*EXPIRED* Journeys Rediscovered - India Immersion Ladies Small Group Tour
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Ladies Immersion Tours unique to Journeys Rediscovered
"India Immersion - Ladies Group Tour" Small Group Tour of no more than 12 Ladies
Delhi – Varanasi - Agra - Jaipur - Jodphur - Narlai - Udaipur - Delhi
14 Days/13 nights
- 2 nights accommodation in Delhi
- 1 night accommodation in Varanasi
- 1 night accommodation in Agra
- 3 nights accommodation in Jaipur
- 2 nights accommodation in Jodphur
- 2 nights accommodation in Narlai
- 2 nights accommodation in Udaipur
- Breakfast daily at hotels
- Many lunches and dinners included at specially selected restaurants
- All private transfers and private transportation between cities
- Domestic flights Dellhi/Varanasi/Agra and Udaipur/Delhi
- Entrance fees
- Sightseeing and touring with a local English speaking guide
Contact Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary or to REGISTER for our 2021 Small Group Journeys (no more the 12 ladies).
Boutique 4 star accommodation twin share. Single Supplements available.
More Information
Contact Journeys Rediscovered pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary or to REGISTER for our 2021 Small Group Journeys.
Boutique 4-star accommodation
Day 1 - Delhi:
Welcome to India! Your flight will land at Delhi International airport at (TBA), local time. As you disembark from the aircraft, our airport representative will meet you at the end of the aerobridge. You will be fast-tracked you through Immigration and Customs. In the arrival lounge, you will be introduced you to our colleague who will escort you to the hotel and help you check in.
Day 2 - Delhi:
After breakfast, you will start your day with a special walk conducted by the Salaam Balak Trust, which works with street children in Delhi providing them with a secure environment as well as health and education. The Trust has developed an inner city walk, and your guide will be a young person who has been rescued and knows the area intimately. While introducing you to the heritage and the life in the backstreets of Delhi, he will also share with you stories of his life. (This is not a slum tour as the walk does not take you into the slums and photography is not allowed in certain sections of the walk. The tour is “seeing the life in the city through the eyes of your young guide”.)
Later you will drive to the Old City. You will take a cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the 300-year old wholesale market, Chandini Chowk. Colourful, chaotic and bustling with life this is a great market to visit and see organized chaos in motion. You will disembark at the Jama Masjid for a visit to the country’s largest mosque. (Note: The market remains closed on Sunday). After lunch, you will stop at one of the architectural triumphs of the Mughal Empire – Humayun’s Tomb. Humayun’s tomb is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. Recently renovated with the gardens restored to their former splendour and the fountains to working condition, it is a very attractive site. Architecturally, the mausoleum drew its inspiration from the styles prevalent in Samarkand, and the design of the Taj Mahal is based on this tomb. You will return to your hotel via Rajpath, where you drive past modern India's iconic buildings like the President's Palace and our War Memorial - India Gate. Tonight, a “welcome dinner” will be served at the hotel.
Day 3 - Delhi/Varanasi:
After breakfast, you will be escorted to the domestic airport to catch your flight to Varanasi. Varanasi is India's most spiritual city and also it’s holiest and is a ‘must visit’ for all Hindus at least once in their lifetime. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Sarnath, which lies a short distance from the main city and is the place where the Buddha came in 500 BC to give his first sermon after gaining enlightenment. After the tour, you will return to the city and check-in to your hotel. Early in the evening, you will drive to the banks of the Holy Ganges where a boatman will be waiting for you. You will sail on the river and arrive at Dashashwamedh Ghat in time to see the evening aarti ceremony. We will also organize a private aarti ceremony with a local priest.
Day 4 - Varanasi/Agra (flight):
Sunrise and sunset are the most auspicious times in the Hindu faith. In the morning you will once again visit the river. This time the rituals you will see are in complete contrast to the ceremony from the previous evening. There is certain timelessness to this experience that is extraordinary. You will return to your hotel for breakfast. Later you will transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Agra. After arriving in Agra, you will proceed directly to Taj Mahal timing your viewing with sunset. This stunning mausoleum immortalized Shah Jahan’s last wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Day 5 - Agra/Jaipur (drive):
You will have the option of visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise. After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which highlights the Mughals’ ability to blend defensive and decorative architecture. Later on, you will drive to Jaipur. To break the journey you will stop at Fatehpur Sikri to see one of the Mughal Empire’s most inspired creations – what was to be a joint capital with Agra. Built entirely in vibrant red sandstone architecturally it draws its inspiration from Hindu, Persian and Islamic styles. You will then stop on the way to a quaint heritage mansion in Bharatpur for lunch.
Thereafter, you will continue on your way to Jaipur. The history of the Kingdom of Jaipur can be traced to the 12th century and was originally known as Amber, which was also the name of the capital city. Amber came into prominence when the Mughal Emperor Akbar married one of the princesses of Amber in a shrewd matrimonial alliance between the Mughals and the Rajputs. In the 18th century Raja Sawai Jai Singh, perhaps one of the most brilliant rulers of this period moved the capital from Amber to Jaipur. You will reach Jaipur by the evening, and check-in to your hotel.
Day 6 - Jaipur:
The sprawling City Palace which you visit this morning is a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. From the City Palace, you enter the extraordinary “Jantar Mantar”, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1827. You will end the day at the iconic Hawa Mahal with its ornate pink façade.
Your guide will take you to the private areas of the City Palace, not normally accessible where you will be served sparkling wine and soft drinks in the royal living room. You will end the morning tour with a walk through the markets of the Old City. This evening the ladies will get the opportunity to learn all about draping themselves with six yards of fabric. The “wrap – around’’ dress of India, the sari is the typical dress of the Indian women. It comes in many colours and patterns. You will learn how to tie it and perhaps even walk around the hotel wearing it! The in-house guest relations executive will demonstrate the art of sari tying and then you get to follow her lead with the saris we will have bought for you. After you have draped the saris, she will help you wear the typical Indian kohl eyeliner and finish the look with traditional bindis (dots on the foreheads), and bangles. There will be a traditional Indian Thali feast organised for you this evening.
Day 7 - Jaipur:
Jaipur is called the pride of Rajasthan not only for its world-class heritage sites but also because it provides you with great shopping opportunities. The best traditional Rajasthani artwork and textiles from this city are globally renowned and are well worth viewing. This morning your vehicle and tour manager shall be at your disposal to take you shopping, if you like. You may like to stop at a local tailor’s shop who can copy any design and churn out a stunning outfit in 24hrs. Your afternoon will start with a visit to the fort palace at Amber, one of the finest examples of a fort palace, built similar in style to the surrounding richly decorated Mughal courts. From Amber, you visit the excellent Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. The museum chronicles the regeneration of hand block printing techniques in Rajasthan using traditional methods.
From here you will drive another 15 minutes to a private farmhouse abutting the forest. Here you will meet your ride for the next 30 minutes - Elephants. You will ride these gentle giants with a mahout through the countryside and arrive at a private venue where you will partake of a home cooked Rajasthani dinner. Before the dinner, you will have the opportunity to learn the steps to some of the most popular songs in Hindi films. Shake a leg, or hip or both as you try and master the many steps that are part of the dances seen on screen and loved by millions. Be sure to wear your sari that you learnt how to wear a day before! With the bangles and bindi you have the perfect look for a soon to be Bollywood star! The lesson lasts about an hour and is more fun rather than a class.
Day 8 - Jaipur/Jodphur (drive):
After breakfast, you will leave by road for Jodhpur. To the south-east of Jaipur is the old textile-printing town of Bagru. What makes Bagru unique is that it is one of the last bastions of printers predominantly using traditional vegetable dyes. The blues are often derived from indigo, the greens from a mixture of indigo and pomegranate rinds, and yellows from the root of the turmeric. The Chippa community who specialize in block printing work settled in the areas around Bagru and Sanganer and use blocks procured from the Khati carpenters of Jaipur, where tradition woodcarvers make intricate and traditional designs from blocks of teak wood. Your next stop will be at Nimaj Palace for lunch. You may like to explore the charming village with your guide before continuing to Jodhpur where you will arrive in the early evening.
Day 9 - Jodphur:
This morning you will visit Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada. In the afternoon you will take the specially designed Blue city walk including a Tuk Tuk ride! The walk will take you through the bustling bazaars of the old walled city. Along the way, you will see various arts and artisans such as the sword makers, the leather workmen, the Itrwallas or perfume makers, the Rangraij or the cloth dyer to name a few. This evening you will have dinner at the charming Pal Haveli terrace restaurant.
Day 10 - Jodphur/Narlai (drive):
In the morning, you will drive to the village of Narlai. You will arrive in Narlai by the afternoon, and check-in to your resort. In the village, you will stay at Rawla Narlai, a 17th-century fortress, which became an enchanting hunting lodge and was later gifted by Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur to his younger brother Maharaj Ajit Singh. Two decades later, Maharaj Swaroop Singh, his son, together with his wife Rani Usha Devi restored this exotic villa and converted it to a hotel. At sunset, enjoy your “tea” by the lake where migratory birds can be sighted and soak in the peace and quiet atmosphere amidst scenic surroundings.
Day 11 - Narlai:
Today you start the day early with a private yoga session. After breakfast, you will undertake Jeep Safari through the surrounding villages. You will return to the hotel for an interactive cooking demo followed by lunch. Later you will have “art in your hands”. Your palms will be decorated with henna in motifs of your choice. Remember the longer you leave it on, the darker the design will be! In the evening, a special Step-well Dinner will be organized exclusively for you. You will leave the hotel after dark on an ambling bullock cart and taken out of the village to an elaborate 6th-century well to dine in candlelight to the accompaniment of traditional songs.
Day 12 - Narlai/Udaipur (drive):
After breakfast, you will be bidding goodbye to your rural surroundings, as you set this morning for the lovely city of Udaipur. The drive is very scenic and offers plenty of opportunities for photography. On the way, you will stop at the white marble temples at Ranakpur. Considered one of the architectural gems of the area, this intricately carved temple belongs to the Jain religion. After Ranakpur you will stop for lunch and then continue your drive. You will arrive at your hotel in Udaipur in the late afternoon and check-in to your hotel. This evening you will meet a housewife who is known in for her simple, delicious home-cooked meals. With her, you will visit the market and shop at her favourite vendors. You will then return to her home and cook with her, preparing a meal for her family whom you will join for dinner today. Be sure to follow her instructions carefully as you will eat what you cook!
Day 13 - Udaipur:
On your tour this morning is a visit to the City Palace and Crystal Gallery. Next, you will visit the Bagore ki Haveli Museum. From here, your guide will take you to the home of a priest. Here you will see the ancient art of 'painting on water', a dying skill practised by very few today. A complete canvas takes anywhere from 4 to 10 hrs. to complete and today you will arrive in time to see the priest put the finishing touches on one such painting. You will end the morning tour as you make your way to the Old City. Sharing space with cows, elephants and people, the walk through the winding lanes is an interesting insight into life in what is referred to as “small town India”. You will see shops selling a variety of items, unexpected folk art decorating the walls of houses and small architectural gems like a latticed Haveli window. This evening you will take a private boat cruise on Lake Pichola. After the cruise, the curtains will come down with a farewell dinner organized at the hotel.
Day 14 - Udaipur/Delhi (flight):
This morning is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities. Later in the afternoon, you will be escorted to the domestic airport for your flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi you will be met and escorted to JW Marriot for dinner. Later you will be escorted to the international airport for your onward flight OR or Journeys Rediscovered can arrange extensions in Nepal, Southern India, Sri Lanka, Maldives or the Andaman Islands.
Travel Dates
Valid for travel 01 Oct 2020 - until 31 Dec 2021.
Terms & Conditions
Contact Journeys Rediscovered to register for our 2021 Small Group Journey (no more than 12 passengers.) Journeys Rediscovered Small Group - Immersion Journey of India, will run with a minimum of 6 passengers.
Alternatively, contact Journeys Rediscovered for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary, which is guaranteed with a minimum of one person.
Land-based itinerary is based per person on twin/double share basis (unless otherwise stated), single supplement is available, contact Journey Rediscovered for this surcharge.
Land based itinerary including domestic flights Dellhi/Varanasi/Agra and Udaipur/Delhi. International airfares are additional, please contact Journeys Rediscovered for international flight options and prices.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended and can be arranged for you for an additional cost.
For full pricing terms and conditions, contact your MTA Travel Expert, Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 or journeysrediscovered@mtatravel.com.au
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