Itinerary Expand all Delhi to Delhi Day 1 Start Delhi; transfer to Jaipur. If you have arrived in Delhi this morning and have arranged a transfer you will be met by our representative at the airport and then drive to Jaipur. (5- 7 hour drive) If you arrived in Delhi a day or two earlier you will have been advised of the start time to be ready at your hotel for the drive to Jaipur. Crimson Park Jaipur or similar Day 2 Visit City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and the Amber Fort; free time for exploring. Built in the late 18th century, Jaipur is a planned city of broad avenues built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. Visit the City Palace in the centre of Jaipur, formerly the residence of the Maharaja, now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a pleasant garden. On route see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. Then visit the impressive and splendid Amber Fort, a few miles from the main city, rising above a lake. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherwear etc. It will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything! Crimson Park or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 To Ranthambore; afternoon game drive in search of elusive tiger. Travel through the villages of rural India to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (approx. 5 hr drive); staying in a hotel not far from the park entrance and make 2 game drives into the park, one in the late afternoon and one the following morning. Ranthambore is one of India's tiger reserves under Project Tiger. After initial success, poaching has drastically reduced the tiger population and the chance of spotting a tiger is small, but many Exodus travellers have seen tigers over the last few years. There is other wildlife to spot such as several species of deer, crocodiles and bird life including purple heron, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets, jacanda, waders and partridges. Raj Palace Resort or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Morning game drive; then on to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri. In the morning there is a second game drive, trying to find that elusive tiger, before travelling on to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is the Emperor Akbar's deserted royal city. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son, his successor the Emperor Jehangir. The mosque, designed to hold ten thousand worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience are all made of decorative red sandstone. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years, as in 1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today – in perfect condition. This is another very full but rewarding day. Total driving time approx. 7 hrs. Pushp Villa or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Visit the incredible Taj Mahal and Agra Fort; overnight train to Varanasi. Today is an early start to visit the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal at sunrise. This wonderful monument was built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. Later in the day transfer to Agra train station and join the overnight sleeper train to Varanasi. Sleeper Train Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Relax and enjoy the wonders of Varanasi. Arrive in Varanasi during the morning and transfer to your hotel. Located on the river Ganges, Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India and stands at the centre of the Hindu Universe. As such, the city lives and breathes Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men (Sadhus), religious elders and casual visitors. It is a city to get immersed in by exploring its maze of narrow lanes and many temples and watching the Hindu ceremonies that take place around the clock. If you would like to add in some activities during your stay in Varanasi our Tailor Made consultants can discuss options to include in your personalised itinerary. Surya Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Dawn boat ride on the Ganges visiting the bathing ghats; afternoon flight to Delhi. Just before dawn, take a boat out on the Ganges to witness the extraordinary spectacle on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river. Every day thousands of Hindu pilgrims come to these three miles of riverbank to soak in the holy waters. This afternoon fly back to Delhi. Jivitesh Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Delhi free day or add a sightseeing tour Today you are free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi. Recommended sites are the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque), Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and Raj Ghat. For last minute shopping, we recommend the market area of Chandni Chowk or Karol Bagh. If you would like to add in a guided sightseeing tour our Tailor Made consultants can discuss options with you. Jivitesh Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 End Delhi. Trip ends after breakfast. If you have arranged a transfer arranged you will drive to Delhi International airport for your homeward flight. Meals included: Breakfast
India Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. For UK residents full details of the visa process can be found here. Other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. If your trip visits Ladakh, in the very north of India, or Sikkim in the northeast, do not mention this on your Indian visa application. This can sometimes slow down or even cause the embassy to reject your visa. When you reach immigration, you are required to pick up an immigration form. If you have an e-visa, ensure you stand in the correct queue - please follow the signs to the e-visa booth (in Delhi this is at the back of the immigration hall). You will need to fill out an additional form at the booth - please make sure that you have the details of your start hotel ready (these details can be found on your Final Joining Instructions).
India There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information.
Hotels and Overnight Train 7 nights hotels, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper train. The hotels used are standard city tourist hotels (2 or 3-star, local rating). All rooms have en suite facilities. Service and amenities are generally adequate. Single accommodation excludes sleeper train. Overnight train These are booked in 2-tier (or 3-tier if 2-tier is not available) sleeper A/C. There are many excellent trains in India but the standard of seating and sleeping is not in line with European standards. Indian trains are safe to travel on but we recommend that you keep valuables with you at all times. Snacks are often offered on board (at an additional cost). Whilst some trains have western-style facilities, the majority of services are equipped with squat toilets.
November 25, 2019 Worth More Alive X: An Interview with Paul Goldstein After nearly a century of decline, the wild tiger population figure is limping upwards thanks to conservation efforts
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