INDIA & HIMALAYASINDIA 90 " The standard of accommodation was excellent, especially the haveli! There were too many highlights for me to be able to point out just one!" Dennis Calvert india & himalayas Rajasthan in Style Imaginative Facts Tour code: HCRA • Activities: Jeep safari, camel ride • Accommodation: 10 nights heritage hotels, 1 night deluxe tented camp, 3 nights tourist class hotel • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: DELHI- Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the hotel. DAYS 2 & 3: MANDAWA- Drive to the Shekhavati area of Rajasthan, renowned for its painted frescoes and ornate havelis ( merchants' houses). We spend the night in an immaculately restored heritage hotel. The following day we take a camel ride and overnight in the Desert Resort, in ' luxurious' mud- built huts. Enjoy the azure swimming pool overlooking the rolling sand dunes of Mandawa. ( B) DAY 4: BIKANER- Continue to Bikaner to visit the grand Junagadh Fort. Stay at the impressive Lallgarh Palace. ( B) DAY 5: OSIAN- Drive via Nagaur and the unique Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok to Osian, an ancient town in the Thar Desert. We spend the night in a beautiful tented camp in the sand dunes and take an afternoon camel ride in the desert. ( B) DAY 6: JODHPUR- Next is the ' Blue City' of Jodhpur, dominated by the impressive Meherangarh Fort with magnificent views over the blue- hued city. ( B) DAY 7: RANAKPUR- South of Jodhpur are the superb Jain temples of Ranakpur. We stay overnight in Fateh Bagh, a beautifully restored heritage hotel. ( B) DAY 8: UDAIPUR- Continue to the enchanting ' White City' of Udaipur, surely Rajasthan's most picturesque city with its white marble palaces, placid blue lakes, attractive gardens and green hills. We stay for two nights in a lovely hotel near Lake Pichola. ( B) DAY 9: UDAIPUR- In the morning we enjoy a city tour which includes a visit to the huge City Palace. The afternoon is free to wander through the maze of alleys and interesting bazaars. ( B) DAY 10: DEOGARH- Nearby is the pleasant and little- frequented town of Deogarh. The narrow bazaar road, filled with textiles and silver jewellery shops, winds its way up to the top of the hill where you find the beautifully renovated 17th century Deogarh Mahal Palace. ( B) DAY 11: JAIPUR- Drive to the ' Pink City' of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, with its old pink- coloured sandstone buildings. We stay two nights in a small heritage property close to the old city. ( B) DAY 12: JAIPUR- Visit the City Palace, the Observatory and the famous façade of Hawa Mahal or ' Palace of Winds'. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the bazaars or perhaps visit the magnificent Amber Fort. ( B) DAY 13: AGRA- Drive via the abandoned Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri to Agra. ( B) DAY 14: DELHI- Morning visit to the Taj Mahal, India's iconic masterpiece. Afternoon drive back to Delhi. ( B) DAY 15: DELHI- Transfer to the airport. ( B) Experience the romance of the Maharajahs • Immerse yourself in India's royal pastamidst Rajasthan's stunning sites • Visit impressive forts and castles, opulent palaces and ancient temples • Travel to Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur and, of course, the Taj Mahal at Agra • Ride camels into the desertand wander a maze of bazaars in the cities • Overnight in restored heritage hotels, ' luxurious' mud huts and palaces India Agra Jaipur UdaipurDeogarh Ranakpur Jodhpur Osian Bikaner Mandawa Garhmukteshwar Corbett National Park Rishikesh Haridwar Rajasthan in Style North India in Style Neemrana Bharatpur Delhi Single Supplement £ 900 ( compulsory) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.46 * Price includes tour price of £ 1275and local payment of INR20,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1525pp Land Only * connoisseur Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2009 04- Jan- 0918- Jan- 09 01- Feb- 0915- Feb- 09 01- Mar- 0915- Mar- 09 27- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 25- Oct- 0908- Nov- 09 Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2010 10- Jan- 1024- Jan- 10 07- Feb- 1021- Feb- 10 07- Mar- 1021- Mar- 10 26- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 24- Oct- 1007- Nov- 10 You can visit one of India's most fascinating and colourful cities on our Varanasi Extension. See page 85. don't forget ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

INDIA 91 INDIA & HIMALAYAS North India in Style Imaginative Facts Tour code: HCIS • Activities: Game rides at Corbett, white- water rafting on the Ganges • Accommodation: 8 nights unique hotels, 3 nights jungle resort, 3 nights tourist class hotels in Agra and Delhi • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, express train, elephant, raft, jeep • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: DELHI- Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon orientation tour of Delhi. DAY 2: HARIDWAR- We take the early morning express train from Delhi to Haridwar where we stay in the Haveli Hari Ganga, a beautiful heritage haveli, situated on the banks of the Holy Ganges. ( BD) DAYS 3 & 4: RISHIKESH- A short drive takes us to Rishikesh, famous for its ashrams and sadhus. We explore the town and end the day at the Glass House on the Ganges. This small, secluded hotel is set in a lychee and mango orchard with a garden of tropical plants, rare birds and butterflies. The next day starts with an exciting white-water rafting trip down the Ganges ( this is optional; those who prefer can relax at the camp or take a jungle walk instead). After lunch, day at leisure. ( BD) DAYS 5- 7: CORBETT- Drive to Corbett National Park, India's first national park and one of its finest. Extending over a tract of 520km2, the sanctuary is endowed with breathtaking natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife including tigers and elephants. The birdlife is especially impressive with over 500 species. We stay for three nights in the lovely Corbett Hideaway resort with two full days to explore Corbett by elephant and jeep. We also take an excursion into Dhikala, the very heart of Corbett. ( Day 5 - BD, Days 6 and 7 - BLD) DAY 8: GARHMUKTESHWAR- Drive to the early 19th century Fort Unchagaon near Garhmukteshwar. The heritage property offers a host of recreational activities such as horse- riding, billiards, squash and badminton. The surrounding areas are very rural and there is a colourful bazaar and ancient temple nearby. ( BD) DAY 9: AGRA- Our next stop is Agra, home to possibly the most famous and beautiful building in the world, the Taj Mahal. ( B) DAY 10: BHARATPUR- A short drive takes us via the abandoned Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri to the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur, one of the world's finest bird sanctuaries. We stay overnight in Laxmi Vilas Palace, a heritage hotel. ( BD) DAYS 11 & 12: JAIPUR- Continue to the stunning ' Pink City' of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. In the afternoon we take an excursion to the majestic Amber Fort. The next morning take a city tour, including the City Palace, the ancient stone observatory and the famous façade of the ' Palace of Winds'. ( B) DAY 13: NEEMRANA- Drive to Neemrana where we stay in the impeccably restored 15th century Neemrana Fort. Located at a lofty height, the fort has dramatic views over the surrounding countryside. ( BD) DAY 14: DELHI- We return to Delhi where we stay the night in a comfortable hotel close to the airport. The remainder of the day is free for some final shopping. ( B) DAY 15: DELHI- Tour ends. ( B) Enjoy the highlights of this colourful country in comfort • Travel from the foothills of the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan • Stay in elegant heritage hotelsoffering unique history and atmosphere • Visit Delhi, Jaipur and Agra as well as some special places off the beaten track • Take a tiger safari in Corbettand visit the famous Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary • Wander the ashrams of Rishikesh and raft down the River Ganges • Seasonal Supplement £ 65 Single Supplement £ 985 ( compulsory) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.46 * Price includes tour price of £ 1275and local payment of INR20,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1525pp Land Only * connoisseur Tour duration 15 days Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2009 18- Jan- 0901- Feb- 09 15- Feb- 0901- Mar- 09 15- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 08- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 22- Nov- 0906- Dec- 09 06- Dec- 0920- Dec- 09 Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2010 24- Jan- 1007- Feb- 10 21- Feb- 1007- Mar- 10 21- Mar- 1004- Apr- 10 • 07- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 21- Nov- 1005- Dec- 10 05- Dec- 1019- Dec- 10 • Seasonal supplement applies Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243