Delhi - City Tour.  Delhi must be one of the most bustling capital cities in the world. New Delhi was built for the British Imperial Government of India and remains the administrative centre of the country. It also has a busy commercial sector and a new Parliament building as well as imposing government offices and embassies.

We begin with a tour of Old Delhi. We visit one of Shahjahan’s great buildings, Jama Masjid which means Friday Mosque. It is built on an outcrop of rock near the Red Fort and is the largest Mosque in India with a 100 square metre courtyard surrounded by colonnades. We also visit the Red Fort, and have a photo stop at the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Raj Ghat, is the memorial garden to Mahatma Ghandi who opposed British rule of India. A square of marble marks the spot where his body was cremated and the trees here were planted by visiting heads of state.

In the afternoon we have a tour of new Delhi, visiting Parliament Building, Humayun Tomb, India Gate and Qutub Minar.

The World Heritage Tomb of Humayun, is considered by some to be the equivalent of the Taj Mahal. This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

We see the Presidential Palace, which comes into view from its prime position on an artificial hill, called Raisana Hill, at one end of the Rajpath - a wide boulevard originally built for Imperial Processions. The great India Gate, made from Bharatpur Sandstone, spans the other end of the Rajpath. This was built to commemorate the Indian Army officers who died in World War One, and has the names of approximately 14,000 Indian and British soldiers who died in the First World War. 

After the City Tour, the remainder of the day is free.  (B)

Agra - Taj Mahal, to Jaipur.  We start our day with a sunrise visit to the amazing Taj Mahal. It is the tomb of Shajahan’s favourite wife Mumtaz-Mahal. The marble walls of the Taj Mahal change colour with the time of day - at dawn it is pale pink, at noon it is blindingly white and at sunset it is golden. The gardens, with their dark green cypresses and water channels are an integral part of the artistry of this romantic building. You can also visit the mosque at the west of the Taj and the guest pavilion at the east to get different views. And finally, walk to the rear of the Taj, which overlooks the Yamuna River and gives views back to the Agra Fort.

After breakfast we set off for Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri - a deserted city of deep red sandstone, perfectly preserved and offering a detailed insight into the life of India’s Moghul emperors. Built by Humayun’s son, the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri was a capital city for a very short time. Look out for the stone-tethering ring for the elephant that was used to crush criminals to death; the Turkish Sultana’s House with stone carvings of animals; the Astrologer’s Pavilion; the outdoor chess court; and the Harem.

We continue on to the city of Jaipur. Jaipur is the capital city of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Known as the Pink City, it is one of the most vibrant and colourful cities of India, famous for its colourful culture, forts and palaces. The remainder of the day is free. (B)

Jaipur to Pushkar.  In the morning we say goodbye to Jaipur and continue our journey to Pushkar.

The holy lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself. Devout Hindus believe that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahama is to be found here. While Pushkar is a heaven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country's most colourful fairs - the Pushkar Camel Fair, held annually in November.

In the afternoon we have a guided walk through Pushkar, visiting the Sacred Lake and Brahma Temple, with some free time for exploring later on. One recommendation for your free time is go on a fairly easy hike through the city to the temple called Savitri. This temple is situated on a hill and provides excellent views of the town, and is very popular at sunset. (B) 

Jodhpur. After breakfast we visit the Bishnoi Village. The Bishnois are preservers of the wildlife of Rhajasthan. Over the centuries they have protected animals and greenery against the growing menace of modernity in these smaller areas.

In the afternoon we include a visit to the massive 15th century A.D. Meherangarh Fort. The 5 km long majestic fort on a 125 metre high hill is one of the most impressive and formidable structures. Although invincible from the outside, the fort has four gates approached by a winding road. Within the fort are some magnificent palaces with marvelously carved panels, latticed windows and evocative names. But one of the most exciting things about the fort is the view it gives you of Jodphur itself.

Jodphur is known as the ‘Blue City’ and you will see why - the walls are colour washed in blue, which looks amazing in the desert light. We go into Jodphur and make a visit to the bustling market under the tall clock tower. Spices, flowers and beautiful textiles are on sale here and barbers work under the nearby banyan trees – so you can stop off for a quick haircut in the street. The market area is considered to be one of the most interesting and fascinating sights in Jodhpur. (B)

Sardargarh to Udaipur.  Today we drive to Udaipur. Udaipur is considered to be the most romantic city in India. Having spent time in the desert you are now in a place of complete contrast, a city of lakes, gardens and greenery.

On arrival we check into our hotel, and in the afternoon take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Generally we make a stop on the lake at Jag Mandir Island for a visit to the temples. The view from the lake particularly at sunset is simply stunning – elegant marble palaces can be seen on the shoreline - an image of Rajput splendour.

On the lake itself is the Summer Palace where you can go for a meal if you really feel like a treat. Or finish the day with a meal in one of the many restaurants dotted among the city’s narrow streets.  (B)

Fly via Delhi to Varanasi.  After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Varanasi via Delhi.

On arrival we are met at the airport, and transferrd to our hotel, visiting Sarnath en route. Sarnath, about 10 km from the holy city of Varanasi, is the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon. There are many Buddhist monuments and edifices in Sarnath, including Dhamekha stupa, the Chaukhandi stupa and monasteries and temples of different schools of Buddhism from Japan, China, Thailand, Burma and others. There is also a vast expanse of ancient ruins at Sarnath. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. The Ashoka pillar of Sarnath is the National emblem of India. We will visit some of the monuments and temples.  (B)

Amritsar.  After breakfast we visit Jaliawala Bagh. The word Bagh means park. This Park is the site where more than 2000 Indians were killed by General Dyer of the British forces in 1919 during the British rule in India. This event occupies an important place in India’s struggle for Independence. There is a martyr gallery where paintings and clay depictions of the massacre are displayed.

There is another chance to visit the Golden Temple, and in the afternoon we visit Wagah Border. This is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan. It lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the cities of Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan. The Wagah border is often called the 'Berlin wall of Asia', and is a ceremonial border, where each evening there is a retreat ceremony called 'lowering of the flags'.

We return to Amritsar to overnight.  (B)

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions. There will be times travelling long hours as there will be days where we have to cover great distances. Weather patterns can change dramatically - high altitudes tend to be a lot cooler.

You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it before when you check out of the hotel.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Departure taxes are generally included in the airline tickets, and no longer payable at Delhi International Airport.

Please note that these taxes are subject to change.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Asia, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at the individuals’ risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

Tipping is expected and accepted in India, as salaries are generally low and any gratuities for good service will be gratefully accepted.

NOTE: We recommend participation in a Tip Kitty for the duration of the tour. For this we suggest an amount of: Rupees 1500 per person, and an additional amount (Rp1750 pp approximately) for the Tour Leader. The kitty will cover tips for local guides, drivers and porters mainly. The tip kitty is monitored during the tour and detailed in a tip kitty report form for the tour leader to record all tipping expenses for the tour - and they will ask a passenger to sign as reference.

Please note that you may tip individually for services if you prefer, but most of our clients have found the tip kitty system to be the easiest way to manage tipping. 

Bargaining is the rule in markets.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where laundry facilities are available.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

One of the great myths about travelling in India is that the food is poor. We are delighted to inform you that on our trips this is definitely not the case. Indeed many people find the delicious food to be one of the highlights of a visit to India. Another myth is that Indian food is always hot. In fact North India food, whilst often very rich in flavour, usually does not contain very many spices. These are found more in Southern Indian food. South Indian food is also predominately vegetarian whereas North Indian food is more often based around meat, although there are always vegetarian options available even here. A further surprise is that many of the dishes familiar to you from Indian restaurants at home cannot be found in India (there is no such thing as a Madras) as they have been created to cater to foreign tastes. Finally there is no such thing as curry. This term is rarely, if ever, used in India as each dish is made with different individual spices. As these have to be mixed specifically for each order you should expect to have to wait at least 30 minutes for a-la-carte food orders in India.

In major cities there will usually be a number of excellent restaurants available serving a wide variety of dishes to order. In more remote places hotels often prepare an evening buffet, again with a wide range of food, much of it vegetarian.

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for, however in some countries the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you will be visiting a number of different areas. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. All accommodation is in comfortable tourist class accommodation. Depending on the tour, this ranges from overnight sleeper train or cruise boat through to delightful lodges and excellent hotels (generally 3 star or above).

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. If you would like to book accommodation to stay additional nights after the tour ends, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it when you check out of the hotel.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.

Details and prices of optional activities will be advised by your tour leader.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

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