India - Tigers, Palaces and the Taj Mahal
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India, a unique country and civilization, is a mind-boggling potpourri of sights, sounds, colours and experiences as well as a culture-shock of astonishing contrasts. Immerse yourself in this tour but prepare to challenge any preconceptions towards one of the world’s ‘must-see’ destinations. The jewel of our tour is surely the Taj Mahal, at sunrise, when its colours and ethereal beauty are at their most amazing. Built to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, Emperor Jahan’s wife, it took 20,000 men 22 years to finish it. The end result transcends the extraordinary world monument it is. The tomb represents the ultimate expression of a pure and enduring love, a tangible expression of the unquantifiable. But there’s more. We’ll see the real India, a sub-continent that covers the full gambit of evolution, from the natural world, including the nation’s unofficial symbol, the tiger, in Ranthambore, through the Rajasthan forts and palaces of the Mogul empire, to the more recent Raj, and British colonial influence. We’ll stay for three nights in Rajasthan, regarded as India’s most colourful state, a region fringed by deserts, populated by a fiercely proud, warrior race and a plethora of forts and palaces. No area in all of India more clearly illustrates the paradox of ancient and modern which exist side by side. We stay in the capital city of Jaipur, known as the pink city due to the colour of its walls and so many of its buildings, and we visit the Maharajah’s City Palace as well as the great Amber Fort, one of the masterpieces of Rajput architecture, guarding the northern approaches to the city. We delve, ever deeper, into the culture and history of Rajasthan with our stay at the Alsisar Mahal, a restored fort, converted into one of the region’s best heritage hotels. In the same family for over nine generations, the present Thakur, king, of Alsisar has created a genuine hidden gem, with a mix of old world and new. A setting where Belgian crystal chandeliers hang above exquisite marble floors, quarried from the very quarries that supplied the builders of the Taj Mahal. And if On selected departures our tour continues on to the hill-station of Shimla, the summer capital of India during the Raj. At over 7,300ft, the cooler climate made this the ideal location to escape from the searing summer temperatures on the plains below. Dominated by the baronial splendour of the Viceregal Lodge, Shimla was, in those days, a microcosm of the colonialist’s homeland, with its Mall, surrounded by vast forests of teak and pine and located across a long ridge with steep mountainous terrain on all sides. Though Shimla was not the easiest place to get to, Victorian engineers managed to build one of the marvels of Indian Railways, the 96-mile narrow-gauge line to Shimla, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our journey ‘clickety-clicks’ along those very tracks laid by those intrepid imperial engineers more than a century ago. But India is not all history and architecture – genuine Indian cuisine is far more varied and interesting that that we are used to at home. From a simple hot chapatti fresh from the oven, to the delicate spices of a Kheer, sweet rice pudding, a trip to India will change your view of Indian cookery – and don’t worry, many of the curries are quite mild! However, for the brave at heart, there’s the gasket-blowing prospect of Phaal curry, but have a large, cold one standing by. Whichever culinary delight you choose the one guarantee is that the Indian people are supremely hospitable and will go out of their way to ensure their visitors enjoy their stay. From the flawless grandeur of the Taj Mahal, to the mighty fortresses of Rajasthan and from the reminders of past glories of the Raj in Delhi to the teeming markets of Jaipur, our India tour encompasses the very best of northern India, ensuring a lifetime of truly amazing memories. Fully escorted tour includes:
Please click here to view prices for specific departures. Prices based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement (date dependant) of £299 to £709 per person. Optional insurance available at a supplement. Follow this link to view a sample India itinerary. Further information & booking: Please click here to request your India tour brochure & booking form, or alternatively please call 01283 523423. Visas: All British passport holders require a visa for India. Please ensure that you have at least two empty pages in your passport and that your passport is valid for a minimum of 190 days from the time of submitting your visa application. At the time of departure you will be able to travel as long as both the passport and the visa are valid. Single entry tourist visas cost £30 per person, plus a £9.05 service charge, and can be applied for in person or by post via the India Visa Application Centres in either London, Birmingham or Edinburgh, depending on your home address. Please note for postal applications only postal orders are accepted for the visa fee and handling charge. Personal cheques are NOT accepted. All postal applications need to be sent to : Indian Visa Centre, 1-3 Canalside, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN and include a self addressed stamped envelope. Full details of costs, an application form and addresses can be found on /http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk, email: info.in@vfshelpline.com or tel: 0905 7570045 (premium rate line). Visa fees are subject to change without notice and non-refundable. We have listed below some frequently asked questions concerning the completing of the application form. Two UK referees are required. Friends and family are acceptable, though they may not live at the same address as each other or the applicant. Two Indian referees are required: Travel Corporation (India) Ltd There are no restricted areas visited on our tour, enter NA in the applicable field. Whilst the travelling schedule shall pose no problems for people of any age in normal physical health, we would point out that in visiting a number of historical sites, paths may be uneven and uphill and we often enjoy walking tours of the main sights. Therefore this holiday may not be suitable for clients of greatly impaired mobility. In the tropics temperatures and humidity levels will also be quite high for most of the year. Please consult your GP regarding the appropriate inoculations required for India at least a month before departure.To make the most of your trip, we recommend you check the Foreign Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel This holiday is operated by, and your resulting contract will be with: Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffs, DE14 1SP, fax: 01283 742301, ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430 protected, a company wholly independent of The Mirror Group Limited.  Email this offer to a friend. |
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Offer details correct at time of loading 27/08/2010
