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Medicine and Society in North India with the Royal Society of Medicine

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Dates
16 Mar
30 Mar
2025

India is home to one of the world’s oldest religions and some of its most beautiful man made structures, spectacular landscapes and wildlife and a vibrant and colourful society clinging to ancient traditions whilst embracing the modern world.

The tour starts in Delhi, where Mughal and colonial history rub shoulders alongside a vibrant contemporary culture. Continue to the pink city of Jaipur, on to Agra, dominated by the majestic Taj Mahal, to Lucknow, an important centre of Shia Islam, also influenced by Persian and British culture, and the great spiritual centre of Varanasi, where life and death meet. The tour finishes in the Bengali capital of Kolkata, the former capital of the British Raj. You will stay in a variety of lovely hotels during the tour.

The varied cultural programme is balanced by a wide-ranging professional itinerary of visits, talks and meetings with medical practitioners in both rural and urban India. These visits reveal the great diversity in healthcare within India and include a large prestigious public hospital in Delhi, an innovative NGO and a traditional practitioner in Jaipur, a talk on belief in the spiritual centre of Varanasi and a visit to a cancer hospital outside Kolkata.

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Price (room to yourself)
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Reference:
IND0325-1
At a glance
What you need to know
Type of tour
Professional
Profession
Medicine
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Nights
14
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Countries
1
Tour grade
Moderate
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Remaining places
10
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Dates and places

Itinerary at a glance

1
Delhi
Sunday
,
16
March
Arrive in Delhi. Orientation tour of New Delhi and visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, the India Gate and Parliament.
2
Delhi
Monday
,
17
March
Visit the All India Institute of Medical Science. Sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. Walk through the narrow lanes of the Chandi Chowk, visit the spice market and walk along Jeweller's Lane. Welcome dinner.
3
Delhi / Jaipur
Tuesday
,
18
March
Take the train from Delhi to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, home to stunning hilltop forts and glorious palaces amidst the dusky pink buildings of the old town. At leisure. Option to visit the textile and jewellery bazaars of Jaipur.
4
Jaipur
Wednesday
,
19
March
Visit Amber Fort and the City Palace Museum. Return to the hotel via the Palace of the Winds and Jantar Mantar Observatory. Dinner at Dera Amer Elephant Camp.
5
Jaipur
Thursday
,
20
March
Visit the Jaipur Foot factory and rehabilitation unit. Visit the Chakrapati Ayurvedic Centre and learn about traditional approaches to pain relief. Options for massages. At leisure.
6
Jaipur / Agra
Friday
,
21
March
Drive to the bird sanctuary of Bharatpur and visit by foot. Explore the ancient, abandoned city of Fatepur Sikri. Drive to Agra and transfer to the hotel. At leisure.
7
Agra / Lucknow
Saturday
,
22
March
Rise early to visit the Taj Mahal before breakfast. Drive to Lucknow. Arrive late afternoon and at leisure.
8
Lucknow
Sunday
,
23
March
Visit the Lucknow Residency and the Bara Imanbara. Drive by tongas (horse drawn carriages) to Hussainbad Complex. “Chai with Nawab (Viceroy) of Awadh” at Lucknow. The head of this aristocratic family will share his historical knowledge, family traditions and his view on modern Lucknow.
9
Lucknow
Monday
,
24
March
Optional textile tour of Lucknow. At leisure. Awadhi Cuisine culinary tour.
10
Lucknow / Varanasi
Tuesday
,
25
March
Take the LKO BSB intercity from Lucknow to the holy city of Varanasi and transfer to the hotel. Take rickshaws to the river and visit the ghats of the Ganges to witness the ceremonies.
11
Varanasi
Wednesday
,
26
March
Rise at dawn to embark on a Ganges cruise to watch pilgrims offering puja. Walk back through the old town of Benares to the hotel for breakfast. See the Golden Temple and visit the Bharat Mata Mandir. Visit Sarnath, where Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment circa 528 BCE. Explore the archaeological site, pilgrimage sites and the excellent museum.
12
Varanasi / Kolkata
Thursday
,
27
March
Visit the pain and palliative care unit at Benares Hindu University. Learn about traditional cultural beliefs around death. Afternoon at leisure before flying to Kolkata and transferring to the hotel.
13
Kolkata
Friday
,
28
March
Drive to Thakurpukur to visit the Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute. Afternoon at leisure in Kolkata.
14
Kolkata
Saturday
,
29
March
Optional early morning visit to the flower market. Sightseeing walk visiting old Kolkata, including the Writer’s Building. Visit the Victoria Memorial and the Maidan. Visit the Anglican Cathedral, Park Street Cemetery, Mother Theresa Museum. Farewell dinner.
15
Kolkata
Sunday
,
30
March
Morning at leisure and depart hotel after breakfast.
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Tour map

Plot your journey

Travel from Delhi and on to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Continue to Jaipur with its mighty fort and palaces before heading to Lucknow. Visit Varanasi, one of the holiest places in India, and finish the tour in Kolkata, hub of Bengali literature, music and philosophy.

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What to expect

Tour highlights

Taj Mahal
Agra

See the Taj Mahal at dawn.

Jaipur Foot factory
Jaipur

Visit the Jaipur Foot factory and see how it provides low-cost prosthetics.

Spiritual care
Varanasi

Learn about spiritual care in the sacred city of Varanasi.

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Beautiful landscapes

Tour gallery

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Tour exertion grading

Is this tour right for me?

Moderate
Level 3

Some walking between destinations, more time spent standing, and increased travel distances. Requires a reasonable level of fitness.

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Your expert companions

Tour leaders

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Accommodation

Hotels

We like charm, comfort, convenience in location, and of course, excellence in service.

Delhi

Jaypee Siddharth Hotel

Jaipur

Trident Hotel

Agra

Courtyard by Marriott

Lucknow

Saraca Lucknow Hotel

Varanasi

Taj Ganges Hotel

Kolkata

Oberoi Grand Hotel

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Ask us anything

If you have some questions about this particular tour, you can contact the Jon Baines Tours team by phone or email.

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