Depart From: Depart from US for flight to India.

Afternoon: Late afternoon arrivals in Delhi.

Dinner: Welcome and a light meal in the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Begin the morning with program orientation. Then, depart for an excursion to Old Delhi. Drive past the Red Fort, and then go on a bicycle rickshaw ride around the heart of Chandini Chowk, - named for the silver merchants - navigating narrow alleyways, and a bustle of people, to end at Jama Masjid, the largest Muslim mosque in India. Continue on to the Raj Ghat - the cremation ground of Mahatma Gandhi.

Lunch: In a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Visit Gandhi's house, now a museum, where the ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi lived, received most of his famous visitors and was assassinated. Learn about the life and principles of Gandhi during a presentation by a local expert. Return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore independently or, continue to the Bahai Temple with your Study Leader.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Led by your Study Leader, attend a lecture on the Indian system of government - the world's largest parliamentary democracy.Then depart on a discovery of New Delhi's monuments: India Gate, the Parliament House, and the government secretariat buildings at Connaught Place. Continue to the National Museum for an expert-led visit with an art historian who explains the essence of classical Indian art.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to explore local fare.

Afternoon: Free Time.

Dinner: Experience a family meal with a Indian family who are long time residents of Delhi.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Suryaa New Delhi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Depart to Agra. En route, your Study Leader presents an overview of Indian History. At the mausoleum and tomb of the mighty Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor -the son of Emperor Humayun, and the grandson of the Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babur, the ruler who founded the Mughal dynasty in India - discover the legacy of Sikandra and the Moghuls. The tomb has three-storeyed red sandstone minarets displaying wondrous inlay work of marble on the four corners of the building. 'Langurs', black-faced monkeys have found a safe haven in the beautiful gardens surrounding the mausoleum and often stray to the walkways too. The construction of the mausoleum was begun by Akbar but completed in 1613 by his son, Emperor Jehangir.

Lunch: Upon arrival in Agra, at the hotel.

Afternoon: Join a local expert to learn about Moghul history as you cross the Yamuna River in the late afternoon, and watch as the sun sets over the Taj Mahal.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Transfer to Agra will take about 4 1/2 hours with rest stops.

Breakfast: In the hotel upon return from the Taj Mahal.

Morning: Set out pre-dawn to watch the rising sun bathe the pristine white marble of the Taj Mahal in warm hues of gold, ochre and orange. Take some time to explore the exquisite grounds and view the highly decorated inside chamber. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then explore Itmad-Ud-Daulah's tomb, popularly known as the Baby Taj. Next, visit Agra Fort. Originally planned as an impregnable military structure by Akbar, the Agra Fort, over a period of time, acquired all the elegance, lavishness and majesty of an imperial palace.

Lunch: Observe a cooking demonstration in a private home, then feast on the meal specially prepared for you.

Afternoon: Choose free time or accompany your Study Leader on a visit to a marble inlay workshop. Learn about the ancient craft and semi-precious stones used in the sumptuous decoration of the Taj Mahal.

Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Agra

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Transfer to Kalako will take about 4 hours with rest stops.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Depart to Kalakho. En route, explore Fatehpur Sikr, the deserted sandstone city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. A variety of architectural styles are found, since craftsmen representing many schools were employed. Originally planned as the capital, a shortage of water compelled Akbar to abandon his plans.

Lunch: Upon arrival at the Dera Lake View Retreat.

Afternoon: Set out on a camel trek, either riding a camel or in small carts pulled by camels, to a nearby village belonging to the colorful Meena tribal group. The Bhil (Tribal) Meena are a tribal group found in the state of Rajasthan in India. According to some traditions, they are said to be descended from those Meenas and Rajputs who, in the wars between their own tribes or with Muslims, were compelled to quit their native home and seek refuge in the vastness of Rajputana, where they formed alliances with the aboriginal families and established tribe. Visit their traditional mud huts, decorated with floral and animal designson the walls and floors and interact with the residents.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Enjoy traditional Rajasthani folk dances and try a few steps with the dancers.

Lodging: Dera Village Retreat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Introductory yoga is offered before breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Explore the small village of Abhaneri and one of India's deepest and largest stepwells. These unique steps were built in the 12th century as a water supply, as cool places of resort and for ritual cleansing before a visiting the adjoining Harshita Mata temple. Interact with local children at a village school.

Lunch: In the hotel.

Afternoon: Choose free time to relax or learn how to play Cricket, the national sport of India. In the late afternoon, for those interested, an active (Level 6) nature hike explores the nearby mountains.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Your Study Leader presents an overview of the history, culture and people of Rajasthan.

Lodging: Dera Village Retreat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Transfer to Jaipur will take about 3 hours.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning, depart for the colorful city of Jaipur. En route, your Study Leader discusses the role of Indian royal families in the modern age. Learn about the evolution of the caste system and it's deep roots in Indian society.

Lunch: In the hotel in Jaipur.

Afternoon: This afternoon, experience the essence of Jaipur as you take in the riot of colors and activities on a walk through the city's local market. Then choose to further explore the city center on your own, or have a truly local experience by viewing a Bollywood movie at Jaipur's historic cinema.

Dinner: Share an exclusive evening in the company of a Rajasthani Family in their palace home, Sankotra Haveli.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Discover the 11th century Amber Fort, situated 7 miles north of Jaipur and established as the original capital of Rajasthan, six centuries before the construction of Jaipur. Riding on elephants, approach the Fort as it rises majestically on the slopes of a hill.

Lunch: In a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Visit the City Palace, still the the Maharaja's residence but largely given over to a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings, royal apparel and an armory. Continue to the Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds, whose elaborate, honeycombed sandstone is a famous icon of the city. Last, visit Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by city founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, between 1727 and 1734, the Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved in India.

Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Trident Hotel Jaipur

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: This will be a long day in transit. Participants must have the stamina to fly from Jaipur to Banglore then take a 5 hour coach transfer to Mysore.

Breakfast: Early continental breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Early morning departure to the aiport to fly to Bangalore, via Mumbai.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Your Study Leader presents an overview of South India, whose cultures and traditions and architecture are markedly different from those of the North.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel after arrival and check-in.

Lodging: Hotel Regaalis Mysore

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Explore Srirangapatnam and the Somnath Temple. Srirangapatnam, the island fortress of Tipu Sultan, is the legendary "Tiger of Mysore" who put up a valiant fight against British domination. The high stone walls and moats enclose the palaces, temples and a great mosque. Tipu's summer palace, with its beautiful frescoes, the tombs of Tipu and Hyder Ali at Gumbaz, Royal Mosque, Wellesley Bridge and the celebrated Sri Ranganatha Temple are other monuments from its glorious past.

Lunch: In the hotel.

Afternoon: Explore the lively local market with its colorful flower, fruits and vegetables.

Dinner: In the home of a local Kodava family, experience a taste of authentic Kodava cuisine and culture. The Kodava, also known as Coorg tribal people are a 'martial race' with a tradition of ancestor worship.

Lodging: Hotel Regaalis Mysore

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Set out for the nearby Chamundi Hills, Chamundeshwari temple is situated on the top of Chamundi hill. The temple is dedicated to Sri Chamundeshwari, the titular deity of the Mysore Royal Family also described as ?Mahishasura Mardini? for having killed the buffalo headed demon Mahishasura. where the 12th century temple of. Then visit Mysore Palace, the official residence of the Wodeyars - the erstwhile royal family of Mysore. Built in 1912 in the Indo Saracenic style, The architectural style of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture.

Lunch: In the hotel.

Afternoon: Choose to explore independently or join your Study Leader on a walk through the beautiful Brindavan Gardens. Modeled on the design of the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir in the Mughal style, the garden is enriched with a number of terraces, parterres, fountains, running and cascading waterchannels, water chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees. Today, the Brindavan Gardens is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur and illumination/ musical fountain.

Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.

Lodging: Hotel Regaalis Mysore

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Must be comfortable sitting on a 7 to 8 hour drive with bus stops.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Depart on a full-day drive to the Hill Station of Wyanand. En route, travel what has been described as one of the most picturesque drives in India. As the road winds through Bandipur National Park, look out for monkeys playing along the road side and possibly a rare glimpse of the elephants who sometimes inhabit these forests. Cross from Karnataka into the state of Kerala.

Lunch: Lunch enroute at a plantation. After lunch, take a walk with the plantation owner to learn about the spice crops grown in this area.

Afternoon: Continue to Wyanand. Enroute your Study Leader discusses Colonial rule and how spices of Kerala influenced world history.

Dinner: In the resort.

Lodging: Windflower Spa & Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Drive to Palakkad will take about 5 hours with rest stops.

Breakfast: In the resort.

Morning: Depart to Palakkad, winding through the scenic hills. Your Study Leader presents the cultural and social importance of festivals in Indian society.

Lunch: In a hotel en route.

Afternoon: Continue the drive to Palakkad with a stop at Kalamandalam. Founded in 1930 by renowned poet Padmabhooshan Vallathol Narayana Menon, Kalamandalam is a residential center of learning for art and culture. On a special visit of the classes, observe how students learn about the traditional dance and theater form of Kathakali.

Dinner: Dinner at the retreat.

Lodging: Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: A local Ayurveda expert gives a presentation on Ayurveda then leads a walk through the herb garden to learn the medicinal properties of each plant. The remainder of the morning is at leisure to relax or have an Ayurvedic treatment (not included).

Lunch: Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon: Mid-afternoon, go to the village center to witness the pageantry and events of a traditional temple festival. Take part in the festivities as bejeweled elephants parade through the streets pulling colorfully decorated carts.

Dinner: Return for late dinner in the hotel.

Lodging: Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Must be able to sit for a long time. The drive from Palakkad to the Kerala Backwaters will take 7 hours with rest stops along the way.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Depart on a full-day drive to the Backwaters of Kerala. As you descend from the hills into Kerala's tropical coastal area, observe the changing landscapes. Your Study Leader discusses how Kerala is a prosperous progressive state while remaining Communist.

Lunch: In a local restaurant en route.

Afternoon: Continue the drive, arriving at the riverside meeting point in the late afternoon to board privately-charted traditional Keralan houseboats and begin cruising.

Dinner: Just before sunset, your houseboats tie up for the night and dinner is served on board.

Evening: Enjoy the extraordinary tranquility of the Backwaters, whose silence contrasts so starkly with the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Lodging: Privately Chartered Houseboats

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Aboard your houseboat.

Morning: Enjoy a full day of cruising the Backwaters into the countryside along tranquil waterways for a view into rural life. Passing skiff-fishermen in their cockleshell boats; large flotillas of ducks waddling down to the water from thatched houses on the banks; women, neck-deep in water, with their waist-length hair heaped in a crown, searching for fish with their feet and the aimless cattle who graze in lush pasture-land. Stop in water-side villages along the way and walk the paths that front the small houses to observe daily life.

Lunch: Aboard your houseboat.

Afternoon: Continue cruising and observing life on the water. You are just as much of interest to the village residents, as they are to you, waving and calling out as the boats pass by. An abundance of birdlife is found in the area. The houseboats tie up at sunset, to overnight along the water’s edge.

Dinner: Aboard your houseboat.

Evening: Watch the sunset from the rooftop deck of the houseboats.

Lodging: Privately Chartered Houseboats

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The drive to Cochin once you disembark the boat will be 2 hours.

Breakfast: Aboard your houseboat.

Morning: Disembark the houseboats and meet the motorcoach for the drive to Cochin. Your Study Leader discusses traditional boat construction. Stop at a coir factory and shipbuilding yard to learn first hand about boat building in Kerala. Arrive mid-day in Cochin.

Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.

Afternoon: Free Time. The center of historic Cochin is easily walkable, with many small shops and market stalls interspersed with the Colonial architecture of this coastal city. Late afternoon, enjoy time to reflect, relax or adventure on your own, then get ready for an interesting dinner experience.

Dinner: You are warmly received in the home of celebrated chef Nimmy Paul. Learn the intricacies of Kerala cuisine during a cooking demonstration followed by Farewell Dinner of regional dishes.

Lodging: Abad Grande Residencia Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Explore Cochin on a guided walk. Visit The "Dutch Palace”, built in the 1550s by the Portuguese and taken over by the Dutch, who later presented it to the Rajas of Cochin. The palace contains excellent mythological murals and a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring - a subtle mix of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites - which gives the effect of polished marble. Visit The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 and considerably embellished in the mid 18th century by Ezekiel Rahabi, who built a clock tower and paved the floor of the synagogue with hand- painted tiles brought all the way from Canton in China.

Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.

Afternoon: Free time to explore the shops and streets of the Jewish quarter or relax. 5 p.m. Depart to the airport.

Dinner: In a restaurant near the airport.

Evening: Departures.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Arrive To: Arrival back home.