INDIA & HIMALAYASINDIA 84 " The mix of heritage hotels and large cities was perfect. I had a wonderful Indian experience and I cannot wait until I go to Nepal and Egypt with you - I have already booked!" Kristin Jenn india & himalayas Amongst the Maharajahs Imaginative Facts Tour code: HTAM • Activities: Walking and camel ride • Accommodation: 15 nights heritage hotels, 3 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night deluxe tented camp, 1 night luxury ' mud huts' • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, trains • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Varanasi Extension' DAY1: DELHI- Arrive and transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour of Delhi. DAYS2 & 3: PACHEWAR- Early morning express train to Jaipur. Continue by road to the small village of Pachewar where we stay in the lovely 300yr old fort. There is a full day to explore this rural setting. ( B) DAY4: BUNDI- Drive to Bundi which has one of the most magnificent forts in Rajasthan, famous for its delicate miniatures. Overnight in a haveli. ( B) DAY5: BIJAIPUR- Drive to Bijaipur where we stay the night in the Castle Bijaipur, an elegant 200yr old palace. ( B) DAY6: KHEMPUR- Visit Chittaurgarh, probably India's greatest mediaeval fort. Continue to Ravla Khempur, a lovely heritage hotel from where you can explore the surroundings on horseback. ( B) DAYS7 & 8: UDAIPUR- Drive to the picturesque ' White City' of Udaipur where we stay in a haveli on Lake Pichola. The next day a morning tour introduces you to this beautiful lakeside city with the afternoon at leisure to enjoy its narrow alleyways. ( B) DAY9: NARLAI- Drive via the formidable Kumbhalgarh Fort to Narlai, a small town overlooking a giant 90m single rock of granite, dotted with caves and temples. ( B) DAY 10: RANAKPUR - JODHPUR-Morning walk to historic temples in and around Narlai, followed by a visit to the superb Jain temples of Ranakpur. Afternoon drive to the ' Blue City' of Jodhpur. ( B) DAY11: JODHPUR- Morning visit to the impressive Meherangarh Fort. ( B) DAY12: CHANDELAO- Drive to the small heritage hotel of Chandelao Garh. Here, with no other tourists around, you can interact with the local community and learn about the art, culture and heritage of Rajasthan. Afternoon jeep safari to the surrounding villages. ( B) DAY13: OSIAN- Travel to Osian, an ancient town in the Thar desert. We spend the night in a beautiful tented camp in the sand dunes. Evening camel ride in the desert. ( B) DAYS14 & 15: BIKANER- Drive via Nagaur and the unique Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok to Bikaner, a particularly interesting town. We stay for two nights at the impressive Lallgarh Palace. ( B) DAY16: MANDAWA- Continue to the Shekhavati area of Rajasthan, famous for its havelis with colourful frescoes and murals. We stay in the Mandawa Desert Resort, in ' luxurious' mud huts. ( B) DAYS17 & 18: JAIPUR- Drive to the ' Pink City' of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Take a tour of this beautiful palace- filled city. ( B) DAY19: AGRA- Drive via the deserted Moghul city of Fatehpur Sikri to Agra. ( B) DAY20: TAJ MAHAL - DELHI- Take a morning visit to the Taj Mahal. Evening express train to Delhi. ( B) DAY21: DELHI- Tour ends. ( B) Our favourite Indian tour visiting all the major highlights of Rajasthan • A fascinating journey visiting Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur • Stay in atmospheric heritage hotels, palaces and lavish tented camps • Head off the beaten track to see how life exists in rural communities • Take a camel ride into the Thar Desert and a jeep safari to tribal villages • Explore ancient fortsand temples including the Taj Mahal India Amongst the Maharajahs JaipurAgra Bikaner Mandawa Pachewar Bundi Bijaipur Khempur Udaipur Narlai Jodhpur Chandelao Osian Delhi India A Taste of India Agra Jaipur Madhogarh Udaipur Ahmedabad Mumbai Delhi Goa • Seasonal Supplement £ 90 Single Supplement £ 700 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.46 * Price includes tour price of £ 1099and local payment of INR16,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1299pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 21 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SatEnds Fri DelhiDelhi 2009 03- Jan- 0923- Jan- 09 17- Jan- 0906- Feb- 09 31- Jan- 0920- Feb- 09 14- Feb- 0906- Mar- 09 28- Feb- 0920- Mar- 09 14- Mar- 0903- Apr- 09 28- Mar- 0917- Apr- 09 08- Aug- 0928- Aug- 09 22- Aug- 0911- Sep- 09 05- Sep- 0925- Sep- 09 19- Sep- 0909- Oct- 09 03- Oct- 0923- Oct- 09 17- Oct- 0906- Nov- 09 31- Oct- 0920- Nov- 09 14- Nov- 0904- Dec- 09 28- Nov- 0918- Dec- 09 19- Dec- 0908- Jan- 10 • Starts SatEnds Fri DelhiDelhi 2010 02- Jan- 1022- Jan- 10 16- Jan- 1005- Feb- 10 30- Jan- 1019- Feb- 10 13- Feb- 1005- Mar- 10 27- Feb- 1019- Mar- 10 13- Mar- 1002- Apr- 10 27- Mar- 1016- Apr- 10 07- Aug- 1027- Aug- 10 21- Aug- 1010- Sep- 10 04- Sep- 1024- Sep- 10 18- Sep- 1008- Oct- 10 02- Oct- 1022- Oct- 10 16- Oct- 1005- Nov- 10 30- Oct- 1019- Nov- 10 13- Nov- 1003- Dec- 10 27- Nov- 1017- Dec- 10 18- Dec- 1007- Jan- 11 • • X- Mas & New Year Supplement You can chill out on the beach after your tour on our Goa Extension on page 83. don't forget ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

INDIA 85 INDIA & HIMALAYAS Varanasi Extension Imaginative Facts Tour code: HTVX • Non- Group Tour: For individuals only • Activities: Guided tour / boat ride on the Ganges, excursion to Sarnath • Accommodation: 2 nights tourist class hotels on twin share basis, 2 nights air- conditioned sleeper train • Transport: Sleeper trains • Fully Escorted: Services of Imaginative Traveller representatives DAY 1: DELHI - VARANASI - Transfer to Delhi railway station to board the air-conditioned sleeper Shiv Ganga Express train to Varanasi. DAY 2: VARANASI- On arrival in Varanasi you are met and transferred to your hotel which is located right on the banks of the River Ganges and has a rooftop restaurant. The holy city of Varanasi is the most important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. The principal attraction is the long string of bathing ghats ( wide steps), which line the west bank of the Ganges, right in front of the hotel. DAY 3: VARANASI- Pilgrims come to the Ganges to make their sin- cleansing dip in the holy river. Daily ceremonies take place and bodies are also cremated here. You will take a boat ride on the Ganges at dawn and in the afternoon you visit Sarnath where Gautama the Buddha preached his first sermon 2,500 years ago. ( B) DAY 4: VARANASI- A free morning to explore the colourful bazaars of Varanasi. You will see many shops offering beautiful brocades and exquisite lengths of handloom silk. Afternoon departure transfer to take the sleeper Shiv Ganga Express train back to Delhi. ( B) DAY 5: DELHI- Tour ends on arrival at Delhi. Note: This extension can be applied to most tours in India. A popular and highly recommended add- on to our tours in India • Visit the incredible holy city of Varanasion the banks of the River Ganges • Experience the lively atmosphere of the narrow alleyways and bazaars • Witness the pilgrims' ceremoniesalong the ghats on a dawn boat ride A Taste of India Imaginative Facts Tour code: HSTI • Activities: Walking, cooking demonstrations • Accommodation: 8 nights tourist class hotels, 4 nights heritage hotels, 1 night homestay, 2 nights overnight train • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: DELHI- Arrive and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon take a tour of Old Delhi. DAY 2: AGRA- We board our early morning express train to Agra, home to one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal. Tonight we stay with a local family, where the lady of the house will give us a private cooking demonstration. ( BD) DAYS 3 & 4: MADHOGARH- After visiting the abandoned Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, we carry on to Fort Madhogarh, fabulously situated on top of a lone hill. Madhogarh is a typical small Rajasthani town, where communities of potters, carpenters, cobblers and carpet makers ply their trade in a manner that has continued unchanged for centuries. On Day 4 we have a unique opportunity to see a demonstration of Rajput cooking given by the young princess of this area. ( Day 3 - B, Day 4 - BD) DAYS 5- 7: JAIPUR- Leave for Jaipur, the captivating ' Pink City'. We visit the nearby fabulous Amber Fort and walk the steep paths leading to a magnificent complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples. On Day 6 we visit some of the city's stunning palaces, observatories and parks. That evening, we eat in a typical Rajasthani restaurant, designed to resemble a traditional village. The vegetarian food is served to us as if we were the guests at a traditional wedding feast. On Day 7 there is a full day to explore the markets and shops before boarding our overnight sleeper train to Udaipur. ( Days 5 & 7 - B, Day 6 - BD) DAYS 8 & 9: UDAIPUR- We arrive in the stunning ' White City' of Udaipur, the most romantic city in Rajasthan, with beautiful lakeside palaces and mansions. This evening we can dine at Ambrai, a restaurant with fabulous views over the lake. The next day we visit the City Palace, carved out of yellow sandstone on the banks of Lake Pichola. The rest of the day can be spent wandering the city's bazaars. ( Day 9 - B) DAY 10: AHMEDABAD- Continue to Ahmedabad, the cultural centre of the state of Gujarat. A culinary tour of India would not be complete without tasting a famous Gujarati thali, the traditional meal in which you use pieces of chapati to eat curry and vegetable dishes from small bowls. ( BD) DAYS 11 & 12: MUMBAI- Mumbai has its own distinct street food culture. The first residents of Mumbai, the local fishing community, were followed by settlers from other coastal parts of Maharashtra, and their delicious traditional cuisine consists of a mixture of seafood and meat dishes. We visit a restaurant that serves this ' original' Bombay food. On the evening of Day 12 we take an overnight train to Goa, on the Konkan railway. DAYS 13- 15: GOA- The former Portuguese colony of Goa boasts amazing scenery, with some of the world's most beautiful beaches, lush paddy fields and mango groves. Our hotel is located close to Candolim beach. On Day 14 we visit the home of a typical Goan family and learn to make prawn balchao. Then we experience a vindaloo curry, in all its spicy glory. Our dessert will be a coconut pancake, the perfect combination of western and Indian cuisines. The night bazaars here also offer a fantastic selection of dishes, from crisp fried calamari, to hand- rolled plum sushi. There is plenty of time to relax on the gorgeous sandy beaches. ( Day 14 - L) DAY 16: GOA- Tour ends. A feast of a tour through the culinary delights of Delhi down to Goa Discover the many facets of Indian cuisine. Travel through the amazing towns and palaces of Rajasthan to tranquil Goa's beautiful beaches. We will enjoy unique opportunities to sample a wealth of traditional delicacies, from the sublime vegetarian cuisineof Jaipur to the spicy seafood of the coast. A journey through many different regions, cultures and cuisines. • Seasonal Supplement £ 90 Single Supplement £ 345 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 16.53 * Price includes tour price of £ 810and local payment of INR10,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 935pp Land Only * Solo Traveller Supplement £ 150 ( compulsory if you are travelling alone) All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 249pp Land Only traveller special interest Tour duration 16 days Tour duration 5 days Starts SatEnds Sun DelhiGoa 2009 10- Jan- 0925- Jan- 09 31- Jan- 0915- Feb- 09 21- Feb- 0908- Mar- 09 14- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 26- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 19- Dec- 0903- Jan- 10 • Starts SatEnds Sun DelhiGoa 2010 09- Jan- 1024- Jan- 10 30- Jan- 1014- Feb- 10 20- Feb- 1007- Mar- 10 13- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 25- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 18- Dec- 1002- Jan- 11 • • X- Mas & New Year Supplement Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243