Share |

Study tours

Vanuatu 2010

Mexico and Cuba 2009

South America 2007

India 2005

Indochina 2003

 


India Study Tour – January 2005

The 9th GTAV Study Tour that took place during January 2005 was an outstanding success. The study tour to India consisted of 24 geographers and their friends; 15 of whom had been on one or more previous tours. One couple in the group were participating in their 6th GTAV study tour! The group was again characterised by the same great camaraderie that has typified all of our previous groups. Many past participants have formed on-going friendships as a result of their shared experiences on tour. This time, we had an extremely efficient Indian tour operator handling our ground arrangements who did everything possible to ensure the success of the tour.

Highlights of our tour included:

  • The high standard of accommodation in a wide variety of 4/5 star hotels – several of which were former royal palaces.
  • New Year’s Eve celebrations at the heritage listed Roop Niwas Palace Hotel in Nawalgarh and a tour of the farm the following morning.
  • The magnificent stone lace work and frescoes of the historic mansions and palaces throughout Rajasthan.
  • Our camel ride in the Thar Desert near the Pakistan border and our elephant ride up to the Amber Fort in Jaipur.
  • The magnificent medieval fort city of Jaiselmer (one of the few places in the world where people are still living within a walled fortress).
  • Lunch at the spectacular Kuchaman Fort, perched on a hilltop commanding an uninterrupted view over the surrounding plain.
  • Sunset from the terrace of the Pushkar Palace Hotel, overlooking Pushkar’s holy lake.
  • Our sighting of the majestic Bengal tiger on two separate occasions, on game drives in Ranthambore National Park.
  • The world heritage listed Taj Mahal shrouded in early morning mist.
  • Visits to a typical Indian rural village and small market town, for first-hand experience of the everyday life of the vast majority of the Indian people.
  • The enthusiasm and desire to learn of students attending the school visited in Jaipur.
  • The friendliness of the Indian people from all levels of society.

Barrie M. Jones
Study Tours Co-ordinator