Traveling with artist and teacher Charles Miano “Painting the People of India” Join Charles Miano, founder and director of the classical art school Southern Atelier in Sarasota, Florida, on an inspirational 16-day tour of one of the world's most ancient and cherished cultures. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to paint alongside this well- reknowned and respected artist as you experience the exotic beauty of India. Charles will explore in depth the nuanced humanity and heritage of places and people through this portrait painting workshop and tour of discovery. In the course of the trip we will visit eight unique locations in India - its palaces, museums, royal residences, lush gardens, courts, tombs, temples, forts, mosques and markets in addition to many artistic marvels and natural wonders. Along with art classes in Delhi, Udaipur and Jodhpur, there will be two sessions of yoga in Udaipur and Jaipur. We will stay in impressive five-star and historical hotels and explore the most delectable regional cuisine. Artists will bring their creative skills to a whole new level on this enlightening, eye-opening journey! SEPT 13, SAT DEPARTURE USA SEPT 15, MON: ARRIVE DELHI Meeting and assistance on arrival and check in at hotel THE MET. DELHI: New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. WELCOME DINNER Overnight at hotel SEPT 16, TUE: IN DELHI Morning sightseeing of Old Delhi. Drive past the magnificent Red Fort, - a marvel in red sandstone, built on the banks of River Yamuna by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Visit Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi), Jama Masjid, - The largest mosque in India. Drive past Chandi Chowk, once an imperial avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city. Walk through Chandni Chowk to savour the ambience of an oriental bazaar. Afternoon visit Lalit Kala Academy – Academy of Fine Arts. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 17, WED: IN DELHI Morning sightseeing of New Delhi, visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years, the mausoleum of emperor Humayun, the imposing modern Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Drive past India Gate (memorial to the Indian army soldiers who died in the World War I) the Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the viceroy's residence) and the Parliament House. Afternoon visit Faculty of Arts – Jamia Milia Islamia University. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 18, THU: FLY DELHI – UDAIPUR In time transfer to airport to connect flight for Udaipur. Depart Delhi: at 1455 Hrs by 9W 707 (Jet Airways) Arrive Udaipur: at 1615 Hrs. Meeting and assistance on arrival and check in at hotel Lalit Laxmi Niwas Palace. UDAIPUR: This is Rajasthan’s most congenial and romantic city situated in the lap of the thickly wooded Aravali Hills. Founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh following the final sacking of Chittorgarh by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar Udaipur rivals any of the world famous creations of the Mughals with its Rajput love of the whimsical and its superbly crafted elegance. Udaipur has been called the “Venice of the East”. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 19, FRI: IN UDAIPUR Morning proceed for city tour of Udaipur, a splash of color in Rajasthan that is brighter when tinged with the tones of local lore and legends. Visit the City Palace, built in 1725, which hours the Dilkhush Mahal, Sheesh Mahal - studded with glittering Belgium Mirrors, Moti Mahal and the Palace of Lord Krishna all of which are ornately decorated. Later visit the Jagdish Temple. This temple built in 1651 is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver in gardens of the maids-of-honour, with beautiful lawns, gardens and fountains. Later visit Sahelion ki Bari. Afternoon visit commercial art shop. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 20, SAT: IN UDAIPUR Morning visit Eklingi and Nagda Temple. Afternoon visit local vegetable market and proceed to lunch with cooking demo with local family. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 21 Half day painting with Charlie, Overnight at hotel SEPT 22, MON: DRIVE UDAIPUR – JODHPUR (270 KMS / 05 HRS) Morning drive to Jodhpur en-route visiting Ranakpur Temples. RANAKPUR: Ranakpur, the wonderful 3 temples of the Jain sector dating back to the 14th/15th century. The unforgettable main Temple dedicated to Adinatha the first Tirthankar (1439) built in marble took 65 years to complete. It is one of the five holy Jain pilgrimage centers, and has one of the best temple complexes. Meeting and assistance on arrival and check in at hotel BALSAMAMD LAKE PALACE Evening visit clock Tower market followed by a `tuk-tuk’ ride though the local markets. GROUP DINNER Overnight at hotel. SEPT 23, TUE: IN JODHPUR Morning city tour visiting the 5-km long Mehrangarh Fort situated on a 125-mt high hill. This is one of the most impressive and formidable structures in Rajasthan. Within the fort are some magnificent palaces with meticulously carved panels, latticed windows or "Jarokhas" with evocative names. The chambers of Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, the Sileh Khana and the Daulat Khana are noteworthy for the splendor and glamour of a bygone era. Also do an elaborated visit of Art Gallery. Later visit the Jaswant Thada - a cluster of royal cenotaphs in the white marble built in 1899 AD in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II. The tour culminates with a visit to the Museum housed in the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur, & probably the last of the great palaces of India and one of the largest residences in the world – set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, this golden-yellow sandstone monument was conceived on the grandest possible scale, in the fashionable Art Deco style of that time. After 15 years in construction, the 347-room palace was finally completed in 1943 – and has served as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family since. This palace hotel is a fine example of art deco. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 24, WED: Half day painting with Charlie Overnight at hotel. SEPT 25, THU: DRIVE JODHPUR – SAMODE (365 KMS / 07 – 08 HRS) Morning drive to Samode( 365 KMS / 07 – 08 hrs). On arrival check-in at SAMODE PALACE. Evening visit Birla Temple for ‘aarti’ ceremony. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 26, FRI: IN SAMODE/JAIPUR Morning Amber Fort with elephant ride: Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal – a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds. Afternoon city tour begins with a visit to the Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. Evening session with block painters. Overnight at hotel. SEPT 27, SAT: DRIVE JAIPUR–AGRA:240 KMS/04-05 hrs Morning drive to Agra en-route visit Fatehpur sikri. Fatehpur sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power. After fatehpur sikri continue drive to Agra. AGRA Globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal, this royal Mughal city has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that epitomize the high point of Mughal architecture. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India . It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first formal Persian gardens on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort.