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Trip Overview |
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Discovery, diversity and divinities! An illustrated itinerary of one of our many gay travel adventures. This information supplements our From the sights of Delhi to the Taj Mahal and the cities of the Raj, we'll focus on the art, architecture and history of this fascinating and sometime contradictory land. An abundance of famous temples, palaces and forts can easily overwhelm visitors, but we will take a leisurely pace, resting at five star Palace Hotels and concentrating on five areas we can enjoy at ease. We'll spend two days near the Ranthambore National Park, a primary conservation area for tigers. We visit Udaipur and take an excursion to the temples of Ranakpur, a 15th century delight of columns and carvings. We will also explore the lovely "pink city" of Jaipur.
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Our trek to India will bring many sensory overloads. With the second largest population in the world but only the seventh largest land mass, cities can be crowded. Add to that a 5000 year history, during which a myriad of religions and cultures have each carved its own place on the face of this subcontinent and you have an amazing diversity of sights, sounds and experiences awaiting you. Unfortunately, first you have to endure a long flight. Most travelers from North America will leave home on February 26 and arrive a day and a half later in Delhi. We have your room reserved from the night of February 27, 2008, but there are no planned activities until the following morning (besides getting out of your airline seat and enjoying the pleasure of our five-star hotel). For those joining the pre-tour extension, your room will be available from the night of February 23, 2008. Let us know if you plan to arrive early and need any additional hotel nights.
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1: Arrival Day
Upon arrival in Delhi, a guide will meet you at the airport, and escort you to our hotel, the Taj Mahal in New Delhi. You can rest in your sumptuous quarters, take a walk to shake off the jet lag, hit the pool or relax and rest for our India adventure. The Taj Mahal Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and offers many amenities to help you recover from the long flight. (NOTE: hotels listed here have been reserved, but all hotels are subject to change.) Pre-tour extension to Varanasi and Khajuraho. Many of our travelers will join our pretour extension to two of India's most sacred cities to enhance their tour of India and to experience more of the richness of Indian culture. After spending one night in Delhi to rest from our long flights, we will begin the extension with a morning flight to Varanasi, where we will spend one night. Varanasi (formerly called Benares) is situated on the banks of the holy Ganges River and is presided over by Lord Shiva. It is called the Eternal City and is distinguished by the many “ghats” along the riverside. (A ghat is a broad flight of steps that provides access to the water, especially for bathing). From time immemorial Varanasi has been a seat of learning and an important religious center for Hindus. It is also one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every year. In addition to its role in Hinduism, Varanasi also holds an important place in Buddhism, since Buddha's first sermon was given nearby. From Varanasi we’ll fly to Khajuraho, where we will spend two nights in this ancient capital of the Chandela Rajput Empire, built over one thousand years ago. We’ll also tour some of the temples built between the 9th and 12th centuries. Not only are these temples of the “nagara” style in splendid condition, they are famous for their beautifully sculpted surfaces which are covered in exquisitely detailed erotic content. We will return to Delhi by a combination of bus and train, arriving in the late evening of the first official tour day, in time for our city tour of Delhi with the entire group the next morning.
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2: Delhi
Today we will explore the fascinating and sometimes fast-paced city of Delhi on a full-day tour. In the morning we visit Old Delhi and see the Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. We will drive past the Red Fort, a massive structure built with red sandstone and a magnificent symbol of Mughal elegance and design. Then we'll visit India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid, built in the 17th century. It took 5000 artisans fourteen years to complete and is a unique architectural piece of the Mughal period. It has three gateways, four towers and two minarets as tall as 120 feet. Nearby is Chadni Chowk, once an imperial avenue down which Shah Jahan rode at the head of lavish cavalcades and today is often the scene of world's most picturesque traffic jam with every kind of vehicle imaginable. Old Delhi exhibits the traditions of the Mughal emperor's who presided there, and New Delhi, the British capital during colonial days, shows off the more modern side of India. In the afternoon we leave the walled city of Old Delhi behind to explore the sights of New Delhi. However, even in New Delhi are some very old monuments. We'll see the 12th century Qutub Minar, the highest stone tower in all of India. It was erected by Qutub-ud-din Aibak as a victory tower in 1199. It is considered one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised, and Delhi's recognised landmark, even though it was built with the columns from 27 Hindu and Jain temples. Gracefully hand-carved along its entire height of 234 feet, the tower stands near the Iron Pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted in over 1500 years. We'll visit the graceful mausoleum of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and drive past the modern Birla Temple, built in 1938. The uniqueness of this beautiful temple lies in the fact that it is open for all; it does not recognise any social or religious stratas. This was the condition on which Mahatma Gandhi agreed to inaugurate the temple. The temple houses idols of several deities, but is mainly dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of wealth) and Narayana (the preserver). We will also see the President's house, the Parliament house and the India Gate war memorial.
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3-4: Agra and the Taj Mahal
Today we transfer to Agra and the Taj View Hotel, a lovely property from which we may gaze at the great monument at our leisure. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna River. In the mid-16th and early 17th centuries, Agra witnessed a frenzied building activity and it was during this time that the symbol of love, the Taj Mahal, was built. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality. Besides the monuments, Agra is known for the masterpieces of craftsmen recreating the glory of the Mughal period and for the Mughlai cuisine, the aroma of which fills the narrow lanes of Agra. No trip to India would be complete without a visit to the vast and unmistakable icon of India, the Taj Mahal. This mythic structure with its history of romance and survival from the ravages of various marauders threatens to underwhelm visitors who have lived in the shadow of its hype. But its symmetry, its purity, the whiteness, the elegance of its curves, the majesty of its size and silhouette can still surprise and astound visitors. It will be our backdrop throughout our stay but we will enter its graceful walls at sunset, the most beautiful time of the day for viewing. During our stay we will also visit the Agra Fort, which evolved during the reigns of three Mughal Emperors. Here we can witness the apparent transition of the stern citadel raised by Akbar to the lavishly beautiful shimmering white palaces built by Shah Jehan. 
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5-6: Ranthambore and Tigers!
Today we drive to a train station, then take a 2-hour train ride to Sawai Madhopur, the entry point for the famous Ranthambore National Park. We then drive a short distance to our lodge, the Dev Vilas, which is set in three and a half acres of land. It is a modern building designed in the Indo-Saracen style, which takes a cue from the hunting lodges built by the Maharajahs. Each room is uniquely decorated. The Park is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger's conservation efforts in Rajasthan. It covers an area of over 400 square kilometers with many steep crags embracing a network of lakes and rivers. Atop one of these hills, the 10th century Ranthambore Fort stands like a silent sentinel. The terrain is a blend of impregnable forests and open bush land. Ranthambore is best known for its reclusive tiger population, but there are also many panthers as well. Kachida Valley is considered to be the place to sight these rather elusive cats. One can also find marsh crocodiles, hyenas, jungle cats and sloth bears. The avian population includes black storks, quails, Bonelli's eagles and painted storks. During the winter months, the park attracts a lot of migratory birds, including a variety of ducks. The best time to visit the park is between October and April, with early morning and late afternoon the best times to view game. It is the ideal park for wildlife photography. With so much to see and plenty to do, we will enjoy a leisurely two nights here and explore not only the park but the nearby fort and other attractions.
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7-8: Jaipur
After one final game viewing drive, we will have breakfast at our lodge, then drive about four and a half hours to Jaipur, where the rest of the day will be free. Jaipur is called the Pink City because most of its buildings are of sandstone, and was chosen by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1693-1743) for his capital. It still is the vibrant capital of the desert state of Rajasthan. Surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts and enclosed by embattled walls, Jaipur is a must see for travelers to India. The Old City, the actual Pink City, is a great place to wander around. Maharaja Man Singh II had the whole city painted pink when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. Today, every home within the old city is obliged by law to maintain this facade. Fabulous, tall houses with latticed windows line the narrow streets of the old city, their rose pink color lending enchantment to a scene which is almost magical at sunset. We will visit the Amber Fort, which was the ancient capital of the state until 1728. While in Jaipur, we will also explore Jagmandir or the "Hall of Victory", glittering with mirrors, as well as Jai Mahal and the Temple of Kali. Jaipur is like an endless museum. The city offers an amazing variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse side with precious stones or pearls and turquoise. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are also famous all over the world.
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9-10: Udaipur
We fly from Jaipur to Udaipur on an early morning 45-minute flight. Udaipur, one of the most romantic places in India, is situated around the shimmering clear blue lakes which whisper the mood of a bygone era. Founded in 1567 by Maharana Udai Singh on the advice of a sage, Udaipur was the last of the numerous Mewar capitals. The city acquires its scenic beauty from the three lakes, Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar, that make it a lovely oasis in the desert. Full of enchanting tales, Udaipur has a remarkable past, with episodes of heroism and splendor. We will visit the vast City Palace, whose walls stretch for more than a mile along the shore of Lake Pichola, and Jagdish Temple, one of the largest and most popular Vishnu temples in northern India. We'll take a drive around the Fateh Sager Lake and see the Sahelion Ki Badi (Queen's resort). We'll also have time to just wander through the hustle and bustle of the old market, including locations where the James Bond film Octopussy were filmed. In the late afternoon, we'll take a relaxing boat ride on the placid waters of Lake Pichola, have the opportunity to witness evening rituals on the bathing ghats (steps leading into the lake), and watch the sun set against the backdrop of the magnificent palaces. The next day we'll take a full day excursion to Ranakpur, one of the five holy places of the Jain community, with its 15th century temple complex famous for its marvellous carvings. In spite of being built in 1460, these temples of sparkling marble are well preserved. Situated in the lovely valley of Aravalli, the mood here is quiet and the view is picturesque. Each temple is unique. One has 1444 columns, another simplicity. This evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner back in Udaipur.
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11: Return to Delhi
In the morning we transfer to the airport for our two hour flight back to Delhi. After check in at our hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps you need to do some last minute shopping. Or enjoy our fine hotel before a long trip home. If you have a special request please forward it to us and we will try to accommodate you. Hotel rooms are reserved through the morning of Day 12, but depending on flight schedules, you may wish to leave in the late evening of Day 11 or early morning on Day 12.
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12: Departure Day
We hope you have enjoyed our Grand Tour of India. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
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