India has shaken off its post-colonial mantel and undertaken huge economic reforms. Soon it is tipped to become one of the great powers of the 21st century. But huge challenges remain, our wide-ranging journey explores those recent changes. We also get to enjoy some of India’s remarkable beauty and wildlife.
| DATES | 2020 – Dates tbc | ||||
| DESTINATION | Mumbai, Jaipur, Ranthambhore, New Delhi Led Nilanjana Bhowmick | ||||
| DURATION | 11 nights | ||||
| INCLUDED |
| ||||
| COST | Cost: £tbc Single supplement: £tbc |
We start in Mumbai, famed for its multi-cultural mix and home to a booming economy situated alongside some of the largest slums in the country. We also explore Hindu nationalism which has fueled religious tensions. These tensions are now seen as the largest threat to India’s democratic institutions, all the while encouraged by the governing BJP.
From there we fly north to Jaipur – the pink city – home to some beautiful architecture and fierce political rivalry between the BJP and Congress. We look at how cast remains a key issue in Indian politics.
Next, we go to one of India’s most famous national parks, Ranthambhore, home to tigers and a charity that is working to improve local education and healthcare. The tour ends with visits to the parliament and meetings with a wide range of politicians and experts.
The tour is led by Siddharth Varadarajan the former editor of the Hindu, India’s largest paper, and Nilanjana Bhowmick, formerly with Time Magazine.
Like all our tours the itinerary is focused on current affairs. Events on the ground may change and the final schedule may be adjusted accordingly.
Sunday 3rd February: Mumbai
Monday 4th February: Mumbai
Tuesday 5th February: Mumbai
Wednesday 6th to Thursday 7th February: Jaipur
Mumbai – Jaipur by air: AI 611 Economy class 11.35 – 13.15
(Please contact Political Tours to book your flight with our travel partners)
The pink city is the capital of Rajasthan one of the most contested politically in India with traditionally close rivalry between the BJP and Congress. We visit the regional assembly learn about recent elections (Dec 18) and see how cast continues to play a critical role in Indian politics. There will also time to explore the city centre and architecture. Overnight in ITC Jajputana Hotel Jaipur – 2 nights..
Friday 8th to Saturday 9th February: Ranthambhore National Park
We are staying in a beautiful camp on the edge of the park in luxury accommodation run by a charitable foundation. Money raised from the camp goes towards funding local hospitals, and schools and we will see their work. While the state is still incredibly weak at providing such services, charitable foundations take on much of the burden. Overnight at Khem Villas – 2 nights.
Sunday 8th February: New Delhi
Monday 11th to Tuesday 12th February: New Dehli
Wednesday 13th February: New Dehli
Please contact us for options to extend the tour to visit the Taj Mahal, Agra.
Dates: tbc
Cost: £tbc Single supplement: £tbc
This tour starts in Mumbai and ends in Delhi
What’s Included
All of your accommodation and meals with water are included, as well as local transport (except during your free time). Flights are not included in the price and need to be arranged by customers themselves or with an agent.
Following the news
Like all our tours the itinerary is focused on current affairs. Events on the ground may change and the final schedule may be adjusted accordingly.
Group size
As on all our expert-led tours the groups are deliberately small and will not exceed 12 people. Frequently we travel with 8 – 10 people. Limited spaces are available.
Visa
All foreign nationals entering India need to have a valid visa. All individual visa seekers are requested to apply for an Indian e-Visa through the online application site. Visit the official site – indianvisaonline.gov.in
Weather
Sunblock is essential as temperatures in Mumbai during the day can reach mid-30s centigrade (C)/90s fahrenheit (F). Further north temperatures will be cooler (mid-20s C/70s F), with overnight temperatures dropping to around 9 C/mid-40sF..
Dress
Travellers should always ensure arms and legs are covered, when visiting temples and other religious institutions visitors may be required to cover their heads or remove their shoes..
Men: Will need a jacket and tie for some of the meetings.
Women: You will need some smarter attire for one or two meetings.
FCO Website – Travel Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo which you are recommended to consult before booking and in good time before departure. Where it considers it appropriate to do so, the FCO may advise against all travel or all but essential travel to particular countries or parts of particular countries. Similarly, the FCO may withdraw any such previously given advice. Where the FCO issues such advice, we may as a result cancel your tour or make changes so as to avoid the area concerned (see clause 10). Alternatively, we may ask you to sign a form confirming you wish to proceed with the tour notwithstanding the FCO advice. It is in the nature of the itineraries we offer that the FCO may have issued such advice in relation to the country or parts of the country we are intending to visit prior to confirmation of your booking. In this case, you will be asked to sign the above form before we confirm your booking.
Medical Requirements
Advice on health requirements may be obtained from your GP, or alternatively from the Department of Health leaflet Advice on Health for Travelers, or the Department of Health in the UK. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx.
Mosquito repellant is a good idea.
It is also useful to travel with medications for traveller’s tummy – like imodium, probiotics and rehydration sachets.
We suggest you visit your own doctor or local travel clinic who will have the most up-to-date travel advice, and be able to recommend any vaccinations prior to travel based on your medical history.
Currency
Local currency is the Indian Rupee. There are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to bring any amount of Indian currency into the country. You can bring cash or travellers’ cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in India.
Electricity & Plugs
Electricity supply is 220-240 volts AC 50 HZ. Most plugs are 5 amp with 3-prong round pins.
Internet Access
Wifi is available in all hotels, as well as many coffee shops and restaurants.
International Passenger Protection Insurance (IPP)
All our travel arrangements are covered by the UK’s package tour regulations and are financially guaranteed. We are a land-only tour operator and flights are not included.
Nilanjana Bhowmick
Multi-award winning, independent journalist, a former Time correspondent, based in New Delhi, India. Currently, an editor with Agencia EFE’s English Language Service and an independent commentator on gender, development, politics and current affairs.
15 years of experience writing and reporting for some of the world’s best media publications on development, social justice, human rights, gender and environment, foreign policy and international affairs, including: The Washington Post, Time, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Cs Monitor, New Internationalist, The Establishment, Reuters, BBC World, Voa News, Panos, Radiolab, Financial Times (Germany), El Mundo (Spain), National Geographic Magazine.
Columnist for the Washington Post and New Internationalist Magazine.
Awarded for being the best development journalist by the UK-based Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in 2010. Lorenzo Natalie Prize (European Commission) in 2010 for development journalism. Diageo Women’s Empowerment award for the best online story in Asia-Pacific in 2013.
Comments from Recent Tours
“These trips bring real, usually politically-connected, people to the table. All of us are free to ask whatever we want and to follow up with tough questions. Reading about situations isn’t even close to finding out things firsthand. There is nothing like being on the ground, face-to face, with people who are making or impacting policy.
As a rule, I don’t do group tours. But I make an exception for PT given the value I’ve experienced every time – and the Baltics was my 6th PT.”
ME, a frequent traveler with Political Tours
“Hearing first hand from people closely involved and well informed from both sides was, in my view, exceptional. I thought we had a good range of views across the spectrum.”
CF on Israel and Palestine, the Baltics and Russia
“It introduced me to some interesting people (including fellow travelers); it took me to places and to people I would have never accessed as an ordinary tourist. It was the first time that I had been part of any tour group – it was very well run and the group members and leaders were great.”
MS, Israel and Palestine
“I always recommend Political Tours when people say they want to get away from the “tourist trail”
AM, a frequent traveller with Political Tours
“I thought thought the organisors were amazing. They were not just knowledgeable, they were very good at making me feel welcome, at managing the group, keeping the focus on the topic at hand and encouraging questions and follow up discussions.”
MH, Colombia, Iceland and Hungary
Political Tours recommended reading list for the India tour
Why I am a Hindu – Shashi Tharoor
The Paradoxical Prime Minister – Shashi Tharoor
In Spite Of Gods :The Strange Rise Of Modern India – Edward Luce
India After Gandhi – Ramachandra Guha
India’s Unending Journey – Mark Tully
India Unbound – The Social And Economic Revolution From Independence To The Global Information Age – Gurcharan Das
Everybody Loves A Good Drought: Stories From India’s Poorest Districts – P. Sainath
The Argumentative Indian – Amartya Sen
How the BJP wins: Inside India’s Greatest Election Machine – Prashant Jha
Electoral Politics in India: The Resurgence of the Bharatiya Janata Party Hardcover – 1 Feb 2017
Web sites
The following websites: The Wire, Scroll.in can be an impartial source of news on India.
These blogs are a great read on India.
http://www.indiauncut.com
Youth Ki Awaaz
The Better India
http://themangoman.co.in