A Photographic Exploration of India including the Pushkar Festival with Vincent Versace Nov 9-22, 2010

© Vincent Versace

Double Occupancy: $6,895 • Single Occupancy: $8995

Internal Air: $650

Space Limited to 12 participants.

CUSTOM LAND COST INCLUDES: All meals as designated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); hotels as shown based on double occupancy; airport transfers as indicated; all transfers to and from hotels as indicated for planned activities and sightseeing tours–entrance fees, domestic permits; all applicable service charges and taxes (excluding some international or domestic airport departure taxes); predeparture materials including a customized Travel Guide containing destination information, travel tips, and cultural primer; limited travel insurance coverage including emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $75,000 per person, and in-country emergency medical expenses up to $2,500 per person.

CUSTOM LAND COST EXCLUDES: Any item not specifically included in your program including all snacks, extra personal beverages & bottled water, etc. other than during designated meals, alcoholic beverages; passport and visa fees, video fees, excess baggage fees, laundry, phone calls, internet and any other items of a personal nature not specifically indicated; tips for your guide, ground staff, drivers, hotel porters and other service staff; ADDITIONAL INSURANCE OF ANY KIND, including trip cancellation/interruption/delay, additional medical, and lost baggage insurance; any and all expenses resulting from delays arising beyond our direct control due to bad weather, trail, river, sea, and/or road conditions, sickness, civil unrest, government action; or any other transportation delays for any reason beyond our direct control; optional activities, free-day activities, including any additional stopover arrangements not specifically included in the itinerary. We can make additional arrangements for you. Extra charges will apply.

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE (not included): We highly recommend purchasing additional insurance, including trip cancellation.

AIR COST INCLUDES*:
INTERNATIONAL AIR: There is no international air included in this trip cost.

INTERNAL AIR: Delhi (DEL) - Varanasi (VNS) - Delhi (DEL) on Jet Airways Limited (9W) - Economy class. Udaipur (UDR) - Delhi (DEL) on Jet Airways Limited (9W) - Coach class.

* All airfare is subject to change until ticketed.

VISAS - CUSTOM TRAVEL: Visa FEES ARE NOT INCLUDED in your trip cost. You are welcome to obtain the visa on your own or through our recommended service provider G3 Visas & Passports (visit http://www.asiatranspacific.com/visas for links to their site and select 'Asia Transpacific Journeys Custom Traveler' to print all required forms). Following are requirements for your program for U.S. citizens (different regulations may apply for other nationalities):
• India - Pre-arranged.  India requires a visa to be pre-arranged.

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Description

Join Vincent Versace on an unforgettable passage to India and discover the mystical beauty of one of the world's great civilizations. A land of amazing variety, India is an assault on the senses expressed in extremes of luxury and destitution, heat and cold, chaos and tranquility, antiquity and modernity. Gain deep insight into India’s history, from the Mughul empires through colonialism and Partition. Become familiar with Gandhi’s principle of satyagraha, a peaceful force that would eventually bring the British Empire to its knees. Survey India’s highly stylized musical and dance traditions, and get to know the subcontinent’s vastly influential Nobel laureate mathematicians and poets. Enjoy artful cuisine renowned throughout the world. To round out an incomparable itinerary we’ve included the greatest of Asia’s festivals, the Pushkar Camel Fair. Whole families travel hundreds of miles around to trade, receive blessings, and revel in the carnival atmosphere. There will be mystics, musicians, camel races, and vendors plying their wares from the far corners of Rajasthan. Enjoy exquisite accommodations throughout, including restored palaces that lie just outside the bustle of major cities and attractions. We're confident that you'll enjoy their amazing architecture and old-world opulence as a highlight of your trip to India.

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Biography

VINCENT VERSACE is a recipient of the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment and the Shellenberg fine art award and the best selling author of Welcome to Oz, a Cinematic Approach Digital Still Photography with Photoshop and is a six-time nominee to the Photoshop Hall of Fame. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History. Vincent was the original host of the Epson Print academy and is the photographer of Immediate Assistants Medical Rescue Go team and one of the members of the photographic team of Eco-Challenge. He is also a member of the NAPP “Instructor Dream Team” and teaches regularly at Photoshopworld as well as the Maine Photographic Workshops and Palm Beach Photographic Centre. He also leads photo workshops to international destinations such as Burma, Vietnam, India and Cambodia. He is currently a member of Microsoft's Digital Imaging Applications Group and founding member of the Epson Stylus Pros, Xrite Colorotti and Lexar Elite Photographers.

Website: http://www.versacephotography.com

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Itinerary

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010

Meals Provided:  None
Arrive Delhi
Welcome to Delhi! On arrival today, after clearing Immigration & Custom formalities, exit into the Arrival Hall and meet our driver and transfer to our hotel located in the heart of the city with the remainder of the evening free for a much deserved night's rest.

India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines the ancient with the modern. Amidst the spiraling skyscrapers are remnants of a bygone time with many old monuments standing as reminders to the city’s ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitor traveling through Delhi is of a spacious city with tree-lined avenues and forested parks.

Overnight at The Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe Rooms) - New Delhi

Among the most distinguished addresses in the national capital, this hotel is a city landmark. Reflecting the heritage of Mughal Delhi, this centrally located property melds graceful architecture with modern facilities.

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Old Delhi
Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital, Delhi. It was the magnet that drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and finally the British, all of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent history. The fascination for Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again, rebuilding it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still hold a fascination for Indians and tourists alike as the cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world.

This morning after breakfast, depart on a photographic exploration of Old Delhi including the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques. Built from 1644-58, the red sandstone mosque appears to look proudly over the Red Fort, and from the courtyard there is a memorable view of the Red Fort through the arcade. People stream in and out of the mosque continually and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.

Enjoy lunch at Veda. Afterwards either on foot or aboard rickshaws, wander along the crooked streets of Chandi Chowk, Old Delhi's colorful shopping bazaar. It's quite an experience as you get thrown into the congestion and colorful crowds of this shopping bazaar. It's sure to be a highlight!

Return to the hotel late this afternoon followed by a wonderful Indian dinner at Varq.

Overnight at The Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe Rooms) - New Delhi

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Fly to Varanasi
Following a leisurely breakfast transfer back to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Also known as Benares and Kashi, the "City of Light" is one of the oldest cities in the world.

Fly Delhi (DEL) to Varanasi (VNS) on 9W #723 (10:40 - 11:50)
Economy Class

On arrival transfer to the hotel for check-in and lunch at our hotels Chowk restuarant.  After getting settled depart on an afternoon photographic exploration of the city. Varanasi's principal attraction is the long string of ghats or steps, which line the west bank of the Ganges. There are around 100 ghats in Varanasi, each with its own significance. Most Indians believe that anyone dying on the banks of the river, in Varanasi, attains instant 'moksha' or enlightenment.

This evening, witness the three-millennia-old aarti ceremony that takes place at the Assi ghat each evening. This blessing is an offering to the gods, in which Hindu holy men light candles and oil lamps, play music, ring bells and chant. Respectful visitors are welcome to witness these ancient rites.

Tonight's dinner will be at Varuna our hotel's specialty Indian restaurant.

Overnight at the Taj Gateway Ganges (Executive Rooms) - Varanasi

A haven of peace and tranquility in the frenetic holy city of Varanasi, the Gateway Hotel offers elegance and timeless hospitality set amidst 40 verdant acres of garden.

Friday, Nov. 12, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Sunrise on the Ganges / Delhi
A ritual cleansing in the holy waters of the Ganges at Varanasi absolves the believer of all sins. It is the aspiration of every devout Hindu to die and be cremated at the ghats (stepped riverbanks) thus ensuring release from the cycle of rebirth. On any given day thousands flock to the river to perform ablutions.

Early this morning visit the bathing ghats of Varanasi. From a private boat cruising the river, witness the ritual cleansing in the river's waters that is so central to Hindus. The prosaic and the profound, and everything in between, jostle together at the edge of the sacred Ganges River. A cacophonous jumble of merchants, barbers, wandering ascetics and tea stall proprietors provide a backdrop for the extraordinary rites of life and death taking place on the sandstone steps. It is a sublime site.

Return to the hotel lunch at Chowk, and to freshen up, before returning to the airport for the flight back to Delhi.

Fly Varanasi (VNS) to Delhi (DEL) on 9W #724 (14:40 - 16:00)
Economy Class

Welcome back to Delhi. On arrival transfer to our hotel for check-in followed by dinner later this evening at our hotel's Sevilla restaurant.

Overnight at The Taj Mahal Hotel (Deluxe Rooms) - New Delhi

Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Delhi / Agra
Early this morning transfer to the Delhi train station to catch the Bhopal Shatabdi Express to Agra, departing at 06:00 (Executive air-conditioned car) arriving at 09:00. Upon arrival, settle into our hotel if rooms are available before departing on a specially planned walking, photography tour, designed to expose the traveler to the city’s unique urban architectural and socioeconomic character. The walking tour traces the birth of the city when it was the Mughal capital of Akbarabad until present time.

From the Agra Fort, board a horse cart (Mughal Tonga), taking us to the gigantic Jama Maszid. Disembark here so that we can mingle in the crowds and begin to experience downtown on foot. From Jama Maszid, continue to the Silver Lingam of Mankameshwar Mahadev (the Shiva Temple), proceeding down narrow lanes with shops and stalls selling articles used for the adornment of religious images. Continue to Namak Ki Mandi where artisans beat gold and silver for medicinal use in Ayurveda. Finally, the walk takes is back to Jama Maszid, to again board our horse cart for the ride along the banks of the River Yamuna, enjoying stunning views of the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal.

Lunch today will be at our hotel's Taj Bano restaurant and dinner tonight at the excellent Peshwari Restaurant.

Overnight at the ITC Mughal Hotel (Mughal Chamber Rooms) - Agra

Situated near the Taj Mahal, this deluxe, lavishly furnished property offers a charming interior and personalized service.

Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Taj Mahal / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur
Early this morning enjoy a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. Taking 22 years, 20,000 men and a fleet of 1,000 elephants to build, this monument to love is perhaps the most beautiful structure on earth. There is a quality about the structure which is almost transcendent. It is with a sense of astonishment that one comprehends that the hands of humans have achieved such heights of artistry. It is dazzling at first sight and marvelous upon close inspection. Construction of this monument started in 1631 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and it was completed 22 years later. The Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. It appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, but it is the close up marble inlay work that is truly astounding.

Return to our hotel for a midmorning breakfast and then depart Agra on the four hour drive to Jaipur. En route, stop in Fatehpur Sikri, an epic poem in red sandstone. It was built by the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar, as his capital and palace in the late 16th century and was larger than the London of the time. It was abandoned only 14 years after it was built when the local wells went dry, and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and is an extraordinary place to wander, with its buildings in near perfect condition. We will enjoy lunch en route at Laxmi Vilas in Bharatpur.

Continue the drive to the ancient capital city of Jaipur, stopping in Bharatpur for lunch. Upon arrival in the "Pink City" of Jaipur check into our luxury, heritage hotel for the night. The pink sandstone reflects an almost ethereal glow. Except for the busy traffic of bicycles, cars and buses, little seems to have changed within the past centuries. There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people. With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the ancient Rajputs.

Dinner tonight will be taken at our hotel's Marble Arch restaurant.

Overnight at the Taj Jai Mahal Palace (Luxury Rooms) - Jaipur

Set amidst 18 acres of beautifully landscaped Moghul gardens, this incomparable palace dates back to 1745. A masterpiece in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, it blends opulence and comfort with magnificent Rajasthani flourishes, and enjoys a superb downtown location.

Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Jaipur
Following breakfast depart on a full day photographic survey of the Rajastan capital.  We will focus on the city's colorful street life and teeming bazars and markets.

In Indian tradition, pink is the color of hospitality. Jaipur fulfills this chromatic legacy both aesthetically and in spirit. Most structures are built using the area's indigenous dusty-rose sandstone, while others are painted pink in keeping with a century-old tradition. Locals embrace visitors and strive to welcome guests. Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan, which was originally called Rajputana (Land of Princes) and was founded in 1727. It is rich in natural resources including marble and gemstones.

Lunch today will be at the Samode Haveli and tonight dinner will be hosted at our hotel's fine Indian restaurant, Cinnamon.

Overnight at the Taj Jai Mahal Palace (Luxury Rooms) - Jaipur

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Jaipur / Pushkar
This morning, after breakfast, depart Jaipur on the morning drive to Pushkar, arriving at the height of the festivities. The camel fair draws livestock traders from all over western India, but that isn't all. Like nearly every gathering large and small across the country, the lunar calendar dictates the date of the festival, thus transforming a mere livestock show into an auspicious spiritual confluence of man and beast. There will be mystics and musicians, camel-wallahs and priests, and vendors plying their wares from the far corners of Rajasthan. It's a riot of color and activity, from sacred bathing rituals to camel races. Our tented camp will provide a comfortable and secure haven for our two nights here.

Overnight at the Welcome Heritage Royal Tented Camp (Deluxe Tents) -  Pushkar

These tents are brilliantly customized to cater to yours desired comfort. They have stunning verandah, bedroom, bathroom, fans, hot air blower and hot and cold water.

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Pushkar Camel Fair
Today will be spent photographing, exploring and enjoying the Pushkar Camel Fair.

Overnight at the Welcome Heritage Royal Tented Camp (Deluxe Tents) -  Pushkar

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Pushkar / Deogarh
This morning we will enjoy one last foray into the fair returning to our camp for breakfast before our drive towards Deogarh.

After lunch at the hotel we’ll enjoy an excursion to a beautiful lake, in converted trucks that were used in World War II, in which India was a key allied nation.  Return to the hotel for a wonderful, Indian-style feast.

Overnight Deogarh Mahal (Deluxe Rooms) - Deogarh

This imposing 17th century castle stands atop a hill and offers a commanding view of the Aravalli mountain range. Attention to detail and traditional Mewari hospitality are lavished on guests, overseen by the resident royal family.

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Deogarh
This morning we’ll board our train through the Aravalli Hills. We’ll visit the hamlets of the Rabari tribes in Jojawar by 4WD.

Our adventure will take you through several villages, each one reflecting different community groups, with their distinctive ways of life. You might encounter the semi-nomadic Raika shepherds of Marwar, whose brilliant crimson and marigold costumes stand out against the starkness of the desert, and the farming and weaving communities of the Paliwals and Meghwals. You might also encounter the Bishnois a unique tribe of people who began protecting their forests back in the 16th century, making them the world's first ecologists. Located within their realm are herds of chinkara, blue bull, and black-buck antelope, as well as over two hundred species of native and migratory birds.

We’ll enjoy a specially prepared picnic lunch before returning to Deogarh for time to relax or explore and photograph the town on our own with its traditional narrow ally ways and houses made of stone and mud brick.  Around every corner a photographic surprise is waiting!

This evening we will enjoy dinner at Seengsagar another small hotel owned by our hosts at Deogarh Mahal.

Overnight Deogarh Mahal (Deluxe Rooms) - Deogarh

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L (Aloft)
Deogarh / Udaipur
This morning, depart Deogarh on the full day drive through the remote and peaceful Aravali range to the 'Lake City' of Udaipur our home for the next two night. En route to Udaipur you will stop to explore Ranakpur.

Ranakpur is one of the most important Jain temples in India and one of the most exquisite pieces of architecture in the world. This marble complex is noted for the 29 halls supported by 1,444 pillars, each adorned with hundreds of carved figures; no two are alike.

After exploring Ranakpur and photographing its pilgrims we will enjoy lunch at Fatebagh and then continue to Udaipur arriving late this afternoon and settle into our luxury, boutique resort.

Dinner this evening will be at our hotel.

Overnight at Fatehgarh (Renaissance Rooms) - Udaipur

Fateh Garh, a Heritage Renaissance Resort, is a smaller 50 room property perched on the edge of Udaipur city in the Aravalli range, with 360° commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Everything at Fateh Garh has been conceptualized, designed, and executed to revitalize the environmental - cultural - spiritual heritage of the past.

Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L D
Udaipur
Udaipur is known as the “Venice of the East” due to its location on beautiful Lake Pichola and the lake's winding waterway. It is the cultural and artistic center of Rajasthan, featuring extravagant palaces, impregnable fortresses and Rajasthan's quintessential desert scenery.

Following breakfast depart on a full day tour of Udaipur beginning with the City Palace. The largest palace in Rajasthan, Udaipur’s City Palace is comprised of a maze of royal apartments, reception halls and courtyards all linked together by narrow passages and steep staircases. These features are typical of Rajput palaces which were designed to confuse invaders.

Later this morning, enjoy guided accompaniment through the bazaars of Udaipur with a guide well-versed on the offerings here. After lunch at Fatehprakash in the City Palace the remainder of the afternoon is free to explore and enjoy Udaipur based on your interests and the suggestions of your guide.

Late this afternoon, enjoy a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola before returning to the hotel for a specially prepared farewell dinner on the terrace next to the hotel's pool.

Overnight at Fatehgarh (Renaissance Rooms) - Udaipur

Monday, Nov. 22, 2010

Meals Provided:  B L
Udaipur / Delhi
This is morning is free to explore and photograph Udaipur based on our interests. After lunch at the hotel transfer to the airport for our return flight to Delhi.

Fly Udaipur (UDR) to Delhi (DEL) on 9W #708 (15:30 - 16:40)
Coach Class

On arrival we will transfer the short distance to the Trident Gurgaon where day rooms have been reserved for our use.

Late this evening transfer to the airport for our international flights home.

! = A change has been made