solar eclipse 2009
golden triangle and eclipse - 9 days
 Tour Information
Starts/ends: Delhi
Departs: Thu 16th July 2009
Prices and Departure: Click Here
Breakfast: Daily, Dinner: 1
Hotel rating: 3 - 4 and heritage hotels
Tour Leader Escorted: Yes
Entrance Fees: Selected fees included.
Additional entrance fees budget approx: USD$30
ECLIPSE: 22nd July, totality 06:24am
Day 1 - Delhi
Thursday. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi and included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Delhi
Day 2 - Old & New Delhi
Delhi - breakfast. This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. We’ll then enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi, taking in the impressive Red Fort, Jama Masjid - India’s oldest and largest mosque, Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi’s cremation and more. Tonight, we enjoy a group Namaste Dinner at a restaurant specialising in classic Indian cuisine. Namaste Dinner and overnight - Delhi
Day 3 - Agra Fort
Delhi - Agra - breakfast. Departing Delhi, we journey to Agra, once India’s Mughal capital. After hotel check in we'll enjoy an afternoon visit to the impressive Agra fort, which boasts some of India’s finest Mughal buildings behind it’s fortified walls. Overnight - Agra
Day 4 - The Taj Mahal
Agra - Varanasi - breakfast. This morning we enjoy a horsecart or rickshaw ride to the legendary Taj Mahal. Built entirely of white marble by Emporer Shah Jahan in loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal is described as the most extravagent monument ever built for love and remains India's most enduring symbol. The Taj certainly has no peers. Hotel check out is at noon and the remainder of the day can be spent at leisure, maybe by the hotel swimming pool or further sightseeing before our late evening transfer (23:00) to the train station to board the Magadh Express bound for Varanasi (2nd class air-conditioned sleeper) Overnight - sleeper train
Day 5 - Varanasi
Varanasi - breakfast. Arriving into Varanasi (approx 09:00) we'll enjoy breakfast in our hotel. As rooms become available we will be able to check in, freshen up and make the most of your free time exploring the colourful city at leisure. Perhaps the holiest city in India; Varanasi is 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. At sunset consider visiting the ghats for the evening pilgramage, remarkably different from the dawn ritual you'll see tomorrow. Overnight – Varanasi
Day 6 - Sunrise on Ganges
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 colourful, effervescent and ever lively city. Overnight - Varanasi
Day 7 - ECLIPSE on Varanasi
Varanasi - Delhi - breakfast. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009 - Rising early, we travel east to Assi Ghat. The ghat is frequented by pilgrims taking a holy dip in the ganges though to a lesser degree than the popular Dasawamedh ghat where everyday Aarti ritual are performed. Here, beyond the city proper the Ganges riverbed is flat and wide with little vegetation allowing uninterrupted views of the horizon. The near 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.
Eclipse site co-ordinates
25° 17′ 21″ N, 83° 0′ 25″ E
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 and remains of the day are yours to spend relexing by the pool or further sightseeing. Early evening we return to Delhi by comfortable overnight train (Flight option available, please see details below).
Overnight - sleeper train
Day 8: 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 9: Delhi
Friday. 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 7, airport transfers at both ends and one night's accommodation in Delhi (evening of day 7). Please indicate your preference to travel by air at time of booking. | 
