HERITAGE TRAINS OF INDIA

Transcription

1 HERITAGE TRAINS OF INDIA TRAINS MAGAZINE TOUR February 2-16, 2017 ITINERARY

2 Heritage Trains of India 2017 Travel with TRAINS Magazine and Special Interest Tours on this two week journey by rail through historic India.. Tour Highlights Ride along the DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow gauge rail) National Rail Museum in Delhi Rewari Steam Center Taj Mahal Tour Sightsee Palaces and Tombs in Delhi and Jaipur Passage through the 'Batasia Loop Privately chartered ground transport Daily breakfast at the hotel, and one additional daily meal 14 nights luxury accommodation

3 Please Note ** Group Flights Available** Please contact us if you are interested in joining the group flight. Day 1 Feb 2nd Fly into Delhi in the evening. From the airport we will transfer to the luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel and settle in for the night. Day 2 Feb 3rd After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will board the Express train to Kalka from the New Delhi Railway Station. Upon arrival at Kalka Station, we will board a chartered rail-bus to Shimla on narrow gauge. The historic rail-bus was originally used to transport notable travelers on the railway and has exclusively first class accommodations. It has a glass roof and forward views which allow passengers to take full advantage of the fantastic scenery through which the line passes.

4 Day 43 Feb 4th Today we will ride on the narrow gauge Kalka Shimla Railway (KSR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This route features spectacular scenery and marvels of construction. It has hundreds of bridges and viaducts, numerous tunnels, and a ruling gradient of 1 in 33. We join our specially chartered steam train at Shimla Station, the hill station terminus of the line, for a return trip to Kathleeghat Station. The two railway stations are 23 km (14 miles) apart but the 2 hour journey each way will provide ample opportunity to appreciate the breathtaking views and amazing infrastructure. Our train will be hauled by the British built steam locomotive KC520, which has recently returned from overhaul at the Northern Railway Workshops in Amritsar. We return to our hotel, the Cecil, by late afternoon with the evening free to enjoy the scenic town.

5 Day 4 Feb March, 5th11th Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and oday, return a series to Fairbanks. of flights Along the will way, bring we will us stop ast briefly to Bagdogra. at the Alaskan From Pipeline, Bagdogra a great we architectural feat in the harshest of climates. will transfer to Siliguri, a town located in the foothills of the Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Himalayas. Berman s major Here illustrated we will presentation check into Light and Color in the Universe. the Royal Sarovar Portico Hotel. The remainder of the day will be free Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, we will charter time a coach to relax. to transport our group to a special remote location, in an attempt to experience the impressive aurora lights! Day 5 Feb 6th After breakfast we will transfer to the Siliguri steam locomotive depot of the famous narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR). We have a specially chartered train, hauled by a 'B Class' steam locomotive to travel to Rangtong. En route, we will pass Sukna Station, where the landscape changes from flat plains to the wooded lower slopes of the mountains, and the gradient of the railway changes dramatically.

6 The DHR has been breached by repeated landslides in recent years making it necessary to continue our journey by road from Rangtong to Kurseong. In the quaint hill station of Kurseong, we will stay at the Chochrane Place, an attractive colonial bungalow turned hotel. The DHR tracks run through the length of this former rest town from the days of the British Raj. The early evening is free to discover the sights and tea estates. Day 6 Feb 7th This morning we will travel by jeep to Kurseong Station where we'll board a steam train on the DHR, nicknamed the Toy Train. En route, we will pass through the famous Batasia Loop and - weather permitting - will be able to take photos of the train against the background of Mt. Kanchenjunga and the rest of the Himalayan range. Upon arrival in Darjeeling we will transfer to the Windamere, a stunning historic colonial hotel for overnight accommodations.

7 Day Day 47 Feb 8th March, 11th Today we re-board the Toy Train, for Once the aboard DHR our steam-hauled coach bus, we will service depart Chena that and return to Fairbanks. Along the way, we will stop briefly runs daily at the Alaskan on a return Pipeline, trip a great from architectural feat in the harshest of climates. Darjeeling to Ghum, the highest railway station in India. There may be Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: another opportunity to photograph Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and the Color spectacular in the Universe. Himalayan Mountains when the train pauses at 'Batasia Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove Loop'. Later we will stop at Ghum and fair, we will charter a coach to transport our group to visit a special the remote museum location, above in an the attempt station to experience the impressive aurora lights! before we return to Darjeeling. After lunch we will visit the Tibetan Refugee Center to see traditional handmade textiles and crafts We will also visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) which houses artifacts of the legendary Sir Edmund Hillary and the local Sherpa of Darjeeling, Tenzing Norgay, who were the first to conquer Mt. Everest. Day 8 Feb 9th Early risers are in for a real treat today with our excursion to Tiger Hill (subject to clear weather as advised by our local team). Tiger Hill is about 12 km from Darjeeling and is the place to see the spectacular sunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga - the world s third highest mountain.

8 As the sun appears, the mountain dramatically Day changes 4 color; an awe-inspiring March, experience 11th not to be missed. On a perfectly clear day, Mt. Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and return Everest to Fairbanks. can also Along be the seen. way, we will stop briefly at the Alaskan Pipeline, a great architectural feat in the harshest of climates. Along our return to Darjeeling, we will visit the Tibetan Buddhist Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Monastery Berman s major at Ghum, illustrated which presentation was built Light and Color in the Universe. in 1875 and contains a 15 foot high statue of the Buddha. Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, we will charter a coach to transport our group to a special remote location, in an attempt to Breakfast will be provided upon our return to the hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to enjoy this beautiful hill station. experience the impressive aurora lights! Day 9 Feb 10th We leave Darjeeling today, traveling by road to Bagdogra Airport where we board an afternoon flight to Delhi where we will spend the night. Day 10 Feb 11th Today we will depart Delhi from the Cantonment Railway Station and journey by steam train to the Rewari Steam Center.

9 Our train will be hauled by one of India s iconic steam locomotives, a WP class pacific built post World War II for use on prestigious express trains. The Rewari Steam Center houses preserved broad gauge and metre gauge steam locomotives. The site also includes a library, small exhibits, a steam crane, and a restored saloon carriage. The latter will be our venue for having a boxed lunch that has been specially arranged for us. Following this visit, we will travel by road southwest to the majestic state of Jaipur. Day 11 Feb 12th Today in Jaipur, the "pink city", we will visit the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Observatory, and drive through the Hawa Mahal. Day 12 Feb 13th This morning we travel east to Agra the city of Taj Mahal. En route we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Center. On arrival in Agra, we will check into the ITC Mughal Hotel.

10 In the late afternoon we will visit the Red Fort, Itmad Ud Daulah, and witness the art of Pietra Dura (the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished, colored stones to create images). Day 13 Feb 14th We will rise early to visit the Taj Mahal at dawn. Sunrise, with its shifting colors and soft light, is the best time to visit this iconic site. After the Taj Mahal tour, breakfast will be provided at the hotel followed by free time to rest and relax. In the afternoon we will check out & drive to Delhi. Day 14 Feb 15th After breakfast, we will take a rickshaw ride through the Old Delhi bazaars and visit the sights of Old Delhi including Jama Masjid, one of the oldest mosques in India, and Humayun's Tomb. After lunch, we will visit the National Rail Museum.

11 Day 4 In the evening, we will gather one last time as a group at our March, 11th farewell dinner before guests Once aboard our coach bus, we will depart Chena and depart return to for Fairbanks. their Along flights the home. way, we Awill stop hotel briefly room at the Alaskan will be Pipeline, provided a great for architectural feat in the harshest of climates. guests to rest and freshen up before their flights. Late afternoon will bring a brilliant tour highlight: Bob Berman s major illustrated presentation Light and Color in the Universe. Day 15 Come evening, assuming weather conditions prove fair, we will charter a coach to transport our group to a special remote Feb location, 16in an attempt to experience the impressive aurora lights! Transfers will be provided to the airport for flights home. Day 15 Included in Tour Price 14 nights luxury hotel stay Two meals daily Ground Transportation Internal Flights All train rides and activities mentioned above. Not Included in Tour Price Airfare to and from Delhi (**Group flights available**) Items of a personal nature Additional Meals (>2 meals daily) Total Cost of Tour Per person, based on double occupancy: $4776 Singles Supplement: $1569 Per person deposit, due upon registration: $500 Full Payment Deadline: November 15th, 2016

12 Hotels Please see below for a list of hotels we will be staying at: Taj Mahal (Delhi) The Cecil (Shimla) Royal Sarovar Portico (Siliguri) Cochrane Place (Kurseong) The Windamere (Darjeeling) The Trident (Jaipur) ITC Mughal (Agra) JW Marriott (Delhi)

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