Expeditions to India

AGRA, FATEHPUR SIKRI and BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY EXTENSION

DATES: October 29 - November 01, 2008, 4 days/3 nights
PRICE: $599 (same for single or double occupancy).
ARRIVAL: October 29, 2008 in Delhi. You need to leave the USA on October 28th to arrive Delhi the next evening.
END OF EXTENSION: November 01, 2008 in Delhi.
GROUP SIZE: 2 to 6.

NOTE: DEADLINE TO REGISTER: JUNE 30, 2008!!!

This extension is particularly great for those participants who are not planning another trip to India, as the Taj Mahal is one of those must-see sites in one's lifetime and one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
The many splendid Mughal-era buildings in Agra, most notably the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, (all three being UNESCO World Heritage Sites), make Agra a major tourist destination.

Wednesday October 29: DELHI (1 night)
You arrive Delhi International Airport in the late evening and will be met by the expedition leader and our chauffeur/guide who will drive you to our hotel.

Thursday October 30: AGRA (1 night) (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we leave for Agra in Uttar Pradesh state, a drive of about 4 to 5 hours.
This medieval city located on the banks of the river Yamuna was founded in 1504 by Sultan Sikandar Lodi.
After check in at our hotel, we go to the Taj Mahal for an afternoon shoot of the most famous building in the world. The Taj is a mausoleum built by ruler Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India's most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Fantastic inlay works using semi-precious stones decorate the interiors.

Friday October 31: FATEHPUR SIKRI, BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY (1 night) (B,L,D)
If you are up for it, you have the option of an early morning shoot by the river Yamuna for a back view of the Taj Mahal by the river (sunrise is at 5:40AM).
After the river stop, we leave Agra and, on our way back to Delhi, make two stops at two other famous sites that have become World Heritage sites.
The first one is Fatehpur Sikri (24 miles away), the capital of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar for approximately 12 years. Akbar selected Sikri as the seat of his government believing it to be auspicious for himself. He experimented both with architecture and art and built a city expressing his ideals and vision. Today, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted, phantom city. But the inner citadel is very well preserved. Lots of monkeys run wild on the premises, making for good photo ops too.

After lunch, we drive to Bharatpur (15 miles away) and check into hotel near the park reserve.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, popularly known as Bharatpur, is India's best known bird sanctuary, ranking as one of the best waterfowl preserves in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 18 square miles park of mixed wetland, woodland and grassland is said to be home to over 400 species of birds, resident as well as migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia to spend winter in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds. The major attractions are several species of cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, falcons, vultures, hawks, warblers, flycatchers, herons, egrets, cormorants, owls and hoopoes.
However, the lack of rains in the last two years has greatly affected the sanctuary, apart from the growing need for water for agriculture and other purposes, and in the latest news the lakes of the park are drying up, so there are many less birds. We have to wait and see what the 2008 monsoon season will bring.
Other wildlife such as boars, jackals and several species of deers also reside in the park.
We spend a couple of hours in the Bird Sanctuary before sunset (5:00PM). There are well-defined forest trails, which can easily be covered on foot or by rented bicycle, however since we'll be there for a short time, it may be best to hire cycle rickshaws (for a nominal fee of $1.50/hour, not included). Rickshaw pullers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable.
Birds are generally easy to approach giving good photo opportunities.

Saturday November 01: DELHI (B,L)
Provided the water situation has resolved, we spend the morning at the Sanctuary then leave for Delhi after lunch (a 3-hour drive). If not, we'll leave for Delhi in the morning, stopping along the way as we see interesting photo opportunities.
The extension trip officially ends in Delhi, with rest of day at leisure.
Check in hotel as per main expedition. Dinner on your own.

PLEASE NOTE: If all participants decide to take the extension, there will be no need to go back to Delhi (where we would pick up upcoming participants), and we will then drive directly to Jaipur from Bharatpur (3 to 4 hours).

Itinerary is subject to change according to weather and local conditions and flexibility on the participants' part is greatly encouraged and appreciated.

Extension Cost: $599
Reservations: A $300 per person non-refundable deposit is required to secure a place on this extension which can be paid via Paypal or by check (preferred). The balance is due 60 days prior to beginning of expedition, together with main expedition balance.
Group Size: minimum 2, maximum 6.
Under 4 sign-ups, a supplement of $50 p.p. will be requested.

Expedition Cost includes:
Hotels (same price for single or double accommodations); chauffeured transportation; all meals but one; entrance fees at Taj Mahal and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary; services of chauffeur-guide and expedition leader.

Cost does NOT include:
Taxis or public transportation taken on your own, alcoholic beverages, meals taken on your own (no refund given on meals included in itinerary and not taken), items of personal nature and incidentals, luggage porters, entrance fees not mentioned above, camera fees at various venues (nominal), cycle-rickshaw guides at Bharatpur (nominal), tips and gratuities.

For complete details, see our General Information page.

To register for this extension go to the Registration page.