Venue: Jaipur

Locate Venue in MAP

Pre and Post Conference Excursions

India -the name conjures up images of mysticism and maharajas, tigers and elephants, Gandhi and the British Raj. But there's much more to India, a country of endless variety that offers a stupendous range of colours, scents, styles, customs, languages, architecture and nature. Be it sun and sand or mountains and snow, leisure or adventure or an ever-changing human panorama with different customs, religions, social norms and lifestyles –India is enjoyable at any time of the year. Wide range of options are available for travel and stay to suit every budget. Hotel accommodation ranges from the simple and inexpensive rest houses and youth hostels to the most luxurious palaces of former Maharajas.

Jal Mahal Pre and Post-Conference Excursions will offer a blend of science, nature, history, culture, and shopping. Depending upon the duration - from a day to a fortnight - these excursion will offer to the participants an opportunity to explore India from around Delhi and Jaipur to Sikkim and Manipur in the East, Gujarat and Goa in the west, Kashmir in the north and Kanyakumari in the south, the pristine mangrove fringed Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the emerald islands of Lakshadweep with crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and corals in the Arabian Sea.

Delhi, the capital of India, unfolds more than 5000 years of history as it has been rebuilt seven times and the remains of all of them still exist. Only 200 km away lies Agra - the capital city of the Mughal emperors. There stands the World Heritage, Taj Mahal - a monument to eternal love of an emperor's love for his favourite queen. On way lies the temple city of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Only 90 minutes drive from Agra is another World Heritage and a Ramsar site- the renowned Keoladeo National Park, the only known habitat of the endangered Siberian Cranes in India, besides its 400 species of birds. Within easy reach are also the Sariska Tiger Reserve at Alwar, and the tanks and temples of Kurukshetra the battlefield of Mahabharata.

Jaipur is gateway to Rajasthan. Explore it in a desert safari or enjoy the royal comforts on a heritage train. The holy shrine of muslim saint Khajwa Moinudin Chishti in Ajmer, the temples at Pishkar, the lakes and palaces of Udaipur, the hill resort in the desert, with beautiful Nakki lake – the Mount Abu, and the beautiful palaces and forts in the desert towns of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, and the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve are within easy reach from Jaipur.

Jaipur Palace From the foothills to the snowy peaks of Himalaya in the north, the nature is at its best. The lake district of Kumaon with Nainital, Bhimtal and several other lakes, the sacred lakes of Renuka, Rewalsar and Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh add to the beauty of a serene landscape. Several National Parks include the famous Corbett National Park and the Rajaji National Park.

Kashmir with its tranquil mountains, terrached and water channeled gardensa, palaces and shrines, and above all the lakes and springs is indeed the heaven on the earth.

Varanasi – the oldest living city in the world with enchanting temples and bathing ghats on River Ganga, the Chandela temples of Khajuraho known for their erotic sculptures, Bhopal, forts and palaces of Gwalior and Jhansi, and the oldest Budhist stupa – the Sanchi Stupa, Kanha National Park and the ruins of numerous monuments built by Emperor Ashoka, King Harsha, Raja Bhoj, Chandela warriors and the great Mughals are a few main attractions in central India.

The Sun Temple at Konark and the temple city of Puri together with Lake Chilika on the eastern sea coast provide an unforgettable experience. Sundarban mangroves on the world’s largest delta formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra are a Biosphere Reserve and home to the Royal Bengal tiger.

Himalaya in the north presents a different world – the Kaziranga National park in the vast floodplains of River Brahmsaputra, Lake Loktak in Manipur, Tsomgo in Sikkim, Mirik and Sanchal in Darjeeling, numerous shall lakes – the beels that attract thousands of migratory birds, and the most significant of all Darjeeling – renowned for its tea gardens and tea.

Western India offers beautiful beaches of Goa –a former Portuguese enclave, and Mumbai, mangrove of Ratnagiri, the World Heritage caves of Ajanta and Ellora dating back to 200 BC, numerous man-made lakes, evergreen forests, and the Gir National Park - home to the majestic lions.

South India is the nature’s paradise with sylvan blue Nilgiri hills, many National Parks (such as Silent Valley and Periyar) and Sanctuaries, beautiful lakes such as Ooty and Kodaikanal, and backwaters and beautiful coconut-fringed beaches of Kerala. Hyderabad – known for Nizam’s palace, the Salarjung Museum and the Charminar; has numerous lakes besides the famous Hussain sagar. Bangalore with its many tanks is India’s cyber city, and the royal Mysore has beautifully laid out Vrindavan gardens.

For details and booking of your excursion please visit:

www.taalindia2007.com/tours.asp or

email to: makin@theashokgroup.com or info@taalindia2007.com.