Passage to India - On The Go Tourscdn.onthegotours.com/resources/documents/goguides/2016...TRIP NOTES Passage to India Passage to India - 15 days updated on 29-11-2016 UK 020 7371

TRIP NOTES

Passage to India15 days | Starts/Ends: Delhi

Passage to India - 15 days updated on 29-11-2016

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Embark on a colourful journey

through remarkable Rajasthan.

Explore the legendary Golden

Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra,

before travelling into the mighty

Thar Desert to explore the remote

towns of Bikaner, Jaisalmer and

the Blue city of Jodphur. Opt to

finish your tour back in Delhi or

head south to Mumbai, the home of

Bollywood.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Peaceful Udaipur - The tranquil Lake

Pichola, and the delightful City Palace• Jaisalmer - The dominating Jaisalmer Fort,

gorgeous old town and the magnificentsweeping sand dunes

• The Blue City of Jodhpur - The skylinedominating Meherangarh Fort, the regalJodphur Palace and the beautiful TharDesert

• Ranakpur - The stunning intricatelydesigned Jain temples

• Bikaner - The meticulous Junagarh Fort andmuseum

• Old and New Delhi - Humayan's Tomb,India's largest mosque Jama Masjid and

Gandhi's crematorium Raj Ghat. Red Fort till01 June 2017.

• The spectacular Taj Mahal - India's mostfamous monument in all its glory at sunset

• Agra - The beautiful Agra Fort and theMughal mausoleum known as Baby Taj

• India's rural Shekhawati region famed for itsbeautiful Rajasthani architecture and classichavelis

• Fatehpur Sikri - An ancient abandonedMughal city

• The Pink City of Jaipur - The lofty AmberFort, regal City Palace and ancientobservatory of Jantar Mantar

What's Included• 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners• 14 nights - 3-4 star and heritage hotels• Rickshaw ride in Delhi• Travel by jeep to the Amber Fort in Jaipur• Camel sand dune safari in Jaisalmer• Boat cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur• Economy class flight - Udaipur - Delhi• All relevant transfers and transportation• Airport arrival and departure transfers on

day 1 and day 15• Touring of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Alsisar,

Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhur and Udaipur• Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour

guide (for groups of 6 or more)• Services of English-speaking Indian

specialist guides at some sites

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: USD$35-45, paid in local

currency• Entrance Fees: USD$130-140, paid in local

currency• International flights and visas• Tip for your tour guide. We recommend

you allow $3 - 7 USD per day per traveller.Tipping your tour guide is an entirelypersonal gesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : DelhiSaturday. Upon arrival into Delhi, you'll be metat the airport and transferred to your hotel. Theremainder of the day is free to relax or explorethis bustling capital city. Overnight - Delhi

Day 2 : Old Delhi Sights

Delhi. After breakfast a welcome meeting willtake place, where you'll meet the rest of thegroup and your tour guide. Entrance fees for

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your tour and a tip kitty will also be collectedat this time. The tip kitty will cover any tippingrequired throughout the tour, apart from a tipfor your tour guide.

Following the welcome meeting we set off for asightseeing tour of Old Delhi. This 17th centurywalled city of Shahjahanabad was the erstwhilecapital of Museum India, with city gates, narrowalleyways, bazaars, mosques and other historicmonuments. Today Old Delhi is still a hive ofactivity, and the Chandhi Chowk bazaar is acolourful place to people watch.

Sightseeing highlights of Old Delhi include:• Humayan's Tomb• The Red Fort - Commissioned by Shah Jahan,

the red stone walls of this imposing fortstretch two kilometres and vary in heightfrom 8 metres on the riverside to 33 metreson the city side. (till June 2017)

• Jama Masjid- The largest mosque in Indiaand the final architectural extravagance ofShah Jahan.

• Raj Ghat - on the banks of the Yamuna Riverlies a marble memorial marking the spotwhere the great leader - Mahatma Gandhiwas cremated after his assassination.

New Delhi, in contrast to Old Delhi is a cityof wide tree-lined streets, parks, fountains androundabouts – designed by Edward Lutyensand built as the imperial capital of India by theBritish. This part of the city also houses manygovernment buildings including RashtrapatiBhavan – the official residence of the Presidentof India which stands at the opposite end of theRajpath from the India Gate.

Sightseeing highlights of New Delhi include:• Rajpath – an immensely broad boulevard

flanked on either side by ornamental ponds.The Republic Day parade is held here every26 January, drawing millions of people to thisspectacle. It is at the eastern end of Rajpathwe’ll see the India Gate.

• India Gate - The 42 metre high stone “Archof Triumph”, erected in memory of Indiansoldiers who died in the First World War.

Tonight, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at ourhotel. Overnight - Delhi (B, D)

Day 3 : The Taj Mahal

Delhi - Agra. Departing Delhi, we make our wayto Agra, the erstwhile capital of the Mughalempire. Our first stop here is the impressive AgraFort, which boasts some of India's finest Mughalbuildings behind its fortified walls. Constructionof the fort began during the reign of EmperorAkbar and additions were made until the rule ofhis grandson Shah Jahan. During Akbar’s time,it was primarily a military fort though later thefocus shifted and it became a palace.

From the Agra Fort we make a short journeyto the legendary Taj Mahal. Built by the orderof Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th centuryin affectionate memory of his beloved wifeMumtaz, the Taj Mahal is perhaps one of themost extravagant monuments to love everbuilt and has no peers. A staggering totalof 20,000 workers contributed their skills inthe construction of this unique mausoleum.Overnight - Agra (B)

Day 4 : Jaipur

Agra - Jaipur. En route to Jaipur we visit theghostly former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri,which has been deserted for over four centuriesafter it was allegedly abandoned due to alack of water Thanks to the very durable redsandstone from which it was built, Fatehpur Sikristill remains well-preserved and is a fascinatingplace to explore. It is divided into four parts- the women's quarter, emperor's quarter, a

quarter for princes and noblemen and weaponshousing. Here we see various temples, paviliionsand public areas offering insight into how lifemust have been for the inhabitants of this oldcity. Later we drive to Jaipur, the bustling capitalof the state of Rajasthan. The rest of the dayis free for you to spend at your own leisure.Overnight - Jaipur (B, L)

Day 5 : Jaipur

Jaipur. Early this morning there is theopportunity to see Jaipur from high above withan optional hot air balloon ride. We then traveljust outside of Jaipur to the stunning 16thcentury Amber Fort where we enjoy a tour ofits interior and grounds. Later we visit a cottonweaving house to see a demonstration of fabricdying and block printing.

En route to the City Palace, we pass Hawa Mahal– the Palace of the Winds. Although little morethan an impressive façade, it is one of the city’slandmarks and a stunning example of Rajputarchitecture. Next we visit the City Palace, ablend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture,which is still the residence of the Maharaja -if the flag is flying, it means he is home! Apart of palace has also been converted into amuseum, which has an impressive collection ofarts, carpets, enamelware and weaponry.

Just over the road from the City Palace is JantarMantar, an observatory of astronomy built by JaiSingh in 1728. On our way up here be sure tokeep an eye out for the snake charmers, fortunetellers and astronomers lining our pathway.Of the five observatories built by Jai Singh,this is the largest and best preserved. At firstglance, Jantar Mantar resembles a sculpturepark, though in fact, each construction hasa specific scientific purpose. Some measurethe positions of stars, whilst others calculateeclipses, the lunar calendar and simply the time

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of day. Even today, most of the constructionsremain accurate!

Later this evening you can also opt to explorethe Johari Bazaar in the Old Pink City whichis a great place to pick up some souvenirs.Top choices include jootis (traditional Rajasthanicurled shoes), Jaipur’s famous blue pottery,textiles and handicrafts around the City Palaceor Hawa Mahal. Our vehicle will be available todrop you to the market, and it is easy enough tograb a rickshaw on the way back.

Note: On departures prior to 01 October 2016there will be the option to reach Amber Fort byelephant rather than jeep. Overnight - Jaipur(B)

Day 6 : AlsisarJaipur - Alsisar. After breakfast we travel byroad to the semi-desert Shekhawati region,which lies in a triangular area between Delhi,Jaipur and Bikaner. In the 14th century anumber of Muslim clans moved into the regionand developed a series of small towns, whichsubsequently became important trading postson the ancient caravan routes emanating fromthe coastal ports of Gujarat. Today the legacy ofthese wealthy towns is carried on through thebeautiful painted havelis that were constructedby wealthy merchants here in the 18th and 19thcenturies.

Havelis are courtyard-style mansion homes thatwere built by wealthy merchant families wholived in the region. Though relatively simplefrom the outside, the courtyards were oftenpainted and decorated with quite remarkabledesigns. The largest mansions had as manyas four courtyards and were up to six storiesin height. Having a house of such grandproportion prompted families to decorate theinterior walls quite lavishly with Hindu relatedthemes.Later we enjoy a walk through a localvillage and a tour of a merchant haveli, followedby free time to relax at the hotel. Overnight -Alsisar (B, D)

Day 7 : Bikaner

Alsisar - Bikaner. This morning we make a quickvisit the children and teachers at a local school (ifopen) in Alsisar where we operate our ‘Changefor Children’ programme. If you have boughtany educational items with you to hand outto children this would be the time to do so.You can also make a donation to the school, ifyou choose via our Change For Children project.Your guide will hand out envelopes to thoseinterested.

From here we travel west to the 14th centurydesert town of Bikaner. Once an importantstaging post on the great caravan routes, muchof the atmospheric old town which we willexplore is still encircled by massive fortifiedwalls. Within these walls are havelis, artisanshops and people going about their daily lives.We also visit the spectacular Junagarh Fort andmuseum, built between 1587 and 1593 duringthe rule of Rai Singh. Overnight - Bikaner (B)

Days 8-9 : Jaisalmer

Bikaner - Jaisalmer. Today we travel deep intothe heart of the Thar Desert to the old tradetown of Jaisalmer where we’ll spend the nexttwo nights. Also known as the Golden City, thisenchanting sandstone town takes on a honey-coloured hue at sun set and is a tangle of alleyslined with small shops, several beautiful Jiantemples and an old palace.

Jaisalmer’s strategic position between India andAsia once brought the town great prosperity asa busy centre of trade on the east west silk route.The wealthy merchants that lived here builtimpressive dwellings and intricately decoratedmansions, or havelis, many of which can still beseen today. The fort of Jaisalmer is one of theoldest in India and is a town within a town, withone fourth of the population still living within itswalls. During our two night stay in Jaisalmer wewill also enjoy an evening camel safari into thedunes of the Thar Desert.Overnight - Jaisalmer (B:2)

Day 10 : Jodhpur - the bluecity

Jaisalmer - Jodhpur. This morning we driveto Jodhpur, a charming town located on theeastern edge of the Thar Desert. Dubbed theBlue City due to the distinctive colour of its oldtown houses, the city is dominated by the grandMeherangarh Fort which sits on a hilltop withinthe ancient walls of the old city. We’ll enjoy anafternoon of sightseeing in this colourful city,taking in the mighty fort and bazaars of the oldcity which are gathered around the city’s tallclock tower. Later enjoy free time to bargainfor local wares, from spices to richly colouredtextiles and ornaments. Overnight - Jodhpur(B)

Day 11 : RanakpurJodhpur - Ranakpur. Leaving Jodhpur we driveto Ranakpur, a small town tucked away ina remote valley and famed for its beautiful14th century Jain temples. We’ll enjoy someexploration here and free time to relax at ourhotel. Overnight - Ranakpur (B)

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Days 12-13 : Udaipur

Ranakpur - Udaipur. Continuing south we arriveat Udaipur, a beautiful town set on the shores ofpicturesque Lake Pichola. A favourite amongsttraveller, Udaipur is viewed as one of Rajasthan’smost romantic cities and is brimming withpalaces and temples. During our stay we enjoy acruise on Lake Pichola and a tour of the majesticCity Palace before enjoying free time to explorethe shops and markets of this charming town.Overnight - Udaipur (B:2)

Day 14 : Fly back to Delhi

Udaipur - Delhi. This morning a departuretransfer takes us to the airport to board ourflight to Delhi. Upon arrival the afternoon is freefor you to relax at the hotel or to head outand further explore Delhi. There is the optionto travel onward to Mumbai, see note below.Overnight - Delhi (B)

Day 15 : DelhiSaturday. After breakfast our our comes to anend. Following hotel check-out transfer to theairport for your onward travel. (B)

Mumbai OptionDays 14 & 15 - Udaipur.Morning flight to Mumbai, transfer and hotelcheck in and spend the day as you please. Onday 15, (Saturday) the tour ends after breakfast.Hotel check out and included onward transfer toairport. Breakfast included on day 14 and 15.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Entrance FeesOn our India group tours, selected entry fees areincluded, however all others must be budgetedfor by you. The total cost of the entrance feeswhich need to be paid locally, as noted under'Exclusions' on the first page of this document.Entrance fee amounts can change and as suchupon arrival to India your tour leader willhighlight the exact total entrance fee cost foryour tour.

PLEASE NOTE: Entrance fees are to be paid inINDIAN RUPEES (INR) and they will be collectedon day 2 of your tour.

If travelling on our Railways of the Raj tour,entrance fees will not be collected and arepayable by you at each site. If travelling to SriLanka on our Delhi to Colombo tour, entrancefees for that section of your tour will be collectedby your guide in Sri Lanka and payable in SriLankan Rupees (LKR).

LanguageWhile English is not the first language in India,it is the most important language for national,political, and commercial communication. Hindiis the national language and primary tongue of30% of the people and there are 14 other officiallanguages, including: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi,Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada,Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, andSanskrit. Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern Indiabut is not an official language.

Taxis & RickshawsTaxis are cheap and readily available in most ofthe bigger towns in India. Most of them possessmetres, although taxi drivers who actually usetheir metre are rare! Try and get an idea ofthe likely fare before you leave your hotel. Thefront desk staff or your tour guide should beable to assist you. Then negotiate with thedriver before departure. Motorised three-wheelrickshaws are available for hire throughout thecountry. Powered by a 2-stroke motorcycleengine with a driver upfront and seating for2 - 3 at the rear, with no doors and a canvasroof, these rickshaws weave their way speedily

through oncoming traffic. The ride will be fast,efficient and certainly an experience! Alwaysnegotiate the price you want to pay beforesetting off. Offering around 50% of the askingprice is the general rule of thumb, though you’llalways pay more than the going rate for a local!A cycle rickshaw is a 3-wheeler bicycle with aseat for passengers behind the rider. Althoughnot often seen in big cities, you’ll find themin Old Delhi and all the smaller towns, wherethey are a common mode of transport. Again,negotiate the fare before departure.

BeggingWith more than 350 million people in India livingon less than USD$2 per day, inevitably you willcome across many people begging for money.Begging actually has a legitimate place in Indiansociety. Even poor people give to beggars orcharities to earn religious merit. The Indiangovernment, however, would like to regulatebegging more stringently. Though begging iscommon, you are not under obligation to givemoney. If you choose to give money to beggars,we advise you to do this from the vehicleand not on the street. Alternatively, considerdonating pencils, pens or modest educationalsupplies to village schools.

ReligionMore than 80% of the country practiceHinduism. The remaining 20% comprisefollowers of Islam (12%), Christianity, Sikhism,Jainism, Buddhism and other minority beliefs.

System of GovernmentIndia is a constitutional democracy. There are28 states and 7 union territories. Parliament isbicameral; the lower house is known as the LokSabha (House of the People) and the upperhouse is known as the Rajya Sabha (Council ofStates).

Not like HomeTravelling to far–flung corners of the earth ofteninvolves encountering lifestyles and conditionsthat are very different from what you areused to back home. As such it is importantto come prepared for unusual situations, localinadequacies and unpredictable events as andwhen they occur. Foreign travel is definitelynot suitable for people who expect or demand

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everything to go exactly as planned, as thingscan and do change in foreign countries.

The people, customs, creed and languages ofIndia are different from one region to the next.It is as vast as it is crowded, and as opulent as itis squalid. India is exciting, intense and diverse -an all-embracing experience, a veritable assaulton the senses. Sometimes the poverty will getyou down, Indian bureaucracy can test yourpatience and facing another traffic jam will seemalmost too much to bear. Yet, it’s all worthwhile.While India is far from the easiest country inthe world to travel around, On The Go willtry their best to make your tour as seamlessas possible. Our holidays combine comfortabletransportation, comprehensive sightseeing andgood hotels, allowing you to concentrate ongetting the most out of your stay.

India is a country of unparalleled contrasts, adestination where you’ll be afforded plenty ofunique encounters, and if you can travel withan open mind you will have a wonderful timehere.In return, please remember to demonstratesensitivity and respect for local customs.

Tipping KittyTipping is not a natural part of many Westerncultures and many of us feel uncomfortable,or unsure about when or how much to tip.However in India tipping makes up a significantpart of many people’s wages so it’s importantthat we get it right. For this reason we’vedeveloped a very simple system to take all thehassle out of tipping.

With our ‘tipping made easy’ policy, a nominalpre-determined amount is collected from allgroup tour participants to cover tips en route.This then saves you the hassle of when andhow much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers,local guides and other support staff through thetour. The tipping kitty amount is noted under'Exclusions' on the first page of this Go Guide.

PLEASE NOTE: The tipping kitty is to be paid inINDIAN RUPEES (INR) and it will be collected onday 2 of your tour.

If travelling onto Sri Lanka on our Delhi toColombo tour, the tipping kitty for that sectionof your tour will be collected by your guide in Sri

Lanka and payable in Sri Lankan Rupees (SLR).If travelling on our Railways of the Raj tour, atip kitty will not collected and we ask that youindependently manage tipping along the way.

Our ‘tipping made easy’ doesn’t include a tipfor your group tour guide, where we suggest anamount of approx USD$3 - 7 per day multipliedby the duration of your tour. Naturally though,the amount is up to you. The tip for your guideis an entirely personal gesture.

If travelling on a group tour with less than6 participants or on a tailor-made holiday, inplace of ‘tipping made easy’ we recommendthe following amounts per person per day beallocated to cover tips paid directly by you to- bellhops, luggage handlers, your driver andlocal guides - USD $9 if the day includes alocal guide & sightseeing and USD $4 if the dayexcludes a local guide and sightseeing.

VisasAll foreign nationals must obtain a visa for a visitto India and it is essential the visa be procuredprior to travel.

UK, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and USApassport holders are able to take advantageof India's online visa service (subject toeligibility). Information about the e-TouristVisa (eTV) process can be found at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

The online application should be submitted aminimum of 4 working days and a maximum of30 days in advance of proposed date of arrival.Entry to India must be within 30 days of theeTV approval date and the visa is valid for 30days from arrival. Please visit the website notedabove for more info.

The e-Tourist Visas are 30 day, single entry visas.You cannot obtain an e-Tourist Visa if you planto stay in India for more than 30 days or ifyou require a multiple entry visa. A six monthmultiple entry visa can be obtained from theembassy in advance of travel.

If you are a resident in the UK we offer avisa service for six month visas to save youthe inconvenience of having to queue at the

embassy, please visit our website or contact usfor further information.

Visa requirements are subject to change andthat visa procurement prior to departure issolely the responsibility of the traveller and notof On The Go Tours. Please also ensure that yourpassport is valid for at least 6 months from yourplanned date of return from India.

CurrencyThe currency of India is the Indian Rupee.

Pound Sterling, US Dollars or other majorcurrencies can be exchanged only in India, asthe Rupee is presently exchangeable only indestination. The Rupee is non-exportable, sospend it all before you leave! Exchange facilitiesare available at major airports and bureau dechanges and to a lesser degree, ATMs/cashmachines exist in larger towns. It's advisable torequest bank notes in smaller denominations, asit can sometimes be hard to get change fromlarge notes and smaller notes are handy forsmaller purchases and gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Domestic Flights - BaggageAllowanceIf your tour includes a domestic flight or youhave independently booked domestic flightsseparate to that of your international flights,please be mindful that that free baggageallowance for Economy class travel on all flightswithin India is 15kg with 7kg of hand luggage.Business class travel offers considerably more.Additional weight is charged at INR250 per kilo.

ATMs & Credit CardsExchange facilities are available at variousbureau de changes, banks and at most hotels.Bring clean, unmarked cash in US Dollars (notUSD 100 bills as these are hard to change),Euro or Pound Sterling. Commission chargesvary from place to place and bank to bank.ATMs are available in all major towns and cities.We recommend you take a mixture of cashand credit/debit cards (for ATM usage). Pleaseavoid bringing Travellers Cheques as they cansometimes be difficult to change. Credit cards

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are an acceptable means of payment in mostmajor tourist centres, including larger shops andbusinesses.

TOP TIP: Before leaving home inform your bankthat you will be travelling to India, as otherwiseyour bank may think that your transaction madein India is fraudulent and withhold funds untilyou contact them.

Train Travel In IndiaTravelling by train in India is a unforgettablelocal experience where you will get to meetIndian people and experience daily life as theydo. The Indian Railway system is the world’ssecond largest, with over 108,706 km of track,connecting more than 7000 stations. Every day,more than 7000 trains run, carrying some 14million passengers, including us. A number ofour group tours and bolt-ons include trainjourneys, some by day and others overnight.If your tour does include train travel, we havenoted within the itinerary the coach/class oftravel that will be booked. Below is some furtherinformation that may assist you in planning foryour journey.

2nd AC CHAIR CARIf travelling on a daytime journey, you will travelin an air-conditioned seated carriage (called 2ndAC chair car), similar to that of a standard citytrain in most western countries. When travellingto loftier destinations where the weather iscooler, air-conditioning may not be provided.

2nd AC COACH/ SLEEPERIf travelling overnight, we accommodatepassengers in the 2nd class sleeperair-conditioned category (unless otherwiseindicated at a higher level). 2nd class sleeperair-conditioned cabins consist of 2 upper and 2lower bunks, plus a double-decker set of bunkbeds on the opposite side of the cabin shared byyou and other Indian travellers. You can sit upon your bunk bed during the day and simply liedown once you are ready to go to sleep.

All cabins are mixed sex. Your cabin is notself contained as such. ‘Cabins’ are separatedfrom the carriage corridor by curtains, servingas an artificial barrier that can be drawn atnight. Luggage, including hand luggage shouldbe locked (as you would do when travelling

on any overnight train anywhere in the world)and can be stored underneath the lower bunksor on the floor. The carriage is manned byan attendant who will distribute linen, free ofcharge. Dependent upon the service, a varietyof snacks and drinks or full dinner service canbe ordered at an additional cost (with theexception of the Shatabdi Express and RajdhaniExpress where meals are included within yourfare). Food aboard the Shatabdi Express train ismost often exceptionally good, though on manyother train services it is probably best to buysnacks, fresh fruit that can be peeled or mealsprior to the start of your journey. In addition,there are WC facilities (European and also ‘squat-style’) at each end of the carriage. Cleanlinessvaries, so be prepared and take your own anti-bacterial hand wipes and toilet paper.

1st AC COACH/ SLEEPERAll Indian trains offer 2nd and 3rd AC coaches,but only a handful of trains offer 1st AC coaches,which can accommodate a tiny total of 18people. 1st AC coach/ sleepers only have berthson one side of the train hence making the cabinmore spacious. The cabin may have 2 berths or4 which seat/sleep 2 or 4 persons. You can sit upa on bench seat during the day, which is foldedinto bunk beds at night. The 1st AC coach alsohas a door making it fully closed and lockablefor 2 or 4 persons. Beds are a tad wider andmattresses more cushioned. Each cabin has a'bell' switch, which when pressed summons theattendant of the coach.

3rd AC COACH/ SLEEPERWe do not include 3rd AC coach travel withinany of our tours, though if you were consideringit for personal arrangements a description canbe given as follows. 3rd AC coach is very similarto 2nd AC coach with the only difference beingthat there is a middle berth ie not just a 2bunk bed but a triple bunk bed, hence makingit possible for 6 people to be accommodatedwithin the space. Like the 2nd AC coach there isalso another set of bunk beds on the oppositeside ie running parallel with the length of thetrain. Like 2nd AC, there’s no door just curtainsand again you sit up on your bunk bed duringthe day and lie down to sleep.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to India from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideTetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Polio arestrongly recommended. You are also advised totake anti-Malarial medication.

WaterAs tap water is not safe to drink in India, onlydrink bottled mineral water which is readilyavailable in hotels, shops and restaurants. Youshould also avoid salads which may be washedin unhygienic water.

ClimateIndia has a three-season year known as thehot, the wet and the cool. The best time tovisit is between September and April whentemperatures are cooler and therefore ideal forsightseeing. In the summer months of May toJuly it is less crowded and conditions are perfectfor sightseeing and photography, althoughparts of India are extremely hot. July signalsthe start of the monsoon or wet season thatcontinues until early September. Although theweather is humid, the days are punctuated byintermittent rainfall and the monsoon is India isactually quite spectacular and refreshing.

Time & VoltageIndia is 5 hours 30 mins ahead of GMT. Standardvoltage is 230-240V (usually 240V). Pack auniversal travel adaptor that will allow you touse a hairdryer, electric shaver, charge a mobilephone and other electrical items. Take carewith your choice of adaptor. Be sure that it issuitable for India, as Indian sockets accept round3 pin plugs that are similar but not identical toEuropean plugs.

Essential Packing• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs• A photocopy of your passport data pages• The voltage in India is 230-240V. Most outlets

in India accept round 3 pin plugs (not aUK, European or USA plugs). You shouldpack a Universal Adaptor and check that it issuitable for India

• Insect repellant to guard against mosquitos• Spare camera batteries/memory card

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• Consider packing some pencils, pens ormodest educational supplies that can begiven to village schools or street children

• Buy some Indian Rupees at the airport onarrival

• Keep a supply of small notes for localtransactions

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the 'Inclusions'section of these Trip Notes) from Delhi'sIndira Gandhi International Airport, our arrivalprocedure is as follows:

Arrive to Delhi's Indira Gandhi InternationalAirport, where after you have attended tocustoms and immigration formalities, pleaseproceed to the arrival hall. Please have yourtour voucher handy and make it available to ourrepresentative who will be waiting for you inthe arrivals hall, holding a prominent On TheGo Tours logo signboard, ready to escort you toour awaiting transportation and onward to yourstart hotel.

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight to India is delayedplease call the emergency contact number asstated on your tour voucher. Please do not leavethe airport or go to the hotel on your own. Callour emergency contact number and follow theadvice given by our local team.

If travelling on our Captivating Kerala tour (witharrival via Kochi Airport), Railways of the Rajtour (with arrival via Kolkata) or one of our'Short Stays' where an airport arrival transferis included in your holiday, the procedure formeeting you at the airport is the same as thosedetailed above.

Pre-Tour AccommodationIf arriving on day 1 of a holiday that includesan airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the'Inclusions' section of these Trip Notes) wewill be at the airport, ready to transfer youto your hotel. Further if you are booking pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrivaltransfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrivesvery, very early in the morning) you will need to

purchase a night of pre-tour accommodation tosave you waiting until standard hotel check intime, which is generally 2pm.

Tap WaterDo not drink the tap water in India, it’s advisablefor visitors to always drink bottled water. Bottledwater in India comes in two types - packageddrinking water, and pure mineral water such asthe Bisleri brand. There is a difference betweenthem. Packaged drinking water is water that hasbeen treated and made healthy for drinking,while mineral water has been obtained naturallyat its underground source and hygienicallybottled. Both are safe to drink, although mineralwater is better as it’s chemical free.

ShoppingIndia is a virtual Aladdin’s Cave. At the manybazaars known as ‘chowks’, the cardinal ruleis to bargain hard. State run craft emporiumsthat stock the best of what a particularstate has to offer can give you a reasonableidea of what is acceptable in terms of priceand quality. You'll find carpets of qualityequal to those of Persian origin, Rajasthanipottery and metalwork, embellished slippersknown as jootis, jewellery in breathtakingdesigns. Likewise leatherwork, silks and saris inspectacularly colourful designs, paintings andclothing make excellent souvenirs.

IMPORTANT: Set your budget and don’t beswayed, remember the caveat – ‘Let the buyerbeware’. Any purchases made whilst on holidaywith us, irrespective of whether the store isrecommended by us or other, are at yourown discretion. Please make sure that you arecompletely happy with the product you arepurchasing and the delivery arrangements (wewould recommend you take away with youany purchases rather than rely on shippingservices). On The Go cannot be held responsibleor accountable for items bought in country orshipping arrangements. We will not becomeinvolved later in your holiday or once you returnhome should your purchase not live up to yourexpectations. Proceed with caution.

Fabulous food!India’s vast range of climates, cultures andpeoples has produced a very diverse culinaryrepertoire. Curry is the word that springs to mind

when people think of Indian food. Believe it ornot, there is no such thing as ‘curry’ in India.It’s an English invention, an all-purpose termto cover the whole gamut of Indian spicing.Although all Indian food is certainly not curry,this is the basis of Indian cuisine. For the mostpart Indian food is very, very aromatic, since thespices used by Indian chefs and cooks in Indiadon’t arrive in the cooking pot via a pre-packedtub of spice. Indian chefs and cooks have about25 spices on their regular list and it is from thesethat they produce the curry flavour. Normallyspices are freshly ground with a pestle andmortar, and blended in certain combinationsto produce varying flavours and heat. It is thefreshness of the spices that transform the dish.Curries can be vegetable, meatlamb, muttonor chicken in content, though never beef. Thecow is sacred to the Hindu people and India ingeneral, so it is extremely rare to see beef on anymenu across the country. Lamb also substitutesbeef at McDonalds in India. Ask for a MaharajahMac!

Street FoodStreet food, although tasty and fabulouslooking, cannot always be relied upon to havebeen safely and hygienically prepared, so tothis end, we suggest you sample ‘street style’food from an established restaurant or fromsomewhere recommended by your tour leader.

Western FoodIf Indian food becomes too much and you wishto escape to something familiar, Western-stylefood is available. Many menus in hotels andrestaurants will feature dishes loosely basedon Western recipes with perhaps just a hintof curry flavouring or spice. Indians like toexperiment with other cuisine as well. Chinesecuisine in India is often very good. In the biggercities, you’ll find restaurants specialising ininternational cuisine, not to mention Americanfast food chains.

Change For ChildrenOn many of our group tours we stop at oneof two village schools where we operate our‘Change for Children’ programme. If travellingvia Alsisar you will meet the children at RajakiyaKanya Madhyamik Vidyalaya primary school andif via Bharatpur, Adarsh Vidya Mandir localschool. If you have bought any educational

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items with you to hand out to children thiswould be the time to do so. You can also makea donation to the school if you choose via ourChange For Children project. Your guide willhand out envelopes to those interested.

Both schools are closed from mid May throughtill the start of July, for winter vacation inDecember and during festival weeks such asHoli, Diwali and other - including teachertraining days which only tend to be announceda day or two prior. Accordingly it will not bepossible to visit the school during these timesand should you have bought along items for theschool your guide will be happy to pass them onto the school when it re-opens.

Documents

Passage to India - On The Go Tourscdn.onthegotours.com/resources/documents/goguides/2016...TRIP NOTES Passage to India Passage to India - 15 days updated on 29-11-2016 UK 020 7371