First War of Independence-1857

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First War of Independence-1857

First War of Independence-1857

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi International Airport, after meet and greet by local tour manager, transfer to hotel.
Overnight: hotel in Delhi.

Day 2: Delhi – Meerut – Delhi Drive (140 Km)

After breakfast drive to Meerut and explore the mutiny sites. Visit St John’s Church, cemeteries, Court Marshal ground and cantonment area where some of the British army officer’s bungalows still exist. Drive by residence of Lt. Col Carmichael Smyth, the commander of the 3rd Lt Cavalry, who by attempting to coerce his troopers into accepting cartridges on parade, perhaps precipitated the outbreak of mutiny on the 10th May 1857. In the evening return to Delhi.
Overnight: hotel in Delhi.

Day 3: In Delhi

In the morning visit Flag Staff tower, the first rallying point for the Europeans when the mutiny reached Delhi. Drive pass Ludlow castle (see outside only), then stop at Mutiny Monument (also known as AjitGarh) in the vicinity of Kashmiri gate. It is a strange Gothic 110 ft tall tower, a Mutiny Memorial. It is an octagonal, tapering tower built to commemorate the British and the Indians who fought on their side in 1857. Next we visit Brigadier General John Nicholson’s grave and the Ridge where the besieging British prepared for the assault from June to September 1857. Next halt is in Kashmiri Gate area – Built in 1835. It was raised as a defence against any attack from the direction of the Ludlow Castle, which was towards the north-west of the city. Within the vicinity of Kashmiri gate, a brief halt will be made at St. James Church. After lunch visit Red Fort, which stands along the eastern edge of the walled city, on the west bank of the Yamuna River. It was planned as an irregular oblong (2.41 km perimeter) and was built as the royal residential and official complex by Shah Jahan.
Overnight: hotel in Delhi.

Day 4: Delhi – Lucknow Fly

Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for Lucknow bound flight. On arrival transfer to hotel. Later explore the sites of Lucknow which includes: La Martiniere College, built and designed by French soldier turned architect- Claude Martin. It incorporates the features of Italian architecture, fusing them with native architectural attributes of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Then visit Kaisarbagh area, started in 1848 and was completed in 1850 by the last nawab of Avadh, Wajid Ali Shah. The building, flanked by two Kakkhi Gates provided quarters for the ladies of the royal harem. After that visit Secunderbagh Garden which derives its name from one of the begums of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Sikander Mahal. It is surrounded by high walls covering 120 square yards area, with a summer house in its centre. Also visit The Residency compound, which was on one time the official residence of the British built in 1780-1800 and witnessed one of the bitterest battles during the war of independence in 1857. Nexy visit to Bara Imambara which was built to provide employment and relief to people during the calamitous famine of 1784. Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula built this Imambara, which also houses his tomb.
Overnight: hotel in Lucknow.

Day 5: Lucknow-Kanpur – Lucknow Drive (95 Km)

After breakfast, drive a short distance to AlamBagh, 7 Km from Lucknow, where Sir Henry Havelock is buried. Later journey continued to Kanpur. Explore the sites of Kanpur, which includes Wheeler’s Entrenchment inside the Cantonment and the adjacent All Soul’s Memorial Church, built in 1857 in memory of the British soldiers who died in the revolt of 1857. Then visit SatichauraGhat also known as massacre ghat, on the banks of river Ganges, by a small Shiva temple, where, on 27th June 1857, many British men lost their lives and the surviving women and children were taken prisoners by the rebels to a building called the Bibighar (the ladies’ home). When it was apparent that the British, under General Henry Havelock were likely to retake Kanpur, the rebels executed their hostages and threw them into the well. The well is now covered and topped by a statue of the Nana Sahib’s General, Tatya Tope. Drive back to Lucknow.
Overnight: hotel in Lucknow.