solar eclipse - 13 days
deserts, palaces & varanasi eclipse
Tour Information
Starts/ends: Delhi
Departs: Sun 12th July 2009
Prices: Click Here
Breakfast: Daily, Dinner: 2
Hotel rating: 3 - 4 and heritage hotels
Tour Leader Escorted: Yes
Entrance Fees: Selected fees included.
Additional entrance fees budget approx: USD$40
ECLIPSE: 22nd July, totality 06.24am
Day 1: Delhi
Sunday 12th July. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Delhi
Day 2: Delhi - Old & New
Delhi - breakfast. This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. We’ll then enjoy a tour of India’s capital including Old and also New Delhi. Highlights include India Gate, Qutab Minar and Raj Ghat - site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation. Tonight we enjoy a group Namaste Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Dinner and overnight - Delhi
Days 3 & 4: The Pink City of Jaipur
Delhi - Jaipur - breakfast. This morning we drive to Jaipur. Arriving early afternoon, we enjoy a tour of the City Palace and a visit to Jantar Mantar space observatory. On our second day, we enjoy a stately elephant ride to the 16th century Amber Fort, built by Maharaja Man Singh. Overnight (2) - Jaipur
Day 5: Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Jaipur - Perharsar via Bharatpur - breakfast. Today we drive to Keoladeo Ghana National Park, where more than 350 species of birds have been identified. We will enjoy a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through the park, before staying nearby at a charming haveli (mansion house) in Perhasar. Dinner and overnight - Perhasar
Day 6: The Taj Mahal
Perharsar - Agra - breakfast. En route to Agra, we visit the deserted Mughal City of Fatehpur Sikri. Abandoned due to lack of water, the vast ruins resemble an elaborate film set. In Agra, we enjoy a horsecart or rickshaw ride to the Taj Mahal. Later, we visit the impressive Agra Fort. Overnight - Agra
Day 7: Bundela Temples - Orchha
Agra - Orchha - breakfast. Today, we travel by express train to Jhansi and drive onward to Orchha. Situated on the banks of the River Betwa, Orchha is set amongst a wonderful complex of well-preserved 16th century temples and palaces. Overnight – Orchha
Day 8: Khajuraho
Orchha - Khajuraho - breakfast. Striking east, we arrive at Khajuraho. Immortalised in stone, the carved temples of Khajuraho display exceedingly artistic aspects of Indian life a millennium ago. Overnight - Khajuraho
Day 9 - Varanasi
Khajuraho - Varanasi - breakfast. We offer a jeep safari in Panna NP this morning, please see our tiger safari Panna NP bolt on for details. This afternoon we bid farewell to Khajuraho and fly east to Varanasi. Perhaps the holiest city in India; Varanasi, also known as Benares or the city of Shiva, is also one of the oldest cities on earth. Sitting on the banks of the holy River Ganges, it has been a centre of learning and civilisation for more than 2000 years and is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Overnight – Varanasi
Days 10 - Varanasi
Varanasi - breakfast. This morning, we enjoy a sunrise boat ride on the holy Ganges where we’ll view the ancient religious tradition of ritual cleansing that takes place on the many riverbank ghats (riverside steps). Later, we embark on a tour of the city. At sunset consider re-visiting the ghats for the evening pilgramage, remarkably different from the dawn ritual. Overnight - Varanasi
Day 11 - ECLIPSE on Varanasi
Varanasi - Delhi - breakfast. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009 - Rising early, we travel in a south east direction to a secluded spot of the Ganges. Here, beyond the city limits the Ganges riverbed is flat and wide with little vegetation allowing uninterrupted viewing of the sky. The absence of artificial lighting is also beneficial. Here we wait in awe, at approximately 05:30am the 1st phase of the Total Solar Eclipse will begin as the and the moon begins to creep over the sun, the sky will turn to a shade of deep red then dark purple, cobolt grey and eventually complete darkness will prevail at 06.24.
05.30am - Sunrise & the moon first touches the sun - start of the eclipse
06.24am - Start of totality. 06.27am - End of totality. Duration 03.02mins
07.27am - Moon is no longer visible on the sun - end of the eclipse
After the event we'll travel back to the city and our hotel for breakfast. The remainder of the day at leisure, take the opportunity to further explore this vibrant city. Early evening we return to Delhi by comfortable overnight train (Flight option available, please see details below). Overnight - sleeper train
Day 12: Explore Delhi
Delhi - breakfast. Breakfast upon arrival and hotel check in. Today is a chance to further explore the city at your leisure or a change to pick up those last minute souvenirs. Overnight - Delhi
Day 13: Delhi
Delhi - breakfast. Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.
Varanasi - Delhi by air
Forsaking the included overnight train journey from Varanasi to Delhi, you may opt to upgrade and travel back to Delhi by air. This option includes an economy flight from Varanasi to Delhi on day 11, airport transfers at both ends and one night's accommodation in Delhi (evening of day 11). Please indicate your preference to travel by air at time of booking.
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