India – From a Women’s Perspective – Oct. 2012

October 2011.   Check out our Photo Gallery and Travel Blog  and Testimonials from this trip.

NEW DATES FOR 2012!

Oct. 19 to Nov. 03, 2012
15 days/ 14 nights
Land only price US $3975 per person, based on double occupancy
Single supplement US $1650

PRESIDENTS TOUR.  Join Debbie Ross, founder of WTN, on an intimate tour to India.

A country of contrasts; of tradition and modernity; of the ancient and the new. It is a study of historic palaces and quiet temples, of bright colours and perpetual motion. This trip delves into the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and continues further to the splendid desert city of Rajasthan. We travel with a woman’s perspective, taking opportunities to learn about the traditional and the modern. We’ll take a yoga class, learn to wear a saree, shop the vegetable market and prepare a meal. We’ll meet with a local  women’s group and visit an elementary school. This trip will take you beyond the conventional with a woman’s view of India today. This is a fascinating trip, which will return you enriched and refreshed. India is truly the trip of a lifetime, drawing you in with its vibrant, stimulating spectacle.

Day 1 – Depart Toronto

Day 2 – Arrival in Delhi

Upon arrival in Delhi this evening we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. The capital city paints a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and vibrant traditions.

Overnight: Hotel Lalit, Delhi or similar

Day 3 – Delhi 

After a quick breakfast we leave for our city tour. Travel by rickshaw past colorful bazaars, sacred temples, and colonial monuments through the winding streets of Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India from the 12th through the 19th centuries. See the sumptuous Red Fort palaces, the symbol of Indian nationhood. Visit India’s largest mosque, the white marble Jama Masjid, and see the Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation site.   We’ll lunch today with a local women’s service club and learn about the challenges facing women in Delhi today.

Overnight: Hotel Lalit, Delhi or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 – Agra

Early this morning we will depart Delhi for Agra. Our journey will introduce us to the scenic beauty of rural India.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Imperial, Agra

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5 – Agra

Early this morning we will visit the Taj Mahal. The pre-eminent monument to love is perhaps the most perfect architectural monument in the world, the Taj is India’s most photographed sight and we’re happy to say that it lives up to its reputation.  We’ll get up early this morning for a quiet, untouristed look at the Taj in all its glory.

We continue to Agra Fort.  The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. Inside there are number of exquisite buildings, including the Moti Masjid, a white marvel mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-e-Am; Diwan-e-Khaas; Jehangir’s Palace; Khaas Mahal; Shish Mahal; and Musamman or Samman Burj, where Shah Jehan was held captive in 1666 A.D.

We’ll end the day with a yoga session made all the more inspirational by the view of the Taj Mahal.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Imperial, Agra

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6 – Agra-Jaipur

Near Agra we’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri, briefly the capital of the Mughal Empire, with one of the largest mosques in India within a complex of monuments and temples. We travel on by road to Jaipur, known as “the pink city” for the terracotta plaster that coats buildings in the old part of the city.  The vibrant culture of the city is on dazzling display on people and in the bazaars.   Here people wear bright colours as if to compensate for the barren desert surroundings.  A central repository for the region’s wonderful crafts, Jaipur is famous for its gems and jewelery, enamel and brass ware, blue pottery, embroidered leather footwear, rugs, tie-and-dye cotton fabrics, hand-blocked prints, fine saris, and ready-made linens and home furnishings.

Overnight: Hotel Alsisar, Jaipur

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7 – Jaipur

Today we explore the monuments of Jaipur’s golden age. The Amber Fort is a beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples and is magnificently preserved. You will approach the palace complex on elephant back – the way the maharajahs did! Another highlight is Jantar Mantar, the largest of the five remarkable observatories built by Jaipur’s founder.  Its complex instruments, with scientifically designed settings and shapes, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy.

We will also see the City Palace, a former royal residence built in the centre of the old city in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles.  This evening, we’ll dine with a group of local women, who’ll share experiences of their daily life and show us the right way to tie a sari.

Overnight: Hotel Alsisar, Jaipur

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8 – Drive to Nimaj

The Jaipur area is famed for its local artisans of carpet weaving, block printing and jewelry making. We’ll visit a women’s cooperative studio morning where traditional crafts are being repositioned to support women’s work.   We’ll travel to Nayla, a village which successfully runs a women’s cooperative for milk production which had also campaigned to get rid of alcohol shops.  The Women’s Dairy Cooperative Society has done excellent work in helping women’s groups become self-sufficient.

In the afternoon we travel on to Nimaj for a taste of Indian village life.  We’ll take a walk in the village to see the Hindu Temples, Mosques and Jain Temples that happily co-exist.  We’ll see farmers tilling the soil with bullocks and camels, brick kilns, stone quarries and the everyday life of the village.  We’ll enjoy a cooking class this evening – preparing dinner with our chef and learning some secrets of Indian cuisine.

Overnight:  Nimaj Palace Hotel, Nimaj

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9 – Nimaj & Jodhpur

Early this morning we drive to the Blue City of Jodhpur.  On our way, we’ll visit a small village fast becoming India’s most famous makes for dhurries following a 500 year old tradition. The kingdom of Jodhpur was ruled by the powerful Rathores. They claim that their ancestry can be traced back to the mythological age of Ramayana.   Jodhpur is the home of many talented and skilled craftsmen including textile dyers, metal engravers and die-makers.   The city is a fascinating medieval maze with a special magic.

Overnight: Hotel Ranbanka, Jodhpur or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 – Jodhpur

We’ll begin the day with a visit to a girl’s elementary school in Jodhpur.  Huge strides are being made in technical education in India and young girls are being increasingly integrated into educational development.

In Jodhpur, we’ll discover the fascinating private chambers and intricate courtyards of Mehrangarh Fort, the setting of Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Once the capital of Marwar dynasty, it was built on a low hill situated in the heart of the Thar Desert and surrounded by nearly 35,000 square miles of sand.  Other highlights include a visit to the local market flower and vegetable market and a three-wheeled tuk-tuk ride through the winding streets of Jodhpur.

Overnight: Hotel Ranbanhka, Jodhpur or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11 – Excursion to Osian

The village of Osian is an oasis in the Thar Desert; an ancient town which displays elegant 6th and 8th century temple architecture.  You’ll drive out to the village and tour the Sachiva Mata Jain temple, the Sun temple and the Kali temple.   In the afternoon, you’ll venture out on camelback to explore the sand dunes of the desert.

Overnight:  Hotel Ranbanhka, Jodhpur or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12 – Jodhpur-Narlai

Much of India continues to be tranquil, rural and tied to the land.  Today you will travel into the Aravalli hills where the sights and sounds of the 17th century village of Narlai await.  You’ll stay at the Rawla Narlai. Once a favourite hunting lodge of the Jodhpur royal family, this 17th century fortress is now a peaceful hotel centred around a beautiful garden alive with bougainvillea, with bedrooms furnished in Rajasthani style.  It’s a peaceful interlude as we get ready for the final leg of the trip.

Overnight: Rawla Narlai, Narlai

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 13 – Narlai-Ranakpur-Udaipur

Today we drive to Udaipur, stopping en route at Ranakpur to visit the magnificent Jain temples. This marble complex is noted for the 29 halls supported by 1,444 pillars, each adorned with hundred of carved figures, with no two alike. We’ll meet with a Jain priest to learn more about this ancient Indian religion.

We continue to Udaipur in the afternoon.  This is known as a romantic city, a cultural and artistic centre housing an extravagant palace set on lovely Lake Pichola.  It is one of the largest palace complexes in the world and boasts extraordinary craftsmanship.  After checking into the hotel, we’ll begin our exploration of this delightful city.

Overnight:  Ram Pratap Palace, Udaipur or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 14 – Udaipur

This morning’s city tour includes the Palace Museum, Jagdish Temple and the Pratap Memorial. We are hosted by local ladies for a special demonstration on the art of the saree and henna. This evening we’ll take a cruise on Lake Pichola (weather and conditions permitting) to view the City Palace by sunset and celebrate our extraordinary adventure in India.

Overnight:  Ram Pratap Palace, Udaipur or similar

Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 15 – Depart Udaipur

The morning is at leisure for some final explorations, and this afternoon we fly to Delhi. On arrival rooms have been reserved for refreshing prior to a late evening transfer to the airport for our flights home.  International flights depart late at night.

Meals:  Breakfast

Itinerary subject to change to take advantage of local events

Highlights

• Rickshaw tour of old Delhi
• Tuk Tuk ride through the winding streets of Jodhpur
• Explore the sand dunes of the desert on camelback
• Bargain in the markets and bazaars
• Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal
• Visit a local flower and vegetable market
• Tour ancient forts, palaces gardens and temples
• Yoga – private sessions
• Cooking class – traditional indian dishes
• Dine with a local womens service club
• Visit a women’s cooperative studio in the Jaipur area
• Visit a gilrs elementary school in Jodphur
• Discover Meherangarh Fort, setting of The Jungle Book
• Special demonstration on the art of the saree and henna

What’s included:

• Accommodations, based on double occupancy in hotels listed or similar
• All internal transportation by deluxe air conditioned coach
• Domestic flights (Udaipur to Delhi)
• Meals as specified in itinerary
• Daily bottled water on coach
• Entrance fees to all sites visited with the group
• Sightseeing as listed with experienced English-speaking guide
• Services of a WTN tour leader
• All baggage handling of one standard bag per person
• Airport transfers for passengers arriving and departing as per the group itinerary

Not Included:

• International airfare, approximate cost from Toronto $1300
• Gratuities of $250
• Items of a personal nature such as bar expenses, phone calls, laundry
• Beverages at meals
• Excess baggage
• Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
• Airport transfers if arriving / departing separately from group itinerary
• Cancellation and medical insurance

Reservations and Deposit Information:

• A deposit of C$500.00 per person is required to confirm the booking.
• Please make cheques payable to Travelpoint Enterprises Inc.
• For information please check our Travel Policies and Cancellation Terms and Conditions.
• Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.  A quotation will be given based on each individuals needs.
• Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure, August 04, 2012.

Important!

Airfare is based on current rates at time of publishing, rates are subject to change

Note: Tour is based on a minimum of 10 participants up to a maximum of 12.
3% surcharge added for credit card payments

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