14 Day North Indian Highlights – With Opportunity International

This special tour is being run in conjunction with Opportunity International Australia and BG Travel and Events.

If you would like to find out more about joining this remarkable tour, please see the contact details below.

Maximum Group Size: 12

Starts in Delhi on Sunday 11th March 2012

Finishes in Delhi on Saturday 24th March 2012

Entrance Fees Included for all sites visited as part of the itinerary

Fully Escorted by Deb Kindness, who has over 18 years experience in India and Nepal.

Cost from AUD3990 per person twin share

Accommodation	Transport	Meal
12 nights Hotels	Airport Transfers	12 Breakfasts
1 night overnight train	Domestic flights	1 Lunch
	Train	2 dinners
	Private Vehicle
	Auto Rickshaw
	Cycle Rickshaw
	Taxis

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This trip encompasses the best of North India, from the deserts of Rajasthan to a village seemingly lost in time, from the banks of the holy Ganges to the regal legacy of Lucknow. We take in the splendour of the Mughal cities of Delhi and Agra and the majesty of Udaipur and Jaipur. We get to explore a village seemingly forgotten by time and also spend time with Opportunity International visiting their projects in Varanasi and Lucknow. You will be introduced to some wonderful secrets, from cooking to miniature Mughal art, from gemstones to marble-work, from ancient Hindi rituals to the erstwhile royalty of the Nawabs. Markets, bazaars, holy cities and time spent with the microfinancing teams of Cashpor in Varanasi and Margdarshak in Lucknow, all make for a trip full of rewards, highlights and contrasts.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Sunday 11th March: Delhi
Arrival Day. Arrival into Delhi and transfer to hotel.
Overnight Claridges Hotel

Days 2-3: Monday 12th – Tuesday 13th March: Udaipur
We take a morning flight to Udaipur. Often called the romantic city, Udaipur lives up to its name with its white washed havelis and palaces lining the banks of the picturesque Lake Pichola. We visit the City Palace complex, take in a Rajasthani cultural show, wander through the local bazaar, enjoy a cooking class and get take a boat ride on the lake.
Overnight Swaroop Vilas

Days 4-5: Wednesday 14th – Thursday 15th March: Jaipur
An early afternoon flight takes us to Jaipur. Amber Fort, just 11km outside Jaipur is a splendid example of fusion Rajput/Moghul architecture. We wander the colourful markets, have time to visit the City Palace and experience a Bollywood extravaganza at the local cinema.
Overnight Diggi Palace

Day 6: Friday 16th March: Agra
We have a 5 hour drive to Agra, where we visit the magnificent Red Fort built by 4 successive Moghal Emperors.
Overnight Raj Mahal

Days 7-8: Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th March: Orchha
A visit to the Taj Mahal is best experienced in the cool quiet of dawn. One of the seven wonders of the world, no picture can do justice to this incredible mausoleum built for the love of a woman. We have an afternoon train ride south to Orchha, home of the erstwhile Kings of Bhundela where we explore the palaces and temples of this small charming village. On Sunday evening we take an overnight train to Varanasi.
Overnight Orchha Resort

Days 9-10: Monday 19th – Tuesday 20th March: Varanasi
Arriving at our hotel before lunch, we spend the afternoon wandering the ghats (steps) along the holy Ganges and visiting the Golden Temple. On Tuesday we spend time with the staff and some clients of Cashpor, discovering microfinance, and learning how it empowers the poor to work their way out of poverty.
Overnight Palace on Ganges

Days 11-12: Wednesday 21st -Thursday 22nd March: Lucknow
A dawn boat ride along the ghats of Varanasi to experience a wholly different side to life in India before we take an afternoon train to Lucknow. On Thursday, we spend the day with the staff at Margdarshak, Opportunity International Australia’s microfinance partner in Lucknow, and meeting some of the clients being impacted by this amazing program.
Overnight Taj Residency

Day 13: Friday 23rd March: Delhi
We have time this morning to visit some of the remarkable sights that are the legacy of the Nawabs (Muslim rulers) of Lucknow before returning to Delhi on an evening flight.
Overnight Claridges Hotel

Day 14: Saturday 24th March: Delhi / Departure Day
We take a trip to Old Delhi in the morning, visiting the Jama Masjid (the largest mosque in India), the Spice Markets and Chandni Chowk, the busiest marketplace in Asia. In the afternoon we visit Humayans Tomb – a UNESCO World Heritage site – one of the most splendid examples of Indian Mughal Architecture.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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