THE MUDDLE AND MYSTERY OF INDIA

The Strange Rise of Modern India

DESTINATION
North India – Delhi, Udaipur, Narlai, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi

DATES
February 25 – March 13 (16 nights)

READINGS
The Space between Us by Thrity Umrigar, In Spite of the Gods, the Strange Rise of Modern India by Edward Luce, and selected poetry and excerpts

Description/Itinerary
In his classic novel, A Passage to India, E. M. Forster describes India as both a “muddle” and a “mystery.” The novel suggests that Westerners are always trying to categorize and label things, but that India defies labelling. We’ll explore the dizzying contrasts of the world’s largest democracy. From throbbing metropolis, to sleepy village, to the great regal excess of the famous Rajs, to the restorative calm of the holy city of Varanasi, prepare to be bewitched by the sensual, spiritual and intellectual riches of India, , We will return with a deep appreciation of the ancient roots that still nourish the flourishing growth of modern India as it moves toward s its new position as one of the major political forces of today’s world order. We will not “make sense” of India’s contradictions but will experience together her mystery through engagement with her culture, her places, her people, her literature.

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QUOTE
“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition.”
-Mark Twain

Leader
Nora Palmieri worked for 18 years with the Great Books Foundation, leading adults and children in discussions. She currently lives in Lyon, France. An avid traveler, Nora and her husband backpacked through Asia in 1988-9. They spent 5 weeks in India. Of all the countries visited in those seven months, India is the one that she dreams of returning to. India’s muddle may be disorienting, but its mystery is so alluring!

Accommodation
A variety of comfortable Western style hotels and selected heritage palaces.

Fees
US$5295 per person
Single supplement: US$1650

Fee includes readings, accommodation, two meals a day, discussions, walking tours, talks, excursions, and admissions.

This trip has been priced in US$. Once you’ve made a reservation, we will invoice you in US$ (which is the fixed cost). As a Canadian company, we will also accept CAD$ at our current exchange rate at the time of payment(s).