India small group voluntourism trip (sorry the pretty pictures can make it slow to load)

Your Indian Adventure That Counts

10 days/9 nights (1st March & 8th November) US$2,720* Price per person

Overview India has long been a melting-pot of religious and cultural diversity resulting in a veritable feast of historical and architectural sites for the modern traveler to marvel at.

A rigid social structure, called the caste system, has long ensured that positions of the wealthy and the poor are fixed in perpetuity. Fortunately, this status quo is slowly being challenged and you can help some of the poorest children in Delhi improve their lot in life through education.

Help build a classroom in a school, improve the educational environment of children from poor background by easing overcrowding and thus enable students to receive more personalized attention. Make a difference, delve deeper into this fascinating cultural enigma and be inspired by the imagination of youngsters that can fashion a game from a disused tyre and a couple of pieces of string.

At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll visit some of the iconic architectural wonders that have been attracting pilgrims and tourists for hundreds of years. Step out of the manic streets of Agra into the tranquility and beauty of the Taj Mahal, or escape the heat of the streets of Jaipur into the naturally cooled Suhk Niwas.

Most of all, slow down and let the history, culture and ambiance of this fascinating nation flow over you.

Day 1:

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DELHI You are met on arrival at Delhi international airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of your day exploring the hustle and bustle of Delhi or recover from your journey and relax by the pool.

Overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Day 2:

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DELHI After breakfast, it is time to acquaint yourself with this fascinating town on a full day city tour of both Old & New Delhi.

architecture (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples. The myriad of monuments combine both Islamic calligraphy and Hindu motifs and commemorate the onset of Islamic rule in India.

Delhi, the capital of India, has a lively history that has influenced the development of this eclectic city. The color, energy, aromas and sounds of this city can be both vivid and subtle at the same time.

Well, the sounds are invariably intense. It is one of those places that can only be experienced to be believed!

Rebuilt seven times by different dynasties, it is now the third largest city in India, with a population of over 16 million. Ruled over by several empires, its strategic location along the north-south and east-west trading routes gave it a prominent position in Indian history. Old and new are frequently juxtaposed, with around 1300 historic monuments and ruins, sitting cheek by jowl with modern structures and high-rise towers.

Start your day exploring the Qutab Minar Complex. Built in the early 13th century the 240ft high red sandstone Qutb Minar tower is made up of alternating angular and rounded flutings. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent AlaiDarwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim

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The next stop is “Lutyens’ New Delhi”, named after the leading British architect Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944), who was responsible for much of the architectural design and building when India was part of the in British Empire the 1920s and 1930s. Drive past the Rashtrapati Bhawan, (President’s Palace), Secretariat Buildings, Parliament House and the India Gate, a war memorial arch built in honor of the soldiers who died in the Afghan Wars and World War I.

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+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

Day 3-6:

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DELHI Today, begin your immersion in to the local culture and the local community by improving the lives of the children who need it most. Your time here benefits a school established to assist underprivileged children aged 3 to 12.

Prior to joining the school most of these children were found begging or roaming around aimlessly on the Delhi streets in squalor and harsh climatic conditions.

Many of the street children were destitute and forced to eat garbage from stinking waste dumps. The remainder of the children came from parents living well below the poverty line and unable to provide even one square meal a day.

As well as assisting the children to improve their future prospects, in some cases it has also been possible obtain employment for these parents so that their children can study.

The school aims to provide an environment which will make these children self-confident and provide them with an education that ensures them of a bright and successful future.

During these inspiring days, you will assist with the construction of temporary classrooms made of bamboo and corrugated iron sheets to enable the school to cater for its growing numbers. You will also get to know the students as you help them practice their conversational English skills.

Overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn

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call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

Day 7:

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DELHI - AGRA After breakfast, a four hour drive takes you to Agra where you check-in at your hotel.

After lunch it is time to explore the highlights of Agra visiting ‘The Taj Mahal’ and ‘The Agra Fort’.

Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is an epitome of love and a haven of tranquility away from the bustling streets. It was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shahjehan, for his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal, with a love poem inscribed on the marble walls. The Taj Mahal is entirely made of white marble and its walls are decorated with exquisite pietra dura (stone inlay) work. Different types of precious and semiprecious stones were used in the intricate inlay work of the interiors. This magnificent monument is set around a Charbagh or 'four garden' plan, which is split by watercourses: a reflection of the Persian style.

Built by Emperor ‘Akbar’ on the west bank of the river Yamuna and beautified with palaces and gardens by Jehangir, Agra Fort dominates the center of the city. Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience) and Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience) were built by Shahjehan for the purpose of receiving audiences. Other places of interest include the Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal.

Overnight stay at the Radisson Hotel.

Day 8:

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AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI-JAIPUR After a delicious buffet breakfast it is time to embark on the five hour drive to Jaipur, visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route.

Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (“the City of

Victory”) was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1586. The complex includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. Despite a meteoric rise to prominence the city was abandoned quite abruptly, due to paucity of water and its proximity with the Rajputana areas in the northwest, which were increasingly in turmoil.

The finest monuments within the compound are the Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Buland Darwaza and the tomb of Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti.

Following the visit, continue on to Jaipur, known as the ‘Pink City’ in reference to its distinctly colored buildings, which were originally painted to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The present day earthy red tones date back to 1876 when the buildings were last repainted to honor the visiting Prince of Wales.

Overnight stay at the Four Points by Sheraton.

Day 9:

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JAIPUR After breakfast, take the short journey to the outskirts of the city to visit the magnificent Amber (or Amer) Fort, perched on a hill overlooking the ‘Pink City’. It was the ancient capital of the state until 1728.

The ambiance of this formidable fort is created by a four level plan (each with a courtyard) with a well turned out opulent palace complex built of red sandstone and marble. Across the multilevel complex, you’ll explore halls for both public and private audiences, a Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) and the Sukh Niwas. On hot days the Sukh is particularly pleasant, as a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over the water cascade within the palace. The fort is a marvelous example of ancient Rajput architecture.

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The Temple of Amba (Mother Goddess), the patron deity of the Royal family, overlooks the entrance to the palace. Once inside the compound, ascend to the hilltop. Visit the Temple of Kali, the Hall of Victory or Jai Mahal and Jagmandir.

Later in the afternoon, return to town for your tour of Jaipur. The first stop is the City Palace the former royal residence, built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The Palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armory of the Mughals and Rajputs, including a large variety of ornate swords. The museum art gallery contains a magnificent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit.

The next stop is the Jantar Mantar, an astrological and astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 18th century. The gigantic equinoctial

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sundial is remarkable for its accuracy; the instrument is intended to measure the time of day correct to half a second.

Your last stop is at the Palace-Of-Winds. Built in 1799 it was designed to represent the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique five-storey exterior is akin to a honeycomb with 953 small windows decorated with intricate latticework. The intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen.

However, the lattice also creates a cool breeze, effectively air conditioning the building during the hot summers.

It is a fabulous place to take pictures and spend time exploring the crowded lanes, haggling and souvenir hunting.

Overnight stay at the Four Points by Sheraton.

Day 10:

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JAIPUR - DELHI After breakfast, you complete the golden triangle with a five hour drive back to Delhi, where you are transferred to the International airport to board your homeward flight.

TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Email bookings@handsupholidays.com with these details: 1.

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Trip Destination: Trip date: Number of people booking: Participant name(s) and email address: Phone number:

You can reserve your trip with payment of 20% deposit, with the balance paid at least 60 days prior to the start of your trip. You can pay your deposit by bank transfer (in US$ or GBP) or by credit card (in GBP only, and a 2% handling fee applies). Please indicate which option you prefer.

All bookings are subject to our usual Terms and Conditions except that any payments you make are fully refundable should we fail to reach the minimum number of participants for your trip within 60 days of your trip start date.

Included

✓ Accommodation for 09 nights on double/twin occupancy ✓ Daily buffet breakfast at hotel of stay ✓ All land transportation using A/C Tempo traveler for 06/07 pax; A/C mini coach for 08-14 Pax & A/C large coach for 15/16 pax ✓ Services of English speaking escort cum guide ✓ Entrance fees ✓ Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi ✓ Elephant/Jeep ride at Amer Fort, Jaipur ✓ All currently applicable taxes ✓ The costs of building the classrooms ✓ Volunteering donation US$ 500 per person towards the costs of building the classroom

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Not Included  International flights or Visa fee  Any beverage, soft or hard drink, tea coffee, Snacks, mineral water etc unless specified  Camera/Video fees at monuments  Expenses of a personal nature such as tips, gratuities, telephone calls, laundry, table drinks etc  Any additional expenses incurred during the volunteering project in Delhi  Any other services which are not mentioned in the above tour inclusions A. IMPORTANT NOTES:  Travel insurance is compulsory (we recommend insurance with a medical evacuation clause); we can help you with this.  Volunteer activities may change from those noted above, depending on the needs of the project.

B. CONFIRMATIONS: ✓ No services are booked yet. We will not process reservation before receiving your reservation request. ✓ We reserve the right to reserve alternative options if the proposed service is not available at the time of booking.

Key B = Breakfast L = Lunch BL = Boxed Lunch D = Dinner * Price is excludes flights and is based on sharing a room with one other person

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)