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Jama Masjid mosque, Delhi

THE JOURNEYDay 1 – To Delhi: Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Delhi with Virgin Atlantic. (N)

Day 2 – Delhi: Morning arrival and transfer to Maidens Hotel Delhi for 3 nights. Afternoon visit to Mehrauli Archaeological Park with a specialist from Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). Explore the 12th-century Qutb Minar complex, built on the foundations of Jain and Hindu temples. Evening welcome dinner. (B, D) Day 3 – Delhi: Full-day tour of the New Delhi area to explore the early architecture of the pre-Mughal period and some of the early Mughal architecture before the establishment of the Mughal capital Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). Visits include the 18th-century Jantar Mantar observatory and the Safdarjung tomb. The medieval Hauz Khas complex features buildings from the 13th- to the 14th-century; most notable is Firoz Shah’s tomb. The Humayun tomb and charbagh (Persian-style garden layout) is the best example of early Mughal style and is the predecessor to the Taj Mahal. After lunch, an exclusive lecture about Mughal art by a local specialist has

HigHligHTs• Walking tour of Mehrauli archaeological

Park with an intach Specialist• Private lecture about Mughal art by a

local specialist at the intach office• Guided walking tour of old Lucknow• Exclusive talk at the national Museum

about its connection to the Royal academy

OvERviEwThe Mughal empire came out of central Asia. Babur, the first ruler, was the great great great grandson of Mongol ruler and conqueror Tamerlane. He united Mongolian traditions, the Persianate high culture and the central Asian patronage of Islamic art and architecture with the wealth and talent of India. This tour visits four fascinating cities of the Mughals: Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lucknow, exploring the art, architecture and artefacts of the Mughal legacy.

DiANA DRisCOllDiana read ancient Middle East and Islamic studies at Soas. Her area of expertise is the Islamic world: religion, history, culture and

languages. She has travelled extensively in central Asia, north Africa, the Middle East, south Asia and China.

With Diana Driscoll • 12 Days / 10 Nights from £3,195 per person

iNDiA: Mughal Art & Architecture

Gangtahar clock tower, Lucknow

been arranged at Intach’s office. Intach is an autonomous Indian NGO that seeks to preserve Indian art and culture. This is followed by a visit to the Hazrat Nizamuddin, a 14th-century Sufi saint’s tomb. (B) Day 4 – Delhi: Full-day tour of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) to see the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India accommodating 25,000 worshippers. Continue to Fatehpuri Masjid complex, Qudsia Bagh mosque and the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan that was built in 1598 by Mirza Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana for his wife. (B)

Day 5 – To Agra: In the morning, visit Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, which contains the remains of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who created the pyramidal, five-storey tomb himself. Continue after the tour by road to Agra. Stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel for 3 nights. (B)

Day 6 – Agra: Drive to Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone capitol of Emperor Akbar. The mosque and palace buildings were only occupied for 14 years and then deserted. Perfectly preserved, they highlight the Mughals’ power and success in their

Or visit www.coxandkings.co.uk/ra ART TOURS WORLDWIDE

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iNDiA: Mughal Art & Architecture Tour Code: mUG

09-20 Feb 2015: £3,195 Single supplement: £645 with Diana Driscoll

31 Oct-11 nov 2015: £3,245 Single supplement: £645 with Diana Driscoll

Price includes: Return flights from London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic; domestic flights as indicated in the itinerary; accommodation in 4-star hotels; transfers; sightseeing; services of the expert lecturer, some local guides and a local English-speaking tour manager. Prices above are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. The prices were valid at the time of publication but may be subject to change. Please visit coxandkings.co.uk for further information and supplement details.

architecture and emphasise the lavish lifestyle they had. (B)

Day 7 – Agra: Full-day tour of Mughal Agra including the Red Fort, providing a spectacular view of the Taj Mahal sitting gracefully in the landscape, the I’timad-ud-Daulah (the ‘baby Taj’), Chini ka Rauza and the Ram Bagh. The Ram Bagh is the oldest Mughal garden in India, designed to form the perfect idea of Islamic paradise, with intersecting pathways and canals dividing the garden to enhance its beauty and splendour. Spend the remainder of the day at the world-famous Taj Mahal, regarded to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It is arguably the most beautiful and spectacular achievement accomplished by the Mughals, made entirely from pristine white marble. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife and queen, Mumtaz Mahal. (B)

Day 8 – To Lucknow: Transfer to the rail station to take the Intercity Express to Lucknow. Transfer to Vivanta by Taj, Gomti Nagar for 3 nights. (B)

Day 9 – Lucknow: Full-day tour of Lucknow to see how it developed under Emperor

Akbar’s 16th-century patronage to its 18th-century fame as the capital of the cultured Nawabs of Oudh. Visits include the Bara Imambara, the Asafi mosque, Rumi Sarwaza, the Hussainabad Imambara, Shah Najaf Imambara and the Sikander Bagh gardens. (B)

Day 10 – Lucknow: Full-day tour of Residency and Hazratganj area. Visit includes the Residency Compound, the Nur Bakhsh Kothi and Tarawali Kothi (observatories) and the Shaheed Smarak. The Mohammad Ali Shah Art Gallery exhibits old photographs and portraits of the Nawabs. In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of old Lucknow with a local guide. (B)

Day 11– To Delhi: Fly to Delhi. Afternoon visit to the National Museum. An Exhibition

of Indian Art, consisting of selected artefacts from various museums of India, was organised by the Royal Academy in the winter of 1947-48. The collection later went on display in Delhi. The success of the Delhi exhibition led to the creation of India’s National Museum in 1949. The museum currently holds approximately 200,000 objects from both India and abroad. A private talk about the museum’s connection with the Royal Academy has been arranged. Evening farewell dinner. Overnight at Maidens Hotel Delhi for 1 night. (B, D)

Day 12 – To London: Transfer to the airport. Fly from Delhi to London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Taj Mahal, Agra