Himalayan Foothills

You take the early morning train south-west to the famous Pink City of Jaipur. Travelling on an Indian train is an experience in itself; it’s almost like a town on wheels and has a complete cross-section of life aboard. Jaipur, like Delhi, has both old and new cities, and during your stay you concentrate on the old. The streets are busy with camels and bullock-carts, and above it all monkeys make their home in the city walls.

You head to the City Palace and the famous Palace of the Winds where royal maidens once watched the streets below; they were able to watch the street scene without being seen due to the fabulous jali (lattice screens) which hid them from prying male eyes. Today fortune-tellers ply their trade below the same hideaway. Close by is the 18th century Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built by the city’s founder Jai Singh who, having a passion for the science, built five such wonders in major cities all over the north. The rest of the day is left free for you to explore other sights at your own pace. Hotel – 2 nights (B)

This morning you drive to Agra, stopping en route at the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. The journey takes about seven hours (roadworks permitting). Built by Akbar the Great as his new capital, it was deserted after just 15 years, probably because the water supply was inadequate. It is a perfectly preserved example of Moghul architecture and provides a unique insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul people.

Like Delhi, Agra stands on the bank of the River Yamuna and was once the capital of the Moghul Empire. Agra flourished under Akbar, and Shah Jahan added many of the buildings in and around Agra Fort including of course, the Taj Mahal - built as a mausoleum for Shah Jahan’s beloved wife, Mumtaz, after she died giving birth to their fourteenth child. Hotel – 1 night (B)

Alighting from the train, you drive along twisting mountain roads and into the hills passing through forests and small villages. The road rises dramatically - gaining more than 1300m in just over 30km - finally emerging at the town of Naini Tal, nestling alongside its tal (lake), three hours later.

You spend the rest of the morning in and around this pleasant hill station. Once the summer capital of British India’s United Provinces (now mostly Uttar Pradesh) it is just as popular today as it was then - a wonderful escape from the summer heat of the Indian plains. If time allows (the train can be delayed) you can make a leisurely climb up Naina (Cheena) Peak (8500ft/2610m) for stunning views of the Himalayas including Nanda Devi (25400ft/7816m), which was India’s highest peak until Kanchenjunga in the east was absorbed into the country. For the less energetic, time can be passed boating on the lake or strolling The Mall.

Leaving Naini Tal you continue your journey through stunning mountain scenery to the sleepy village of Katami Gajar situated on the banks of the Kosi River, a journey of about two and a half hours. Your lodge sits on the steep mountainside, close to the jungles in which Jim Corbett found his calling. Though comfortable, the lodge is surrounded by nature and in many ways, is distant from modern technology. There are large mahseer fish in the river and in the surrounding forests it is said there are wild boar, leopard, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, sambar and even the tiger though one would be very lucky to have a sighting of any one of these elusive animals. Rather, this is a place to relax and enjoy the surroundings in what is a little-visited area of northern India. During your time here, you will have plenty of time to explore the village and visit the local school. Lodge - 2 nights (Bx2 Lx1 Dx2)

Today the long drive of around five hours skirts fields of sugar cane and cotton, with villages lining the roadside; real India at its best. At Haridwar, one of the seven holy towns of India you cross the Ganges, one of seven Indian rivers holy to Hinduism. Known as the ‘Gateway to the Gods’, Haridwar lies at the point where the Ganges passes through its last gorge before its journey across the plains. Many pilgrims come here to bathe in the water and you’ll have a chance to wander along the riverbank and maybe visit the main ghat, Hari ki Pairi, where Vishnu is believed to have left a footprint.
You continue north following the Ganges, ending a few kilometres along the road at Rishikesh, a famous centre for yoga. Also considered a sacred place, it is believed that meditation here leads to attainment of salvation. A visit to Triveni Ghat at sunset enables you to join the many
local people sending offerings to the gods in the form of floating aarti lamps. Camp – 1 night (B)

NB: Your campsite is located in a truely spectacular setting in a remote and picturesque valley on the banks of the river Ganges. Be sure to wear your walking boots or equivalent and take your torch with you for the short walk from the bus down to the campsite.

Today you are properly introduced to the capital with a tour of New Delhi. The present metropolis of Delhi is at least the eighth city to have been founded on this site; its predecessors have been largely razed to the ground. The wide boulevards of New Delhi and imposing buildings conjure up images of the British Empire at its zenith.

Later on, you'll take a walking tour around Old Delhi - bustling and vibrant, it hosts a network of narrow streets and alleys teeming with people. Mosques and temples are squeezed into unlikely places between shops and market stalls. You’ll visit the Jami Masjid, Delhi’s largest mosque, which is not only a place of religious worship, but also a lively meeting place for the city’s Muslims.

You'll have the rest of the day to further explore this fascinating city or carry out some last minute bargain hunting! After a busy day you may want to meet up in the evening for a ‘last supper’ together. You can recount your journey and swap stories about a great trip. Hotel - 1 night (B)