India | A Global Perspective of Ecology and Culture

Depart United States for the overnight flight to India.

On arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport, you will be greeted by our company representative, with a placard bearing your name on it at the arrivals lounge. He will assist you with your luggage and transfer you to the hotel in your private vehicle. This is an arrival day and no activities or meals are included due to late arrival of flights.

Full day guided exploration of Delhi. Delhi, the capital city of independent India, houses more than 1,000 monuments and two old capital building complexes, including the present seat of government designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Delhi also offers a glimpse into history: the labyrinthine street bazaars of Old Delhi, and the temples and monuments of India’s checkered colonial past. From Old Delhi’s Red Fort and Jama Masjid Mosque to New Delhi’s chic art galleries and nightclubs, Delhi is a profoundly Indian city. The Old Delhi, or Sha Jahanabad, is a dense network of narrow alleys of tightly packed markets and houses. Visit from outside the largest of the Delhi’s monuments, Red Fort or Lal Qila, whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging with turrets and bastions, rise above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the original city of Sahanajanabad. Later visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, by cycle-rickshaw. Also visit Kinari Bazaar, with shops overflowing with bright wedding finery. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to New Delhi. The modern area of central New Delhi, with wide tree-lined avenues and colonial buildings, has been the seat of the central government since 1931. At this hub, the royal mall, Rajpath, runs from the palatial Rashtrapati Bhawan in the east to the India Gate war memorial in the west. Later visit Emperor Humayun’s Tomb, a World Heritage Site. Built in 1570, Humayun’s Tomb is one of the earliest examples of Mughal architecture and inspired the construction of several major landmarks including the Taj Mahal.

This morning after breakfast visit Adharshila, a non-profit organization in a slum area of South Delhi that runs youth awareness and vocational programs. Spend the morning working on a community service project. Possible work includes teaching math, English, fine art or computer classes or assisting in the healthcare center. This
afternoon transfer to the railway station to board the train with a packed dinner en route. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast visit a local high school for a cultural interaction with students. This afternoon explore the surrounding region, beginning with The City Palace. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the palace is a fine example of Rajput architecture and covers a large area, a portion of which is the current residence of the former ruling family. Another portion has been converted into a museum with various galleries showcasing royal artifacts, textiles, manuscripts, and weapons of war. Adjoining the palace museum is the royal observatory called Jantar Mantar, built by 18th century astronomer King Jai Singh. The complex houses multiple structures, each with a specialized function for astronomic calculations. Continue with a visit to the city of Jaipur. Jaipur, or the City of Victory, was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is a marvelous synthesis of architectural influences - Hindu, Jain and Mughal - and is one of the few well-planned cities of yore. The walled city is nicknamed the Pink City, as by law all buildings must be painted deep pink, a tradition that dates back to the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876 when the entire city was freshly painted in his honor. The city is surrounded by a couple of forts, the most magnificent being the Amber Fort. Its bazaars teem with people, camels, horses, and a variety of vehicles, while around them loom magnificent palaces and buildings. See women in their brilliant red and orange ohnis (head coverings) and sweeping skirts, and men in their equally vivid turbans and upturned moustaches. You can also visit a gems and jewelry workshop and learn the intricate art of jewelry making.

This morning begin the 3-4 hour drive to Ranthambore (with packed lunch) visiting the Amber Fort en route. Amber Fort is the former capital of the former ruling family of Jaipur, and is located in the rugged Aravali hills. A combination of Indo-Islamic architecture, it is made of red sandstone and white marble. Its forbidding exterior hides beautiful pieces of art and architecture in its interiors. Late afternoon or early evening nature walk and village visit to understand the surroundings of the Ranthambore National Park. Over dinner detailed briefing about the activities for the next few days, followed by talk and film on the park.

In the cool hours of the morning begin a service project in the local community. Options include garbage pickup in conjunction with the Kids for Tigers organization or working with a local, nomadic Mongia tribe to improve their youth hostel. Later this afternoon go on safari in open-top trucks (vehicles may be shared). The local naturalist will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the park and also teach you to listen and distinguish between different alarm calls of the main prey species of the park: the tiger. This evening enjoy a talk on tiger behavior around the campfire and watch film on the tigers of Ranthambore.

After breakfast visit Dastkar, a grass roots enterprise providing an alternate source of income to village communities through the promotion of local crafts. Spend the day with the workers and learn their crafts. The Ranthambore National Park spreads over 400 sq kms of dry deciduous forest in the Sawai Madhopore district of southeast Rajasthan. It is one of the finest natural tiger habitats of the world. Creating this space and freedom, however, meant that villagers, whose ancestors had for centuries lived within the environs of the park, lost their homes and had to be resettled. Though these villagers were settled in areas just outside the park, they lost their access to wood, water, and traditional farming lands. As an initiative to support these villagers, Dastkar started an income generation program for the village artisans, particularly women. In the late afternoon, trek up to the ancient Ranthambore Fort, followed by an evening talk by a researcher or worker from Tiger Watch, a conservation organization.

Spend the morning finishing up the community service project. This afternoon go game viewing with a naturalist. This evening the group will be joined by a member of a community development organization for an interactive session during dinner

Morning transfer to Railway station for Janshatabdi Express to Bharatpur (7:10 am to 9:25 am). On arrival at Bharatpur station drive to Agra with a visit to Fatehpur Sikri en route. Fatehpur Sikri is Akbar's famous ghost town, "city of victory," was the Emperor's capital for a short span of sixteen years. In the tiny, original village hamlet of Sikri, a holy hermit named Shaikh Salim Chisti prophesied that the Emperor would father three sons. When the prediction came true, Akbar was so persuaded of the Shaikh's piety and Sikri's sanctity, that he built his new capital there in commemoration of this benediction. Evening visit Agra Fort. Agra is the home of the Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A mausoleum for Empress Mumtaz Mahal, built by her beloved husband Shah Jehan, the Taj Mahal is often described as a 'dream in marble'. The city of Agra, the quintessence of the grand Mughal era, reigns to this day in the public mind as the embodiment of royal grace, imposing architecture and power. The Agra Fort, built by Emperor Akbar is considered one of the most important forts in India and a succession of Mughal emperors made this walled palatial city their home. It is semicircular in design and has four gates. The buildings inside the fort have a mix of Hindu and Islamic architectures. In fact some of the decorations feature images of living creatures such as birds, which is forbidden under Islam.

In the morning explore the Taj Mahal at sunrise (Taj Mahal cannot be visited on Fridays). "A teardrop on the cheek of time" is how the famous poet and Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal. Built from white marble, it is the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to her 14th child (Princess Gauhar Begum). Built over a period of 22 years and involving thousands of artisans from across the world, this magnificent building is considered to be the greatest monument to eternal love, a homage to her beauty and life. After lunch drive to Delhi's International Airport, which will take approximately 4-5 hours, to check in for your international flight back home. Dinner will be on your own. There are no hotel services at Delhi. Depending on the final flight schedule, a dayroom and dinner can be arranged at an additional cost.

Arrive home