India: By Steam to the Hill Stations
November 14-30, 2005
Palace on Wheels optional post-tour:
Nov. 30-Dec. 7, 2005
Note: If you wish to arrive in India on Day 1, please depart from the U.S. on Nov. 12.
Day 1: Monday, November 14
Arrive Calcutta (D)
Our group meets in Calcutta this afternoon at the Oberoi Towers Hotel for a welcome and briefing of the tour. Afterward, enjoy dinner together and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tuesday, November 15
Calcutta tour (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we have a tour of the city center, to see the "black hole of Calcutta," and some of the remains of the British Raj era. Calcutta streetcars have an atmosphere all their own, giving their system a magical feeling. We will take a ride into the suburbs to see the "real" city on a chartered streetcar. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Wednesday, November 16*
River Hooghly cruise; Overnight Darjeeling Mail train to New Jalpaiguri (B,D)
We will take a cruise up the River Hooghly (one of the mouths of the Ganges) to allow a visit to Howrah Railway Station (probably the busiest station in India), several temples and a traditional market. One of the highlights! In the early evening, we will transfer to Sealdah station to catch the overnight Darjeeling Mail…
Day 4: Thursday, November 17
Siliguri locomotive depot; Chartered steam train with dinner on board (B,L,D)
…to New Jalpaiguri, at the foot of the world-famous two-foot gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. After watching the service train depart, we will transfer to our hotel, the Cindrella, for breakfast - rooms will be ready on arrival. After breakfast, we will take a short tour of the town of Siliguri, visiting the fruit and vegetable market beside Siliguri Town station, and visiting the locomotive depot at Siliguri Junction, where the 'B' class 0-4-0 well tanks live. In the early evening, we will have a chartered steam train over the lower reaches of the line utilizing the railway's dining car, the 'Tenzing Norgay,' for a four-course dinner while listening to the locomotive working flat-out on the 5% grade. If we are really lucky, we may spot a wild elephant in the jungle!
Day 5: Friday, November 18
Day trip to Kalimpong (B,L,D)
A day trip by road up the steep-sided Teesta valley (following the route of the erstwhile Kalimpong branch of the DHR), then up the hill to the bazaar town known as the 'Gateway to Sikkim'. The views are stunning. Kalimpong is famous for the cultivation of orchids.
Day 6: Saturday, November 19
Chartered steam train to Tindharia (B,L,D)
Today is our first full steam charter train day, as we ride from New Jalpaiguri through the urban sprawl of the town-through the Siliguri bazaars, over the Mahanadi River, alongside the tea estates to Sukna, then climbing through the jungle to arrive at Tindharia, the engineering center of the Darjeeling line. Road vehicles will accompany the train (road and rail run side by side), so that photographers will have ample opportunity to photograph the train. We will visit the workshops, where there are machines dating back to the 1880s and all the line's rolling stock is maintained. (These works are normally off-limits to visitors). We then return by road to the Cindrella Hotel at Siliguri.
Day 7: Sunday, November 20
Chartered steam train to Darjeeling (B,L,D)
We will travel up to Tindharia by road to continue our steam-hauled charter train up to the Agony Point loop, then across Mahanadi Mountain and back before arriving at Kurseong for a short lunch break. We'll continue up the Main Street of Kurseong, brushing the shops in the bazaar, then we follow the hillside up through Sonada to Ghum, the summit, before descending around Batasia Loop to Darjeeling, the northern terminus. We should get our first glimpse of Kanchenjunga-the third highest mountain in the world at 27,000 feet-which dominates this mountain town. We'll stay the night at the period hotel, the legendary Windamere, where the pace and style is till set in the 1930s. Afternoon tea is a must!
Day 8: Monday, November 21
Day of leisure in Darjeeling (B,L,D)
Day of leisure in Darjeeling. If you can make an early start, take the trip to Tiger Hill to watch sunrise on Kanchenjunga-and, if it's really clear, Everest. There's plenty to do: the zoo with its snow leopard, the Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan Refugee Self-help Centre or maybe a visit to a tea estate to see how it is grown, picked and prepared for use. If you, like us, are captivated by the railway, grab a cab and head down the Hill Cart Road to meet the service train climbing along the hillside, with another superb photo opportunity every 100 yards or so.
Day 9: Tuesday, November 22
Steam charter to Batasia Loop for photography (B,L,D)
The morning is free, maybe to visit the bazaar, but there will be an afternoon special steam charter back up to Ghum, with a stop at Batasia loop for photography-with luck we'll be able to get shots of the train with Kanchenjunga in the background. At Ghum, we can visit the small but fascinating Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum before steam takes us back to Darjeeling.
Day 10: Wednesday, November 23*
Overnight Rajdhani Express to Delhi (B,L,D)
Road transport will take us back down the Hill Cart Road to New Jalpaiguri, where we will catch the lunchtime Rajdhani Express for the twenty-hour journey across northern India….
Day 11: Thursday, November 24
National Railway Museum (B,L,D)
…arriving in Delhi in the late morning. After a chance to freshen up at our hotel, the Imperial (one of the best heritage hotels, right in the center of the city), we will visit the Delhi Railway Museum, where the unique Patiala State Monorail steam locomotive will be in steam for us - try to drive it if you dare! An early night is recommended because…
Day 12: Friday, November 25
Train to Shimla (B,L,D)
…we have an early start to catch the 6:00 a.m. train to Kalka for the 2'6" gauge diesel train up to Shimla at 7,200 ft., in the Himalayan foothills. In British days, this is where the governmental seat of India moved to from Delhi during the heat of the Indian summer. It's called "The Queen of the Hill Stations." Overnight at the Oberoi.
Day 13: Saturday, November 26
Steam charter train to Kathleeghat (B,L,D)
We have the morning to explore Shimla, strolling along the traffic-free Mall to Christ Church, typically English in architecture. We will spend the afternoon with a steam charter train from Shimla to Kathleeghat, about 20 miles away, and back, with a stop on one of the line's distinctive viaducts for a picture or two.
Day 14: Sunday, November 27
Free time in Shimla; Overnight train to Agra (B,L,D)
Free day in Shimla. We will take the 5:30 p.m. narrow-gauge train from Shimla down to Kalka, with dinner on the train. We will catch the overnight train at 11:45 p.m. to…
Day 15: Monday, November 28
Sunset at Taj Mahal (B,L,D)
…Tundla, which is suburban Agra, arriving at 11:05 a.m. Breakfast will be served on the train in Delhi. Coach transfer to the hotel, with an afternoon visit to the Taj Mahal for viewing sunset over this magnificent structure.Day 16: Tuesday, November 29
Free day in Agra (B,L,D)
A free day to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, and visit the magnificent Red Fort, and maybe watch the local artisans producing the delicate marble inlay work for which Agra is world-famous. We'll take a late train back to Delhi and spend our last night at the Imperial Hotel.
Day 17: Wednesday, November 30
Return home or join Palace on Wheels (B,L,D)
Prepare to fly home, or extend with a week on the luxury Palace on Wheels train for a tour of Rajasthan.
Tour extension on the Palace on Wheels (Highlights only)
Day 17: Wednesday, November 30 (B,L,D)
The Palace on Wheels departs from Delhi early afternoon, with dinner served on board.
Day 18: Thursday, December 1 (B,L,D)
After breakfast on board, a day's sightseeing in the pink city of Jaipur, including an elephant ride up the fabulous Amber Fort. Return to the train for dinner and the overnight trip to….
Day 19: Friday, December 2 (B,L,D)
…Jaisalmer. After breakfast, a sightseeing trip and lunch in this desert city precedes a return to the train for dinner, and the overnight run to….
Day 20: Saturday, December 3 (B,L,D)
…Jodhpur. Again, there is an exploration of this historic Rajasthani city (with lunch at a Palace hotel) before returning to the train for dinner.
Day 21: Sunday, December 4 (B,L,D)
A special morning visit to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, before moving on to Chittaurgarh for the afternoon. Dinner on board the Palace on Wheels.
Day 22: Monday, December 5 (B,L,D)
Monday is Udaipur day, with the city tour including a visit to the 'Lake Palace Hotel,' formerly home to the Maharana of Udaipur, at the top of India's royal hierarchy, made famous in the James Bond film "Octopussy." Dinner is served on train as we head back north overnight.
Day 23: Tuesday, December 6 (B,L,D)
In the morning, we visit the famous bird sanctuary at Bharatpur, and visit the legendary deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Late afternoon takes us to Agra for a last look at the Taj Mahal. After a final dinner on board, our last overnight journey takes us back to….
Day 24: Wednesday, December 7 (B,L,D)
…Delhi, where an early morning arrival concludes a breathtaking tour of the magical country that is India.
Depart for home tonight; or, request post-tour independent overnight stays.
Cost of Tour:
Main program: $3,950 per person, double occupancy
$4,945 single occupancy
Options (*)
For those who would prefer to avoid overnight rail travel on the main program, we can offer the following options for additional cost:
1. On Day 3, spend the night in Calcutta, and take a flight the following day to Bagdogra (Siliguri's airport), and rejoin the main tour at the locomotive sheds
2. On Day 10, fly direct to Delhi from Bagdogra, and stay at the Imperial. The morning of day 11 will be free to wander into Connaught Circus (only some 400 yards away) to see the shops. Rejoin the tour at the Imperial at lunchtime.
Cost of the above: Flights and hotels needed for Calcutta -Siliguri, and between Siliguri and Delhi, the additional cost (including the extra hotel nights) is $685 with a single supplement of $182.
Palace on Wheels: $2,695 per person, double occupancy
$3,735 single occupancy
Rooms are subject to availability. A deposit of $539 p.p. twin and $747 p.p. single is required upon booking. Deposits for the POW are nonrefundable.
Main tour includes:
· IndRail Pass
· Services of full-time, professional tour leader
· All gratuities for all included services
· All meals included except for lunch on Day 3
· Accommodations in either four- or five-star hotels
· Bottled water with all meals
· All train reservations and charters as noted
· Transfers to/from airport the day the main tour begins and ends
Tour does not include:
· Airfare
· Visa processing (A visa is required for entry to India.)
· Items of a personal nature
· Gratuities to your tour leader
· Transfers or gratuities on Palace on Wheels.
· Transfers to/from airport on days which are either earlier or later than the start of the tour.
A word about international air: We have access to some very good air rates. The schedules and rates for next November are not available now, but will be quite soon. Please let us know your desired gateway when you book, and we will provide a price and schedule as soon as we can.
CLICK HERE FOR TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THIS TOUR.
The Society of International Railway Travelers
1810 Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
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