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Road Scholar President’s Journey 2014: The Wonders of India

Program Number: 21109RJ
Start and End Dates:
1/12/2014 - 1/26/2014; 1/14/2014 - 1/28/2014; 1/16/2014 - 1/30/2014; 1/20/2014 - 2/3/2014;
Duration: 14 nights
Location: India
Price starting at: $6,998.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 35; 12 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 11 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Road Scholar President James Moses invites you to experience a special journey to India, exotic land of rich cultures and crackling modern energy. Enjoy exclusive field trips and presentations led by Road Scholar’s top India experts, experience the opulence of Moorish and Mughal architecture, and learn what life is like in India today as we create opportunities for you to meet and interact with the people at universities and in private homes.




Highlights

• Expert-led field trips to grand fortresses, magnificent temples and mosques, the incomparably beautiful Taj Mahal, and to the offices where Gandhi’s powerful nonviolent protest movement was planned.
• Join Jim Moses for a cocktail party at a maharaja’s island palace and a private gala dinner at a historic Rajasthan fort.
• Stay in five-star lodgings ranked among the best in the world, including Travel + Leisure’s #1 hotel in Asia.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles per day; some uneven terrain and stairs without railings.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Mumbai, 2 nights; flight to Udaipur, 2 nights; coach to Rajsamand, 2 nights; coach to Jaipur, 3 nights; coach to Agra, 1 night; coach to Delhi, 2 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Mumbai
2 nights

Begin in the former Bombay, one of the most populous cities in the world. Discover Mani Bhavan, the political headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi for 17 years, and the historic Crawford Market. Discuss the repatriation of cultural objects at the Prince of Wales Museum. Horse-drawn carriages transport you to an outstanding local restaurant for your welcome dinner.



Flight to Udaipur
2 nights
Coach to Rajsamand
2 nights

Experience Udaipur, the “City of Lakes,” where marvelous domed palaces line the waterfront. A boat excursion on Lake Pichola ends with a cocktail party at the island palace of Jag Mandir. Step into the City Palace, a flamboyant fusion of architectural styles. Depart Udaipur for a field trip to Eklingji, a complex of 108 ornately sculpted Hindu temples. Continue to the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, where you explore the village of Sardargarh and stay at a heritage hotel located inside the 18th-century Sardargarh Fort. Savor a private gala dinner amid the fort’s splendid surroundings.



Coach to Jaipur
3 nights
Coach to Agra
1 night

Continue your journey through Rajasthan to Jaipur, the state capital. Explore the imposing Amber Fort and see the enormous astronomical instruments of Jantar Mantar, built by an 18th-century maharaja. Sip tea and chat with English-speaking university students and share an authentic home dinner with a Rajasthani family. From Jaipur, head east to Agra, home to the incomparable Taj Mahal. Enjoy an opportunity to see the Taj’s domes bathed in morning light and enter its highly decorated chambers. Then visit the Red Fort of Agra, another elegant example of Mughal architecture.



Coach to Delhi
2 nights
Overnight flight to the U.S.
1 night

Discover the walled city of Old Delhi, once the capital of the great Mughal Empire. Ride through the buzzing Chandni Chowk market on a rickshaw then visit the Jama Masjid mosque. Enjoy a private performance at a local dance school. Learn more about Gandhi at the home where he lived the last days of his life, today converted into a museum. Share a celebratory farewell dinner at a local restaurant.




India

As a consequence of its size, the history of India is an amalgamation of its individual territories. The natural wealth of India’s territories lured a succession of traders and foreign influences to it, each leaving their imprint on the nation, however faint or localized. Thus, Chinese fishing nets in Kerala are a throwback to that country's ancient maritime trade, while in the north, ancient terracotta figurines bear distinctly Grecian traces.
Accommodations
Mumbai: Cosmopolitan five-star hotel on the Arabian Sea. Udaipur: Palatial lakeside hotel, ranked #4 in the world by Travel + Leisure. Rajsamand: Heritage hotel built into the historic Sardargarh Fort. Jaipur: Five-star hotel in the style of princely Rajasthan. Agra: Luxury resort just 600 meters from the Taj Mahal. Delhi: Stylish five-star hotel in the heart of the city.
Meals and Lodgings
   The Oberoi Mumbai
  Mumbai, India 2 nights
   The Oberoi Udaivilas
  Udaipur, India 2 nights
   Sardargarh Heritage Hotel
  Sardargarh, India 2 nights
   The Oberoi Rajvilas
  Jaipur, India 3 nights
   The Oberoi Amarvilas
  Agra, India 1 night
   The Oberoi, New Delhi
  Delhi, India 2 nights
 The Oberoi Mumbai
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: Located in the city’s prime business and shopping district of Nariman Point, The Oberoi, Mumbai has been completely redesigned to be the ultimate destination for contemporary style and luxury in the city. Overlooking the ocean, the hotel welcomes you with space and serenity. Luxuriously appointed guestrooms have been meticulously planned with a host of innovative features using the latest technology. The Oberoi, Mumbai is located on Marine Drive, the famed boulevard along the coast in South Mumbai. An hour's drive from the airport and only minutes away from the business, financial and entertainment districts, the hotel is also well located to visit the city’s tourist attractions.
  Contact info: Nariman Point
Mumbai,  400021 India
phone: +91 -22-6632-5757
web: www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_mumbai/index.asp
  Room amenities: Air conditioning with individual temperature control | All news cable network | Bedside switches for lights | Bedside outlet for recharging cellular phones | Complimentary local newspapers | Dual line telephones with speaker and voice mail | DVD player | Down pillows | Digital weighing scale | Electronic safe | Electronically controlled blackout roller blind | Fax machine on request | Glass walled bathrooms with electronically controlled roller blinds for privacy | High speed wired and wireless Internet access | High definition LCD television | Hypo-allergenic pillows on request | Hair dryer | iPod docking station with alarm clock | Intelligent thermostat | In room movies on request | Iron and ironing board on request | Laptop on request | Media hub outfitted in the writing desk. This includes international sockets, an HDMI port (High Definition Media Interface enables equipment such as camcorders, portable PlayStations and iPods to be connected to the television), USB charging socket and video and S-video multi-sockets. Corresponding cords to charge or connect the equipment to the media hub are available on request. | Printer on request | Refrigerated private bar | Self lit make-up / shaving mirror | Shaver adaptor | Slippers | Silk bathrobes | Silk padded hangers | Tea and coffee making facilities
  Facility amenities: •Wireless Internet access in all rooms and public areas •State of the art 24-hour Business Centre •24 hours Oberoi Spa •24 hours Fitness Centre •24 hours in room dining •24 hours personal butler service •24 hours Concierge •Meetings and Conference facilities •Luxury retail arcade •Outdoor heated swimming pool •Beauty parlour •24 Hours laundry service •Baby sitting •Valet •Electronic safe deposit box in all rooms •Room for guests with special needs •Extensive Safety and Security arrangements
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: TBA Please contact RS Travel Services to book extra rooms.
  Check in time: 2:00 PM

 The Oberoi Udaivilas
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: Conceived as a traditional Indian palace, The Oberoi Udaivilas showcases the rich heritage of the Mewar region of Rajasthan with its rambling courtyards, gentle rippling fountains, reflection pools and verdant gardens. Grand architecture inspired by the palaces of Rajasthan present a picture of majesty resplendent with pavilions and domes that lead you to a journey of discovery. Interiors embellished with decorative domes, hand painted frescoes, intricate mirror work and beautifully crafted artefacts create an ambience of regal splendour.
  Contact info: Haridasji Ki Magri
Udaipur,  313 001 India
phone: +91 ) 294-243-3300
web: www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_udaivilas/index.asp
  Room amenities: • Wired & wireless internet access • Dual line telephones with data port • Personal bar • Tea and coffee maker • Air conditioning with thermostat • Electronic safe • Hairdryer • Voltage 110-220
  Facility amenities: •Wireless internet access in all the guest rooms •24 hours state of the art business centre and internet desk •Oberoi spa •Beauty salon •24 hours personal butler •Fitness centre with steam •24 hours in-room dining •24 hours concierge •Meetings and Conference facilities •Two outdoor heated pools •Currency Exchange •24 hours laundry services •Baby sitting •In house boutique "Tijori" •Library offering movies and Audio CDs •Valet services •Electronic safe deposit box in all the guest rooms •Gourmet counters in all guest rooms (Minibar) •Private/special dining •Airport/train station pick-up by chauffeured luxury cars •Turndown service •Shoes shine service •Secretarial Services •Doctor on Call •Boat/shikara rides with wine and canapé •Daily Yoga •Rajasthani folk dances •Puppet Show (On request) •Cooking Classes with Chef (On request) •Historian Session (On request) •Croquet (Outdoor) •Private Astrology Session (On request) •Village tour •Camel/elephant riding. (On request)
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Sardargarh Heritage Hotel
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: Sardargarh Fort was constructed from 1738 to 1743 by Sardar Singh one of the most powerful Dhodihais. The Forts overall architectural style is grand, but still it strikes you with a solemn austerity. Understandable, since it was build for military reasons, it is fortified with massive ramparts, and giant circular bastions with battlements. Huge entrances and gateways, concentric walls and imposing arches, domes and vaulted spaces, textured facades, jharokhas (balconies) and cannons complete the picture of medieval military ambience. Temples, gardens, bath aria, granaries, residential suites, audience halls, pavilions, water works, watch towers, armories, treasuries and mint dungeons are spread out across three lakh square feet with courtyards. The fort still retains its medieval underground infrastructure - passage systems, rooms, halls, granaries and stores, open today to guests of the Hotel. The Hotel offers a breathtaking view on all sides. To its north is the enthralling view of the Lake. The Darbar Hall offers a charming vista of the village. And looming over the horizon is the imposing Aravalli Hill Range.
  Contact info: Sardargarh
Dist. Rajsamand
Rajasthan,  313 330 India
phone: +91 )-29-08 254591/92
web: www.sardargarh.in/
  Room amenities: - Split Air-conditioning both cold and hot. - King size beds with spring mattresses. - Tea coffee maker, mini bar, satellite T.V, telephone connectivity. - All the suites have legrand switches and MCBs. - Rest rooms with bathing tubs and the pressurised water system .
  Facility amenities: Banqueting Facilities, Internet Cafe, Two Workstations, Choice of Newspapers & Periodicals,Bath (Pool) Currency Exchange, Credit Card Facility
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 The Oberoi Rajvilas
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: The Oberoi Rajvilas is, quite perfectly, the India of our imagination with all her beauties distilled and dusted down, plus the conveniences and the luxuries that only a modern mind could dream of. It is built with exacting detail, recreating a traditional Rajasthani fort setting surrounding an 18th century Shiva temple rising out of a lotus strewn pond. Carved elephants rear at entrances, and fountains glitter lavishly with hand painted blue tiles. With Jaipur as its backdrop, the hotel recreates the magnificence of princely Rajasthan in a beautiful fort setting with 54 rooms, 14 luxury tents and 3 villas with private pools clustered around private courtyards. Most rooms have large four poster beds and sunken marble baths overlooking private walled gardens. Airconditioned luxury tents have embroidered interior canopies, old style baths and outdoor decks. Interiors of the Royal Villa highlight the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail that distinguishes the hotel.
  Contact info: Jaipur
Jaipur,  302 031 India
phone: +91 ) 141-268-0101
web: www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_rajvilas/index.asp
  Room amenities: • Satellite & TV • CD and DVD Player • Wi-Fi internet access • Single line telephones with data port • Mini bar • 24 hour in-room dining and butler service. • Tea and coffee maker • Air conditioning with thermostat • Electronic safe • Hairdryer • Voltage 110-220
  Facility amenities: •Baby Sitting Service •Spa / Beauty Salon •Boutique •24 hour Laundry •Valet Parking •Credit Cards – Major Cards Accepted •Dry-cleaning/Laundry service (same day) •Foreign Currency Exchange •Concierge •24 hour In Room Dining •Wake up call •Wi-Fi Internet in guest rooms and public areas •Emergency information in all rooms •Limousine/Car Rental Service •Luggage Storeroom •Meeting Room •Doctor on call •Photo Service •Postal & Shipping Services •Safe Deposit Boxes •Secretarial Service •Steam & Jacuzzi •Gymnasium •Car rental •Helipad •Uniformed security on premises
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 The Oberoi Amarvilas
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: Rated amongst the leading resorts in the world, The Oberoi Amarvilas offers the best view of the Taj Mahal in Agra. The hotel is located 600 meters from the Taj Mahal and all rooms, suites, lobby, bar and lounge offer breathtaking views of the monument. Built in a style inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the resort is a splendid display of terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions with rich interiors that take you back to an era of Emperors and Princes. An interlude at The Oberoi Amarvilas is truly unforgettable. Rated amongst the leading resorts in the world, The Oberoi Amarvilas offers the best view of the TajMahal in Agra. The hotel is located 600 meters from the TajMahal and all rooms, suites, lobby, bar and lounge offer breathtaking views of the monument. Built in a style inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the resort is a splendid display of terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions with rich interiors that take you back to an era of Emperors and Princes. An interlude at The Oberoi Amarvilas is truly unforgettable.
  Contact info: Taj East Gate Road
Agra,  282 001 India
phone: +91 ) 562-223-1515
web: www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_amarvilas/index.asp
  Room amenities: • Color Satellite TV • DVD/CD Player • Wi-Fi internet access • Dual line telephones with dataport • Mini bar • Tea and coffee maker • Air conditioning with thermostat • Electronic safe • Hairdryer • Voltage 110-220
  Facility amenities: •Complimentary golf cart transfer to and from the Taj Mahal •Complimentary transfer to and from the local railway station or airport •Wireless Internet access in all rooms and public areas •State of the art 24-hour Business Centre •Full service Oberoi Spa •Fitness Centre •24 hours in room dining •24 hours personal butler service •24 hours Concierge •Meetings and Conference facilities •Luxury retail arcade •Outdoor swimming pool •Beauty parlour •24 Hours laundry service •Banking •Baby sitting •Valet •Travel desk •Electronic safe deposit box in all rooms •Room for guests with special needs •Extensive Safety and Security arrangements
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 The Oberoi, New Delhi
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: Located in the heart of the city, close to the commercial and shopping districts, The Oberoi, New Delhi reflects the spirit in a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary sophistication.
  Contact info: Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg
New Delhi,  110 003 India
phone: +91 ) 11-2436-3030
web: www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_delhi/index.asp
  Room amenities: • Wi-Fi internet access • Dual line telephones with dataport • Personal bar • Tea and coffee maker • Air conditioning with thermostat • Electronic safe • Hairdryer • Voltage 110-220 • DVD players in all rooms
  Facility amenities: •Wireless Internet access in all rooms and public areas •State of the art 24-hour Business Centre •Full service Oberoi Spa •Fitness Centre •24 hours in room dining •24 hours personal butler service •24 hours Concierge •Meetings and Conference facilities •Luxury retail arcade •Outdoor heated swimming pool •Indoor heated lap pool •Beauty parlour •24 Hours laundry service •Banking •Baby sitting •Valet •Travel desk •Electronic safe deposit box in all rooms •Room for guests with special needs •Extensive Safety and Security arrangements
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: TBA Please contract RS Travel Services for extra nights booking.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Day 2 in Mumbai in the early evening with a light dinner at the program hotel. You will be staying at The Oberoi Mumbai that night.
  End of Program:
Day 14 after lunch in Delhi at the program hotel. You will be staying at The Oberoi, New Delhi the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. None.
  Parking availability:
Driving in India is not recommended.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
To Start of Program
  Location:  Mumbai
  Transportation to site: If independent flights do not coincide with the designated group transfer, it will be the responsibility of the participant/s to make arrangements to get to the program site. Taxis are readily available at the airport, but you can also arrange a private transfer with Road Scholar Travel Services.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Delhi
  Transportation from site: Program Only Participants are welcome to take the group transfers if their flights coincide with the group flights. There is one designated group transfer available to independent travelers at no additional cost. The designated group transfer time will be around xxx pm (subject to change until approximately 5 weeks prior to departure). Please note that the transfer from the hotel to the airport takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Private arrival and departure transfers -at an additional cost- may be arranged in advance by the calling Road Scholar Travel Services.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Depart for India
(Sunday, January 12)
   
 Depart From: Depart for overnight flight to India.

Day 2: Evening Arrival / Light Dinner
(Monday, January 13)
   
 Arrive To: Group arrival to Mumbai in the evening. Transfer to hotel for check-in.
 Dinner: Light in room sandwich platter for dinner.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Mumbai
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: Mumbai / Orientation / Prince of Wales Museum / Mani Bhawan
(Tuesday, January 14)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Begin the morning with your program orientation. Then continue on a discovery of Mumbai, driving past the Gateway of India, Dhobi ghat and ending at the Prince of Wales Museum where you enjoy an expert presentation, "Reflections on Repatriation of Cultural Objects and Artifacts," by a member of the Prince of Wales Museum. Afterwards, discover the museum.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch see something typically Mumbai; the Dubba wala, are people employed in Mumbai to collect freshly cooked food in lunch boxes from the home of the office workers and delivering them to their respective workplace each day.
 Afternoon: Discover Mani Bhawan, where Gandhi initiated the Non-Cooperation, Satyagraha, Swadeshi, Khadi and Khilafat movements, and continue to Crawford market, one of South India’s most colorful and famous markets. Then take a horse carriage ride to Victoria embankment for your dinner.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Mumbai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Fly Mumbai to Udaipur / Lake Ride / Cocktail Party with Jim
(Wednesday, January 15)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: This morning, fly to Udaipur.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant on Lake Pichola.
 Afternoon: Transfer to your hotel to check in to your room at the Oberoi Udaivilas. Enjoy a private boat excursion on Lake Pichola with a beautiful view of Udaipur and an extensive explanation of the monuments around the lake. End at Palace on the Lake, the iconic palace featured in movies and literature.
 Dinner: Canopy dinner together with the cocktail party hosted by Road Scholar President James Moses at the Palace on the lake.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Udaivilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Udaipur / City Palace / Lok Kala Museum
(Thursday, January 16)

Note: The miniature painting presentation is done at an art Gallery. While you will be learning about miniature painting, be aware that this is also a shop where you can purchase painting is you desire, but there is no need to do so. Road Scholar has purchased a commemorative painting for all participants.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Enjoy the morning exploring the City Place and the Jagdish temple located in the city palace complex. The City Palace in Udaipur was built in a flamboyant style and is considered the largest of its type in Rajasthan, a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, and was built on a hilltop that gives a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, including several historic monuments such as the Lake Palace in Lake Pichola, the Jag Mandir (another island in the lake), the Jagdish Temple (close to the palace), the Monsoon Palace (on top of an overlooking hillock nearby) and the Neemach Mata temple.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake.
 Afternoon: Explore the Lok Kala Museum, a museum rarely visited by foreigners. This is one of the most famous museums of Udaipur exhibiting a unique collection of folk art and folklore of Rajasthan. Then enjoy a traditional Rajasthani puppet show at the museum that will show some of the dance and ceremony of Rajasthan. Afterwards, join your Study Leader for an optional presentation on miniature painting at a local gallery or alternatively return to the hotel for some time off to relax. Miniature painting is a traditional art form of Udaipur where the painting itself is not miniature, but the art of creating these paintings uses minute details that can only be seen with a magnifying glass. Learn about the art of Rajasthan with a presentation on "Miniature Paintings: The History, Method and Medium.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel overlooking the lake.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Udaivilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Udaipur / Sardargarh / Village Visit
(Friday, January 17)

Note: Drive time is approximately 2.5 hours.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Check out of hotel and depart for Check out of hotel and depart for Sardargarh. Along the way, stop at a local temple, Saas Bahu Temple Complex, built by King Mahapala in the 10th century. The complex includes a cluster of Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the two main temples are situated very close to each other. The larger temple with a torana in front is called Saas while the smaller temple has octagonal ceilings and is called as Bahu. Both are constructed on a common platform. Then continue to Sardargarh with a presentation by your study leader on “The Rajputs of Rajasthan.”
 Lunch: Lunch at Sardargarh, a traditional fort built from 1738 to 1743 by Sardar Singh, one of the most powerful Dhodhias (Prince Warrior) during this time period.
 Afternoon: This afternoon, take part in a presentation on the reconstruction and restoration of Sardargarh Fort given by the fort owner. Then continue on an expert-led walk around the village with the owner to learn about this village and interact with the villagers. End the day at sunset point on Lake Manohar Sagar.
 Dinner: Dinner at the fort.
   
Accommodations: Sardargarh Heritage Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Sardargarh / Train Ride / Cooking Demonstration / Rajasthani Gala Dinner with James Moses
(Saturday, January 18)

Note: The train ride is a typical local train with wooden benches and used by villagers and locals. It is approximately a one hour ride that puts you in close contact with locals and offers a very special insight into life in the local community.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Take a local train ride to see the village of Sardargarh, with a view of the vista of this area as it changes from a village to dunes to wooded area and ending with a visit of a local temple and the town of Amet Haveli.
 Lunch: Enjoy a cooking demonstration followed by lunch at the hotel. Learn a little about Indian cooking and the herbs and spices that make this cuisine so aromatic and flavorful.
 Afternoon: Then join a walking discovery of the fort, led by the fort owner, and learn about the fort, its history and its inhabitants.
 Dinner: Join Road Scholar President James Moses for a private Rajasthan gala dinner. Please note that theme clothing for this celebration will be provided and is yours to keep.
   
Accommodations: Sardargarh Heritage Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Sardargarh / Jaipur
(Sunday, January 19)

Note: Drive time is approximately seven hours. There will be stops and lunch along the way to break this drive.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Depart for Jaipur with bathroom stops along the way.
 Lunch: Lunch en route.
 Afternoon: Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in with time to relax in the afternoon at your hotel. Then in the early evening, join a presentation on the “The History of Jaipur” by a local historian and folk expert.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Rajvilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Jaipur / Amber Fort / Junta Manar
(Monday, January 20)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: This morning depart for Amber Fort. En route, view Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This five-storied wonder has a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires. Amber Fort is an example of Rajput architecture, with its terraces and ramparts reflected in the Maota Lake below. The interiors of the fort have various royal halls decorated with intricate ivory, mirror and glass work complemented by exquisite wall paintings.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Continue your exploration of Jaipur with the City Place and Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory.
 Dinner: Dinner at leisure to choose your own cuisine.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Rajvilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: School visit / Tea with University Students / free time
(Tuesday, January 21)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Explore Kalwar, a village near Jaipur and visit an elementary school there supported by Road Scholar via a service learning volunteer project. Explore the school, meet with the teachers and interact with the students there. Then transfer to a local university and enjoy tea with university students to learn about their goals and aspirations.
 Lunch: Enjoy a family hosted lunch at Castle Kalwar and learn about the family’s history and the fort that they are currently restoring.
 Afternoon: Free time on your own to explore Jaipur.
 Dinner: Dinner at leisure at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Rajvilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Jaipur / Coach to Agra / Cocktail Dinner
(Wednesday, January 22)

Note: This is a four-hour drive.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Check out of hotel and depart for Agra.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel in Agra.
 Afternoon: Depart for Itmad-Ud-Daulah's tomb, popularly known as the Baby Taj. Then continue to Metab Bagh for a sunset view of the Taj Mahal and enjoy an on site presentation on the story of the Taj Mahal as the sun sets over the monument.
 Dinner: Enjoy cocktail and a light dinner on a balcony at the Amarvilas overlooking the hotel’s magnificent gardens.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi Amarvilas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Agra / Agra Fort / Coach to Delhi
(Thursday, January 23)

Note: Drive to Delhi is approximately 4 hours.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Set out in the early morning to explore the Taj Mahal. Take some time to experience the exquisite grounds and view the highly decorated inside chamber. Our local expert guide discusses the construction and the preservation of the monument. 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: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Transfer to Delhi. Upon arrival check in to your hotel and relax until dinner.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi, New Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Old Delhi / Gallery of Modern Art
(Friday, January 24)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Discover Old Delhi. Drive by the Red fort and then take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, ending in Jama Masjid with a visit to the Mosque and Raj Ghat, Ghandi's Memorial.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: After lunch, explore Gallery of Modern Art with a talk on "Modern and Contemporary Art in India." In the late afternoon, visit a dance school and get a private performance from the students there.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel on the rooftop overlooking New Delhi.
   
Accommodations: The Oberoi, New Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: New Delhi / Late night flight home
(Saturday, January 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: This morning, discover New Delhi. Explore Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk around India Gate and government buildings. Continue to Gandhi Smriti with a talk on "Relevance of Gandhi in Today's World."
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore Delhi and pack for your late-night flight home.
 Dinner: Dinner is on your own.
 Evening: Late night transfer to the airport for your flight home.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15: Early morning flight / Arrival Home
(Sunday, January 26)
   
 Arrive To: Arrival home.
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Suggested Reading List


A Fine Balance


Author: Rohinton Mistry


Description: Set in Indira Gandhi's "Emergency Raj" of 1975 in an unnamed Indian "city by the sea," which bears a striking resemblance to Bombay, this tender novel follows the intermingled fortunes of a Parsi widow, her boarder and two tailors.



An Autobiography, Or the Story of My Experiments with Truth


Author: Mohandas K. Gandhi


Description: There is no substitute for reading Gandhi in his own simple, direct prose. A highly recommended glimpse into the personality and life of this remarkable figure.



Birds of India


Author: Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp


Description: Thoroughly revised, with 73 new plates and many others updated or repainted, the second edition of the masterful Birds of India now features all maps and text opposite the plates for quicker and easier reference.



City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi


Author: William Dalrymple


Description: Dalrymple infectiously interweaves his own experiences over a year in Delhi with the art, architecture, history and literature of the city.



Curry, A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors


Author: Lizzie Collingham


Description: This cultural history with recipes is appetizingly organized as a menu (biryani, vindaloo, chai, etc.). Curry explores the origins and spread of Indian food and the interplay between Muslim, Hindu, Portuguese and British traditions on the Subcontinent.



Eyewitness Guide India


Author: Eyewitness Guides


Description: A handsome, beautifully illustrated guide to India. It features color photographs, history and plenty of background information.



Hindu Art and Architecture


Author: George Michell


Description: An excellent survey of Hindu art and architecture, explaining the meaning and construction of principal images and buildings, as well as the development of Hinduism and the corpus of myths that have influenced its artistic tradition.



In Spite of the Gods, The Strange Rise of Modern India


Author: Edward Luce


Description: Luce tackles the challenges and reality of the world's largest democracy with insight and balance in this portrait of a nation in transition.



India


Author: Stanley Wolpert


Description: Reflections on India - its religion and philosophy, its art, culture and politics - by the dean of the country’s American historians: beautifully written and provocative as well as evocative.



India, A Sacred Geography


Author: Diana L. Eck


Description: Professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard, Diana Eck turns her interest in temples and places of pilgrimage into a celebration of the diversity of popular religious traditions in India in this richly rewarding travelogue.



India, A Traveler's Literary Companion


Author: Chandrahas Choudhury (Editor)


Description: Each of these 14 stories evokes place and landscape, providing an excellent introduction both to contemporary writers and to India's diverse cultures and history.



Lonely Planet India


Author: Tony Wheeler


Description: A comprehensive practical guide to India geared for independent travelers.



Malgudi Days


Author: R. K. Narayan


Description: Wonderful tales from one of India's foremost writers about a fictional South Indian town, populated by quirky characters whose unique approaches to tradition and modernity are the stuff of great short stories.



Midnight's Children


Author: Salman Rushdie


Description: Crowned Best of the Booker in 2008, Rushdie's greatest novel is a madcap, comic take on the birth of modern India in all its splendid and unexpected manifestations.



Mumbai Fables


Author: Gyan Prakash


Description: Starting from the catastrophic floods and terrorist attacks of recent years, Prakash reaches back to the sixteenth-century Portuguese conquest to reveal the stories behind Mumbai's historic journey.



Nine Lives, In Search of the Sacred in Modern India


Author: William Dalrymple


Description: From Sufi dervish and Buddhist monk to outcast and temple worshiper: nine people, nine lives, all captured by Dalrymple as he journeys throughout India in search of remarkable individuals transformed by religion. At turns bemusing, dazzling and heart-wrenching, this is his first travel book in 15 years.



Taj Mahal


Author: Giles Tillotson, Mary Beard (Editor)


Description: An enlightening pocket guide to the myth, meaning and legends of the celebrated tomb, "the queen of architecture."



The God of Small Things


Author: Arundhati Roy


Description: This luminous, Booker-prize winning novel is part mystery, part family saga -- a tale of lost innocence set in Kerala during the tumult of the 1960s.



The White Tiger, A Novel


Author: Aravind Adiga


Description: Mordant, funny, angry, horrifying, this Booker Prize-winning tale of a village pauper turned success (and murderer) skewers the ambition, inequity and corruption of 21st-century India.



Travelers' Tales India


Author: James O'Reilly, Larry Habegger


Description: A collection of 45 descriptive and thought-provoking short excerpts on Indian life and culture, including contributions from Rushdie, Naipaul and Dalrymple, plus some valuable excerpts from books long out of print.





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