Experience India like never before using the camera as a window into her colourful and photogenic towns, markets, forts, palaces and monuments. Learn to see more with each step.
Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced photographer, wish to use a phone camera or a DSLR, you’ll walk away with eye-opening experiences and great pictures. This tour gives you a taste of India’s unique culture, from the forts of Udaipur, the remote nomadic life of Jojawar, to the maze-like lanes of Bundi. We travel to the astonishing Taj Mahal, chaotic Mumbai as well as the peaceful Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. It is designed to delight your senses and ignite your creativity.
Group photography walks, short focused sessions, and one on one coaching are interspersed with opportunities to meet locals while exploring their neighborhoods, markets, and temples.
Facilitated by Mumbai-based travel photographer Jay Weinstein, best known for his charming ‘so I asked them to smile project’; this tour gives beginners and intermediates a deeper insight into India as well as photography knowledge and tips. It offers fabulous perspectives of India’s architecture, landscapes and colourful inhabitants, as well as a ‘behind the scenes’ look at this ancient culture.
Itinerary
Day One
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to our well-located hotel in South Delhi.
Day Two
Today, we have combined sightseeing of Old and New Delhi including a cycle rickshaw ride around Old Delhi’s narrow chaotic alleyways, a visit to Jama Masjid, Humayun’s tomb and a driving tour of New Delhi. Overnight Delhi
Day Three
Today, we have an early drive to Agra for a guided tour of the exquisitely-jewelled Taj Mahal, described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love. After lunch we visit the fascinating ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Overnight Bharatpur.
Day Four
After an early cycle rickshaw ride around the peaceful Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, we drive to Jaipur, stopping en route to visit an ancient step well and temple. Also, see some of the wonderful sights of the chaotic pink capital of Rajasthan including the City Palace and the Hawa Mahal.
Day Five
Enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent Amber Fort followed by a visit to the fabulous Anokhi Museum of Block printing. In the afternoon, we have time to wander through the colourful bazaars.
Day Six
After breakfast drive to Bundi, a captivating town with atmospheric narrow lanes, blue houses, temples, bazaars and palaces.
Day Seven
Immerse yourself in the wonderful ambience of this beautiful town with a morning guided tour. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon.
Day Eight
This morning we drive to Chittogarh. The fort here was constructed by the Mauyans in the seventh century and is considered the greatest in Rajasthan. Being the citadel of many great Rajput warriors, its history is filled with chivalry and tragedy. After a guided tour and lunch, we drive to Jojawar, a small town in the foothills of the Aravali Range with a suitably romantic past and a wonderful heritage hotel
Day Nine
In the morning we head out for a jeep safari to visit villages of the Rabari people who inhabit much of the western desert of Rajasthan. They are a semi-nomadic people with a strong ethos of protecting the fragile environment that supports them. The jeep safari will help you to gain an appreciation of their lifestyle as well as the natural beauty of this region.
After lunch, we drive through the hills and board the special mountain-railway train for a wonderful scenic journey through the Aravali Range. Overnight Jojawar.
Day Ten
Today we have some free time for further activities such as a cooking class, bird watching or horse riding and of course, photography!
Day Eleven
En route to Udaipur, we enjoy a stop at the Ranakpur Jain Temple with intricately carved marble interiors and the Kumbhalgarh Fort. From the extensive fortified walls the views extend for miles. Overnight Udaipur.
Day Twelve
While in Udaipur, we will have a guided tour of the majestic City Palace, Jagdish Temple and the stately Bagore-ki-haveli. We also have free time to explore the narrow crooked lanes of this charming town or the surrounding countryside and villages. Other options include – sampling teas in the quaint tea shops or enjoying an ayurvedic massage. In the evening, enjoy a traditional folk dance performance.
Day Thirteen
Enjoy a visit to the Shilpgram handicrafts village – a living ethnographic museum depicting the lifestyles, architecture and art of the folk and tribal people of the Western states. We then have a late afternoon flight to Mumbai.
Day Fourteen
Experience the chaotic madness of Mumbai with some great sightseeing and time for shopping. We have a final group dinner before departure to airport.
Additional Information
This wonderful 14-day experience includes air-conditioned travel, all accommodation, all excursions and entrance fees, internal flight, some meals, guides, guide tips, photography classes.
Price $4170 per person twin share.
(Single supplement $1090)
Dates – Commences 30th January – 12th February 2021
– Commences 1st February – 14th February 2019
Your facilitator: Jay Weinstein
Jay Weinstein is a Mumbai-based, Hindi and English-speaking photographer of mainly Australian-American heritage. At the age of 3, he moved to India with his schoolteacher parents and spent the next 12 years living in Vrindavan, a historic town filled with temples and monkeys. At 15, his family moved back to Australia to facilitate his secondary education. Though Jay thought he was done with India, he ended up returning year after year, drawn by her overpowering, vibrant, chaotic cadence. His passion for photography was ignited on these trips. Later, his profession had him traveling from the lush, palm-dotted southern states to the breathtaking Himalayan mountains of Nepal; the ancient majestic forts of Rajasthan to the unending paddy fields of West Bengal. These gradually transformed into the photography travel trips he is now addicted to!
Jay brings to his work a unique charm and an eye for hidden beauty. Through the easy rapport he builds with his subjects, he creates unforgettable images that transport one to the heart of India and its people. See more of Jay’s work on this website – www.jaywphotography.com
Jay has been working on a wonderful photography project over the last couple of years called ‘So I asked them to smile’. To view photos, click this link – https://www.facebook.com/soIaskedthemtosmile/
Photography Classes
Short theory sessions and focused practice time cover portraiture, basic composition, point of view and other topics. There will be regular ‘photo’ walks where participants focus on a specific photography element for a limited time and can then go freestyle. Participants are always encouraged to make the most of any magic moments. Our meditative approach to photography also leaves plenty of room for participants to wander ahead and explore their photography independently.
Other Topics covered include –
Respectful and culture-sensitive interactions
Breathe then see – meditative approach to photography
What makes an image interesting?
Portraits – etiquette, approach and composition etc
The itinerary may be subject to change depending on altered circumstances.
Testimonials
“The Photography Tour was just wonderful. Jay certainly enhanced our trip on every level. He generously imparted his knowledge and feedback on our slowly developing photographic skills. After a week or so, I could see my images incorporating some of Jay’s techniques. His energy and enthusiasm were obvious. Jay looked after us extremely well, his compassion and caring were unsurpassed.”
Sue,
Melbourne
“Formerly a click and shoot photographer, I now have more knowledge about the composition of an image. I learned a lot from Jay on the North India Photography tour.
He was thoughtful, considerate and a Master of his craft. He could also cope seamlessly with any situation that confronted him like the demonetisation and soon got us all sorted with the new currency. He is also a very interesting person and I enjoyed his discussions throughout the trip.
The hotels were excellent particularly the heritage havelis and all of the sightseeing guides were very good.”
Valerie,
Sydney
