Trip Itinerary
| DEPARTURE: | |
| SEPT. 1 | Evening, New York JFK |
| SEPT. 2-4 | Mumbai - Ganesh Festival |
| SEPT. 5-6 | Varanasi |
| SEPT. 7 | Khajuraho |
| SEPT. 8-9 | Agra |
| SEPT. 10-11 | Delhi |
| SEPT. 12-14 | Mumbai - Ganesh Festival |
| RETURN: | |
| SEPT 15 | Early morning, New York JFK |
Itinerary: Subject to change if special opportunities present themselves between now and the departure of the trip. All confirmed travelers will be notified immediately if this occurs.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Departure: New York (JFK) to Mumbailate evening
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 - MUMBAI
Arrive: Mumbai at nightGanesh Tour representative will greet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 - DAY 1
(GANESH CHATURTHI)
- Morning free (time to adjust to time zone change)
- Afternoon: Visit to Lalbagh studios to view final touches being put on Ganesh statues; watch idols from 1-35 feet being brought to homes and public spaces
- Evening: Visit to public places around Walkeshwar to view the Ganesh puja (ritual ceremonies) at pandals (public installations)
- Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - DAY 2
- Breakfast at hotel- Morning: Excursion to Elephanta Caves
- Afternoon: Shopping tour* followed by view the Ganesh Puja at pandals and first family immersion at Dadar or Juhu Beach
- Evening: Visit to public places around Mumbai to view the Ganesh puja (ritual ceremonies) at pandals (public installations)
- Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
* those interested in buying amazing fabric will go with Shana to silk and brocade shops
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - DAY 3MUMBAI/VARANASI BY AIR
D: 0700 A: 1120 HRS
- Early breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: Transfer Mumbai airport to Varanasi, transfer to hotel
- Afternoon: Experience Varanasi intimately while riding through the narrow streets and alleys of this holy city.
- Evening: Participate in an aarti ceremony (collective prayer) and watch the floating diyas (lamps) on the Ganges river.
- Overnight at the hotel in Varanasi
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - DAY 4
- Early Morning visit to Ganges River for boat ride- Return to hotel for breakfast
- Morning: Excursion of Sarnath
(Buddha delivered his first teaching here)
- Overnight at the hotel in Varanasi
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 - DAY 5
VARANASI to KHAJURAHO BY AIR
D: 1220 A: 1300 HRS
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Upon arrival in Khajuraho transfer to hotel
- Afternoon: City tour of Khajuraho visiting Eastern and Western Group of Temples
- Overnight at the hotel in Khajuraho
KHAJURAHO/JHANSI BY LAND
(175 KMS /4.5 HRS DRIVE) & JHANSI/AGRA BY TRAIN (SHATABDI EXPRESS
D: 1800 A: 2010 HRS)
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: Proceed to Jhansi railway station by surface visiting Orcha en route. In Ochra you will see beautiful palaces and temples.
- Afternoon: Jhansi to connect train for Agra, upon arrival in Agra transfer to hotel
- Overnight at the hotel in Agra
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 - DAY 7
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: City tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
- Overnight at the hotel in Agra
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 - DAY 8
AGRA/DELHI BY LAND
(205 KMS/4.5 HRS DRIVE)
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: Agra to Delhi
- Afternoon: City tour of New Delhi visiting Qutub Minar, Humayons Tomb
- Overnight at the hotel in Delhi
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 - DAY 9
DELHI/MUMBAI BY AIR
D: 1650 A: 1845
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: City tour of Old Delhi to visit Jama Masjid, the Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, and Raj Ghat (the cremation place of Mahatma Gandhi) and Birla Temple. This temple is significant as Gandhi agreed to inaugurate it on the condition that people of all castes and especially untouchables would be allowed in.
- Afternoon: Transfer to Delhi airport to connect flight for Mumbai
- Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 - DAY 10
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: City tour of Mumbai to visit Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan (a house where Gandhi lived while in Mumbai), The Gateway of India and drive past Marine Drive.
- Afternoon: Visit to Ganesh pandals followed by a Indian Bollywood Film in a local theater
- Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 - DAY 11
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: Tour of a Bollywood studio (confirmed unless there's a shoot which has a closed set)
- Evening: Visit Ganesh pandals
- Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 - IMMERSION DAY
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning: Free for independent activities
- Afternoon: View the procession and immersion of Ganesh Idols into sea at Chowpatty beach; one hour boat trip with H20 boat company
Farewell Dinner
After dinner transfer to Mumbai International airport to connect flight for return to the US
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 (RETURN TO JFK)
Departure: 12:45am (Sunday night, but actually early Monday)
Arrival: JFK 7:10am
The trip breaks down as follows:
- September 1: overnight in plane
- September 2-13: overnight in various hotels
- September 14: you will have access to your room until you depart for the plane in the late evening
- September 14/15: overnight in plane, return the morning of the 15th