INDIA              January 4 - 15, 2006

NYU TISCH GROUP
MUMBAI, JAIPUR, AGRA & DELHI
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ITINERARY

JAN 4 – WED   NEW YORK CITY / MUMBAI (D in-flight)

Depart from New York City (JFK) at 7:15pm on your international flight AI112 to Mumbai, via London and Delhi (flight schedule attached on contact list).  Enjoy dinner, movie and complimentary cocktails in overnight flight.

JAN 6 – FRI   MUMBAI (B in-flight, B, D)

Upon arrival in Mumbai, at 1:40am, clear customs and immigration.  You are then met by your guide and transferred (hotel is located approximately 18 miles from airport) to the 4-star AMBASSADOR HOTEL, Located on Marine Drive, known as the Queens Necklace, and it holds the city's only Revolving Restaurant: The Pearl of the Orient.  Here, your five (5) night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast.

Welcome to Mumbai.

Your guide assists you with check-in, gives you a briefing on the hotel and its surroundings and advises you of today’s tour.

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

Early afternoon, at 1pm, after lunch on your own, you are met by your guide for your Half-day Mumbai Highlights Tour. This tour starts at the Gateway of India, Mumbai's principle landmark.  This arch of yellow basalt was erected on the waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George V's visit to this colony in 1911.  Drive past the Afghan Church, the Secretariat of Maharashtra Government and along Marine Drive. From here visit the Jain Temple and Hanging Gardens which offer a splendid view of the city. From here you continue on to visit the Banganga Temple complex at Walkeshwar, considered to be one of Mumbai's holiest sites. Local legend has it that the Hindu god Rama rested here on his way to rescue Sita (his wife) from Lanka. The Banganga Tank is supposedly the spot where Rama shot his bow or bana. Further away is the British built Raj Bhavan, the residence of the governor of Maharashtra. You also pass by Chowpatty, Kamala Nehru Park and also Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai.  Drive past Haji Ali Mosque, a shrine in honor of a Muslim Saint on an island located 500m out at sea, linked by a causeway to the mainland.

You then stop at the 'Dhobi Ghat' where Mumbai's 'dirties' are scrubbed, washed, dyed and hung out to dry.  Watch the local train passing close by on which the city commuters 'hang out like laundry' - a nice photography stop.  From here continue to the colorful Crawford Market and to the Flora fountain in the large bustling square, in the heart of the city. Before returning to the hotel, you also visit the VT Station, built in 1878, when it was called Victoria Terminus. With its new name, Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus, this is Mumbai’s largest railway station and another example of the beautiful architecture that accents the city's beauty. Return to the hotel at approximately 5:30pm.

This evening, at 7:30pm, you are met by your guide for your Welcome Dinner at Trishna Restaurant. With Mumbai’s seafront location, it’s not surprising that there are several excellent restaurants devoted to seafood here. But the king of them all is arguably Trishna, whose delectable cuisine has featured in the Wall Street Journal’s food column. The butter pepper garlic crab is its hallmark dish. Other notables are stuffed pomfret (a local fish) in green masala, pomfret hyderabadi, chilli garlic squid and prawns koliwada (opt for the smaller, tastier prawns). Vegetarians will love the Dal Hyderabadi.
 

JAN 7 – SAT   MUMBAI (B)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

Free day for additional independent touring and/or technical visits and meetings. 

Whistling Woods x Bollywood during the day – pending Whistling Woods rates.

NCPA at night. Pending performance and rates.

Group dinner or lunch to be quoted based on final confirmation of sites.

JAN 8 – SUN   MUMBAI (B)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

This morning, at 10am, you are met by your guide for the Half-day Elephanta Caves Tour. This tour starts with a boat trip across the Mumbai Harbor to the 1200 year old world famous Elephant Caves, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and located on the Elephanta Island.  Once known as Gharapuri, or the Fortress City, the Caves are now designated as a World Heritage Site for both their art historical and scenic value.  The Portuguese renamed this island Elephanta after a large stone elephant was found near the shore (the elephant sculpture collapsed in 1814, when the British relocated it to the Victoria Gardens now Mumbai's zoo, where it still stands).  Here you also find the famous Trimurti Sculpture, which means the Trinity of the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. Return to the hotel at approximately 1pm.

Evening at leisure.

JAN 9 – MON   MUMBAI (B, D)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

Free day for additional independent touring and/or technical visits and meetings. 

This evening, at 7:30pm, you are met by your guide for a typical Hindu Farewell Dinner at the Khyber Restaurant (please cancel) (rates accepted – please confirm). Located in the Kala Ghoda Art District, the Khyber Restaurant displays paintings by celebrated Indian artists such as Anjolie Ela Menon and MF Hussain. The walls may be arty, but the food is down to earth. Start with the meaty kabab platter and then move on to biryani and dal makhani, or indulge in a chicken makhanwalla and paneer korma. The food is simply delicious!

JAN 10 – TUE   MUMBAI / JAIPUR (B, D)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

Early afternoon, at 1pm, after lunch on your own, you are met by your guide for check-out and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight IC611 to Jaipur, departing at 3:45pm.

Upon arrival in Jaipur, at 5:20pm, you are met by your guide and transferred (hotel is located approximately 8 miles from airport) to the 5-star MANSINGH HOTEL, located within minutes of tourist and commercial centers.  Here, your two (2) night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast.

Welcome to Jaipur, the Pink City.

Your guide assists you with check-in, gives you a briefing on the hotel and its surroundings and advises you of the time for this evening’s dinner.

This evening, at 7:30pm, you are met by your guide for dinner at the Spice Boat Restaurant, located only 10 minutes from your hotel.

JAN 11 – WED   JAIPUR (B, L)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

This morning, at 9am, you are met by your guide for your Half-day Jaipur Highlights Tour. This tour starts with an elephant ride at the Amber Fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. A major attraction at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants is bound to enrich your memories with the Royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable experience. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En-route to Amber Fort, have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Nahargarh Fort, perched atop a pricturesque hill. This location offers a breathtaking view of the city below. Initially built by Sawai Jain Singh in 1734 A.D. It was enlarged and given its present shape by Sawai Madho Singh in1885 A.D. Decorative motifs in some of the rooms are delightful. From the windows of the nine identical suites, one gets a magnificent view of the city, complete with the geometrical layout.

After lunch at the Surbhi Restaurant, you proceed to your afternoon tour of the Maharaja's City Palace. This tour begins with a visit to the Palace, which is the former Royal residence, and part of it was converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. Return to the hotel at approximately 4pm.

Evening at leisure. 

JAN 12 – THU   JAIPUR/AGRA (B, D)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

This morning, at 8am, after breakfast and check-out, you are met by your guide for your motor-coach travel from Jaipur to Agra, altogether a journey of about 6-7 hours (143 miles). En-route visit the Fatehpur Sikri, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 in honor of the great Saint Sheik Slim Christi, who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years, becoming slowly deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.

Upon arrival in Agra, at approximately 3pm, you are transferred to the 5-star CLARKS SHIRAZ HOTEL, with its roof-top restaurant overlooking the Taj Mahal.  Here, your two (2) night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast.

Welcome to Agra, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal.

Your guide assists you with check-in, gives you a briefing on the hotel and its surroundings and advises you of the time for this evening tour.

This evening, at 5:00pm, you meet your group for your sunset tour to the Taj Mahal. Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony  to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. Return to hotel at approximately 7pm.

This evening, at 8pm, you are met by your guide for dinner at restaurant TBA.

JAN 13 – FRI   AGRA (B)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

This morning, at 9am, you are met by your guide for your Half-day Agra Fort Tour. This Fort holds the halls of private and public audiences and other palaces. Shah Jahan spent years of confinement at the hands of his son Aurangzeb, looking wistfully at the Taj Mahal from the Fort. From here you proceed to Itma-ud-Daulha, which is an exquisite tom built by Nur Jahan for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. In many ways this tomb overshadows the Taj Mahal and was the first construction in India which the marble inlay work was so beautiful and extensively used. Return to hotel at approximately 11:30am

Balance of day at leisure.

JAN 14 – SAT   AGRA / DELHI (B, D)

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am.

This morning, at 9am, after breakfast and check-out, you are met by your guide for your motor-coach travel from Agra to Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi, at approximately 3pm, you are transferred to the 4-star PARK DELHI HOTEL, located in the city centre, with easy access to government and commercial districts.  Here, your one (1) night stay includes hotel taxes and breakfast.

Welcome do Delhi.

Your guide assists you with check-in, gives you a briefing on the hotel and its surroundings and advises you of the time for tomorrow’s early pick-up time.

Balance of day at leisure.

This evening, at 7pm, you are met by your guide for a Farewell Dinner at Park Delhi Hotel.

JAN 15 – SUN   DELHI / NEW YORK CITY (B, Meal in-flight)

This morning, at 3:30am, you are met by your guide for check-out and at 4am you are transferred (airport is located approximately 13 miles from the hotel) to the airport in time for your international flight AI111 to New York City (JFK), via London, departing at 7:20am.  Enjoy meal, movie and complimentary cocktails in flight. 

Arrive in New York City at 3:55pm and clear customs and immigration.  Welcome home!