Essential India

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Delhi

Arrive in Delhi at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into to the hotel (check-in time is 12.00 midday) and enjoy the city. In the evening you will meet your fellow group members to go over the details of your trip. Check the notice board to see what time and where the group meeting will be held.

Day 2 Delhi, afternooon train to Agra

In the morning we dive into the heart of India’s capital to explore Old and New Delhi. Visit Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) and climb the minaret for a bird’s eye view of the old city. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest markets, and learn the history of the Sikh religion at the important Gurduwara, (Sikh place of worship) Gurdwara SisGanj. Stop for photos at the colourful spice market before finishing at the Victorian Connaught Place, one of the most prominent architectural remnants of British rule. The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, commonly known as the Jama or Jarna Masjid (Great Mosque) of Delhi is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Masjid-i-Jahan Numa means "mosque commanding a view of the world, " whereas the name Jama Masjid is a reference to the weekly congregation observed on Friday (the yaum al-jum`a) at the mosque. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in the year 1656 AD, the Jarna Masjid is the best-known and largest mosque in India; its courtyard can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque houses several relics in a niche in the north gate, including a priceless copy of the Qur'an written on deer skin. The Sikh holy site of Gurdwara SisGanj stands at the site where the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded in 1675 on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to accept Islam. During a time when the emperor was waging a war against Hindus, Guru Tegh Bahadur argued for freedom of worship and was executed as a result. Before his body could be quartered and exposed to public view, it was stolen under cover of darkness by one of his disciples, Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who then burnt his house to cremate the Guru's body. The severed head (Sis) of Guru Tegh Bahadur was recovered by Bhai Jaita, another disciple of the Guru, and cremated by the Guru's son, Gobind Rai, later to become Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh Guru. The giant circle of New Delhi’s Connaught Place, sitting at the centre of any map of Delhi, radiates with roads like spokes from a wheel. The circle’s obviously Victorian architecture was modeled after the Royal Crescent in Bath, England.In the afternoon we catch a train to the Muslim city of Agra. Indian Railways, the world’s largest employer with 1.6 million employees, can certainly be counted as one of the marvels of modern India, and no visit is complete without at least one train trip.

Day 3 Agra

Agra is best known as the site of India’s most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal. Visit this icon of Mughal architecture either in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light, and be sure to bring lots of film! Ride one of the ubiquitous cycle rickshaws to visit the Red Fort.Constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22 000, the Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz had already borne the emperor fourteen children when she died in childbirth, and it is the romantic origin of the Taj as much as its architectural splendour that has led to its fame worldwide. Actually an integrated complex of many structures, the Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, itself a combination of Islamic, Hindu, Persian and Turkish elements.The walled palatial city of the Red Fort, was first taken over by the Moghuls, at that time led by Akbar the Great, in the late 16th century. Akbar liked to build from red sandstone, often inlaid with white marble and intricate decorations, and it was during his reign that the fort began changing into more of a royal estate.However, it was only during the reign of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan (who would eventually build the Taj Mahal) that the site finally took on its current state. Unlike his grandfather, Shah Jahan preferred buildings made from white marble, often inlaid with gold or semi-precious gems, and he destroyed some earlier buildings inside the fort in order to build others in his own style. At the end of his life Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the fort by his son, Aurangzeb. It is said that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with an excellent view of the Taj Mahal.The fort was also a site of one of the most important battles of the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, leading to a century of direct rule of India by Britain.

Day 4-5 Orchha

Travelling south from Agra to Orchha, we will stop on the way at the fortress town of Gwalior, an ancient centre of worship for the Jain religion. Marvel at the nearly one hundred Jain caves and sculptures, hewn from the rock on all four sides, visit the imposing Gwailior fortress, one of the most formidable in India, and see Hindu architecture at its best on a visit to the city’s palace, unequalled in Central India. Then on to picturesque Orchha enjoying the peaceful rural charm of this riverside town. Sitting on the banks of the clean, cool Betwa River, Orchha is the perfect antidote to the chaos and dirt of India’s cities. Experience a piece of the ‘real’ India, one that will likely change your image of this diverse country.A typical, small Indian town, Orchha owes its popularity to an architectural heritage bequeathed it by its history as the oldest and highest in rank of all the Bundela states. Orchha dates back to the 16th century when it was founded by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap. In the early 17th century, Raja Jujhar Singh rebelled against the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, whose armies devastated the state and occupied Orchha from 1635 to 1641. Orchha was the only Bundela state not subjugated by the Marathas in the 18th century. Hamir Singh, who ruled from 1848 to 1874, was elevated to Maharaja in 1865. Maharaja Pratap Singh (born 1854, died 1930), who succeeded to the throne in 1874, devoted himself entirely to the development of his state, himself designing most of the engineering and irrigation works executed during his reign.In 1901, the state had an area of over 2000 sq. mi, and population of over 300 000, warranted a 15-gun salute, and its Maharajas bore the hereditary title of First of the Princes of Bundelkhand, all hard to believe as you wander the sleepy town as it appears today. Eventually, Vir Singh, Pratap Singh's successor, merged his state with the Union of India on January 1, 1950.During our time here we will explore the many temples and palaces spread along the river and surrounding countryside, including the town’s imposing 17th century fort, Chaturbhuj temple built on a vast platform of stone, and the numerous cenotaphs that dot the landscape.

Day 6 Bhopal/Sanchi

Very early this morning travel to Jhansi railway station for your early morning train to Vidisha. This is the stopping off point to visit Sanchi. Sanchi is known for its stupas, monasteries, gateways, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, which was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism. After spending time discovering the beauty of this World Heritage site, one of Buddhisms most important, we will continue on to Bhopal. Bhopal is said to have been founded by the Parmara King Bhoj (1000–1055), who had his capital at Dhar. The city was originally known as Bhojpal named after Bhoj and the dam ('pal') that he is said to have constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal. During British Raj, Bhopal was ruled by Nawabs and Begums.Made famous by the tragic Union Carbide gas explosion, it is a rarely visited gem; it today presents a multi-faceted profile; the old city with its marketplaces and fine old mosques and palaces still bears the aristocratic imprint of its former rulers, among them the succession of powerful Begums who ruled Bhopal from 1819 to 1926, as well as Afghans, British, French and Rajputs. Equally impressive is the new city with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. It is greener and cleaner than most cities in the country. The city is dominated by two lakes and it is possible to take a boat ride on them.

Day 7-9 Mandu

Perched along the Vindhya ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet, Mandu, with its natural defenses, was originally the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom named it Shadiabad - 'city of joy'. And indeed the pervading spirit of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions, as graceful and refined as those times of peace and plenty.Each of Mandu's structures is an architectural gem; some are outstanding like the massive Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah's tomb, which provided inspiration to the master builders of the Taj Mahal centuries later. Mandu is a celebration in stone, of life and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful consort, Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of the romance of these royal lovers, and high up on the crest of a hill, Roopmati's Pavilion still gazes down at Baz Bahadur's Palace, a magnificent expression of Afghan architecture.The best way to discover this hidden gem is on a bicycle. So we will hire bikes and ride around the monuments.On Day 9 we travel to Indore and transfer to our overnight sleeper train to Umaria, the gateway to the National Park. NB: When Bandhavgarh National Park is closed between 1 July - 30 September each year, trips operating during this period will follow an alternative itinerary on days 9-11.ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY Day 9 Travel from Mandu to Omkareshwar. Explore this sacred town.

Day 10 Bandhavgarh National Park

Arriving very early in the morning we transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park (approx 1 hr).Here we enter the realm of one of India’s most enduring symbols, the tiger. One of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in India (and indeed, the world), Bandhavgarh was created in 1955 as part of Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation project designed to protect Royal Bengal Tigers from extinction.We will have opportunities to enter the park on jeep or elephant safaris. Bandhavgarh is home to 22 species of mammals and 300 species of birds. Although the tigers are notoriously elusive, more commonly observed mammals include the Common Grey Langur, Wild Boar, Chital, Chousingha, Sambar and Barasingha or Swamp Deer. Barasingha are severely endangered, and live only here in Bandhavgarh; there are only 1200 surviving in the wild, a number that dipped as low as 60 before measures were taken to prevent extinction. By comparison, the latest estimates of the tiger population hover around 130. Other animals living in the park include leopards, the Sloth Bear, Indian wild dog, and the very rare Indian wolf.NB: When Bandhavgarh National Park is closed between 1 July - 30 September each year, trips operating during this period will follow an alternative itinerary on days 9-11ALTERNATIVE ITINERARYDay 10 In the afternoon travel to Indore to board our late night sleeper train to Satna.

Day 11 Khajuraho

Leaving early we travel today from Bandhavgarh along typically rough Indian roads to Khajuraho. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho is home to India’s largest group of medieval Hindu temples, famous for their erotic sculptures depicting scenes from the Kama Sutra. Only discovered in the 20th century after being reclaimed by jungle, the Khajuraho group of monuments is today protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khajuraho was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from 950 to 1050, with the whole area enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each flanked by two golden palm trees. There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 22 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 21 km² (8 square miles).Learn the history of these world-famous temples on a guided tour and enjoy a taste of a little erotica from the Middle Ages. Optional activities include a nearby seasonal waterfall, evening dance performances and a sound and light show within the temple complex itself.NB: When Bandhavgarh National Park is closed between 1 July - 30 September each year, trips operating during this period will follow an alternative itinerary on days 9-11.ALTERNATIVE ITINERARYDay 11On arrival into Satna we travel by private vehicle to Khajuraho arriving by late afternoon or early evening.

Day 12-14 Varanasi

Our journey today is by flight to legendary Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindu travel to for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn or to die. Walk the narrow twisting alleys, poke around some of the literally thousands of temples and shrines, and experience the energy of the dawn rituals of bathing and burial as you float past the famous ghats of the Ganges.Sitting on the banks of the River Ganges, you can contemplate what it means to be in Varanasi, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, dating back thousands of years. The culture of Varanasi is deeply associated with the river Ganges and its religious importance; the city has been a cultural and religious centre in northern India for thousands of years. Or wander through the Old City with its maze of narrow alleyways full of small shops and stalls. Perhaps you could visit the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of Buddha's first sermon.We take boats out onto the sacred Ganges River, both for sunrise and sunset. For the evening boat journey we enjoy a candle flower ceremony accompanied by sitar and tabla playing.During our stay in Varanasi you will have time to shop, wander and absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, while optional activities include the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, site of the Buddha's first sermon. In the evening of Day 14 we make our way to the railway station for our final epic overnight train journey...from the holy city of Varanasi to the chaotic city of New Delhi (approx 11 hrs).

Day 15 Depart Delhi

Arriving in the morning into Delhi where our amazing trip comes to an end. Your tour leader can help you arrange any onward travel. (Please note that we plan to arrive in Delhi mid morning, but as it is not uncommon for this overnight train to be delayed. Please do not book flights out of Delhi until early evening)