Northern India & Nepal

Flights usually depart London in the evening.
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Day 2

The group flight will arrive into Delhi in the morning and we will transfer
to our hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us
at the hotel during the day. You are free today to explore Delhi and rest
after your flight; rooms may not be available until noon but it is often
earlier than this.
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 3

After breakfast we will have a tour of the capital. In Old Delhi we visit
Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque). We then drive past the fine colonial
buildings in New Delhi. Built by the British Raj in the early years of last
century and set in spacious tree-lined boulevards, these now house various
Indian governmental departments. We then visit Humayun's Tomb, one of the
earlier Moghul Emperors. In the afternoon we drive to the 'Pink City' of
Jaipur. This drive will take approximately 5 to 7 hours, depending on local
traffic.
*Comfortable Hotel*

 

Day 4

* *A full day to explore Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and one of the
most attractive and colourful cities in India. Built in the late 18th
century, it is a planned city of broad avenues built of sandstone and painted
pink at a later stage. First we visit the City Palace. Formerly the residence
of the Maharaja it is now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts,
paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most
intriguing sites of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly
of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a
pleasant garden. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa
Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. A few miles from the main city is the splendid
Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large
courtyards and interiors with fine decorations including inlaid alabaster
panels and a Chamber of Mirrors. We can walk up the hill through the massive
gateway to the courtyard. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as
durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones,
leatherwear etc.
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 5

 We begin the day by driving to Agra via the deserted ancient city of
Fatehpur Sikri. Formally the capital of the Mughal Empire, this wonderfully
preserved 'ghost town' was constructed by Emperor Akbar between 1570 and 1585
and reflects his ideals in art, religion and architecture. This impressive
and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of
a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son,
his successor the Emperor Jehangir. The mosque, designed to hold ten thousand
worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience are all of
decorative red sandstone. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years, as in
1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving
this city much as we see it today. The site is one of the most atmospheric in
northern India and its position on a ridge overlooking the modern village
below, and its wonderful state of preservation give us with a taste of this
city's majestic past.
*Comfortable Hotel*

* *

Day 6

 A very early start to see the incredible spectacle of the sunrise over the
Taj. The Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, who died in 1631, built the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal. The Taj
is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the
white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun and
is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the
imposing Red Fort of Akbar, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the
beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and
fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here
that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb.
Agra also offers a wide variety of handicrafts including jewellery, inlaid
and carved marble, carpets and clothes and there should be time for some
shopping. In the evening we make our way to Agra Fort train station to catch
our overnight train to Varanasi.

*Sleeper  Train*

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Day 7

On arrival in Varanasi we transfer to our hotel. Please note rooms may not be
available until noon but efforts are made to make it earlier if  possible.
In the afternoon we vist the nearby Sarnath Temple.  Sarnath is as sacred to
Buddhists as Varanasi is to Hindus. The main monument at Saranath is the
Dhamekh Stupa which is the very spot where Buddha is believed to have given
his first sermon. Evening free. *
Comfortable Hotel*

Day 8

* *Varanasi, situated on the River Ganges, is one of the most holy cities in
India and stands at the centre of the Hindu universe. As such, the city lives
and breathes Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men
(Sadhus), religious leaders and casual visitors. Immerse yourself by
exploring its maze of narrow lanes, many temples and watch the Hindu
ceremonies that take place around the clock. Just before dawn, we take a boat
out on the Ganges to witness the extraordinary spectacles on the ghats; the
steps leading down to the river. Every day thousands of Hindu pilgrims come
to these three miles of riverbank to submerge themselves in the waters of the
holy Ganges. In the evening you can witness the aarti ceremony from the banks
of the river.
Comfortable Hotel

Day 9

* *We board our private bus and make an early departure for Nepal. We drive
across the northern plains, passing through a few towns and lots of Indian
villages. At the Indian border we leave our bus and walk across through
customs and immigration to Nepal (approx. 500 metres). Once in Nepal, we
enter the Terai, the narrow plain running along the southern breadth of the
country. We have a short drive (approx. 1 hour) to Lumbini, the birthplace of
the Buddha, where we spend the night. Total driving time approx. 12 hrs.
*Standard Hotel*

Day 10

Early this morning there is a short, optional rickshaw ride around the
Lumbini gardens. Buddha was born here and the area is being developed into a
place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. Travelling east
and parallel to the mountains, we reach Chitwan (approx. 4 hour drive), where
we spend two nights. The park, with its jungle and thick forest, was the
former royal hunting ground and was made a conservation area in 1973. During
your stay you can enjoy an optional ox cart ride in Tharu village or an
evening dance performance; both providing a glimpse into the fascinating
lives of the local tribe. 
*Standard hotel*

 

Day 11

Chitwan National Park and the surrounding forest covers an area of 923 square
kilometres of the terai (low land region in southern Nepal) and affords
excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Amongst the larger animals, you
have an excellent chance of seeing the Indian one horned rhino, Sambar and
Chital deer, guar, langur and Rhesus monkeys, mongoose, jackal, otter and
crocodile. The more elusive animals include tiger, leopard, leopard cat,
Sloth bear and Indian bison. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded in
this area.

Wildlife activities are managed and escorted by experienced naturalists and
shikharis and included in your stay is a jeep safari and a dug out canoe
excursion. Birdwatching outings can also be organised.

*Standard Hotel*

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Day 12

* *Today, our journey to Pokhara is only 140km but will take 4-5 hours. We
follow the gorge of the Narayani River and soon we are in the foothills of
the Himalaya. The scenery changes dramatically from the forests and farmlands
of the terai to steep terraced hills, and as we get closer to Pokhara we
begin to see the formidable Annapurna Range. Set at only 1,000m amongst
semi-tropical plants and with a delightfully warm climate, it is actually
much closer to the main Himalayan peaks than Kathmandu. Machhapuchhare, the
'Fishtail Peak', dominates the skyline especially on a clear morning. We stay
in a simple hotel near to Lake Phewa, with a wide choice of restaurants and
other facilities close by.
*Standard Hotel*

Day 13

* *We can either relax by or on the beautiful lake in Pokhara, or the more
energetic can hike into the surrounding hills for even better views of the
peaks. There are many wonderful day walks in and around the Pokhara valley,
one of the best being to drive up to the remains of a fort at Sarankot, the
hill directly overlooking the lake and then walk back to Pokhara. An early
morning start is required to guarantee the clearest view, but once there, the
whole Annapurna range can be seen with virtually no intervening hills. This
is one of the best of all viewpoints for Machhapuchhare, most people's
favourite mountain in the region. For many though, Pokhara is a place to
relax by either renting a rowboat or bicycle for a few hours and exploring
the lake and its shoreline at a leisurely pace.
*Standard Hotel*

Day 14

* *We leave early for the long drive to Kathmandu, along the Chinese-built
road running parallel to the main Himalayan range. The distance is only 200km
but it is a slow climb through the mountains and the journey will take most
of the day (7 - 8 hours). The views, however, are stunning as we follow the
Marsyangdi and Trisuli rivers, passing numerous villages and terraces
stretching thousands of feet up the hillside. We arrive in Kathmandu in the
late afternoon and check into our centrally located hotel.
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 15

We have today to explore Kathmandu and the valley. In the early morning there
is the opportunity to take a scenic flight to see Mount Everest (this can be
booked and paid for on arrival in Kathmandu; see 'Extra Expenses and Spending
Money' section below regarding costs). Today there will be a half-day
sightseeing tour visiting Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in
the valley, and Bodnath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. The
rest of the time is free for individual exploration of Kathmandu. You may
like to visit Durbar Square of Kathmandu with its old Royal Palace and
intricately carved temples, or Swayambhunath, the 'monkey temple', set on a
hill overlooking the city.

Kathmandu also offers the most wonderful and varied opportunities for
souvenir shopping: clothes, trinkets, Tibetan and Nepalese handicrafts and
superb bookshops. It also has a wide variety of restaurants serving some of
the best food from the sub-continent and you can also find wonderful pizzas
and apple pie.

*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 16

Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for the airport this
morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will
finish after check-out from the hotel.