India: The Wonders of the Past and PresentAPRIL 3 – 17, 2019

Discover the sights, sounds and smells of this truly enchanting country by exploring various facets of Indian history, society and culture.

India is a unique source of delight and inspiration for travelers, artists, writers and researchers. This two-week study tour is designed to acquaint you with various facets of Indian history, society and culture. The itinerary covers very important places: New and Old Delhi — Jaipur — Agra — Fatehpur Sikri — Orchha — Khajuraho — Varanasi — Sarnath.

We will explore Indian culture and arts by visiting major museums, temples and palaces, attending artistic performances, and other scheduled and impromptu activities. All major periods of Indian civilization — Ancient, Medieval, Colonial and Modern — will be the fields for investigations and discussions. Special attention will be given to the Indian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism. The tour will provide an opportunity to have a close look at handicrafts, and taste cuisine of different regions.

$5,500Includes land, domestic air, tuition and GST

$1,400Estimated air travel

MealsThree meals daily are included

Activity Level: Moderate

Orientation Course March 6 and 20 | W | 7 - 9:30 p.m. March 16 | Sa | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. UCalgary campus

Topics for discussion: Geography, History of India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Hindu society, National costumes, Fine arts, dance and music, Hindu and Buddhist architecture.

INDIA

Khajuraho

Agra Jaipur

Orchha Varanasi

New Delhi

CHINA

NEPAL

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ItineraryAPRIL 3 - 4 Arrive in Delhi from Calgary

APRIL 5 Delhi, the capital of India, is a legend in architectural style and cultural heritage. Our journey begins with a sightseeing tour of New Delhi, a tour through Gandhi Smriti - a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi – and finally a visit to National Museum, one of the largest museums in India.

APRIL 6 Discovery of the Old Delhi includes Red Fort, the Jama Masjid mosque, Chandni Chowk market, the memorial sites Raj Ghat, Shanti Van and Shakti Sthal, where Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi were cremated. Afternoon is free to spend at Connaught Place shopping centre. In the evening we join the Aarti Ceremony (Sacred Lights Ceremony) in Laxmi Narayan Temple.

APRIL 7 Tour of the Qutub Minar Complex South Delhi, taking in the glorious Indo-Islamic Architecture. Next, we visit Mehrauli Archaeological Park, with 70 monuments dating back to the first fortified capital, Lal Kot, the Lotus Temple and the Lodhi Garden complex to see the architectural monuments built in the era of the first Muslim rulers in India.

APRIL 8 After breakfast transfer to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City for its pink stucco, where we’ll visit the City Palace. The most famous site here is the Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, and Jantar Mantar (“Magical Device”), an astronomical observatory built by between 1727 and 1733.

APRIL 9 Morning drive to Amber Fort, one of the most fascinating of Indian forts, located 11 km north to Jaipur. The most impressive part of the royal palace is the Hall of Mirrors, covered in thousands of tiny, intricate mirrors. Back in Jaipur we visit to a local rug factory or gem factory to see traditional manufacturing technologies. After dinner a Folk-Dance performance.

APRIL 10 After breakfast transfer to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri, a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town,” which was built by Mughal emperor Akbar and was the imperial capital for fifteen years. Akbar dedicated the city to his patron saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The main structures include the Jama Masjid Mosque, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, and the Panch Mahal (Palace of Five Storeys). Evening arrival to Agra.

APRIL 11 Agra is a major tourist destination because of such splendid architectural jewels as Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and its exquisite handicrafts.

APRIL 12 Morning transfer to the railway station to board the train to Jhansi (221 km) and a drive from Jhansi to the sleepy medieval town of Orchha. Transfer to hotel for a lunch. Afternoon tour to the magnificent temples and monuments of this historical site. A special attraction of the area is the painted murals which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.

APRIL 13 Khajuraho is a village in Madhya Pradesh, about 620 kilometres southeast of Delhi. Originally here was the capital of the Chandela Rajputs, a dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries. There is a large group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, richly carved with excellent sculptures that are frequently sensual and, at times, sexually explicit. Evening at leisure.

APRIL 14 After breakfast we fly to Varanasi, the most sacred city of India and the oldest living city in the world. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe and worship in the river at the first light of dawn. Life in the city of Varanasi revolves around it’s over one hundred Ghats (river landings). The sightseeing here will cover some Hindu temples and the Aurangazeb’s Mosque, and Ghats. We shall attend Aarti (ceremony of lights) on the Ghats.

APRIL 15 In the early morning we take a sunrise cruise on the River after which we explore old Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata Temple, the Durga Temple, the Tulsi Manas Mandir beside the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. In the afternoon we explore Sarnath, the site of Buddha’s first sermon after attaining enlightenment. On return to Varanasi we will visit a silk factory to see the artisans working on handwoven silk brocades.

APRIL 16 Transfer to the Varanasi airport for our flight back to Delhi. On arrival remainder of the day is free to relax. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight in a hotel.

APRIL 17 Morning transfer to airport to fly back home to Calgary.

Accompanying Instructor Dr. Valery Efimenko graduated from the Oriental Department of St. Petersburg State University. For over thirty years, his academic interests were focused on East Indian studies and most of his publications are related to Indian culture, philosophy, and religion. Many years he was teaching at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, and the Moscow University Touro, the first American university in Russia, such courses as History of Eastern Philosophy, Indian Cultural Traditions, and Comparative Religion. He lived in India and widely traveled the Indian subcontinent. In 1990-1991 he was an exchange professor in Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. From 2004 to he was teaching for Continuing Education at the University of Calgary. His most popular courses are Comparative Religion and Introduction to Indian Culture. He has conducted a number of study tours with Continuing Education including tours to India, Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Central Asia.

Mail or fax your completed form to:

University of Calgary Continuing EducationTravel Study ProgramEnergy Resources Research Building (ERRB) N140, 3512 – 33 St NWCalgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Phone: 403.220.2866 Fax: 403.284.9242

For further information contact:

Heather Richards 403.220.4632 heather.richards@ucalgary.ca

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