Detailed description. Rajasthan. Welcome. Day to Day schedule. Ask shoestring howdah we do it! Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SIA

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1 Rajasthan Ask shoestring howdah we do it! Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SIA Detailed description Welcome India's most colourful and exotic state, Rajasthan is filled with fairy-tale palaces, massive forts and astonishing temples. Cross deserts and cool lakes, visit lavish valleys and rough mountains and immerse yourself in lively cities with colourful markets and traditionally dressed locals. Gaze up at the iconic symbol of love, the Taj Mahal and drift gently down the sacred River Ganges in the spiritual heart of India. 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 - Nawalgarh Nawalgarh 4 Nawalgarh Nawalgarh 5 Bus Nawalgarh - Bikaner Bikaner 6 Bus Bikaner - Jaisalmer Jaisalmer 7 Jaisalmer Jaisalmer 8 Bus Jaisalmer - Jodhpur Jodhpur 9 Jodhpur Jodhpur 10 Bus Jodhpur - Kumbhalgarh Kumbhalgarh 11 Bus Kumbhalgarh - Ranakhpur - Udaipur Udaipur 12 Udaipur Udaipur 13 Bus Udaipur - Pushkar Pushkar 14 Bus Pushkar - Jaipur Jaipur 15 Jaipur Jaipur

2 16 Bus Jaipur - Keoladeo NP - Fatehpur Sikri Agra Agra 17 Train Agra - Varanasi Night train to Varanasi 18 Varanasi Varanasi 19 Varanasi Varanasi Varanasi - Delhi Night train to Delhi 21 Delhi Delhi 22 Delhi End of tour 20 Train Day to Day description Day 1: Delhi Welcome to India! Your tour starts in New Delhi. Your travel companions will also arrive this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. 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. Settle in to your new surroundings and take it easy as you begin to adapt to a destination full of new sights, sounds, smells and traditions! Day 2: Delhi A free day to explore this chaotic city! 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 - Nawalgarh Today we travel to Nawalgarh in Shekhawati, a region in the west of Rajasthan, famous for its colourful population and beautiful houses. Shekhawati was an independent state from 1471 until 1738, when it was added to the Jaipur kingdom. It is situated on the old caravan route between the Gujarat ports and Delhi and there is a busy trade of opium, cotton and herbs. The rich merchants built beautiful houses, called havelis, and reservoirs, temples and caravan-serais (hotels for merchants). Day 4: Nawalgarh Free day. You can explore the villages and towns of the Shekhawati region on your own, or join a tour organised by your tour leader. Shekhawati is no longer on the trade route and many of the original owners of the havelis have moved to Delhi or Mumbai. Many havelis have a 'guard' that inhabits the property to collect what little money tourists bring and he (and his family) occupy one of the rooms of such a property. Most of the havelis are covered with frescoes dated from 1760 to Some are dilapidated, others are still in good condition and have been beautifully restored but all without exception are worth looking at.

3 Day 5: Nawalgarh - Bikaner 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. 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. Day 6: Bikaner - Jaisalmer Today we travel through the desert to Jaisalmer, reputed to be India s most beautiful walled city. Culture lovers will adore the fortifications, exquisitely crafted merchant houses called µhavelis temples and medieval street-life. You may choose to take a 4x4 trip into the desert, where antelopes live amongst the sand dunes. Day 7: Jaisalmer Free day in Jaisalmer. Make sure to take a look at the havelis of the walled city. One of the most attractive havelis is the Patwan haveli, with its gorgeous façade and wall painting and the Salim Singh and Nathmal haveli. All three are within walking distance from the city wall. Visit the old fort with its 99 towers, the exquisite Jain temples and the fort-palace. On the south east side of the city is the Gadi Sagar, the lake which provides the city with water. Around four miles north of the city are the cenotaphs, monuments built to honour the cremation of the maharajas. Day 8: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur Today we arrive in the walled city of Jodhpur, known as the µgateway to the Thar Desert and 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. The blue colouring relates to Brahmin because they are traditionally inhabited only by members of that caste. The common view is that the blue wash was originally applied to help protect the houses against insects! Day 9: Jodhpur The day is yours to discover Jodhpur.The 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. If you are in the market for a souvenir then Jodhpur is a particularly good place to buy antiques. Day 10: Jodhpur - Kumbhalgarh You continue your journey today to Kumbalgarh. Here you can visit the 15th century Kumbalgarh Fort, built by Mahharana Kumbha. The strategic location at an altitude of 1100 meters in the Aravalli Mountains meant that it was taken only once in its entirety. The fortifications are 36 kilometers long and the site includes palaces, gardens and water features, as many as 360 temples and 700 bunkers with cannons. Thanks to its high location, Kumbalgarh Fort has a great view of the surrounding area.

4 Day 11: Kumbhalgarh - Ranakhpur - Udaipur You can join an optional walk from Kumbalgarh to Ranakpur with picnic lunch, which will take about five hours (only possible October - June). Along the way you will enjoy the Indian countryside and the friendly peasant population. If you do not want to walk you can go with the bus. 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 each other. From here we drive another three hours to Udaipur. Day 12: Udaipur Today is a free day in Udaipur. 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. 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 in the city, such as Eklingji, famous for its temple built in honour of Shiva, and the Jain temples in Nagda. Day 13: Udaipur - Pushkar Today you will travel to Pushkar, a picturesque white town that is the destination of so many pilgrimages. 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. The Brahma temple is the most important temple in Pushkar. Just outside Pushkar there is another temple, built on top of a hill, from which there is a spectacular view over the town and the lake. TIP: Due to its sacred reputation, no meat or alcohol may be consumed here. There are also more stringent dress codes, and officially, no motorised vehicles may enter. Day 14: Pushkar - Jaipur Early in the morning we leave for the capital of Rajasthan, the µpink city of Jaipur, arriving in the afternoon. To the North, the city is surrounded by hills that are dotted with forts and palaces. The streets are filled with Rajasthani men, in their huge turbans and equally large moustaches, and women, decked in jewellery over the most colourful saris in India. Day 15: Jaipur Spend a second day fully exploring magical 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 some 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 and the views are incredible. 'Bollywood' is the dance style known by the Indian films produced in Mumbai (Bollywood). It is actually a mix of all kinds of styles, such as belly dancing, kathak, Indian folk dance, modern dance, jazz and even western. Sounds like fun? then you can participate in a 'Bollywood Dance class'.

5 Day 16: Jaipur - Keoladeo NP - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra Today we leave to visit Fetehpur Sikri, an abandoned imperial city not far from Agra. But before that you may want to join an optional rickshaw trip through Keoladeo National Park (only during the months of November February), the largest bird reserve in India and the old hunting terrain of the Maharaja of Bharatpur. It is home to more than 400 species of bird, such as the fish-eagle, different species of crane, heron and duck. Besides birds, you can also see nilgau antelopes, pythons, wild boar, hyenas and jackals. In Fatehpur Sikri Emperor Akbar built his capital city, however, the glory was short-lived and soon after Akbar s death the city was completely deserted. Happily, the remains of the city still give a good indication of what life was like under his rule. The ancient city consists of a number of very wellmaintained palaces, the most notable being the stunning Jama Masjid, and the Buland Darwaza. In the afternoon or at the end of the day (During November - February) you will arrive in Agra. Day 17: Agra - Varanasi You are free to explore Agra, the city made famous by the Taj Mahal. The gigantic Red Fort, home to the emperors of old, and the bazaars in this vibrant city will not leave you unmoved. TIP: In the evening we board the night train travelling through the heart of the country to Varanasi the most sacred city in India. During the train ride, we will stay in reserved third-class sleeper carriages with air conditioning where you will normally be provided with a blanket, a pillow, two sheets and a hand towel. The train ride in India is an experience in itself. Day 18: Varanasi A chaotically busy city, with buffalo and sacred cows that roaming the strets. However, outside the city centre, through the back alleys and narrow streets, you experience the true soul of the place. Mother Ganges, the holy river, in which thousands of people wash away their sins each day, ashes of the dead are scattered and leaves bearing candles are placed as an offering to the river. The steps (ghats) along the banks of the river are seven miles long on the left bank and are one of the most spectacular sights in the country. Day 19: Varanasi Free day to explore Varanasi. We thoroughly recommend a boat trip at dawn along the Ganges, where you can also visit the Golden Temple and Kashi Vishnanath, the Grand Mosque. You may also opt to visit Sarnath, a nearby sacred site for Buddhists where the Chinese, Japanese and Thai temples are particularly worth a visit. Please note that during monsoon season in India (especially in August) the water level of the Ganges is high and thus the flow is dangerous. For this reason, it is prohibited under Indian law to sail on the Ganges. This information is subject to change. Day 20: Varanasi - Delhi At the end of day 20 we take the night train back to Delhi. Again you will sleep in reserved air-conditioned berths. The journey takes about 12 hours (of course, the time is subject to change).

6 Day 21: Delhi You will arrive into Delhi this morning for what will be the last day of your tour. The group will normally depart later this evening. Your tour leader will say his farewells today but your room is booked until day 22. Enjoy your final day in this bustling city by browsing the markets, looking for souvenirs or perhaps by relaxing at the hotel before the conclusion of your trip. Day 22: Delhi 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. FESTIVAL TOURS 2018: On the trip departing on January 10, 2018 visit the Camel Festival in Bikaner.* On the trip departing on January 22, 2018 visit the Desert Festival in Jaisalmer. On the trip departing on February 16, 2018 visit the Holi Festival in Jaipur.** On the trip departing on July 31, 2018 visit the Teej Festival in Jaipur. On the trip departing on November 5, 2018 visit the Pushkar Fair in Pushkar*** Note: The travel routes during festival tours may be adapted. Please check the 'News' section for information. For more information about the festivals themselves please look under 'More info' and 'Festivals'. *On the trip departing on 10 January 2018 you stay one day less in Jodhpur and one day extra in Bikaner so you can celebrate the Camel festival on 14 January in Bikaner. **On the trip departing 16 February 2018 you stay one day less in Shekhawati and one day extra in Jaipur so that you can fully enjoy the colourful Holi Festival. ***On the trips departing 18 October 2017 and 5 November 2018, you stay one day less in Shekhawati and one day extra in Pushkar so that you can better enjoy the Pushkar Fair. More info What's included:

7 Accommodation in hotels; transportation in (mini)buses only for transfers from hotel to hotel; train journeys; visit Ranakhpur, Keoladeo N.P (November - February only) and Fatehpur Sikri; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded: International flights; all meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all entrance fees; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance. Attention Single room is not available in the night train. 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

8 Transport During this trip through Rajasthan, we have access to a private bus, so we can stop at beautiful spots en-route. The bus has air-conditioning. Aside from the airport transfers, all other transfers are included. Additionally you travel twice by public train, namely the night train from Agra to Varanasi (Kota Patna Express) and from Varanasi to Delhi (Shivganga Express). During these train rides, you have a bed in a third-class car with air conditioning. This usually involves a six-person coupé with three berths on each side (3A class; 3 refers to the number of beds above each other and not to the class). Sometimes you may have to share the coupé with four people, with two berths above each other (2A class). The coupés are usually open along the corridor side. Bed linen is provided but occasionally there is not enough. A sleeping bag liner and in the winter months, a sleeping bag - can then be a solution. Travelling by train in India is generally considered a relaxing and at the same time, impressive experience. Travel distances Delhi to Surajgarh / Nawalgarh: 272 km / 6 hours Surajgarh / Nawalgarh to Bikaner: 260 km / 6 hours Bikaner to Jaisalmer: 340 km / 8 hours Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: 295 km / 5 hours Jodhpur to Kumbalgarh: 185 km / 4 to 5 hours Kumbalgarh to Udaipur: 150 km / 5 hours Udaipur to Pushkar: 285 km / 8 hours Pushkar to Jaipur: 150 km / 2 to 3 hours Jaipur to Agra: 250 km / 8 hours Agra to Varanasi: 600 km / 12 hours (night train) Varanasi to Delhi: 800 km / 12 hours (night train) NB: Just as with us, Indian trains and flights are not always on time. You also travel in an area where the infrastructure is far from optimal. Delays are certainly possible and the stated travel durations are only approximate. Some flexibility is greatly appreciated. Accommodation During the tour we stay in comfortable mid-range hotels in rooms for 2-persons including private bathroom. Typically there is no air conditioning in the rooms but there is a fan or a cooling system. Hotels that do have air conditioning in the rooms sometimes ask an extra fee for using it. Most hotels have their own restaurant and usually a garden or terrace too. Many of the planned hotels have a swimming pool which you'll find most refreshing! This applies to accommodations in Shekhawati (Nawalgarh), Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Agra and Varanasi. In exceptional cases it is possible that other hotels without pools are used. If this happens then we will try to find an alternative bathing place! If you participate in a festival 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 of course be paired with someone of the same sex. If you prefer a room for the whole trip for yourself, it could be arranged. You will pay a single room supplement (please add at time of booking). During the time spent in the night trains a single room is not possible.

9 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 Excursion Details Price 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

10 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. 16 Bikaner - Karni Mata (Rat Temple) Book at location Delhi - City Tour Book at location 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 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 During the city tour of Delhi you 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 5 14

11 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 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

12 Jaisalmer - Safari on camelback (Sam Sunset Point) Book at location Sam Sand Dunes is located at 42 km from Jaisalmer and is one of the most popular places to see the lifeless desert vegetation. The best time of day to be here is at sunset. You make a ride on camelback to a panoramic point between the sand dunes. 8 Excursion schedule: 4:30 p.m. Departure from the hotel to Sam Basecamp 5:30 p.m. on camelback ride at Sam Sand Dunes (1 hour) 7:30 p.m. Back to Jaisalmer Included: transportation to Base Camp Sam and camel ride Not included: gratuities 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

13 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 Nawalgarh - Bicycle Tour Book at location During a tour through Nawalgarh visit farms and villages in the area. In this region, they are proud owners of Marwari horses and you can visit the stables. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): From 8:30 to 10:30 hours. Included: bicycle rental and an English speaking guide Not included: entrance fees and tips 11 Udaipur - Indian Cooking Demonstration and Dinner Book at location 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 17

14 Varanasi - Boat trip on the Ganges at sunrise Book at location At sunrise you make a trip on the Ganges, the sacred river for Hindus. During the cruise and the subsequent walk through the narrow streets you will visit various ghats (stairs to the river) where pilgrims bathe and are cremated. You also visit the Golden Temple and Kashi Vishnanath the Grand Mosque. 23 Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 5:00 Departure from hotel to the ghat Dasaswamedh 5:15 Boat trip on the Ganges River 6:15 Walk through the old town of Varanasi to the Golden Temple and the Grand Mosque 8:00 Return to hotel Included: transport, English speaking guide and a one hour boat trip Not included: entrance fees, camera fees, tips Varanasi - Ganga Aarti Book at location Dasaswamedha Ghat, Varanasi s holiest spot, is named after the ten simultaneous horse sacrifices performed by Brahma the creator. Rows of priests sit under bamboo parasols, ready to perform ritual prayers for the pilgrims that swarm here. Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 5:00 p.m. Cycle Rickshaw Ride from Hotel to Dasaswamedha Ghat 5:45 p.m. Arrive Dasaswamedha Ghat and proceed for boat ride 6:30 p.m. Back to Ghat by Boat to witness Evening Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedha Ghat 7:30 p.m. Back to Hotel by Cycle Rickshaw Included: Cycle Rickshaw / Boat Ride / English Speaking Local Guide Not included: Monument Fee / Camera Charges / Tips to Rickshaw Driver & Local Guide 17 Varanasi - Sarnath Book at location Sarnath is where Buddha's message to the middle Nirvana is preached. Today it is a center for Buddhism. You can find the remains of several temples. 19 Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 14:00 Check-out direction of hotel Sarnath 2:30 p.m. Visit to the museum, the ruins of stupas and the Buddhist temple 4.30 p.m. Return to hotel Included: transport, English speaking guide Not included: Entrance fees, Camera fees and tip

15 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. DESERT FESTIVAL - JAISALMER Jaisalmer rises like a golden mirage from the heart of the Thar Desert. An impressive fort with all its splendour, carved out of yellow sandstone, dominating the amber city. The bhati Rajputs of Jaisalmer were feudal rulers and lived off the taxes levied on the caravans. The caravans were loaded with precious silks and spices and brought the city great wealth. For years Jaisalmer remained untouched by outside influences. Then the trade started to focus more on shipping around the port of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), this meant the decline of Jaisalmer. But the desert fortress still has the momentum inherent in the tales of "Thousand and One Nights'. The best time to visit the city is during the Desert Festival, normally held in January/February, when the city teems with the sounds of melodious tunes and pounding rhythms. There is a parade of camels, a very colourful parade with dancers, music and lots of people in their most colourful saris and turbans on their feet for all to view. A beauty contest attracts the most attention from local men. Traditional dances, exciting competitions (especially a game of tying turbans), tug of war, a cricket match and racing camels are among the festivities. 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 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

16 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: The itineraries can be adjusted during these festival trips. News COUNTRY INFORMATION INDIA 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

17 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, 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

18 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 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

19 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 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.