March 1 - Trip Begins - I Arrived Safely

Left Washington Dulles at 9:50 PM on February 28 and landed in Mumbai at 1:30 AM on March 1...the trip took approximately 17 hours. I used frequent flyer miles and was able to fly Business class...what an enjoyable flight. My seat converted into a bed and I was able to sleep for about 11 hours.

Clearing Indian Customs was not difficult...in and out in about an hour. Transferred from the International airport to Domestic to catch a 05:35 flight to Cochin (Kochi) where I begin my tour tomorrow. The weather in Fort Cochin is similar to Dewey Beach, Delaware in early August...hot and humid. The hotel allowed me early access to my room so I took a shower and refreshed myself...will do some shopping to purchase a SIMM card for my international telephone and an India electric plug adapter.

April 9 - 10: Planned Mumbai Itinerary

I have made a train reservation for an overnight sleeper departing Aurangabad at 23:30 on April 8 and arriving Mumbai at 07:30 on April 9 using an excellent Internet service called Clear Trip. This arrangement allows me to have a full day in Aurangabad and arrive in the center of Mumbai early for a full day of sightseeing while avoiding travel to and from airports and the nightly expense of a hotel….a win-win.

I will be arriving at 7:30 AM at the Mumbai's centrally located railroad station, Chartrapati Shivaj Terminal (CST). My current plan is to stay at a hotel located near CST.....drop my travel bag at the hotel and take a 7 hour tour appropriately called "Mumbai Highlights". The tour finishes at 4 PM which gives me enough time to unpack, shower and get ready for "Mumbai by Night" which starts at 7 PM and finishes at 10 PM....I believe that I will be tired enough to get a good night sleep....zzzzzz.

April 9 will be my final day in India. I am uncertain on what I will do....walk the Colaba and Fort areas viewing the mix of British Colonial and Indian architecture....visit the Gateway of India and take a ferry to Elephanta Island and visit famous Hindu caves, have tea at the Taj Mahal hotel, visit a Bollywood movie set or take a "slum tour".

I will be leaving from downtown Mumbai for the international airport around 6 PM since the drive could take up to 3 hours.

My plane departs at 1 AM on April 10....I betcha that I will be glad to board the plane, reflect on my trip and most importantly...look forward to seeing my darling wife, Ann Marie, and my family. I fly from Mumbai ---> Zurick, Switzerland ----> Frankfurt, Germany ---> Washington Dulles airport.

April 6 - 8: Planned Buddhist and Hindu Caves of Ajanta and Ellora Itinearary

I have a  few days available before heading home and remembered seeing a program about the "The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta" and the "Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Caves of Ellora". After traveling throughout India and moving every night or every other night, I thought that spending 3 nights in Varanasi and 3 nights in Aurangabad would provide a fitting end to my travels. The caves are located near the city of Aurangabad which is 240 miles northeast of Mumbai.

The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta

The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples in Ajanta, India, were carved in the 2nd century BC out of a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River. They were used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls (chaitya grihas) and monasteries (viharas) for about nine centuries, then abruptly abandoned. They fell into oblivion until they were rediscovered in 1819. Encompassing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the Ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
 

 

Panoramic View of Buddhist Caves of Ajantas

 

Stupa



Buddha Statue











Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Caves of Ellora

The Ellora caves located about 30 kilometres from Aurangabad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extraordinary architecture. These caves aren't natural caves but man made temples cut into a massive granite hillside built by generations of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monks. Ellora Caves consists of 34 cave temples ( 12 Mahayana Buddhist caves dating back to 550-750 AD, 17 Hindu caves dating back to 600-875 AD and 5 caves of the Jain faith dating back to 800-1000 AD) dating from between the 6th and 11th centuries AD. The Kailasa Temple (cave16) is the most remarkable of all and the jewel in the crown. The most incredible thing about Ellora caves is the fantastic rock cut sculptures crafted by hand, with only a hammer and chisel. The caves at Ellora were remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedition in 1819.


 

I will be staying in Aurangadbad and taking a tour or travel independently depending on the research that I will be doing before I leave. I have booked a room at the VIT hotel which is rated 4*. The hotel is located near the railroad station...I will be catching another "midnight sleeper train" to Mumbai which is the final destination for my 40 day odyssey through India.

April 2 - 5: Planned Varanasi Itinerary - Hindu's Holiest City

Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Benaras.Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus. In Hinduism, it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.

Considered as the abode of Lord Shiva, Varanasi is situated on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins. As pundits here will tell you, whatever is sacrificed and chanted here or given in charity reaps its fruits thousand times more than those good deeds performed at other places because of the power of that place. It is believed that three nights of fasting in Varanasi city can reap you rewards of many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism!

Varanasi is the oldest city in the world. Varanasi is more than 3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. In Varanasi, there are temples at every few paces. Jyotirlinga Visvanatha Temple or Golden Temple, rebuilt in 1776, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jnana Vapi well (meaning 'Well of Wisdom) is believed to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that the majestic Alamgir mosque has replaced one of the most ancient shrines known as the temple of Bindu Madhava.

The Ganga Ghats (river front) are the most popular pilgrimage spot of Varanasi and are centers of music and learning. There is a great tradition of Yatras in the holy city of Kashi and the most sacred path is that of Panchkoshi Parikrama, the fifty-mile path with a radius of five miles that cover 108 shrines along the way, with Panchakoshi Temple as its main shrine. Other popular pilgrimage route is Nagara Pradakshina, which covers seventy-two shrines along the way.

  

I have booked a room for 3 nights near the Dashashwamedh gnat which is the central point for religious ceremonies offered along the Ganges river. Below are pictures of various activities and events that I hope to see and photograph. I do not plan on taking a river bath or attempt any pretzel yoga contortions.

(excerpts from various Internet sites)



Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi



Holy Men of Varanasi



Cremations

Night Puja in Varanasi



March 19 - April 2: Planned Rajastan Experience Itinerary -

This is an Intrepid "comfort" tour which offers 4 - 5 star hotels. The cost for this tour excluding lunch and evening meals is $1900 USD which includes breakfast, tours and transportation. Trip code is HHKR.

March 19:  Delhi - Dive straight in to the chaos of Delhi, India's pulsating capital. Ride the metro, walk through crowded bazaars and take a rickshaw tour of Old Delhi via Jama Masjid, India's oldest mosque.

March 20:  Agra - Visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. Learn the tragic love tale behind this dazzling monument and then visit the Red Fort where the next chapter of the story unfolds.

March 21 -22:  Jaipur - Explore the deserted Mughal kingdom of Fatehpur Sikri. Feast on a traditional thali lunch before continuing to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. Discover the enchanting Hawa Mahal and travel to the old capital of Amber to see the hillside palace complex. Don some diamante bangles and catch an animated Bollywood film or visit Jaipur's bustling bazaars.

March 23 - 24:  Shekhawati - Formerly home to merchants in the days of the great camel caravans, the beautifully decorated havelis make for a spectacular open-air museum. Gain an insight into rural life in India exploring Shekhawati and surrounding areas.

March 25:  Bikaner - Venture deep into the Thar Desert. See the holy rats of the Karni Mata temple and visit a nearby farm for an evening of Rajasthani food, music and dance.

March 26 - 28:  Jaisalmer/ Camel Safari - Travel through the Jaisalmer desert to this sandstone citadel, a trading centre for the nomadic people of the area. Explore the markets hidden among the twisting alleys and take an overnight camel safari out into the dunes.

March 29:  Jodhpur - Soak up fantastic views of India's 'Blue City' from the Mehrangarh Fort ramparts.

March 30 -31:  Udaipu - A vision of splendour with white marble palaces and a sparkling lake, Udaipur is Rajasthan's artistic heart. Visit the City Palace, enjoy a cultural dance program and cruise Lake Pichola by boat.

April 1 – 2: Delhi - The magical Rajasthani Experience comes to a close on return to Delhi.

(copied from http://www.intrepidtravel.com/)

 

March 16 - 18: Planned Punjab/Amritsar - Spiritual Center for the Sikh Religion

Located in the northwestern corner of India, the Punjab region is bordered by Pakistan on the west and the Himalaya mountains to the north. I will be visiting the city of Amritsar which is the religious center of the Sikh religion. Sikhism is a mixture of Hinduism and Islam faiths and emerged in the 15th century out of the rejection of India's caste system and desire to merge the best aspects of each faith.

I will have flown from Cochin --->Delhi---> Amritsar; a journey of 1,600 miles. The major sites and activities that I am planning are:

•  Wagah Border Flag Ceremony - India and Pakistan military units in full regalia, perform a unique ceremony when they close theWagah border station for the evening. The ceremony is an" intricately choreographed high-kicking, toe-stepping, quick-marching ceremony wherein the Indian and Pakistani flags are lowered" (as described in Frommer's India)
• The Golden Temple - Supposedly the most beautiful temple in all of India and home to the Sikh religion. The temple is unique in that visitors are encouraged to participate in the various religious ceremonies and accept the graciousness of the Sikhs. Visitors are encouraged to spend a minimum  four hours visiting the great expansiveness of the Temple.
• Jullianwala Bagh - a site commemorating the 1919 massacre of hundreds of Sikhs by British troops.
• Old City Bazaar.

I will be staying at the Grand Hotel located in the "old city". The Grand is conveniently located near the The Golden Temple and rail road station.

I will depart Amritsar at midnight on March 18 and travel by train (sleeper coach) to Delhi to begin my second Intrepid tour of India's Rajasthan area which begins on March 19.


Wagah Border Ceremony



Jullianwala Bagh Massacre



Old City Amritsar

 

Sikh's Golden Temple



March 2 - 16, 2012: Planned Southern India Itinerary

This is an Intrepid "overland" tour which offers 2 - 3 star hotels which are clean and ensuite. The cost for this tour excluding lunch and evening meals is $1,544 USD which includes breakfast and the majority of the tours and transportation.

Mar 2 -3 Kochi: - Visit fragrant spice bazaars, antique shops, Mattancherry Palace and Fort Cochin. Enjoy an exciting Kathakali dance performance in the evening.

Mar 4 - 5: Ootacamund - Ride the famous Ootacamund toy train through rolling plantations and learn the secret of making the perfect brew at a tea garden.

Mar 6: Mudumalai National Park - Stay in a jungle retreat at the foot of the Nilgiri Hills. Safari into the wilds of Mudumalai National Park, home to tigers, panthers, elephants and spotted deer.

Mar 7 - 8: Mysore - View the illuminated stained glass windows of the ornate Palace of Mysore, once belonging to the Maharaja. Dine with a long-time friend of Intrepid and travel to the Keshava Temple - a great example of Hoysala architecture.



Mar 9: Mamallapuram - Travel to Mamallapuram, cycle around the Shore Temple and see the massive rock carving known as Arjuna's Penance.

Mar 10: Pondicherry - Follow the scenic south coast of India to French-influenced Pondicherry and visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Mar 11: Madurai - Witness mysterious rituals in the Sri Meenakshi Temple, a labyrinth of lamp-lit corridors and shrines in the heart of Madurai.

Mar 12 - 13: Periyar National Park - Travel through rubber, tea and coffee plantations, and then breathe in the fresh aroma of spices on a visit to a spice farm. At Periyar National Park, join a forest guide and try to track herds of elephants.

Mar 14: Kerala Backwaters Homestay - Share a traditional feast with a local family and take a sunset boat tour through the Kerala backwaters.

Mar 15 - 16: Kochi - Enjoy free time to explore the vibrant streets of Kochi and admire the medieval Portuguese, Dutch and British Raj architecture before wrapping up this southern Indian adventure.

March 1 - Planned Itinerary for Arrival in India - 1st Day

I should arrive at Mumbai 's International airport at 1:30 AM. Clear customs and transfer to the domestic airport which is located nearby. Rather than staying in Mumbai, I will catch a 5:30 AM flight to Cochi located in southern India where my 1st tour will begin. My hotel, Rossitta Wood Castle, has arranged to have me picked-up at the airport rather then having me hiring a taxi...especially after tarveling for 26 hours. Below is a write-up extracted from the Cochin Tourism Internet site.
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Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Famous Tourist sights in Cochin



Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi : Chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi.



 Fort Kochi beach:  A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the Chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience.

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi: It is the oldest Catholic church built by Europeans in India. On his 3^rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi.

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How Best to View My BLOG

In order to give some idea of the entire trip, the next seven entries provide you with an overall description of each phase of my trip and what I expect to see. I modify my itinerary by shorting my Rajasthan trip by a week and inserting trips to Amritsar, Sikh's holy city, and Aurangabad to see the Caves of Ajanta and Ellora.

As I travel, I plan to take pictures with my iPod Touch and posting them to this BLOG so that you can travel with me and see what I have have seen. Since most of my hotels will have wi-fi capability, I should be able to provide a pictorial diary of my travels. 

My new iPod touch is a smaller version of Apple's iPad. It can take pictures, attach to the Internet, allow me to download pictures to this BLOG, use email and SKYPE to communicate with my family and friends and amuse myself with "Angry Birds". Thank goodness for the Internet.....traveling in the "old days"  was so awkward...

I need to finish packing, check my meds, ensure that I have all of my travel documents and notify my banks and credit union that I will be traveling in India. The latter must be done so that your financial institutions know to honor the use of your credit and ATM cards when traveling overseas.
Best to all....Tom Worosz

PS: Please post some note letting me know that you are following this BLOG.