“HELL's GATE”. from KUNMING to LEDO

A TIGERPAW ADVENTURES LIMITED EDITION SECTION TRIP FROM ITS “SILK ROAD JOURNEYS-WHAT MARCO POLO DID NOT FORSEE” This journey goes traverses a historic road now “tamed”.

“HELL’s GATE”. FROM KUNMING TO LEDO THE MILITARY HISTORY OF , & CURRENT CULTURE ON, THE STILWELL ROAD RE LIVING THE BATTLES OF GENERAL VINEGAR-JOE STILWELL, AND GENERAL CHANG KAI SHEK ON THE “MAN PER MILE ROAD”

A PEACE AND REMEMBERANCE JOURNEY BUILDING BRIDGES AMONGST (SIX) NATIONS INDIA-BURMA-USA-CHINA-BRITAIN-JAPAN

Tiger Paw Adventures (I) Pvt Ltd, D-383, Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Ph. +91-11-26493291 / 65655355 / 46568080, Mob. +91- 9810128999, 9871746812 For North America (Voice message): 00 156 1459 3493 Website: www.tigerpawadventures.com, Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Image Left: The first convoy driving over the Stilwell Road upon its opening- crossing the headwaters of the Chindwin River. Image Right: On Feb 4, 1945, the first Allied troops entered Kunming, Yunnan province, from Ledo, India, after the Japanese had blocked transport of international supplies by land for two years.

Bottom row-Image Left: The Zig - 1944 and right: A recent image

THE 24-ZIG HAIRPIN BEND IN CHINA’S GUISHOU PROVINCE

WHICH BECAME THE SINGULAR IMAGE OF THE STILWELL ROAD

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UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS TRIP AIM-RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE WW2 CEMETRY IN JAIRAMPUR, ONE OF THE LARGEST WW2 CEMETRY, LARGER THAN KOHIMA, NEAR THE LAKE OF NO RETURN-BURMA, WHERE OVER A THOUSAND AND MOSTLY UNMARKED GRAVES, LIE.

THIS EPIC JOURNEY ALSO FEATURES THE TRIBAL FESTIVALS OF THE NAGAS

ALSO FEATURING: THE WW2 COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETRY KOHIMA THE WW2 COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETRY AND THE JAPANESE PEACE GARDEN, AND THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM,IMPHAL THIS ITINERARY: Traverses a route of powerful historical significance Visits sections of the road and locations along it, rarely seen by travelers for the last 60 years Features portions of Myanmar, Burma also rarely visited. Features tribal festivals rarely accessed by the outside world.

FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO INTRODUCTION- HISTORICAL INSIGHTS: CLICK: https://archive.org/details/TheStilwellRoad

INTRODUCTION

“To all individuals who have travelled over the Stilwell Road, including Cowboys, Cockpit- drivers, Six-by-Six Gear Strippers, Jeep Skippers and even mere Space Occupiers:

Greetings: Know you that on this day there appeared in the ancient City of Kunming, China, one seated in a multi-wheeled gasoline consuming chariot, which he drove or was driven in over the 1044 miles of the Stilwell Road (Ledo-Burma Roads) from Ledo to Kunming. Be it remembered that he endured the tortures of the damned - of bouncing his posterior and jolting his kidneys over countless rocks, ruts and rills and into holes; that he submerged into seas of muck; that his neck was endangered by cave-ins and mountain slides, by inching along slippery brinks of mile- deep precipices, by tearing around countless corkscrew twists and hairpin turns in fierce monsoon weather and in the humid heat of hell; that malarial mosquitoes, pestiferous leeches, screaming monkeys, poisonous snakes and all kinds of insects, from mere itchers to bearers of bubonic plague and scrub typhus, added to his tortures….EXTRACT FROM THE “CERTIFICATE”FOR THOSE WHO SERVED ON THE STILWELL ROAD

Images Above: The ground at the time of WW II, Image Below: India’s current Philosophy in Maintaining the Stilwell Road

Image Top Left: General Joe StilWell-Image Right: one of his men on the “Road”

Image Top Left. Generals Chang Kai Shek and Joe StilWell. Image Centre. General StilWell and Earl Mountbatten. Image Right. US Soldiers guarding road crew. Images below: US Army troops crossing the Salween River, and right, taking a break.

Image above right: Chinese troops building a bridge on the Stilwell Road. Image above left: Generals Stilwell and Chang Kai Shek with Chinese troops

On the mission to capture the airstrip in Myitkyina, Burma, during World War II

THE INTRODUCTION: THE STILWELL ROAD: The China-Burma-India TRI JUNCTION goes down to Bhamo and to the Burma Road which connects Kunming, Yunnan province, China.

The Historic Stilwell (previously Ledo) Road which was constructed by the Americans during the Second World War from Ledo, began at Ledo, one of the key rail-heads of India’s Bengal-Assam railway in the valley of the Upper Brahmaputra. The aim of this road was to link with the Burma Road connecting Kunming, (China) passing through Lekhapani, Jairampur, Nampong and Pangsau pass, on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border. It winds up at the passes of 9000 feet (2,500 m) in the Patkai Ranges and emerges at Shindbwiyang, and then Myitkyina. The road crosses the broad bowl of the Upper Chindwin, threads the Hukawng and Mogaung valleys.

Initially, prospected by the British long before the WW2, this project could not be implemented until agreement was reached between the British and General Stilwell representing the Americans on December 1,1942 during the Second World War, when Burma was fully under siege by Japanese forces. Further, for the defence of India it was necessary to liberate Burma from Japanese forces. The topography of the Indo-Burma border featured very difficult terrain with thick, inaccessible, and infested forests, a breeding ground for malaria and dysentery. Tiger Paw Adventures (I) Pvt Ltd, D-383, Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Ph. +91-11-26493291 / 65655355 / 46568080, Mob. +91- 9810128999, 9871746812 For North America (Voice message): 00 156 1459 3493 Website: www.tigerpawadventures.com, Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Born in 1883 and passing soon after the war , in 1946, General Stilwell was Chief of Staff to Allied Forces in China-Burma-India theatre for Defence of Burma (Myanmar) which was under Japanese forces. For the Chinese, Generalissimo, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek worked at connecting with the American and Allied (British-Indian) forces while they tried to overcome the Japanese who were occupying Burma, in the middle.

The Stilwell Road was constructed under General Stilwell’s direct supervision during the war. That he had also participated in the First World War and mastered the Chinese language during his stay in the Philippines and China, helped him in his task. He was better known to the World as "Vinegar Joe", though his troops called him "Uncle Joe”.

General Stilwell's Operations Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frank D. Merrill recommended building a road from Ledo, Assam, India to Burma connecting the old Burma Road to provide overland supply to China and Burma, for supporting allied soldiers who were fighting in North Burma.

Colonel Merrill called for volunteers who were experienced jungle troops, “for a dangerous and hazardous mission - somewhere". Thus was born Merrill’s specially trained 5307 Composite Unit (Provisional) called "Merrill's Marauders", who set out on and started marching on foot from Margherita, near Ledo, India on February 7, 1944. Passing through the Pangsau Pass (Hell Pass), Shindbwiyang, Jambu-Bam, and then Myitkyina, most of the time fighting and struggling against rain, mud, and swamp, a breeding ground for malaria, dysentery, typhoid, as well as strategically positioned jungle enemy positions along the way. Merrill's Marauders seized Myitkyina air-stripon May 17, 1944 despite strong resistance from Japanese forces. Then days later, they captured Myitkyina town itself, which was the stronghold of Japanese forces based in north Burma. The two month campaign ended on August 3, 1944 with Merrill's men suffering 127 deaths and 291 wounded beside casualties from other troops. Myitkyina was one of General’s main objectives.The 'Ledo Road' was at the suggestion of General Chang Kai Shek, later named the Stilwell Road .

The road construction begun by constructing warehouses, hospitals, barracks and base roads at Ledo, Assam, India, while fighting the Japanese forces. On December 16, 1942, Americans began building the double-track, all-weather Ledo road. Subsequently, the Americans had brought heavy road construction machinery to the dense jungle and hilly terrain. These included ngbulldozers, cranes, power-shovels, Caterpillar earth movers, steam-rollers, in a massive procession from the United States production-lines, over 12,000 miles away and across two oceans and three Continents. General Stilwell had organized a 'Service of Supply' (SOS) under the command of Major General Raymond A. Wheeler, a renowned US Army Engineer, and assigned him to look after the construction of the Ledo road. Major General Wheeler in turn, assigned responsibility of base commander for the road construction, to Colonel John C. Arrowsmith. Later, Arrowsmith was replaced by Colonel Lewis A. Pick, another expert US Army engineer, as road construction was slowed down under Arrowsmith during the monsoon season of 1943. Pick employed some of the finest mechanical road building crews and soldiers from amongst American, British, Indian, Chinese and West African troops, to fight the wild jungle tangles, swamp , forest, deep valleys and high cliffs, alongwith heavy rains and floods across the Indo-Burma mountain Ranges.

On December 27, 1943, three days ahead of schedule, the road reached Shindbwiyang. Grading and graveling remained to be done, but the 117 miles from Ledo to Shindbwiyang were open before January 1, 1944, as General Stilwell wished. Colonel Pick's celebration for the engineers omitted none of the available essentials. As he congratulated them for opening 54 miles in 57 days, a convoy came rolling into Shindbwiyang with candy, doughnuts, and 9,600 cans of beer.

In late 1944, barely two years after Stilwell accepted responsibility for building the Ledo Road (Stilwell Road), it connected with the Burma Road (though some sections of the road beyond Myitkyina at Hukawng Valley, were undergoing repair due to heavy monsoon water), becoming a highway stretching from Assam, India, to Kunming, China 1,079 miles in length. On January 12, 1945, the first convoy of 113 vehicles led by General Pick from Ledo, reached Kunming, China, on February 4, 1945 an achievement which was celebrated by all. The road construction was estimated to have cost 137,000,000 dollars.Two 4-inch fuel pipe lines were laid side by side and followed along the Ledo road from Tinsukia, Assam, India to relieve the road and air traffic of carrying fuel from Assam, India, to China. They were fed by gasoline pumped from Calcutta to a station near their starting point.

On May 20, 1945, newly promoted Major General Lewis A. Pick formally announced the completion of the Ledo road, a task he called the toughest job ever given to US Army Engineers in wartime. The road was renamed the Stilwell Road in honour of General Joseph W. Stilwell at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek, but was known to the US Army Engineers who built it, as "Pick's Pike."

Above: current views of the “road”.

In the course of time, the Stilwell Road virtually disappeared due to its remote location at the corner post of three different nations India, Burma and China. 61 km of the road lies in India, 1,033 km in Burma (Myanmar) and 632 km in China. In India of the 61 km, 30 km lie in Assam and 31 km in Arunachal Pradesh. The border between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has 14 km of the road section which previously was in deplorable condition, but has since been repaired. The construction of international trade route to linking Burma(Myanmar) at Pangsau Pass is underway. On the Indian side, the road is being repaired and renovated up to Nampong; and extension of the renovation work up to Pangsau Pass, Indo-Myanmar border is underway. The section of road which lies within Arunachal Pradesh has been maintained by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and of the road section which lies within the area of Assam 14 km has been maintained by the Government of Assam.

THE PANGSAU PASS: Pangsau Pass or Pan Saung Pass, 3,727 feet (1,136 m) in altitude, lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border. The pass offers one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains. It is named after the closest Burmese village, Pangsau that lies 2 km beyond the pass to the east.

It is the reputed route of the 13th century invasion of Assam in India by the Ahoms, a Shan tribe. Prospected by the British in the late 19th Century as a possible railway route from India to Myitkyina in north Burma through the Hukawng Valley, the pass became famous during

World War II for being the initial obstacle encountered by General Stilwell's forces in their effort to build a land route to isolated China, after the fall of Burma to the Japanese.

The Ledo Road began at Ledo, the railhead, and passed through Lekhapani, Jagun, Jairampur (the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary and beginning of India’s Inner Line), then Nampong, before switching back steeply upwards through densely forested hills to the pass, 12 km away. The distance from Ledo to Pangsau Pass is 61 km (38 mi). At that time, because of the fierce gradients and the mud which made getting up to the pass difficult, it was nicknamed "Hell Pass or Hell’s Gate "during the war. Today the road is a gentled version of its original avatar.

Images Left: On the Pangsau Pass during WW II, Images Right: current view of the Ledo airstrip. Sign- Pangsau Pass today

THE NAGA FESTIVAL (MYANMAR): The Burmese Nagas live mostly in Sagaing Division, in the North West corner of Myanmar, close to the Indian border. The Nagas settle mostly in the hilly areas but they also live in the areas of Chindwin Riviera.

Earlier, the Naga traditional new-year festivals were celebrated community-wise where friends from far and near were invited. Naga elders envisaged that it should be the occasion for amity and celebrated their New Year festivals township village wise. In 1990, the elders decided to celebrate the event region-wise so as to usher in progress and amity. They also agreed to celebrate Naga traditional New Year Festival every 15 January, and the venue was to be set in rotation among the townships, Khamti, Leshi, Namyung and Lahe.

The Naga Traditional New Year Festival is celebrated on grand scale. On 14th January, the New Year Festival pole is set up and all Nagas gather at the opening ceremony. On the 15th, about ten thousand people attend the occasion and gifts are exchanged. Then, Naga traditional music and dances are performed and all present are served with traditional food and rice wine. On the eve of the festival, a bonfire is set and all join the occasion. After a good harvest and before the next year's work, this feast is held annually. It is very significant for Naga people as they can share their experience in farming and can discuss their work for the coming New Year.

Their songs and dances at the festival ask the gods for good health, happiness, and good weather for a bountiful crop for the coming New Year. There are almost 29 dance groups from all the Townships. Tribal costumes are decorated with hornbill’ beaks and plumes, and animal tusks, , buffalo horns, shells, and horse and goat tails. They also sport silver and bronze beads, bangles, bracelets, and pendants. Another interesting feature is that every Naga wears a special palm leaf on each of his/her feet during the festival. Most of their costumes are red, black, green and white signifying courage and dexterity.

Naga traditional New Year Festival has become an occasion for friendship and amity, for regional development. It also energizes the Naga nationals for their tasks of the New Year. This Naga Traditional New Year Festival is cherished and preserved and it is an unforgettable experience for every visitor.

THE ITINERARY

Day 1: 4th Jan.2015 Arrive in Kunming Arrival in Kunming; the capital of Yunnan, located in China’s far southwest. She has mild climate and can be visited at any time of year. Transfer to hotel. Overnight: Grand Park http://www.parkhotelgroup.com/kunming/

Day 2: 5th Jan.2015 Kunming After breakfast visit the Stone Forest, which is called the "No.1 Wonder under Heaven". The area is a deeply eroded limestone Karst area. The unique natural scenery and Sani people’s folklore is characterized by the Stone Forest. We make the return journey to Kunming on the same day. Visit the bird and plant market, a daily market where local people sell birds, pets, indoor plants and flowers. Enjoy flavors of Yunnan in Kunming the evening. Overnight: Grand Park (http://www.parkhotelgroup.com/kunming/)

Day 3: 6th Jan.2015 Kunming-Dali (354km, 7- 8 hours) After breakfast drive Kunming to Dali, and on to the Erhai Lake Park, which is the best place to appreciate the beautiful scenery. The lake is shaped like an ear, which means “ear shaped sea”,

in Chinese hence its name. Afterwards, visit the Three Pagoda Temple that faces Erhai Lake. As its name implies, there are three ancient independent pagodas standing in a symmetrical triangle inside the temple. With a history of more than 1,800 years, the Three Pagodas are a symbolic construction of ancient Dali City. The last stop of the day is the quaint and tranquil Dali Old Town, where a stream passes through the town. Here locals in their ethnic costumes will be encountered. A Street that goes through the South City Gate to the North City Gate is now a prosperous market street, selling marble, tie-dye and other souvenirs. Overnight: Regent Hotel (http://www.regenthotel.cn/english/index1.php)

Day 4: 7th Jan.2015 Dali Spend another day in Dali. Visit Cuihu Park set on a lake a favorite haunt of the locals. Then visit the Golden Temple, (Taoist) erected at the festival grounds. Various Naga clans in all their traditional costumes will be encountered participating with gusto in the festivities. After lunch we explore the surrounding villages and the town of Namyun on your own Dinner and o/n night at Namyun. Overnight: Regent Hotel (http://www.regenthotel.cn/english/index1.php)

Day 5: 8th Jan.2015 Dali-Tengchong (352Km, 7-8 hours) After breakfast drive to Tengchong. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel Overnight: Lei Hua hotel (http://www.tclhjd.com/)

Day 6: 9th Jan.2015 Tengchong to Ruili (240km, 5-6 hours) After breakfast, drive from Tengchong to Ruili (240km, 5-6 hours driving). Enjoy pretty sceneries and valleys full of villages and terraced rice plantations on the way via Mangshi. The Qing Dynasty relics where the world-famous "Margary Incident'' took place. Afternoon visit the jewellery street where Burmese traders deal in jade and gold. In the evening, visit the bustling night market. Margary Incident: Augustus Raymond Margary (26 May 1846 – 21 February 1875) was a British diplomat and explorer. The murder of Margary and his entire staff, while surveying overland Asian trade routes, sparked the Margary Affair which led to the Chefoo Convention. Overnight:

Day 7: 10th Jan.2015 Ruili-Muse–Bhamo (138km, 4-5 hours) Ruili-Muse border entrance in the morning, you can visit Kaung Mu Long Pagoda, and then proceed to famous Muse Market which full of China product can find something you like. Muse is on the border with China's Ruili Town. Start driving to Bhamo about 5 hours from Muse. Sightseeing in Bhamo Overnight: Friendship Hotel

Day 8: 11th Jan. 2015 Bhamo-Myitkyina (186 km 5-6 hours) After breakfast, transfer to Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, via Mandalay. Upon arrival, visit the Kachin New Year Celebration Ground. Photo taking and participation, personally in the celebration and dance. Enjoy lunch in a traditional lunch of Kachin foods and beverages at the hotel. Kachin State is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. Overnight: Two Dragon

Day 9: 12th Jan.2015 Myitkyina-Tanai (190 km 5-6 hours) After breakfast drive to Tanai on the Ledo Road. You will be present at Tanai in the afternoon, enjoy lunch and spend a night at guest houses. Overnight: Tanai Day 10: 13th Jan.2015 Tanai-Namyun (85 km 4- 5 hours) After early breakfast, you hit the road to Shinbweyan on Ledo Road. Along the way, you get an opportunity to experience while crossing the two rivulets, including Tawan and Tayon on Z- crafts. You will enjoy lunch at Shinbweyan, then continue heading to Namyun. Having a buffet dinner and spending night-time at Naga Traditional Style Guest House. Overnight: Namyun

Day 11: 14th Jan.2015 Namyun (Naga Ceremonial Pole) Activities: Participate in the Ceremony of erecting the Naga Ceremonial Pole and sightseeing After breakfast, you will witness the preparation for the festival. The traditional Naga Ceremonial Pole will be set up at the festival grounds. Many Naga clans wear their own traditional costumes and join the festival. You will visit villages of Namyun or enjoy your free time. Later, you have dinner and a good night at Namyun. Overnight: Namyun

Day 12: 15th Jan.2015 Namyun (Naga New Year Festival) Activities: Opening Ceremony of Naga New Year Festival & Big Bonfire Dance at night Today, the Official Opening Ceremony of The Naga New Year shall be celebrated on the festival grounds in the early morning. People will share the traditional food and rice wine with Naga elders in the community. Afternoon comes; you have a great time to enjoy the Naga Hills. Later, as the night fall downs, everyone can take part and enjoy in welcoming the Naga New Year as dancing around a large bonfire. Overnight: Namyun

Day 13: 16th Jan.2015 Namyun- Pangsau Pass –Ledo (Jairampur) 126 Km After breakfast drive to Pangsau Pass cross the border enters in India. Evening free for leisure activities. Overnight: Circuit house, Jairampur

Day 14: 17th Jan.2015 Jairampur After breakfast, visit World War II Cemetery: Recently unearthed large Burial-ground with about 1,000 graves of allied soldiers believed to be mostly of Chinese, Kachins, Indian, British and Americans soldiers who died in Second World War is located at Stilwell Road (Ledo Road) in the Jairampur-Nampong road, 6 km from Jairampur town, 39 km from Ledo and 24 Km before reaching Pangsau Pass (Hell Pass), India - Burma (Myanmar) border. The hidden cemetery covered with thick jungles midst of the bank of Namchik River. Recently the Indian Army (Assam Rifles) cleared the area, after discovering over 1,000 graves within an area of about three acres. The graves are arranged in five rows including several large graves, possibly a mass burial, in the centre and stopping at the Lake of No Return. Overnight: Circuit House, Jairampur (see below right) Right and below left: grave marker of Chinese personell. Below left: Cemetry legend.

Day 15: 18th Jan.2015 Ledo – Jorhat (212 km) After breakfast, transfer to Jorhat enroute visit Digboi, Digboi, has the oldest operating oil refinery, still producing in excess of its capacity, won the name "the oil-city of Assam". An oil museum showcases the world’s oldest operating oil machinery. Overnight: Kaziranga Golf Resort (http://www.kazirangagolfresort.com/accommodation.html)

Above -second row: Image Left: THE LADIES OF TAGAP Nurses from the US Army’s 335th Station Hospital at Tagap, Burma WW2 .Who would have thought that like many others, these women gave their all in a remote spot call Tagap-the 10,000 African men and women would have a major impact on integration in the US Army. An example of the long road ahead for all people of the world to be in harmony.Image Right:Esther Po, speaking to Chinese journalist Ge Shuya. Po, a Burmese nurse won the Bronze Star Medal from the American Army and who saved numerous Chinese .

Day 16: 19th Jan.2015 Jorhat – Kohima (206 km) After breakfast, visit Thengal Mansion, a historic ancestral house of a tea planter set amidst an Asssamese village, 15 kms from Jorhat. The 72-year old Thangal Mansion is to answer the queries on Assamese culture and tradition. After lunch, take a walk in a nearby village to explore. On arrival at Kohima transfer to hotel Overnight: Hotel Japfu (http://www.thenagalandhotels.com/)

Day 17: 20th Jan.2015 Kohima After breakfast, visit Hornbill Heritage village, World War II Cemetery, Museum, Local Market of Kohima. Later drive towards Southern Angami villages of Kigwema, and Viswema and also pay a visit to the Naga Heritage Hornbill Village, where you will see huts of all the 16 different tribes...providing you a complete picture as to how all the tribes live in different parts of NAGALAND

Returning to KOHIMA, visit the State Museum where one can have a glimpse of rare artifacts of the Naga history. We then make a trip to the World War II Memorial-a memorial to the British and Indian soldiers, especially of the Fourth Indian Division that finally halted the Japanese invasion which almost overran India after the fall of Imphal. This was the only time that the Japanese land army was defeated on land during the entire war. This is where the famous battle of the ‘Tennis Court’, which many historians have called it caught as the ‘bloodiest battle’ of this arena, visiting the War Cemetery.

You will come across the graves of the brave soldiers who remind us that “For your tomorrow we gave up our Today”

We also visit the local market where many insects and variety of food products, which for the Nagas are ‘delicacies’ are sold. Overnight: Hotel Japfu(http://www.thenagalandhotels.com/)

Day 18: 21st Jan.2015 Kohima – Imphal (139 km, 2-3 hours) Morning in Kohima, after lunch drive to Imphal, and visit the World War II Cemetery in Imphal, built to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. (http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2064600/IMPHAL%20WAR%20CEMETERY. )

The battle of Manipur holds equal importance in Indian history. Among all the battles on the eastern front of India, the siege of Imphal ,and its relief in 1944 rank next in importance to the Battle of Kohima now assessed by some as perhaps the greatest battle of WW2. In the year of 1944, the 4th Indian Division freed Imphal from the Japanese forces. The Cemetry contains 1,600 soldiers of the Commonwealth from the Second World War.

In Imphal, we also visit the Japanese War Cemetery. Link: (http://www.thehindu.com/news/graves-of- japanese-martyrs-of-ww-ii-dug-up/article2811505.ece ) Overnight: The Classic hotel http://www.theclassichotel.in/

Day 19: 22nd Jan.2015 Imphal–Kolkata After breakfast, visit Kangla Fort, Loktak lake, Manipur State Museum, Khwairam band bazaar and the Ima market. After early lunch transfer to airport to board flight # 6E 358, 1500/1615 IMPHAL-KOLKATA to connect with your International flight for your onward journey.

Images Below: In sequence:The Commonwealth War Cemetry, Centre:The Japanese Peace Garden, and Right: The Indian National Army Museum.Right,local children.

TOUR END….

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS, CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER, FOR PARTICIPANTS ON TIGER PAWS (TIGER PAW ADVENTURES (India) Pvt. Ltd.) TOURS IN INDIA & NEARBY COUNTRIES. Document update version 22nd April 2014 overriding all others This document comprises six pages

General Terms and Conditions Itineraries, Travel conditions, Accommodations: while it is our endeavor to give you an accurate itinerary of the trip, well in advance, it must be remembered that these are subject to revision, for reasons such as weather, Government restrictions, flight, train timings or other reasons, which may be imposed suddenly, and force majeure beyond our control.

Even routes may have to be changed at the last minute, resulting in adjustments being made to the itinerary. Unexplained changes of programme, diversions, and poor estimates of times and distances are possible especially but not necessarily only in remote environments. Extra costs that may result in such conditions will have to be accepted and borne by PAX (traveller) and you are expected to have adequate travel and travel related insurance along with medical and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance coverage to home destination.

Road conditions in certain areas may NOT always be good, and to cover the distances involved, hours on the road do tend to become long .But frequent comfort halts are provided while on the move.

Accommodation: Although every effort will be made to provide single accommodation to Pax who make the request and pay the single supplement, it must be remembered that at some places it may not be possible to provide single accommodation (In the event single accommodation is not feasible at a particular location no refund will be possible out of the single supplement).

When rooms have to be shared, every effort to find a same gender room sharer. Lady/female Travelers: Every effort will be made to keep the trip as a ‘woman- friendly’ trip at all times while bearing in mind that one may be entering an environment which is conservative old fashioned, or overly patriarchal Electricity: Breakdowns are not unusual, so do carry a good flashlight and night- reading headlamps.

Water: Bottled water is available in most places even while the problem of disposing off plastic waste is a challenge we are greatly concerned about. For off road trips, it is still recommended that you carry iodine solution or tablets to purify your drinking water, or use water filter, just in case of an emergency. Do not brush your teeth with tap water when in remote areas or houseboats. Do not use ice cubes in your drinks. Bottled water may have to be got at your own cost.

Medical: Limited medical facilities are available in places and this must be duly noted before applying for the trip. You must consult your Doctor for anti-malaria, hepatitis or other tropical disease precautions which should be observed; Please carry insect

repellents (not applicable in the Himalaya). If you have medical and health conditions, you must inform us well in advance of your date of departure.

Food Extra special attention is always paid to your food, to see that it is hygienically prepared and is palatable for our Western clientele. Alcohol and wines are not available in remote areas and you may wish to carry your stocks. The state of Gujarat is a dry state.

Baggage-AIR Checked Baggage per PAX; max wt 44 pounds is permitted by Airlines normally. Please note that on some of the Internal Flts, the Airlines do NOT carry more than 15kg baggage per PAX. You may have to pay for extra baggage. Please check your tickets.

Photography: Although people are friendly otherwise, some do NOT like to have their pictures taken. Please ask our guides BEFORE you start taking pictures. In case he /she advises, NOT to, please accept the same without asking for explanations. This advice will vary on a case-by-case basis; and may have to be changed suddenly!

VISAS and RESTRICTED ENTRY PERMITS All visitors to INDIA must obtain a VISA which should be applied for, for a general tour like DELHI, ORISSA and other tourist places. A scanned copy of the Passport and Visa should be E-Mailed to us, as soon as the Visa is obtained.

DEPOSITS & SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS To secure your reservation, in view of the limited infrastructure (or shortage on account of season) in the areas we will be visiting, as also the time now available, you are requested to forward the initial deposit of total 25% of tour cost (Invoiced Amount) WITH YOUR BOOKING, and which will be adjusted to your credit and be sent to us PER BANK/CARD TERMS SUPPLIED WITH OUR QUOTE.

COSTS: Costs are forwarded along with the Itinerary, which also indicate Inclusions and Exclusions.

BALANCE PAYMENTS: The entire remainder of Tour cost/invoiced value should be received no later than 58 days prior to tour commencement. (See below)

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

All payments are to be sent to – Bank of Nova Scotia 13551 -102nd Ave, King George Highway, Surrey, BC CANADA V3T 4W8, Attn Karen Paget- Account Manager Fax +1 604 586 1329 For the credit of Tiger Paw India Adventures Ltd SWIFT: #: NOSCCATT AND THE ABA # is 026002532 ACCOUNT # 607800140716 ACCOUNT HOLDER’S ADDRESS - INDER JIT SINGH 8034-112 B STREET, DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V4C5A7

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Refunds or cancellations made by us in the event of force majeure; and compelling situations of natural disaster, travel safety, unrest of any kind or changes in Government policies, beyond our control, will entail a refund by TIGER PAWS, less actual already incurred upto the time cancellation notice is received and which element would have to be borne by the client(s).

All cancellation requests from PAX, must be received by us in WRITING, and confirmed NOTED by us as such. Cancellation Fees apply as indicated, depending on the time when your written request is received and noted by us.

Cancellations received before Departure Cancellation Fee Upto 120 days 25% of Tour cost (invoiced amount) 119-90 days 35% of Tour cost (invoiced amount) 89-60 days 50% of Tour costs (invoiced amount) 59 days or less NO refund

REFUNDS FOR UNUSED PORTIONS OF TRIP If a cancellation occurs while a trip is in progress NO refund is admissible; NOR can any refund be given for any services not availed during the trip

IMPORTANT NOTE ON CANCELLATIONS: At certain heavily visited periods of the high season relating to a one time annual or other event and/ or when visiting an area of very limited accommodation, no refunds may be at all possible. Your particular trip conditions indicated with our quote for your custom trip, will so stipulate if this is the case.

CANCELLATION AND INTERRUPTION INSURANCE… We advise all PAX to take an Insurance cover from a recognized agency. If help is required from TIGER PAWS, please contact us

ACCEPTANCE: Receipt of your deposit for booking the Tour, and our confirmation of allocation of space, will be considered, as an acceptance by you of the above Terms and Conditions

RELEASE & ASSUMPTION OF RISK & LIABILITY BY PARTICIPANT

While TIGER PAW ADVENTURES (I) Pvt. Ltd NEW DELHI INDIA. endeavors to take-as its past record well testifies, - the most prudent possible safety measures; there may be situations in some areas, and on some occasions, where services as are being provided by the Company, or its subagents, of some risks being still involved due to a laxity of safety measures and procedures, or lack of safe public infrastructure or non-observance of complete range of security considerations, poor health and sanitation, or any other conditions. For this reason, we require that every PAX signs the Company’s BOOKING FORM & RELEASE OF RISK AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY, as reproduced below, prior to commencing the trip.

BOOKING FORM & RELEASE OF RISK AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY BY PARTICIPANT/S

TIGER PAW ADVENTURES (I) Pvt Ltd. releases itself, its representatives, its agents, associates and any of its suppliers, sub-contractors etc. of any RISK and RESPONSIBILITY arising out of any situation, whatsoever, unless it be due gross negligence; while providing travel services, as tour operators, to any of its clients, coming in individually or as a Group, and who agree to solicit its services for any purposes of travel/outdoor training, in India or elsewhere.

While TIGER PAW ADVENTURES (I) Pvt Ltd. endeavors to take - as its past record well testifies, - the most prudent possible safety measures; there may be situations in some areas, and on some occasions, where services are being provided by the Company, of some risks being still involved due to a laxity of safety measures and procedures, or lack of safe public infrastructure or non-observance of complete range of security considerations, poor health and sanitation, or any other conditions.

The onus of carrying all RISKS and ASSUMPTION of LIABILITY, in any situation, rests solely and entirely with the participants, subscribing to undertake any adventure, travel or tour related services through TIGER PAW ADVENTURES (I) Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi India. Directly, or through any of its associates, agents or suppliers in India or elsewhere.

This RELEASE OF RISK AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY undertaking has been read, understood and acknowledged by me/us, as such, before signing the same.

Further, my/our consent is hereby GIVEN______/ NOT GIVEN______for any medication or medical aid being rendered, in any Emergency. I am / covered by an Insurance Policy, during this tour; details of which can be provided, if required. MY/OUR BLOOD GROUP IS AS BELOW:

Name: Blood Group

Participant (name) has allergic reactions to following: PENICILLIN: Yes__ No__ OTHER SUBSTANCE:

MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND CONTACTS

I / We confirm that I / we have adequate and appropriate Insurance for undertaking this trip.

In case of a medical emergency my / our insurance underwriter may be contacted on the following 24X7 International numbers, with the following policy reference:

Name of Underwriter: ……………………………………………………………………

Policy reference: …………………………………………………………………..

Phone Number: ………………………………………………………….………..

Email Address: ……………………………………………………………………..

In case of other emergencies while I / we are traveling abroad the following person/persons may be contacted at…..

Name: …………………………………………………………………………….…….

Phone Number: ………………………………………………………….………..

Email Address: ……………………………………………………………………..

Postal Address: …………………………………………………………………….

LEGAL: I hereby agree that in the unlikely event of any legal dispute with the tour provider M/s Tiger Paw Adventures India P Ltd or its representatives, the territory of jurisdiction for these or arbitration shall be the Union of India, and courts of the State of Delhi, New Delhi, India.

Signed by ...... as Individual/Group Leader

(Name...... ……………………)

Date...………………..….… Passport No......

Indian Visa: no…………………………………………………………………………………..…..

Place and date of issue……………………………………………………………………………

Address......

Tele /Fax/ E Mail......

I have waited long for vengeance, At last I’ve had my chance. I’ve looked the Peanut in the eye And kicked him in the pants

The old harpoon was ready With aim and timing true, I sank it to the handle,

And stung him through and through.

The little bastard shivered, And lost the power of speech. His face turned green and quivered As he struggled not to screech.

For all weary battles, For all my hours of woe, At last I've had my innings And laid the Peanut low.

I know I've still to suffer, And run a weary race, But oh! The blessed pleasure! I've wrecked the Peanut's face.

— Poem written by Jo POEM WRITTEN BY GENERAL STILWELL

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

THE BIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH W. STILWELL: Joseph W. Stilwell, in full Joseph Warren Stilwell (born March 19, 1883, Palatka, Florida, U.S.—died October 12, 1946, San Francisco, California),World War II army officer, who headed both U.S. and Chinese Nationalist resistance to the Japanese advance on the Far Eastern mainland. A 1904 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, Stilwell rose to the rank of general in 1944, having served in the Philippines, with the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I, and as an instructor at West Point. In addition, he studied the Chinese language and later served in Tianjin (1926–29) and as a military attaché in Beijing (1935–39). At the outbreak of World War II, Stilwell became General Chiang Kai-shek’s chief of staff, and he was placed in command of the Chinese Fifth and Sixth armies in Burm (Myanmar). In 1942 he was routed by Japanese troops—superior in numbers and equipment—and arrived in India on foot with the remains of his command after an agonizing 140-mile (225-km) jungle trek. Through the war he served as commanding general of all U.S. forces in China, Burma, and India, and early in 1945 the Ledo Road, an Allied supply route linked to the Burma Road, was renamed at Chang Kai Shek’s suggestion, the Stilwell Road in his honour. He was appointed commander of the U.S. Tenth Army in the Pacific theatre, and in August 1945 he received the surrender of more than 100,000 Japanese troops in the Ryukyu Islands.After March 1946 Stilwell served as Sixth Army commander in San Francisco until his death.FOR THE FULL BIOGRAPHY SEE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stilwell

THE STILWELL ROAD- A DETAILED DESCRIPTION: The Ledo Road, new supply route to China, is a graveled surface highway approximately 460 miles long and 20 feet wide running from the town of Ledo, Province of Assam, India, through the Patkai Mountains of northern Burma to the Chinese town of Wanting on the Burma border. It is constructed chiefly on an earth bench, has a maximum grade of 10 percent, has more than 200 bridges, 35 of which have a span of more than 100 feet, and for a large part follows a route reminiscent of the Rocky Mountain and Great Basin areas of the United States. American engineers, aided by Chinese and Indians and often preceded by combat troops who took care of the Japanese, began actual construction work on the huge project in January 1943. The following facts and figures are only mild reminders of the incredible scientific and human problems confronted by the men who incessantly pushed the project through some of the toughest territory in the world and achieved the impossible despite monsoon rains, blazing summer heat, malaria and a thousand other obstacles hitherto all but known to American men.

Proceeding from Ledo, 600 feet above sea level, the road follows a short northeasterly course for approximately 10 miles to a point dubbed "Tokyo Corner," where it takes an abrupt turn southward and continues in a southeasterly direction, heading for the forbidding peaks of the Patkai Mountain range and the India-Burma border. At mile-point 38.50, it crosses through the Pangsau Pass (elev. 4000 ft.) into Burma.

From Pangsau Pass it goes generally southeast through mountainous country covered with thick evergreen forests, dipping from heights of 3500 feet to less than 1500 feet, and topped off by the climb to Tagap Ga at the 80 miles mark, which is 4800 feet above sea level. The road continues south to Shingbwiyang (Mile 102) going all the way on a sharp decline. Shingbwiyang, which stands at the entrance to the Hukawng Valley in northern Burma, has an elevation of approximately 650 feet.

Cutting eastward from Shingbwiyang through the low, level Hukawng Valley, which is practically inundated during the monsoon, the Ledo Road encounters the headwaters of the Upper Chindwin River. This river provides the large, basin-shaped Hukawng Valley with its only drainage outlet. A narrow defile conducts the waters of the many streams and rivers coursing through the valley into the Upper Chindwin. During the monsoon season when the torrential downpour swells these streams and rivers to floodtide, the defile becomes a bottleneck, with the resultant formation of a large lake. The first three major river crossings appear in rapid succession in this region. At Mile 122, the Tarung Hka (River) is spanned by a bridge of some 964 feet. After this crossing an almost perpendicular turn southward about midway between the Tarung Hka and the Tawang Hka, another major span, about 865 feet, crosses the Tawang Hka, 17 miles past the Tarung Hka bridge. A third large bridge, measuring 606 feet, crosses the Tanai River, 7 miles farther south. There are also numerous minor bridges over the many smaller streams and rivers which cross the path of the road.

Turning a little to the west and rising slightly as it continues on south through Tingkawk Sakan (Mile 166) the road enters Shadazup at the 180 mile-point. Leaving Shadazup, which is at the threshold of the Mogaung Valley about 700 feet above sea level, it crosses the Mogaung River near the northeast bend. Now the road enters some very dense jungle country as it proceeds south through the low level Mogaung Valley to Warazup at the 189-mile mark. Here it again crosses the meandering Mogaung River and faces more to the east while it goes into the town of Namti - the 232 mile point. At Namti a stream bearing the same name is crossed and the Ledo Road meets a combat road utilized to supply the Chinese and American troops during the siege of Myitkyina in the summer of 1944.

Continuing through Namti it runs for a few miles alongside the spur of the Mogaung to Mandalay Railway which shunts across to Myitkyina, approximately 40 miles to the east. However, the road doesn't enter Myitkyina as it cuts southeast through rice paddies to a ferry crossing at the Irrawaddy River. Located about 10 miles southwest of Myitkyina, the ferry point Tiger Paw Adventures (I) Pvt Ltd, D-383, Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Ph. +91-11-26493291 / 65655355 / 46568080, Mob. +91- 9810128999, 9871746812 For North America (Voice message): 00 156 1459 3493 Website: www.tigerpawadventures.com, Email: [email protected], [email protected]

marks the 254th mile of the road. Eventually a 1600 ft. bridge will effect the crossing of the Irrawaddy. This area, with an elevation of 500 feet, lies at the foot of a gradual descent from the town of Warazup (Mile 189 in the Mogaung Valley) which is approximately 700 feet above sea level.

About 15 miles below Myitkyina the Ledo Road joins the old Myitkyina to Bhamo road (Mile 270). This route describes a rough crescent as it runs southeast for the greater part of its distance and then turns a southwest corner into Bhamo. Starting out through low lying paddy fields, it meanders over undulating, forested hill country, dipping once again through low, marshy farm lands and well-foliaged valleys till it reaches Bhamo at approximately Mile 363. It crosses numerous small streams and bridges two sizeable tributaries of the Irrawaddy River. One of these bridges spans the Nam Tabet River at about Mile 280, while the other crossing the Taping River near Myothit, the 340 mile mark. When the road turns southwest into Bhamo (Mile 363) it has descended to approximately 350 feet above sea level.

Leaving Bhamo, the Ledo Road once again turns southeastward through comparatively low country. However, about 35 miles below Bhamo it encounters a rapid and steep ascent up a 4000 foot peak to the village of Hkalum. Thence it descends to 3500 feet and crosses the Nammak Hka (River). A few miles farther south it crosses the Shwelhi River at a point approximately 2500 feet above sea level. The Shwelhi is spanned by a 450-ft suspension bridge. Continuing from here to Namkhan, about 4 miles away (mile point 420) the road now turns northward and more to the east, looking toward the Burma-China border. Approximately mile 445 it hits the old Burma Road which goes on south to Lashio. From the point where it begins the ascent of the 4000-ft peak to this meeting with the old Burma Road, it has more than 1300 sharp curves within a 46-mile stretch, with frequent precipitate drops at the road edge as it winds its way along the mountainside.

In the vicinity of the Nam Yang River, about Mile 460, the Burma-China border town of Wanting is reached. Here the Ledo Road will connect with the reconstructed Burma Road running from Kunming, providing a continuous overland all-weather supply route to China.

Adapted from Historical Record of the Engineer Section Construction Service - Services of Supply .United States Army Forces in China-Burma-India and United States Forces in India- Burma Theater http://cbi-theater-1.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-1/life051842/life051842.html The Rat-Trap of Burma - LIFE - May 18, 1942 cbi-theater-1.home.comcast.net - 749 × 530 - Search by image Between Maymyo and Lashio, Japs sliced in from the flanks of the Burma Road through the Shan States in the southeast. They had reached this little bridge by ... Stilwell Road & The Fight To Take Myitkyina Airfield By Merrill's Marauders DVD: WWII: Battle for China The Flying Tigers and the Stilwell ... www.tower.com - 200 × 280 - Search by image WWII: Battle for China The Flying Tigers and the Stilwell Road (.The Ledo Road - LIFE - August 14, 1944 cbi-theater.home.comcast.net - 629 × 480 - Search by image "PICK'S PIKE" FOLLOWS STILWELL'S ADVANCE IN BUR http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-army/still.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddiqui/4261549989/in/photostream/

People's Daily Online -- The southwest lifeline english.people.com.cn - 400 × 303 - Search by image Two US soldiers arrived in China via the "Stilwell Road" in Sep http://www.ledoroad.com/live/ http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/87309-guwahati-burma-stillwell-road-pangsau-pass-9.html Tiger Paw Adventures (I) Pvt Ltd, D-383, Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Ph. +91-11-26493291 / 65655355 / 46568080, Mob. +91- 9810128999, 9871746812 For North America (Voice message): 00 156 1459 3493 Website: www.tigerpawadventures.com, Email: [email protected], [email protected]

On this program:

This program has been especially created by the TigerPaws team led by its directors, father and son team, Maj Gen Surjit Singh, and IJ Singh, both of significant experience in the North East of India.

The trip will be led by IJ Singh

THE TRIP LEADER FOR THIS JOURNEY-IJ-Inder Jit Singh

Born in Shillong, Meghalaya on 18 January 1959, Inder Jit Singh's fascination with the Himalaya and remote parts of the Indian Sub Continent began as a schoolboy and "military brat" in the early 70's, when he returned to his birthplace as a high school student, able to travel with his father , serving a second tenure with the Assam Rifles. During that year,the Assam Rifles was tasked by the Indian Government to provide safe passage into India to the Dalai Lama, and then Capt.Surjit Singh (Inder Jit’s’ father) was given a key assignment related to this task. This association later led to Inder Jit arranging a historic audience between the Dalai Lama and his father over fifty years later, for the German clients of TigerPaw Adventures, the Company Inder Jit founded in 1982. For it was those early years of travel that led to his fascination with the indigenous culture and biodiversity of the regions that today feature prominently in TigerPaw Adventures the company he founded in 1982, and with which his personality, and hobbies are inextricably linked including the anthropological and military history trips and expeditions he has promoted and conducted for three decades.

Beginning a pioneering company devoted to adventure and special interest travel in 1982, four years after having obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce in 1979 ,Inder- Jit's strong interest in Himalayan eco- tourism led to his participation in 1993 in the first Himalayan Tourism Advisory Board panel discussions with government officials and private agencies, to help determine tourism policy in Arunachal Pradesh.

Also in 1993, Inder Jit also became one of the first five Indians to be nominated for a Fellowship on Environmental Education by the US ASIA Environmental Partnership Program through the Asia Foundation in San Francisco for his concept paper in environmental eductation for illiterate and semi literate adults.

In 1994 he became the point person for drawing up and initiating a proposal for his company for sustainability planning in the Eastern Himalayas and in 1994, and was awarded one of the prestigious five annual Australasian-wide grants from the Bio Diversity Conservation Network Washington DC. It is noteworthy that this grant was awarded to only two other Indian agencies, The Tata Energy Research Institute and The Wild Life Institute of India, both premier scientific bodies in India.

Inder Jit has personally led /coordinated the following prestigious expeditions: In 1980, a 27 day trek to the source of the Ganges trek with British author Charles Allen, for the writing of the latter’s book - A Mountain in Tibet.

First High Water (post monsoon) Expedition on the Ganges 17th Sep 1989 : Indo-Canadian Team

First Winter Expedition Upper Alakananda for Indian Army’s 13 Guards Batallion 18th Dec 1992 Tiger Paw Adventures (I) Pvt Ltd, D-383, Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Ph. +91-11-26493291 / 65655355 / 46568080, Mob. +91- 9810128999, 9871746812 For North America (Voice message): 00 156 1459 3493 Website: www.tigerpawadventures.com, Email: [email protected], [email protected]

First Descent on Roptu Chu-International Tri Junction River Lohit Arunachal Pradesh For Indian Army’s 2nd Mountain Artillery Brigade 4th March 1993 First all-woman rafting team from the Central Reserve Police Force 1996.

Lower Lohit training Expedition for Indian Army’s 8th Mahar Battalion 11th Mar 1993

Exercise Bhilangana Diamond for 2nd Royal Tank Regiment British Forces High altitude ski mountaineering trek 13thSep 1993 ,1995 and for Britain’s Royal Signals 1997 Royal Air Force Kinloss Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Kedar Dome Garhwal 1998.

With his passion for adventure and activity based travel Inder Jit Singh has been the first to develop multi destination polo holidays and indeed create the concept of polo holidays. He was a nominated speaker in October at the United States sponsored Polo 2000 Convention in Las Vegas and is the acknowledged international authority on such vacations , as result of his knowledge of polo and remote travel. Inder Jit has travelled to South Africa, and Tanzania for such activities as “Bush polo”, were the Masai tribals watch the game in the Tanzanian bush, to Argentina on his created Gaucho safari and other venues which blend his hobbies with his work.

Inder Jit and his wife Jasleen (who holds a Master of Education degree (born 11 Sep 1965) have, after spending seven years in British Columbia, Canada, decided to settle in India in order to bring up their daughter.

Inder Jit Singh has, besides running all kinds of educational adventure trips which has included trips for premier institutions such as the American Embassy School, New Delhi from 1983 to 1993, and again from 2009 onwards, Governor Sterling School Australia, BITS Pilani, and Vasant Valley School .

Since the early late 80’s and 90’s Inder Jit has been instrumental in developing and conducting off-beat trips for American Express card members, and in particular, outdoor management style team-building and leadership programs for the American Express Human Resources Division, making him and his company the first providers of these services to the private sector in northern India. The company’s clients have also included ABN Bank , HSBC, Nestle’s and Phlip Moris all for VP led programs, under Inder Jit’s team building and leadership facilitation, and in some cases co facilitated, with ex SAS (UK) facilitators sourced by himself for the Company. TigePaws’ clientele personally led by IJ have also included the Vice President of Harvard University, the Chairman of the British Confederation of Industry, Sir Digby Jones and the British Minister of Commerce Lord Digby Jones ,as well as England’s most famous public school –Rugby School for whom IJ personally led a polo clinic to South Africa in Mar 2005 and who are still his clients.

Clients such as the Vice President of Harvard and other American groups from Turtle Tours Arizona and Leslie Clarke, have come for special tribal anthropological tours to meet desert and forest tribal and indigenous communities, a special program started for the TigerPaws by IJ.

Besides writing occasional travel articles for small travel magazines, IJ as he is also known, has been a contributing author to “ World Wide Riding Vacations” published in the US as well as pioneering horseback adventure trips and polo holidays worldwide.He has also been a speaker on the subject of Polo Holidays at Las Vegas in USA . Inder Jit has recently published a book spanning three decades of adventure and eco travel and which includes an eco travel reference guide for Northern

India.(see www.nobodaboda.com) The book features anthropological and wilderness journeys in other parts of India besides the Himalaya in desert and rain forest ecosystems displaying his hands on experience in these zones as well.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

This tour is open to all adults, youth, with experience of travelling in remote areas.

Participants are expected to have patience and understanding in areas of stark cultural contrast to what they normally experience.

War and military service veterans,(no serving diplomatic or military personnel may join), descendants of personnel who served during the construction of the Stilwell, road or in any of the Far Eastern military theatres of WW2, humanitarians and socially responsible and active personalities, will receive first preference.

For Detailed pricing and operating terms please contact IJ Singh via email on [email protected] With your complete contact details, nationality, and reasons for wishing to join.