Travel with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte Discover the Vivid Majesty of India September 30 – October 13, 2017 (14 days) *Optional 3-day extension to Kathmandu, Nepal available Please contact Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk, President & CEO of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte via email or call 704-687-7760 if you have questions or need more information about the trip. If you’re interested in traveling with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, confirm your interest via email or call 704-687-7762. Prices for the trip can be found on Page 22 below. Prices for the Nepal extension can be found on Page 23 below. A deposit of $500 is due immediately to secure your seat for the trip. Full payment is due shortly after. 1 Day 1: Saturday, September 30th, 2017 Charlotte/Munich/Delhi Depart from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport at 6:30 p.m. via Lufthansa German Airlines nonstop service to Munich. The group will arrive in Munich the following morning at 9:30 a.m. Connect in Munich for your 12:20 p.m. Lufthansa flight to Delhi. You will arrive in Delhi at 11:20 p.m. Time-appropriate meals and in- flight entertainment will be provided. Day 2: Sunday, October 1st, 2017 Delhi Arrive in Delhi at 11:20 p.m. Welcome to India After clearing customs, proceed with your tour manager by private motor coach to your beautiful five-star hotel, The Hotel Imperial (two nights). The Hotel Imperial This iconic luxury hotel is located in the heart of the capital and was chosen as India’s best “Luxury Historical Hotel” by World Luxury Hotel Awards 2015. A luxury hotel with an iconic and awe-inspiring heritage interwoven in colonial elegance, it dwells in its modern delivery of old-style class, magnificence and luxuries aplenty. Built in 1931 by Blomfield, one of Sir Edwin Lutyen’s associates and inaugurated by Lord Willingdon in 1936, it is New Delhi’s landmark Hotel, located on Janpath, the erstwhile Queensway. Read More The Hotel Imperial, Delhi Delhi, which is both a Union Territory and a city in India, is rich with history. New Delhi was officially designated the capital of India in 1911 by Sir Edwin Lutyens when the capital shifted from Calcutta. However, the full territory of Delhi, also known as Old Delhi, traces its roots back to the 6th century BC. The terms are generally interchangeable, but understanding the difference gives insight into India’s rich history and cultural diversity. Delhi Overnight at The Hotel Imperial (Five-Star) 2 Day 3: Monday, October 2nd, 2017 Delhi Complimentary breakfast included This morning after breakfast in the hotel, proceed for sightseeing of Old and New Delhi at 10:00 a.m. Old Delhi traces its roots back to ancient times. According to Indian folklore, Delhi is the location of the grand Indraprastha, capital of the Red Fort in Delhi, India Pandavas in the Sanskrit epic tale Mahabharata. Though there is not enough historical record to confirm the full validity of this claim, it is a strongly-held belief in India that the sites are the same. Since this settlement, at least fifteen additional settlements or established communities have been identified. Today, the group will visit a number of historical sites. First, travelers will visit the Red Fort. Constructed in 1639 by Emperor Jama Masjid, Delhi Shah Jahan as a palace for his capital, it is widely considered to represent the best of Mughal creativity and widely inspired later construction in Delhi and beyond. Throughout its 378-year-history it has experienced much plunder and alteration, though the walkways themselves have retained their architectural integrity. In 2007, the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, travelers will visit Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Also constructed by Shah Jahan, it was built by 5000 workers over the course of 12 years at the cost of 1 million rupees. It can Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi accommodate more than 25,000 worshippers and, though occupying governments have confiscated it over the course of its lifetime, it has not been destroyed. Following the Jama Masjid, travelers will drive past the Feroz Shah Kotla, known more colloquially as “Kotla”. These are the remains of the ancient city of Firuzabad, built in 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. Remaining in these ruins is a rare Ashoka Column, an obelisk dating to the 3rd century BC and one of only 19 remaining Ashoka Columns Raj Ghat, Delhi in the world. Finally, the group will visit Raj Ghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation in 1948, the day after his assassination. Afterwards, the group will enjoy a rickshaw ride in Old Delhi. Independent lunch 3 New Delhi is the name of the capital of India and is one of the eleven districts of Delhi city. Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker when the capital was moved from Calcutta to New Delhi, it was officially inaugurated on February 13, 1931. The group will drive past the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s residence in New Delhi; and the secretariat buildings, which are the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi center of all government activity. The group will continue down the the impressive Rajpath, or the “King’s Way”, which served as a ceremonial boulevard that runs from the President’s Palace to the National Stadium in Delhi. Along the boulevard you will see the World War One memorial arch, the India Gate, which was inaugurated in 1931 to memorialize the 82,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War. In 1971, the construction was amended to include the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the Flame of the Immortal Soldier. Following the India Gate, the group will view the High Court Building, India’s Supreme Court; and the Old Fort, or the Purana Qila, one of the oldest forts in Delhi. Continue on to visit Humayun’s Tomb, which was the first garden tomb in India. It was commissioned by Humanyun’s first wife in 1569 India Gate, New Delhi and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The group will proceed to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutb Minar, a 72-m tall tower built in the early 13th century. Travelers will also explore the surrounding grounds, including the ruins of Quwwatu'l-Islam, the largest mosque in India; and the un-corrodible Iron Pillar, an archaeological curiosity dating to the 4th century A.D. After some free time, gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. Humayun’s Tomb Dinner included Overnight at The Hotel Imperial (Five-Star) Tomb of Iltutmish in the Quwwatu’l-Islam 4 Day 4: Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 Delhi/Varanasi Varanasi Complimentary breakfast included This morning the group will fly via Air India from Delhi to Varanasi at 10:15 a.m., arriving at 11:35 a.m. Proceed to the Five-Star Taj Gateway Hotel (one night). The ancient temple city of Varanasi has yet another landmark in Varanasi The Gateway Hotel Varanasi. Featured among the top 5 star hotels in the city, The Gateway Hotel Varanasi is nestled amidst 40 acres of lush gardens at a convenient distance (about 45 minutes drive) from the airport. It is also located just 6 km from the commercial hub of Vanarasi, also known as The Chowk. The spacious rooms complemented by efficient service makes it one of the best hotels for business and leisure. Read More Five-Star Taj Gateway Hotel, Varanasi Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi, is a city on the banks of the Ganges River, and is considered the spiritual capital of India. Of the seven sacred cities in the country, Varanasi is the holiest of them. Varanasi is culturally and spiritually rich, being the purported site of the founding of Buddhism, and a site for Hindu intellectuals and theologians to thrive. Varanasi today is bustling center of activity and spirituality. Its economy is primarily comprised of silk weaving, carpets, tourism, Five-Star Taj Gateway Hotel, Varanasi and manufacturing. Spiritually, it is a site of pilgrimage, as many Hindus believe that death in Varanasi will bring salvation. The Ganges River is flanked by temples and ghats (large steps of stone), where pilgrims have performed ritual ablutions for several thousand years. The town itself is a maze of small streets and alleyways, hiding in disorderly array nearly 23,000 temples and shrines. Varanasi has been home to many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, Five-Star Taj Gateway Hotel, Varanasi 5 and musicians, where they have thrived on the cultural depth that the city has cultivated for millennia. Independent lunch After time for an independent lunch, enjoy an excursion to Sarnath, about 10 km from Varanasi. Located near the meeting of the Ganges and Varuna rivers, the location is fertile and lush. The deer park at Sarnath is where Buddha taught the first Dharma. Though there is no direct translation of dharma in any Western language, it Mulangandhakuti Vihara, Sarnath roughly means a set of virtues, morals, stages of life, or duties that conduct the “right way of living.” While at Sarnath, the group will view the Dhamek Stupa. A stupa is a hollow mound that contains relics and usually includes the remains of monks or nuns. They are often used as meditation places. The Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath is a very large stupa, tracing its history back to 500 BC. It has been expanded and enlarged multiple times, and is said to mark the exact spot of Buddha’s first sermon. Until the end of the 12th century, Sarnath was a major center of Buddhism and a center of the arts.