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Taj and Raj - 11 Daysgo guidedon't leave home without it

A World Of Discovery

Taj and Raj - 11 Days updated on 16-09-2013

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This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Discover the lofty peaks and breathtakingviews of Shimla, India's largest and mostfamous hill station and former summercapital of British India. Ride the narrowgauge railway aboard the Himalayan QueenToy Train and explore Delhi, the Pink City ofJaipur and the legendary Taj Mahal.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Shimla Hill Station - the beautiful Jakhoo

Temple, the majestic Viceroy Lodge andthe very British Mall Road

• Old and New Delhi - the magnificent RedFort, India's largest mosque Jama Masjid,and Gandhi's crematorium Raj Ghat.

• The spectacular Taj Mahal - India'smost famous monument in all its glory atsunset.

• The Pink City of Jaipur - the lofty AmberFort, the very regal City Palace and theancient observatory of Jantar Mantar.

• An exotic elephant ride into Jaipur'sAmber Fort - just like the Raj would havedone

• Fatehpur Sikri - an ancient abandonedMughal city.

• India's rural Shekhawati region famed forits beautiful Rajasthani architecture andclassic havelis.

• Agra - the beautiful Agra Fort and theMughal mausoleum known as Baby Taj

What's Included• 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners

including Namaste Dinner in Delhi• 10 nights - 3-4 star and heritage hotels• 2 train journeys, Air-conditioned Chair

Class, Delhi to Kalka and Shimla to Delhi• Elephant ride to Amber Fort - Jaipur• Touring of Delhi, Shilma, Agra, Jaipur,

Alsisar and the Shekhawati region• Escorted by an English speaking Indian

tour leader for groups of 6 or more• Specialist guides at local sights• Taj Mahal, Jaipur City Palace and Jantar

Mantar entrance fees.• All relevant transfers and transportation in

private vehicles• Airport arrival and departure transfers on

day 1 and day 11• Narrow gauge Toy Train journey on the

Kalka to Shimla Railway Line.

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: $20-25 USD• Entrance Fees: $50-60 USD• International flights and visas• Tip for your tour guide. We recommend

you allow $3 - 5 USD per day pertraveller. Tipping your tour guide is anentirely personal gesture.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : DelhiWednesday. Welcome to India and the start ofyour holiday! Arriving to Delhi International Airportyou will be met by our representative and includedonward transfer to our hotel. The remainder of theday offers free time for you to relax or explore thecity your own way. Our welcome meeting takesplace at 8pm this evening. Overnight - Delhi

Day 2 : All aboard! Toy Train toShimlaDelhi - Kalka – Shimla. Bright and early thismorning we board the Shatabdi Express bound forKalka. Here, travellers will transfer (independently)to the narrow gauge Himalayan Queen Toy Traintravelling to Shimla.

The Guinness Book of 'Rail Facts and Feats'records the Kalka to Shimla railway as 'the greatestnarrow gauge engineering feat in India’. The scenic96 kilometre journey built on a 2 feet six inchesgauge has 919 curves, passes through 20 railwaystations and clatters across 5 level crossings,each to the cacophonous symphony of greetings,tooting horns and the hubbub of Indian life. Thereare 102 tunnels to navigate and some 863 multi-arched galleries bridges (similar to ancient Romanaqueducts) to cross where spectacular landscapesof rolling hills, lush valleys and panoramic vistascan be seen.

To the commotion of the steam train's arrival toShimla, we meet our representative on the stationplatform and transfer to our hotel for an evening atleisure.

TOY TRAIN - Upon arrival in Kalka travellers willindependently (ie a representative from on the gowill not be there to meet you) to the platform andboard the toy train No. 52455 - Himalayan Queen- Chair Carriage.

The toy train departs at 1210 and arrives in Kalkaat 1720, snacks/ lunch should be purchased beforethe journey as choice on board is limited.

Please note that on occasion other toy trains will beused on this leg of the journey. You will be advisedof the train number and details before making thejourney. Overnight - Shimla

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Day 3 : Shimla - Summercapital of the British Raj

Shimla. Former ‘summer capital’ of British India,Shimla sprawls along a crescent-shaped ridge atan altitude of over 2100m. The famous main street,‘The Mall’, lined with stately English homes andthe fortress-like former Viceregal Lodge, reinforcesShimla’s quintessential English look. Shimlawas the most important hill station in Indiabefore Independence. Today we enjoy a guidedsightseeing tour of the lofty settlement, venturinginto the narrow streets, which fall steeply away fromthe ridge giving way to colourful bazaars and fineviews of the surrounding valley and snow-cappedpeaks.

Offering cool respite from the oppressive heatof the low plains, Shimla came into existence in1819, after the Gurkha War. Its climate commandeditself to British officers on leave and remained asummer village of tents for about three years. SoonShimla became the summer capital of the BritishIndian Government till India’s independence fromBritain in 1947. Shimla continued to serve as atemporary capital of east Punjab until the new cityof Chandigarh was completed. It has remainedthe capital of Himachal Pradesh ever since 1966.However, the British left a lasting legacy, withan almost palpable presence manifested in thebuildings such as Christ Church, the ViceregalLodge and the town’s many cottages which line thefamous main street, ‘The Mall’.

The Mall is Shimla’s hub for cafes, restaurants, barsand shopping. The Mall further joins the Ridge at`Scandal Point’, a favoured rendezvous point whichruns all the way up to Christ Church – the secondoldest church in northern India built between 1846and 1857. The church is one of Shimla’s majorlandmarks and is renowned for its beautiful stainedglass windows. To the south, the Ridge falls awayto the colourful Lower Bazaar. This is the placewhere the local people converge for their dailyshopping and also where Tibetans ply their trade.A couple of shops here sell Raj-era curios.

The Viceregal Lodge, also known as RashtrapatiNiwas, was formally theresidence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin, andis where many a decision affecting the destiny ofthe subcontinent was made. Built in the EnglishRenaissance style and possessing one of the mostcommanding positions in Shimla, the imposing sixstorey building, with beautifully manicured lawnsand botanical gardens is today an institute foradvanced studies. Do go take a look.

About four kilometres from the Ridge, a sprightlystream flows through the Glen forests at an altitudeof 1830 metres. The Glen is a delightful secludedpicnic spot. Beyond the Glen is a picturesque spotknown as Annandale. Once the playgroundof Shimla, where racing, polo and cricketentertained the `sahibs and memsahibs’ of theEmpire, Annandale still attracts picnickers. On oursightseeing tour today we'll have th opportunity tovisit many of these highlights. Overnight - Shimla(B)

Day 4 : Explore Shimla, trainjourney to Delhi

Shimla - Kalka - Delhi. Today offers free time foryou to independently explore Shimla. You can optto stroll, drop by the colourful Lakkar Bazaar or hiketo the summit of Jakhoo Hill, Shimla’s highest point.Here visitors are rewarded with panoramic views ofthe eternal snows set as a glorious backdrop to thesleepy township of Shimla beneath.Hotel check out is at 12 noon, opt for some lunchand pack an evening picnic meal before boardingthe Kalka Shatabdi Express at sunset and arrivinginto Delhi late this evening. Overnight - Delhi (B)

Day 5 : Delhi sightseeing

Today we enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi,taking in the impressive Red Fort, Jama Masjid- India’s oldest and largest mosque, Raj Ghat -the site of Gandhi’s cremation and more. Tonight,we enjoy a group Namaste Dinner at a restaurantspecialising in classic Indian cuisine.

Old Delhi is the 17th century walled city ofShahjahanabad (capital of Muslim India betweenthe 17th and 19th centuries) with city gates, narrowalleyways, bazaars, many mosques, monuments,forts and other buildings relating to India’s Muslimhistory. The main street in Old Delhi is ChandniChowk – a colourful, if hopelessly congested

shopping bazaar. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includethe Red Fort built by Shah Jahan in the 16thcentury, Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in Indiaand final architectural extravagence of Shah Jahanand Raj Ghat- a marble memorial marking thespot where the great leader- Mahatma Gandhi wascremated after his assassination.

New Delhi, in contrast to Old Delhi is a cityof wide tree-lined streets, parks, fountains androundabouts – designed by Edward Lutyens andbuilt as the imperial capital of India by the British.Highlights include Rajpath - an immense broadboulevard flanked on either side by ornamentalponds and India Gate erected in memory of Indiansoldiers who died in the First World War. Overnight- Delhi (B)

Day 6 : Old DelhiDelhi - Agra. Departing Delhi, we drive to Agra,once India’s Mughal capital. Here we visit theimpressive Agra Fort for a short tour. Behindits colossal walls are some of the finest Mughalbuildings in India. Construction of the fort wascommenced during the reign of Emperor Akbar andadditions were made until the rule of his grandsonShah Jahan. During Akbar’s time, it was primarilya military fort though later the focus shifted and itpartially became a palace.

Later on we head to the Taj Mahal for a magicalsunset. The Taj Mahal described as the mostextravagant monument ever constructed for love.It is a fine example of Mughal architecture built byEmperor Shah Jahan in memory of his belovedsecond wife-Mumtaz Mahal, who died tragicallyduring childbirth. Built entirely of white marble,construction began in 1631, the year in whichMumtaz died, and was not completed until 1653. Astaggering total of 20,000 workers contributed theirskills, in the construction of this unique mausoleum.Overnight - Agra (B, D)

Day 7 : Fatehpur Sikri

Agra - Jaipur. En route to Jaipur, we visitghostly former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. Thismagnificent fortified city was the capital of theMughal Empire from 1571 until 1585, when it wasabandoned dramatically due to a lack of water tosupport the peoples who resided in the city. Thanksto the very durable red sandstone, from whichit was built, Fatehpur Sikri remains fantasticallypreserved.

Upon our guided tour we'll explore the women’squarters; the emperor’s quarters; a quarter for

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princes and noblemen; and weapons housing. Wesee various temples, places of worships, pavilions,public areas and examples of everyday living suchas areas from where ablutions were performed, toan ancient aqua cooling system and marvel at howlife must have been for the inhabitants of this oldcity. Overnight - Jaipur (B)

Day 8 : Jaipur & the AmberPalace

Jaipur. In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had the entireold city swathed in pink paint! Not as mad as itseems, as pink is a colour in India associated withhospitality. The new paint job was completed in timefor a regal visit by the Prince of Wales (later KingEdward VII), a tradition that has been maintained.

Today, opt to see the pink city from high above withour early morning balloon flight. After we embarkon excursion to Amber Fort, before taking in somesightseeing within the Old City and City Palace.

An early start takes us to the Amber Fort, locatedjust outside the city limits. Once the ancient capitalof Jaipur State, construction of the fort/palacewas started in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh, theRajput commander of Akbar’s army. The fort isstunningly situated atop a hill. We’ll ascend the roadleading to the palace in princely style, aboard Indianelephants - subject to regulations/availability as theelephants are limited to the number of trips that canmake up the fort each day. We explore the richlydecorated palace admiring how kings and queensonce lived.

En route to the City Palace, we’ll pass HawaMahal – the Palace of the Winds. Although littlemore than an impressive façade it is one ofthe city’s landmarks. The 5-storey building whichoverlooks the main street of the bustling old city isa stunning example of Rajput architecture with it’spink, delicately honeycombed sandstone windows.

We visit the City Palace, a blend of Rajasthaniand Mughal architecture. If the flag is flying, theMaharaja is in residence. A part of the palacehas been converted into a museum, which has animpressive collection of arts, carpets, enamelwareand weaponry.

Just over the road, (look out for the snake charmersthat dot our route) from the City Palace is JantarMantar, an observatory of astronomy built by JaiSingh in 1728. Of the five observatories he built, thisis the largest and best preserved. At first glance,Jantar Mantar resembles a sculpture park, though

in fact, each construction has a specific scientificpurpose. Some measure the positions of stars,whilst others calculate eclipses, the lunar calendarand simply the time of day. Even today, most of theconstructions remain accurate!

Jaipur is the place to shop until you drop, so if youfancy a bit of retail therapy. After today's sightinga stop will be made at a cotton weaving factory tosee a demonstration of dyeing and block printing.The fabric house also sells, cotton clothes, linen,carpets, marble and intricately carved woodenpieces laden with mother of pearl.

Later this evening you can also opt to explore JohariBazaar in the Old Pink City which is also greatfor shopping. Top choices include jootis (traditionalRajasthani curled shoes) Jaipur’s famous bluepottery, textiles and handicrafts around the CityPalace or Hawa Mahal. Our vehicle will be availableto drop you to the market, and its easy enoughto grab a rickshaw on the way back. Overnight -Jaipur (B, L)

Day 9 : Village life, rural India

Jaipur - Alsisar. After breakfast, we travel byroad in a due westerly direction to the semidesertShekhawati region, which lies in a triangular areabetween Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner.

Starting around the 14th century, a number ofMuslim clans moved into the region of Shekhawati.Towns were developed and subsequently becameimportant trading posts on the ancient caravanroutes emanating from the coastal ports ofGujarat. With large amounts of money comingfrom intensive trade, the merchants of Shekhawatiwere keen to erect mansions known as havelis,on a large scale, as glittering testimony to theirnewfound wealth. The region is now justly famousfor it’s fine painted havelis.

Havelis are courtyard-style mansion homes thatwere built by these wealthy merchant families.Unremarkable from the outside, their courtyardsare often painted and decorated with quiteremarkable designs. The largest mansions hadas many as 4 courtyards and were up to 6stories in height. Having a house of such grandproportion prompted families to decorate theinterior walls quite lavishly with Hindu relatedthemes acknowledging mythology. Afternoontaking a walk through the local village and touringa wealthy merchant havali there is time to relax atour hotel. Overnight - Alsisar (B)

Day 10 : Back to DelhiAlsisar - Delhi. This morning we make a quickvisit the children and teachers at a local school(if open) in Alsisar where we operate our ‘Changefor Children’ programme. If you have bought anyeducational items with you to hand out to childrenthis would be the time to do so. You can also makea donation to the school, if you choose via ourChange For Children project. Your guide will handout envelopes to those interested. After we return toDelhi. The remainder of the afternoon and eveningis free for you to further discover the city. Opt fora meal in the heart of the city or simply relax andchat with group members at the hotel. Overnight -Delhi (B, D)

Day 11 : Delhi

Our holiday concludes after breakfast, hotel checkout and included onward departure transfer toairport. Overnight - Delhi (B)

Family Friendly DeparturesPlease note that parents with children aged 12 andover are welcome on selected Taj & Raj departuredates. To see which tour dates this is applicable toplease check the Departure Dates tab on the tourpage of our website.

Packing for ShimlaIf you are carrying a heavy load you may wishto consider leaving your large bag in Delhi andtaking a smaller day pack to Shimla (days 2 - 4).Baggage (please ensure that it is properly locked)not needed for the Shimla trip will be stored in thethe hotel luggage store room, awaiting your returnon the evening of day 4. Taking all luggage withyou or leaving some in Delhi, is an entirely personalchoice.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

ClimateIndia has a three-season year known as the hot,the wet and the cool. The best time to visit isbetween September and April when temperaturesare cooler and therefore ideal for sightseeing. In thesummer months of May to July it is less crowdedand conditions are perfect for sightseeing andphotography, although parts of India are extremelyhot. July signals the start of the monsoon orwet season that continues until early September.Although the weather is humid, the days arepunctuated by intermittent rainfall and the monsoon

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is India is actually quite spectacular and quiterefreshing.

Health RequirementsIt is recommended that you be vaccinated forTetanus and Polio, if you haven’t had a booster inthe last ten years. Food and waterborne diseasesare more common, so we recommend vaccinationsfor Typhoid(valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validityvaries). You are also advised to take anti-Malarialmedication.

Elephant Ride to Amber FortOn group tours which visit Jaipur we usually travelup to the Amber Fort by elephant. Please be awarethat the elephant rides are subject to governmentregulations and therefore at times this may not bepossible. The elephants are only allowed to doaround 3-4 trips up to the fort a day and on occasionthe elephants are not at the fort because they'rerequired elsewhere.

CurrencyThe Indian Rupees (INR) is non-exportable andonly available in India. Pounds Sterling, US Dollarsand Euros are easily exchanged upon arrival at anymajor bank or your hotel. ATM's are also availablein all major towns and cities. If planning on usingyour ATM card whilst in India, please let your bankknow of your travel plans prior to departure toavoid your bank assuming that the transaction isfraudulent and blocking your card. Exchange ratesare subject to fluctuation.USD 1 = INR 62GBP 1 = INR 98EURO 1 = INR 84AUD 1 = INR 58

Time & VoltageIndia is 5 hours 30 mins ahead of GMT. Standardvoltage is 230-240V (usually 240V). Pack auniversal travel adaptor that will allow you to use ahairdryer, electric shaver, charge a mobile phoneand other electrical items. Take care with yourchoice of adaptor. Be sure that it is suitable forIndia, as Indian sockets accept round 3 pin plugsthat are similar but not identical to European plugs.

Essential Packing• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs.• A photocopy of your passport data pages.• The voltage in India is 230-240V. Most

outlets in India accept round 3 pin plugs(not a UK, European or USA plugs). Youshould pack a Universal Adaptor and checkthat it is suitable for India.

• Insect repellant to guard against peskymosquitos

• Spare camera batteries/memory card soyou can go snap happy.

• Consider packing some pencils, pens ormodest educational supplies that can begiven to village schools or street children.

• Buy some Indian Rupees at the airport onarrival.

• Buy a phrasebook and practice yourholiday Hindi.

• Keep a supply of small notes for localtransactions.

Domestic Flights - BaggageAllowanceIf your tour includes a domestic flight or you haveindependently booked domestic flights separate tothat of your international flights, please be mindfulthat that free baggage allowance for Economyclass travel on all flights within India is 15kg with7kg of hand luggage. Business class travel offersconsiderably more. Additional weight is charged atINR250 per kilo.

Pre-Tour AccommodationIf arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includes anairport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What youGet' section of this Go Guide) we will be at theairport, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Furtherif you are booking pre-tour accommodation with usan airport arrival transfer will also be provided. Ifarriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on aflight that arrives very, very early in the morning)you will need to purchase a night of pre-touraccommodation to save you waiting until standardhotel check in time, which is generally 2pm.

Hotels in Delhi, Rooms withWindows.As land and street frontage in Delhi come at apremium, you will find that many of the newly builthotels, including one of our chosen tour start hotelshave a narrow entrance, through once inside youwill see they extend back, beyond proportion. Asmost of these properties have buildings butted upagainst them on both sides, most guest rooms donot offer a window, including ours. Although yourroom in Delhi may not have a window you will findthe property immaculately clean, modern and staffvery helpful. Further in Delhi and throughout yourtour hotels may not always be able to offer twinshare rooms (with two separate single beds), wherethis is not possible a rollaway bed will be added tothe guest room.

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get'section of this Go Guide) from Delhi's Indira GandhiInternational Airport, our arrival procedure is asfollows:

Arrive to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport,where after you have attended to customs andimmigration formalities, please proceed to thearrival hall. Please have your tour voucher handyand make it available to our representative whowill be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding aprominent On The Go Tours logo signboard, readyto escort you to our awaiting transportation andonward to your tour start hotel

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight to India is delayed pleasecall the emergency contact number as stated onyour tour voucher. Please do not leave the airport

or go to the hotel on your own. Call our emergencycontact number and follow the advice given by ourlocal team.

If travelling on our Captivating Kerala tour (witharrival via Kochi Airport) or one of our 'Short Stays'or ''Unique Adventures' where an airport arrivaltransfer is included in your holiday, the procedurefor meeting you at the airport is the same as thosedetailed above.

Entrance Fees & Tip KittyFunds collected in India for entrance fees andtip kitty (if applicable to your holiday) or optionalexcursions that you may wish to participate are allpayable in local currency (Indian Rupees).

LanguageEnglish enjoys associate status but is the mostimportant language for national, political, andcommercial communication; Hindi is the nationallanguage and primary tongue of 30% of the people;there are 14 other official languages: Bengali,Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam,Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri,Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variantof Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northernIndia but is not an official language.

VisasAll foreign nationals must obtain a visa for a visitto India and it is essential the visa be procuredprior to travel. A 6 month single entry visa (validfrom the date of issue) is issued for most nationalsplanning to visit India. If you are planning to visit aneighbouring country such as Nepal, Bhutan or SriLanka and return to India you will require a multipleentry visa which must be procured in advance oftravel. In order to obtain this, you will need toprovide the embassy with a detailed itinerary andfull flight information, showing the dates and portsof exit and re-entry to India.

If you are a resident in the UK we offer a visa serviceto save you the inconvenience of having to queueat the embassy, please visit our website or contactus for further information.

Visa requirements are subject to change and thatvisa procurement prior to departure is solely theresponsibility of the traveller and not of On TheGo Tours. Please also ensure that your passport isvalid for at least 6 months from your planned dateof return from India.

ATMs & Credit CardsExchange facilities are available at various bureaude changes, banks and at most hotels. Bring clean,unmarked cash in US Dollars (not USD 100 billsas these are hard to change), Euro or PoundSterling. Commission charges vary from place toplace and bank to bank. ATMs are available in allmajor towns and cities. We recommend you takea mixture of cash and credit/debit cards (for ATMusage). Please avoid bringing Travellers Chequesas they can sometimes be difficult to change. Creditcards are an acceptable means of payment in most

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major tourist centres, including larger shops andbusinesses.

TOP TIP: Before leaving home inform your bankthat you will be travelling to India, as otherwise yourbank may think that your transaction made in Indiais fraudulent and withhold funds until you contactthem.

Taxis & RickshawsTaxis are cheap and readily available in most ofthe bigger towns in India. Most of them possessmeters, although taxi drivers who actually use theirmeter are rare! Try and get an idea of the likelyfare before you leave your hotel. The front deskstaff or your tour guide should be able to assist you.Then negotiate with the driver before departure.Motorised three-wheel rickshaws are available forhire throughout the country. Powered by a 2-strokemotorcycle engine with a driver upfront and seatingfor 2 - 3 at the rear, with no doors and a canvasroof, these kamikaze rickshaws weave their wayspeedily through oncoming traffic. The ride will befast, efficient and certainly an experience! Alwaysnegotiate the price you want to pay before settingoff. Offering around 50% of the asking price isthe general rule of thumb, though you’ll alwayspay more than the going rate for a local! A cyclerickshaw is a 3-wheeler bicycle with a seat forpassengers behind the rider. Although not oftenseen in big cities, you’ll find them in Old Delhi andall the smaller towns, where they are a commonmode of transport. Again, negotiate the fare beforedeparture.

BeggingWith more than 350 million people in India living onless than USD$2 per day, inevitably you will comeacross many people begging for money. Beggingactually has a legitimate place in Indian society.Even poor people give to beggars or charitiesto earn religious merit. The Indian government,however, would like to regulate begging morestringently. Though begging is common, you arenot under obligation to give money. If you chooseto give money to beggars, we advise you todo this from the vehicle and not on the street.Alternatively, consider donating pencils, pens ormodest educational supplies to village schools.Children are the future of India. Perhaps pack a fewbits before you leave for India.

ReligionMore than 80% Hinduism. The remaining 20%comprise followers of Islam (12%), Christianity,Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and other minoritybeliefs.

System of GovernmentIndia is a constitutional democracy. There are28 states and 7 union territories. Parliament isbicameral; the lower house is known as the LokSabha (House of the People) and the upper houseis known as the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

Tap WaterDo not drink the tap water in India, it’s advisablefor visitors to always drink bottled water. Bottled

water in India comes in two types - packageddrinking water, and pure mineral water such asthe Bisleri brand. There is a difference betweenthem. Packaged drinking water is water that hasbeen treated and made healthy for drinking, whilemineral water has been obtained naturally at itsunderground source and hygienically bottled. Bothare safe to drink, although mineral water is betteras it’s chemical free.

Fabulous food!India’s vast range of climates, cultures and peopleshas produced a very diverse culinary repertoire.Curry is the word that springs to mind when peoplethink of Indian food. Believe it or not, there isno such thing as ‘curry’ in India. It’s an Englishinvention, an all-purpose term to cover the wholegamut of Indian spicing. Although all Indian foodis certainly not curry, this is the basis of Indiancuisine. Curry doesn’t have to be that hot it’ll blowyour head, although it can be made that way, ifyou ask! Rather, for the most part Indian foodis very, very aromatic, since the spices used byIndian chefs and cooks in India don’t arrive in thecooking pot via a pre-packed tub of spice. Indianchefs and cooks have about 25 spices on theirregular list and it is from these that they produce thecurry flavour. Normally spices are freshly groundwith a pestle and mortar, and blended in certaincombinations to produce varying flavours and heat.It is the freshness of the spices that transform thedish. Curries can be vegetable, meatlamb, muttonor chicken in content, though never beef. The cowis sacred to the Hindu people and India in general,so it is extremely rare to see beef on any menuacross the country. Lamb also substitutes beef atMcDonalds in India. Ask for a Maharajah Mac!

Street FoodStreet food, although tasty and fabulous looking,cannot always be relied upon to have beensafely and hygienically prepared, so to this end,we suggest you sample ‘street style’ food froman established restaurant or from somewhererecommended by your tour leader.

Western FoodIf Indian food becomes too much and you wish toescape to something familiar, Western-style foodis available. Many menus in hotels and restaurantswill feature dishes loosely based on Westernrecipes with perhaps just a hint of curry flavouring orspice. Indians like to experiment with other cuisineas well. Chinese cuisine in India is often verygood. In the bigger cities, you’ll find restaurantsspecialising in international cuisine, not to mentionAmerican fast food chains.

Not like HomeTravel to far–flung corners of the earth involveslifestyles and conditions that are sometimes verydifferent from what you are used to back home.You must come prepared to cope with unusualsituations, local inadequacies and unpredictableevents as and when they occur. Foreign travelis definitely not suitable for people who expector demand everything to go exactly as planned.Things can and do change in foreign countries.

Experience India with an open mind; expect theunexpected and you’ll have a ball. India is a countryof unparalleled contrasts, a destination where you’llbe afforded a unique encounter.

Wherever the compass points in India, the people,their customs, creed and language are differentfrom one region to the next. India is as vastas it is crowded, and as opulent as it issqualid. India is exciting, intense and diverse-anall embracing experience, a veritable assault onthe senses. Sometimes the poverty will get youdown, Indian bureaucracy can test your patienceand sometimes facing another traffic jam will seemalmost too much to bear. Yet, it’s all worth it.India is far from the easiest country in the worldto travel around, but on the go will take thesting out of it. Our holidays combine comfortabletransportation, comprehensive sightseeing andgood hotels, allowing you to concentrate on gettingthe most out of your stay. Despite some of theinevitable ‘ups and downs’ of travelling in India, youwill generally be accorded great respect. In return,please demonstrate sensitivity and respect for localcustoms.

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