Meridian Global Insights Mission to India February 1-7, 2020

The Meridian Global Insights Mission provides delegation members a unique opportunity and first-hand context of Meridian’s mission of strengthening diplomacy and U.S. engagement with the world through the exchange of people, ideas and culture by:

• Exploring the important relationship between the United States and India, one of our country’s oldest allies, by learning about India’s history, politics, economy, culture, religious and civic issues;

• Encouraging people-to-people exchange through interactions with India’s government and business leaders as well as civil society leaders, scholars and historians;

• Empowering delegates to serve as citizen diplomats to further the global reach of Meridian International Center through strategic dialogue, thoughtful discussion, and the open exchange of ideas between participants and locals.

Itinerary Fly to → 7 nights with a day-trip to Agra

Day 1: Saturday 01 February 2020 Fly Delhi

Fly to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. Expected arrival 21:30 or 21:45 Met on arrival by our local representative and transfer to the Taj Mahal hotel in Delhi (15 km, about 30 minutes).

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room) www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-mahal-new-delhi/

Day 2: Sunday 02 February 2020

Breakfast at Taj Mahal Hotel.

Explore Humayun's Tomb with a local historian guide. Humayun's Tomb is a superb example of early Mughal architecture and one of the finest monuments in Delhi. Enjoy an optional light yoga session at the Sunder Nursery next to Humayun's Tomb. Guests who don’t want to partake in yoga can explore Sunder Nursery with the historian, visit the Farmers Market. Sunder Nursery was gradually restored in phases since 2007 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up.

Lunch: Yellow Bricks at Ambassador hotel - Indian & Continental

Visit Gandhi Smriti Museum, The National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) with the historian guide.

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up.

Dinner: Dhaba at The Claridges - North Indian

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room)

Pic: Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232/ http://www.humayunstomb.com/ Sunder Nursery http://www.sundernursery.org/home.php Gandhi Smriti Museum https://www.gandhismriti.gov.in/about-us/gandhi-smriti National Museum http://www.nationalmuseumindia.gov.in/ National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) http://ngmaindia.gov.in/

Day 3: Monday 03 February 2020 New Delhi

Breakfast at Taj Mahal Hotel.

Morning meetings (TBC) Tour of Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House) Meeting with Ambassador Ken Juster and tour of the American Embassy Meeting with the ICCR President (Indian Council for Cultural Relations)

Stop by at and visit the War Memorial en route to lunch.

Lunch: Basil & Thyme, Sundar Nagar Market - Mediterranean

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up and change.

Drive to Qutab Minar (10 km, about 30 minutes) Explore Qutab Minar and Archaeological Park with your historian guide.

Drive to and refresh at the Trivedi residence.

Dinner: The Aralias Club

Drive back to Delhi.

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room)

Pic: Qutab Minar

Qutab Minar https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/233/ http://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/qutab_minar.jsp Mehrauli Archaeological Park http://bit.ly/iemehraulipark

Day 4: Tuesday 04 February 2020

Breakfast at Taj Mahal Hotel.

Morning meetings (TBC) Meeting with Shri Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament (former Undersecretary General of the U.N.) Meeting with Mr. Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament Meeting with Mr. Amitabh Kant, Chair of NITI Aayog Meeting with Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Min. of Food Processing Industries

Lunch: Chor Bizzare, Bikaner House - Kashmiri

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up and change.

Explore Old Delhi with your guide. Highlights include the , built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who also built the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Cycle rickshaw ride through the alleyways of and visit Raj Ghat memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up

Dinner: Bukhara at ITC Maurya - North-West Frontier

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room)

Pic: Chandni Chowk trader

Red Fort http://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/red_fort.jsp Jama Masjid http://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/jama_masjid.jsp Raj Ghat http://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/memorial_delhi.jsp Cycle rickshaw through the alleyways of Chandni Chowk

Day 5: Wednesday 05 February 2020 Agra

Early breakfast Taj Mahal Hotel. (Depart 7 am). Drive to Agra (220 km, about 4 hours).

Visit the Taj Mahal https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/

Lunch: Sheroes https://www.sheroeshangout.com/ https://www.sheroeshangout.com/agra

Agra Fort on the banks of Yamuna River (2.30 pm) https://www.agrafort.gov.in/indexNew/index.html

Transfer to Agra Cantt railway station for the train to Delhi Gatimaan Express #12049. Agra Cantt-Hazrat Nizamuddin, 17:50-19:30

Transfer to the Taj Mahal hotel.

Dinner: Machan at Taj Mahal Hotel - Multi-Cuisine

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room) Day 6: Thursday 06 February 2020 Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple https://akshardham.com/

Lunch – Veda Restaurant, Connaught Place - North Indian & Mughlai

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up

The afternoon is free for shopping – local crafts, artefacts etc - , Janpath & Tibetan Market (contingency that there may be a meeting in the morning or afternoon)

Return to the Taj Mahal Hotel to freshen up

Dinner: Delhi Gymkhana Club (Speakers Dinner)

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room)

Day 7: Friday 07 February 2020 One Globe Forum, Delhi

Breakfast at Taj Mahal Hotel.

Transfer to the One Globe Forum at The Imperial Hotel Forum sessions

Lunch: One Globe Forum at The Imperial Forum sessions

Gala dinner at The Imperial After the dinner, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight: Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe room)

Day 8: Saturday 08 February 2020 One Globe Forum, Delhi. Fly to Washington DC Breakfast at Taj Mahal Hotel.

Transfer to the One Globe Forum at The Imperial Hotel Forum sessions

Transfer to your hotel to freshen up. Rooms available until 6 pm.

Transfer to Delhi airport for flight to Washington DC.

Participants book and pay for their own airfare. All-inclusive Cost (includes hotel, all meals, in-country transportation, guides, fees). $5000 – Single Person $4000 – Per person for a couple of 2