Medicine and Society in North India with the Royal Society of Medicine
About the tour
This tour takes you on a grand tour through India's rich history, culture and medical tradition. Starting in Delhi, where Mughal and colonial history rub shoulders alongside a vibrant contemporary culture - as well as the biggest medical organisation in India - continue to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Continue to Jaipur with its mighty fort and palaces before heading to Lucknow, renowned for its culture, elegance and rich cuisine. Onto Varanasi, one of the holiest places in India, set on the banks of the Ganges and where Hindus come for end of life rituals. Finish in Kolkata, the centre of the Raj until 1911 and a hub of Bengali literature, music and philosophy. It has a long and diverse history that has left a legacy of magnificent temples, buildings and parks.
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.
This tour is run in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM).
Download our brochure Medicine and Society in North India with the Royal Society of Medicine
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.
Your tour leader
Janice Liverseidge
Janice Liverseidge was previously Director of Membership at The Royal Society of Medicine and is now a full time guide and in her spare time a trustee of both the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund and the London Handel Festival. Earlier in her career she worked for the British Medical Association. She is also a registered Blue Badge tourist guide and regularly leads groups in London on medical history walks, tours of the Wellcome Collection and other healthcare locations plus provides music and art tours for the Foundling Museum and the London Handel Festival. Janice has travelled extensively, including an eight month journey around India, South East Asia and Australia, and has led highly successful RSM tours to Vietnam and Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Cuba, South Africa, China, Uzbekistan and Japan.
Tour Partners
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Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Delhi (Sun, 16 March) Arrive in Delhi. Orientation tour of New Delhi and visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, the India Gate and Parliament.
- Day 2 : Delhi (Mon, 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.
- Day 3: Delhi / Jaipur (Tues, 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 jewelry bazaars of Jaipur.
- Day 4: Jaipur (Wed, 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.
- Day 5: Jaipur (Thurs, 20 Mar) 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.
- Day 6: Jaipur / Agra (Fri, 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.
- Day 7: Agra / Lucknow (Sat, 22 March) Rise early to visit the Taj Mahal before breakfast. Drive to Lucknow. Arrive late afternoon and at leisure.
- Day 8: Lucknow (Sun, 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.
- Day 9: Lucknow (Mon, 24 March) Optional textile tour of Lucknow. At leisure. Awadhi Cuisine culinary tour.
- Day 10: Lucknow / Varanasi (Tues, 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.
- Day 11: Varanasi (Wed, 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.
- Day 12: Varanasi / Kolkata (Thurs, 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.
- Day 13: Kolkata (Fri, 28 March) Drive to Thakurpukur to visit the Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute. Afternoon at leisure in Kolkata.
- Day 14: Kolkata (Sat, 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.
- Day 15: Kolkata (Sun, 30 March) Depart hotel after breakfast.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour sharing a double or twin room is USD $4,704. The cost of the tour with a room to yourself is USD $6,090.
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.