INDIA & HIMALAYASINDIA 92 " The tour guides introduced us to many different and unusual foods. It has been great fun, and I can only hope that any further tour I go on will match this one." Mavis Cameron india & himalayas Colours of India Imaginative Facts Tour code: HSCI • Activities: Camel ride, game safari at Ranthambore • Accommodation: 6 nights tourist class hotels, 5 nights heritage hotels, 1 night in luxurious ' mud huts', 2 nights sleeper train • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, train, camel, boat • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader and professional photographer • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: DELHI- Arrive and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a city tour. DAY 2: MANDAWA- Drive to Mandawa, famous for its painted havelis and exquisite frescoes. We spend the night at Castle Mandawa, a heritage hotel with a maze of terraces and courtyards. ( B) DAY 3: MANDAWA - DESERT- This morning we take a walking tour of Mandawa followed by a camel ride to some of the surrounding villages. We spend the night at the Desert Resort, a charming village of specially created mud huts. The resort also has a lovely swimming pool, set overlooking the rolling sand dunes of Mandawa. ( B) DAYS 4 & 5: JAIPUR- Travel to Jaipur, the captivating ' Pink City'. We visit the fabulous Amber Fort then continue to our tastefully furnished boutique hotel. Jaipur is a riot of colour, and offers incredible photographic opportunities. The following morning, we visit some of the city's palaces ( including the famous façade of the ' Palace of Winds'). ( B) DAY 6: RANTHAMBORE- Continue to Sawai Madhopur, our base for visiting Ranthambore National Park and enjoy an afternoon game ride. Tigers are occasionally sighted, along with other animals such as sambhar, nilgai, sloth bear, jackal, crocodiles and abundant bird life. ( B) DAYS 7 & 8: KARAULI- The old City Palace of Karauli, built in 1635, is a treasure trove of architecture, stone carvings and classic paintings. There is also an interesting bazaar full of local handicrafts, carvings and colourful bangles. We are guests in the royal but homely atmosphere of the Bhanwar Vilas Palace. This low, pleasant Art Deco building has wide cool verandas, a drawing room with authentic period furniture and a long dining table where the Maharajah often joins guests when he is in residence. It also boasts a swimming pool and a collection of vintage cars! ( B) DAY 9: BHARATPUR - AGRA- This morning, we leave to travel to Agra, stopping at Bharatpur, famous for the nearby Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, and the abandoned ancient Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, a complex of forts, palaces and mosques built from sandstone. ( B) DAY 10: AGRA- Visit the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world. The pure white marble of this tomb seems to constantly change colour throughout the day and night. In the evening we board the sleeper train to Varanasi. ( B) DAYS 11- 13: VARANASI- 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. Hindus believe that anyone cremated by the river Ganges, especially at Varanasi, is certain to gain entry to heaven. The best way to view the river is on an early morning boat ride. At this time it is possible to see the holy men chanting mantras as they bathe, a profound and unforgettable experience. Varanasi is arguably the most colourful and photogenic location in India and a fitting climax to your photographic trip. We have ample time to explore this holy city. On the evening of Day 13 we take the sleeper train to Delhi. ( Days 12 & 13 - B) DAY 14: DELHI- On arrival, we check in to our hotel and enjoy a free day. DAY 15: DELHI- Tour ends. ( B) Note: During September, we will stay a night in Madhogarh Fort as Ranthambore National Park is closed. Perfect your photographic techniques in this colourful country A fantastic opportunity to explore this photogenic countryin the company of our guest photographer. India has hundreds of attractions just waiting to be discovered, from stunning scenerytobeautiful architecture, from colourful characters to an incredible array of wildlife. Combine photography tuition with a stimulating travel experience for the ultimate holiday! India Colours of India Tribals & Temples Delhi Mandawa Jaipur Ranthambore Agra Varanasi Kolkata Raipur Jagdalpur Jeypore Karauli Puri Bhubaneswar India Kolkata New Jalpaiguri Darjeeling PellingGangtok Kalimpong Yuksom Himalayan Frontiers Sharon Hickey Sharon Hickey brings over twenty years experience as a professional photographer. Her work captures the personality of her subjects, the essence of a mood and thrives in discovering new people and places. Combined with her love of adventure, people and places, her passion comes from stimulating others to find their own inspiration. Note: Our photography trips will be accompanied by one of two photographers ( Sharon Hickey or Aubrey Wade). Photographer Profile Single Supplement £ 425 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.46 * Price includes tour price of £ 1299and local payment of INR20,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1549pp Land Only * special interest Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2009 04- Jan- 0918- Jan- 09 06- Dec- 09 20- Dec- 09 Starts SunEnds Sun DelhiDelhi 2010 17- Jan- 10 31- Jan- 10 10- Oct- 10 24- Oct- 10 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

INDIA 93 INDIA & HIMALAYAS Himalayan Frontiers Imaginative Facts Tour code: HTHR • Activities: Extensive walking at sites • Accommodation: 12 nights tourist class hotels, 2 night sleeper train • Transport: Private jeep/ bus, train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides DAY 1: KOLKATA ( CALCUTTA)- Arrive and transfer to hotel. DAY 2: TRAIN- Morning city tour of Kolkata - a riotous mix of noisy street- life and elegant monuments. Board the evening sleeper train to New Jalpaiguri. ( B) DAYS 3 & 4: DARJEELING- Travel to the famous hill station of Darjeeling, surrounded by forested hills and terraced tea gardens. Nepali and Tibetan houses mix with Victorian colonial mansions giving this Indian town an exotic feel. Travel to Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise over Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, and visit the nearby monastery at Goom, the Tibetan Refugee Centre and the famous Himalayan Mountain Institute. ( B) DAYS 5 & 6: PELLING- Drive into Western Sikkim, a beautiful land with virgin forests and deep river valleys. Visit the awe- inspiring ancient monastery of Pemayangtse, one of the most important monasteries in Sikkim. We stay nearby in Pelling, with great views of the Himalayas. ( B) DAY 7: KHECHEPORI LAKE - YUKSOM-Drive to the sacred Khechepori Lake and trek to the tiny hill town of Yuksom, a good base for walking trips to nearby monasteries and jungles. ( B) DAY 8: TASHIDING - RAVANGLA- Trek from Yuksom to the gold- topped monastery in Tashiding high on a conical hill with panoramic views all around. End the day in the village of Ravangla. ( B) DAYS 9 & 10: GANGTOK- Drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, perched high on a ridge and inhabited predominantly by Buddhists. Our guesthouse is a retreat just outside Gangtok producing healthy organically grown vegetables and milk as well as ' Chaang', a local alcoholic beverage made from millet. Visit Phodang and Labrang monasteries. This is an area rarely visited by tourists with spectacular views of Kanchenjunga and a serene atmosphere. ( B) DAYS 11 & 12: RUMTEK - KALIMPONG-Drive to the nearby Rumtek Monastery, brightly painted with beautiful murals. Try a cup of salted butter tea served by the monks. Continue to Kalimpong, a hill station with superb mountain vistas and famous flower nurseries. Our guesthouse, an orchid farm situated in a botanical park, provides a great base to explore the surrounding area - by foot or bike. ( B) DAY 13: TRAIN- Drive from Kalimpong to New Jalpaiguri to take the sleeper train back to Kolkata. ( B) DAY14: KOLKATA- Arrive in Kolkata and transfer to hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore this chaotic but fascinating city. ( B) DAY 15: KOLKATA- Tour ends. ( B) A journey to Darjeeling and Sikkim in the remote Eastern Himalayas • Enjoy the tea plantations, religious centres and colonial buildingsof Darjeeling • Travel through the virgin forests, lush valleys and untouched hills of Sikkim • Trek between tiny settlementsin view of Kanchenjunga • Visit Sikkim's ancient monasteries and Kolkata's modern monuments • Relax in rural guesthousesamidst botanical gardens Tribes & Temples Imaginative Facts Tour code: HPTR • Activities: Boat ride on Chilika Lake, visit to tribal markets • Accommodation: 10 nights simple hotels, 3 nights sleeper train, 1 night camping • Transport: Trains, private coach, public bus, jeeps • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides DAY 1: KOLKATA ( CALCUTTA)- Arrive in Kolkata. DAY 2: KOLKATA- Our city tour includes a visit to the enormous marble Victoria Memorial which provides one of the best insights into colonial rule. In the evening we board the sleeper train to Raipur. DAY 3: RAIPUR- Raipur, capital of Chhattisgarh, is gateway to once remote interiors of India and home to a unique concentration of tribal people. DAYS 4- 6: JAGDALPUR- We take the local bus south to Jagdalpur where tribal people wear distinctive dress, headgear and ornaments and workshops offer an array of brilliant handicrafts. We spend the next few days around Jagdalpur, travelling deep into the jungle and exploring many scenic sites. The stupendous falls of the Indravati at Chitrakote are breathtaking and tribal villages and weekly markets give you a glimpse of a very different kind of Indian life. DAYS 7 & 8: JEYPORE- Drive to Jeypore in southern Orissa, a commercial centre endowed with waterfalls, forests and wildlife. Apart from its natural beauty it is a great base to visit the bustling markets with a brisk trade in cattle, ethnic jewellery and local produce. In the evening of Day 8 transfer to Koraput station for the sleeper train to Bhubaneswar. DAY 9: BHUBANESWAR- On arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon at leisure to explore the famous 500 temples. DAY 10: CHILIKA LAKE- Chilika, Asia's largest saltwater lake, is dotted with islands and noted for the many migratory birds which flock here in winter to the nesting sanctuary. We take a boat ride to Nalbana Island which is host to sea eagles, ospreys, sandpipers, flamingo and pelicans. Camp overnight. DAYS 11- 13: PURI - Drive to Puri where we visit the massive Lord Jagannath's Temple, a World Heritage Site. The next day we visit the splendid Sun Temple of Konarak, designed and built in the 13th Century in the shape of a colossal chariot carrying Surya, the Sun God, across the heavens. In the afternoon, we make an excursion to Raghurajpur, the artisan village famous for its Patta Chitra painting. There is also time to enjoy a walk on the beautiful white sandy beach or to visit the nearby fishing villages along the coast. In the evening of Day 13 transfer to the station for the sleeper train to Kolkata ( Calcutta). DAY 14: KOLKATA ( CALCUTTA) - Arrive and transfer to hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. DAY 15: KOLKATA- Tour ends. Travel through the remote tribal villages of central and eastern India • Experience the colourful local lifeof settlements untouched by modernity • Explore the Sun Temple of Konarak and Lord Jagannath's Temple at Puri • Take a boat trip on saltwater Chilika Lake, a migratory bird sanctuary • Visit the 500 temples of Bhubaneswarand the monuments of Kolkata • Wander Puri's stunning golden beachesand Orissa's lush jungles and forests Single Supplement £ 320 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 18.59 * Price includes tour price of £ 699and local payment of INR15,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 885pp Land Only *• Seasonal Supplement £ 40 Single Supplement £ 420 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 18.59 * Price includes tour price of £ 749and local payment of INR14,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 925pp Land Only * pioneertraveller Tour duration 15 daysTour duration 15 days Starts SunEnds Sun KolkataKolkata 2009 18- Jan- 0901- Feb- 09 15- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 27- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 06- Dec- 0920- Dec- 09 Starts SunEnds Sun KolkataKolkata 2010 17- Jan- 1031- Jan- 10 28- Feb- 1014- Mar- 10 26- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 05- Dec- 1019- Dec- 10 Starts SunEnds Sun KolkataKolkata 2009 05- Apr- 0919- Apr- 09 • 26- Apr- 0910- May- 09 13- Sep- 0927- Sep- 09 11- Oct- 0925- Oct- 09 08- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 • Seasonal supplement applies Starts SunEnds Sun KolkataKolkata 2010 28- Mar- 1011- Apr- 10 • 25- Apr- 1009- May- 10 23- May- 1006- Jun- 10 12- Sep- 1026- Sep- 10 10- Oct- 1024- Oct- 10 07- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243