Incredible India 2015
From October 17 to October 30
We will embark on a journey
to explore the fascinating history and culture of India : from UNESCO World Heritage sites to stunning medieval villages off the beaten path...
Sleeping in castles, palaces and charming historic hotels
Exploring exotic markets and learning the desert tribes' way of life
Visiting jewelry and textile workshops,
Our itinerary begins in Delhi , the heart of India , where the past and the future coexist, in the peaceful parks of south Delhi and in the chaotic street markets of the old city...
We continue our journey to the most famous iconic symbol of India , the Taj Mahal
and then, we will visit several places in Rajasthan: from Jaipur, the Pink City , the capital of the state,
to medieval towns in Shekawati and then, to Jodhpur , for the International Folk Music Festival.
This event features more than 200 renowned artists from all over India and neighboring countries in the magnificent Fort Mehranghar .
Finally, we will travel to Udaipur , the seat of the Mewar dynasty since 1559.
In this 17-day journey, we will explore and celebrate the India of the Mughal Empire. Originating in the 14th century with the Persian invasion in northern India, the Mughal Empire extended its influence to Rajasthan through alliances with the sultanates of Rajputs in the early 1400s. We will travel to the India of Mumtaz Mahal, for whom Shah Jahan created the monument of his eternal love, the Taj Mahal. Our tour of the Mughal Empire's lasting influence includes magnificent works of Islamic architecture, created by by eccentric maharajahs who encouraged the flourishing of the Mughal arts. We will see paintings, textiles and jewelry which are to this day, a symbol of the richness of Indian civilization. Parallel to the development of the courtly arts, a “renaissance” of desert music and folk dance was taking place in the villages, with festivals celebrating the arrival of the rains, harvest and family life.
Itinerary
October 16 Arrival in Delhi in the evening
October 17 Delhi
October 18 Delhi
October 19 Agra
October 20 Jaipur
October 21 Jaipur
October 22 Jaipur
October 23 Shekawati
October 24 Shekawati
October 25 Nagaur
October 26 Jodhpur
October 27 Jodhpur
October 28 Udaipur
October 29 Udaipur
October 30 Delhi
October 31 Early Morning: Delhi USA
Detailed Itinerary
16 October arrival in Delhi
17 October arrival in Delhi , transfer to the Claridges Hotel and free morning to rest from the travel. Afternoon visit to New Delhi , India Gate, Parliament and the Craft Museum .
18 October
In the morning we will visit the old city of Delhi : Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and the Red Fort Memorial Gandhi. Free time in the afternoon, with a choice of programs, ranging from a spa, shopping, yoga or a late afternoon walk in Lodhi Garden .
19 October
Departure in the morning to Agra , where we visit the Taj Mahal. Stay at Hotel Oberoi Trident.
20 October
After breakfast, we travel to Jaipur, the Pink City , capital of Rajasthan. Stay at hotel Taj Jai Mahal Palace .
21 and 22 October
In Jaipur we will explore the old City and the Hawa Mahal (palace of he winds) and visit workshops making wood block art and jewelry. We will tour Amber Fort, the Textiles Museum and the Haveli (ancestral home) from a French designer, who is responsible for the revival of the woodblock print in the west. During these two days we will also have an opportunity to visit local markets and walk through the medieval quarters of the city.
23 October
We depart Jaipur in the late morning and our first stop will be Samod Palace , located in Samod village. We continue in the afternoon to Mandawa, one of the many medieval towns Shekawati Valley , a region that flourished in the eighteenth century, when Marwari merchants built their Havelis, (ancestral homes where sometimes 4 generations live together ). We will stay at Hotel Castle Mandawa.
24 October
Morning visit to the ancient havelis and small villages of Shekawati, with its painted houses and its winding streets. In the afternoon we will go to the Hotel Ranvas in Nagaur.
25 October
Ranvas, a moment of relaxation in the desert that prepares us for the Folk Music Festival in Jodhpur in the evening. Hotel Taj Hari Mahal
26 October
The day is dedicated to city tours and concerts which take place throughout the day.
27 October
Departing in the morning to Udaipur with a stop on the way to visit Ranakpur, a Jain temple with 1440 intricately carved pillars built in the XIV century. Afternoon arrival in Udaipur . Hotel Oberoi Trident
28 October
29 October
Flight to Delhi after breakfast. Transfer to Claridges Hotel. Free day for last minute shopping in Khan Market and Hauz Khas in New Delhi .
30 October
Departure from Delhi Airport to USA
Hotels:
All the hotels on this itinerary are 5 star with the exception of Castle Mandawa which is a 4 star hotel, but the maharajah who owns it certainly compensates for the missing star! Please open the links below and check them out!
New Delhi www.claridges.com/the-claridges-newdelhi
Agra www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-agra
Jaipur www.tajhotels.com/leisure/jai-mahal-palace-jaipur
Shekawati www.mandawahotels.com/castlemandawa_intro.shtml
Nagaur www.ranvasnagaur.com/
Jodhpur www.vivantabytaj.com/hari-mahal-jodhpur
Udaipur www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-udaipur
Visas
A tourist visa can be obtained online, through the link:
All the hotels on this itinerary are 5 star with the exception of Castle Mandawa which is a 4 star hotel, but the maharajah who owns it certainly compensates for the missing star! Please open the links below and check them out!
New Delhi www.claridges.com/the-claridges-newdelhi
Agra www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-agra
Jaipur www.tajhotels.com/leisure/jai-mahal-palace-jaipur
Shekawati www.mandawahotels.com/castlemandawa_intro.shtml
Nagaur www.ranvasnagaur.com/
Jodhpur www.vivantabytaj.com/hari-mahal-jodhpur
Udaipur www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-udaipur
Visas
A tourist visa can be obtained online, through the link:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Recommended Bibliography and Movies
The princess remembers - The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur
Lagaan
Gandhi
Jodha and Akbar
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Monsoon Wedding
Monsoon Wedding
Price per Person
Cost of land portion of the tour per person: USD $ 4,000.
(Average cost for Coach Airfare USD $1,400. Business Airfare starting at
USD $3,800.)
USD $3,800.)
• What is included:
• Hotel in double rooms with breakfast.
(For single occupancy there is a supplement, please inquire)
• Transport in 10 seat Volvo Mini bus.
• Two Guides with extensive knowledge of culture religion and history
• Entries for all monuments and excursions
• Jeep or elephant to the Amber Fort in Jaipur
• Cooking Class and Dinner in Jaipur
• Boat Ride on Lake Udaipur
• Country safari to a Bishnoi village around Jodhpur
• Flights from Udaipur to Delhi
• Fees and taxes
• Not included:
• All services not mentioned above
• International Ticket, Airport taxes, drinks, telephone, gratuities, laundry services or meals not mentioned above
Any other expense or changes due to extraordinary circumstances during the stay.
My name is Gaia Dyczko and in 1976, while I lived in London , a cold winter rushed in, and I decided to go on a journey to India .
My adventure had a very unusual start: after a scheduled layover inKuwait , there was a technical problem with the plane and we had to make an emergency landing inQatar . The journey, which should last only five hours, became 14 hours longer. However, it gave me a unique opportunity to meet my fellow Indian travelers and to observe the way they see the world, their way of "being in the moment" and accept the inevitable with humor and wisdom. After all, everything is ‘Leela’, the cosmic theater that is to Hinduism what I used to call “reality”: the young man coming from Dubai who was going to arrive late for his wedding, the grandparents who were on their way to see family in Gujarat, the boy who was studying in London and had only a week to travel to the Himalayas to see his family ... All these scripts in an era without telephones, in a world of distant lands ... Those 14 hours gave me a chance to make some new and wonderful friendships. And when the plane was finally landing in Bombay, as I saw the coconut trees and the late afternoon sun shining over the city, I realized that it sort of looked like the northeast part of Brazil and it gave me a strong feeling of “coming home”. It was the beginning a 40-year love affair with India.
Since then, I have created 'ways of being' inIndia . I was first hired as a production assistant for an Italian textile company based in Delhi . Gradually, I moved from contemporary crafts to antiques and through research and exposure to traditional techniques of weaving, dying and jewelry crafting, I found myself on a path that enabled me to work with ethnic antique fabrics, tribal jewelry and antique jewelry from the Mughal period.
Since then, I have created 'ways of being' in
During these forty years, my India of the ‘70s, has changed so much: as I grew older, my India has become more youthful and dynamic, (and also more Westernized!): from a highly stratified social system, filled with ancient traditions, a young and vibrant India is taking charge of its destiny: a land full of contrasts, where the latest in technology embraces its 5000 year cultural roots seamlessly, without missing a beat.
And despite all the changes that have taken place, India remains as surprising and exciting as on the first day I saw it from that plane, with that almost familiar feeling which spoke to my heart.
I would like to invite you to explore India with me and discover not only its exotic geography, but also its fascinating culture which presents itself through a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and perfumes.
In the words of one of Brazil's greatest writers, GuimarĂ£es Rosa, " reality is found neither at the onset nor at the end of the journey: where it makes itself available to us, is right there, in the middle of the crossing”