Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Delhi Delhi 2 Delhi Delhi 3 Bus Delhi - Agra Agra 4 Bus Agra - Fatehpur Sikri/Abhaneri Stepwell - Kalakho

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1 North India in 2 weeks bejewelled Maharaja s Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SIK Detailed description Welcome To anyone with a spirit of adventure this India tour presents a superb challenge - it never leaves you indifferent. Its magic lies in the sheer profusion of peoples and landscapes. For many visitors, the ancient desert state of Rajasthan represents quintessential India. Dramatic forts, majestic palaces, ornate havellis, bejewelled Maharaja s and the dazzling dress of the local rajputs. Don t forget to gaze up at the iconic symbol of love, the Taj Mahal! Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Delhi Delhi 2 Delhi Delhi 3 Bus Delhi - Agra Agra 4 Bus Agra - Fatehpur Sikri/Abhaneri Stepwell - Kalakho Kalakho 5 Bus Kalakho - Jaipur Jaipur 6 Jaipur Jaipur 7 Bus Jaipur - Pushkar Pushkar 8 Bus Pushkar - Udaipur Udaipur 9 Udaipur Udaipur 10 Bus Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur Jodhpur 11 Jodhpur Jodhpur 12 Bus Jodhpur - Bikaner Bikaner 13 Bikaner Bikaner 14 Bus Bikaner - Shekhawati Shekhawati 15 Bus Shekhawati - Delhi Delhi

2 16 Delhi Day to Day description Day 1: Delhi Welcome to India! Your tour starts in Delhi, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Most of your travel companions will arrive in the late evening of day 1 or early morning of day 2, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. Day 2: Delhi You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 8.00 hrs A.M. on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel in Delhi. Delhi! This 3000 year old city is the chaotic capital of India and forms a separate area in India, controlled by the federal government. The contrast between the old and new areas is enormous: The old area is a stifling, colourful, oriental ants nest characterised by narrow alleyways, temples and mosques, the Red Fort and the Jama Masijd, the biggest and most beautiful mosque in India, are found here. The new area is a grandiosely built metropolis with long, broad, straight streets, pavilions and parks. Between buildings are hundreds of monuments which each tell part of the story of the city s past. Day 3: Delhi - Agra We leave early in the morning to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. The ride (about 204 km) will take approximately 5 hours; depending on traffic. During the day you will have time to explore Agra and a visit to the world famous Taj Mahal is a must. However, besides this architectural wonder, Agra also has a series of other interesting sights. Once one of the three most important Moghul cities, the old part of the city is multi-coloured and hectic, while the region in which most of the hotels are situated is spacious and green. Day 4: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri/Abhaneri Stepwell - Kalakho You continue your trip through India to Kalakho but not without first visiting Fatehpur Sikri (entrance fees not included). Although now a ghost town, it was once regarded as the ideal city to live in, due to the beloved Emperor Akbar who ruled between 1571 and The most beautiful building is surely the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque). You journey takes you further to Abhaneri, where you can see the stepwell before continuing your tour to Kalakho where you will stay at the Umaid Lake Palace (subject to change). Kalakho is located in the countryside and is a wonderful place to experience village life! Often you can see how turbans and saris are made or you can attend an introductory lesson in 'Bollywood Dance'. Tired of all that? Take a refreshing dip in your swimming pool. Delhi - End of tour

3 Day 5: Kalakho - Jaipur This morning you are free to discover Kalakho. Maybe you fancy a game of cricket with the locals, you can learn how to fly a kite (if there is enough wind), or perhaps you're in for a henna tattoo. The friendly villagers are usually happy to play along. Check here for more information about the possible activities. After arrival in Jaipur it is nice to climb up to the top of the hill where the imposing Nahargarh Fort stands. Enjoy the sunset, letting the superb view sink in. You will soon understand how Jaipur has earned its nickname (the "Pink City"). The major attractions of Jaipur are the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal) with its beautiful façade and the City Palace. Day 6: Jaipur You are free to explore Jaipur. About 7 miles north-east of the city is the famous Amber Fort. Before Jaipur was built, Amber was the capital city of the region for 600 years. The actual fort stands at the top of a hill surrounded in all directions by hills, upon which smaller fortifications are also built. There are many marble statues and mosaics to admire here. It is a 10 minute walk or shorter still jeep ride to get up to the fort. Day 7: Jaipur - Pushkar After a 2½ hour (140 km) bus journey we arrive at Pushkar where the town is built around the sacred Pushkar Lake. According to legend, the lake owes its existence to the god Brahma, who laid a lotus flower at a site where a sacred spring later came in to existence. Of the many Hindu temples here, the Brahma temple is therefore the most important. TIP: Pushkar is famous for the Pushkar Fair, a cattle fair, which is held in October or November each year and you can visit on the Shoestring festival trips. Traders come from far and wide to buy and sell camels. The event attracts thousands of tourists. In a period of a few days, the money is earned, they go back to the mountains and Pushkar returns to normal. Day 8: Pushkar - Udaipur Today, a long bus journey of around 7-8 hours (280 km) is scheduled. The first leg of the journey passes through a spectacular area of the Nag Pahar (Snake Mountain) to this picturesque white town that is the destination of so many pilgrimages. Built around a number of artificial lakes Udaipur has a multitude of palaces and havelis, parks and gardens. The Lake Palace, one of the best hotels in the world, stands in the middle of Lake Pichola. The city is partially walled; but in places the wall has fallen into disrepair. Udaipur is a dream city in which you can wander for hours without running out of sites to marvel at. Day 9: Udaipur Today is a free day in Udaipur. You may wish to visit the other palaces and temples especially the Jagdish temple, situated in the busy centre of the city. If you have time left, there will be numerous small excursions to sites near the city, such as Eklingji, famous for its temple built in honour of Shiva, and the Jain temples in Nagda.

4 Day 10: Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur The tour goes by the monumental Chaumukh Temple in Ranakhpur, one of the most stunning Jain temples in India. Here you ll see the incredibly detailed masonry that gives the temple its reputation. The complex dates back to the 15th century and has 1444 pillars, all of which differ from one other. Today we arrive in walled city of Jodhpur, known as the 'gateway' to the Thar Desert. Estimated travel hours for today (without stops) are 6-7 (around 300 km). Day 11: Jodhpur Free day. Jodhpur is dominated by an immense fortress, which towers over the market. From here there is a fantastic view over the blue-painted houses of the city which gives it the nickname, the 'Blue City'. Sights include the Mehrangarh Fort and the Umaid Bhavan Palace. In contrast to the fort, the palace was only completed in 1943, just before the maharajas of Jodhpur were forced to relinquish their power. Since then, part of the palace has been turned into the best hotel in the city. Jodhpur is a particularly good place to buy antiques. Day 12: Jodhpur - Bikaner You will travel to Bikaner today in an estimated 6-7 hours/ around 230 km (without stops). Bikaner, where impressive fortresses, palaces and public buildings are decorated with pink-red sandstone. Camels pull carts through the narrow streets as they have done for centuries and a long market street leads to the imposing Junagarh Fort. The fort s wall is over half a mile long, has 37 bastions and two huge gateways and inside are beautifully restored temples and pavilions. Day 13: Bikaner Free day to explore the city. The brave among you may wish to go by taxi to visit the rat temple of Karni Mata in the nearby town of Deshnoke. Here the rats are sacred and worshipped and you must go barefoot in the temple, where you will find yourself accompanied by a churning mass of thousands of rats. You can also take an optional trip to a local camel-breeding farm. Day 14: Bikaner - Shekhawati Today you'll travel to the region of Shekhawati in western Rajasthan, known for its beautiful frescoed houses and colourful population. This relatively quiet area was traditionally on the caravan route from the ports of Gujarat and central India to Delhi and further afield to Central Asia. There was a lively trade in opium, cotton and spices. The wealthy merchants built magnificent homes for themselves, called havelis, merchant houses of several storeys with a large courtyard. Most of these buildings are covered with numerous carvings and frescoes from between 1760 and Some are still in good condition, others are beautifully restored, but all, without exception are well worth a look. You sleep in the town of Surajgarh/Nawalgarh. The estimated travel time for today is 6-7 hours (230 km).

5 Day 15: Shekhawati - Delhi This morning you will be free to further explore Shekhawati. At around midday, the group will travel back to Delhi where you will spend one final night (7 hours driving, depending on traffic jams; 250 km). Day 16: Delhi Your tour has now come to an end. We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of India. Your personal my.shoestring page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today. When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 16) is not included. It is possible that the group for a part of this trip is combined with the participants of our 7-Day Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, 17-Day India and Nepal with trekking and 14-Day India and Nepal in 2 weeks trips. Obviously, we ensure that the maximum of 24 participants is not exceeded. The local English-speaking tour guide(s) ensure(s) proper execution of the trip. FESTIVAL TOURS On the trip departing on July 22, 2017 visit the Teej festival in Jaipur. On the trip departing on October 23, 2017 visit the Pushkar Fair in Pushkar. * On the trip departing on 2 January, 2018 visit the Camel Festival in Bikaner. On the trip departing on 25 February, 2018 visit the Holi Festival in Jaipur. On the trip departing on 9 August, 2018 visit the Teej Festival in Jaipur. On the trip departing on 10 November, 2018 visit the Pushkar Fair in Pushkar.* * Note: The itinerary during the Pushkar Fair festival tour has been adapted. During the Pushkar Fair you stay one extra night in Pushkar and one night less in Bikaner. The route will be: Day 1 Delhi; Day 2 Delhi; Day 3 Agra; Day 4 Agra; Day 5 Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri; Day 6 Jaipur; Day 7 Pushkar; Day 8 Pushkar; Day 9 Udaipur Day 10 Udaipur; Day 11 Jodhpur via Ranakpur; Day 12 Jodhpur; Day 13 Bikaner via Rat Temple; Day 14 Shekhawati; Day 15 Delhi; Day 16 End of tour. The itineraries during festival tours may be adapted. Please check the 'News' section for further details. For more information about the festivals please check under 'More info' then 'Festivals'.

6 More info What's included: accommodation in hotels; transportation in (mini)buses only for transfers from hotel to hotel; visit to Fatehpur Sikri, Abhaneri and Ranakpur; English speaking tour leader What's excluded: international flights; all meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all entrance fees; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance Travel documents Travelling with the correct travel documentation is your own responsibility. Please ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the finish date of your trip. For India, a visa is required for many nationalities in order to gain entry. Please check this information in good time before your trip commences as this information is always subject to change. You can check this information through a site such as this one. To arrange your visa, you should either contact your nearest Indian embassy or use an agency such as CIBT. It is now also possible for nationals of a number of countries to apply online for their India visa, in advance of travel using the E-Visa facility. Please check the following website for further information and online visa application: Accommodation and transport

7 Transport During this trip we travel from place to place entirely with our own bus, so we can stop at beautiful spots along the way. The trip will begin and end in Delhi but your airport transfers are not included. Travel Distances Delhi to Agra: 204 km / 5 hours Agra via Fatehpur Sikhri to Kalakho: 164 km / 4 hours Kalakho to Jaipur: 85 km / 2 hours Jaipur to Pushkar: 150 km / 2 to 3 hours Pushkar to Udaipur: 285 km / 8 hours Udaipur via Ranakpur to Jodhpur: 265 km / 7 hours Jodhpur to Bikaner 265 km / 7 hours Bikaner to Surajgarh: 260 km / 7 hours Surajgarh to Delhi: 250 km / 6 to 7 hours Above-mentioned times are approximate. Accommodation During the tour we stay in simple but comfortable mid-range hotels in 2-person rooms with private bathroom. Typically there is no air conditioning in the rooms but there is often a fan or a cooling system. In hotels that do have air conditioning in the rooms, there is sometimes an extra fee for using it. Most hotels have their own restaurant and usually a garden or terrace. Many of the planned hotels have swimming pools which is really welcome after a day in the Indian warmth! This applies to our lodgings in Agra, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Shekhawati (Surajgarh). In exceptional cases it is possible that we use other hotels without pools. If this occurs we will try to find a suitable alternative. If you participate in a trip where you visit the famous Pushkar Fair, then you'll stay in Pushkar in luxury tents with private facilities. Participants who book individually share a room with another participant. We keep in mind that you should be paired with someone of the same sex. If you would like to arrange your own room for the entire trip, this can be done. You would need to pay a single supplement and will need to add this at time of booking. During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency. Single excursions

8 Excursion Details Price Bikaner - Camel farm, Raisar Camp, with dunes and Dinner Dance Performance Book at location Firstly you will visit the dromedary camel farm, the largest of its kind in Asia. It is impressive to see the hundreds of camels as they return from grazing in the afternoon. You then continue to Raisar Camp, situated 20 km outside of Bikaner and one of the most popular places to see the desert. The best time of day to be here is at sunset. You make a ride in a dromedary-led cart, attend a cultural show with music and dance and feast on a buffet dinner. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 3:00 p.m Departure from the hotel to the camel farm 3:30 p.m. Visit to the camel farm (about 1.5 hours) 4:45 p.m. Departure to Raisar Base camp 5:30 p.m. Arrival and tour (about 45 mins) by camel led cart to the sand dunes of Raisar Camp, where you (in clear weather) will see the sunset. 7:00 p.m. Rajasthani cultural show with music and dance in the Raisar camp, followed by a buffet dinner. 9:30 p.m. Back to Bikaner (about 45 mins) Included: Included: transportation, English speaking guide, ride in a camel cart and buffet dinner with dance show Not included: entrance fees, drinks and tips 16 Agra - City tour Book at location During the city tour of Agra, the following will be visited: Agra Fort, Taj Mahal and stop for lunch Excursion schedule 10:00 Depart hotel to Agra Fort 10:15 Visit to Agra Fort (2 hours) 12:30 Lunch Stop at Riao Restaurant 2:00 p.m. Visit to Taj Mahal (3 hours) 5.00 p.m. Return to hotel Included: transport, English speaking guide Not included: entrance fees, lunch, camera fees and tip for driver 15

9 Bikaner - Karni Mata (Rat Temple) Book at location Karni Mata (Rat Temple) is about 48 km from Bikaner. The local saint Karni Mata lived in the 15th century. Karni Mata is seen as an incarnation of the goddess Durga. Besides the goddess, the temple is inhabited by large amounts of well-fed rats (called Kabas). These rats are worshiped and amongst all the black rats, see if you can spot the especially holy white ones! Excursion schedule: (subject to change and in consultation with the tour guide): 8:30 Departure from the hotel to the Rat Temple 9:00 Visit to the Rat Temple (about 1 hour) 10:00 Back to the hotel Included: transportation and English speaking guide Not included: entrance fees and tips 5 Delhi - City Tour Book at location During the city tour of Delhi we will visit the following: New Delhi:Humayun's Tomb, India Gate and Sikh Temple (Bangla Sahib) Old Delhi: Raj Ghat, Jama Mashid, Red Fort (photo stop) Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): Excursion starting 11:00 am End of tour 17:00 pm Included: transportation and English speaking guide Not included: Entrance fees, camera fees and tip for the guide 14 Jaipur - Amber Fort Book at location During this excursion to the Amber fort photo stops are made at the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) and the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). At the end of the tour participants are dropped off at the City Palace. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 08:00 Departure from the hotel to Amber Fort 8:30 Visit to the Amber Fort (2 hours) 10:30 Departure from Amber fort. Photo stops at the Water Palace and the Palace of Winds 11:30 Participants are dropped off at the City Palace Included: transport, English speaking guide Not included: Entrance fees, Camera fees and tip 12

10 Jaipur - Bollywood Dance class Book at location Jaipur - Night Tour by Ambassador Book at location Bollywood is the dance-form made famous through Indian films produced in Mumbai (Bollywood). It is actually a mix of various styles such as belly dance, kathak, Indian folk dance, modern dance, jazz and even Western erotic dancing! Please bring light, comfortable clothing, ready for the dance floor! Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): Start of excursion: 16:00 End of excursion: 17:00 Included: transport and dance teacher Not included: tips Take a trip in the Ambassador, the iconic Indian automobile. The 'King of Indian Roads' takes you to Nahargarh Fort, where you have a beautiful sunset view over Jaipur. You will also make a photo stop at Jal Mahal (Water Palace) and Amber Fort. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): Start of excursion: 17:00 (winter) or 18:00 (summer) End of excursion: 21:00 (winter) or 22:00 (summer) Included: transport by Ambassador Not included: Entrance fees, Camera fees and tips 14 22

11 Jodhpur - Bishnoi Village Book at location With a jeep ride through the countryside and visit several villages of the Bishnoi. This tribe follows the teachings of their guru Jambaji whose 29 principles include not killing animals and not cutting green trees. The Bishnoi were appointed five centuries ago by the maharajas to protect rare wildlife. These 29 doctrines also declare their name: "bees" means 20, "nau" means 9. The Bishnoi worship nature in all forms and are strictly vegetarian. However they use buffalo, sheep and goats, but only for the milk, wool and manure. The latter as fuel and building materials for their homes. Unlike most Hindus they bury their dead instead of cremating them. Bishnoi men are recognizable by the white dress and white turban (a turban is good for seven meters of laundry). The women from the fan-shaped nose rings, anklets and large metal bracelets. You will see an opium ceremony (demonstration), local artisans and maybe the black buck antelope, and spotted deer. 18 Excursion Time (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 15:00 Check-out from hotel to the Bishnoi villages (until sunset) Return to hotel Included: Transport by jeep and a local English speaking guide. Not included: drinks, tips Jodhpur - Mehrangarh Fort & Jaswant Thada Book at location Jodhpur is a city in the princely state of Rajasthan, the home of the Rathore rulers. A high 10 Kms long stone wall protects this well-fortified city. Within these walls stands an imposing fort on a low range of sandstone hills, about 125 meters above the surrounding plains. 11 This tour takes us to Mehrangarh Fort, founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha (after whom the city is named). It is intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows of exquisite designs in red sandstone. We will also visit the Jaswant Thada, an imposing white marble cenotaph built to commemorate the acts of bravery and generosity of the rulers in 19th century. We will also pass by a local market to see the hustle bustle of everyday Jodhpur life. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 9.00 a.m. Drive to Mehrangarh Fort (02 Hrs visit to Fort) a.m. Visit to Jaswant Thada 1.00 p.m. Drop at Clock tower to explore local market Duration: 4-5 Hrs Included: Transport, English speaking Local Guide Not excluded: Monument Entrance Fee, Camera Charges, Tips to driver & local guide

12 Nawalgarh - Jeep tour in the Shekhawati region Book at location Udaipur - Indian Cooking Demonstration and Dinner Book at location During the trip we'll visit villages where Marwari horses are bred and we'll see some havelis (private mansions). Excursion Time The tour lasts from 8:30 to 10:30 hours. Included: jeep tour and a local English speaking guide Not included: gratuity for driver In the Whistling Teal restaurant, you get an Indian cooking demonstration, followed by a dinner with the local 'royal' family Rajrana Gunwant Singh Rajput. Excursion schedule: 19:00 Departure from the hotel to the Whistling Teal restaurant 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dinner with the royal family Included: transportation and cooking demonstration with dinner Not included: gratuity Festival info CAMEL FESTIVAL - BIKANER The Camel Festival is a festival that is held annually in the city of Bikaner in honour of the helpers of men in this region: the 'camels' (actually dromedaries). The ship of the desert is inextricably linked to their own lifestyle here. They pull heavy carts, transporting bales of grain or assist in bringing water. The festival opens with a parade of beautifully decorated camels. There is a camel beauty pageant with prizes going to those decorated the best. Obviously there are camel races, there's a camel milking competition and want to see a camel dance? The camels have fantastic footwork, dancing gracefully and respond to the slightest indication from their rider. During the festival, tea is served and sweets are made from camel milk. Naturally, this festival attracts many Indians, dressed in their finest outfits. HOLI PHAGWA FESTIVAL - WHOLE OF INDIA The Holi feast of Phagwa or Holi is a colourful Hindu festival that is celebrated annually throughout India (and Nepal). This spring festival is the sign of the beginning of a new season and is known also as the harvest festival. It is also considered a victory party: the victory of good over evil. The old Hindu story around the festival is about Narasimha, an incarnation of the great Vishnu killing Hiranyakashipu, the great demon king. On the eve of the Holi the scene of burning Holika is re-enacted all over India. Wood fires are lit and a living object such as a plant is given up. Rice is thrown into the fire, which is considered a symbolic expulsion of evil. The ceremony also includes prayer, music and singing. The next day Hindus return to the scene of their fire and smear themselves with the ash. Then in the afternoon they sprinkle one another with scents, perfumes and dyes with different colours having different significances. During these holidays there is an atmosphere of freedom and happiness. Make sure you bring some old clothes, because most likely you will not be spared and you too will end up buried under coloured powders! TEEJ FESTIVAL - JAIPUR Rajasthan is India's most colourful and exotic state. The fairy-tale palaces, the massive forts and ornate clothing of the population are a feast for the eyes. Rajasthan evokes the image of classical

13 India. The land where time stands still, the country where Hinduism still survives strongly in its traditional form. During the Teej Festival married women pray for a happy and long marriage to Parvati and Shiva. The festival is celebrated all over Rajasthan but is the most colourful in Jaipur. Joohlas (swings) are hung in trees with leaves and flowers. In Jaipur, a statue of the goddess Parvati is shown in a kilometer-long procession accompanied by decorated elephants, horses, camels, floats and more. There is music and dancing. A truly unique festival to attend. PUSHKAR FAIR - PUSHKAR Each year in the holy Hindu month of Kartika the sleepy Indian town of Pushkar puts on a spectacle that is unequaled. From all corners of the state of Rajasthan traders journey with their herds of camels to the otherwise quiet town on the lake, to arrive there in time for Kartik Purnima (full moon), the official starting date of the Pushkar Fair. Although trade is the main reason for meeting, the market carries the character of a great party. In the market all kinds of animals are for sale: donkeys, goats, horses, bulls, but most of camels - the tractors of rural India. This is the largest camel market in India, tens of thousands of camels change over ownership. But apart from livestock dealers, this annual event also attracts thousands of desert and village peoples. The camel market is a motley collection of people and animals, smells and colours in short, an event that you should not miss if you're in India at the time. A quarter of a million people enjoy this spectacular event, which is framed by music, dancing and performances by artists such as gargoyles and tightrope walkers. The festival also attracts tourists, both Indians (farmers, laborers, hawkers, beggars and buskers) and foreigners who travel to the dusty town on the edge of the Thar desert mainly to witness the highlight of these few days of the Pushkar Fair: the camels race through the sand dunes. Souvenirs are richly stocked: camel saddles, beautiful fabrics and various crafts. The Pushkar Fair is also a paradise for photographers, the local women wear their most beautiful saris and are adorned with sparkling jewels. The males have brightly coloured turbans over their huge mustaches and wear shoes with curled ends under their white dhotis. Pushkar for the Hindus holds a religious significance. It is one of the few places in India where the god Brahma is worshiped in its own temple. Thousands of pilgrims each year visit the sacred lake near the city to immerse themselves. This is considered an act of purification. The lunar calendar determines when the annual fair is held. PLEASE NOTE: PUSHKAR festival trips will have altered itineraries. Please check the latest news section for details. News 1/25/2013 Alternative program for Pushkar Fair trips 2014/15 We have modified the schedules for the Pushkar fair festival trips to allow you to make the most of the festival experience: On the October 25, 2014 departure date you stay 1 extra night in Pushkar and 1 night less in Bikaner. The program will be: Day 1 Delhi, Day 2 Delhi, Day 3 Agra, Day 4 Agra, Day 5 Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri, Day 6 Jaipur, Day 7 Pushkar, Day 8 Pushkar (day of the opening ceremony), Day 9 Udaipur, Day 10 Udaipur, Day 11 Jodhpur via Ranakpur, Day 12 Jodhpur, Day 13 Bikaner via Rat Temple, Day 14 Shekhawati (Surajgarh), Day 15 Trip concludes, Delhi Airport. On the November 14, 2015 departure date you stay one extra night in Pushkar and one night less in Bikaner. The route will be: Day 1 Delhi; Day 2 Delhi; Day 3 Agra; Day 4 Agra; Day 5 Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri; Day 6 Jaipur; Day 7 Pushkar; Day 8 Pushkar; Day 9 Udaipur Day 10 Udaipur; Day 11 Jodhpur via Ranakpur; Day 12 Jodhpur; Day 13 Bikaner via Rat Temple; Day 14 Shekhawati; Day 15 Delhi; Day 16 End of tour - Delhi. COUNTRY INFORMATION INDIA

14 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Culture The cultural differences between Europeans and Indians are so vast that one could write a book about them. Below is an overview of some points to take into account when mixing with the locals. "Yes and no": Maybe the most confusing cultural difference is the usage of yes and no. To begin with, yes is not indicated by nodding but by quickly moving the chin to and fro, causing the head to wobble (you should try it!). Secondly, whether spoken or wobbled, yes has a much broader meaning. Besides yes, it can indicate eh, or understood, or even something like that s probably right, or I have heard you, but I m not interested in what you are saying. Yes when uttered by an Indian hence doesn t give you a clue as to what they mean. No is a word Indians do not like to say too often, for example when asked if the bus to Colombo stops here. If offered a piece of liquorice, nine out of ten Indians will find the taste foul but the chances of them saying no when asked if they like it are very slim. Courtesy rules: Indians traditionally greet with a namasté, hand palms pressed together and held upright in front of the face. The higher you hold your hands, the more respect you express. In addition, with members of the same sex, you can often shake hands. Address everyone with sir or madam. Do not raise your voice, even if something does not go the way you like. It is better to ask for someone higher in rank, as delegation of decisions is not a strong point in Indian organisations. Presents are not unpacked immediately, but put aside. Showing eagerness is seen as a bad habit. Gifts: Do not be surprised or offended if you are not immediately thanked upon presenting a gift. The gift will usually be put to one side, unopened. This is not a sign of ingratitude. In India showing eagerness towards gifts is seen as a sign of greed, and not at all appreciated. Dress: Adult men wearing shorts are seen as ridiculous by Indians, and women wearing shorts as outrageous. The local population likes to dress formally for important events. Should you be invited to a wedding, ask about any dress code. Swimming naked or topless is prohibited. In a bikini, you will look foolish. Indian women bathe mostly in their sari. In practice, wearing a bikini results in persistent stares from Indian men. A bathing suit will make sunbathing a far more relaxed experience. Left and right: The right hand is used to eat, while the left hand is reserved for cleaning one s behind. Should you be eating a meal with Indians using your hands, remember to only use your right hand. Changing hands is considered foul by Indians. Do not touch anyone with your left hand. Appointments: We are from a hectic culture in which time equals money and appointments tend to be met punctually, or the day s schedule will be messed up. Indians do not have this problem. Not that they will always be late: it is possible that they didn t have anything else to do and that they decide to arrive an hour early. Privacy: Staring is not impolite and most Indians do not have the sense of space as we know it. They will come nearer to you than Europeans, like to join you when reading your book and they will study it meticulously as soon as you put it down. They may enter the room without knocking and they may stay around when they are done. It is up to you to indicate your boundaries. Men and women: In India, men and women treat each other differently than westerners. You will hardly ever see a man and a woman walking with their arms around each other. Physical contact in public between men and women is being limited as much as possible. To show your affection in public is likewise viewed as highly inappropriate. In stations and some cinemas, there are even separate cash tills for women and in trains there are separate compartments. However, the rules for the contacts between the sexes are rather liberal. As a man it is better not to sit next to a woman and not to talk to her. This rule applies in particular to women in their fertile age. Female tourists are free to make contact with Indian women. For western women, it is particularly important to take into account behavioural codes visà-vis Indian men. As a western woman, it is better not to look Indian men in the eye. Many men will think you are after something. Visiting holy places: Holy places must be entered barefoot, with the exception of churches. Hindu temples you must enter without head dress. In some temples, and always in the garbha griha, the holiest place of a temple, you are not welcome. To visit a mosque, wear clothes that cover you up. Sometimes you are asked to cover your head. During a service, men are separated from the women. When walking around a Buddhist stupa, walk to the left, so clockwise. It is not appreciated when tourists make pictures in front of a Buddha statue. In Jain monuments it is not permitted to take leather objects inside (shoes,

15 bags, belts etc). Sikh temples should be entered covered up and with something to cover your head. Begging: Begging is partly a socially accepted activity. Through giving alms, Hindus can improve their karma and well-to-do Muslims according to the Koran are required to give 4% of their income to the less well off. However, most inhabitants of India will loudly show that they disapprove of the same practice. Beggars are called bone-idle ; those people that want to get their daily handful of rice without working for it. Shoestring has the rule never to give money to children, if anything some fruit or something else to eat. (Preferably not sweets, there are hardly any dentists in these parts.) It is accepted to give to elderly people or invalids. The truth behind each beggar can be very different. One or two indeed have to beg for their food, but most are forced to pay for their place in a house with this activity. Besides, the number of drug and alcohol addicts is on the increase. It is wisest to give to a well-reputed charity. It is legitimate for beggars to sit near the exit door of temples and mosques and wait for baksheesh (alms). Both Hindus and Muslims have a system similar to our way of giving indulgences. Prices and haggling: Find out the real price of something. Paying too much leads to inflation and paying too little harms the seller. In practice, the price of an item will always be set higher than what you are expected to pay for it. It is better to see it as a game, which can be fun to play. In the eyes of the local population, westerners are always on holiday and earn loads of money. This can give them the feeling of being underdeveloped and poor. Try to give them a more balanced picture by describing daily life in the west. A cup of tea in a simple Indian street stall costs some 5 rupees, while we would easily pay 100 rupees at home. In general Be aware at all times that you are a guest in a country with different social customs than you are used to. Particularly during the festivals, it is important to adapt to the local standards, however strange you may find them. Religion The large majority of Indians (82%) are Hindu. The proportion of Muslims is 11.3%. There are also Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jews, Parsis, Baha is and Animists. Hinduism It would seem as if Hindus have not much in common with western religion. In a sense, that is true. There is no central hierarchy, no common confession of creed and no founding father in whom all Hindus believe. Hindus express their religious feelings in various ways. For this reason, a concept such as ahimsa, non-violence, and ideas about vegetarianism co-exist with rituals in which animals are slaughtered or self-punishment is practised. A belief in reincarnation co-exists with a belief in a heaven for ancestors, and highly formalized rituals occur as well as highly emotional ceremonies. To get a better understanding of Hinduism, you should ask individual Hindus about their ideas on the matter. You will find that almost all Indians have very distinct ideas about their own religious experiences and are usually eager to tell you about them. You will probably notice that there are many different personal views amongst them. Hindus generally recognize the fact that life has four objectives. In the first place, the aim is to live up to one s religious and social obligations vis-à-vis the family and society. These obligations are summarized in the concept of dharma. Secondly, it is important to gain sufficient material possessions, so that alms can be given to beggars and itinerant holy men and the family can be sustained. This is known as artha. The third aim in life is experiencing sexuality or kaama, which should result in male offspring. The son is necessary to perform ancestral rituals. The last and highest goal is liberalization from reincarnation, or moksha (a comparable and much more well-known concept in the West is the Buddhist Nirvana). Apart from living up to these obligations, the individual Hindu is free to think whatever he or she wants. He can choose his own spiritual master or guru. There is a lot of respect for gurus and elderly people. An equal amount of respect is also paid to the numerous living holy men. Many of these holy men wander through India and are called saddhus. Most Hindus also believe in karma. This is the law that one deed prompts another, and everything you come across in life is actually a result of previous deeds. By doing good deeds you can build up credits from which you will reap the benefits, either in this life or in a following one. Hindus spend a lot of time worshipping gods that live in the temples. These can be enormous temples, or small home shrines in a corner of the room where the family god is worshipped. In the temple, their god lives like a king. Many Hindus believe that it is possible to actually meet their god in the temple. The world of gods A visit to a Hindu temple is an introduction to an extensive pantheon of gods. Most Hindus will tell you

16 they believe in one god, even if it seems thousands exist. When you question them about this oddity, you will often be told that the manifest forms should be seen as the planes of a diamond. If a ray of light falls on the diamond, a different plane will light up every time, but it will still be the same diamond. In the following we will pay attention to a few important Hindu gods: Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Ganesha. We shall also touch upon some goddesses. In the west, the Hindu trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva is often known. Brahma is hardly worshipped, however, as he is too abstract, does not take on a definite personality and has created hardly any exciting myths. In the whole of India, there is only one temple that is dedicated to Brahma, in Pushkar (Rajasthan). Brahma is the creator of the universe and he is portrayed having four heads. Sarasvati originally was described as Brahma s daughter, but in later times was described as his wife. She is seen as the goddess of the arts and is mostly portrayed with a stringed instrument in her hands. Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. He is often portrayed as an ascetic. He is dressed in a tiger skin or an elephant skin, as a reference to two demons he has once slain. His body is greyish or white, because he rubs himself with the ashes from incinerated bodies. He wears his hair in long braided strands, the style many ascetics in India have their hair. He has three eyes the third embellishes his forehead. From this third eye he can evoke a destructive fire, to destruct the universe when creation nears its end. In his figure and the attributes he carries, Shiva unites many opposites. Hindus explain this is because he is a god encompassing the whole universe, from high to low, from clean to foul. Thus in his one ear he wears an earring customarily worn by village women from low castes, while in his other ear he has an earring with the shape of a mythical crocodile typically worn by Brahmins. In one of his hands he holds a drum, damaru, resembling an hourglass. With this drum he indicates the rhythm of creation. One of his other hands carries a blazing fire that he destroys the world with. On his head he wears flowers, including the highly toxic datura, a flower from which hallucinatory substances can be distilled. Around his neck he has venomous snakes, symbols of death. On his head he also has a moon s crescent, another symbol of death. His mount is the bull Nandi. Nandi almost always lies in front of Shiva temples. Shiva has always been the god of ascetics. Many of his followers are saddhus (holy men), wandering through India alone or in groups, their bodies rubbed with ashes, doing penance in bizarre ways. They can be recognized by the three horizontal lines they paint on their foreheads. Their attribute is the trident. Shiva s women are known by many names and figures. Parvati is Shiva s most well known partner she became the symbol of the submissive, subservient woman. She had to sit and watch how Shiva went off with beauties in and out of season, but he would always come back to her. Parvati is the peaceful form of the concept of shakti (female energy), although she can also manifest herself in different, more ferocious forms: Durga, Chamunda or Kali. Durga is often worshipped as an independent goddess who has nothing to do with Shiva. She was created especially to save the gods of a terrible disaster, with her own weapons. As Kali ( the black ) Parvati occurs in her most terrible shape. She is black, her tongue protrudes from her bloody mouth, and she is hung with chopped human heads and skulls, wandering over horrible final resting places. She is supposed to offer help where no other god still has any power. Remarkably, even the lowest castes are allowed to worship her, which makes her following very large. Uniquely, she is presented with blood sacrifices; during her festivals, numerous black male animals are sacrificed, varying from cats to buffaloes. Vishnu is a god appearing in numerous appearances. He usually has a character milder and friendlier than Shiva, although even he has ecstatic aspects. Vishnu is usually pictured with a blue body colour and four arms, in which he holds a shell, a club, a lotus flower and a discus. He often wears a crown and a yellow robe. Around his neck he has a wreath of forest flowers and various pieces of jewellery, including a jewel that fulfils wishes. Vishnu has two mounts, the snake Shesha and the bird Garuda. The snake serves him as a resting place, while the bird carries him through the universe. Vishnu guards the world and in case something threatens to go amiss, he will act. He will appear on the earth as an incarnation. The Hindus know ten classic incarnations: fish, tortoise, swine, the man-lion Narasimha, dwarf, Rama with the axe, Rama with an arch, Krishna, Buddha and finally, Kalki. The last incarnation of Vishnu, Kalki, still has to appear. He will appear as a horseman on a white horse with a sword that flares as a comet. With this sword he will destroy all demons that threaten the world. The most popular incarnations of Vishnu are Krishna and Rama with the arch, the hero of Ramayana. Krishna himself figures in many different stories and situations, and is especially popular in his appearance as a young cowherd. He has a number of affairs with the shepherdesses of the village where he lives. Later he becomes a great religious preacher and he lays down his message to humankind in the Bhagavad Gita, an important philosophical text that is a central text in the Mahabharata. A particularly popular god is Ganesha. He can be instantly recognized between the hundreds of god figures of the Indian pantheon, as he has an elephant s head. Tens of different appearances exist of him. He is considered to be the spiritual son of Shiva, who would not be the one who begot him, however. He was born from the bath oil of his mother Parvati as a handsome boy. He developed his elephant head

17 later. When Shiva came home after a long absence, Parvati was just taking a bath. She had put her son Ganesha in front of the door, on guard. Ganesha had not seen Shiva and refused to let him in. Shiva flew into a rage and beheaded the guardsman. Only when he heard he had murdered his own son, he had to quickly find the head of any other being to replace it, and this happened to be an elephant. When the elephant s head was hewn off and fell onto the ground, one of the tusks broke off. It was placed in the sky in the shape of a moon s crescent. Ganesha is a god that takes away hindrances, when worshipped. If not worshipped, however, he can create hindrances. Ganesha does everything for the people that worship him and for that reason criminals and black magicians often worship him. Ganesha is worshipped in almost all Hindu temples. He resembles a rat. Festivals Whatever time of year you visit, it is likely that some festival or other is taking place during your stay. There is often something going on in the temples every full moon. Some of the more noteworthy festivals are: February: Shivaratri is the festival in honour of Shiva. On phalgun, the night of the full moon, festivals are held in every Shiva temple. February/March: Holi is a popular festival, particularly amongst the lower castes. This festival is held to mark the coming of Spring. It is a time when all accepted norms are thrown out of the window and everything is permissible, comparable to western festivals such as Mardi Gras. During Holi, people drench each other with water and powder paint, so make sure you are wearing old clothes at the time, as tourists are a popular target and the paint doesn t come out easily! October/November: Diwali or Tihar is celebrated. This is the Festival of Light and is marked by the illumination of thousands of lights, fireworks, baking cakes and other sweets and making patterns in sand outside one s house. This is to accompany the return of the god Rama from his banishment in the jungle. The festival of the goddess Lakshimi is held at the same time. October/November: Pushkar Camel Fair. At full moon during the Hindu month Kartika Purnima and Pushkar transforms from a sleepy place into a madhouse. Tens of thousands of camels and horses and as many as a quarter of a million people descend on the area. This is the largest camel market in India, probably the world. The occasion is marked by camel races, music and dancing. It is a spectacular occasion, and people stay in large, colourful campsites where food is made readily available. Food and drinks The eating habits in India differ greatly from Europe and adjusting can prove tricky. People usually sit on the floor and eat with their right hand from a metal plate. Hands and face are washed before the meal. Eating breakfast or drinking tea or coffee before brushing your teeth is seen as dirty. Water is drunk during meals and should you order a coffee without further instructions, it will be brought to you after the meal. Talking comes before the meal; people rarely talk during it. If you are invited out to eat, chat amiably before the meal but leave after it. Women and children eat separately and only after the men have finished. Guests are often the only ones to eat, while the host concentrates on your service. This is a sign of politeness, but can make Europeans feel uncomfortable. Indians eat three warm meals per day. Many Indians are vegetarians for religious or moral reasons. Even eggs are often avoided. For a long time the Indian diet was restricted to fish. Vegetarians are well catered for. Meat was not part of the Indian diet until the Moghuls and Europeans stepped in. The amount of meat used in Indian curry is small compared to European tastes. Of the meat dishes, we recommend tandoori and tikka. Breakfast: Cornflakes, toast, jam, butter and eggs are the standard fare in hotels and restaurants. Indians eat idlis (rice cakes), dosas (pancakes), puri badji (fried bread with veg) or different types of bread with curd. Lunch and dinner: In India, warm meals are eaten in the afternoon and evening. There are regional differences, but in the large cities you can find places specialised in a wide range of foods although the variety is difficult for westerners to notice at first. Indian meals consist of rice and different breads, with curries and dal. Curry is the name given to all vegetable, fish and meat dishes which are prepared using the most complex spice combinations in the world (up to 25 per meal). Dal is the name of dishes made from lentils and is the most important protein source. Other than Indian cuisine, western and Chinese food is also available in the large cities, although some of the attempts to replicate western food have rather poor results. One reason why the food often disagrees with tourists is that they often take too much curry in relation to the bread and rice. Curries are often spicy and fatty and should be eaten in relatively small amounts, as flavouring to the rice or bread.