Sample Custom India Itinerary:
Exploring the Arts, Crafts & Colors of Rajasthan
PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
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Exploring the Arts, Crafts & Colors of Rajasthan This two-week, off the beaten path itinerary has been handcrafted to maximize your time abroad by reaching below the surface and into the heart of India. Through hands-on lessons in local pottery, block-printing and tie-dyeing textiles, this itinerary not only introduces you to the traditions and art of India - but invites you to bring them home with you as well. Meanwhile, almost every day invites you to experience yoga (in the place it was born) and to take part in following some of your delicious meals from market to plate! While born out of a passion to share the beauty in the details and arts of Rajasthan, this itinerary was created while focusing on the realities of the schedule of life in India. The area is full of color, music, unique and historic architecture, delicious food and a plethora of handicrafts - too many to visit in a year - never mind too weeks! This itinerary doesn’t try to include everything, but instead - it works to include the best of everything. Beginning the travels with an introduction to modern day India in Delhi, you’ll get over your jet lag and get comfortable in your new surroundings. From there you’ll transition to a village setting in Nawalgarh, where you’ll be able to wander the open markets, learn from the local guides and experience age old techniques that are passed down from generation to generation. From there the itinerary takes you into the heart of the historic Jaipur. A large city with a strong history of art patronage from local royalty, your time here will focus on exploring the role of art in society and life while trying your own hand at some of the local handicrafts as well. En route back to your starting point you’ll spend one night in Agra, to view the beauty of the Taj Mahal first hand before heading back to Delhi where you’ll explore fruit, flower and spice markets along with a variety of foods from over different areas of the sub-continent. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
Exploring the Arts, Crafts & Colors of Rajasthan: Day-By-Day Itinerary: 01: Today you’ll arrive in New Delhi, after processing through customs, immigration and gathering your bags you’ll be met as you exit the airport by a representative for the trip. Together you’ll transfer to the hotel to check in, gather your things and get settled. Most flights arrive late in the evening so options for today will be based on when your flights arrive and how you’re feeling. The goal is to help you to get settled in and give you a chance to sleep and begin getting over jetlag. (D) The Claridges. 02: This morning will be the first of the journey and will start with breakfast in the garden of the hotel. After breakfast and meeting your guide, you’ll begin your explorations of Delhi. As you depart the hotel, you’ll head through the heart of town past the famed India Gate on your way to the National Museum, where you’ll explore the sub-continents history and legacy. You’ve have lunch in a nearby restaurant and give yourself a chance to walk and explore to help your body recover from the jetlag. From the restaurant you’ll head directly to the handicraft cottage emporium. While traditionally a shopping focused location, the goal here is to see the wide variety of handicraft goods that are from all over the country - and to get an idea, just how many of them have lineage in the areas you’re about to explore first hand. By mid-afternoon you will head to the Humayan’s Tomb - a world heritage site and the first of the examples of a garden tomb in this region and one of the best examples of a predecessor of the Taj Mahal. By late afternoon you’ll head nearby to the hotel Lodhi Gardens and restaurant for an early dinner and back to the hotel for an overnight. (B, L, D) The Claridges.
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5 03: Early this morning you’ll depart and head south west to Nawalgarh. En route you’ll stop at a small village to disembark and explore what rural life on the outskirts of the capital is like. You’ll also meet with the village panchayat (village council) to see how the village administration works. Part of this time is focused on meeting on meeting the leaders of this village, to understand their role in the local life and whose voices are heard here. After having lunch with the local hosts you’ll bid them farewell as you continue on your journey. You’ll arrive in town by mid to late afternoon. After checking into your hotel and getting acquainted with your new surroundings you’ll have the option to partake in an optional yoga class if you’d like or just take a rest to get the last bits of jetlag out. You’ll have dinner together at the hotel. (B, L, D) Roop Niwas Kothi. 04: This morning will start with an optional yoga session, set up just for you right on the grounds of the hotel, which will be followed by breakfast. After enjoying your first meal of the day, you’ll begin thinking about the next! This morning you’ll be joining a local family at their guest house, where they will be sharing all about local ingredients, their treatments and purposes, before they show you how to make a traditional local meal. After enjoying the lunch you prepared together you’ll head to the outskirts of town to visit a local school, where we will be met by the teachers and some of the school children. This school is for local children who suffer handicaps, the time here will be spent lifting their spirits and at the same time getting a better understanding of the rural education structure for physically challenged families. By late afternoon you’ll return to the hotel in time to enjoy either a bicycle ride through town or if you’d like to learn a new craft, some local women can come and share with you the basics of the are of tie & dye. They’ll show you how to do the tying, giving you time to complete it before your trip to the dyeing spot the following day. By early evening you will have dinner together and enjoy the grounds of the hotel before retiring for the evening. (B, L, D) Roop Niwas Kothi 05: Once again you’ll have an optional early morning yoga session fter breakfast together, today you’ll head into the heart of town to visit with local artisans who will complete the lessons on tie-dyeing craft by sharing the dyeing and drying portion of the art. If you enjoyed the practice of tying, you can dye that piece - if not, not a problem at all - you’ll be more than welcome to pick up a pre-tied scarf and still learn all about the dyes. After you finish up at the tie-dye facility and enjoying some lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at local pottery throwing before a walk through the heritage part of town and explore the painted Haveli’s of Nawalgarh. These beautiful old homes are a way to visually experience the history of this area while understanding the unique way these folks have made their town their own. (B, L, D) Roop Niwas Kothi PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
06: After an early breakfast this morning, you’ll once again board our vehicle head onward on your adventure to Jaipur! "
Jaipur, also called the Pink City, was founded in 1727 and was the first planned city in all of India. It is a gridded city with the main palace at its heart and encircled by a fortified wall. Originally designed with cross streets separating the city into rectangles, some residential and some commercial, Jaipur was highly advanced and organized at a time where all others cities in the sub-continent were chaotic and filled with narrow twisted lanes. Jaipur was clearly ahead of its time.
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Maharaja Sawai Jai Sindh, a Rajput King who ruled from 1699 to 1724, founded the city. It was Jaipur’s ruler’s relationship with the Mughals that helped to create the unique amalgamation of Rajput and Mughal styles that dominate the city’s scenery. Among the many sites to be visited are the Amber Fort, the City Palace, and the Palace of the Winds, all of which will demonstrate the distinctive architectural style that mixed the Hindu – Rajput ideals with the Muslim – Mughal aesthetic. There are chhatris, fluted pillars, lotuses and floral patterns that reveal the Rajput’s own style; but stone inlay work, use of marble or sandstone, and arches are all reflective of the Mughal design techniques.
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Upon arrival in Jaipur you’ll check into your hotel to drop your bags, freshen up and get ready for your afternoon of exploring. You’ll have lunch and head into the heart of the city to visit the City Palace and the Observatory (an ancient astrological center equipped with larger than life structures symbolizing the stars, constellations and sun). After exploring these structures and the legacies they teach us about that existed here in years past - we turn and look towards the future!
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In a small alleyway in the midst of the history of this corner of Jaipur is a well known astrologer. His role has been to be an advisor to the locals. His work is to assist the community members when they come to him for help, he foresees which marriages are best for their children or what a family can to help a sick relative. His role is one of an advisor throughout a lifetime and today you’ll have an interactive session with this astrologer who will can help lay our your future, if you’re brave enough to ask! (B, L, D) Narain Niwas. 07: This morning you’ll have an optional private yoga session at the hotel before breakfast. The day is full of activities and options for you, from exploring the monuments of the city, wandering the markets, learning about the local goods (as this is the jewel and semi-previous stone capital of the entire country), or even spending the day with elephants. The choices are yours and the goal is to allow your interests and serendipity to lead you. (B, L, D) Narain Niwas. 08: Before breakfast this morning, you’ll all head out to a local Ashram for a yoga session and class. We’ll be guided by a true expert through yoga moves, breathing and meditation. The practice will be followed by a session with a local naturopathist, where you can hear more about the belief system surrounding health and wellbeing here, as well as having the opportunity to speak with him one on one. In the case that you would like a diagnosis for any questions you have about your own body there is time set aside for both this and prognosis and treatment - but you’ll have to let the guide know about your interest the day before - as to allow it to be scheduled. By mid-day you’ll have had lunch and be heading together to Sanganer, where the block printing artisans will demonstrate their trade, which has been passed down from generation to generation. After a demo, we’ll all try out hands at this tradition, and of course - bring home your very own custom creation! (B, L, D) Narain Niwas.
PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
09: This morning you’ll rise early to depart Jaipur en route to Agra. By lunch time you’ll arrive in Bharatpur. After lunch you’ll have the option to travel to Fatehpur Sikri, the city built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. Literally meaning “City of Victory” - this complex is a fortified city made up of a labyrinth of monuments and temples, all built in uniform Mughal architectural style. It was the capital of the Empire for only 10 years before it was abandoned! The reason for shifting away from the city is not completely known, but it is speculated that it was either due to lack of water or a military need to shift north. The ornate buildings, impressive gardens, and unique architectural styles have led to this monument being added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. "
By mid-day you’ll depart Fatehpur Sikri and head the short distance to Agra. Once known as Agraban (meaning paradise), the city lies southeast of Delhi on the banks of the Yamuna River. Now, the third biggest city in the state with over 1.8 million people, Agra was founded in 1504 by Sultan Sikandar Lodi. This medieval city has a deep history, but had its heyday under the Mughals, from about 1520 to 1660, during which many of the major landmarks found here were constructed.
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After arriving in town you will head to the hotel to drop your things, check into our rooms and prepare for an afternoon visiting some of the best known embroiders of the world - the Zardousi artists. By late afternoon our visit will come to an end and you’ll return to our hotel for an earlier than normal dinner in order to get a good night sleep before our early wake up call tomorrow! (B, L, D) Jaypee Palace
10: This morning you’ll rise very early as you gather in the light of the pre-dawned sky to head to the famed Taj Mahal to watch sunrise over this magical monument. As the sun rises in the sky, the light shines differently as it illuminates the perfectly placed quartz marble highlighting a plethora of hand laid details that fires the imagination to the capacity of human hands. Being here first thing in the morning means you’ll have access to the area with a few hundred other folks rather then tens of thousands (which is common at times!) and the lighting is very special as it shifts so quickly.
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After returning to the hotel for breakfast you’ll head right back out into the heart of the ancient part of this city, a place where few travelers ever see - the wholesale vegetable and spice markets of old Agra. Here you’ll meet some local chefs that will help educate you about the wide variety of local produce and help each of you pick out some great, fresh ingredients. After picking up all that calls to you in the markets you’ll head back to the private homes of our teachers where they will show you not only their traditional recipes, but the tools and practices used with these ingredients. After a full morning and a big lunch, you’ll say goodbye to your hosts and head back to Delhi - where your journey began!
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You’ll arrive by early evening, giving you time to once again get settled in your now familiar hotel and relax a bit before heading out to a great dinner at a south Indian restaurant. (B, L, D) The Claridges.
11: After breakfast this morning you will head out from the hotel to explore the spice markets, food plaza and craft marketplace in the heart of old Delhi. You’ll be able to explore Jama Masjid (a historic mosque) and take a rickshaw ride to Chandini Chowk where you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you’ll have the option to stay and explore the markets, shop for any souvenirs or soak up your last afternoon in Delhi - or you can head back to the hotel to pack up and prepare for the journey home. "
This evening you’ll have your final dinner together and prepare for travel home. (B, L, D) The Claridges.
12: Today you will transfer to the airport (timing to be based on your particular flights) and be provided assistance to prepare for your flights. (B) End of Services. "
**Most flights departing Delhi are oddly timed (late hours of the night or very early hours of the morning) so please do reach out to us for assistance in planning your flight so we can be sure to help you arrange them with this itinerary. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
Exploring the Arts, Crafts & Colors of Rajasthan NOTES & COSTS: Land Cost: $6,550* per person (based on double sharing throughout and a group of 4-6) Single Supplement: $995* per person Includes: Pre-departure assistance for preparation, all accommodations as listed, arrival & departure transfers, all meals as indicated throughout, private vehicle, driver, head guide & local guides throughout, all listed activities (and cost for required materials for activities), a personally provided cell phone for your convenience while in India, full support services & all entrance fees throughout. Not included: International air travel arrangements, Indian Visa, any non-indicated meals or accommodations, all arrangements prior to arrival in Delhi and after departure from Delhi, tips to guides/drivers/staff, Travel / Medical & Evacuation insurance, and items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, alcoholic beverages and shopping etc... *Prices vary until dates are confirmed due to differing rates in high/low seasons and holidays. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) The Art233 of Adventure 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com Travel | aboveclouds.com