodations: Taj Ganges, Varanasi and a swimming pool. Typical room amenities or similar include minibars, Wireless Internet and ͬDWVFUHHQ79V Activity Note: We rise early this morning around 5:30am. Our train ride to Varanasi Lunch: At our hotel around 2pm, featuring a LVDSSUR[LPDWHO\KRXUV9DUDQDVLLVRQH selection of traditional Indian dishes. of the oldest cities in the world and has an Afternoon: After lunch, you have the option intense, palpable atmosphere of spiritual to rest at your hotel after our travel day. Or, devotion. Pilgrims from every part of India perhaps you’d like to venture out and get crowd the narrow streets and the riverside \RXUͫUVWWDVWHRIWKHIUHQ]LHGHQHUJ\WKDWLV ghats. During your time in Varanasi, expect to Varanasi. Cars, bikes, WXNWXNV, pedestrians, be exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, and and even cows all weave and jostle through the smells—including beggars and Hindu death packed streets, making for an experience that rituals—that may be jarring for some travelers. DZDNHQVDOOͫYHVHQVHV Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 26 • Attend a classical Sitar performance: Visit Morning: We’ll board our bus around 10am and the home of sitar maestro Deaobrath Mishra drive about 30 minutes to the nearby ancient and hear him play this traditional Indian %XGGKLVWOHDUQLQJFHQWHURI6DUQDWK+HUH instrument. *DXWDPD%XGGKDSUHDFKHGKLVͫUVWVHUPRQ • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute to his disciples, as portrayed in Bernardo WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ %HUWROXFFL̞VͫOPLittle Buddha. We will visit • Hours 8SRQUHTXHVW WKH6DUQDWK0XVHXPZKLFKKRXVHVVRPHRI • Cost $ERXW86'IRUDSHUIRUPDQFH the great treasures of Indian Buddhist art, including Ashoka’s Lion Capital—the National • Discover the Silk Weavers’ Village: Watch (PEOHPRI,QGLD̜DQGWKHPDJQLͫFHQW local artisans weave traditional silk saris Teaching Buddha, among the most beautiful by hand, and give this timeworn craft a sculptures in the world. We can explore try yourself. and photograph excavated Buddhist stupas • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute and pillars unearthed during the British WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ DUFKDHRORJLFDOH[SORUDWLRQVLQGXULQJWKH • Hours: 11am-5pm, daily. couple of hours we spend here. • Cost: Lesson is free, but a small tip is appreciated. Around 1:15pm, we will make the 30-minute return by bus to Varanasi. • 6WUROOWKURXJKWKHVaranasi Flower Market: 6SRWEORRPVRIHYHU\VKDSHDQGKXH̜DVZHOO Lunch: At the hotel, whenever you’d DVSLOJULPVSXUFKDVLQJͬRUDORIIHULQJV̜DW like, featuring Indian and international cuisine. this outdoor market. Afternoon: From 2pm-5pm, enjoy free time to • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute explore or rest before this evening’s activities. WXNWXNULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ You can choose to enjoy the amenities at the • Hours DPDPDQGSPSPGDLO\ hotel, including an outdoor pool and spa. • Cost: Free. Or, your Trip Experience Leader can provide guidance on what to see, like the famous Golden Day 15 Visit Buddhist learning Temple, where mischievous monkeys scamper center of Sarnath • Sacred light across the temple’s gilded domes. ceremony on Ganges As the day comes to a close, we’ll depart the • Destination: Varanasi hotel around 5pm for the 30-minute ride to • Included Meals: Breakfast the bathing ghats, a series of steps that lead to • Accommodations: Taj Ganges, Varanasi WKHVDFUHG5LYHU*DQJHV3HRSOHͬRFNLQODUJH or similar numbers every day to bathe and worship in Activity Note:7KH6DUQDWK0XVHXPLVFORVHG the temples built beside the riverbank. We can on Fridays. If your visit falls on a Friday, photograph riverside temples and bathing you will have additional time to explore the ghats; however, photography of the cremation Buddhist temple. ghats LVQRWSHUPLWWHG$URXQGSPZH̞OO board a boat for a unique vantage point, as we Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHOIURP absorb the timelessness of Varanasi. When the 7am-9:30am, with Indian and international sun sets, the temple priests begin to perform options available. aarti, the sacred light ceremony, on the banks of Mother Ganga. We’ll have an advantageous Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 27 view of the aarti ceremony, as many tourists prayer, or visit one of the city’s many colorful watch from among the crowds on the riverbank. and fragrant markets. Your Trip Experience Also, we will be surrounded by pilgrims who Leader can offer suggestions and guidance. are experiencing a sacred, once-in-a-lifetime We’ll depart the hotel around 10:30am for the Hindu rite, making for an immersive approximately 1-hour drive to the airport. experience. Lunch: On your own. You can pick up food at After our discoveries, we’ll disembark our boats the airport after going through security. around 7:15pm and make the 30-minute return to the hotel by bus. Afternoon: At 1:30pm, we will board our 1.5 KRXUͬLJKWWR'HOKL7UDYHOHUVWDNLQJRXUNepal: Dinner: Around 8pm at the hotel, featuring Kathmandu & Pokhara post-trip extension will Indian and international cuisine. ͬ\IURP'HOKLWR.DWKPDQGX DOORWKHUWUDYHOHUV Evening: Free for your own discoveries. will transfer to our hotel, conveniently located Ask your Trip Experience Leader for near the airport. We’ll check into our hotel recommendations in the area around our hotel. around 4:30pm. Enjoy a few hours of free time to relax at the hotel or explore at your own pace. Day 16 Meditation class • Fly to Delhi Dinner: At our hotel around 7pm, featuring or begin Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara traditional Indian fare. post-trip extension Evening: On your own—you are free to return • Destination: Delhi WR\RXUURRPWRUHVWEHIRUH\RXUUHWXUQͬLJKW • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner home tomorrow, or join fellow travelers in the • Accommodations: Lemon Tree Premier Hotel main hotel area for a nightcap to discuss the or similar highlights of your adventure. Activity Note: If you’re continuing on the SRVWWULSH[WHQVLRQWR1HSDO\RXZLOOͬ\WR Day 17 Return to U.S. or begin your Kathmandu via Delhi early this morning. The South of India: Kerala & Cochin Early morning: Begin your day with an optional post-trip extension hour-long relaxing yoga and meditation class • Included Meals: Breakfast EHIRUHEUHDNIDVWEHJLQQLQJDWDP/HDUQEDVLF Early morning: Board a bus with your luggage yoga exercises and breathing techniques from a and take a quick 20-minute drive to the airport local expert. HDUO\WKLVPRUQLQJIRU\RXUUHWXUQͬLJKWKRPH Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO Travelers taking the post-trip extension to The beginning at 7am, with Indian and American South of India: Kerala & CochinZLOOͬ\WR&RFKLQ options available. this morning. Morning Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 28 PRE-TRIP Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Airfare from Kolkata to Bhutan and from » 11 small group activities Bhutan to Delhi » 6HUYLFHVRIDORFDO2$77ULS » Accommodations for 2 nights in Kolkata, Experience Leader 2 nights in Thimphu, 2 nights in Punakha, » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 2 nights in Paro luggage porters » PHDOV̜EUHDNIDVWVOXQFKHV » All transfers DQGGLQQHUV PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY )HZWUDYHOHUVKDYHHYHUKHDUGRI%KXWDQ̜PXFKOHVVSDVVHGWKURXJKLWVPDMHVWLF EXWUHPRWH ERUGHUV7KH kingdom cautiously controls tourism to protect its legacy as one of the world’s top ten biodiversity hotspots. ([SHULHQFHDPDJLFDOP\VWLFDOZRUOGRIHODERUDWHWHPSOHIRUWUHVVHVDQFLHQWFXVWRPVDQGPLQGERJJOLQJ Himalayan scenery. Day 1 Depart U.S. a spa. Typical rooms include a TV, wireless Internet access, a safe, and a private bath with a Afternoon/Evening: 'HSDUWWKH86WRGD\RQ hair dryer. DQRYHUQLJKWͬLJKWWR.RONDWD,QGLD Day 3 Explore Kolkata • Local interaction Day 2 Arrive in Kolkata, India • Destination: Kolkata • Destination: Kolkata • Included Meals: Breakfast • Accommodations: The Oberoi Grand Kolkata • Accommodations: The Oberoi Grand Kolkata or similar or similar Activity Note:'HSHQGLQJRQ\RXUͬLJKW Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO schedule, you will arrive in Kolkata either late EHJLQQLQJDW DPIHDWXULQJ,QGLDQDQG tonight or very early in the morning of Day 3. American options. Evening: You’ll be met at the airport by an Morning 6SHQGWKHͫUVWSDUWRIWKHPRUQLQJ O.A.T. representative who will drive you about relaxing at the hotel and enjoying some free one hour to your centrally-located hotel. time to explore on your own. Around 10:30am, Depending on which hotel you stay at, the ZHJDWKHUIRUD:HOFRPH%ULHͫQJGXULQJZKLFK hotel may offer an on-site restaurant and we will meet our Local Trip Experience Leader and introduce ourselves. Our Trip Experience Leader will review our itinerary in more detail Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 29 (including any changes that may need to occur) Day 4 Fly to Paro, Bhutan • Transfer and discuss logistics, safety and emergency to Thimphu procedures. He or she will also answer any • Destination: Thimphu questions we may have before leading a short • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner orientation walk around the area of the hotel. • Accommodations: Hotel Thimphu Tower We’ll board a bus around 11:45am and embark or similar on a sightseeing tour of the city, both by bus Activity Note: We will have a very early and foot. During our explorations, we’ll stop at wake-up call around 4am to catch our WKH)ORZHU0DUNHWWKH*HQHUDO3RVW2IͫFHWKH ͬLJKWWR3DUR Governor’s House, and the riverfront area. Breakfast: A boxed breakfast will be available Lunch: On your own, around 2:15pm. Perhaps from 4:30am. you’ll try kathi rolls, wraps composed of roti DQGEROGO\VSLFHGVWXIͫQJ Morning: We leave our hotel around 5:15am and set out by bus on a 1-hour drive to the Afternoon: We’ll continue our bus tour around DLUSRUWWRFDWFKRXUHDUO\PRUQLQJͬLJKW 3:30pm, passing by the Victoria Memorial for a from Kolkata to Paro. In clear weather, the view of the outside. Then we’ll visit the Mother ͬLJKWWR%KXWDQSURYLGHVDZRQGHUIXOYLHZRI House, where Mother Theresa set up her Himalayan scenery, so make sure to take a peek Missionaries of Charity in 1950. It was here that out your window. she worked for nearly half a century caring for Kolkata’s ill and impoverished. Mother Theresa Your Bhutanese Trip Experience Leader will died at the Mother House in 1997 and was laid meet you on arrival at the Paro airport around to rest in a tomb on the premises. 10am. Then we’ll take a 1.5-hour drive to 7KLPSKX IHHW WKHPRGHUQFDSLWDO Around 5pm, we depart for the 30-minute drive of Bhutan, with a stop along the way at the back at the hotel. FRQͬXHQFHRIWKH3DURDQG7KLPSKXULYHUVIRU Dinner: On your own after 5:30pm. Ask your photos. We’ll arrive at our centrally-located Trip Experience Leader about specialties unique hotel, with rooms that include a private to Kolkata and where you can taste them. bath and free wireless Internet, around Maybe you’ll visit a street stand for some rice 1pm. Depending on which hotel we stay DQGͫVKFXUU\ at, hotel amenities may include an on-site restaurant and spa. Evening: You are free to explore at your own pace, browsing the local markets, strolling the Lunch: At about 1pm, we’ll gather for lunch VWUHHWVRUUHͬHFWLQJRQWKHGD\ZLWKIHOORZ at the hotel restaurant where you’ll enjoy a travelers at the hotel. selection of traditional dishes. Afternoon: Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a couple RIKRXUVRIIUHHWLPHEHIRUHDEULHͫQJZLWK your Trip Experience Leader around 3:30pm on what you can expect over the next few days of your adventure, followed by a 30-minute orientation walk to get familiar with our hotel’s Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 30 neighborhood. You’ll then have a little more • Examine antique textile artifacts at Bhutan than an hour to begin exploring on your own Textile Museum: Established in 2001, this before dinner. museum highlights Bhutan’s achievements in textile arts, as well as serves as a center for Dinner $WRXUKRWHODURXQG SPIHDWXULQJ textile studies and research. local and international options. • How to get there: A 5-minute taxi ride, Evening: You have the freedom to explore on DERXW86'RQHZD\ your own tonight or retire early to rest before • Hours DPSP)ULGD\6XQGD\ tomorrow’s discoveries. • Cost $ERXW86' Freedom To Explore: During your two days in Day 5 Thimphu Thimphu, you have the freedom to explore the Bhutanese capital on your own during your free • Destination: Thimphu time. Below are a few recommended options for • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner independent explorations: • Accommodations: Hotel Thimphu Tower or similar • Browse the crafts at Norzin Lam: Run by young Bhutanese artists, this crafts market Activity Note:6RPHRIWKHVLWHVZHYLVLWWRGD\ displays traditional paintings, clothing, and are closed on weekends and government handicrafts made from bamboo. While you holidays. In this case, we will adjust our admire the work, you may also speak with the itinerary as needed. young artists. Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi beginning at 7am, including Bhutanese and ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ American options. • Hours DPSP Morning: Intricately designed and brimming Wednesday-Monday. with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, • Cost: Free. and culture, this tiny capital of Bhutan is Peruse hundreds of stalls at the Centenary • QRWKLQJOHVVWKDQ6KDQJUL/D$VZHVSHQGWKH Farmers Market: Inaugurated by Her Royal day exploring, notice the touches of modernity, Highness Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck each one introduced thoughtfully and gradually LQWKLVPXOWLͬRRUIDUPHUVPDUNHW to protect the environment. houses about 400 stalls of fresh produce, seeds, dried fruit, spices, and more from We leave our hotel around 9am by bus for this DURXQG%KXWDQ6KRSSLQJWKHDLVOHVLVDQ morning’s tour, led by our Trip Experience opportunity to try some homegrown produce Leader, which is sure to provide insight into and meet the locals. Bhutan’s unique culture. We begin with a visit to the Memorial Chorten, which we will • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi explore on foot. Built in 1974 in memory of ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the “Father of • Hours DP SP)ULGD\6XQGD\ Modern Bhutan,” this multi-storied monument • Cost: Free. displays numerous paintings and statues that provide a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy. We’ll spend about an hour at the memorial, giving us ample time to interact with locals we Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 31 may meet and take photos. Next, we’ll drive Morning: We’ll depart for Punakha by coach about 20 minutes to to Kuensel Phodrang, around 9:30am, an approximately 3-hour DPDVVLYHIRRWWDOOVWDWXHRI%XGGKD drive. During the journey, we venture over the Dordenma built on a hill overlooking the 10,000-foot Dochula Pass. Weather permitting, Thimphu Valley. A chapel inside the base of the we can see the craggy peaks of Bhutan’s three-story structure includes some 125,000 northern Himalayan border. After about a smaller statues of Buddha. 30-minute stop at the pass, we continue for the remaining 1.5 hours to Punakha. Around 12:15pm, we’ll drive 20 minutes to our lunch spot. The fertile valley of Punakha is drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers and blessed with Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant, a temperate climate. Before Thimphu was featuring traditional Bhutanese dishes. made the capital of Bhutan, Punakha held the Afternoon 6KRUWO\EHIRUHSPZHFRQWLQXH title as the winter capital because of its more our explorations of Thimphu when we drive 15 temperate climate. Today, it is the winter seat minutes to a factory that produces handmade of the Je Khenpo (the Chief Abbot of the Central paper. Here, we’ll see the detailed artistry of Monastic Body of Bhutan) and the Central traditional crafts and textiles. We’ll also talk to Monk Body. local workers to learn about the methods and Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant in processes for producing their craft. Punakha, with traditional hot and cold dishes. Around 3:30pm, we’ll make the 20-minute Afternoon $IWHUOXQFKZH̞OOZDONDERXWͫYH drive back to the hotel, and you’ll have about minutes to a nearby bazaar, where we’ll get two hours of free time to refresh before dinner RXUͫUVWFKDQFHWRPLQJOHZLWKWKHSHRSOH or explore more on your own. of Punakha. Browse the stalls, sample the Dinner $URXQG SPDWRXUKRWHOIHDWXULQJ wares, and perhaps even barter with locals for Bhutanese cuisine. a memento. Evening: We arrive back at the hotel around After about 30 minutes at the bazaar, we’ll 8:30pm, after which you’re free to explore on depart for the 30-minute drive to the Punakha your own, enjoy the hotel’s amenities, or rest. Dzong (or “Palace of Great Happiness”), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers Day 6 Thimphu • Travel the Dochula Pass LQE\6KDEGUXQJ1JDZDQJ1DPJ\DO7KLV majestic G]RQJ served as both the religious to Punakha and the administrative center of Bhutan in the • Destination: Punakha SDVW,WPHDVXUHVVRPHE\IHHWDQG • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are • Accommodations: Punatshangchhu Cottages courtyards and religious statuary that hint or similar at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. Your guide will teach you about Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO this intricate culture that is exotic to us, though beginning at 7am, including Bhutanese and long established here. We may also have the American options. opportunity to interact with local monks in the area during our visit. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 32 We’ll have about an hour to explore the palace Day 7 Hike to Chhimi Lhakhang before departing for the 30-minute drive Monastery • Nunnery visit back to our hotel. We’ll arrive around 4:45pm • Destination: Punakha and check in. Depending on which hotel we • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner stay in, it may be located on the banks of the • Accommodations: Punatshangchhu Cottages city’s scenic rivers and feature a bar, foreign or similar currency exchange, laundry service, and a restaurant serving global cuisine. Typical rooms Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO include wireless Internet access, coffee- and beginning at 7am, featuring Bhutanese and tea-making facilities, cable TV, and a private American dishes. bath with a hair dryer. Morning: Around 9am, we’ll drive 15 minutes Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner together at the WRRXUKLNLQJVSRWIRUWKHGD\8SRQDUULYDO hotel around 7pm, featuring international and we’ll set out on a 30- to 40-minute gradual local cuisine. KLNHWR&KLPL/KDNKDQJ0RQDVWHU\6LWXDWHG on a hillock below the village of Metshina, the Evening: Further explore Punakha by night, temple was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley UHͬHFWRQWKHGD\̞VGLVFRYHULHVZLWKIHOORZ (also known as the “Divine Madman”) and travelers, or rest up for tomorrow during a is believed to enable conception to childless free evening. women who visit it and receive a blessing. Freedom To Explore: During your two days in A walk through the village near the temple will Punakha, you have the freedom to explore this give you rare glimpses into the daily life and city on your own during your free time. Below lifestyle of the villagers. We’ll also visit a local is a recommended option for independent farmhouse and spend time with its occupants, explorations: enjoying the warmth of their hospitality. We’ll • Float down the Phochu or Mochu Rivers: say farewell to our new friends in Metshina Bhutan is known for its fresh water rivers, around 12:15pm. We’ll board the bus and drive fed by glacier lakes in the Himalayas. Enjoy a 15 minutes to our lunch spot for the day. ride down one of these rivers as well as views Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant, of the mountainous landscapes, rice terraces, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes. and wildlife aboard a raft. Afternoon 6KRUWO\DIWHU SPZH̞OOGHSDUW • How to get there: A 1-hour taxi ride, about E\EXVIRUDPLQXWHGULYHWR6DQJFKKHQ'RUML 86'RQHZD\ Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery. We’ll enjoy a • Hours: 90-minute tours available 10am- nature drive through the region’s surrounding 2pm, daily. valleys and learn more about the region’s • Cost $ERXW86' DEXQGDQWͬRUDDQGIDXQDHQURXWH3HUFKHGRQ a ridge above the Punakha Valley, the complex includes a nunnery, two-story temple, and a 14-foot bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara—an earthly manifestation of the Buddha. We’ll have about an hour to visit the main shrine and meet with the nuns. Our hosts will teach us about Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 33 their way of life, why those chose to become climax to our explorations of these structures. nuns, and how their families reacted when they Gleaming white above the surrounding valleys, chose this way of life. this G]RQJZDVEXLOWLQWRGHIHQGWKH valley against repeated invasion from Tibet. As Around 3:30pm, we’ll drive 30 minutes back you walk around the G]RQJ, you may have the to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free opportunity to interact with a resident monk. for you to do as you’d like. You may choose to explore more of Punakha’s street life on your After about an hour at Paro Dzong, we’ll own, or rest after our day of activities. continue on to the sacred Kyichu Lhakhang around 3pm. The temple was reportedly built Dinner $WWKHKRWHODURXQG SPIHDWXULQJ LQ$' E\.LQJ6RQJWVHQ*DPSRRI7LEHW traditional and international dishes. According to legend, it pins the left foot of an Evening 6SHQGDIUHHQLJKWH[SORULQJRQ\RXU ogress so large that she covers Bhutan and own, enjoying a drink in the hotel lobby, or most of eastern Tibet. We’ll spend some time preparing for tomorrow’s travel. exploring the temple and its grounds, then drive about 20 minutes to our hotel. There, we Day 8 Punakha • Paro Dzong & will check in and receive our room assignments. Depending on the hotel you stay in, the hotel Kyichu Lhakhang may be situated amidst fertile farmland in • Destination: Paro the Paro Valley and feature a restaurant, bar, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner terrace, and spa with a hot stone bath. Typical • Accommodations: Tashi Namgay Resort & rooms include tea- and coffee-making facilities 6SDRUVLPLODU and private bath. You’ll have about 2.5 hours to explore Paro more on your own, or unwind in Activity Note: Today’s transfer will take about your room after the day’s activities. 5.5 hours, with two stops along the way. Dinner: We’ll gather for dinner at the hotel Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKH DURXQG SPDQGHQMR\DVHOHFWLRQRI hotel beginning at 7am, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes. international dishes. Evening: You will have free time following Morning: We leave the hotel around 8am and dinner to venture into Paro by night or enjoy make the long drive to Paro via Thimphu, the company of fellow travelers at the hotel. making a stop along the way at Dochula Pass for another opportunity to view the region’s Freedom To Explore: During your two days landscape. We’ll arrive in Paro around 12pm, in Paro, you have the freedom to explore this crossing a traditional bridge to enter the city. ancient city on your own during your free time. Below are a few recommended options for Lunch: At a local restaurant upon our arrival in independent explorations: Paro around 12:15pm, featuring a selection of traditional Bhutanese dishes. • 6RDNLQDKRWVWRQHEDWKDWAma Choeday’s Farm House: Take a soothing dip in a tradi- Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we drive 20 tional Bhutanese bath, in which cold water minutes to begin our discoveries in this city, is heated with herbs over hot stones to heal beginning with a visit to Paro Dzong: “Fortress on a Heap of Jewels.” Considered by many to be the most impressive G]RQJLQ%KXWDQLW̞VDͫQH Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 34 the body. After, enjoy a traditional dinner, original splendor and glory. Led by our Trip featuring a home-brewed spirit and freshly Experience Leader, the hike to the monastery grown produce, with the family at the farm. is challenging, about two hours each way over • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi steep and bumpy paths. It is possible to take ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ the ride up partially by horseback—but only for • Hours: 10am-5pm, daily. the brave. • Cost $ERXW86' After our trek, our small group will reconvene • Wander the halls of the National Museum at the base of the trail around 1:30pm and drive of Bhutan: Discover more than 1,500 years about 15 minutes to a nearby restaurant. of Bhutan’s cultural heritage as you admire Lunch: At a local restaurant around 1:45pm, paintings, sculptures, masks, ancient arti- featuring traditional cuisine. facts, and more housed in the museum. • How to get there: A 30-minute taxi ride, Afternoon: We’ll depart for the 20-minute DERXW 86'RQHZD\ drive back to the hotel, arriving around 3:30pm. • Hours: 10am-4pm, daily. You have the rest of the afternoon on your own. • Cost $ERXW86' You’re free to relax after this morning’s hike, or make independent discoveries in Paro. Day 9 Paro • Tiger’s Nest Monastery Dinner $URXQGSPZH̞OOJDWKHUIRUD • Destination: Paro )DUHZHOO'LQQHUDWWKHKRWHOWRUHͬHFWRQRXU • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Bhutan discoveries and toast to our adventures. • Accommodations: Tashi Namgay Resort & Evening: Enjoy some free time to make any 6SDRUVLPLODU ͫQDOH[SORUDWLRQVRUSUHSDUHIRUWRPRUURZ̞V Activity Note: This day includes an early start travel to India. and a 2-hour uphill hike at high altitude. Travelers do not have to participate in this walk Day 10 Paro • Transfer to Delhi & LIWKH\IHHOLWPD\EHWRRGLIͫFXOW join main trip Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO • Destination: Delhi EHJLQQLQJDWDPIHDWXULQJ%KXWDQHVHDQG • Included Meals: Breakfast American options. Activity Note: This morning has a very early Morning: We leave the hotel around 7am wake-up call. When you arrive in Delhi, you’ll this morning by bus for our 30-minute drive have free time to eat lunch and dinner and to the trail head for Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) explore on your own while you wait for the Monastery. Perched seemingly impossibly on a rest of your fellow travelers to arrive. You meet FOLIIIHHWDERYHWKHYDOOH\ͬRRU7DNWVDQJ them tomorrow as we all continue on Day 3 of is a place of pilgrimage for locals. Legend has the main trip. LWWKDW*XUX5LQSRFKHͬHZWRWKHVLWHRIWKH monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet, Early morning: You’ll transfer 15 minutes to and meditated there for three months—thus the airport by bus around 5:15am. bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The main Breakfast $WWKHDLUSRUWDURXQG DP EXLOGLQJRIWKHWHPSOHZDVGHVWUR\HGE\ͫUH in April 1998 but has now been restored to its Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 35 Morning $URXQG DP\RX̞OOERDUGDͬLJKW to Delhi via Kathmandu or Kolkata. An O.A.T. Representative will meet you at the Delhi airport around 10:30am to assist with your transfer to your hotel. You’ll have the balance of the day free before meeting fellow travelers on your Heart of India adventure. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 36 POST-TRIP The South of India: Kerala & Cochin INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » ,QWHUQDOͬLJKWV » 8 small group activities » Accommodations for 2 nights aboard » 6HUYLFHVRIDORFDO2$77ULS our houseboat, 2 nights in Cochin, and 2 Experience Leader nights in Mumbai » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, » PHDOV̜EUHDNIDVWVOXQFKHV ship-crew, and luggage porters and 5 dinners » All transfers POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY 6RPHPLOHVVRXWKRI'HOKLOLHVDSDUDGLVHRIVDQGDOZRRGVFHQWHGEHDFKHVVWXQQLQJVRXWKHUQ,QGLDQ DUFKLWHFWXUHDQGPXOWLFXOWXUDO(XURSHDQSRUWV'LVFRYHUWKHEHVWRILWE\ODQGDQGE\FUXLVLQJLWVLG\OOLF backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat for two nights. Day 1 Fly to Cochin (Kochi) • Board Late Morning: We’ll arrive at the jetty a little houseboat • Local interaction after 12:30pm, at which time our group will then break into smaller groups to board our • Destination: Backwaters small, comfortable private houseboats. We’ll • Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner enjoy a Welcome Drink before you have some • Accommodations: Houseboat time to check in to your rooms on the boat. Activity Note: This day falls on Day 17 of the Our 2- or 3-cabin boat has teak and cane main trip. You will rise very early for your paneling, antique furnishings, local accents, transfer to Cochin. and a dining lounge with panoramic views. Early Morning: Depart the hotel by bus You’ll sail along placid, mirror-like lagoons, VKRUWO\DURXQGDPIRU\RXUDPͬLJKWIURP fringed by palms and home to native wildlife, 'HOKLWR&RFKLQ DOVRFDOOHG.RFKL 8SRQ DQG\RXPD\VHHORFDOͫVKHUPHQFDVWWKHLUQHWV arrival at Cochin around 9:15am, we’ll drive RUZRPHQZDGHLQWKHFOHDUZDWHUVͫVKLQJLQ about 2.5 hours by coach to the jetty to reach their bare feet. our houseboats. During our drive, your Trip Lunch: Around 1:30pm, we’ll enjoy a traditional ([SHULHQFH/HDGHUZLOOJLYHD:HOFRPH%ULHͫQJ lunch onboard as we cruise. to review our itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). They will Afternoon:6KRUWO\DIWHU SPZHFRQWLQXH also discuss logistics, safety and emergency cruising through the backwaters for a couple procedures, and answer any questions we hours, possibly making stops along the way to may have. explore the riverside villages and interact with their residents. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 37 Around 5:30pm, we’ll have the option to may make a photo stop in Karumadi Kuttan disembark the boat in the small village of Temple, containing the oldest statue of Buddha 1HGXPXGLZKHUHZH̞OOͫQGDQXPEHURI in Kerala. VKRSVWRH[SORUHDVZHOODVDQRLODQGͬRXU Dinner: Onboard around 7pm, featuring PLOO FORVHGRQ6XQGD\V 7KURXJKRXWWKH traditional Indian cuisine. 45-minute walk, we’ll have the opportunity to meet and interact with the locals of this quaint, Evening: Enjoy your last evening aboard riverside settlement. the houseboat, looking out for wildlife and watching locals along the shores as you cruise Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll gather for a through the backwaters. Welcome Dinner of traditional cuisine aboard the houseboat. Day 3 Transfer to Cochin • Optional Evening: You are free to gather for a drink with Kathakali performance fellow travelers this evening or retire early to • Destination: Cochin relax before tomorrow’s discoveries. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 2 Houseboat cruising • Local • Accommodations: Trident Hotel Cochin interaction or similar Breakfast:6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHRQERDUG • Destination: Backwaters beginning at 7:30am, featuring Indian and • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner American options. • Accommodations: Houseboat Morning: Around 8:30am, we bid farewell to Breakfast:6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHRQERDUG our houseboat to depart for the 2.5-hour bus beginning at 7:30am, featuring Indian and ULGHWR&RFKLQ&RFKLQLVDVWRULHG6RXWK,QGLDQ American options. city layered with Jewish, Portuguese, Chinese, Morning: Today, we’ll cruise on our houseboat DQG%ULWLVKLQͬXHQFHV:H̞OODUULYHLQWKHFLW\ all day, with ample opportunity to relax and around 11am and begin our explorations with a observe the everyday lives of the villagers along walking tour led by our Trip Experience Leader. the river and canals. At various stops, we’ll go :H̞OOVWDUWDWWKH6W)UDQFLV;DYLHU̞V&KXUFK ashore to meet some of them and witness local the original burial site of Vasco da Gama (who ways of life. Perhaps you’ll see locals peeling off is now interred in his native Portugal). We’ll a coconut husk using ancient methods, or toddy H[SORUH&RFKLQ̞VPXOWLFXOWXUDOLQͬXHQFHV tapping, collecting sap from the palm tree that further at the harbor, where we view the is then fermented to make palm wine. We may distinctive cheena vala̜ͫVKLQJQHWVWKDWDUH even have the opportunity to enjoy a visit with strongly purported to be Chinese in origin. a local motorboat driver, who has boated on Around 12:20pm, we’ll walk 10 minutes to our these waters all his life. lunch spot for the day. Lunch: At about 12:30pm, we’ll anchor the boat Lunch: Around 12:30pm in a local restaurant, to have lunch onboard. featuring the typical cuisine of the region. Afternoon:6KRUWO\DIWHUSPZHZLOOFRQWLQXH cruising, with the chance to enjoy the sunset from the deck. A couple hours later, we Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 38 Afternoon: Around 1:45pm, we’ll head to our • Explore the Broadway Spice Market and hotel to check in, arriving 30 minutes later. Kadavumbagam Synagogue: Browse the Typical guest rooms feature a private bath, spices and dry fruits sold at this market safe, iron and ironing board, and coffee- and owned by Gujarati families—a group of tea-making facilities. The rest of your people descended from Aryan nomads. Then, afternoon is free to settle in, or continue getting visit the synagogue next door to discover its acquainted with Cochin on your own. history and the history of Jewish people in the region. Or, you might join us in heading next door to our hotel around 4:45pm for an optional • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute taxi Kathakali performance. Kathakali—literally ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ “story play”—is the theatrical dance of Kerala, • Hours: 9:30am-5pm, daily. known for its complex costumes and facial • Cost: Free, though donations are welcomed paint that is so heavy it is often mistaken to fund maintenance. IRUDPDVN8VLQJH[SUHVVLRQVJHVWXUHVDQG • 6KRSRQMG Road .QRZQDVWKH6KRSSHU̞V actions, the actors portray the stories of Indian Paradise of Cochin, MG Road is home to epics, mythologies, and legends. Drama is textile and jewelry shops frequented by added with the narrative verse, sung with an travelers and locals alike. The street is an accompaniment of drums, cymbals, and other H[FHOOHQWSODFHWRͫQGVRXYHQLUVDQGJLIWVWR instruments. We’ll have a chance to see this bring home. WUDGLWLRQDOSHUIRUPDQFHͫUVWKDQGDURXQG • How to get there: A 25- to 30-minute taxi 5:30pm, returning to the hotel in time to join ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ the other travelers for dinner tonight. • Hours: Vary by shop. Dinner: At our hotel around 8pm, featuring • Cost: Free. traditional Indian dishes. Day 4 Explore Cochin • Cochin Evening: You have the freedom to explore Harbor cruise the city on your own or rest for the balance of • Destination: Cochin the evening. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Freedom To Explore: During your two days in • Accommodations: Trident Hotel Cochin Cochin, you have the freedom to explore this or similar southern city on your own during your free Activity Note:,IWKLVGD\IDOOVRQD6DWXUGD\ZH time. Below are a few recommended options for will visit the synagogue on a different day, since independent explorations: WKHEXLOGLQJLVFORVHGGXHWRWKH6DEEDWK • Visit the Cochin Folklore Museum 6WXG\WKH Breakfast:6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO sculptures, stone objects, jewelry, paintings, beginning at 7am, featuring hot and cold items. musical instruments, and other works of art in the museum’s collection to learn more Morning: After leaving the hotel around 9am, about ancient and modern culture in Kerala. we’ll take a 15-minute bus ride into Cochin city • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi proper. With our Trip Experience Leader, we’ll ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ see remnants of the melting pot culture that • Hours: DPSPGDLO\ emerged here as a result of the spice trade in • Cost:$ERXW86' the blend of Dutch and English architecture. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 39 We’ll stroll the intensely aromatic streets of Day 5 Fly to Mumbai the old Jewish quarter, once the center of the • Destination: Mumbai spice trade and today home to spice shops that • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner sell cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cloves, and • Accommodations: The Lalit Mumbai cumin. As the scents mingle together, you may or similar ͫQGLWFKDOOHQJLQJWRGLVWLQJXLVKRQHIURP DQRWKHUEXWWKHVSLFHV̞PDJQLͫFHQWFRORUVDUH Activity Note: We’ll rise early, around nonetheless a feast for the eyes. 5:30am for breakfast, before we start today’s explorations. This part of town is also home to one of the world’s oldest Jewish populations, as we’ll see Breakfast: A cold breakfast will be available at ZKHQZHVWRSDWWKH3DUDGHVL6\QDJRJXHZKLFK the hotel beginning at 5:30am. ZDVIRXQGHGLQ$URXQG DPZH̞OO Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel around depart for the approximately 30-minute drive DPDQGEHJLQRXUKRXUGULYHWRWKH back to the hotel. DLUSRUW)URPWKHUHZH̞OOWDNHDKRXUͬLJKW Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm. Perhaps to bustling Mumbai, India’s largest and most you’ll try masala dosa, a paper-thin crepe G\QDPLFFLW\6XUURXQGHGRQWKUHHVLGHVE\ stuffed with a spicy potato and onion mash. WKH$UDELDQ6HD0XPEDLVLWVXSRQZKDWXVHG to be a tropical archipelago made up of seven Afternoon: You have approximately 3 hours distinct islands. Archaeologists surmise that to explore on your own this afternoon. Feel these islands have been populated since at free to check with your Trip Experience Leader OHDVWWKH6WRQH$JH7RGD\WKHFLW\LVWKHKXE for ideas. RI,QGLD̞VͫQDQFHIDVKLRQDQGHQWHUWDLQPHQW At about 4:30pm, we’ll depart for a 30-minute industries. More than half of India’s maritime ride to the jetty, where we’ll embark a ship FDUJRVKLSVͬRDWXSRQ0XPEDL̞VKDUERUDQG and enjoy a Cochin Harbor cruise. We should PRUHͫOPVDUHSURGXFHGKHUHDQQXDOO\WKDQLQ be able to observe the setting sun as we glide any other city in the world—hence the moniker past islands, lagoons, and idyllic scenes of “Bollywood.” &KLQHVHͫVKLQJQHWVDWRQHRIWKHZRUOG̞VPRVW After we land at the airport in Mumbai, we’ll picturesque natural harbors. take a 30-minute bus ride to our hotel and $WDERXW SPZH̞OOGLVHPEDUNRXUFUXLVH check in around 12:30pm. Depending on and drive 20 minutes to a local restaurant. the hotel, on-site amenities may include an outdoor pool, spa, shopping facility, and Dinner: We’ll gather for an included Farewell several restaurants. Typical rooms offer Dinner at a local restaurant around 7:15pm for complimentary wireless Internet access, a TV, a DͫQDOWDVWHRIVRXWKHUQ,QGLDQFXLVLQHDQGD minibar, and a private bath with a hair dryer. toast to our discoveries. Lunch: On your own—you might like to pick up Evening: You are free to continue exploring something to eat at the airport when we land. Cochin by night, enjoy the amenities at our hotel, or head to your room to prepare for our Afternoon: At about 1pm, we’ll set off on a travel tomorrow. 30-minute orientation walk with our Trip Experience Leader and a local guide. We’ll explore around the vicinity of our hotel to Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 40 acquaint ourselves with the area. Afterward, timeless tradition. We’ll have the opportunity enjoy free time to make your own discoveries, to interact with the dhobis (washermen), EHIRUHZHJDWKHUDWSPWRGULYHPLQXWHVWR and observe their process before having the our dinner destination. opportunity to try washing clothing in this traditional manner ourselves. Then, around Dinner:$WDORFDOUHVWDXUDQWDURXQG SP 3:30pm, we’ll depart for the 10-minute drive featuring traditional Indian cuisine. to Victoria Terminus, a historic railway station Evening: We return to the hotel around 8:30pm DQG81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWH:H̞OOH[SORUH tonight. The evening is yours to spend as you the station for around 30 minutes before we choose—perhaps you’ll head back into the depart for the hotel around 4:30pm. You’ll have FLW\WRH[SORUHRUUHͬHFWRQWKHGD\ZLWKIHOORZ the remainder of the day to spend as you wish. travelers at the hotel. Dinner: On your own during your free afternoon and evening. Perhaps you’ll try Day 6 Explore Mumbai a new restaurant you discovered while • Destination: Mumbai exploring Mumbai. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Evening: You may choose to continue exploring • Accommodations: The Lalit Mumbai into the evening or prepare for our early or similar morning departure tomorrow. Breakfast:6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO beginning at 7am, featuring traditional dishes. Day 7 Return to U.S. Morning: Today we continue our discoveries • Included Meals: Breakfast of Mumbai with a local guide. At about 9am, Activity Note: You may transfer to the airport we’ll board a coach and drive 1-hour out to the as early as 2am today. For those with later Gandhi Museum and Library housed within the ͬLJKWVEUHDNIDVWZLOOEHDYDLODEOHDWWKHKRWHO mansion known as Mani Bhavan, the center of Gandhi’s political activities in the mid-20th Early morning: Board a coach to transfer century. An honorary statue of the political approximately 40 minutes from your hotel to activist stands in the museum, where locals WKHDLUSRUWIRU\RXUUHWXUQͬLJKWWRWKH86 UHJXODUO\RIIHUWULEXWHV2QWKHVHFRQGͬRRU of the museum, we’ll even be able to glimpse Gandhi’s former bedroom. Around 12:15pm, we’ll drive 15 minutes to our lunch spot for the day. Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant. Afternoon: At about 1:30pm, we’ll drive 20 minutes to observe a fascinating Mumbai spectacle at Dhobi Ghat. Often called the world’s largest outdoor laundry, Dhobi Ghat is where dozens of families pound the dirt from garments in open-air concrete wash pens in a Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 41 OPTIONAL TOUR Kathakali performance (Day 3 $25 per person) Kathakali—literally “story play”—is the theatrical dance of Kerala, known for its complex costumes and facial paint that is so KHDY\LWLVRIWHQPLVWDNHQIRUDPDVN8VLQJ expressions, gestures, and actions, the actors portray the stories of Indian epics, mythologies, and legends. Drama is added with the narrative verse, sung with an accompaniment of drums, cymbals, and other instruments. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 42 POST-TRIP Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Round trip airfare between Delhi and » VPDOOJURXSDFWLYLWLHV Kathmandu, and Kathmandu and Pokhara » 6HUYLFHVRIDORFDO2$77ULS » Accommodations for 3 nights in Experience Leader Kathmandu, 2 nights in Pokhara, and 1 » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and night in Delhi luggage porters » PHDOV̜EUHDNIDVWVOXQFKHV » All transfers and 2 dinners POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY ([SHULHQFHWKHGLYHUVLW\DQGWKHPDJLFRI1HSDODPLGDQXQIRUJHWWDEOHZRUOGRISURIRXQGDQGDJHOHVVEHDXW\ At the ancient crossroads of Asia, an enchanting kingdom gilded in Hindu and Buddhist culture nestles beneath the rugged peaks of eight of the world’s ten highest mountains. On this adventure, you’ll experience WZRVLGHVRI1HSDORQDMRXUQH\WKDWWDNHV\RXIURPWKHPRGHUQFDSLWDORI.DWKPDQGXWRWKHODNHVLGHFLW\ of Pokhara. Day 1 Depart from Varanasi, India • centrally-located hotel. Depending on the hotel Arrive Kathmandu, Nepal \RXVWD\LQLWPD\IHDWXUHDQRQVLWHͫWQHVV center, spa, rooftop pool, two restaurants, and • Destination: Kathmandu a bakery. Typical guestrooms include wireless • Accommodations: Radisson Kathmandu Internet access, cable television, tea- and or similar coffee-making facilities, and an en suite Activity Note:7KLVGD\EHJLQVRQ'D\RIWKH bathroom. main trip. Dinner: On your own. You are free to dine in one Morning -XVWDIWHUDPZHͬ\DERXWKRXUV RIWKHKRWHOUHVWDXUDQWVRUJHW\RXUͫUVWWDVWH from Varanasi to Delhi, where we have a layover of Nepali cuisine at a local restaurant. Your EHIRUHDQRWKHUKRXUͬLJKWWR.DWKPDQGX Trip Experience Leader will be happy to make recommendations. Lunch: On your own in Delhi—you can grab food at the Delhi airport to enjoy during your Evening: Free for you to do as you’d like. layover or when you land in Nepal. You might like to glimpse Kathmandu’s during a nighttime stroll, or retire early after Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we board today’s transfer. DQRWKHUSODQHDQGͬ\DERXWKRXUVWR Kathmandu. We land in Nepal just after 4pm and transfer almost 1.5 hours by coach to our Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 43 Freedom To Explore: During your two days in Day 2 Explore Kathmandu • Kumari visit • Kathmandu, you have the freedom to explore Boudhanath stupa Nepal’s capital city on your own during your • Destination: Kathmandu free time. Below are a few recommended • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner options for independent explorations: • Accommodations: Radisson Kathmandu • Visit Kopan Monastery: This Tibetan or similar Buddhist monastery is home to nuns, monks, Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO and teachers who study Buddhism. Visitors beginning at 8:30am, featuring international can enjoy the spiritualism of the monastery, and traditional dishes. explore its halls, or take a course on Tibetan Buddhism and meditation. Morning: Around 8:30am, our Trip Experience /HDGHUZLOOJLYHD:HOFRPH%ULHͫQJDWWKHKRWHO • How to get there: A 30- to 35-minute taxi to review our itinerary in more detail (including ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ any changes that may need to occur). They will • Hours: 7am-11:30am, 1pm-4:30pm, daily. also discuss logistics, safety and emergency • Cost: Free, though donations are procedures, and answer any questions we welcomed. may have. • 6KRSWKHKDQGLFUDIWVRIMahaguthi Craft with a Conscience: This store sells crafts, textiles, Then, around 9:15am, we’ll take a short and other items made by artisans in remote orientation walk around the hotel before Nepalese villages. Each purchase helps secure heading out with our Trip Experience Leader for HPSOR\PHQWIDLUZDJHVDQGVRFLDOEHQHͫWV a city tour to learn more about Nepal’s largest for the individuals selling their crafts through city and capital, Kathmandu. Our tour begins the store. ZLWK3DWDQ'XUEDU6TXDUHRQHRIWKHVHYHQ 81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWHVLQ1HSDOWKDWDUH • How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute taxi preserved within a protected Monument Zone. ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ Within the square, we visit the residence of the • Hours: 9:30am-5pm, daily. medieval Malla rulers of Patan, now a historical • Cost: Free. DUWPXVHXP7KH3DWDQ'XUEDU6TXDUHLV Learn about traditional healing therapy at • reputedly the most picturesque of all the Kundalini Sound & Herbal Therapy: Take a ancient Malla cities with its intricately carved course about the healing power of singing architecture, delicate wind chimes, and ornate bowls (inverted bells used during medi- fountains. tation), or receive a sound healing session aimed at balancing a person’s energy. Around 10:30am, we’ll also visit Kumari Ghar, or House of the Living Goddess, home to a • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi young girl who is believed to be the incarnation ULGHDERXW86'RQHZD\ of the demon-slaying Hindu goddess Durga. • Hours: 10am-8pm, daily. After our visit, we’ll have a chance to meet • Cost: Varies by service or course. and interact with a former Kumari who now lives nearby. These interactions are wonderful RSSRUWXQLWLHVWRVHHKRZZRPHQFDQEHGHLͫHG in Nepalese culture, as well as to ask questions about the practice. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 44 Around 12:15pm, we’ll walk approximately Day 3 Optional Mount Everest flight • Fly PLQXWHVWR3DWDQ6TXDUHZKHUHZH̞OO to Pokhara have lunch. • Destination: Pokhara Lunch: Around 12:45pm at a local restaurant, • Included Meals: Breakfast where you’ll have a selection of Western-style • Accommodations: Hotel Da Yatra or similar or pan-Asian dishes to choose from. Early morning: At dawn, you may elect to Afternoon: We continue to explore the temples HQMR\DQRSWLRQDOͬLJKWWR(YHUHVWNQRZQLQ in Patan for another hour, and then drive about 1HSDODV6DJDUPDWKDRU̡*RGGHVVRIWKH6N\̢ 45 minutes back to our hotel. The rest of the Avid climbers call this mountain “the ultimate afternoon is free for you to do as you’d like. climb,” and with its summit height of 29,029 feet above sea level, Mount Everest earns Perhaps you will decide to visit the holiest the title of the tallest peak on Earth. Rising WHPSOHLQ1HSDO WKH%RXGKDQDWK6WXSD/LNH majestically out of the Himalayan range, its 0HFFDLVWR0XVOLPV%RXGKDQDWK6WXSD snowy peak and intricate geography offer us standing 118 feet high, is the main pilgrimage breathtaking views from the air. We’ll leave the site for Tibetan Buddhists. Tens of thousands hotel this morning and return around 8am. of pilgrims make the journey each year. The temple’s hemispherical dome represents the Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO emptiness from which everything begins; beginning at 7am, featuring international and rising above the dome, the harmika shines traditional dishes. the Buddha’s eyes in four directions that Morning: Around 8:45am, we’ll drive 30 symbolize his total awareness. When Tibetan minutes to the airport to catch our 20-minute refugees entered Nepal, they settled around the ͬLJKWWR3RNKDUDHQMR\LQJSDQRUDPLFYLHZVRI %RXGKDQDWK6WXSDFUHDWLQJDVPDOOYLOODJHWKDW the Annapurna range from our plane. Once an elicits the holy atmosphere of Tibet’s sacred important trade city along the India-Tibet trade city, Lhasa. route, Pokhara (4,593 feet) is now the gateway Around 5:30pm, we’ll reconvene at our hotel for trekkers to the Annapurna Circuit and for an insightful conversation with some offers a refreshingly laid-back counterpoint to individuals who have summitted Mount Kathmandu’s frenetic pace. Everest. Hear about their experiences on the 8SRQDUULYDODURXQG DPZH̞OO legendary climb, and ask any questions you depart the airport for the short ride to our may have. centrally-located hotel, where we’ll check Dinner: Enjoy traditional fare during a in and receive room assignments. Typical Welcome Dinner with fellow travelers at our rooms offer a TV, wireless Internet access, a KRWHODURXQG SP mini-fridge, a safe, and a private bath with a hair dryer. We’ll then set off on a 30-minute Evening: You will have free time following orientation walk with our Trip Experience dinner to venture into Kathmandu by night Leader around 11:30am. or enjoy the company of fellow travelers at the hotel. Lunch: Around 12pm, on your own—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations during the orientation walk. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 45 Afternoon 6KRUWO\DIWHUSPZH̞OOERDUG during a hands-on course at the workshop. the bus for a 20-minute drive to the Gorkha Participants select their own design and Museum, dedicated to the history of Nepal’s dye their cloth using the Batik technique for Gurkha soldiers (native Nepalese recruited to themselves, with the help of an instructor. the British and Indian armies). While there, • How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, we’ll even have an opportunity to hear a DERXW86'RQHZD\ ͫUVWKDQGWHVWLPRQ\RQWKLVWRSLFIURPDQ • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. ex-army member. • Cost $ERXW86' Around 3:45pm, we’ll depart for the short ride • Feel the rhythm during a Nepalese Dance back to our hotel. You’ll then have free time for Class: Join locals and an instructor in a the reminder of the day to browse among the studio to learn choreography for a traditional lakeside shops of Pokhara or relax in the hotel. Nepalese dance. Participants do not need to have any background in dance to join. Dinner: On your own—perhaps you’ll return to a local restaurant that you discovered during • How to get there: A 20-minute walk or your free time this afternoon. PLQXWHWD[LULGHDERXW86'RQH way. Evening: Your free time continues into the • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. evening when you may venture into Pokhara by • Cost $ERXW86' night or enjoy a nightcap with fellow travelers at the hotel bar. Day 4 Optional Annapurna Base Camp Heli-tour • Phewa Lake boat ride & Freedom To Explore: During your two days in village visit Pokhara, you have the freedom to explore this Himalayan city on your own during your free • Destination: Pokhara time. Below are a few recommended options for • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch independent explorations: • Accommodations: Hotel Da Yatra or similar • Go Zip-lining or Paragliding: Calling all thrill Activity Note: The optional Annapurna Base seekers. Paragliding over the Himalayas has Camp Heli-tour is dependent on weather become a more popular sport in Pokhara with conditions. the chance to soar above villages, terraces, Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO and dramatic valleys. The city is also home beginning at 7am, featuring hot and cold to one of the world’s tallest, longest, and local dishes. steepest ziplines. • How to get there: 45-minute transfer Morning: You may choose to join an optional included in package. helicopter tour this morning to Annapurna Base • Hours: Tours are available by reservation &DPSGHSDUWLQJDURXQG DP6XUURXQGHG from 9am-5pm, daily, and last about 2.5 RQDOOVLGHVE\IRRWSHDNVWKHYLHZV hours. from the helicopter are some of the most • Cost 86'3DFNDJHLQFOXGHV FRYHWHGLQWKHZRUOG7KHͬLJKWLVPLQXWHV transportation. one way, which we will break up with a brief stop at base camp to allow us to soak up the • Discover traditional art at The Nepali Way view of the vast surrounding range. Batik Workshop: Learn about Batik, a tradi- tional process for dying patterns into cloth, Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 46 $IWHUWKHͬLJKWZHGULYHPLQXWHVEDFNWR Day 5 Fly to Kathmandu • the hotel. Around 10am, all travelers depart Discover Bhaktapur WKHKRWHOIRURXUGD\̞VGLVFRYHULHVWKHͫUVWRI • Destination: Kathmandu which is a boat ride on Phewa Lake. We’ll drive • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner about 10 minutes by bus to reach this serene • Accommodations: Radisson Kathmandu body of water, which is ringed by trees and or similar soaring mountains at 2,917 feet and is framed E\WKH6DUDQJNRWDQG.DVNLNRWKLOOV:H̞OOEUHDN Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO into even smaller groups to board paddle boats beginning at 7am, featuring hot and cold or small motorized boats for a 45-minute ride local dishes. across the placid waters. Afterward, we’ll enjoy Morning: Around 9:45am, we drive 45 minutes a 30-minute walk around the nearby village E\FRDFKWRWKHDLUSRUWIRUDPLQXWHͬLJKW with our Trip Experience Leader. This village is WR.DWKPDQGX8SRQDUULYDODURXQGDPZH̞OO situated on a ridge, affording us scenic views. depart for the 30-minute drive to Bhaktapur We’ll have the chance to take in the traditional (Bhagdaon). The “City of Devotees,” Bhaktapur Nepali houses and observe how daily life LVD81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWHVSDQQLQJIRXU unfolds here. square miles. The city was the crown jewel of Around 1:15pm, we’ll drive 10 minutes to our the Malla Empire 700 years ago, and today lunch spot for the day. IHDWXUHVLWVKLVWRULF'XUEDU6TXDUHDQFLHQW courtyards, holy temples, and twisting streets Lunch: Around 1:30pm at a local restaurant, where artisans still practice age-old traditions. featuring traditional Nepalese dishes. Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm—your Afternoon 6KRUWO\DIWHUOXQFKZH̞OOGHSDUWIRU Trip Experience Leader will be happy to provide the 30-minute drive back to the hotel, putting a recommendation. us there around 3:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon is free for your own discoveries. Afternoon: Beginning around 1:30pm, we’ll Perhaps you’d like to browse the nearby set with our Trip Experience Leader to explore markets in search of a memento, or take a stroll some of Bhaktapur’s sites on a guided bus tour, along one of the city’s scenic footpaths. including a pottery workshop and one of the FLW\̞VWHPSOHV$W1\DWDSROD6TXDUHZH̞OOJHW Dinner: On your own—you may eat at the to meet with members of the 25 or so families hotel or ask your Trip Experience Leader for a who are engaged in the pottery industry. Watch recommendation. You may want to try momo, a these artisans craft bowls, cups, and other 6RXWK$VLDQGXPSOLQJSRSXODUDFURVVPXFKRI vessels using the same traditional methods Asia, including the Himalayan region. their ancestors have used for hundreds of years; Evening: During your free time, you may see perhaps you will even choose to try your own more of this Nepalese city at your own pace or hand at the craft. Around 3:30pm, we’ll then retire early to rest before our travels tomorrow. depart for the 45-minute return to the hotel, at which point we’ll enjoy free time until dinner this evening. $URXQGSPZH̞OOGHSDUWIRUWKHPLQXWH bus drive to dinner. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 47 Dinner: We celebrate our discoveries and savor Lunch: On your own at the airport in DͫQDO1HSDOHVHPHDOGXULQJD)DUHZHOO'LQQHU Kathmandu. DWDORFDOUHVWDXUDQWDURXQG SP Afternoon: After we arrive in Delhi (shortly Evening: Enjoy free time to explore more after 4pm), you may connect to your next RI.DWKPDQGXRUSUHSDUHIRU\RXUͬLJKWWR ͬLJKWEDFNWRWKH86RUWUDQVIHUWRWKHKRWHO India tomorrow. Depending on where you stay, the hotel may RIIHURQVLWHDPHQLWLHVOLNHDVSDDQGͫWQHVV Day 6 Kathmandu • Fly to Delhi, India center, an outdoor swimming pool, and a UHVWDXUDQW7\SLFDOURRPVLQFOXGHDͬDWVFUHHQ • Destination: Delhi TV and a private bath with a hair dryer. • Included Meals: Breakfast • Accommodations: Lemon Tree Premier Hotel Dinner: On your own—perhaps you’ll enjoy a or similar traditional Indian meal at a local restaurant. Breakfast 6HUYHGEXIIHWVW\OHDWWKHKRWHO Evening: You’re free to make use of the hotel’s beginning at 7am, featuring international and amenities or rest before your early morning traditional dishes. GHSDUWXUHWRWKH86 Morning: Enjoy a free morning to revisit some of your favorite sites in Kathmandu, or discover Day 7 Return to U.S. some new treasures on your own. Perhaps • Included Meals: Breakfast \RX̞OOͫQGDVWUHHWDUWLVWSDLQWLQJLQWULFDWH Activity Note: You may transfer to the airport thangkas—Buddhist art for meditation—and as early as 2am today. For those with later UHPLQLVFHDERXWWKH6XPPHURI/RYHRQ ͬLJKWVEUHDNIDVWZLOOEHDYDLODEOHDWWKHKRWHO )UHDN6WUHHWDIRUPHU%RKHPLDQPHFFD2U simply relax over strong jasmine tea and savor Early morning: Arise very early this morning, the bustle of an exciting city culture much and depart for the 20-minute transfer to the unchanged by the hands of time. 'HOKLDLUSRUWE\FRDFKIRU\RXUͬLJKWWRWKH86 At about 11am, we’ll depart our hotel and transfer 20 minutes to the airport for about a KRXUͬLJKWWR'HOKL,QGLDIRUDͫQDOQLJKW GHSHQGLQJRQ\RXUUHWXUQͬLJKWWRWKH86 OPTIONAL TOURS Mount Everest flight of 29,029 feet above sea level, Mount Everest (Day 3 $220 per person) earns the title of the tallest peak on Earth. At dawn, you may elect to enjoy an optional Rising majestically out of the Himalayan range, ͬLJKWWR(YHUHVW ZHDWKHUSHUPLWWLQJ NQRZQ its snowy peak and intricate geography offer us in Tibet as SagarmathaRU̡*RGGHVVRIWKH6N\̢ breathtaking views from the air. Avid climbers call this mountain “the ultimate This optional tour only operates if weather permits. climb,” and with its astounding summit height Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 48 Annapurna Base Camp Heli-tour (Day 4 $350 per person) Travel by helicopter among the Himalayas’ iconic 8,000 meter peaks, eventually reaching Annapurna Base Camp, a coveted destination for mountaineers around the world. We’ll land there, at an elevation of 13,550 feet above sea level, before returning to Pokhara via a route that takes trekkers up to a week. (DFKKHOLFRSWHUFDQDFFRPPRGDWHIRXUWUDYHOHUV HDFKZLWKDQDYHUDJHZHLJKWRISRXQGV,Q order to distribute weight evenly, travelers may be weighed individually or as part of a group. Those traveling together may also be split into two GLIIHUHQWKHOLFRSWHUV'HSHQGLQJRQWKHZHDWKHU this optional tour may be cancelled. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 49 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP: With the planning of any adventure comes the need to research and ask \`P^_TZY^BPɪ]PSP]P_ZSPW[4Y_SPQZWWZbTYR[LRP^dZ`ɪWWʭYOTYQZ]- XL_TZY_SL_Z`]_]LaPWP]^SLaPQZ`YOXZ^_MPYPʭNTLWL^_SPdɪaP[]P[L]PO for this adventure, on subjects ranging from passports to weather, and currency to recommended reading. BPɪaPTYNW`OPO_SPZʯNTLW?]LaPW3LYOMZZV_SL_dZ`ɪWW]PNPTaPbSPYdZ` reserve your departure of this trip, which outlines everything you’ll need to know before and during your adventure. What’s more, our Adventure Specialists will be ready and eager to address any additional questions you may have. With all of our resources available to you, enjoy peace of mind … and look forward to the incredible discoveries that await. 50 CONTENTS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS...... 52 HEALTH ...... 54 MONEYMATTERS ...... 58 Top Tips Local Currency Tipping Guidelines PREPARING FOR TRIP...... 61 PACKING ...... 64 CLIMATE...... 72 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION ...... 76 Culture & Points to Know Shopping DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY...... 82 RESOURCES ...... 90 51 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Your Passport • Must be in good condition • Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S. • Must have the required number of blank pages (details below) • The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport Recommended Blank Pages 3OHDVHFRQͫUPWKDW\RXUSDVVSRUWKDVHQRXJKEODQNSDJHVIRUWKLVDGYHQWXUH • Main trip only: If you are taking only the main trip, you will require 3 blank passport pages. • Pre-trip extension to Bhutan: You will need 2 more pages for a total of 5. • Post-trip extension to Kerala: This extension does not require any additional pages. • Post-trip extension to Nepal: You will need 2 more pages for a total of 5 blank passport pages. • Both a pre- and a post-trip extension: Add the number of pages required for each of your extensions to the 3 pages required for the main trip. • Stopover in Dubai: You will need 1 more page. Add 1 to the number of pages required for the main trip and any extensions. Visas Required We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 100 days prior to your departure. In the meantime, we’re providing the information below as a guideline on what to expect. This info is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change. • India—visa required. This visa must be obtained in advance. If you are taking both the Bhutan and Nepal extensions, it must be a multiple-entry visa. 52 • Bhutan (optional pre-trip extension)—visa required. We recommend you obtain this onsite. We will need a photocopy or scan of your passport at least 60 days prior to your departure. You will receive detailed instructions on how to do this in your Visa Packet. • Nepal (optional post-trip extension)—visa required. We recommended you obtain this in advance. Although a Nepal visa can be obtained on arrival, we recommend that you obtain your visa before you leave home, because entry requirements can change at any moment and the only way to ensure that you will not encounter problems at the border is to obtain \RXUYLVDLQDGYDQFH$GD\VLQJOHHQWU\YLVDVKRXOGVXIͫFHIRURXUH[WHQVLRQ • United Arab Emirates (optional Stopover in Dubai): Visa required. We recommend you obtain this onsite. Currently the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) allows U.S. citizens to get a tourist visa free of charge on arrival in Dubai. Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org. Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate. Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals. If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available ZRUOGZLGH$VDQDOWHUQDWLYH\RXFRXOGORDGWKHVHGRFXPHQWVRQWRDͬDVKGULYHLQVWHDGZKLFK can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip. Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents. 53 HEALTH Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers. PACING • 7 locations in 17 days with 2 one-night stays • Multiple pre-dawn departures PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids • Must be able to withstand hot temperatures, including averages around and beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit • Must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including scaling several steep steps without handrails • We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience !dRm¦1̵ • Daytime temperatures range from 90-100°F (particularly in April) • August and September are hot and humid, with heavy rains • Northern India experiences poor air quality in November and December, especially in Delhi • Winter months are cold and foggy TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus and on foot • Travel through India via bus (no heat or toilet on board), train, rickshaw, and game- viewing vehicle • Several long overland drives of 5-6 hours, including a 10-12 hour transfer with a train journey on Day 13 FLIGHT INFORMATION • Travel time will be 14-27 hours and will most likely have two connections 54 ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES • One night in a comfortable but basic tented camp with private baths • Asian squat-style toilets must be used in some villages without other facilities • Most hotels in Bhutan do not have elevators, so if you are taking the optional extension in Bhutan, you must be able to climb stairs CUISINE • Meals will be based on the local cuisine; Western food is limited CULTURAL INSIGHT • We may see people living in poverty, which could be distressing for some travelers Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following: • Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636. • Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip. • Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. • Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent) No Vaccines Required At the time of writing there were no required vaccines for this trip. The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date on their routine vaccinations and on basic travel vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid, but these are suggestions only. However, this could change in future so we encourage you to check with the CDC yourself before meeting with your doctor. Medication Suggestions • An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness • Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location • Altitude sickness medication (if you are taking the extension to Bhutan) • At time of writing, the CDC did recommend discussing anti-malaria medication with your doctor for India. The CDC also mentioned that malaria was present in Bhutan and Nepal, EXWQRWWKHDUHDVZHYLVLWRQWKLVLWLQHUDU\&KHFNZLWKWKH&'&DQG\RXUGRFWRUͫUVWEHFDXVH these medications can have strong side effects. Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy. 55 • Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas. • Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications. We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & 6SHFLDO&LUFXPVWDQFHV̢ LI\RXGRQ̞WVHHDQ\PHGLFDWLRQVVSHFLͫFDOO\PHQWLRQHGWKHQ\RXFDQ presume major U.S. brands should be OK). Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips • Start your trip well-rested. • Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane. • Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule. • Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– \RXUͬLJKW • 'ULQNSOHQW\RIZDWHUDQGRUIUXLWMXLFHZKLOHͬ\LQJ • Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane. • After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap. • 'RQ̞WSXVK\RXUVHOIWRVHHDORWRQ\RXUͫUVWGD\ • 7U\WRVWD\DZDNH\RXUͫUVWGD\XQWLODIWHUGLQQHU Allergies If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will FRPPXQLFDWHWKHPWRRXUUHJLRQDORIͫFH(YHU\HIIRUWZLOOEHPDGHWRDFFRPPRGDWH\RX Water • Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water or treated drinking water is readily available. Inspect each bottle before you buy it to make sure the cap is sealed properly. • Carry a bottle in your daypack at all times. • Bottled drinks and juices, and hot drinks that have been boiled, are safe to drink. 56 • Carry a handkerchief to dry the tops of bottled drinks before and after opening. Food • We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals. • Carry a handkerchief to dry any wet utensils or plates. • Be very careful with food sold from vendors on the street, and with uncooked fruit and other foods. Fruit that you peel yourself is usually safe. Electricity Supply A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers dependent on electricity supply for health reasons (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) may want to consider a different O.A.T. adventure. Altitude Illness (optional extension to Bhutan) If you are taking the optional extension to Bhutan, you will probably feel some effects from the high altitudes. Even if you’ve been to high elevations previously, you could have a different reaction this time. For most people, the symptoms are mild, and will pass in a day or so. The most common symptoms of altitude sickness are lightheadedness, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. You should take it easy, avoid smoking and alcohol, DQGGULQNSOHQW\RIͬXLGV:HVXJJHVWWDNLQJDUHVWRIDFRXSOHKRXUVZKHQ\RXͫUVWDUULYHWR acclimate yourself. Some people take a prescription medication starting when they arrive or one day before. Don’t take sleeping medications, as they suppress respiration. Even though you may experience a decreased appetite, force yourself to eat soups and other light foods. If these ‘normal’ altitude symptoms become unmanageable, it is critical that you inform your Trip Experience Leader. Please let the Trip Experience Leader know if you experience any of the IROORZLQJ VHULRXVGLIͫFXOW\EUHDWKLQJPHQWDOFRQIXVLRQDVHYHUHDQGXQUHPLWWLQJKHDGDFKH FRQWLQXHGGLIͫFXOW\EUHDWKLQJDIWHUDSHULRGRIUHVWRUSRRUSK\VLFDOFRRUGLQDWLRQ DWD[LD 57 MONEY MATTERS Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card. • Traveler’s checks are not accepted in India, Bhutan, and Nepal. • A cash reserve is important for the optional extension to Bhutan; you should assume that you will not be able to use a credit card or ATM card at all in Bhutan. Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter\RXUEDQNRUWKHͫQDQFLDOVHFWLRQRI\RXUQHZVSDSHU India 7KHRIͫFLDOFXUUHQF\RI,QGLDLVWKHUXSHHZKLFKLVGLYLGHGLQWRSDLVH VLQJXODU SDLVD • Bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 2000 rupees • Coins come in denominations of 50 paise and 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in India; the local currency is preferred. (Occasionally you PLJKWͫQGDWRXULVWUHODWHGEXVLQHVVRUDVWUHHWYHQGRUZKRZLOOWDNH86GROODUVEXWJHQHUDOO\LW is rupees all the way.) Bhutan 7KHRIͫFLDOFXUUHQF\RI%KXWDQLVWKH1JXOWUXPEXW86GROODUVDUHZLGHO\DFFHSWHG • Bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Ngultrum • &RLQVDUHQRORQJHULQFLUFXODWLRQDOWKRXJK\RXPD\ͫQGWKHPVROGDVVRXYHQLUV Since U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Bhutan, you may not need to exchange money. But please note that U.S. dollars from 1996 or older will not be accepted. Indian currency in denominations up to 100 rupees can also be used in Bhutan, but larger Indian bills, such as the 500-rupee or 1000-rupee notes will not be accepted. Nepal 7KHRIͫFLDOFXUUHQF\RI1HSDOLVWKH1HSDOHVHUXSHH 5V ZKLFKLVGLYLGHGLQWRSDLVH (singular: paisa). • Bills come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 rupees • Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 paise; and 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees 58 U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Nepal. Because dollars are accepted and costs are low, a mix of small denomination U.S. bills ($1, 5, and 10) can be very useful. TIP: Our Trip Experience Leaders recommend How to Exchange Money Visitors (non-residents of India) are not permitted to bring Indian Rupees into or out of the country. Therefore, you must wait until you arrive to exchange money. You can change money at EDQNVPRVWKRWHOVDQGPRQH\H[FKDQJHRIͫFHV3OHDVHQRWHWRUQGLUW\RUWDSHG86ELOOVPD\ not be accepted for exchange. For more information on what type of currency can be used on this trip, see the “Currency” section. The easiest way to exchange money on this trip is using an ATM (except in Bhutan). Using a local ATM on an international network will allow you to withdraw money from your U.S. account in local currency; your bank at home will calculate the conversion rate and charge you in U.S. dollars. ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card. Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart. Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.) India: ATMs are readily available in cities and large towns in India but are more limited in small villages and the National Parks. Bhutan: ATMs are very limited. We recommend that you bring enough cash (U.S. dollars and/or Indian rupees) to cover your basic expenses while in Bhutan as you cannot rely on ATMs alone. Nepal: ATM’s are available in large towns or cities, such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, but are not available in rural Nepal. Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc. India: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in India for major purchases and in shops associated with the tourist trade but may not be accepted by smaller shops or restaurants. 59 Bhutan: Credit and debit cards are rarely accepted—most vendors are still cash only. Be forewarned that you might not be able to use any credit cards while in Bhutan. It is best to bring a cash reserve to cover your basic expenses (in U.S. dollars and/or Indian rupees). Also note that goods and services in Bhutan are substantially more expensive than in India. Nepal: Credit and debit cards are somewhat accepted in larger cities such as Kathmandu for major purchases but will be rarely accepted in the countryside. Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online. You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.! Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines. • O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $7-$10 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip. • Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1-2 per room, per night • Waiters: Your Trip Experience Leader will tip waiters for included meals. If you are dinning on your own remember that it is common to tip anywhere from 5%-10% in restaurants. • Taxi drivers: If you are taking a taxi by yourself, keep in mind that tipping is not common practice, but many people simply let the driver keep the change by rounding up the fare to the next whole number. Please Note: Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and optional extensions for local guides, drivers, camp staff, and luggage porters that may assist you during the scheduled activities on your adventure. All tips are quoted in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips. 60 PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air ŽĢóĴ'āƩłĢŶĢŋłŭ • Land Only: • Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet). • Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”. Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased )RUHOLJLEOHͬLJKWVDLUSRUWWUDQVIHUVPD\EHSXUFKDVHGVHSDUDWHO\DVDQRSWLRQDODGGRQVXEMHFW WRDYDLODELOLW\7REHHOLJLEOH\RXUͬLJKW V PXVWPHHWWKHIROORZLQJUHTXLUHPHQWV • • Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814. If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com. Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations. What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability. 61 • Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.) • To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”. • Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount). Communications To ensure you are available during your trip to friends and relatives at home, you will receive two copies of your hotel list, including phone numbers, with your Final Documents. One copy is for you to bring, and one to leave behind with friends or relatives in case they need to contact you during the trip. Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one. Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store. Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.). One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country. 62 Internet Cyber cafes are available in big cities and towns throughout India. Most hotels will also offer some sort of Internet service, usually in their business center or lobby. Connections in India are usually slow and may involve repeat logging in. How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone. India: +91 Nepal: +977 Bhutan: +975 63 PACKING Luggage Limits MAIN TRIP LIMITS Pieces per person One check bag and one carry-on per person. Weight restrictions Checked bag is limited to 33 lbs total. Carry-on is limited to 15 lbs total. Size Restrictions Standard airline size: checked luggage should not exceed 62 linear inches (length+ width + depth) and carry-on should not exceed 45 linear inches Luggage Type Duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Please do not bring a hard-sided (clamshell) suitcase. TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS Pre-Trip to Bhutan: Checked bag is limited to 44 lbs (see note below) and carry-on is limited to 11 lbs. Standard size for checked luggage; carry-on dimensions are restricted to 17.5 x 13.5 x 8 inches. All other extensions: Same as main trip. 64 REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question. Luggage weight for Bhutan pre-trip extension: Although your flights to/from Bhutan allow for 44 lbs of checked luggage, your flights within India only allow for 33 lbs. If you bring 44 lbs you’ll face luggage fees in India, which could range from $75-$90 per person on the main trip alone (more if you are taking a post-trip extension). These fees—which are subject to change—would be paid by you to the airline in question at their discretion. Carry-on size for Bhutan: We recommend that you keep your carry-on within the size limits outlined above for this extension. Depending on which plane is being used the day you fly to Bhutan, there may or may not be room in the overhead compartments for American-sized carry-ons. You are allowed to bring a personal item, such as a lady’s purse, an overcoat, an umbrella, or a walking stick in addition to your carry-on. TIP: Our regional staff suggests bringing your coat or jacket on the plane for the flight to Bhutan and wearing your sturdiest shoes. That way you have these items even if your checked luggage is lost or delayed, but they don’t take up room in your small carry-on. Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet. • ,W̞VDJRRGLGHDWRUHFRQͫUPEDJJDJHUHVWULFWLRQVDQGIHHVGLUHFWO\ZLWKWKHDLUOLQHDZHHNRU so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section. • Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines. • 7KHOXJJDJHOLPLWVDERYHDUHEDVHGRQ\RXUUHJLRQDOͬLJKWVZKLFKPD\EHOHVVWKDQ\RXU LQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWV(YHQLI\RXULQWHUQDWLRQDODLUOLQHRIIHUVDODUJHUZHLJKWOLPLW\RXZLOO need to pack according to the lower restrictions. Your Luggage Checked Luggage One duffel bag or suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Please do not bring a rigid (plastic shell) suitcase. 65 Carry-on Bag You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be XVHGDVERWKDFDUU\RQEDJIRU\RXUͬLJKWDQGWRFDUU\\RXUGDLO\QHFHVVLWLHV̜ZDWHUERWWOH camera, etc—during your daily activities. Locks )RUͬLJKWVWKDWRULJLQDWHLQWKH86\RXFDQHLWKHUXVHD76$DSSURYHGORFNRUOHDYH\RXU luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft- prevention measure. Clothing Suggestions Functional Tips As you will experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, we suggest several layers of clothing. If you like to hand-wash your clothes, look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with features like wrinkle- resistant fabric or built-in sun protection. • Footwear: You’ll be on your feet a lot during the trip, and walking over some rough and slippery surfaces. The soles of your shoes should offer good traction. Style Hints • Dress on our trip is functional and casual. • Your dress should be somewhat conservative in order to be respectful of the local culture. Sleeveless tops for ladies are acceptable in the larger cities in India and Nepal, but are not appropriate in the small villages, or in temples, or in Bhutan. Very short shorts (on men or women) and mini-skirts are considered disrespectful, and will draw unwanted attention. • Leather not allowed in some temples. Since the cow is a sacred animal in the Hindu religion, many Indians do not wear leather. It is OK for you to wear leather on the street, and small leather items (belts and wallets) will usually be allowed in Hindu temples. However, temple attendants my ask that you leave large leather items—such as handbags—at the entrance, so consider bringing a cloth or canvas bag instead. What to Bring We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook. 66 Recommended Clothing T Shirts: A mixture of short- and long-sleeved shirts in a breathable fabric, like cotton or cotton-blend. Polo shirts are more versatile than T-shirts. Sleeveless shirts are acceptable in India, but not Bhutan. T 7URXVHUVDQGRUMHDQV &RPIRUWDEOHDQGORRVHͫWWLQJLQDEUHDWKDEOHIDEULFOLNHFRWWRQRU linen. T Walking shorts: Shorts are generally acceptable in India, but in keeping with the more modest culture, please chose a longer cut (to the knee). Shorts are not allowed in Indian mosques and are not allowed in public places in Bhutan. T For women–1 or 2 travel skirts: Our female Trip Experience Leaders suggest that, for ,QGLDDVNLUWDQGVKLUWLVDJUHDWEDVLFWUDYHORXWͫW6KRUWVDQGSDQWVDUHͫQHWRRLWLV just that a skirt allows for air movement and is convenient when using squat toilets. Female travelers should also consider sports bras, especially for days with long overland transfers—the roads can be bumpy. T Shoes and socks: Shoes should be comfortable walking or running shoes; a pair of light hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes is recommended for Bhutan. We suggest you bring at least one extra pair of socks to be used as “temple socks,” because wearing shoes of any type are not allowed inside temples. T Light cotton or wool sweater: The air-conditioning in restaurants and on the bus can be cold. T Wide-brim sun hat or visor for sun protection T Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood T Underwear and sleepwear T Optional: swimsuit, in case a hotel has a whirlpool or pool Seasonal Clothing Recommendations For fall and winter (November-February in India; September-March in Bhutan): T $ZDUPMDFNHWOLNHD3ROHUWHFͬHHFHRUDKHDY\ZRROVZHDWHU T Turtleneck(s) or scarf T Warm sleepwear T Hat and light gloves 67 Essential Items T 'DLO\HVVHQWLDOV WRRWKEUXVKWRRWKSDVWHͬRVVKDLUEUXVKRUFRPEVKDYLQJLWHPV deodorant, etc. Our hotels will provide the basics like soap and shampoo, but if you are sensitive to fragrances or new products, you may wish to bring your preferred brands. Most hotels do not provide a washcloth, so you may wish to pack one. T Spare eyeglasses/contact lens T Sunglasses T Sunscreen, SPF 15 or stronger T Insect repellent with DEET T Light folding umbrella, for rain and sun protection T Moisturizer and chapstick T Pocket-size tissues—most public restrooms will be out of toilet paper. (And out of soap, so bring some anti-bacterial hand lotion too.) T Anti-bacterial hand lotion T Packets of moist towelettes. These are useful after visits that involve removing your shoes, or can be used to freshen up during a hot day. T )ODVKOLJKWH[WUDEDWWHULHVEXOE$ͬDVKOLJKWLVKLJKO\UHFRPPHQGHGE\RXU7ULS Experience Leaders as power outages are common. (Plus it is useful at the camp.) T Electrical converter & plug adapter T Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger Medicines & First Aid Gear T Your own prescription medicines T 7UDYHOͫUVWDLGNLW %DQG$LGVKHDGDFKHDQGSDLQUHOLHIOD[DWLYHVDQGDQWLGLDUUKHD tablets, something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, antibiotic cream, or allergy medication. T An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness T Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes T Optional: Altitude sickness medication (if you are taking the extension to Bhutan) 68 T Optional: Anti-malarial medication—discuss with your doctor) Optional Gear T Travel alarm T Lightweight binoculars T Hanging toiletry bag with hook to hang on doorknob, and pockets to organize items T Basic sewing kit T Hand-wash laundry soap such as Woolite T Hair dryer T Reading materials T Travel journal/note pad T Home address book T Photos, small gift for Home-Hosted Visit T Phrase book T Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores T Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates T ,QͬDWDEOHVHDWFXVKLRQIRUEXPS\URDGV T Eye drops, to combat dusty conditions T For asthma sufferers (or other breathing complaints) a face mask may be useful, SDUWLFXODUO\LQ'HOKLZKHUHWKHUHFDQEHVLJQLͫFDQWDLUSROOXWLRQRUIRUGXVW\URDGVLQWKH National Park T $IHZVQDFNVWRͫOOWKHJDSEHWZHHQEUHDNIDVWDQGOXQFK T Packets of powdered sports drink mix with electrolytes (helps with hydration) T Bhutan extension: Ear plugs - Noise pollution (such as barking dogs) is common in Bhutan. Past travelers have suggested bringing ear plugs for sleeping 69 TIP: Hotels in Bhutan do not feature hair dryers, but the hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal does. In India, some hotels will feature hair dryers, but not all. Home-Hosted Visits Many of our adventures feature a visit with a local family, often as part of the A Day in the Life experience. It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim countries because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. Not all O.A.T. adventures include D+RPH+RVWHG9LVLW SOHDVHFKHFN\RXUͫQDOLWLQHUDU\EHIRUH\RXGHSDUW Electricity When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape. Voltage Electricity in India, Bhutan, and Nepal is 220-230 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can UXQRIIERWKDQG%XW\RXVKRXOGFKHFNWKHLWHPRUWKHRZQHU̞VJXLGHͫUVWWR FRQͫUPWKLVEHIRUH\RXSOXJLWLQ,I\RXKDYHVRPHWKLQJWKDWQHHGVYROWV̜OLNHDVKDYHURUD hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.) Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket \RX̞OOQHHGDQDGDSWHUWKDWͫWVEHWZHHQWKHSOXJDQGWKHVRFNHW%HFDXVHWKHUHDUHPDQ\GLIIHUHQW types of plugs in this region, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or :DOPDUW,I\RXIRUJHWWREULQJDQDGDSWHU\RXPLJKWDOVRͫQGWKHPIRUVDOHDWWKHDLUSRUWZKHQ you arrive at your destination. Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip: India: C or D 70 Bhutan: C, D, or G. Sometimes F but this is rare Nepal: C or D Type C Type D Type G Type F Availability A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. In some places, the electricity may be supplied by a generator, and lighting may not be as bright as you are used to. Travelers dependent on electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) should consider a different adventure or ensure their apparatus has back-up battery power. 71 CLIMATE India: India is characterized by hot, tropical weather, with variations from region to UHJLRQ7KRXJKVHDVRQVIROORZVLPLODUF\FOHVDVWKH1RUWKHUQ+HPLVSKHUHWKHͫUVWPRQWKVRI spring and fall can be very warm to hot. Mornings are especially cold in winter months. Monsoon rains occur throughout most regions of India during the summer months, between June and September. As these are generally warm climates, some hotels and vehicles do not have heat. Southern India: India is characterized by hot, tropical weather, with variations from region WRUHJLRQ7KRXJKVHDVRQVIROORZVLPLODUF\FOHVDVWKH1RUWKHUQ+HPLVSKHUHWKHͫUVWPRQWKV of spring and fall can be very warm to hot. In the south, the driest season extends from mid-December through March. The monsoon season starts the earliest of anywhere in India, typically at the beginning of June, and it can rain heavily through the summer months. Kerala and other areas in the south also get a second or “winter” monsoon, often from November into early December. Bhutan: Bhutan has a wide range of climactic conditions, with areas at lower elevations— including Punakha and Wangdi—having cool, dry winters and hot, wet summers. Areas at higher elevations, such as Thimphu and Paro, are colder in comparison. For example, in winter (November-March) places like Paro are below freezing while Punakha is generally in the 40-60 ° F range. Areas like Gangtey may even drop below 0° F during the winter months. Summertime highs rarely get above the 70s, except in Punakha, which can be hotter. As far as precipitation, expect snow in the winter and rain spring through autumn, with the strongest rains in summer. Please note: If traveling during the winter, keep in mind that local hotels and restaurants do not have central heat. Hotel rooms will have an electric heater, but public spaces (i.e. lobbies) and restaurants will be cold. Nepal: Nepal’s weather is generally predictable and pleasant. There are two seasons—the dry season from October to May and the rainy, monsoon season from June to September. About 80 percent of the rain falls during the rainy period, so the remainder of the year is relatively dry. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; winter temperatures drop to freezing with a high level of snowfall in the mountains. Late spring and summer temperatures range from 83º in the hill regions to more than 104º in the Terai. Dubai: Dubai has a typical desert climate. During the day, temperatures range from hot in the winter (high 70s-high 80s) to very hot in the summer (high 90s-100+). At night, the temperatures drop sharply; usually it is at least 20 degrees cooler. The city gets very little rain— less than 4 inches each year. Note on traveling to India in December and January Starting roughly between the second and fourth week in December, Delhi, Khajuraho, and Varanasi are affected by occasional ground fog. The fog season usually lasts about a month. As a result, it’s possible that the following will occur: • 'HOD\VRUGLYHUVLRQVIRULQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWVLQWRDQGRXWRI'HOKL 72 • Disrupted viewing of the Taj Mahal during mornings and evenings • 'HOD\VRUFDQFHOODWLRQVRQWKHͬLJKWVIURP.KDMXUDKRWR9DUDQDVLDQGIURP9DUDQDVL to Delhi. Some activities may need to be re-arranged in the itinerary as a result of occasional fog. For H[DPSOHLI.KDMXUDKRWR9DUDQDVLͬLJKWLVFDQFHOOHGGXHWRIRJZHPD\GULYHWR9DUDQDVLLQVWHDG which is a 12-hour transfer. Your Trip Experience Leader will manage any changes on-site. Although this talk of changes may sound daunting, keep in mind there is a great advantage of traveling at this time—the cooler climate. Not only is it more comfortable, but also touring is not limited to mornings and late afternoons. Climate Averages & Online Forecast 7KHIROORZLQJFKDUWVUHͬHFWWKHaverage climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast. Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall MONTH NEW DELHI, INDIA JAIPUR, INDIA Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 69 to 44 83 to 41 0.7 72 to 47 70 to 35 0.4 FEB 75 to 48 78 to 35 0.6 78 to 52 63 to 29 0.3 MAR 86 to 57 71 to 30 0.4 88 to 61 52 to 19 0.3 APR 98 to 69 55 to 21 1.2 99 to 71 39 to 15 0.2 MAY 105 to 77 49 to 24 1.1 105 to 78 42 to 18 0.6 JUN 105 to 82 61 to 36 2.1 103 to 82 59 to 32 2.3 JUL 96 to 78 82 to 61 8.5 94 to 78 82 to 62 7.8 AUG 93 to 78 85 to 64 9.8 90 to 76 88 to 67 8.0 SEP 94 to 75 81 to 51 5.3 92 to 74 79 to 48 3.3 OCT 92 to 66 76 to 33 0.6 92 to 66 63 to 29 0.6 NOV 83 to 55 78 to 31 0.3 84 to 56 65 to 33 0.1 DEC 73 to 46 82 to 38 0.6 76 to 49 71 to 38 0.3 73 MONTH PATNA, INDIA COCHIN, INDIA Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 73 to 49 91 to 63 0.8 87 to 75 85 to 60 0.9 FEB 79 to 53 85 to 52 0.4 88 to 77 87 to 64 1.0 MAR 90 to 62 75 to 36 0.4 89 to 79 87 to 67 1.9 APR 99 to 72 65 to 30 0.4 89 to 79 86 to 70 5.1 MAY 101 to 77 76 to 41 1.4 88 to 80 89 to 73 12.5 JUN 98 to 80 84 to 58 5.5 84 to 77 94 o 82 22.3 JUL 91 to 79 93 to 77 12.6 83 to 76 94 to 83 20.6 AUG 91 to 79 92 to 75 11.0 83 to 76 94 to 81 13.4 SEP 90 to 78 93 to 77 8.4 84 to 77 93 to 79 9.8 OCT 89 to 71 94 to 71 2.8 85 to 77 93 to 76 12.5 NOV 84 to 59 91 to 66 0.3 86 to 77 91 to 72 6.3 DEC 76 to 50 91 to 65 0.3 87 to 75 86 to 62 1.9 MONTH THIMPHU, BHUTAN KATHMANDU, NEPAL Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 54 to 27 -- 0.6 60 to 40 97 to 65 0.7 FEB 58 to 33 -- 1.6 63 to 44 96 to 58 0.6 MAR 62 to 39 -- 0.9 70 to 50 94 to 50 1.2 APR 68 to 45 -- 2.3 77 to 57 90 to 48 1.5 MAY 73 to 56 -- 4.8 79 to 63 92 to 59 4.0 JUN 76 to 59 -- 9.6 80 to 69 93 to 70 7.9 JUL 66 to 56 -- 14.5 79 to 70 96 to 80 14.8 AUG 77 to 60 -- 13.5 79 to 70 95 to 79 12.8 SEP 74 to 59 -- 6.0 78 to 67 97 to 78 7.4 OCT 71 to 51 -- 1.5 74 to 59 97 to 73 2.2 NOV 64 to 41 -- 0.3 68 to 49 97 to 71 0.1 DEC 58 to 30 -- 0.1 61 to 42 98 to 68 0.4 74 MONTH DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 73 to 58 76 to 52 0.4 FEB 74 to 59 76 to 54 1.6 MAR 80 to 63 73 to 50 0.4 APR 88 to 69 67 to 46 0.4 MAY 97 to 76 59 to 41 0.4 JUN 100 to 80 66 to 46 0.4 JUL 103 to 85 65 to 49 0.4 AUG 103 to 86 66 to 49 0.4 SEP 100 to 81 72 to 50 0.4 OCT 93 to 74 74 to 50 0.4 NOV 86 to 67 75 to 50 0.4 DEC 77 to 61 78 to 53 0.8 75 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS z̍̍¦̍¦ũĢť1ƗťāũĢāłóādāÖùāũŭ̆Âŋũķùŋĕ'ĢƦāũāłóā During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. $OODUHͬXHQWLQ(QJOLVKDQGSRVVHVVWKHVNLOOVFHUWLͫFDWLRQDQGH[SHULHQFHQHFHVVDU\WRHQVXUH an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience /HDGHUVSURYLGHWKHNLQGRIͫUVWKDQGNQRZOHGJHDQGLQVLJKWWKDWPDNHORFDOKLVWRU\FXOWXUH and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime. Culture & Points to Know Accommodations Our hotels are comfortable, but not luxurious. There can be occasional problems with electricity, hot water, and air conditioning. Our desert camp has electricity and hot water, but creature comforts are basic. There is no heating or air conditioning, so in many regards your experience ZLOOEHWKHVDPHDVLQDQ,QGLDQYLOODJH5HPHPEHUWREULQJDͬDVKOLJKW,QUHVWDXUDQWVKRWHOV and at cultural sites, everything works according to a slower sense of time than what you are used to. It’s best to wind down and adjust to the pace and philosophy. Language Barrier You can have some great “conversations” with local people who do not speak English, even if you don’t speak a word of the local language. Indeed, this non-verbal communication can be a highly rewarding part of travel. To break the ice, bring along some family photographs, or a few postcards of your hometown. If you want to meet kids, bring a puppet or other interactive toy. Your Trip Experience Leader can help get the ball rolling. Your attire is a key part of your non-verbal presentation. Your clothing should show a respect for local tradition. This means you should dress in a relatively modest style. Avoid revealing or tight- ͫWWLQJRXWͫWV Safety & Security Common Sense and Awareness As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. There have been thefts in Delhi. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people. 76 Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Almost all of our hotel rooms provide a complimentary electronic in-closet safe. Please set your personal pin number on the electronic closet safes and utilize them. Do not leave valuable items unattended in your room. Pickpockets Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers. A Note about India $GYHQWXURXVWUDYHOHUVZLOOͫQG,QGLDDVSLULWXDOO\IXOͫOOLQJGHVWLQDWLRQULFKZLWKQDWXUDOZRQGHU However, poverty, persistent begging, pollution, and poor sanitation can be distressing. In some of the small villages where we stop during our days of touring, we must make do with Asian squat-style toilets. (We’ll have Western-style toilets in all our hotels and at the restaurants we use for included meals. So squat toilets will be the exception rather than rule, but in some places they are unavoidable.) Some hotels and businesses may not have elevators, so be prepared to climb stairs. The Finer Points 'RQ̞WOHWWKHͫQHSRLQWVRI,QGLDQHWLTXHWWHZRUU\\RX ORFDOVNQRZWKDWYLVLWRUVFDQ̞WEHH[SHFWHG to know every detail. Much of what is considered polite in India is similar to what’s polite in the 86%XWDVDPDWWHURILQWHUHVWZH̞YHSXWWRJHWKHUDOLVWRI̡ͫQHUSRLQWV̢WKDWPLJKWVXUSULVH\RX • When someone hands you something, it is polite to accept it with the right hand. If you are eating with your hands, you should use your right hand to take food or to put it in your PRXWK %XWEHLQJD̡OHIW\̢LVͫQHDQGHDWLQJOHIWKDQGHGZLWKFXWOHU\LV2.WRR • Indians are generally quiet when they eat, discussing amongst themselves before the food is served or after it is eaten. • Indians do not put their feet on top of a chair or a bed, and would only put books or clothes RQWKHͬRRULIWKH\ZHUHEHLQJGLVFDUGHG • Kissing couples are frowned upon, but discreet displays of affection are allowed, and friends of the same gender may walk hand-in-hand or arm-and-arm. • Questions about a person’s caste or if life was better under the British are considered impolite. • Your attire is a key part of your non-verbal presentation. Your clothing should show a respect for local tradition. This means you should dress in a relatively modest style. Avoid UHYHDOLQJRUWLJKWͫWWLQJRXWͫWV 77 Photography Etiquette in India Indians are generally open to having their photo taken, but there are some groups that view it as intrusive or exploitative, and some times when it is seen as inappropriate. Generally you should avoid photos of slums, beggars, lepers, holy wanders, or cremations/funerals. Some religious buildings will request that you do not take photos inside. In some places, you will need to pay a small fee to be allowed to use your camera or camcorder. ¦ũÖƧó 7UDIͫFLVKRUULͫFWKURXJKRXW,QGLD([HUFLVHH[WUHPHFDXWLRQZKHQDWWHPSWLQJWRFURVVDQ\ VWUHHW7UDIͫFGULYHVRQWKHOHIWKHUH%RWKSDVWWUDYHOHUVDQGWRXUOHDGHUVDOLNHUHFRPPHQG\RX hire either a taxi or an auto-rickshaw (at a nominal fee) for short-distance transport. In some destinations (as you will soon see), you would be wise to utilize a transport service just to cross the street. Cuisine in India ,Q,QGLD\RXZLOOͫQGPDQ\GLIIHUHQWVSLFHVLQWKHWUDGLWLRQDOFRRNLQJUHVXOWLQJLQGHOLFLRXV GLVKHVWKDWDUHERWKͬDYRUIXODQGVSLF\(DFKUHJLRQKDVLWVRZQVSHFLDOWLHVEDVHGRQWKHW\SHVRI meats, seafood, vegetables, and spices that are available, but some of the typical spices include cardamom, cumin, cloves, turmeric, coriander, ginger and mustard seeds. Many popular dishes are composed of a type of curry or a thick sauce and are served with chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, vegetables, or paneer (similar to a cottage cheese). The curries and sauces usually start with onions, ginger, garlic, and spices, and then may have either a spinach, tomato, or tamarind base. 2WKHUFRPPRQLQJUHGLHQWVWKDW\RX̞OOͫQGDUHOHQWLOVFKLFNSHDV\RJXUWDQGYDULRXVW\SHVRI chutney. Don’t forget to try some naanLQ1RUWK,QGLDDEXWWHU\OHDYHQHGͬDWEUHDG,Q6RXWK India, try dosa, a pancake made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils. Enjoy them with FXUULHVRUFKXWQH\VWRVRDNXSDOORIWKHZRQGHUIXOͬDYRUV Other dishes to try include: • Samosas:)ULHGRUEDNHGSRFNHWVͫOOHGZLWKSRWDWRHVRQLRQVPHDWVDQGVSLFHV • Vada: Fried doughnuts made of legumes and spices • Tandoori chicken:%DNHGFKLFNHQͬDYRUHGZLWKWXUPHULFFD\HQQHSHSSHUFKLOHSRZGHU DQGSDSULNDNQRZQIRULWVUHGGLVKFRORU7KRXJKSDFNHGZLWKͬDYRUWKLVGLVKLVW\SLFDOO\ very mild. • Kola Urundai: Meat balls made from minced goat meat and spices • Fish curry: Fish cooked in a coconut based sauce • Fish fry:)ULHGͫVKͫOHWͬDYRUHGZLWKPDVDODVSLFHV • Gulab jamun: A bite-size piece of fried dough covered in a simple syrup • Jalebi: A crispy fried cake, similar to a funnel cake, that is soaked in a simple syrup 78 • Carrot Halwa: A dessert pudding made from carrots, typically garnished with nuts that are VDXW«HGLQJKHH FODULͫHGEXWWHU • Kheer: A traditional rice pudding dessert Road Conditions in Bhutan The extensive road-building program underway in Bhutan can result in sections of the roads being closed. The roads also tend to be somewhat bumpy near sections of road construction. There has been a fascinating development of the roads here in this mountain kingdom, where the YHU\ͫUVWURDGZDVFRQVWUXFWHGDVUHFHQWO\DV Cuisine in Nepal Basic local cuisine in Nepal is typically hot and spicy and Western food is very limited. !ŽķŶŽũÖķ'ĢƦāũāłóāŭĢłpāťÖķ Be prepared to be confronted with a different standard of living. While poverty and poor sanitation can be distressing, please don’t let that keep you from experiencing the amazing culture or rich natural heritage of Nepal. Shopping There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases. Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund. Crafts & Souvenirs India 2QHVLPSOHZD\WRͫQGQLFHVRXYHQLUVDWIDLUSULFHVLVWRORRNDWZKHUHDQLWHPZDVPDGH̜ GLIIHUHQWFLWLHVDUHNQRZQIRUVSHFLͫFFUDIWV $QGHYHQLI\RXULWLQHUDU\GRHVQ̞WWDNH\RXWRWKHVH H[DFWFLWLHV\RXFDQXVXDOO\ͫQGWKHVHLWHPVRQVDOHLQRWKHUSDUWVRI,QGLD • Delhi is a great location for buying silk carpets and Kashmir handicrafts. • Jaipur has wonderful gems, intricately worked enamelware, and woolen carpets. 79 • Agra is known for exquisite marble inlay items. • Rajasthan for miniature paintings, fabrics with block prints, marvelous tie-dye and embroidered fabrics. • Beautiful brocades and crepe silk come from Varanasi. • Phulkari, a stylized geometric embroidery, is popular in Amritsar and the Punjab region, commonly found on scarves, shawls, and other types of clothing. • ,Q'KDUDPVKDOD\RX̞OOͫQG7LEHWDQVW\OHLWHPVVXFKDVSUD\HUͬDJVVLQJLQJERZOVDQG Buddhist icons. Bargaining: Bargaining is the norm in India, where anything sold by a street vendor and almost DQ\WKLQJLQDVPDOOHUVKRSKDVDͬH[LEOHSULFH+RZHYHUODUJHUVWRUHVZLOOKDYHͫ[HGSULFHV Bhutan Popular Bhutan souvenirs include postage stamps, lovely hand-woven fabrics, carved masks, ZRYHQEDVNHWVWKDQJNDVZRRGHQERZOVKDQGPDGHSDSHUDQGͫQHO\FUDIWHGPHWDOREMHFWV,Q Bhutan, the buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden. Bargaining: Bargaining is a common practice in Bhutan, especially with street vendors and in VPDOOHUVKRSV/DUJHUVWRUHVZLOOKDYHͫ[HGSULFHV Nepal Popular buys include locally made textile objects such as lopsided topis (caps), knitted mittens and socks, and cotton scroll paintings called mandala or thanka. Contemporary Nepalese art, saranghi (a small, four-stringed viola played with a horse-hair bow), papier mâché dance masks, %XGGKLVWVWDWXHWWHVDQGͫOLJUHHRUQDPHQWVZRRGFDUYLQJVEDPERRͬXWHVDQGRWKHUIRONREMHFWV are also popular. Bargaining: Bargaining is normal in Nepal when dealing with street vendors and smaller shops, WKRXJKODUJHUVWRUHVZLOOKDYHͫ[HGSULFHV U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511. The top three points to know are: • At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees. • Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping 80 or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties. • It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins. 81 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY India Facts & Figures • Area: 1,269,219 square miles • Capital: New Delhi • /DQJXDJHV +LQGLLVWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJH (QJOLVKLVDOVRVSRNHQ • Ethnicity: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Other 3% • Location: India is bordered by Burma, Pakistan, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. • Geography: India consists of plateau and rolling plains, desert to the west, and the Himalaya Mountains in the north. • Population: 1,251,695,584 • 5HOLJLRQ +LQGX 0XVOLP&KULVWLDQ6LNKRWKHUDQGXQVSHFLͫHG • Time Zone: India is on Indian Standard Time and does not observe Daylight Saving Time. As a result, the time in India will either be 9.5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time (in summer) or 10.5 hours ahead (in winter). National Holidays: India In addition to the holidays listed below, India Feb or March Maha Shivratri (moves each celebrates a number of national holidays year; see note above) that follow a lunar calendar, such as Maha March Holi (moves each year) 6KLYDUDWULDQG'LZDOL7RͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOO be traveling during these holidays, please 08/15 Independence Day visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 10/02 Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti 01/26 Republic Day Oct or Nov Diwali (moves each year) 12/25 Christmas Day Historical Overview of India Early History There is evidence of a civilized, urban society in the Indus Valley dating back over 5,000 years. 7KHUHLVVSHFXODWLRQEDVHGRQIRVVLOUHPDLQVWKDW,QGLD̞VͫUVWLQKDELWDQWVZHUHIURPWKHVDPH racial group as the Aborigines of Australia. Unfortunately, the writing system from this time has never been translated, and little is known about India’s earliest inhabitants. However, archaeologists have found working wells and bathrooms, sophisticated drainage systems, jewelry, brass items and cooking utensils, indicating that the society was remarkably advanced. 82 Around 1500 BC, a group of Aryan peoples invaded India from the North. Over the next 2,000 years, many other groups from both Africa and Asia migrated into the area. Intermarriage between different ethnic groups was so common that it is nearly impossible to determine racial distinctions among the people of India today with any degree of certainty. The Aryans brought with them a religion called Vedism, which was based on a rigid social hierarchy, or caste system. Vedism eventually combined with local religions and evolved into Hinduism. According to Hinduism, the caste into which one is born depends upon one’s karma—the accumulated good and bad deeds from past lives. Therefore, it is necessary for one to do good works on Earth in order to reach a higher social status in future lives. Hinduism’s rigid caste system, with its emphasis on accepting one’s lot in life, has been the most important social LQͬXHQFHLQ,QGLDIRURYHU\HDUV The Age of Dynasties In 321 BC, the warrior Chandragupta united most of North India through military conquest and established the Maurya Dynasty. He instituted a centralized bureaucracy to oversee the administration of government. Until this time, India had been divided into small monarchies and aristocratic republics based on tribal groupings. The third Mauryan king, Asoka, conquered the southern portion of India, uniting the entire continent into one kingdom. Asoka, who was a %XGGKLVWVRXJKWWRGLPLQLVKWKHLQͬXHQFHRI+LQGXLVPLQ,QGLD Buddhism originated in India around 500 BC. The philosopher Siddhartha Gautama taught that earthly suffering could be eliminated by overcoming personal desire in reaching a state of blissful Nirvana, or “no-self.” He became known throughout India as the Buddha, or enlightened one; and his teachings, collectively called “Buddhism,” achieved widespread popularity during the UHLJQRI$VRND7KHLQͬXHQFHRI%XGGKLVPFDQVWLOOEHVHHQLQPDQ\RI,QGLD̞VVWXSDVRUVKULQHV including the Great Stupa at Sanchi. Maurya kings ruled India for nearly 600 years. However, by the dawn of the fourth century AD, their kingdom had once again split into many small states. In AD 320, a new dynasty, the Guptas, rose to power and reunited India, ushering in a golden age of great achievements in science, literature and the arts. The Gupta Dynasty was a peaceful and prosperous time in which Hinduism ͬRXULVKHGDQG%XGGKLVPDOOEXWGLVDSSHDUHGIURPWKHFRQWLQHQW The Fall of the Indian Kingdom From approximately 450 AD to 530 AD, a group known as the White Huns periodically attacked, effectively destroying the Indian kingdom. Over the next thousand years, India was repeatedly invaded and conquered by Huns. In 1200, Genghis Khan led a series of successful raids against Punjab, making India the center of the largest land empire in history. Khan let the Muslims maintain a Sultanate in Delhi and allowed them to rule with relative autonomy. However, in 1526, Babur, a descendent of Khan, seized the throne from the Sultan and established the great Mughal Empire, which remained in power until the early 1800s. 83 During the reign of the Mughals, Indian culture was as creative and brilliant as any in the world. The Mughals adopted the local religion, Islam, and spent a great deal of their ill-gained wealth RQFRQVWUXFWLQJPDJQLͫFHQWSDODFHVDQGPRQXPHQWV7KHSURVSHULW\DQGVWUHQJWKRIWKLVWLPHLV evident in India’s great mosques and mausoleums, including the Taj Mahal, constructed under Shah Jahan. The Age of Colonization In 1498, Vasco de Gama discovered an ocean route around the Cape of Good Hope, beginning a period of bitter struggle between the European powers for supremacy in the Indian trade. By 1751, the French had taken control of much of India through military force. The British mounted a successful military campaign to overthrow the French and establish a monopoly on trade for the British East India Company. Although Britain did not declare India a colony, the British East India Company came to be the dominant political force in the country by using Indian soldiers to assert its will over the government and other European trade companies. By the 1850s, Indian nationalists had grown wary of this arrangement. They fomented a revolt among the Indian soldiers employed by the company. In 1857, the soldiers struck out, effectively HQGLQJWKH\HDUPRQRSRO\RIWKH%ULWLVK(DVW,QGLD&RPSDQ\7KHPRYHEDFNͫUHGKRZHYHU because Britain took control of the administration of the Indian government and named Queen Victoria Empress of India in 1877. Despite many advances under British rule, including the construction of railways, canals, irrigation works, schools, mills and factories, Indian resentment continued to increase, and nationalism had reached a fever pitch by the onset of the First World War. Led by Mohandas Gandhi, Indian nationalists gained control of Congress and began a campaign of non-cooperation with the British. The Dawn of Independence During World War II, the Indian Congress agreed to serve with the British only one condition— that India would be granted independence at the close of the war. The British rejected the SURSRVDO1HYHUWKHOHVVPLOOLRQ,QGLDQVGLGͫJKWZLWK%ULWDLQDJDLQVWWKH-DSDQHVH ZKDW̞V more, the British granted independence to India in 1947. The new nation was marred by internal rioting between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi’s attempts to end the strife and create unity were cut short when he was shot dead in 1948. Remarkably, his death brought the country together, thereby ending the violence and leading to reconciliation between the warring religious groups. Under the rule of Prime Minister Nehru, India undertook a policy of non-alignment, hoping to maintain peaceful relations with all nations. After Nehru’s death, his daughter, Indira Gandhi, ZDVHOHFWHGSULPHPLQLVWHU7KHͫUVWGHFDGHRI*DQGKL̞VWLPHLQRIͫFHZDVKLJKO\FRQWURYHUVLDO She censored the press, had thousands of political opponents arrested and sponsored a SURJUDPRIIRUFHGVWHULOL]DWLRQ,QWKHODWH̝V*DQGKLZDVUHPRYHGIURPRIͫFHDQGHYHQWXDOO\ imprisoned. Amazingly, she was re-elected shortly after her release from prison in 1980, touching 84 off a period of widespread civil unrest as small states attempted to break away from the country. Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984, and India’s internal turmoil continued throughout the decade that followed. Bhutan Facts & Figures • Area: 14,824 sqare miles • Capital: Thimphu • /DQJXDJHV ']RQJNKDLVWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJH YDUFLRXV7LEHWDQDQG1HSDOHVHGLDOHFWVDUH also spoken. • Ethnicity: Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% • Location: Bhutan is bordered by China (the Tibet Autonomous Region) and India. • Geography: Bhutan lies between the Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to the west and south. The Himalayas dominate the north of the country, and blizzards generated in the north each winter often drift southward into the central highlands. The highlands are the most populous part of the nation; and are characterised by their many rivers, isolated valleys, and the expansive forests that cover seventy percent of the nation. • Population: 741,919 • 5HOLJLRQ /DPDLVWLF%XGGKLVW,QGLDQDQG1HSDOHVHLQͬXHQFHG+LQGXLVP other 2.6% • Time Zone: Bhutan is on Bhutan Time, eleven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 5pm in Thimphu. National Holidays: Bhutan In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/09 Shabdrung Kuchoe Bhutan celebrates a number of national 06/02 King Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s holidays that follow a lunar calendar. To Coronation ͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEHWUDYHOLQJGXULQJWKHVH holidays, please visit www.timeanddate. 06/21 Buddha’s Parinirvana com/holidays. 08/05 King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck’s Death 01/02 Nyilo Anniversary 02/05 Crown Prince Birthday 11/01 King Jigme Khesar Namgyel’s Coronation 02/21 King’s Birthday 12/17 National Day 05/02 King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck’s Birthday 85 Historical Overview of Bhutan Pre-20th-Century History %KXWDQ̞VHDUO\KLVWRU\LVVKURXGHGLQREVFXULW\$UFKDHRORJLFDOͫQGLQJVVXJJHVWWKDW%KXWDQZDV inhabited as early as 2000 BC, but little is known until the introduction of Buddhism in the eighth or ninth century. Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rimpoche, is often credited for bringing Tantric Buddhism from India to Bhutan in the eighth century. He established a number of temples and monasteries including the famous Taktshang monastery built high on a cliff face above the 3DURYDOOH\/DWHUDVDUHVXOWRIWXUPRLOLQ7LEHWLQWKHQLQWKFHQWXU\PDQ\7LEHWDQPRQNVͬHGWR %KXWDQ̜LQFUHDVLQJWKHUHOLJLRQ̞VLQͬXHQFHWKHUH 8QWLOWKHHDUO\V%KXWDQZDVDSDWFKZRUNRIVPDOOZDUULQJͫHIGRPVXQWLOXQLͫHGE\WKH Tibetan lama and military leader Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Escaping political foes in Tibet, he arrived in Bhutan in 1616 and soon established himself as the religious ruler of Bhutan. He LQLWLDWHGDSURJUDPRIIRUWLͫFDWLRQDQGPLOLWDU\FRQVROLGDWLRQRYHUVHHLQJWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQRI impressive dzongs or fortresses such as Simtokha Dzong, which guards the entrance to Thimphu valley. He repelled attacks from rival lamas and Tibetan forces and transformed the southern YDOOH\VLQWRDXQLͫHGFRXQWU\FDOOHG'UXN Shabdrung also established the dual system of government by which control of the country was shared between a spiritual leader (the Je Khempo) and an administrative leader (the Desi Druk), DSROLF\WKDWH[LVWVLQPRGLͫHGIRUPWRWKLVGD\6KDEGUXQJ̞VGHDWKLQZDVIROORZHGE\ \HDUVRILQWHUQDOFRQͬLFWDQGSROLWLFDOLQͫJKWLQJ Modern History Instability lasted until 1907, when Ugyen Wangchuck was elected, by a unanimous vote of %KXWDQ̞VFKLHIVDQGSULQFLSDOODPDVDVKHUHGLWDU\UXOHURI%KXWDQ7KXVWKHͫUVWNLQJZDV crowned and the Wangchuck Dynasty began. In 1910, King Ugyen and the British signed the Treaty of Punakha which provided that British India would not interfere in the internal affairs of Bhutan if the country accepted Britain’s advice in its external relations. When Ugyen Wangchuck died in 1926, his son Jigme Wangchuck became the next ruler, and when India gained independence in 1947, Bhutan recognized the new Indian Government as an independent country. In 1949, India and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which provided that India would not interfere in Bhutan’s internal affairs but would be guided by India in its foreign policy. Wangchuck was succeeded in 1952 by his son Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and Bhutan began to slowly emerge from its isolation and began a program of planned development. In 1958 Bhutan abolished slavery. When China took control of Tibet, Bhutan’s policy of total isolation lost its appeal and the country was formally admitted to the United Nations in 1971. Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who took the throne from 1974-2005 after his father’s death, continued the policy of controlled development with particular focus on the preservation of the environment and Bhutan’s unique culture. Among his ideals are economic self-reliance and what 86 he nicknamed “Gross National Happiness”. He emphasized modern education, decentralization of governance, the development of hydroelectricity and tourism and improvements in rural developments. +LVFRURQDWLRQDWDJHRQ-XQH ZDVWKHͫUVWWLPHWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDOPHGLDZHUHDOORZHG WRHQWHUWKHNLQJGRPDQGPDUNHG%KXWDQ̞VGHEXWDSSHDUDQFHRQWKHZRUOGVWDJH7KHͫUVWJURXS RISD\LQJWRXULVWVDUULYHGODWHUWKDW\HDU6DWLVͫHGZLWK%KXWDQ̞VWUDQVLWLRQLQJGHPRFUDWL]DWLRQ process, Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated in December 2005 rather than wait until the promulgation of the new constitution in 2008. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgvel Wangchuck, became king upon his abdication. In October 2011, the king married one of his subjects, student Jetsun Pema. Nepal Facts & Figures • Area: 56,827 square miles • Capital: Kathmandu • /DQJXDJHV 1HSDOLLVWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJH 0DLWKDOL%KRMSXUL7KDUX7DPDQJ1HZDU Magar, and Awadhi are also spoken. • Ethnicity: Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/ Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19% • Location: Nepal is bordered by China and India. • Geography: Nepal is typically thought of as mountainous. But it is actually home to widely diverse landscapes and ecosystems. There are three geographic areas or belts running from west to east: mountain, hill, and plains. • Population: 31,551,305 • Religions: Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other XQVSHFLͫHG • Time Zone: Nepal is on Standard Time, 9.75 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 3:45pm in Kathmandu. National Holidays: Nepal Nepal celebrates a number of national 'D\7RͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEHWUDYHOLQJ holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as during these holidays, please visit www. Martyr’s Memorial Day, National Democracy timeanddate.com/holidays. Day, Nepali New Year, and Constituation 87 Historical Overview of Nepal Pre-20th-Century History :HNQRZYHU\OLWWOHDERXWWKH.LUDWLVWKHͫUVWUHFRUGHGSHRSOHRI1HSDO+LJKO\VNLOOHGVKHHS farmers with a fondness for knives, they arrived in the seventh or eighth century BC from the east. Their beliefs were a combination of Hindu and Tantric. Soon, Buddhism was introduced to the region and it enjoyed a long history here. But the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha and the prince of the kingdom of Kapilavastu, lost favor by 200 AD when the Licchavis of northern India overthrew the Kirati king and re-instated Hinduism and its caste system. With this conquest, a golden age of Nepali art and architecture began. The Licchavi era ended by 879 AD when the Thakuri dynasty came to power. But their rule was marked by instability and invasion. The Kathmandu Valley’s strategic location, however, ensured the kingdom’s survival. Several hundred years passed before the Thakuri king, Arideva, founded the Malla Dynasty, which heralded another creative burst of Nepali cultural expression. Earthquakes, invasions and feuding between Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur couldn’t thwart the dynasty’s growth and it reached its peak in the 15th century under Yaksha Malla. Malla’s prosperity was being watched by the Gurkhas in the nearby western city-state of Gorkha. Their OHDGHU3ULWKYL1DUD\DQ6KDKOHGKLVSHRSOHWRFRQTXHUWKH.DWKPDQGX9DOOH\DQGͫJKWLQJODVWHG IRU\HDUV7KH\ZHUHͫQDOO\YLFWRULRXVLQDQGUHORFDWHGWKHLUFDSLWDOWR.DWKPDQGX)RU the next 24 years, the Gurkhas expanded their power with an army that seemingly could not be conquered. Their campaign ended quickly in 1792 when faced with Tibet’s troops. (Many militaries today employ descendants of the Gurkhas, including the British Army.) As Britain gained power in India in the early 1800s, they sought control of the Terai, a strip of land at the base of the Himalayas. The British forced Nepal to sign the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, which surrendered Sikkim, today a small independent Indian state, and most of Terai. Some of this land was returned to Nepal after they helped the British subdue the 1857 Indian Mutiny. And so the Shah’s dynasty maintained its rule until 1846, when Jung Bahadur overthrew the leader with a violent takeover that was so bloody it came to be known as the Kot Massacre. He named himself Rana, considered a more ennobled title, and prime minister for life—and decreed that his title would be hereditary. Through World War II, the Ranas savored their lavish Kathmandu palaces, while the Nepalese barely survived in horrid conditions. The Ranas sealed Nepal’s borders, and the country faded away, eventually taking on a mythic image likened to Shangri-la. Modern History British support was critical to Rana’s regime. So after the former withdrew from India after World War II, opposition toward their rule grew. India engaged them in negotiation, King Tribhuvan was crowned, and a government was formed that included the Rana alongside the newly formed Nepali Congress Party. After 100 years, Nepal’s borders were re-opened. 88 But harmony would not last. Tribhuvan’s son, King Mahendra, demanded that the elected cabinet be arrested and he wrested control of the government. Favoritism and corruption continued even into the next generation with Mahendra’s son. After a long period of uprisings, punctuated by hundreds dead, King Birendra gave in, disassembled his cabinet, and even requested that the opposition form an interim government. The transition to democracy was slow. It wasn’t until a 1991 election that the Nepali Congress Party and the Communist Party of Nepal shared most of the votes. Still, Nepal’s citizens remained unsettled. A general strike in 1992 led to several deaths and another election in 1994. Still, the government could not resolve the disputes bureaucratically, even by forming a tripartite coalition. In 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (also called “the Maoists”) declared a “people’s war.” Five years later, in a power play that shocked the world and could have been torn from the pages of Shakespeare, Crown Prince Dipendra massacred the royal family, and then shot himself. But Nepalese leadership didn’t hear this brutal wake-up call to end the turmoil. After Dipendra’s uncle (and the murdered king’s brother), Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, became king, his cabinet members came and went while the Maoists made and broke truces. Recent History 1HSDO̞VH[SHULPHQWZLWKGHPRFUDF\KDVIDFHGDORQJDQGGLIͫFXOWURDG,QWKH\HDUVDIWHUWKH massacre, the dream of a democratic government seemed to be nearing an end. In February 2005, King Gyanendra dissolved the elected parliament to gain complete control. After a year of mass strikes and demonstrations, he grudgingly restored the parliament, whereupon its members UHGXFHGWKHNLQJWRDPHUHͫJXUHKHDG On December 24th, 2007 Nepal was formally declared a federal republic by the interim government, which consisted of a coalition of seven different parties—including the Maoists. In the subsequent elections the Maoists won a majority, giving them the leverage to call for the complete abolition of the monarchy. On June 11, 2008, the King left the palace, symbolically VLJQDOLQJWKHHQGRIWKHUR\DO6KDKOLQHDJHWKDWKDGODVWHGPRUHWKDQ\HDUV7KHͫUVW President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on July 23, 2008. Over the next few years, President Yadav would oversee several political changes that saw the Maoists lose their majority, be shut out of the government, and maneuver politically in order to UHWXUQ)URPWRWKHVWDUWRI1HSDOKDVVHHQIRXUGLIIHUHQW3ULPH0LQLVWHUVWDNHRIͫFH (Nepal has both a President, who is the head of state, and a Prime Minister, who is the head of the government. It’s similar to the British system, but instead of having a royal and a PM, Nepal has a President and a PM.) Even today, Nepal’s political system is working to create a compromise between the Maoists and the various other parties. 89 RESOURCES Suggested Readings India A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (Fiction). Four strangers are forced to share an apartment in Mumbai during a state of emergency in 1975. Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer-Jhabvala (Fiction). The parallel stories of a young Englishwoman backpacking through India in the 1970s, and her great-aunt Olivia, a bored colonial wife in the 1920s. In Spite of the Gods: The Rise of Modern India by Edward Luce (Society/Economics). Uses observations, interviews, and antidotes to reveal different patterns in Indian society and economics. A New History of India or India by Stanley Wolpert (History). These are two great works by a master of the subject. India is more about culture, politics, and environment, while New History summarizes India’s 4,000 years of continental continuity and communal complexity. Both books have been around awhile, so look for updated recent editions. But despite their age, they are both considered key books on the subject, and are often used as textbooks. India after Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha (History). This scholarly work picks up where many RWKHUKLVWRU\ERRNVOHDYHRIIEXWVWLOOͫQGVSOHQW\RIPDWHULDOWRZRUNZLWK LWLVRYHU pages long). May You be the Mother of a Hundred Sons by Elisabeth Bumiller (Travel Narrative). Rich in detail and empathy, Elisabeth Bumiller illuminates the lives of the many women she knew—and the contradictions she encountered—during her three years in India as a reporter for the Washington Post in the 1990s. Maximum City: Bombay Lost and FoundE\6XNHWX0HKWD 6RFLHW\ $IWHUKLVͫUVWWULSEDFNWR Bombay (now Mumbai) in 21 years, the author devotes himself to exploring different aspects of the modern city through the lives of people who live there. One word of warning—the book deals frankly with some darker sides of the city. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (Fiction). Rushdie’s comic take on the birth of modern India as mirrored in the story of the narrator, born exactly at the moment of his homeland’s independence. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya (Fiction). A classic novel from the 1950s about the life of a UXUDOIDUPZLIHQDPHG5XNPDQL:KLOHVRPHUHDGHUVͫQGWKHSRYHUW\DQGKDUGVKLSVWKDW5XNPDQL faces sad or depressing, others see an uplifting tale about overcoming suffering. Slowly Down the Ganges by Eric Newby (Travel Narrative). This is the witty account of a couple’s 1,200-mile voyage down the Ganges River in the 1960s. 90 Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Fictionalized Memoir). Based directly upon the experiences of its author, this is the story of a man who escapes from prison in Australia to arrive in Mumbai, ZKHUHKHZRUNVLQDͫUVWDLGVWDWLRQDQGVPXJJOHVGUXJVDQGJXQV Suitable BoyE\9LNUDP6HWK )LFWLRQ 7KHWDOHRI/DWD̞V DQGKHUPRWKHU̞V DWWHPSWVWRͫQGD suitable husband for Lata. It is often compared to a Charles Dickens novel due to its interwoven cast of characters and sprawling length. Taj Mahal, Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire by Diana and Michael Preston (History/Architecture). A complete, but easy-to-read, telling of the story behind the building of the Taj Mahal. It also offers a useful background on the Moghul Dynasty. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Fiction). A mystery, family saga and tale of innocence lost set in Kerala during the tumult of the 1960s. Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux (Travel Narrative). A fun and fabulous recounting of a 1970s journey across Asia by train. The author starts in London and makes it all the way to Japan before returning via the Trans-Siberian Express. The Little Book of Hindu Deities by Sanjay Patel (Region). The gods and goddesses are explained in a brief “who’s who” kind of way in this sweet and colorful book. The author was an animator for Pixar studios, so the book features lots of bold, cartoon-like artwork. The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott (Fiction). Together, these four novels tell the sweeping, epic tale of the transition from British-controlled India to independent India. If tackling four books seems a ELWWRRPXFKZHVXJJHVWVWLFNLQJWRWKHͫUVWYROXPH̜7KH-HZHOLQWKH&URZQ The White Tiger, A Novel by Aravind Adiga (Fiction). Adiga explores urban India through the tale of %DOUDP+DOZDDYLOODJHSDXSHUWXUQHGHQWUHSUHQHXU,W̞VDWUDQVͫ[LQJVWRU\ERWKVKRFNLQJDQG entertaining, of hard-fought success. Winner of the 2008 Booker Prize. Smash and Grab, the Annexation of Sikkim by Sunanda K. Datta-Ray (History) A vivid and FRPSOHOOLQJKLVWRU\WKDWZDVVXSSUHVVHGLQ,QGLD&DQEHKDUGWRͫQGLQSULQWEXWVRPHHERRN editions are available (i.e. Nook, Kindle). Bhutan Buddhist Scriptures edited by Edward Conze and Thomas Wyatt (Religion). A collection of Buddhist WH[WVWKDWUHͬHFWWKH+LQD\DQDDQGWKH0DKD\DQDWUDGLWLRQVDVZHOODVRWKHUGHYHORSPHQWVLQ Buddhism. Includes several brief selections from one of the most famous biographies of the Buddha, the Buddhacharita. Bhutan, The Land of Serenity by Matthieu Ricard (Culture). Ricard, a Buddhist monk, photographer, and interpreter, draws on his time in Bhutan over the last 25 years for this intimate cultural portrait. The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa by Sarah Harding (Religion). A translation of the teachings RI3HPD/LQJSD DQLPSRUWDQWͫJXUHLQ%KXWDQHVHUHOLJLRXVKLVWRU\7KHERRNLVDOVR full of historical information about Bhutan and the court of King Trisong Detsen. 91 Beyond the Sky and the Earth by Jamie Zeppa (Travel Narrative). Zeppa’s memoir of her two years as a teacher in a remote village details her transformation from wide-eyed newcomer to falling in love with a Bhutanese man. Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli (Memoir) Follows a radio journalist as she uproots her life and PRYHVIURPJODPRURXV/$WRVHUHQH%KXWDQ0D\EHHDVLHUWRͫQGDVDQHERRNRURQOLQH Nepal A Kingdom Under Siege: Nepal’s Maoist Insurgency, 1996 to 2004 by Deepak Thapa and Bandita Sijapati (History). Helpful background on the Maoist insurgency that embroiled Nepal’s government, political parties, police, and army for years. Arresting God in Kathmandu by Samrat Upadhyay (Short Stories). A collection of 9 short stories chronicling life in Nepal and Kathmandu, written by an ex-patr Nepali now living in the US. Customs & Etiquette of Nepal by Sunil Kumar Jha (Culture). A guide to understanding the customs and etiquette in traditional Nepalese societies. From Goddess to Mortal by Rashmilla Shakya, translated by Scott Berry (Memoir) The fascinating story of a former Kumari (living goddess). A long-standing tradition in Nepalese society, the goddess is usually chosen at age 3-5 and serves in her post until puberty, when she is replaced DQGUHWXUQHGWRKHUIDPLO\%XWZKDWKDSSHQVWKHQ"7KHERRNFDQEHKDUGWRͫQGLQWKH86VRZH suggest looking online or looking for the book in Nepal. High Adventure by Sir Edmund Hillary (Exploration). A classic of 20th-century mountaineering from the adventurer himself. Originally written after the famous climb, when the details and the danger were still fresh. Look for the 50th anniversary edition, which includes a new preface by the author. For a different take on the same event, try Touching My Father’s Soul by Jamling Tenzing Norgay. A touching and thoughtful biography written by the son of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa guide who reached the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. The Snow Leopard by Peter Mattiessen (Nature/Travel Narrative). Considered a classic of modern QDWXUHZULWLQJWKLVLVDYLYLGPHPRLURIWKHDXWKRU̞VͫYHZHHNMRXUQH\LQWKH+LPDOD\DVLQ search of one of the world’s most elusive big cats. The Soul of the Rhino and Bones of the Tiger by Hemanta Mishra (Memoir/Nature). Mishra tells of his work to save two of Royal Chitwan National Park’s most endangered animals—the Asian rhino and the tiger. The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes by Bavara J. Scott (Travel Narrative). A sudden mid-life crisis in 1990 prompted high school social studies teacher Scott to leave Portland, Oregon, for a stint teaching English in Nepal. The brief entries in this diary interweave her experiences in Nepalese society, including the inferior status of Nepali women. 92 Suggested Movies India A Passage to India (1984). An Indian doctor is accused of a shocking crime by an Englishwoman in 1920s India. Will he be found guilty or acquitted? The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011). An ensemble comedy that follows seven Brits as they take up residence in a retirement home in India that doesn’t quite live up to its name. Each one of the seven deal in some way with culture shock, their own past, and their retirement; in the meantime the Marigold’s young and enthusiastic owner tries to get his struggling business off the ground. Born into Brothels (2004). A stirring and uplifting documentary about a photographer teaching her art to the children of prostitutes in Kolkata’s red light district. The directors are also the founders of the “Kids with Cameras” charity. Bride and Prejudice (2004). A modern adaptation of the novel Pride and Prejudice, set in India, with musical numbers. Think Bollywood meets Grease meets Jane Austen. It may sound like a strange mix, but the director, Gutinder Chadha, pulls it off nicely. The director’s commentary also serves as a useful introduction to what constitutes Bollywood style. Gandhi (1982). A biopic about India’s famous leader that won numerous awards, including the 2VFDUVIRU%HVW$FWRUDQG%HVW'LUHFWRUWKLVͫOPVNLSVKLVHDUO\\HDUVDQGIRFXVHVRQWUDFLQJKLV political development instead. Monsoon Wedding (2001). When a middle-class Punjabi family in Delhi marries off their daughter LQDQH[WUDYDJDQWFHUHPRQ\HQWDQJOHPHQWV̜URPDQWLFGUDPDWLFDQGFRPHGLF̜HQVXH7KHͫOP launched the careers of several of its actors, who are now stars in India. Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Jamal, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, is close to winning the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But how does a young man from such a background know the answers to questions that stumped more educated contestants? At turns sad, funny, romantic, and gritty, Slumdog won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The Namesake 7HOOVWKHVWRU\RIWZRͫUVWJHQHUDWLRQ,QGLDQLPPLJUDQWVWU\LQJWRPDNHD life in New York for their son, and then of the son’s attempt to balance his Indian and American identities. The Story of India (2007). A six-part documentary presented by historian Michael Wood. During WKHVHULHV:RRGWUDYHOVWRVRPHRI,QGLD̞VPRVWVLJQLͫFDQWKLVWRULFDOVLWHVDOORZLQJWKHYLHZHUWR see some of modern India, while learning about the country’s history. Bhutan Little Buddha (1994, Drama) Shot in the U.S., Nepal, and Bhutan by the director of the Last (PSHURUWKLVͫOPIROORZVWKHVWRU\RIDQ$PHULFDQFKLOGZKRMXVWPLJKWEHWKHUHLQFDUQDWLRQRID learned Buddhist monk. 93 Travellers and Magicians )RUHLJQ 7KHͫUVWIHDWXUHͫOPVKRWHQWLUHO\LQ%KXWDQWKLVPRYLH features an unusual story-within-a-story plot about a young man on a journey from his village to Bhutan’s capital in the company of a monk. While traveling, the monk recounts a folk tale that XOWLPDWHO\UHͬHFWVEDFNRQ\RXQJPDQ̞VOLIH,Q']RQJNKDZLWK(QJOLVKVXEWLWOHV The Cup (1999, Comedy) An endearing story about World Cup soccer fever in a remote Himalayan PRQDVWHU\DQGD\RXQJPRQN̞VVHFUHWSORWVWRVHHWKHͫQDOV Nepal Himalaya $OVRUHOHDVHGXQGHUWKHWLWOH&DUDYDQ$VFHQLFͫOPWKDWFRPELQHVDQDJHROG story with an obstacle that is very Nepalese: the Himalayan Mountains. Should the villagers wait to start their all-important caravan until the auspicious day, as is their tradition? Or should they set off early to take advantage of the weather? Shot in Nepal by a former National Geographic photographer. Little Buddha (1994) Shot in the U.S., Nepal, and Bhutan by the director of the Last Emperor, WKLVͫOPIROORZVWKHVWRU\RIDQ$PHULFDQFKLOGZKRMXVWPLJKWEHWKHUHLQFDUQDWLRQRIDOHDUQHG Buddhist monk. Living Goddess (2007). A well-received documentary about the lives of three Kumaris (girls believed to be living goddesses by the Nepalese). 94 l a g n e B f o y a B CHINA Bhaktapur Delhi Mt Everest (Optional flight) Varanasi INDIA Kathmandu Cochin Pokhara s ge n Sea NEPAL a G Mumbai Arabian POST-TRIP EXTENSION INDIA Delhi POST-TRIP EXTENSION Varanasi & Sarnath NEPAL Punakha BHUTAN BANG. CHINA Paro Thimphu L Kolkata A P E s ge N n Ga Khajuraho INDIA INDIA Delhi PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Agra & Taj Mahal Taj & Agra Jhansi Aagman Camp Delhi Ranthambore National Park Miles To/From U.S. Internal flight Land route Train route 0 100 Jaipur 95 TRAVELER PHOTOS FROM THIS ADVENTURE Memories submitted by your fellow travelers Visit www.oattravel.com or call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 0 Traveler 10/2019 96