India is home to one of the world’s oldest religions and some of its most beautiful man made structures, spectacular landscapes and wildlife and a vibrant and colourful society clinging to ancient traditions whilst embracing the modern world.
The tour starts in Delhi, where Mughal and colonial history rub shoulders alongside a vibrant contemporary culture. Continue to the pink city of Jaipur, on to Agra, dominated by the majestic Taj Mahal, to Lucknow, an important centre of Shia Islam, also influenced by Persian and British culture, and the great spiritual centre of Varanasi, where life and death meet. The tour finishes in the Bengali capital of Kolkata, the former capital of the British Raj. You will stay in a variety of lovely hotels during the tour.
The varied cultural programme is balanced by a wide-ranging professional itinerary of visits, talks and meetings with medical practitioners in both rural and urban India. These visits reveal the great diversity in healthcare within India and include a large prestigious public hospital in Delhi, an innovative NGO and a traditional practitioner in Jaipur, a talk on belief in the spiritual centre of Varanasi and a visit to a cancer hospital outside Kolkata.
Travel from Delhi and on to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Continue to Jaipur with its mighty fort and palaces before heading to Lucknow. Visit Varanasi, one of the holiest places in India, and finish the tour in Kolkata, hub of Bengali literature, music and philosophy.
See the Taj Mahal at dawn.
Visit the Jaipur Foot factory and see how it provides low-cost prosthetics.
Learn about spiritual care in the sacred city of Varanasi.
Some walking between destinations, more time spent standing, and increased travel distances. Requires a reasonable level of fitness.
We like charm, comfort, convenience in location, and of course, excellence in service.
If you have some questions about this particular tour, you can contact the Jon Baines Tours team by phone or email.
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