Presented by Shillelaghs - The Travel Club

Day 1: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Overnight Flight

Day 2: Friday, March 11, 2011
Delhi, India - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Delhi, India’s capital and a city rich with history spanning over 2,000 years.

Day 3: Saturday, March 12, 2011
New Delhi
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager helps you discover the origin and history of the Hindi language, teaching you key words and phrases that will help you communicate with locals. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi and visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Then, explore the city's narrow streets by rickshaw, the traditional mode of transportation! Later, tour New Delhi, visiting Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world. Visit Humayun's tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun, and considered a precursor to the Taj Mahal for its Indo-Persian design. See the imposing India Gate war memorial, the Parliament and the palatial Rastrapathi Bhawan – the President's residence.
Today Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Day 4: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Delhi - Udaipur
This morning fly to Udaipur, your gateway to Rajasthan, where chivalrous tales come to life at forts and palaces. Check into your hotel for the next two nights, a lovingly restored palace overlooking the lake! This evening, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Pichola for lovely views of the Jag Mandir Palace and the City Palace.
Today Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Day 5: Monday, March 14, 2011
Udaipur
Visit the exquisite City Palace whose main entrance, a triple-arched gate called the Tripolia, was built in 1725. Continue to Jagdish Temple, the largest temple in Udaipur, built in the 16th century and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Stop at Sahelion-ki-Bari – the Garden of the Maids of Honor – to learn about the unique lifestyle of the royal ladies who once strolled through these exquisite gardens.
Today Breakfast is included.

Day 6: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Udaipur - Jaipur
This morning fly to the “Pink City,” Jaipur. Make a brief stop at Hawa Mahal, taking in its striking façade of 953 windows. This “Palace of the Winds” remains the home of a former Maharaja. Visit the City Palace, comprised of palaces, gardens and courtyards, and boasting intricate decorative art and carved doorways. Marvel at Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built in 1726 by Sawai Jai Singh, which still makes accurate predictions of eclipses and celestial events.
Today Breakfast is included.

Day 7: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Jaipur
This morning, participate in a relaxing yoga class and learn basic exercises and breathing techniques from a local expert. An elephant* takes you to the top of Amber Fort, once the seat of power in India. Stroll through a local flower market and learn the art of making the garlands used in traditional Indian welcome ceremonies. This evening, enjoy a home-hosted dinner and learn about daily life inside the old city from your local hosts.
Today Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Day 8: Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jaipur - Ranthambore
Travel to the famous Ranthambore National Park, an example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservation in the country. The forests around the park were once the private grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Learn from a naturalist about the wildlife of the country – through a slideshow and lecture – in preparation for your game viewing drive by canter, an open air vehicle. Keep your eyes open for marsh crocodiles, hyenas, sloth bears and even tigers!
Today Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Day 9: Friday, March 18, 2011
Ranthambore
Start your day early with a game viewing drive. Return to the hotel for breakfast. This afternoon, visit the Ranthambore School of Art which recruits students from neighboring villages and trains them to be self-sufficient artists. Next, visit Dastkar Ranthambore Project, founded in 1981 when six women united to protect traditional artisans in contemporary India.
Today Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Day 10: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra
All aboard! An early morning train brings you to Bharatpur. After brunch continue to Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbarin in the late 16th century. Complete with palaces and mosques, this marvel was larger than London at the time it was constructed. Your day ends in Agra.
Today Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Day 11: Sunday, March 20, 2011
Agra
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, riding a tonga – or horse carriage – to the gates. The Taj Mahal took 22 years and 20,000 men to build; its white marble was quarried 200 miles away and transported by 1,000 elephants. Built in the mid-17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Next, visit Agra Fort, the seat of the Mughal Empire. Continue to Mother Teresa's Charity Home, a residence for orphans of all ages which is supported by the efforts of the Collette Foundation. Here, the sisters provide children with clothing, food, affection and quality education.
Today Breakfast is included.

Day 12: Monday, March 21, 2011
Agra - Jhansi - Occhra - Khajuraho
Board your train for Jhansi, continuing to Occhra for a visit to the fort. The intricately carved Jahangir Mahal has an aura of grandeur and opulence representative of Bundela School of Architecture. Continue to Khajuraho, your home for the evening.
Today Breakfast and Lunch are included.

Day 13: Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Khajuraho - Varanasi
Visit the Chandel Temple complex and behold some of the finest examples of temple architecture in northern India and a reminder that all senses are the path to nirvana. Fly to Varanasi, a simplistic and charming city with a universal mystique. This evening visit the Ghats – the banks of the river – to witness the illuminated Ganga Aarti ceremony. Later, enjoy a lecture by a Hindu scholar who discusses the philosophy of Hinduism.
Today Breakfast is included.

Day 14: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Varanasi
An early morning boat ride on the holy River Ganges takes you past various Ghats where you’ll see people ritually cleansing themselves of their sins, hoping for salvation. A city tour includes Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva; Benaras Hindu University; and Bharat Mata Temple. Continue to Sarnath where Siddarth Gautama, later known as Buddha, gave his first sermon on a quiet grove in the 6th century BC. Join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner this evening.
Today Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Day 15: Thursday, March 24, 2011
Varanasi - Delhi - Tour Ends
Enjoy a morning at leisure before flying back to Delhi. After dinner, depart for the airport for your flight home.
Today Breakfast and Dinner are included.

March 10 - March 24, 2011

YOUR ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
DAY 1
	Overnight Flight
DAY 2 - 3
	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Delhi
DAY 4 - 5
	Fateh Garh Palace, Udaipur
DAY 6 - 7
	Sheraton Rajputana Hotel, Jaipur
DAY 8 - 9
	Dev Vilas Ranthambore, Ranthambore
DAY 10 - 11
	ITC Mughal, Agra
DAY 12
	Radisson Jass Hotel Shimla, Khajuraho
DAY 13 - 14
	Radisson Hotel, Varanasi
On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Please Note:
• Visa is required.
• Passport is required.
• Taxes/fees to be paid in local currencies upon exiting India are approximately 1300 INR (approximately $29 USD).
• * If elephants are not available or may not be used, you will be transported via 4x4 jeeps.
• Due to flight departure schedules on Day 15, 4 day rooms have been reserved for the group.
• For taking photos inside attractions, the Indian Government charges a camera and/or video fee of approximately $25 USD/$60 USD respectively (total for the entire trip). Collette's Tour Manager will collect these fees at the beginning of the tour and pay the government accordingly.
• To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Collette airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.
• The land price does not include trans-Atlantic flights or flights within India and must be purchased with the air portion of your vacation. Internal flights that are purchased will be ticketed and distributed on tour by your Tour Manager. Due to the limited number of twin bedded rooms in hotels within India, we are unable to guarantee bed type. If two beds are required, the second bed may be a rollaway. While we will do our best to honor your request, we cannot guarantee the final bed configuration. Due to flight schedules, flights arriving into Delhi may arrive very late in the evening on day 2 or just after midnight the morning of day 3. A pre or post night may be required (at an additional cost).
• Triple accommodations are not available.
• Smaller buses, which may not be lavatory equipped, may be used on this program. In this case, frequent stops are made during travel periods.
• * Please note that Collette Foundation sites may not be available for visit due to school holidays or programming challenges.
• A Passport and Visa is required for this tour at your expense. The approximate visa cost is $135.00 USD.
• This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected.