Remembering The Indian Mutiny

Remembering the Indian Mutiny (Tour Code: IN/002) – It was 1857 when a gruesome sepoy mutiny took shape in India, resulting in untimely deaths of not only the British troops but also lady wives and innocent children. Now after 162 years we revisit the places that saw the bloodiest of blood sheds in the pages of the British history. Take a remembrance tour through Calcutta, Serampore, Barrackpore, Delhi, Meerut, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Orcha, Gwalior and Agra for 16/17 days.

 Tour Itinerary

Day 01  Arrival Day in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Arrive Kolkata where our representative will meet, assist and transfer to hotel. Check in at the hotel and later you have an option to visit the local markets. Back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

Day 02  Kolkata – Serampore – Barrackpore – Kolkata

After breakfast we will take a boat from Kolkata to Serampore (4 hours). On this visit we will be able to see the Danish settlements and cemetery here. Later we visit Barrackpore – a place of historical significance in many ways. It was here that the revolt of 1857 called the Sepoy Mutiny or at times the Indian Uprising, got off to a start. We will visit the Mangal Pandey Park and drive through the cantonment area. Later we board our car to return to Kolkata by dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

Day 03  Kolkata

After morning breakfast you will be visiting the white marble Victoria Memorial with its fine picture collection, St John’s Church, the atmospheric South Park Cemetery and down Chowringhee past Ochterlony’s Column at the Maidan to Government House, Writers’ Building and other vestiges of British Empire. You will also explore the great Raj houses and institutions, the University area, the Coffee House, Fort William (exterior views only) and Zoffany’s painting. Back to hotel by dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

Day 04  Kolkata / Delhi

Breakfast at hotel and later this morning we will explore more of Calcutta and experience the traces of the Raj that still are a way of life here. A walk in the fish market is also not a bad idea or may be a second breakfast at the Flury’s on the Park Street. Later we will be transferred to Kolkata airport in time to connect our flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to the hotel. Check-in and overnight at hotel in Delhi.

Day 05  Delhi – Meerut – Delhi

Breakfast will be served at the hotel and post breakfast we drive to Meerut (70 kms / 2 hrs). Influenced by an event at Barrackpur (near Calcutta), On 10^th May sepoy at Meerut revolted, actual virus of revolt started from here. Explore the mutiny sites, St John’s garrison church and the cemetery with graves of victim .Back to Delhi en route visiting Badli-Ki-Sarai, the battle site. It was here that a battle was fought in June 1857 between Gordon Highlanders and the high-spirited sepoys. It is actually in the memory of the Gordon Highlanders that a memorial stands nearby this area and overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 06  Delhi

This day in the early morning you have an opportunity to be a part of either one of the Heritage Walk i.e. “1857 Uprising: Kashmiri Gate and Neighborhood” or “Landmarks of 1857: Northern Ridge”. Packed breakfast will be provided to you during your walk. Back to hotel and day up to lunch at leisure. Post lunch you will visit Old Delhi to see some of the capital’s major historical sites, including the Jama Mosque, Red Fort and Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial. Later back to hotel by evening. Overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

Day 07  Delhi / Lucknow

Breakfast at our hotel and post breakfast checkout and visit New Delhi, seeing Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and drive past through the India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan. Also stroll a bit at the Khan Market, that is an up-market shopping destination for the diplomats, expatriates and who’s who of New Delhi. Also enjoy your lunch at any of the restaurants here. Transfer to Delhi airport in time to connect your flight to Lucknow. Arrive Lucknow, transfer to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Lucknow.

Day o8  Lucknow – Kanpur – Lucknow

Post breakfast today we will drive to Kanpur (100 km / 2 hrs). Here we will visit the Wheeler’s Entrenchment, All Souls Church, the Massacre Ghat and the Bibi Ghar. An exclusive lunch will be served at an old colonial bungalow, that has now been converted to a small hotel, but is still in use by the family that has inherited it. Post lunch we will drive back to Lucknow. Arrive Lucknow by evening, check-in and overnight at hotel in Lucknow.

Day 09  Lucknow

Breakfast at hotel and later a full day to explore the Mutiny sites in Lucknow, the centrepiece being the British Residency, that was a witness to the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857. Lying to south of Gomti river its roofless buildings and smashed walls, sprawling in a vast area of 33 acres stand witness to one of the most gruesome siege of this British stronghold by the Oudh forces in 1857, after this we visit La Martiniere School and Hodson’s Tomb. Also visit Dilkusha Palace that fell in the hands of the mutineers and it was here that General Henry Havelock was injured. Post lunch we visit the Havelock’s Tomb and later reach Hazratganj for a Victorian Walk to understand the evolution of this market place since the pre-1857 days to the present day and of course its role in the siege of 1857. Back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Lucknow.

Day 10  Lucknow

Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast you will be visiting Asafi Imambada, Rumi Darwaza, Husainabad Imambara and the Clock Tower. Back to hotel by lunch and for this evening we have planned an exclusive dinner with a Royal Family, at their Victorian Place and we will have an opportunity to meet the family that holds the title of KCIE, bestowed to their ancestors by HE Queen Victoria. Enjoy your evening drinks and home cooked dinner with this family. Later back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Lucknow.

Day 11  Lucknow / Jhansi / Orcha

This morning after our breakfast transfer to train station in time to connect our train to Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi by early evening and drive to Orcha (50 km / 1 hr) for an overnight stay at Orcha.

Day 12  Orcha / Jhansi / Gwalior

Post breakfast we explore a bit of Orcha, visiting the Jehangir Mahal and Lakshmi Temple that has the nineteenth centaury frescoes based on the subject of the defence of the Jhansi Fort. Later we explore Jhansi, visiting Lakshmi Bai Temple, Jhansi Fort and Rani Mahal – it has been a witness to the Great Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. It is the place where Lakshmi Bai made plans with Tantya Tope and Nana Sahib to defeat the British Forces. Here we will also walk along the walls of the Fort where Lakshmi Bai fought the British contingent in March 1858 before fleeing on the horseback to Gwalior, a route we will travel to reach Gwalior for an overnight stay. Late evening we will drive to Gwalior (110 km / 2.5 hrs) . Upon arrival by dinner check in at the hotel in Gwalior and overnight in Gwalior.

Day 13  Gwalior

Breakfast at hotel. This day you will be visiting Gwalior Fort – which witnessed the revolt of 1857, Gujari Mahal – the major striking spotlight of this museum is the sculpture of Gyraspur Shalabhanjika (the tree goddess, epitome of perfection in miniature) is sheltered in the Gujari Mahal. After that you will be visiting Phool Bagh, Cenotaphs of Rani Laxmi Bai and Maharaja Bada. In the evening you can enjoy the legendary stories of Mutiny in the Light and Sound Show at Gwalior Fort that reveal the majestic history and glory of Gwalior. Back to hotel by dinner and overnight at the hotel in Gwalior.

Day 14  Gwalior / Agra

Breakfast at the hotel and post breakfast we explore a bit of Gwalior, taking a walk in the Lashkar Area that earlier was an Army Camp. Post lunch we drive to Agra (130km / 3 hrs). Arrive Agra by evening, check-in at the hotel and overnight at the hotel in Agra.

Day 15  Agra

Breakfast at hotel and post breakfast we explore Agra Fort and understand its role in the siege of 1857. Agra Fort is one of the most important and robustly built stronghold of the Mughals, embellished with number of richly decorated buildings encompassing the imposing Mughal style of art and architecture. Also we will visit Havelock’s Church. We will now visit the Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love that was built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaj Mahal. We will break for lunch and post lunch we drive to Fatehpur Sikiri (40 kms / 1 hr). This walled city contains the mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Saleem Chisti who is said to have granted Akbar and his Hindu queen Jodhabai their wish for a son. The main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri is through a gate of 175 feet high known as Buland Darwaza, which happens to be the highest gateway in the world. Back to hotel and overnight at hotel in Agra.

Day 16  Agra / Delhi / Home

Breakfast at hotel and later we drive to Delhi (220 km / 3 hrs). From here we have an option to either connect our international flight or may be fly to Calcutta and then connect the international flight back home.

 Tour Highlight

Four hours of boat travel from Calcutta to Serampore & Barrackpore.

Mutiny Trail Walk in Delhi and Curated Mutiny Tour of Lucknow and Kanpur.

Victorian Walk in Lucknow.

Son-et-Lumiere at the fort in Gwalior.

Exclusive Lunch at an old Colonial Bungalow in Kanpur and Dinner with the Maharaja’s Family at a Palace from the Raj in Lucknow.