SPECIAL INTEREST KOLKATA VARANASI AGRA DELHI MUMBAI TOURS BODHGAYA KHA JURAHO JAIPUR GOA

Insider Tips:

Amritsar Ÿ Ideal for 10-12 people. Ÿ Language: English, French, German and Spanish.

Delhi Ÿ From around mid-December to mid-January, due to the heavy fog that descends over north India during this Agra Jaipur period, expect delays/cancellation of flights/trains and Varanasi disruptions in the itinerary. Khajuraho Bodhgaya Ÿ Kolkata celebrates Puja to honour the Mother Kolkata Goddess during the month of October. The mood is really festive and it is a time of great merriment.

Ÿ Dev Deepawali (not to be confused with – the Mumbai Indian festival of lights) is held in Varanasi during the month of November. Locals and pilgrims take a holy dip in the Ganga on this auspicious day and light earthen Goa lamps in the evening. When dusk falls, all the ghats on the riverfront are lit with thousands of earthen lamps.

Ÿ The Khajuraho Dance Festival, where one gets to see some of the most colourful and brilliant classical dance forms of India, is held during February/March and is a great time to visit the city.

Ÿ When in Jaipur add an extra night for our block printing workshop to create a souvenir

EJ1 > 21 DAY TOUR Ÿ The 45 minute Change of Guard Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which takes place every Saturday, is a great way AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIA to start the Delhi trip (timings vary depending on the time Culture & Religion of the year). Highly recommended. Ÿ Amritsar during Diwali, the festival of lights, is fascinating This three week, escorted journey with an accompanying guide, is a great introduction to India. First timers, and the is illuminated with hundreds of who want to deep dive and spend time understanding and enjoying the true essence of India would lamps and scintillating fireworks. Expect huge crowds. appreciate this itinerary that one may hesitate to do alone, but is ideal in the comfort of a small group. Ÿ Every February, Mumbai plays host to the the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, a community celebration of music, dance, There is a little bit of everything – a very interesting mix of diverse cultures, religion, art, architecture and theatre, literature, cinema, visual arts, urban design and regional food – from the chaotic, yet irresistibly charming Kolkata in the east to the beaches of Goa in the architecture within one of the most beautiful and historic west. The tour introduces India's indigenous religions, , Sikhism and Buddhism and how Sufi Islam precincts of the city, the Kala Ghoda Art District. is ingrained in our cultural heritage. It includes Khajuraho for its art, the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra, and gets in a glimpse of Rajasthan in a visit to Jaipur – the first planned city of India. In Delhi, get to know more about the seven cities built by its various conquerors over the centuries, and of the arrival of Islam in north India. If Kolkata is about the making of the British Raj, Delhi throws up stories of the 1911 ‘Delhi Durbar’ when the British Raj shifted its capital from Kolkata to build the eighth city – New Delhi. Time in Mumbai, India's financial capital and home to Bollywood, the biggest film industry in the world, will be spent knowing how this bustling cosmopolitan city is a melting pot of diverse Indian cultures. End the journey relaxing by the beaches of Goa, a former Portuguese colony which once enjoyed the same civic privileges as Lisbon. TOUR ITINERARY | EJ 1 NIHANG SIKHS Nihang Sikhs of Punjab are descendants of the Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh's personal DAY 01 ARRIVAL KOLKATA BC. Witness the evening aarti (prayer Mahal – architecture, symbolism and guards who continue to maintain a distinct identity. Skilled in traditional martial Warm welcome at the airport by our ceremony) by the river Ganga. The urban significance”. representative and transfer to the believe that the purifying arts and horse riding, they put up a spectacular show every March at a fair called DAY 10 AGRA – JAIPUR hotel. water of the river absolves them of { Hola Mohalla held just a day after Holi, the festival of colours. { Drive to Jaipur – the first planned their sins. DAY 02 IN KOLKATA city of India – stopping en route at Spend the day exploring this city of DAY 06 IN VARANASI the 16th century deserted city of ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’ where DAY 17 IN MUMBAI amiable contrasts, taking in its main Visit Sarnath, where the Buddha Fatehpur Sikri, another UNESCO the holy book of the Sikhs, Wake up at the crack of dawn to sites such as the Victoria Memorial, gave his first sermon. Continue to World Heritage Site. considered a living master, is experience a rising city and its Dalhousie Square, the Writer's the Benares Hindu University spread Optional Evening Lecture: “Amber taken to its resting place for the industrious people as they wake Building and getting to know about over 1350 acres, and the Bharat Kala Fort – the confluence of Rajput and night. Amritsar is a foodie's up and go about at their tasks. its history and culture. Kolkata, Bhavan with its outstanding Mughal Architecture”. paradise. The food here is rich, Later in the afternoon, explore the without a doubt, marked a major collection of paintings, sculpture and DAY 11 IN JAIPUR portions large and usually topped main sights of Mumbai such as turning point in the making of textiles. Optional Evening Lecture: Start the day with a visit to the 16th with dollops of ghee (a type of the Gateway of India, Prince of colonial India. Relish Bengali cuisine “Shakti – the Mother Goddess and century Amber Fort, a UNESCO clarified butter). Don't miss Wales Museum, the Dhobi Ghat which is a blend of sweet and spicy the Hindu Pantheon”. ordering Fish Tikka which is the and Mani Bhawan. Mumbaikars flavours, with maach (fish) and bhaat World Heritage Site. Spend the rest DAY 07 VARANASI – KHAJURAHO best in the country, with a big like their food. Take a pick from (rice) being the staple diet. of the day exploring the main sites Wake up at the crack of dawn for a of Jaipur such as the City Palace and glass of lassi (traditional, yogurt- family run Persian/Iranian food Optional Evening Lecture: “Bauls – boat ride on the river Ganga. Watch the Royal Observatory. based drink). restaurants to lip-smacking street the wandering minstrels of India”. the throngs of locals and pilgrims food joints selling Pav Bhaji and DAY 12 JAIPUR – DELHI DAY 15 IN AMRITSAR DAY 03 KOLKATA – BODHGAYA via descend on the ghats (stone steps) Vada Pav (every Mumbaikar's Drive to Delhi, the capital city of Visit the Jallianwala Bagh and the PATNA leading to the river to perform age- grab-and-go snack). India, built, razed and built as many Durgiana Temple dedicated to a Take the afternoon flight to Patna old rituals. Later, fly to Khajuraho – a as seven times over the centuries. Hindu goddess but modelled after DAY 18 MUMBAI – GOA and continue to Bodhgaya. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – for a Later in the afternoon, visit the the Golden Temple. Continue to Say goodbye to our escort and Maha Bodhi Temple which houses slice of history, temples, sculptures, Qutab Minar, the magnificent 12th Wagah Border via Sarai Amanat guide and fly to Goa for a lovely, the Bodhi (Fig) Tree under which the erotica and the Kamasutra. century minaret, a UNESCO World Khan, a serai (resting place), set up enjoyable and relaxing three Buddha gained enlightenment some DAY 08 KHAJURAHO – JHANSI – Heritage Site. by the legendary calligrapher of nights by the beach. While most 2540 years ago. Join the locals and AGRA the Taj Mahal, Amanat Khan, for people think Goa means the Optional Evening Lecture: “Sufism – the monks for a meditation session Spend the morning admiring the weary travellers. It is the only famous fish, curry, rice and feni, its the heart of Islam”. under the Bodhi Tree. Bihari cuisine, stunning architecture of the place, other than the Taj Mahal, flavours have been deeply quite like the Bengali, has distinct temples, which are the largest group DAY 13 IN DELHI where you can see Amanat Khan's influenced by the long Portuguese mustard flavours, albeit lighter. of medieval Hindu and Jain temples Visit the Jama Masjid, the Grand calligraphy work. rule. With a wide variety ranging DAY 04 IN BODHGAYA in India, famous for their erotic Mosque in Old Delhi and take a Optional Evening Lecture: from prawns to sausages, chicken Visit the ruins of the 5th century sculptures. Take the evening train to rickshaw ride through its narrow “Nihangs - the Sikh warriors”. to beef, and numerous vegetarian Agra, via Jhansi. lanes in the morning. Post lunch, dishes, Goan cuisine is able to The north Indian cities and towns are Nalanda University – the ancient DAY 16 AMRITSAR – MUMBAI visit the 16th century Humayun's mostly dry and hot while the south seat of Buddhist learning and the DAY 09 IN AGRA satisfy even the most finicky Visit the Golden Temple pre-dawn western cities are hot and humid. Tomb, the first garden tomb of Asia gourmet appetites. first residential school in the world, Enjoy a walk with a resident of the to witness the morning ceremony and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. which once housed around 2,000 Agra cantonment for an insight into when the holy book of the Sikhs is DAY 19/20 IN GOA Continue to the 12th century village teachers and 10,000 students. Visit the life and times of colonial Agra and taken out from its resting place, Spend time relaxing on the beach, of Hazrat Nizamuddin that grew Sujata Garh and understand the to admire some of north India's finest amidst a showering of rose petals, the pool or the spa. We would be around the shrine of a Sufi saint. Buddha's Middle Path – a path of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Visit the and taken inside the temple. The happy to plan a full day tour of moderation between the extremes Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal during DAY 14 DELHI – AMRITSAR kirtan (devotional music) floats up Goa, if you like, with some prior of self-indulgence and self- sunset. Both are UNESCO World Fly to Amritsar, the holy city of the with the rising sun, creating a calm notice. A trip to Goa is incomplete without Feni – mortification. Heritage Sites. Agra is known for the Sikhs. Visit the Golden Temple. and spiritual experience. Fly to DAY 21 GOA – DEPARTURE an alcoholic drink made from either cashew rich Mughlai cuisine fit for a king. The Spend time in the community Mumbai in the afternoon where, it DAY 05 BODHGAYA – VARANASI Transfer to the airport in time for fruit or coconut. Usually mixed with cola rich preparations of Mughlai food, kitchen, manned entirely by is estimated, nearly 2000 or lemon juice, but the more daring ones Drive to Varanasi, considered holy the international flight. by both Hindus and Buddhists. It is consisting of flavoured sauces and volunteers, which feeds up to Bollywood hopefuls arrive every drink it neat! one of the oldest, continuously butter based curries, are delicious to 100,000 people free, every day. Post day to make a career in the movie inhabited cities in the world where be had with naan (Indian bread). dinner, return to the Golden Temple industry and barely a handful get the first inhabitants settled in 1000 Optional Evening Lecture: “Taj and join the pilgrims to witness the a lucky break.