Mystical India - Columbia Alumni Association - Columbia University

Mystical IndiaWITH RANTHAMBORE TIGER PRESERVE18 days for $4,695 from New York — air & land inclusiveThis tour is provided byOdysseys Unlimited, oneof Travel & Leisure’s 2008World’s Best Tour Operators.January 24 - February 10, 2010A Small Group Travel Experience for theColumbia Alumni Travel Study Program

Limited to 24 alumni and friendsMYSTICAL INDIAWITH RANTHAMBORE TIGER PRESERVE18 days from $4,695 — air & land inclusiveMystical and spiritual, confounding and chaotic, India overflows withriches. While staying at excellent hotels, we discover the classic GoldenTriangle: Delhi, the bustling capital; Agra, home of the sublime TajMahal; and Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Rajput. Plus, we search forelusive Bengals at Ranthambore Tiger Preserve; admire Khajuraho's ancienttemples; and absorb the holiness of Varanasi.Arabian SeaJaipurDelhiRanthamboreNational ParkIndian OceanAgraKalakhoINDIAAvg. High (°F) Jan FebDelhi 70 75Agra 72 79KathmanduKhajurahoNEPALVaranasiDestinationAirMotorcoachTrain & MotorcoachExtension (air)Entry/DepartureYour Small Group Tour HighlightsTours of Old Delhi and New Delhi ... Home-hosteddinners with Delhi and Jaipur families ... Magnificent TajMahal ... Two-night stay at Ranthambore Tiger Preserve ...Kalakho camel safari and tribal home visit ... "Pink City" ofJaipur, including Amber Fort and Palace of the Winds ...Temples at Khajuraho ... Holy city of VaranasiDay Itinerary Hotel Rating1 Depart U.S. for Delhi2-4 Delhi Taj Palace Deluxe5-7 Jaipur Jai Mahal Palace Deluxe8-9 Ranthambore Taj Sawai Madhopur LodgeFirst Class10 KalakhoDera Lake ViewRetreatNot rated11-12 Agra Taj Gateway Agra Sup. First Class13-14 Khajuraho Taj Chandela First Class15-16 Varanasi Taj Gateway Ganges Sup. First Class17 DelhiCrowne PlazaGurgaonDeluxe18 Depart Delhi for U.S.Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travelindustry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be toonew, too small, or too remote to be listed.Cover photo: India’s Taj Mahal, an enduring monument to loveDay 1: Depart U.S. for Delhi, IndiaDay 2: Arrive Delhi We arrive in India’s capitallate evening and transfer to our hotel.Day 3: Delhi After a morning briefingwith our tour director, this afternoon we tour Delhi,including the 16 th -century Tomb of Humayun,with its ground-breaking Mughal design; QutabMinar, the 234-step tower dating to 1193; andIndia Gate, honoring the 90,000 Indian soldierswho died fighting alongside the British in WorldWar I. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at ourhotel. B,DDay 4: Delhi Today we explore Old Delhi,beginning with the Gandhi Memorial, the simpleblack marble slab honoring Mahatma Gandhi.Next, two renowned 17 th -century landmarks: LalQila, the Red Fort palaces where we stop for photos;and the red sandstone and marble Jama Masjid,India’s largest mosque. Then we ride rickshawsthrough Chandi Chowk market; visit a Sikh temple;and tour the National Museum. Tonight wedine in the homes of urban Indian families. B,DDay 5: Delhi/Jaipur Today we travel by coach tothe "pink city" of Jaipur, one of the great cities ofthe Rajput, with historic forts, palaces, and gardens.We reach our hotel late this afternoon. B,L,DDay 6: Jaipur Our first stop is the stunningHawa Mahal, the elaborately carved pink sandstone"Palace of the Winds." We continue on to AmberFort, built by the Kkachhawah Rajputs as theircapital from 1037 to 1728; Jantar Mantar, theopen-air observatory with its huge astronomicalinstruments; and City Palace Museum, housing themagnificent art collections of the Maharajahs ofJaipur. B,L

We spend two days in the holy city of Varanasi, where the River Ganges flows.Day 7: Jaipur/Sanganer This morning we visitthe village of Sanganer to see traditional blockprinting and handmade paper industries. Later wetour a local market then take a traditional rickshawride. Tonight we are dinner guests in the home ofa mutli-generational Rajasthan family. B,DDay 8: Jaipur/Ranthambore We travel toRanthambore National Park, the former huntingground of the Maharajah of Jaipur and now a 512-square-mile natural preserve that is home to hundredsof species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and of course,Bengal tigers. This afternoon we take our firstgame drive through the park. B,L,DDay 9: Ranthambore We take both morningand afternoon game drives today to see not onlygame (though tiger and leopard sightings are notguaranteed), but also picturesque ruins of forts andpalaces. B,L,DDay 10: Ranthambore/Kalakho We departearly for Kalakho and the Dera Lake View Retreaton the banks of Madhosager Lake. Here we enjoya unique small group encounter: a camel safari tomeet the local Meena tribespeople in theirhomes – mud huts adorned with floral and animaldesigns. B,L,DDay 11: Kalakho/Fatehpur Sikri/AgraLeaving Kalakho this morning, we travel toFatehpur Sikri, the late 16 th -century city of redsandstone that is an outstanding example ofMughal architecture and a UNESCO WorldHeritage site. Early afternoon we reach Agra,the ancient Mughal stronghold. B,DDay 12: Agra This morning we visit the TajMahal, the magnificent tomb built by EmperorShah Jahan in memory of his beloved wifeMumtaz. Some 20,000 laborers spent 17 yearsPost-Tour Extension: February 9 -14, 2010NEPAL5 days/4 nights for $995Single Supplement: $395Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan kingdom – and thewarmth of its people – on this special journey featuringsacred shrines, royal cities, and indigenous lifestyles.Your Tour Price Includes• Air transportation Varanasi/Kathmandu; Kathmandu/Delhi• 4 nights’ accommodations in Kathmandu at CrownPlaza Soaltee (Superior First Class)• 8 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners• Extensive included sightseeing, including Pashupatinathshrine (UNESCO site); Boudhanath monument; colorfulBhaktapur, “city of Devotees;” Swayambhunath Temple,royal city of Patan; and Kathmandu and environs• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited representative• Private motorcoach transportation• Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotelporters, and all driversPlease note that guests on extension will leave the Indiatour on Day 17 then return to Delhi following the extensionfor a final night at Crown Plaza Gurgaon (Deluxe).

on the exquisitely symmetrical white marble mausoleum,which was begun in 1632. After an Indiancooking lesson and lunch, we venture to imposingAgra Fort complex. B,LDay 13: Agra/Khajuraho We travel by train toJhansi, then continue by coach to the village ofOrchha. After lunch here we travel on toKhajuraho, whose collection of 22 Hindu templesdating to the 10th century is a UNESCO WorldHeritage site. B,L,DDay 14: Khajuraho Today we tour several ofKhajuraho’s well-preserved temples, considered thefinest examples of temple architecture in northernIndia. B,DDay 15: Khajuraho/VaranasiWe fly today to Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest cityand a sacred place of pilgrimage. This evening weattend a traditional aarti offering ceremony as wecruise along the Ganges. B,DWe may see tigers atRanthamboreDay 16: Varanasi Earlythis morning we return tothe Ganges, where Hindupilgrims perform their ritualsalong the ghats (steps)leading to the river. Wevisit several of the importantghats by boat as weexperience for ourselves thespiritual mystique of thesehallowed waters. Next wevisit Kashi-VishwanathTemple, the most sacred of the shrines dedicatedto Lord Shiva. Later we travel to Sarnath, birthplaceof Buddhism. Tonight we celebrate our journeyat a farewell dinner. B,DDay 17: Varanasi/Delhi We fly this afternoonto Delhi, where the evening is at leisure. BDay 18: to U.S. Early today we transfer to theairport for our return flight to the U.S.Your Tour Price Includes• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities;all flights within India• 16 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, SuperiorFirst Class, First Class, and unrated hotels• 34 meals: 15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 12 dinners• Extensive sightseeing as described, includingall entrance fees• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director• Private motorcoach transportation throughoutyour trip• Rail transportation Agra/Jhansi• Luggage handling for one bag per person• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airportand hotel porters, and all driversColumbia Guest LecturerWe make it a priority to provide an outstandingColumbia University affiliated guest lecturer whowill accompany each program. Education iscentral to the mission of the Columbia AlumniTravel Study Program, and we intend that you willbe joined by a guest lecturer. Our lecturers arechosen for the depth of their knowledge as well astheir approachability. We trust that their enthusiasmand insight, experienced through formallectures and informal conversations, will greatlyenhance the educational value of the trip. As thisbrochure goes to press, however, we are unable toguarantee a lecturer. Please feel free to contactour office for an update on the guest lecturerstatus.Please note that a minimum number of passengers isrequired to confirm faculty participation.Tour Departs: January 24, 2010New York $4,695Baltimore, Boston, Washington, DC $4,995Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit,Miami, Orlando, TampaCincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver,Houston, Los Angeles, MinneapolisPhoenix, Portland (OR),San Francisco, Seattle$5,095$5,195$5,295Land only (transfers not included) $4,495Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are perperson based on double occupancy. Single travelersplease add $1,795. Please note that single roomavailability is limited. All tour prices above areguaranteed.Business Class upgrade on round-trip internationalflight: $3,495 per person (Business Class upgradeis subject to availability and the pricing is subjectto change.)Airline taxes and departure fees of $471 per personare subject to change and will be listed separatelyon your invoice.Physical Requirements: This trip involves full days ofsightseeing and significant amounts of walking.You should be in relatively good condition to enjoythe tour to its fullest.For reservations and information, pleasecontact the Columbia Alumni Travel StudyProgram at866-325-8664 or fax203-724-0844 or e-mailtravelstudy@columbia.edu

Dear Columbian,We are delighted to announce an exotic journey to Mystical India at the beginning of2010. This educational adventure will feature visits to Delhi, the bustling capital; a homehosteddinner with a Delhi family; Agra, home of the exquisite Taj Mahal; a two-nightstay at Ranthambore Tiger Preserve; the legendary "pink city" of Jaipur; Khajuraho andits famous temples; and Varanasi, India's holiest city.The highlights of our tour abound: Old Delhi with its crowded, colorful lanes, sleek NewDelhi with its broad tree-lined boulevards, the magnificent Taj Mahal, built as a tomband monument of eternal love, the "Pink City" and former Rajput capital of Jaipur,Ranthambore National Park, home of exotic flora and fauna, the outstanding Mughalarchitecture of Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and Jaipur’s opulentAmber Fort as approached on elephant-back. You may also extend your stay with anoptional five-day tour to the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.This air-inclusive program is shared with like-minded travelers from GeorgetownUniversity and is limited to 24 participants. Please register today to ensure your space onwhat promises to be a memorable adventure.Sincerely,Susan K. FeaginExecutive Vice PresidentColumbia University Office of Alumni & DevelopmentSuperiorOur programs are classified in threecategories: Value, Superior and LuxuryCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY RESERVATION FORM: MYSTICAL INDIAEnclosed is my/our deposit for $______($500 per person) for ____ person/people on Mystical India departingJanuary 24, 2010. I/we understand the final payment is at least 95 days prior to departure. Payment may be madeby American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA or by personal check. Please make deposit check payable toOdysseys Unlimited, Inc. and mail check (along with completed reservation form) to: Columbia Alumni TravelStudy Program, 245 Mill Street, 2nd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830. Phone: 866-325-8664; Fax 203-724-0844;E-mail: travelstudy@columbia.edu; www.alumni.columbia.edu/attend.Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________(MUST BE as it appears on your passport)school/degree/yearName _____________________________________________________________________________________________(MUST BE as it appears on your passport)school/degree/yearGuest 1 Date of Birth/Gender ______________________ Guest 2 Date of Birth/Gender _____________________Address _________________________________________Email ___________________________________________City____________________________________________________________State________ ZIP__________________Home Ph. ( ______ )________________________________ Bus. Ph. ( ____) ______________Columbia UNI ______Please book my air from ____________________________ I/we would like to request a Business Class upgrade ❑I will share a room with ____________________________ I desire a single room (limited availability). ❑Post-Tour Nepal Extension: Please sign me/us up. ❑Badge Name(s) ___________________________________Please Note: The undersigned has read the schedule of activities for Mystical India, January 24 - February 10, 2010,and agrees that their signature below represents their acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions.Signature(s) __________________________________________________________________Date________________Method of Payment❑ Check ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ❑ MasterCard ❑ VISAAccount #_____________________________________________ Security Code______________Exp. Date__________Name of Cardholder _________________________________________________________________________________Signature ___________________________________________________________________________________________Final invoicing will be sent by our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. The balance of the program price must bepaid to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONSPlease read this information carefully, as payment of a $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Terms andConditions.Not included in tour priceAirfare from your hometown to your gateway city and return; costs of passports and visas; airport, port, and departure taxes, whichwill be listed as separate items on your invoice and are subject to change; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service,and meals not specified; excess baggage fees; airport transfers when purchasing a land-only package; communication charges;optional sightseeing; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, which are at your discretion; (suggested gratuities $10-$15per day, per traveler), travel protection insurance.Cancellations, refunds and changesIf you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon our receipt of your written notification. Refunds for cancellationsare subject to the following per person charges: Cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; Cancel 94-65 daysbefore departure: 25% of tour price; Cancel 64-45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; Cancel 44-30 days before departure:75% of tour price; Cancel 29-0 days before departure: No refund. If a guest makes any changes to their reservation from 94 to 30days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penaltiesimposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancyto single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure.Upon reservation you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport. In the event an airline ticket is issuedwith incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.InsuranceWe strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunctionwith cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event you must cancel your participationin the travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Information will be sentupon registration.Columbia Alumni Travel Study Program245 Mill Street, 2nd FloorGreenwich, CT 06830PresortedStandardU.S. POSTAGEP A I DOdysseysUnlimited, Inc.ResponsibilityThe Columbia University Alumni Association, its agent TSS, LLC (collectively known as TSS) and its operator, Odysseys Unlimited, actsolely as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotel and other tour arrangements and neither assume nor bearany responsibility or liability for any injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity arising in connection with the servicesof any ship, airplane, train, automobile, motor-coach, carriage or other conveyance, or the actions of any third-party, involved in carryingthe passenger or in affecting these tours. TSS and its operator, Odysseys Unlimited, are not responsible for damages, additionalexpenses, or any other losses due to cancellation, delay or other changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, civil disturbances,acts or threats of terrorism, travel warnings or bans, termination or suspension of war risks or other carrier insurance, quarantine,acts of God or other causes beyond our control. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditionsspecified by the air carriers, cruise line and other independent sponsors. All such losses must be borne by the passenger, and tourrates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. In the event of cancellation, delay or rescheduling mandated by any of theaforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall have the option of accepting in lieu of the original tour such rescheduled touror other substituted tour(s) as may be offered by us, or else, receiving a refund of as much as such advance tour expenditures as weare able to recover on the passenger’s behalf from carriers, third-party tour vendors, etc., but, we shall not have any obligation or liabilityto the passenger beyond the foregoing. We reserve the right to make alterations to the tour’s itinerary and to substitute hotels,vessels or study leaders. We reserve the right to cancel, delay, or reschedule any tour prior to departure, and so long as this is not dueto any of the aforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall be entitled to a full refund of all monies paid to that point ifhe/she so desires. No refund shall be made for any unused portion of the tour. By forwarding payment(s), the passenger certifies thathe/she and/or their dependents, minors and others covered thereby do not have any mental, physical or other condition of disabilitythat could create a hazard for them or other passengers. We reserve the right to decline to accept or to decline to retain any personas a member of any tour should such person’s health, condition or actions adversely affect or threaten the welfare or safety of otherpassengers or impede the tour. Baggage or valuables brought on the tour shall be transported, handled and stored at the passenger’s risk entirely,and we shall bear no liability or responsibility for any damage or other loss thereto. We reserve the right to cancel or substitute faculty.We cannot guarantee the size of the Columbia group. Resolution of any disputes arising hereunder shall be affected exclusivelyin the state or federal courts presiding in Greenwich, CT, pursuant to applicable Connecticut or Federal law.join us for A SPECIAL COLUMBIAtour to Mystical India!Guaranteed Small Group: Limited to 24 Guests