University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Itinerary.pdfMobile: (+91) 9810577617 ... and the National...

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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Counseling, Culture and Spirituality in India Delhi | Agra |Varanasi January 07 – 24, 2020

Detailed Itinerary by

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Detailed Travel Itinerary:

Tuesday, Jan 7th (Delhi)

23:00hrs (ETA)

Arrive New Delhi (UA 082) at 21:30hrs.

Arrive New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3. A representative of Vesna Tours, holding a University of Wisconsin Oshkosh sign board will meet the members in the arrivals area upon exiting baggage claim and guide you towards the vehicle and accompany you to your hotel Mantra Amaltas.

Vesna airport representative: Mohd. Khizr Khursheed,

Arrive at the hotel, express check-in. Our representative will assist with express check-in at the hotel. * *Room keys will be readily waiting for you at the reception for instant check-in.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: Mantra Amaltas, 23, Friends Colony (West), Near Formula 1 Venue, New Delhi, Delhi 110065 Phone: +91 11 4966 4966; Website: www.mantraamaltas.com

Delhi, the capital of India is a palimpsest, bearing the complexities, the contradictions, the beauty and the dynamism of a city where the past coexists with the present. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Wednesday, Jan 8th

(Delhi) 10:00hrs Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for sightseeing tour of Delhi.

Guide: Arun Dixit (Mr.) Mobile: (+91) 9810577617

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Visit to Raj Ghat (the Gandhi Memorial) and the National Gandhi Museum followed by lunch/dinner at Rajasthani Restaurant and later Visit Qutab Minar (Restaurant details to be advised by UWO with complete address)

Raj Ghat is a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Originally it was the name of a historic ghat of Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) on the banks of Yamuna river. Close to it, and east of Daryaganj was Raj Ghat Gate of the walled city, opening at Raj Ghat on Yamuna River. Later the memorial area was also called Raj ghat. It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation, Antyeshti (Antim Sanskar) on 30 January 1948, a day after his assassination. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. It is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi in India on Ring Road officially known as Mahatma Gandhi Road. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. All guests must remove their footwear before entering the Raj Ghat walls.

The National Gandhi Museum or Gandhi Memorial Museum is a museum located in New Delhi, India showcasing the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi. The museum first opened in Mumbai, shortly after Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. The museum relocated several times before moving to Raj Ghat, New Delhi in 1961.

Qutub Minar: Qutub Minar, is a minaret that forms part of the Qutub complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. Qutub Minar is a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall tapering tower of five stories, with a 14.3 metres (47 feet) base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres (9 feet) at the top of the peak. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Qutub Minar, a tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. Enjoy some local shopping (if time permits)

Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

*Meals included: BreakfastBuffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining multicuisine restaurantcalled ‘The Phoenix’.

Thursday, Jan 9th (Delhi-Agra)

08:30hrs

09:00hrs

Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.

Baggage down at the hotel lobby Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for Agra

Depart for Agra (135 miles / 3.5 hrs).

Agra! The city made famous by the magnificent Taj Mahal--the seventh wonder of the world! Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, in the 16th and 17th centuries, strains of its former glory are still reflected in the city. Sikandar Lodi chose to make Agra his capital in 1501. The early Mughal emperors too ruled from Agra. Some of the monuments in this city date back to the reigns of the Mughal emperors Babur and Humayun. It was Humayun's son Akbar, who ruled from Fatehpur Sikri between 1570 and 1585 and once again from 1599 to 1605 (having moved to Lahore for a short period of time) and his grandson Jehangir who initiated Agra's ascent to glory! Jehangir, however, chose to spend much of his time in the beautiful Kashmir Valley. It was Shah Jahan who built the Jama Masjid, some of the buildings in Agra Fort and of course, the glorious Taj Mahal!

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14:00hrs Arrive Agra, check into the hotel Taj Villa. Our accompanying representative will assist with express check-in at the hotel.* *Room keys will be readily waiting for you at the reception for instant check-in.

Overnight stay.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: Booked for January 09-13, 2018 (4 nights) Taj Villa, A-21, Phase-2, Taj Nagri, Fatehbad Raod, Behind KFC, Agra, U.P. 282001, IndiaPhone: (+91)-9758811113; Web: http:// www.tajvilla.com

*Meals included: Breakfast.Buffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining restaurant..

Friday, Jan 10th (Agra) 05:30hrs

20:00hrs

Breakfast at the hotel.

Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to Dayalbagh and DEI (Dayalbagh Educational Institute) Address:- Dayal Bagh Rd, Dayal Bagh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282005 Phone:- (+91) 562 280 1545

02 rooms are booked for day use at Kaveri Lodge, close to DEI. The same can be utilized to rest or freshen up.

Late evening return to the hotel and overnight stay.

*Meals included: BreakfastBuffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining restaurant.

Saturday, Jan 11th (Agra) 09:00hrs (ETD)

13:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for your visit to Taj Mahal. (*This may change depending upon the program)

Taj Mahal, The Taj, the most magnificent tribute to love and beauty and one of man's proudest creations, is easily the most identified image to be associated with India. Built between 1631 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, this fairytale like marvel took twenty-two years and the labor of twenty thousand workmen employed on it daily for its completion. The intensity of the Emperor's love is carved in white marble as the most beautiful and wondrous expression of love ever. Associated with the rich Mughal era, this magnificent edifice is testimony to the highest stage in the evolution of a Tomb not only in India but across world. It is here that the art capabilities of the Indian builder under the Mughals received the most beautiful and profound express.

Depart to visit Agra Fort.

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19:00hrs

Agra Fort, the magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and gateways of the Agra Fort symbolize the stature and power of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Built between 1565 and 1571 AD, it is said that his son Aurangzeb imprisoned the emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. His grandson Shah Jahan completed the magnificent fort, though started by Emperor Akbar. The fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone with several buildings inside. Part of the fort is still in use by the Indian Army and is not accessible to the public, but there's still enough left to get an insight on the way the Mughals lived in the 16th century.

Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.

*Meals included: Breakfast.Buffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining restaurant.

Sunday, Jan 12th

(Agra – Bharatpur - Agra) 08:45hrs

19:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for your visit to Keoladeo National Park (formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary), Bharatpur (40 miles & 1.5-hour drive).

Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo National Park is recognised as one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. It originated in as a royal hunting reserve during the 1850s and was a game reserve for Maharajas and the British. In fact, Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943, shot over thousands of ducks with his hunting party in a single day! In 1982, Keoladeo was declared a national park and then later listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The park is home to over 370 species of birds and animals such as the basking python, painted storks, deer, nilgai and more. Noted Indian ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali used his influence to garner government support to create Keoladeo National Park. It was also known as the breeding ground for the rare and elusive to spot Siberian crane.

Enjoy Cycle Rickshaw ride inside the Sanctuary with naturalist. (on direct payment)



Monday, Jan 13th (Agra-Delhi- Varanasi) 08:30hrs

09:00hrs

13:00hrs

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

Baggage down at the hotel lobby

Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for Delhi (135 miles / 3.5-4 hrs) Depart Agra and transition to Delhi to Fly from Delhi to Varanasi.

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3 & Check-in.

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17:15hrs

18:40hrs (ETA)

20:30hrs (ETA)

Depart Delhi by Air India# AI 427 ETD at 17:15hrs

Arrive Varanasi at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.

Varanasi is believed to be the greatest tirth (pilgrimage) between earth and heaven. For a Hindu, to visit Varanasi and bathe in the water of Ganga, is to be cleansed of the sins of thousands of past rebirths. The combination of Kashi- the holy city, Ganga the holy river and Lord Shiva- the Supreme God, makes Varanasi an immortal destination. It is a crucible of religious, spiritual and academic thought and beliefs of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It has always been a great cultural centre notably in the field of learning, religion, philosophy, Yoga, Ayurveda, astrology, music, literature and spirituality.

Arrive hotel, express check-in at the hotel and overnight stay.* Our representative will assist with express check-in at the hotel.* *Room keys will be readily waiting for you at the reception for instant check-in.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: Booked for January 14-23, 2018 (9 nights) Haifa Hotel, Address: B.1/107, Assi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 222005, India Phone: +91 542 231 2960; Web: http://www.hotelhaifavns.com


Tuesday, Jan 14th (Varanasi)

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure. (Makar Sankranti (festival that celebrates the sun’s movement from Sagittarius into Capricorn, signifying that longer and warmer days are coming). Explore the Ghats; visit BHU temple. Yoga program – 8:00 – 9:00am.)

No services from Vesna.

Overnight stay at hotel.

*Meals included: BreakfastBuffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining restaurant, ‘Haifa’

Wednesday, Jan 15th (Varanasi) 09:30hrs

18:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to DEVA Center and DIISC. Address: B 21/100, Rathyatra Kamachha Rd, Vindbhavan Kamachha, Chungi, Kamachha, Gurubagh, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001 Phone: TBA



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Thursday, Jan 16th (Varanasi)

09:30hrs

18:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to Annapurna Center.

First Visit Shooltankeshwar Temple & later visit Annapurna Centre.



Friday, Jan 17th (Varanasi) 09:30hrs

19:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to Annapurna Center.



Saturday, Jan 18th (Varanasi)

09:30hrs

18:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to Sarnath: Garden of Spiritual Wisdom. Address: Rishpattan Road, Behind, Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221007

Sarnath, 10km from Varanasi, is one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centers. It is believed that after attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, it was here that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, sanctified as Maha Dharm Chakra Parivartan.

Garden of Spiritual Wisdom: Sarnath, near Varanasi is a place sacred to Buddhists. Located 10 kms by road from the Varanasi. Sarnath is a part of the triangular Indian Buddhist pilgrimage circuit for global tourists. There are clear and fabulous views of the Chaukhandi Stupa after you enter the garden. The garden uses a mix of exhibits and sculptures to convey the essentials of Buddhism. With increasing complexity of modern life, knowledge for the purpose of earning a living alone is considered insufficient. The garden seeks to ignite an interest in the visitor to further explore the subject of spirituality.



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Sunday- Tuesday, Jan 19th – 21st (Varanasi) 09:30hrs

19:00hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for Kutumb.



Wednesday, Jan 22nd (Varanasi) 07:30hrs

13:30hrs


Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to New Heights School. Address: 43/5 Sankat Mochan Mandir Road, Sankat Mochan Colony, Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005 Phone: (+91)99365 20352


Note: Music concert and boat ride in the evening (Panchekot House). Ganges boat ride at 3:30pm, concert at 4:00pm.


Thursday, Jan 23rd (Varanasi-Delhi) 11:30hrs

12:30hrs

18:25hrs (ETA)

20:30hrs (ETA)

Breakfast at the hotel, morning at leisure.

Baggage down at the hotel lobby.

Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport Varanasi to board flight to Delhi.

Flight: Air India (#AI 405) Departure: 16:50hrs

Arrive Delhi at Indira Gandhi International Airport terminal 3, exit the airport and transfer to hotel Mantra Amaltas.

Arrive at the hotel, express check-in. Our representative will assist with express check-in at the hotel. * *Room keys will be readily waiting for you at the reception for instant check-in.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: Mantra Amaltas, 23, Friends Colony (West), Near Formula 1 Venue, New Delhi, Delhi 110065 Phone: +91 11 4966 4966; Website: www.mantraamaltas.com.

Overnight stay.


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Friday, Jan 24th (Delhi - Departure)

11:30hrs

12:00hrs

20:00hrs

Breakfast at hotel and check-out.

Baggage down at hotel lobby.

Assemble at the hotel’s lobby and depart for visit to Dilli Haat and later drive straight to Delhi International airport to catch flight back to home.

Dilli Haat is an open aircraft bazaar cum food plaza run by Delhi tourism and transportation development corporation (DTTDC). Dilli Haat has many food stalls that represent each and every state of India and it offers variety in taste and dishes that are available throughout India. The craft stall of the haat keep on changing every 15 days. In all 62 stalls for selling handicrafts are allotted on rotational basis to the craftsmen and they comprise from all over the state of India. The handicrafts offered here are commendable as it includes sandalwood and rosewood carvings, brass ware products, metal ware, jewelry made from gems, camel hide footwear etc.

Drop at Delhi International airport Terminal 3. Delhi – Newark United (UA 083) Departure 23:45hrs

- End of our services –

*Meals included: BreakfastBuffet breakfast will be available from 7.00hrs at the all-day dining restaurant, ‘‘The Phoenix’.

India – Facts and Information

Full country name / Area

Republic of India / 3.28 million Sq. Km.

Population/ People 1.34 Billion (second most populous nation on earth) Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%

Language Hindi is the most widely spoken and primary tongue of 41% of the people. English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication. There are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindshi, and Sanskrit.

Religion Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, other 0.9%

Government Federal, multi-party republic

Head of Government Prime Minister Narendra Modi

GDP per capita $2,800; real growth rate: 6.6%

History Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its zenith under

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ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century, and Turkic in the 12th, were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.

Economics India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly more than half of the work force is in agriculture, leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to articulate a rural economic development program. Privatization of government-owned industries remains stalled and continues to generate political debate. The economy has posted an average growth rate of more than 7% in the decade since 1997, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India achieved 8.5% GDP growth in 2006, 9.0% in 2007, and 7.3% in 2008, significantly expanding manufactures through late 2008.

Education With a population of more than 1 billion persons and a growing middle class, there is a huge demand for education. Currently 20% of the universities have correspondence courses. Competition from other countries, including U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and several Asian countries is keen.

U.S. is still the number one destination for Indian students. Engineering, computer science/information technology and business administration/management continue to be the most popular fields of study. There is an increasing interest in health sciences, public relations, advertising and humanities and social sciences. USEFI states that they have observed more students switching from other fields to engineering and computer science related fields such as bioinformatics, bioengineering. At the undergraduate level, there is increasing interest in liberal arts, fine arts, design, media and communications.

Tourist Information

Weather The weather in India varies dramatically. While the southern tip of the India is being lashed by tropical monsoon rain, the north will be blanketed in thick snow. Therefore, the best time to travel to India depends greatly on the destinations to be visited and the climate experienced there. There are three seasons – winter, summer and monsoon. Summer (March to May): India starts heating up from around February, first in the northern plains and then the rest of the country. By April, many places are experience daily temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit). Monsoon (June to October): It comes in from the sea and starts making its way up India’s west coast in early June. By mid-July, most of the country is covered in rain. This gradually starts clearing from most places in northwest India by October. Winter (October to February): The disappearance of the monsoon marks the start of clear sunny skies, as well as the start of the tourist season, for most of India. Daytime winter temperatures are comfortable, although often quite chilly at night. In the south, it never gets cold. This is in complete contrast to the freezing temperatures experienced in India’s far north, around the Himalaya region.

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Dress While there are not strict dress codes, India is a conservative country and nudity is illegal. Though mostly casual clothes are fine, while visiting monument, temples or old parts of any city, it is better to wear full sleeves and pants. Clothes are cheap in India – and everything from flea market wear to designer labels are available at a lower cost

Food Food in India is spicy, not always chilly hot, but due to the fact that tourism is very developed, different food / International cuisines are available to suit every taste. It is a vegetarian’s paradise. Each region of India has its own distinctive cuisine. Consumption of uncooked food & vegetable is not advisable. Drinking water is available in sealed water bottles.

Currency The unit of Indian currency is the rupee. 100 rupees is written as Rs.100/-. There are 100 paise to the rupee. Exchange currency at authorized Forex changers only. These are available in all airports, most hotels and large shopping areas.

Credit cards All major credit card companies have a strong presence in India and payments can be made through their cards. * Visa * Maestro * MasterCard * American Express

Banks & ATMs All major banks have branches and ATM’s in cities around India and definitely in or close to cities of tourist interest.

Trip Insurance We request you to arrange for travel insurance before traveling to India.

Important Information

Hospitals India has top-of-the-line medical facilities in all its major cities, run and operated by private organizations.

• Delhi: Holy Family, Okhla Rd, Okhla, New Delhi, Delhi 110025, Ph: (+91)011 2684 5900 W: http://hfhdelhi.org/

• Agra: Jaypee Medical Centre, Fatehabad Road, Tajganj, Agra, UP 282006,Ph: (91) 562 223 1014 W: http://www.jaypeehealthcare.com/

• Varanasi: Galaxy Hospital, 4, Dayal Enclave, Mahmoorganj Road,Mahmoorganj, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221010Ph: (91) 542 222 1444 W: http://www.galaxyhospitalvaranasi.com/

Important Contacts • Travel Advisory for India: http://travel.state.gov/• Consulate General of India in NY http://www.indiacgny.org/• Embassy of India in WAS, DC http://www.indianembassy.org/• US Embassy in India - http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/contact_us_2.html• Indian Ministry of Tourism - http://www.incredibleindia.org/• Websites of US Embassies & Consulates - http://www.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Embassy: Consular Section:

• The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri110021; Phone +91-11-2419-8000; Fax +91-11-2419 0017

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Cultural Tips: Do’s:

Be subdued. Self-control is favored over impulsiveness. Be prepared to answer personal questions. Be patient and be prepared for a good deal of discussion. Phrase questions carefully as Indian responses can be ambiguous. Remember that most Hindus and all orthodox Moslems abstain from alcohol. Remember that, especially in the south, tossing the head from side to side means yes. Remove your shoes outside of a place of worship. Drink only bottled water

Don’t: Discuss sex, salaries, poverty, beggars, famines, snake charmers, widow-burning, India-Pakistan relations, or politics. Compliment women (if you are a man). Compliments from men who are not close relatives are considered inappropriate. Avoid offers of spiritual salvation and magic remedies from saints, godmen and quacks. There may be some spiritually elevated people in India, but there is no way you can distinguish the genuine ones from the crooks. If you are seriously interested in these aspects of India, take help from someone you know or visit one of the respected spiritual organizations in India.

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) Itinerary.pdfMobile: (+91) 9810577617 ... and the National...

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