Itinerary Specially Prepared
for
Winston–Salem State University
WED (01)
31 JULY`13 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi by International flight
After clearing customs and immigration formalities, proceed
towards the arrival lounge of the airport where you will be
accorded a traditional welcome and assisted by our
representative.
Later, transfer to the hotel (hotel check-in time is 1200 hrs).
Delhi - the capital of India, is a fascinating city with
complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where
the past co-exists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from
here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments.
Delhi is not only the present metropolis of India but also a Necropolis. Because of its
location, being on the banks of the river Yamuna, many cities have risen and fallen over the
last five millenniums.
Overnight in DELHI
TAJ MAHAL
THU (02)
01 AUG`13
DELHI
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning travel through the streets of New Delhi that takes you past the architecture of
British India - the imposing President’s House, the North and South Blocks, the
government offices and Parliament
House.
Visit Old Delhi, pausing at Mahatma
Gandhi’s funerary memorial at Rajghat
before continuing to the atmospheric
medieval settlement still referred to as
Shahjahanabad. Upon arrival board cycle
rickshaws which will drive you through
the narrow lanes of the Old City of Delhi,
where time has virtually stood still for
hundreds of years. This ride will be most
fascinating as you get a first-hand view of
the merchants, the little food and artifact stalls and the teeming population, busy in their daily
activities. The cycle Rickshaw ride will pass by the Red Fort - Shah Jehan’s elegant citadel in
red sandstone. Very near the Fort is the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), India’s largest
mosque, also built by Shah Jehan.
THU (02)
01 AUG`13
DELHI (Continues….)
Later proceed to Jamia Milia Islamia University for a pre organized business meeting from
1430 - 1730hrs
Evening: Welcome Dinner at a Veda Restaurant.
Overnight in DELHI
FRI (03)
TAJ MAHAL
02 AUG`13 DELHI
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed to Bandhwari Village, located 15 kms from Gurgaon, where Incentive
Foundation and IDF are working on the project.
Afternoon, proceed for a city tour of New Delhi. Arrive at the Qutab Minar (Qutab’s
Tower). This monument is a key record of the first encounter between Islam and Hinduism
in North India. You take time to understand this monument, to decipher the rich clues
etched in stone concerning Hindu and Muslim faith, architecture, and art. Our tour guide
will explain the far-reaching impact of India’s encounter with Islam, from the early beginnings
to modern political dynamics.
From Qutab Minar drive to Humayun’s Tomb. This architectural gift to history from
Emperor Humayun’s widow prefigures the Taj Mahal and shows Moghul refinement at its
zenith. The Tomb reveals a synthesis between medieval Hinduism and Islam, in court and
spiritual life.
Overnight in DELHI
TAJ MAHAL
SAT (04)
03 AUG`13 DELHI
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed to Lady Sri Ram College for a pre organized business meeting
Rest of the day at leisure for shopping
Overnight in DELHI
TAJ MAHAL
SUN (05)
04 AUG`13 DELHI/ AGRA/ BHARATPUR
Early morning drive to Agra through newly opened Yamuna Expressway (approx 4hrs
drive)
Packed breakfast will be organized
Meeting on arrival and proceed for a city tour of Agra
Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal.
The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid
reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra was their capital for nearly
a hundred years from 1564. A pleasant town, with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is
known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone, by artisans who are hereditary
craft persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather
shoes.
Arrive at the Taj Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble and see its glory. Built over
a period of 22 years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630, for his Queen Mumtaz
Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, it is
one of the seven modern wonders of the
World. Stay at the monument till the
Sunset.
Lunch at a city restaurant
After lunch visit to the Agra Fort, built by
three Mughal Emperors starting from
Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is a
masterpiece of design and construction.
Within the fort are a number of exquisite buildings including the Moti Masjid, Jahangir’s
Palace, Khas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman
Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a prisoner.
Later drive to Bharatpur en route visiting the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is the exquisite city built by Akbar the Great in 1569, in red sandstone, with
its forts, palaces and mosques, and abandoned 14 years after its creation due to political
reasons.
Arrive Bharatpur in the evening. Upon arrival check in to hotel Laxmi Vilas Palace. This
Palace was built in 1857 by Raja Raghunath Singh, the then ruler of Bharatpur and now
converted into a hotel and open to public.
Overnight in BHARATPUR
LAXMI VILAS PALACE
MON (06)
05 AUG`13 BHARATPUR/ NAWALGARH
Early Breakfast at the hotel
Later drive to Nawalgarh (295kms/ approx 6hrs drive). Upon arrival check in to the
hotel
Founded in the 18th Century by Nawal Singh, Nawalgarh has some of the finest frescoes
in the Shekhawati region. A huge fort with a colourful bazaar and numerous havelis with
elaborate architecture make it an interesting destination. There are a few prominent havelis
like Anandilal Poddar Haveli, Aath Haveli, Hodh Raj Patodia Haveli, etc., which are
to be visited, as also the two forts.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the finest Shekhawati frescoes at Nawalgarh
Overnight at NAWALGARH
ROOP VILAS PALACE
TUE (07)
06 AUG`13 NAWALGARH/ SIKAR/ NAWALGARH
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning drive to Modi Institute of Technology & Science, Sikar for a full day business
meeting (Arranged by Winston Salem State University)
Later return to the hotel
Overnight at NAWALGARH
WED (08)
ROOP VILAS PALACE
07 AUG`13 NAWALGARH/ JAIPUR/ BANGALORE
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning, transfer to the Jaipur airport (155kms/ approx 3hrs drive) to board the flight
to Bangalore via Delhi
Depart
Arrive
Jaipur
Delhi
1330 hrs
1510 hrs
AI 612
Connect….
Depart
Arrive
Delhi
Bangalore
1630 hrs
1805 hrs
AI 607
Contd….
….contd
WED (08)
07 AUG`13 NAWALGARH/ JAIPUR/ BANGALORE
Meeting on arrival at airport and transfer to hotel
Bangalore, also known as the `Garden City’ and the `Silicon Valley of India’, is the capital of
the modern state of Karnataka. The city was founded by Kempa Gauda, a local chieftain, in
the 16th century. It became an important fortress city two centuries later, under the rulers of
Karnataka - Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan.
Overnight in BANGALORE
CHANCERY PAVILLION
THU (09)
08 AUG`13 BANGALORE
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning half day vehicle at disposal for pre organized business visit to Wipro (Arranged by
Winston Salem State University) (4 hrs/ 25 miles within city limits)
Afternoon proceed for a city sightseeing of Bangalore visiting Summer Palace of Tipu
Sultan. The Summer Palace was the summer residence of Tipu Sultan till his death in the
year 1799 during the Fourth AngloMysore War. Its construction was started
by Hyder Ali within the walls of the
Bangalore Fort and completed during the
reign of Tipu Sultan in the year 1791. This
magnificent structure has been built
entirely with French Rose wood and
stands adorned with pillars, arches and
balconies. Later the Bull Temple, built in
the Dravidian style over a monolithic bull,
presumably by the founder of the city
Kempa Gowda. See the botanical gardens
of Lal Bagh laid out by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, in the 18th century, covering 240
acres with a wide variety of exotic trees and plants. It has a glass house, built on the lines of
the Crystal Palace of London, which is the venue for fruit, flower and vegetable shows
twice a year. Also see (from outside) the magnificent post-Independence government
building - the Vidhan Soudha, which is a landmark in modern construction. Built in 1954
in granite, in the Neo-Dravidian style of architecture, it houses both the Legislatures and
the Secretariat.
Overnight in BANGALORE
CHANCERY PAVILLION
FRI (10)
09 AUG`13 BANGALORE/ CHENNAI
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Chennai
Depart
Arrive
Bangalore
Chennai
1025 hrs
1125 hrs
9W 2308
Meeting on arrival at airport and transfer to hotel
Chennai is the fourth largest city in India and the capital of Tamil Nadu. Retaining much
of its traditional charm, this 350 year-old city is the gateway to the South, providing many
fascinating vignette of southern heritage.
In Chennai city the Kapaleeswarar temple, an ancient Shiva temple, is the biggest temple
in Chennai. A masterpiece of Dravidian style, it displays the architectural elements –
gopurams, mandapams and a tank. There are also some fragmentary inscriptions dating back to
1250 AD. The Cathedral of San Thome – the last resting place of St. Thomas, the
Apostle who brought Christianity to India in 52 AD. Thereafter, drive along the beach road
to see the old colonial buildings, and then drive past the High Court.
Late morning half day vehicle at disposal for pre organized business visits (4 hrs/ 25 miles
within city limits)
Later proceed for sightseeing. You will be driven
to The Cathedral of San Thome - the last
resting place of St. Thomas, the Apostle who
brought Christianity to India in 52 AD and Fort
George - where most of Chennai’s history was
written, are focal points. The St Mary’s Church
in the Fort was built between 1678 - 80 and
Robert Clive was married in this church in 1753.
Today the Fort houses the Secretariat and the
Legislative Assembly. Also visit the Kapaleeswarar Temple, a very fine example of
Dravidian style and architecture.
Overnight in CHENNAI
VIVANTA BY TAJ CONNEMARA
SAT (11)
10 AUG`13
CHENNAI/ KANCHIPURAM/ MAMALLAPURAM
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning drive along the Chennai/Bangalore highway to Kanchipuram, one of the Seven
Sacred Cities (70 kms/1½ hrs)
Kanchipuram, literally meaning the `City of
Gold’ or the `Golden City’ is one of the seven
sacred cities in India. An erstwhile capital of
the Pallavas and Cholas, Kanchipuram is
dotted with the soaring spires of a thousand
temples. It has been a seat of learning and a
centre of culture since early times. By
universal acknowledgement this town
produces the finest silk wedding saris
‘Kanchipuram Silk’ in India. Their designers
and weavers have been doing this for centuries – to justifiable acclaim. Visit the village of
Pallia Pullam and the homes of weavers who create this glory. Their forefathers are
remembered at the museum of folk art, a four hundred year old house with a wonderful
collection of old saris.
A Kanjeevaram saree is a must have in every Indian woman’s closet. These sarees are
characterized by gold dipped silver thread that is woven on the premium quality silk. These
sarees are also known for their durability. The silk base is thicker than any other silk saree
and this thickness makes it one of the most expensive silk sarees in India. It is believed that
“The heavier is the silk, the better is the quality”. The most common motifs found in
Kanjeevaram sarees are Peacock and parrot.
Continue drive to Mamallapuram. On arrival check in to the hotel
Mamallapuram is a historical retreat set amidst natural beauty. Lying 58 kms South of
Chennai, this ancient seaport of the Pallava dynasty invites connoisseurs of art. Its
monuments hewn out of slid rock, though ravaged by the sea and wind, still bear testimony
to the magnificent heritage of Dravidian architecture. The sculpture here is particularly
interesting because it shows scenes of everyday life women milking buffaloes, pompous city
dignitaries and artful looking young girls.
Overnight at MAMALLAPURAM
RADISSON BLU TEMPLE BAY
SUN (12)
11 AUG`13
MAMALLAPURAM/ CHENNAI
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning, visit the great Bas-relief of Arjuna's penance. This panel (27m by 9m) depicts
the mythical story of the River Ganges
issuing from its source high in the
Himalayas and also shows animals, deities
and other semi divine creatures, fables
from the Panchatantra and Arjuna doing a
penance to obtain a boon from Shiva. The
five Rathas, are full-sized models of
different kinds of temples and are named
after the heroes of the Mahabharata epic.
The Mahishasura Mardhini, Krishna and the Varaha Mandapas are shallow rock-cut
halls. They are mainly of interest for their internal figure sculptures.
Also visit the glorious Shore Temple, one of the oldest in South India, stands on the
seashore with its paved forecourts. It represents the final phase of Pallava art built in the
late 7th century. The weathered perimeter walls support long lines of bulls and mythical
deities guard the entrances. Also enjoy the beauty of the sun set in the Bay of Bengal from
the temple.
Afternoon drive to Chennai en route visiting Dakshinchitra
Dakshinchitra is located 20 kms before you come to
Chennai. Dakshinchitra is a unique Heritage Village situated
at Muttukadu on the new Mamallapuram Coastal Road. It
offers the visitor an unforgettable and authentic insight into
the lifestyles of the diverse people of South India. The Arts
and Crafts Village, Dakshinachitra narrates the story of South
Indian Culture. Architecture of the past 200 years is
represented in a real rural setting. Every house is typical of its
own professional group. Traders, potters, weavers and others
working in the traditional way make exquisite pottery, baskets,
and carved stone items, some of which are for sale. The center is now been developed to
include cultural tableaux from all the four states of South India.
Continue drive to Chennai.
Upon arrival proceed for Farewell Dinner at The Raintree Restaurant in Vivanta By
Taj Connemara.
You can use the lobby facility for wash and change
Enjoy your dinner while Classical Music and Dance performance entertain you
Later transfer to the international airport for flight back home in the very early morning of
12 Aug`13
:: TOUR ENDS::