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The Amber Fort, Rajasthan
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| 24 Days/23 Nights |
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Location
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Nights
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 |
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River Ganges, Varanasi
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 |
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Colourful Local Train, Mumbai
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|
|
Mumbai (Bombay)
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3 |
|
Udaipur
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3
|
|
Jaipur
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2
|
|
Agra
|
1
|
|
Varanasi
|
3
|
|
Indian National Railways
|
1
|
|
Kolkata (Calcutta)
|
2
|
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Sunderban Tiger Reserve
|
3
|
|
Delhi
|
4
|
|
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|
The Amber Fort, Rajasthan
|
| 24 Days/23 Nights |
|
|
|
Location
|
Nights
|
|
|
River Ganges, Varanasi
|
|
|
Colourful Local Train, Mumbai
|
|
|
Mumbai (Bombay)
|
3 |
|
Udaipur
|
3
|
|
Jaipur
|
2
|
|
Agra
|
1
|
|
Varanasi
|
3
|
|
Indian National Railways
|
1
|
|
Kolkata (Calcutta)
|
2
|
|
Sunderban Tiger Reserve
|
3
|
|
Delhi
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
| Reading |
 |
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Setting - Mumbai (Bombay)
Set in mid-1970s India, A Fine Balance tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a “State of Internal Emergency.” Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances – and their fates – become inextricably linked in ways no one could have foreseen.
|
| |
|
 |
Dreaming in Hindi - Katherine Russell Rich
Setting - Udaipur
At a time when her life seemed to be crumbling, Katherine Russell Rich took on a writing assignment in India, where she was seduced by the idea of learning to speak Hindi, the language she heard swirling all around her. In a rash moment, she determined she'd go live and study in the ancient city of Udaipur. That decision lead to unexpected reclamation.
|
| |
|
 |
Shooting Water - Devyani Saltzman
Setting - Varanasi
This highly acclaimed debut is Devyani Saltzman's remarkable story of reconnecting with her mother, award-winning filmmaker Deepa Mehta, in India and Sri Lanka during the production of the Oscar-nominated film Water.
|
| |
|
 |
The Hungry Tide - Amitav Ghosh
Setting - Sunderban Tiger Reserve
Off the easternmost coast of India lies the immense archipelago of tiny islands known as the Sundarbans. Life here is precarious, ruled by the unforgiving tides and the constant threat of attack by Bengal tigers. Into this place of vengeful beauty come two seekers from different worlds, whose lives collide with tragic consequences.
A contemporary story of adventure and romance, identity and history, The Hungry Tide travels deep into one of the most fascinating regions on earth, where the treacherous forces of nature and human folly threaten to destroy a way of life.
|
| |
|
 |
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
Setting - Delhi
Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life -- having nothing but his own wits to help him along.
|
| |
|
 |
Nine Lives - William Dalrymple
Setting - Modern Sacred India
Nine people, nine lives. Each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. Exquisite and mesmerising, and told with an almost biblical simplicity, William Dalrymple's first travel book in over a decade explores how traditional forms of religious life in South Asia have been transformed in the region's rapid change. A distillation of twenty-five years of exploring India and writing about its religious traditions, Nine Lives is a modern Indian Canterbury Tales.
|
| Reading |
|
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Setting - Mumbai (Bombay)
Set in mid-1970s India, A Fine Balance tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a “State of Internal Emergency.” Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances – and their fates – become inextricably linked in ways no one could have foreseen.
|
| |
|
|
Dreaming in Hindi - Katherine Russell Rich
Setting - Udaipur
At a time when her life seemed to be crumbling, Katherine Russell Rich took on a writing assignment in India, where she was seduced by the idea of learning to speak Hindi, the language she heard swirling all around her. In a rash moment, she determined she'd go live and study in the ancient city of Udaipur. That decision lead to unexpected reclamation.
|
| |
|
|
Shooting Water - Devyani Saltzman
Setting - Varanasi
This highly acclaimed debut is Devyani Saltzman's remarkable story of reconnecting with her mother, award-winning filmmaker Deepa Mehta, in India and Sri Lanka during the production of the Oscar-nominated film Water.
|
| |
|
|
The Hungry Tide - Amitav Ghosh
Setting - Sunderban Tiger Reserve
Off the easternmost coast of India lies the immense archipelago of tiny islands known as the Sundarbans. Life here is precarious, ruled by the unforgiving tides and the constant threat of attack by Bengal tigers. Into this place of vengeful beauty come two seekers from different worlds, whose lives collide with tragic consequences.
A contemporary story of adventure and romance, identity and history, The Hungry Tide travels deep into one of the most fascinating regions on earth, where the treacherous forces of nature and human folly threaten to destroy a way of life.
|
| |
|
|
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
Setting - Delhi
Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life -- having nothing but his own wits to help him along.
|
| |
|
|
Nine Lives - William Dalrymple
Setting - Modern Sacred India
Nine people, nine lives. Each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. Exquisite and mesmerising, and told with an almost biblical simplicity, William Dalrymple's first travel book in over a decade explores how traditional forms of religious life in South Asia have been transformed in the region's rapid change. A distillation of twenty-five years of exploring India and writing about its religious traditions, Nine Lives is a modern Indian Canterbury Tales.
|
|
|
|
Pricing
|
|
Shared*
|
Single supplement*
|
Deposit**
|
|
CAD $7895.00
|
CAD $1475.00
|
CAD $995.00
|
|
*Shared accommodation is available to all participants.
**Deposit is non-refundable.
Price may be subject to change.
Changes in Airport Tax may require pricing adjustment.
|
|
Inclusions in the above prices:
All books
International fights
Domestic fights
Going Places Together / Nicholas Hoare host throughout
Superior Class (4 to 5 Star) hotel accommodation throughout
Railway transportation 4-berth shared accommodation Varanasi to Kolkata
All transfers and transportation by private coach with driver/guide
Arrival assistance, Departure assistance
Professional English Speaking Local Guide in each respective city
Sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary
Meals as indicated on itinerary
All tipping except that listed below
|
Exclusions in the above prices:
Personal items
Meals not listed in itinerary
Porters and tipping for meals not included
Tipping for alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance
Visa/passport handling fees |
 |
 |
Host Profile: Ben Walsh
Ben's passion for India began with a year long journey across the subcontinent in 1995. Since then he has returned to study, write, work, and of course, read. He began his current adventure as a bookseller at Nichoals Hoare in 2007. |
Pricing
|
|
Shared*
|
Single supplement*
|
Deposit**
|
|
CAD $7895.00
|
CAD $1475.00
|
CAD $995.00
|
|
*Shared accommodation is available to all participants.
**Deposit is non-refundable.
Price may be subject to change.
Changes in Airport Tax may require pricing adjustment.
|
|
Inclusions in the above prices:
All books
International fights
Domestic fights
Going Places Together / Nicholas Hoare host throughout
Superior Class (4 to 5 Star) hotel accommodation throughout
Railway transportation 4-berth shared accommodation Varanasi to Kolkata
All transfers and transportation by private coach with driver/guide
Arrival assistance, Departure assistance
Professional English Speaking Local Guide in each respective city
Sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary
Meals as indicated on itinerary
All tipping except that listed below
|
Exclusions in the above prices:
Personal items
Meals not listed in itinerary
Porters and tipping for meals not included
Tipping for alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance
Visa/passport handling fees |
|
|
Host Profile: Ben Walsh
Ben's passion for India began with a year long journey across the subcontinent in 1995. Since then he has returned to study, write, work, and of course, read. He began his current adventure as a bookseller at Nichoals Hoare in 2007. |
|
|
|
 |
| Taj Mahal, Agra |
|
| Taj Mahal, Agra |
|
|
|
 |
| Book Club Members, Varanasi |
|
| Book Club Members, Varanasi |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
A Fine Balance
a novel by Rohinton Mistry
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, October 7, 2010
|
|
Dreaming in Hindi
a memoir by Katherine Russell Rich
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, November 4, 2010 |
Shooting Water
a memoir by Devyani Saltzman
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, December 2, 2010
|
The Hungry Tide
a novel by Amitav Ghosh
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, January 6, 2011 |
The White Tiger
a novel by Aravind Adiga
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, February 3, 2011
|
Nine Lives
a memoir by William Dalrymple
|
Discussion: Varanasi
Thursday, February 18, 2011 |
|
|
Tour departure:
Tour return: |
February 5, 2010
February 28, 2010 |
| |
|
Group Size:
|
10 - 15
|
International Air:
|
Included in pricing
|
| |
|
|
Reading Northern India discussions take place at Nicholas Hoare, Toronto, the first Thursday of each month from 7:00pm until 9:00pm.
If you are unable to join us for discussions - whether you're in Ottawa, Montreal, or on the other side of the world - you can still take part in this incredible literary journey by reading independently and joining us as we travel. All are welcome!
|
|
A Fine Balance
a novel by Rohinton Mistry
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, October 7, 2010
|
|
Dreaming in Hindi
a memoir by Katherine Russell Rich
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, November 4, 2010 |
Shooting Water
a memoir by Devyani Saltzman
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, December 2, 2010
|
The Hungry Tide
a novel by Amitav Ghosh
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, January 6, 2011 |
The White Tiger
a novel by Aravind Adiga
|
Discussion: Toronto
Thursday, February 3, 2011
|
Nine Lives
a memoir by William Dalrymple
|
Discussion: Varanasi
Thursday, February 18, 2011 |
|
|
Tour departure:
Tour return: |
February 5, 2010
February 28, 2010 |
| |
|
Group Size:
|
10 - 15
|
International Air:
|
Included in pricing
|
| |
|
|
Reading Northern India discussions take place at Nicholas Hoare, Toronto, the first Thursday of each month from 7:00pm until 9:00pm.
If you are unable to join us for discussions - whether you're in Ottawa, Montreal, or on the other side of the world - you can still take part in this incredible literary journey by reading independently and joining us as we travel. All are welcome!
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Itinerary
|
|
Day 01 February 5, 2011 Depart Toronto
Day 02 February 6, 2011 Arrive Mumbai (Bombay)
Arrive in Mumbai by night. Warm greeting and private transfer to your hotel located in Mumbai's most southern Cuff Parade neighbourhood, where this great city sweeps out into the Arabian Sea.
Meals Included: All meals in flight
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 03 February 7, 2011 Mumbai (Bombay)
A morning walk through the sleepy by-lanes of old Colaba provides a gentle introduction to life in India's most populous city. This afternoon a guided tour will carry you from the heights of Malabar Hill to the city's open air laundry know as the Dhobi Ghat. Later visit the home of Mahatma Gandhi, from where India's struggle for independance was guided before concluding at Mumbai's most iconic monument, the Gateway of India, from where the British beat their final retreat. Evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 04 February 8, 2011 Mumbai (Bombay)
As you travel, treasure time to explore on your own. On these days at leisure, you may decide to consult your host for suggestions on how best to spend your day. For instance today you might pack a lunch and sail to Elephant Island or delight in the music and drama of a Bollywood extravaganza.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 05 February 9, 2011 Mumbai - Udaipur
Sleep late or rise early enough to find the neighbouring Sasson Docks awash with the colours and sounds of Koli fishermen as they bring in the morning's catch. Following breakfast transfer for your onward flight to Udaipur. Afternoon is at leisure in this city of lakes and palaces.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 06 February 10, 2011 Udaipur
Rajasthan is a desert state, rich in breathtaking forts and palaces, and the city of Udaipur is a fine example of this tradition. This morning visit the flamboyant City Palace, it's adjoining Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum where daily puppet shows make play of centuries of royal drama. An early evening cooking class is followed by a well deserved Rajput feast. Turn in for the night and see if you are yet to share Katherine Russell Rich's experience of Dreaming in Hindi.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 07 February 11, 2011 Udaipur
Today is at leisure. Spend your morning wandering the Bapu and Bara Bazaars where small shops sell wooden toys, puppets, textiles, jewels and cloth. Arrange an afternoon boat ride on Lake Pichola or enjoy a cool refreshment in any one of a number of rooftop cafes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 08 February 12, 2011 Udaipur - Jaipur
Following breakfast transfer for your onward flight to Rajasthan's bustling desert capital of Jaipur, known also as the Pink City. Impressive hilltop forts, opulent palaces, and colourful bazaars will fill your day with a stunning array of images while your hotel, the 18th century Jai Mahal Palace, will be a place of perfect comfort.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jai Mahal Palace Hotel
Day 09 February 13, 2011 Jaipur
Climb by painted elephant to the ancient citadel of Amber and enjoy a guided walk through this breathtaking palace complex. Later in the day explore the narrow streets of old Jaipur before visiting the City Palace, its royal observatory, and the famed Hawa Mahal - the Palace of the Winds.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jai Hahal Palace Hotel
Day 10 February 14, 2011 Jaipur - Agra
Travel east by road through Rajashtan's semi-desert landscape towards Agra and the Taj Mahal. In the afternoon your introduction to this centre of Muhgal culture begins with a guided visit to the Agra Fort located high above the west bank of the river Yamuna. Red sandstone ramparts tower along the riverfront and surround three centuries of palaces and gardens. As shadows grow long, arrive at the grounds of the Taj Mahal and watch this white marble tomb change colour with the setting sun.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Jaypee Palace
Day 11 February 15, 2011 Agra - Delhi
Before your continued journey east, travel by private coach to Delhi from where you board an onward flight the following morning. Afternoon in Delhi's busy Karol Bagh neighbourhood is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 12 February 16, 2011 Delhi - Varanasi
A morning flight brings you India’s most sacred city on the banks of the holy river Ganges. Welcome on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Before dinner, travel by rickshaw into the heart of this fascinating city. Pass through colourful crowded lanes and bazaars, to the stepped sandstone ghats from where we watch the sun set into the horizon. Varanasi is a city of more than 700 temples where saints, poets, and the faithful have come for 3,000 years.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 13 February 17, 2011 Varanasi
At dawn, many residents of Varanasi’s narrow streets visit the river to wash clothes and to worship. This morning, join the peaceful life of the river on a sunrise boat ride followed by a walking tour of the temples and ghats that line the banks of the Ganges. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, join your local guide for a visit to the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum before exploring a local cooperative engaged in the production of beautiful silk saris.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 14 February 18, 2011 Varanasi
Today is at leisure. A good pair of walking shoes will be your best companion if you choose to walk the length of Varanasi's stepped ghats. For those interested in an ayurvedic treatement or an afternoon by the pool, look no further than your hotel's smart healthclub. Tonight join your host for a final book club discussion of William Dalrymple's beautiful memoir, Nine Lives: In search of the sacred in modern India.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 15 February 19, 2011 Varanasi
Not far from the outskirts of Varanasi is Sarnath, a beautiful historic site sacred to the world’s Buddhist community. Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon at Sarnath just 5 weeks after his enlightenment and the local museum, temple, and mysterious monuments will offer an introduction to this story. Before night falls transfer to Varanasi's railway station to board your train bound for Calcutta, known today by its Bengali pronuciation, Kolkata. Traveling by night aboard the famous Indian National Railway is a unique experience and one that many come to define your memories of travel in India. As night falls, day compartments convert to sleeping berths as you travel towards the first capital of British India.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Indian National Railway
Day 16 February 20, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta)
Dawn breaks in West Bengal. Warm welcome on arrival in Kolkata followed by a private transfer to your boutique hotel located in the historic Chowringhee district. Today is at leisure. A visit to the local bookseller can fill your afternoon and provide an important introduction to Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata's most famous son.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 17 February 21, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta)
Following breakfast, join your local guide for a tour taking in some of India's finest colonial architecture including St. John's Church, BBD Bagh, and the magnificant Victoria Memorial. Later in the morning visit the Missionaries of Charity where pilgrams throng to pay respect at the tomb of Mother Teresa. Afternoon is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 18 February 22, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta) - Sunderban Tiger Reserve
This moring journey by road and then by boat towards the setting of Amitav Ghosh's haunting novel The Hungry Tide. Known as the Sunderbans, this great mangrove forest lies at the foot of the Ganges and is home to a startling variety of fauna including the now endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. On arrival at Sunderban Tiger Camp, a brief lunch is followed by your first visit on the waterways of the protected Sunderban National Park. Evening at camp is celebrated with a folk performance that tells the story of Bonbibi, a guardian diety who protects residents from the tigers who roam the forests.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Sunderban Tiger Camp
Day 19 February 23, 2011 Sunderban Tiger Reserve
Watch the sunrise as you sip tea and prepare for an exciting morning on the narrow waterways of the Sunderbans. Climb above the dense jungle landscape for a canopy walk that allows you to see this other world without leaving a footprint. Return to camp early afternoon and join your local guide for a visit to a neighbouring village. Evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Sunderban Tiger Camp
Day 20 February 24, 2011 Sunderban Tiger Reserve - Kolkata (Calcutta)
Following morning tea, cruise through the rivers and narrow creeks of Sunderban Tiger Project Area. Enjoy a breakfast on board as you take a final look at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. By dinner time you will be back in the heart of busy Kolkata.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 21 February 25, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta) - Delhi
A morning commute by air carries you from the first capital of the British in India to the new capital of a new India. On arrival in Delhi transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of residential Karol Bagh Market. A city of small distinct districts, we begin our afternoon exploration in Old Delhi, a city of Persian poetry, dark market streets, and imposing 16th century monuments. The Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, towers over as you navigate the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk by rickshaw. Later in the morning visit Rajghat, the quiet memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 22 February 26, 2011 Delhi
This morning join your local guide for a full-day city tour as you visit Mughal emperor Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar, the New Delhi of Edwin Lutyens’ sandstone President House, India Gate, the very unusual Indira Gandhi Museum and the truly wonderful Crafts Museum. Tonight we celebrate with a farewell dinner!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 23 February 27, 2011 Delhi
Today, the final day of an amazing literary journey across Northern India, enjoy a morning of shopping in Connaught Place or stay close to home and wander through Karol Bagh Market. Full day is at leisure. Later, a private coach will carry your group to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for your return flight to Canada.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 24 February 28, 2011 Delhi - Toronto
Return to Canada
|
|
Itinerary
|
|
Day 01 February 5, 2011 Depart Toronto
Day 02 February 6, 2011 Arrive Mumbai (Bombay)
Arrive in Mumbai by night. Warm greeting and private transfer to your hotel located in Mumbai's most southern Cuff Parade neighbourhood, where this great city sweeps out into the Arabian Sea.
Meals Included: All meals in flight
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 03 February 7, 2011 Mumbai (Bombay)
A morning walk through the sleepy by-lanes of old Colaba provides a gentle introduction to life in India's most populous city. This afternoon a guided tour will carry you from the heights of Malabar Hill to the city's open air laundry know as the Dhobi Ghat. Later visit the home of Mahatma Gandhi, from where India's struggle for independance was guided before concluding at Mumbai's most iconic monument, the Gateway of India, from where the British beat their final retreat. Evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 04 February 8, 2011 Mumbai (Bombay)
As you travel, treasure time to explore on your own. On these days at leisure, you may decide to consult your host for suggestions on how best to spend your day. For instance today you might pack a lunch and sail to Elephant Island or delight in the music and drama of a Bollywood extravaganza.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Taj President Hotel
Day 05 February 9, 2011 Mumbai - Udaipur
Sleep late or rise early enough to find the neighbouring Sasson Docks awash with the colours and sounds of Koli fishermen as they bring in the morning's catch. Following breakfast transfer for your onward flight to Udaipur. Afternoon is at leisure in this city of lakes and palaces.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 06 February 10, 2011 Udaipur
Rajasthan is a desert state, rich in breathtaking forts and palaces, and the city of Udaipur is a fine example of this tradition. This morning visit the flamboyant City Palace, it's adjoining Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum where daily puppet shows make play of centuries of royal drama. An early evening cooking class is followed by a well deserved Rajput feast. Turn in for the night and see if you are yet to share Katherine Russell Rich's experience of Dreaming in Hindi.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 07 February 11, 2011 Udaipur
Today is at leisure. Spend your morning wandering the Bapu and Bara Bazaars where small shops sell wooden toys, puppets, textiles, jewels and cloth. Arrange an afternoon boat ride on Lake Pichola or enjoy a cool refreshment in any one of a number of rooftop cafes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jagat Niwas Palace
Day 08 February 12, 2011 Udaipur - Jaipur
Following breakfast transfer for your onward flight to Rajasthan's bustling desert capital of Jaipur, known also as the Pink City. Impressive hilltop forts, opulent palaces, and colourful bazaars will fill your day with a stunning array of images while your hotel, the 18th century Jai Mahal Palace, will be a place of perfect comfort.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jai Mahal Palace Hotel
Day 09 February 13, 2011 Jaipur
Climb by painted elephant to the ancient citadel of Amber and enjoy a guided walk through this breathtaking palace complex. Later in the day explore the narrow streets of old Jaipur before visiting the City Palace, its royal observatory, and the famed Hawa Mahal - the Palace of the Winds.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Jai Hahal Palace Hotel
Day 10 February 14, 2011 Jaipur - Agra
Travel east by road through Rajashtan's semi-desert landscape towards Agra and the Taj Mahal. In the afternoon your introduction to this centre of Muhgal culture begins with a guided visit to the Agra Fort located high above the west bank of the river Yamuna. Red sandstone ramparts tower along the riverfront and surround three centuries of palaces and gardens. As shadows grow long, arrive at the grounds of the Taj Mahal and watch this white marble tomb change colour with the setting sun.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Jaypee Palace
Day 11 February 15, 2011 Agra - Delhi
Before your continued journey east, travel by private coach to Delhi from where you board an onward flight the following morning. Afternoon in Delhi's busy Karol Bagh neighbourhood is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 12 February 16, 2011 Delhi - Varanasi
A morning flight brings you India’s most sacred city on the banks of the holy river Ganges. Welcome on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Before dinner, travel by rickshaw into the heart of this fascinating city. Pass through colourful crowded lanes and bazaars, to the stepped sandstone ghats from where we watch the sun set into the horizon. Varanasi is a city of more than 700 temples where saints, poets, and the faithful have come for 3,000 years.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 13 February 17, 2011 Varanasi
At dawn, many residents of Varanasi’s narrow streets visit the river to wash clothes and to worship. This morning, join the peaceful life of the river on a sunrise boat ride followed by a walking tour of the temples and ghats that line the banks of the Ganges. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, join your local guide for a visit to the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum before exploring a local cooperative engaged in the production of beautiful silk saris.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 14 February 18, 2011 Varanasi
Today is at leisure. A good pair of walking shoes will be your best companion if you choose to walk the length of Varanasi's stepped ghats. For those interested in an ayurvedic treatement or an afternoon by the pool, look no further than your hotel's smart healthclub. Tonight join your host for a final book club discussion of William Dalrymple's beautiful memoir, Nine Lives: In search of the sacred in modern India.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Radisson Hotel
Day 15 February 19, 2011 Varanasi
Not far from the outskirts of Varanasi is Sarnath, a beautiful historic site sacred to the world’s Buddhist community. Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon at Sarnath just 5 weeks after his enlightenment and the local museum, temple, and mysterious monuments will offer an introduction to this story. Before night falls transfer to Varanasi's railway station to board your train bound for Calcutta, known today by its Bengali pronuciation, Kolkata. Traveling by night aboard the famous Indian National Railway is a unique experience and one that many come to define your memories of travel in India. As night falls, day compartments convert to sleeping berths as you travel towards the first capital of British India.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Indian National Railway
Day 16 February 20, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta)
Dawn breaks in West Bengal. Warm welcome on arrival in Kolkata followed by a private transfer to your boutique hotel located in the historic Chowringhee district. Today is at leisure. A visit to the local bookseller can fill your afternoon and provide an important introduction to Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata's most famous son.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 17 February 21, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta)
Following breakfast, join your local guide for a tour taking in some of India's finest colonial architecture including St. John's Church, BBD Bagh, and the magnificant Victoria Memorial. Later in the morning visit the Missionaries of Charity where pilgrams throng to pay respect at the tomb of Mother Teresa. Afternoon is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 18 February 22, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta) - Sunderban Tiger Reserve
This moring journey by road and then by boat towards the setting of Amitav Ghosh's haunting novel The Hungry Tide. Known as the Sunderbans, this great mangrove forest lies at the foot of the Ganges and is home to a startling variety of fauna including the now endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. On arrival at Sunderban Tiger Camp, a brief lunch is followed by your first visit on the waterways of the protected Sunderban National Park. Evening at camp is celebrated with a folk performance that tells the story of Bonbibi, a guardian diety who protects residents from the tigers who roam the forests.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Sunderban Tiger Camp
Day 19 February 23, 2011 Sunderban Tiger Reserve
Watch the sunrise as you sip tea and prepare for an exciting morning on the narrow waterways of the Sunderbans. Climb above the dense jungle landscape for a canopy walk that allows you to see this other world without leaving a footprint. Return to camp early afternoon and join your local guide for a visit to a neighbouring village. Evening at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Sunderban Tiger Camp
Day 20 February 24, 2011 Sunderban Tiger Reserve - Kolkata (Calcutta)
Following morning tea, cruise through the rivers and narrow creeks of Sunderban Tiger Project Area. Enjoy a breakfast on board as you take a final look at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. By dinner time you will be back in the heart of busy Kolkata.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel the Park
Day 21 February 25, 2011 Kolkata (Calcutta) - Delhi
A morning commute by air carries you from the first capital of the British in India to the new capital of a new India. On arrival in Delhi transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of residential Karol Bagh Market. A city of small distinct districts, we begin our afternoon exploration in Old Delhi, a city of Persian poetry, dark market streets, and imposing 16th century monuments. The Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, towers over as you navigate the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk by rickshaw. Later in the morning visit Rajghat, the quiet memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 22 February 26, 2011 Delhi
This morning join your local guide for a full-day city tour as you visit Mughal emperor Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar, the New Delhi of Edwin Lutyens’ sandstone President House, India Gate, the very unusual Indira Gandhi Museum and the truly wonderful Crafts Museum. Tonight we celebrate with a farewell dinner!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Bajaj Indian Homestay
Day 23 February 27, 2011 Delhi
Today, the final day of an amazing literary journey across Northern India, enjoy a morning of shopping in Connaught Place or stay close to home and wander through Karol Bagh Market. Full day is at leisure. Later, a private coach will carry your group to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for your return flight to Canada.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 24 February 28, 2011 Delhi - Toronto
Return to Canada
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Nicholas Hoare | 45 Front Street East | Toronto, Ontario | Canada | M5E 1B3 | 416-777-2665 | toronto@nicholashoare.ca
Going Places Together | 197 Douro Street | Stratford, Ontario | Canada | N5A 3R8 | 519-271-6037 | nancy@goingplacestogether.com
Uniglobe Creative Travel Inc. | 301 Fruitland Road | Unit 7 | Stoney Creek, Ontario | L8E 5M1 | 905-643-4848 | denise@uniglobecreativetravel.com
50006797
Nicholas Hoare | 45 Front Street East | Toronto, Ontario | Canada | M5E 1B3 | 416-777-2665 | toronto@nicholashoare.ca
Going Places Together | 197 Douro Street | Stratford, Ontario | Canada | N5A 3R8 | 519-271-6037 | nancy@goingplacestogether.com
Uniglobe Creative Travel Inc. | 301 Fruitland Road | Unit 7 | Stoney Creek, Ontario | L8E 5M1 | 905-643-4848 | denise@uniglobecreativetravel.com
50006797
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