Itinerary

DAY 1 - 18th November

Today we leave for our Indian adventure - pity our flight isn't until 10pm.  Fingers crossed we manage to sleep all the way.

DAY 2 - 19th November

This morning upon arrival into India, as Delhi is your first Port of Entry, you will need to go through Immigration Control upon arrival and collect your luggage in the arrivals hall.  Our Tour Manager/Local representative will be there to assist.  Due to the later connection time for the flight to Amritsar, you will be taken for an included lunch at an airport restaurant before checking in at the domestic terminal for your onward flight.

Upon arrival into Amritsar, you will be transferred to the five star Radisson Hotel for the next two nights.  The address of the hotel is Radisson Blu Hotel, Airport Road, Amritsar, 14300l, Punjab, India. Tel: 0091 183 66 111 11  There is time to relax before leaving the hotel early evening to witness our first glimpse of the floodlit Golden Temple.

We will witness the Palaki Ceremony where the Sikh Holy scriptures are paraded on a flower garlanded palanquin.

Please note: In the temple no shoes or socks are to be worn, heads need to be covered for both men and women.  Head scarves are available at the entrance for 10 INR.

The temple is less busy in the evening.  This is the best opportunity to see inside the Temple when witnessing the Palaki ceremony.  The queues during the day can be around 1-2 hours long.

DAY 3 - 20th November

Following breakfast we will see the Golden Temple where you will learn all about the Sikh way of life.  Everything is well ordered and clean with pilgrims and visitors mingling together.  Once issue you will see the richly gilded inlay work, wood panels decorated with silver and gold and ivory carvings all viewed whilst holy scriptures are recited under a dome of pure gold.  You will see the kitchens capable of feeding 6000 people per hour, usually dhal and hot chapattis.  In accordance with the Sikh Custom anyone who wishes to eat will eat free of charge.

We will see the site of the Amritsar Massacre where in 1919 a nationalist demonstration of unarmed locals were fired upon by the British authorities.  Later we will drive to the Wagah Border post with Pakistan which over the years has developed into a light hearted competition to see who has the most flamboyant marching style, and is a fascinating blend of party, military parade and open air theatre.  We return later to the hotel.  A buffet dinner is included at the hotel tonight.

DAY 4 - 21st November

This morning we fly back to Delhi before continuing by coach to Agra and the Taj Mahal.  We arrive later at our hotel for one night, the four star Taj Gateway, Fatehabad Road, Taj Ganj, Agra, 282001, Uttar Pradesh.  Tel: 0091 562 660 2000

DAY 5 - 22nd November

This morning we will see the Taj Mahal; a fantastic sight as the mist rises from the Yamuna River, this wonder of the world is one of the most amazing monuments on the planet.  We continue with a visit to the vast red sandstone 16th century Agra Fort, once headquarters of the Mogul Empire.

We continue our journey by coach to Jaipur where we stay for two nights at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Plot 5-6 Airport Plaza, Durgapura, Tonk Road, Jaipur, 302018.  Tel: 0091 414 519 8888

DAY 6 - 23rd November

Our first stop this morning is the Amber Fort located in the hills of Jaipur.  Our tour includes sections reserved for the Maharajah's wives and concubines and an amazing hall covered with tiny convex mirrors embedded mosaic like in the walls and ceilings.  We will visit the Jantar Mantar open air observatory, an extremely accurate collection of early astronomical instruments used for predicting eclipses and monsoons.  We arrive later at the City Palace, the home of the present Maharajah of Jaipur with its collection of robes, carpets, fine paintings and armoury.  We will also see the Palace of the Winds where the ladies of the royal household watched from the windows the processions and street life.

DAY 7 - 24th November

Following breakfast we head to the train station and board the train to Ajmer.  On arrival we will take the coach to Pushkar, the sacred Hindu town magically set on the banks of the mystical lake and home to the world's largest camel fair.

We will check into the three star superior family run Pushkar Resort, Village Gander, Motisar Road, Pushkar, 305022 Rajasthan, for one night.  Tel: 0091 941340 0215

Later in the afternoon we will visit the Brahma temple, the only place in the world where it is permitted to worship the creator-God of the Hindu religion.  You will see the market, the sacred lake and bathing ghats.  A buffet dinner is included at the hotel tonight.

DAY 8 - 25th November

Leaving Pushkar this morning we continue towards Nagaur Fort, a fascination fort-cum palace complex displaying a unique merging of Rajput and Mogul architecture.  With its 800 year history and careful restoration, it well deserves its UNESCO recognition.  Driving through the arid landscape of sand dunes we are well off the beaten track and surrounded by ox carts and small villages.  Before long the amazing Khimsar Fort comes into view, we stay for two nights.  The address of the hotel is Khimsar Fort, 27 Shivaji Nagar, Civil Lines, 203006. Tel: 0091141 222 9700.  Dinner is included tonight.

DAY 9 - 26th November

Today is a free day to further explore Khimsar.  There a morning optional activity where you can visit a local village and interact with local villagers in their houses.  You will also visit Blackbuck reserve in jeeps on the way back to the hotel.  The cost of this excursion is IR 950 per person.  There is an afternoon excursion where you can take a jeep ride from Khimsar Fort to the sand dunes and then take a camel cart ride followed by tea, coffee and biscuits while watching the beautiful sunset over the dunes. The afternoon excursion is IR 1500 per person.

**** Please note ALL optional excursions are payable locally and will be arranged by your tour manager once you are in India.

DAY 10 - 27th November

This morning we leave Khimsar heading towards Jodhpur, the Blue City named after the colour wash of its old city and dominated by the Mehrangarh Fort.  The fort has an impressive hall of mirrors, secret balconies and intricate sandstone carvings.  Its museum houses Emperor Akbar's sword and antique belongings of the Maharajas.  This afternoon we walk through Jodhpur's fascinating open-air Clock Tower Market, selling everything from the finest silks, fruit and vegetables and aromatic spices.

We later arrive at the hotel for one night stay at the four star Taj Vivanta Hotel, 5 Residency Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342001.  Tel: 0091 291 243 9700

DAY 11 - 28th November

Leaving Jodhpur behind us we drive east to the Aravali Hills, some of the planets oldest rocks.  Here the landscape changes to smooth bare hilltops with lush narrow valleys, in one of which lies Ranakpur.  It has one of the finest Jain Temples constructed from white marble and 1444 columns, of which no two are identical.

We continue to Udaipur where we stay for two nights at the Oberoi Trident Hotel, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan.  Tel: 0091 294 243 2200

DAY 12 - 29th November

Overlooking Lake Pichola is Rajasthans largest royal complex, the City Palace.  We will see Maharanis private apartments, courtyards, pleasure garden, miniature paintings and armaments.  There are seven arches commemorating the seven times each king was weighed with the equivalent in gold distributed amongst the lucky populace.  We will also see the Durbar Hall and the Crystal Gallery, lined with thousands of items of crystal all produced in Birmingham in 1877.  This afternoon is free for you to explore as you wish.  Your tour manage can advise you of places that may be of interest.  Dinner at the 1559AD restaurant is included tonight.

DAY 13 - 30th November

We fly back to Delhi this morning and see some of the sights of Old and New Delhi, including Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar, before checking in to the Hyatt Regency, Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road, New Delhi, 110066, this afternoon.  Tel: 0091 11 2679 1234

DAY 14 - 1st December

This morning we depart for the airport for our flight to the UK, which arrives later the same day.