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9
India's Golden Triangle plus the incredible city of Varanasi
Those who are on the group flights will land in Delhi in the morning. Those not on the group flights will need to be at the start hotel by 9am (or at the airport when the group land). A local representative will meet Land Only clients at the start hotel and provide a transfer to the airport where we meet clients arriving on the group flight; once everyone has arrived we will then transfer to Sariska National Park. *Standard Hotel*
This reserve was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and is home to nilgai, wild boar, jackals, hyenas and chowsingha (four-horned antelope). The game drive will be in the buffer zone of this national park mainly on sealed roads (there will not be an opportunity to see tiger during these summer months). Although these departures operate during the rainy season the crowds are reduced and those with an interest in bird life will find an abundance in Sariska. In the afternoon we drive to Jaipur and transfer to our hotel. *Comfortable Hotel*
Built in the late 18th century, Jaipur is a planned city of broad avenues built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. We 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. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. We then see the impressive and splendid Amber Fort, a few miles from the main city, rising above a lake where elephants bathe. 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! *Comfortable Hotel*
Today we drive 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. *Comfortable Hotel*
Today we will rise early to visit the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal at sunrise; 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 we will transfer to Agra train station and join the overnight sleeper train to Varanasi. *Sleeper Train*
We arrive in Varanasi during the morning and transfer to our hotel. Varanasi, located on the river Ganges, is one of the most holy 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 the many temples, and watching the Hindu ceremonies that take place around the clock. There is time to explore the emporiums specialising in silks and brocades or maybe take a massage by the banks of the Ganges. Your leader can organise various optional sightseeing trips during your 2 days here. *Comfortable Hotel*
Just before dawn, we 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 we fly back to Delhi. *Standard hotel*
Today you are free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi (an optional sightseeing trip will be organised if you wish). 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. *Standard Hotel*
Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for the airport this morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel. **
* 7 nights hotels, 1 nights air-conditioned sleeper train, 1 domestic flight
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train
Breakfast is included throughout the trip except on Day 1.
You should allow at least £15-25 (approx. US$20 - US$35) per day for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more
expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the
suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants
and a choice between Indian and Western food. If you are a vegetarian, India
is probably one of the best destinations. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap.
A (large!) bottle of beer is approx. GBP3 (approx. . USD5). Mineral water is
widely available. Please note that service in restaurants can be quite slow.
India is famous for its food and there is ample chance to try various curries
such as the familiar tandoori, Biriyani and Rogan Josh. There are wonderful
deserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as
lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink.
* 7 nights hotels, 1 nights air-conditioned sleeper train, 1 domestic flight
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by air-conditioned private bus and train
This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Northern India
in a short period of time. Therefore this is generally a fast-paced itinerary
and please bear in mind that there is a 5-6 hour transfer to Jaipur upon
arrival in Delhi. You should be prepared for some long days and some early
starts. The times stated in the trip notes are actual driving times and do
not include photo, tea, comfort or lunch breaks. The roads are generally
good, but local traffic and road damage can sometimes slow us down.There is a
lot to see in the time you are in India, but everything is scheduled so that
it doesn't feel too rushed. You should come armed for an experience: India
can be hard work and the heat and the bustle of some of the cities can be a
little overwhelming. That said, there are places where you can find peace and
this is one of the few places in the world from where you will return armed
with great stories and memories to last a lifetime.
Please note that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are responsible for
the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and
very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on
this trip. The ASI’s schedule is never published so it is not possible to
forewarn our clients of when work will be taking place.
Hotels & Sleeper Train
On this trip we spend 7 nights in standard city tourist hotels with en-suite
facilities and 1 night in air-conditioned sleeper train. The overnight train
from Agra to Varanasi will be booked in 2-Tier sleeper A/C. There are many
excellent trains in India but the standard of seating and sleeping is not in
line with European standards. Single rooms are available (excludes sleeper
train) though the price will depend on the season you are traveling so please
check with our sales team.
Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple
of months in the year when the weather can get rather cold. You can however
request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater
for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this
matter. 
Our Indian team of leaders have proved very popular with their incredible
knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is
no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show
you around their country.
Breakfast is included throughout the trip except on Day 1.
You should allow at least £15-25 (approx. US$20 - US$35) per day for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more
expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the
suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants
and a choice between Indian and Western food. If you are a vegetarian, India
is probably one of the best destinations. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap.
A (large!) bottle of beer is approx. GBP3 (approx. . USD5). Mineral water is
widely available. Please note that service in restaurants can be quite slow.
India is famous for its food and there is ample chance to try various curries
such as the familiar tandoori, Biriyani and Rogan Josh. There are wonderful
deserts and excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as
lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink.
We use a combination of private minibus and trains for our journey. Road
journeys: private minibus, air-conditioned. Train journeys: the overnight
train from Agra to Varanasi and Varanasi to Delhi will be booked in 2-tier
(or 3-tier depending on availability) sleeper A/C (see accommodation section
for further information). Game drives: in Sariska we will use jeeps.
During October/November and February/March/April the days are normally warm
to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low and little or no rain
can be expected. Evenings in Delhi can be surprisingly cool. It gets very
cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January and warm
clothes are essential. Fog is also a real possibility during this period.
Please note that night time temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a
little above freezing in December and January. The evenings and early
mornings (particularly at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve) can be surprisingly
cool, so come prepared for cold and hot temperatures. In July, August and
September you can expect hot (or very hot) days and warm-hot nights. Rain is
possible at any time from the end of June until September, and can be very
heavy, but not unpleasant, as it moderates the temperatures.
Sunhat and sunglasses
Sun cream and lip salve with sun protection
Light casual clothing
Warm sweater/fleece
Torch
Trainers/Walking shoes
Sandals/Flip-flops
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Insect repellent
Small personal first aid kit
Additional warm base layer, scarf, gloves (for Winter departures)
Cable lock, or small chain and padlock, to lock your bag up on the train
Water bottle
Clothing for both men and women should cover shoulders and be on or below the
knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively to avoid unwanted
attention and not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers, short
skirts and shorts are not recommended.
It doesn't matter what type of bag or case you use on this trip although it
is preferable to use a soft holdall (with wheels if necessary) or
rucksack/travelsack as they tend to be easier to manage on the overnight
train. You should also bring a small day bag for your valuable items.
We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. Please see the
section about internal flights for details on weight allowances as this trip
includes a domestic flight in India.
*Please note:*
As of November 2019 the Indian government has announced a ban on e-cigarettes
and related products. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes in India or
bring them into the country. Please ensure you do not pack these in your
luggage.
Light waterproof Earplugs
Money belt
Travel pillow
Many sights now charge a small fee for cameras and you should allow another
£6 (approx. US$8) for these. It is recommended that you allow at least £5
(approx. US$7) per day for personal expenditure such as stamps, postcards and
soft drinks. Shopping opportunities throughout this tour are endless and we
suggest that you take money for souvenirs ‐ even if you are generally not a
keen shopper we have found that most people succumb to some of the wide
variety of handicrafts on offer.
During your trip, it is likely that your local guides will take you to
emporiums and handicraft workshops. Guides will often assume that visitors
will want to go shopping, it is very much part of the culture, but if you
do not wish to go please make this clear to your local guide and Exodus
leader at the time. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local
handicrafts, silk, jewellery and carpets.
Tipping is very much part of the culture in India and is usually expected.
Tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar
country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour
leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty which will
be used to tip hotel staff, local sightseeing guides, bus drivers as well as
any other support staff used throughout your trip. Your leader will suggest
how much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually in the
region of 2000 INR (approx. GBP£23 US$30) per person. At any time during the
trip your leader will be happy to show you an account of how the kitty is
being distributed. Tipping of leaders is not included in the kitty and is at
your own discretion.
If you wish to show your appreciation a tip of around £3-4 (CAD $5-7, USD
$4-5, AUD $6-7) per person per day would be appreciated. By definition,
gratuities are not something that can be included in the tour price.
* Travel insurance
* Visas & vaccinations
* Single supplement
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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