Ujjain Kumbh Mela 2016

Terms and Accomodation

Important points to be noted

The tour is designed from Kathmandu to Kathmandu.

This tour is conceptualised in such a way that personal attention can be given to each and every photographer and for that, the group will be restricted to 15 photographers only.

This tour has been specifically designed for photographers. Non-photographer spouse/friend may be accommodated on the tour but at full cost and on agreeing to stick to the schedule of the of the tour.

If you have a passport, please carry it with you.

While all care would be taken to stick to the schedule, unforeseen circumstances, time consistency might lead to some changes.

As it is a foreign country your mobile number will not work unless you have international roaming. A local sim will be provided to each participant against passport.

What does the tour fees include?

Accommodation: Stay will be at the best located Hotel situated in the ancient kingdom at Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Staying in this positions is the best way to cover the entire rituals.

All day local taxi or bus fare for each and every destination.

Stay in a deluxe hotel for five nights and six days (on a twin sharing basis).

Expert guidance on street, portrait, daily life, architecture and culphotography with a particular emphasis on the Bisket.

Two times Tea, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in all days. Nonveg and Veg food will be provided. There is no set food. You can choose whatever you like from the menu.

All entry Fees, Camera Fees, Tickets to any museum, gallery as per the itinerary.
Packaged drinking water will be provided.

Service of the photographic mentors from India, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.

What is not covered in the tour fees?

Anything else other than what is included in the tour fees.

All expenses of personal nature.

Medical expenses.

Personal purchases.

All items of personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills etc.

Tips and gratuities in Hotels, Lodges, Hotel Staff and Driver-guide(s) tipping.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Laundry services.

Your souvenir and/or duty-free shopping

Extra Activities not included in the Itinerary.

Any other item(s) not included in our Itinerary.

Any other actual expenses would be shared by all participants on actual basis.

Accomodation

Stay will be at a Luxury Hotel situated just opposite Mahakaleshwar Mandir. The hotel is located 10 minutes walking distance from the Ram Ghat. Ram Ghat is the main Ghat where all Naga Sadhus and other Sadhus will take their holly dip into Shipra Rivar during bathing dates. The famous Harsiddhi Temple is also 8 to 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel.

Facilities provided by the hotel

Well-furnished A.C. guest rooms & Furnished well Buden
24 hours Hot & Cold water
LED Television & Telephone in all room
Satellite cable network in all room
Pure Veg. A.C. Restaurant
Separate pantry facility in every floor
Safe deposit lockers, left luggage room & lift facilities
Lobby with Wi-Fi facilities
Doctor on call & car, taxi, ticket on requirement
Laundry service
Round the clock well-equipped room service
Large parking area & Hall
Laundry service

Deadlines

Registration is open from 20th January, 2016 till 15th April, 2016.

Conditions

Only a maximum 15 hardworking photographers will be selected for this photo tour. This is not a fancy tour; you have to walk a lot, so your physical fitness is very important.

Participants will be granted for the photo tour based on email confirmation on a first come first serve basis.

Please feel free to call us on +91 8900702900, +91 8509333385, or +977 9818824999 (Nepal Number) for any further assistance.

Booking

You need to pay 50% of the tour amount immediately (either in USD or INR as per the conversion rate on date)
Balance amount to be paid 30 days before the tour.

Cancellation

Full payment needs to be made in advance. No refund on cancellation. Please read all details on this page and Detailed Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer / Undertaking in the Registration cum Booking Form.

In order to reserve your seat, 100% advance payment is a must.

To confirm registration, the participant must pay the amount through NEFT or IMPS or RTGS. Once the payment is done please send us a copy of bank receipt (screen shot is also fine) of your payment sent details. Once we confirm your payment, we will send you the tour id no. along with the Rules & Regulations of the tour, which makes you, a confirmed candidate of the photo tour.

What you will need?

One or two Digital cameras with two to three lenses (for example – 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, or zooms like 16-35mm, 24-70mm and a long focal length like 70-200).

Tripod is not required because there will be a large number of people, you’ll not be able to put your tripod but a Monopod will be very helpful for capturing some nice slow shutter speed images during pulling of the chariot.

Rain cover for your camera during Sindur Jatra. Though Sindur Jatra is a completely dry colour festival but the protection of your camera is necessary.

Protector for your lens.

If you have ND filter please carry it with you; it can be required during slow shutter speed photography of Chariot Pulling.

A cap and windcheater is preferable during Sindur Jatra.

Extra battery for your camera and external hard drive with adequate space and card reader.

Adequate memory card and Card reader.

A Computer with photo-processing software.

For Indians, Visa is not required. If you have a passport please carry it with you.
Your 8 Passport size photographs.

Risks: It will be really very crowded during pulling of Chariot and the Yoshin Pole ritual. So it’s advisable to keep yourself at a safe distance during that time.

Weather of Ujjain

There will be sunny weather in the month of May. Temperature will be around 40 degrees in day time and at night time it’ll be around 20 degrees. But remember one thing that all the main events like Snans and Arti is either very early in the morning before sun rise or in the evening after sun set. So there will not be that problem, and more importantly our hotel is fully A.C.

How to reach Ujjain?

By Air

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore is the nearest airport to Ujjain, which is situated 55 km away. Indore is air connected to major cities in India by public and private domestic airlines. Indore is connected to places like Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Bhopal and Chennai. Taxi services are available from Indore airport to Ujjain. International travelers can get connecting flights to Indore from Delhi (800 km) or Mumbai (655 km) airport.

By Train

Ujjain Junction Railway Station is an important railway station in Western railway zone. It is well connected to all major railway stations in India. Direct train services are available to Bhopal, Indore, Pune, Malwa, Delhi and many other cities.

By Road

Ujjain is well connected by state road transport public bus services. Regular bus services are available from Indore (55 km), Gwalior (450 km), Ahmedabad (400 km) and Bhopal (183 km) to Ujjain. Super-fast and Deluxe A.C. buses are also available in these routes.

Tour Dates

8th to 12th May 2016

PLACE

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India

Weather

Temperature:

Sunshine:

Rainfall:

PARTICIPATION FEE

For Indian Participants
Standard Package: 18000 INR
Deluxe Package: 24000 INR

For International Participants
Deluxe Package: 500 USD

TOTAL PARTICIPATIONS

Maximum 8 participants

TEACHING LANGUAGE

English, Hindi & Bengali

PHONE

+918509333385
+918900702900

Meet Your Instructor

Apratim Saha

Apratim Saha

Apratim Saha is a contributing photographer for National Geographic Stock Photography, Getty Images and Stocksy United. He is a Brand Ambassador and mentor for Tamron and Datacolor. He has over 30 years of experience, from traditional film to digital photography. He is a commercial photographer specializing in people photography, portraiture, lifestyle & editorial clients. Besides commercial works, Apratim also shoots other subjects that stimulate his visual or emotional sensibilities.