INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS - Rush Expeditions · INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS 11 days to Delhi, Jaipur,...

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W: rushexpeditions.com E:[email protected] Join Rush Expeditions India specialist Steve McHardy and popular food blogger Charlie Louie from Hotly Spiced on this exciting culinary adventure to Northern India. This fascinating tour serves an introduction to both India itself and Indian cuisine. Our professional, enthusiastic team of travel and food experts will help you get the most out of your experience in one of the most gastronomically exciting places on earth. Experience the grandeur and power of the British Raj in Delhi; marvel at the beauty of the beguiling Taj Mahal in Agra; enjoy the opulence and history of the Maharajas in Jaipur and relax in a country retreat in rural Shekawati where you’ll also enjoy special Indian cookery workshops with a local chef. Visit some of the best Indian restaurants available in each destination and enjoy the variety of local and regional cuisines. There is also plenty of time to simply enjoy learning more about this beautiful country, revel in our “less ordinary” special experiences and relax into the holiday of a lifetime. INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS 11 days to Delhi, Jaipur, Shekawati and Agra A SPECIAL FOOD EXPEDITION TO NORTHERN INDIA The tour willl be hosted by India specialist Steve McHardy, who first travelled to the subcontinent in 1986 and immediately fell in love with its incredible diversity. Since then he has led many tours and expeditions throughout the country. Believing strongly in getting under the skin of the culture and beyond the usual tourist sights, Steve also enjoys sharing some of each region’s best eating experiences, as well as his genuine passion for India. Special guest food blogger Charlie Louie will accompany the tour. Charlie is the owner and author of Hotly Spiced, one of Sydney's best and most loved food and travel blogs. A compulsive home cook with an addiction to food, Charlie loves to experience the cuisines of different countries and cultures, and she is looking forward to ensuring food is a highlight of everyone's time in India. You can follow Hotly Spiced at http://hotlyspiced.com March 2016

Transcript of INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS - Rush Expeditions · INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS 11 days to Delhi, Jaipur,...

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Join Rush Expeditions India specialist Steve McHardy and popular food blogger Charlie Louie from Hotly Spiced on this exciting culinary adventure to Northern India.

This fascinating tour serves an introduction to both India itself and Indian cuisine. Our professional, enthusiastic team of travel and food experts will help you get the most out of your experience in one of the most gastronomically exciting places on earth. Experience the grandeur and power of the British Raj in Delhi; marvel at the beauty of the beguiling Taj Mahal in Agra; enjoy the opulence and history of the Maharajas in Jaipur and relax in a country retreat in rural Shekawati where you’ll also enjoy special Indian cookery workshops with a local chef. Visit some of the best Indian restaurants available in each destination and enjoy the variety of local and regional cuisines. There is also plenty of time to simply enjoy learning more about this beautiful country, revel in our “less ordinary” special experiences and relax into the holiday of a lifetime.

INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS

11 days to Delhi, Jaipur, Shekawati and Agra

A SPECIAL FOOD EXPEDITION TO NORTHERN INDIA

The tour willl be hosted by India specialist Steve McHardy, who first travelled to the subcontinent in 1986 and immediately fell in love with its incredible diversity. Since then he has led many tours and expeditions

throughout the country. Believing strongly in getting under the skin of the culture and beyond the usual tourist sights, Steve also enjoys sharing some of each region’s best eating experiences, as well as his genuine passion for India.

Special guest food blogger Charlie Louie will accompany the tour.  Charlie is the owner and author of Hotly Spiced, one of Sydney's best and most loved food and travel blogs.   A compulsive home cook

with an addiction to food, Charlie loves to experience the cuisines of different countries and cultures, and she is looking forward to ensuring food is a highlight of everyone's time in India. You can follow Hotly Spiced at http://hotlyspiced.com 

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6 Explore Indian culture through food

What better way to begin to understand a culture than through its food? So many group tours in India miss out on experiencing all the local and regional variations that exist in Indian cuisine. Our tour is different. We celebrate India’s food culture with a ground up approach.

We begin with the local markets, where Indians of all economic and social backgrounds do their everyday shop for vegetables, meats and spices - it is here that we will start to understand what food means to every Indian.

We will also be visiting many and varied restaurants on our journey. From local dhabas, roadside truck stops selling simple snacks and lunches, through lively city restaurants popular with local families, and upward to fine dining establishments, where top chefs have made their marks on modern Indian dining, we will sample them all.

The final phase of our tour allows us to get our hands on the food we’ve been eating, when we enjoy several cooking sessions with a local instructor.

My love of Indian food has grown over the years that I’ve been travelling and working in India, and I’m greatly looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for it with you on this great tour.

" " " Steve Mchardy

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1. ARRIVAL DELHIWelcome to Delhi, the capital and your gateway to India. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

2. DELHIToday’s sightseeing includes a late morning visit to the magnificent TOMB OF THE MOGHUL EMPEROR HUMAYUN. After lunch in a local restaurant, explore the city, including the Rajpath area, where you can marvel at the grandeur of British imperial architecture. Also take in the GHANDI MUSEUM, a shrine to the Mahatma’s last days. Tonight, sample some great North Indian cuisine at a popular city restaurant. (B,L,D)

3. DELHI - AGRAThis morning, leave Delhi and drive south to Agra, home to many World Heritage monuments, most famously the superlative Taj Mahal. Check into your hotel before setting out to visit the intimidating RED FORT on the west bank of the Yamuna River. Constructed 65 years before the Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan’s grandfather, the Emperor Akbar, the impressive red sandstone walls of the fort extent for 2.5km, and have stood for almost 450 years. A chance this evening to sample the delights of the tandoor at an excellent local restaurant. (B,L,D)

4. AGRARising early, make a visit to one of the modern wonders of the world - the breathtaking TAJ MAHAL, history’s greatest tribute to love. Exquisite in design and beautiful to behold, the Taj is possibly the world’s most famous building. It is a white marble tomb built by Shah Jahan between 1631 and 1648 for his wife Arjuman Banu Begum, whose death in childbirth broke the Emperor’s heart. After lunch, visit the beautiful mausoleum at SIKANDRA. Built in the 16th century to house the remains of the Moghul emperor Akbar the Great, it is another magnificent structure, set in beautiful gardens. Tonight, dinner will be at one of the best restaurants in the city, providing the chance to enjoy some traditional Mughal cuisine. (B,L,D)

5. AGRA - JAIPUR Continuing by road, journey to the fabled Pink City of Jaipur. Along the way, visit the abandoned Moghul city of FATHEPUR SIKRI, once the capital of the Moghul Empire and constructed in honour of the

Muslim saint Sheik Salim Chisti. Fathepur Sikri remained the capital for only a short time, abandoned soon after construction due to the lack of a sufficient water source. After checking into your hotel in Jaipur, head out to what is arguably the best vegetarian restaurant in the city. (B,L,D)

6. JAIPURSightseeing today includes a visit to the imposing AMBER PALACE on the outskirts of Jaipur. Amber Palace is one of Rajasthan’s most spectacular fortified buildings. During your visit, explore the labyrinthine passages, chambers and ornate shrines. This afternoon, see the impressive CITY PALACE, begun in 1729 and still inhibited by the royal family of Jaipur. Dine al fresco this evening in palatial surrounds on the outskirts of Jaipur. (B,L,D)

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6 Itinerary

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7. JAIPUR - SHEKAWATIJourney onward to the semi-desert region of Shekawati. On the southern silk route, the towns of this region once enjoyed great wealth, and the houses of the traders were colourfully decorated as a sign of affluence. On the outskirts of the farming community of Nawalgarh sits the Roop Niwas Kothi Hotel. Once the country house of Rawal Devendra Singh, a local prince, it is now a splendid heritage hotel. Spend the next three nights here, enjoying Indian cooking classes and relaxing in the hotel’s lovely environment. (B,L,D)

8 / 9. SHEKAWATIOn each of these two days, enjoy an extended COOKING CLASS with a local chef. All ingredients and equipment are provided, so all you need to do is enjoy and eventually eat your creations! As well as the classes, there will be ample time to enjoy the local area. Horses, camels and bicycles are available to rent, and the hotel boasts a gorgeous swimming pool. You’ll also visit the local VILLAGE MARKET to experience the buying and selling of local produce. (B,L,D)

10. SHEKAWATI - DELHIToday is a sad goodbye to your desert home and a journey back to Delhi by road. Tonight, enjoy a special FAREWELL DINNER at one of the best North Indian restaurants in the country. (B,L,D)

11. DEPARTURE:Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

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Dates & Prices:11 days, Delhi - Delhi

Dates: From: *

24 March - 3 April 2016 $3,699 AUD pp* Land only price, twin share - does not

include flights to/from Delhi. Single supplement $750 AUD pp.

Includes:• Double rooms in hotels as listed • Tour Director, Guest Expert + local

guide in each city• International flight transfers • Transfers, internal travel in air-

conditioned vehicles• Sightseeing, activities and entry fees

Meals:Breakfast dailyLunch - 9Dinner - 9

Hotels:

Delhi:Royal Plaza Hotel

Agra:Hotel Grand Imperial

Jaipur:Mandawa Haveli

Nawalgarh:Roop Niwas Kothi Hotel

*Hotels may be substituted with an alternative of equivalent standard if necessary.

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6 Spices - the heart of Indian cuisine

”...But the spices are my love.

I know their origins, and what their colours signify, and their smells. I can call each by the true-name it was given at the first, when earth split like skin and offered it up to the sky. Their heat runs in my blood. Form amchur to zafran, they bow to my command. At a whisper they yield up to me their hidden properties, their magic powers...

...the spices of true power are from my birthland, land of ardent poetry, aquamarine feathers. Sunset skies as brilliant as blood.

They are the ones I work with.

If you stand in the centre of this room and turn slowly around, you will be looking at every Indian spice that ever was - even the lost ones - gathered here uopn the shelves of my store...”

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni “The Mistress of Spices”

" "

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Educational travel experiences:

Rush Expeditions is owned by Dr Jo Rush, a passionate traveler who wanted to found a company to reflects her ideals about what makes a fantastic journey. Foremost is to help you see your destination though the eyes of enthusiastic experts, who give you the "inside scoop", as well as the history, culture, ecology and geology of each location. Our guest expert series of tours gives you the core Rush Expeditions experience, with an added helping of education, adventure and local experiences, along with an exciting guest expert to add another dimension to your trip.

• Small groups of a maximum of 16 guests• Fully escorted by well-educated, knowledgeable and

personable guides + guest expert• Interesting, innovative itineraries• Comfortable accommodation and transport• Authentic experiences• Culturally and environmentally sensitive• Philanthropic principles 

Tour costs:Our tours are very good value.   We’ve carefully curated each one to give you great experiences, comfortable accommodation and transport and great local meals, all without breaking the bank! Our tours have many inclusions often sold as "optionals" by other companies. Internal flights, transfers and tips for local guides are also included, as are meals and porterage. Hotels are around 4 star standard and are always clean, comfortable and well located. Additional costs are generally limited to some meals (all meals are included in some itineraries), visas,

travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as drinks and laundry.

Small group touring:Small groups allow us to participate in activities that larger groups simply cannot. A smaller group can easily walk the streets, eat in local restaurants and visit intimate venues. Feel like you are exploring with knowledgable friends, not “following the leader”!

International airfares:We generally find that purchasing your own individual international airfare is more cost efficient than buying a "group" airfare.  As long as you arrive in plenty of time for the first activity in the itinerary, you may book any flight you wish. Many people also like to use points to purchase or upgrade their tickets, which is not possible with group fares.  We are more than happy to advise appropriate flights, work with or recommend a travel agent and help you decide on the best international flights.

FAQs:What will the transport be like?While on tour, transport is in a comfortable, mid sized, air-conditioned coach.

Tell me more about the accommodation.In keeping with our ethos of trying to find the true flavour of India, all hotels except Delhi are heritage properties. This means they are older properties with history and character. They are not chosen as luxury properties, but as places that will enhance your overall experience of India. Rooms are comfortable, air-conditioned and have en-suite facilities. Alas, it is difficult to find heritage properties in Delhi, so we

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Charlie believes everyone should see India at least once in their lifetime!

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have chosen a more modern hotel, still with character and personality.

Is there much walking on tour?There will be some walking at historical sites, and surfaces can be a bit uneven at times. Anyone in good health who enjoys a walk should be able to participate comfortably. Please note porterage is not available at airports, so you must be independent with your luggage.

What do I need to bring with me?We have compiled a recommended packing list, which we are happy to send you on request. During the cooking workshop at Roop Niwas Kothi, all cooking equipment and ingredients are provided.

What will the weather be like?In April, the maximum temperature during the day will be approximately 35C, dropping to around 20C at night. There is very low humidity at this time of year.

Can I book a single room?Certainly. The trip price is based on two people sharing a room however. If you would like a single room, there is a single supplement payable.

Steve is an Indian food fanatic and enjoys adding the b e s t e a t i n g experiences to his tours.

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India specialist - Steve McHardy:

“Any travel to India or Nepal is an experience of many constituent parts, and I try to ensure that every traveler, no matter what their interests, time restrictions or budget, find not only what they are seeking, but also enjoy the unexpected. India is the most fascinating destination for the open-minded traveler, and I feel privileged to be able to share some of my favorite places and experiences.”

Steve’s experience in the travel industry spans 30 years, and he has personally led more than three hundred tours in over fifty countries on every continent.

Working with Rush Expeditions gives Steve the opportunity to concentrate on guiding and leading tours in his preferred destinations - places he knows well and enjoys the most. His personal enjoyment of these, his favourite destinations, will no doubt be passed on to whoever is lucky enough to travel with him, and his unique style ensures that his tours enable travellers to learn and enjoy in equal measure. Travel with Steve and be assured of a great travel experience you will remember forever.

Steve believes strongly in getting under the skin of the culture and going beyond the usual tourist sights. He achieves this with his innovative and original itineraries, visiting not only places of historical and cultural importance, but also destinations not always found in guidebooks and brochures.

Stay on a houseboat on Kashmir’s Dal Lake or experience the tribal markets of Cherrapunji; look for the Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest or explore the eerie abandoned temples of Orchha.

Being an Indian food fanatic, Steve also enjoys adding in some of India’s best eating experiences into his itineraries. Whatever your interest, Steve will ensure your time in the sub continent will be filled with experiences that will become treasured memories.

"This has been the best trip of our lives, and we will highly recommend your services.” " " " Dick and Joan K, Michigan

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6 Less Ordinary Travel with Rush Expeditions

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