ARCH ON TOUR 20_INDIA

The fascination of density myth

FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 07, 2018

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Concept and moderation: Marion Kuzmany / ARCH ON TOUR in cooperation with Andrea Seidling / AKKU TV magazine for architecture and the city

Guided tours: Anupam Bansal / abrd architects; Madhavi Desai / CEPT Campus, Kaiwan Mehta, Mustansier Dalvi; Matias Echanove, Rahul Srivastava / Urbz office Mumbai; Andrea Seidling, among others

Tour operator: Mondial GmbH & Co. KG (in cooperation with Le Passage to India)

An architectural journey through time through Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai :

The 12-day tour leads in 4 stations to selected historical highlights, architectural jewels of the modern age and the latest contemporary discoveries of the second most populous country on earth. Starting from the megacity of Delhi, where urban planning, Islamic palaces and historical gardens are in the foreground, a detour with the new Gatiman Superexpress shows the wondrous Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra and the palace district of the former capital of the Mughal empire Fathepur Sikri, which has been declared a World Heritage Site.

Ahmedabad is considered India's center for modern architecture and design as well as for outstanding examples from the 1950s to 70s, including Western and Indian classics such as the Indian Institute of Management by Louis Kahn or the Mill Owners' Association Building by Le Corbusier, by Indian masters BV Doshi´s CEPT Campus and Charles Correas Ghandi Ashram. To top it all off, Mumbai surpasses everything previously experienced in terms of urbanity and density in every respect. Trips to Art Deco buildings on Marine Drive and buildings by Charles Correa and Rahul Mehrotra, city walks through colonial Bombay, a boat trip to the Hindu rock sculptures on Elephanta Island and an optional visit to the cinema fill the eventful days in the multi-faceted metropolis.

First-class hotels with a luxurious oriental flair - including the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, which is considered an Indian myth - form the starting point for our explorations. Guided tours by top-class representatives of the Indian architecture scene and meetings with local architects as well as numerous interior tours are on the program. Authentic culinary accompaniment in high-quality restaurants is also well catered for. We look forward to an inspiring adventure in summer temperatures in the energetic Asian country!

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PROGRAM , as of February 21, 2018, subject to change

Sunrise - sunset in Delhi on 02.25.2018: 06: 51-18: 17

Sunrise - sunset in Mumbai on 05.03.2018: 06: 56-18: 44

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Friday, February 23rd, 2018 / departure Vienna

check-in takes place individually, flight VIE - FRA with OS129; FRA-DEL (arrival the next day) with LH 760

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Saturday, February 24th, 2018 / arrival in Delhi, sightseeing in Old Delhi

Arrival in Delhi: airport transfer, hotel check-in at approx. 3:00 a.m.  

1st (short ...) night in the Hotel Taj Mahal 5 *, then breakfast, free time, e.g. pool, ...

Rick's Bar in the Taj Mahal Hotel: Meeting with Anupam Bansal (architect and co-editor of the            "Architectural Guide Delhi, DOM Publishers): Welcome and introduction to Delhi's architectural history 

bus

Crafts museum / Charles Correa, 1990 (exhibition, café, shop) 

Guided Walking Tour of Old Delhi:

- Jama Masjid, 1656

- Red Fort / Ustad Ahmad Lahori, 1648

dinner together at Haveli Dharampura / 1887, renovation: Spaces Architects @ ka, 2010-2016

(Tasting menu, dance performance and hotel tour)

2nd night at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi

Sunday, February 25th, 2018 / Delhi: Historical highlights and South Delhi

Bus, metro

Qutub Minar Metro Station: meeting with Anupam Bansal, guided tour

Mehrauli Archaeological Park:

- Qutub Minar and Mosque (1202), Gandhak Ki Baoli (ca 1230), Balban's Tomb (1287),

  Ki Baoli Rajon (1506), Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb (1529)

Hauz Khas Village /  Walk through the neighborhood and have lunch together at Hauz Khas Social

Hauz Khas Complex: Firuz Shah's Tomb, L-Shaped Madrasa, Square Chamber

Lodhi Estate: all buildings from the outside

- India International Center / JAStein, 1962

- Ford Foundation Headquarter / JAStein, 1968

- Habitat Center / JAStein, 1994

- World Bank Regional Mission / Raj Rewal Associates, 1994

- INTACH / Vastu Shilpa Consultants (BV Doshi), 1997

- Alliance Francaise de Delhi / Stephane Paumier & ABRD Architects, 2004

Humayun's Tomb / Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, 1566 

End of bus hotel, taxi or metro to Connaught Place

dinner together in the restaurant Veda / 42 mm architecture

3rd night at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi

Monday, February 26th 2018 / New Delhi

Meeting with Anupam Bansal, guided tour, bus

Government district: (all buildings from the outside)

- India Gate / Edwin Lutyens, 1931

-President's House (Formerly Viceregal Lodge) / Edwin Lutyens, 1929

-General Secretariat / Herbert Baker, 1936

- Parliament Library Building / Raj Rewal Associates, 2003  

- Parliament House / Herbert Baker, 1927  

Connaught place / Robert Tor Russell, 1933:

Lunch together at United Coffee House Delhi, Connaught place

Bus and walk:

- Observatory Jantar Mantar / Maharaja Sawai Singh II, 1710 (park) 

- State Trading Corporation Building / Raj Rewal Associates 1989

British Council / Charles Correa, 1992 (interior visit including library and auditorium)  

Agrasen Ki Baoli (14th century)

Sri Ram Center of Performing Arts / Shiv Nath Prasad, 1972 (from outside) 

End of bus hotel,

About 6:30 p.m. by bus back to the hotel, free evening

Recommendations: Varq restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel

(or possibly Moets Shack and Ek Bar in Defense Colony)

4th night in the Hotel Taj Mahal,  New Delhi

Tuesday, 02/27/2018 / Delhi - Fathepur Sikri - Agra (State of Uttar Pradesh)

check out, bus

Train / Gatiman Express: Nizamuddin - Agra Cantt

Bus ride to Fatehpur Sikri  

Palace complex of the former capital of the Mughal empire Fatehpur Sikri

lunch together on the roof terrace of the Hotel Ajay Palace,  Fatehpur Sikri

Bus back to Agra

Check-in Hotel ITC Mughal 5 *, Agra, leisure time (e.g. for pool and spa in the hotel)

Bus to Mehtab Bagh: Taj Mahal view point

View of the Taj Mahal in sunset, then back to the hotel

Dinner together in the hotel / restaurant Peshawri

1st night at ITC Mughal Hotel, Agra

Wednesday, 02/28/2018 / Agra - Delhi - Ahmedabad (Gujarat state)

Bus to the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal mausoleum, Agra in sunrise

Breakfast in the hotel, then check-out, bus

Red Fort, Agra

Bus to Delhi to the airport / lunch on the way

Flight: DEL-AMD with AI 13

Ahmedabad: bus transfer to the hotel, check-in The House of MG 3 *

optional: dinner room service

1st night at The House of MG hotel, Ahmedabad

Thursday, March 1st, 2018 / Ahmedabad architecture classics

bus

Millowners´ Association Building / Le Corbusier, 1954 (interior view)

CEPT University / BVDoshi 1972-1981 / Leadership: Architect Madhavi Desai 

Amdavad ni Gufa / VSC Vāstu Shilpā Consultants (BV Doshi), 1994; Showroom and Zen Café

Lunch in the CEPT campus

IIM Indian Institute of Management / Louis Kahn, 1962 (interior view)

Villa Sarabhai / Le Corbusier, 1955 (interior viewing in 2 groups)

End of the bus hotel, time for the spa and pool

joint dinner in the Agashiye restaurant (hotel terrace)

2nd night at The House of MG, Ahmedabad

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Friday, March 2nd, 2018 / Ahmedabad West 

bus

Sabarmati Riverfront (in passing)

Sabarmati Ashram: Gandhi Smarak Sangrahlaya / Charles Correa, 1963

Hutheesing Jain Temple

individual café / snack on the go

Dada Harir Stepwell, 15th century and Hazrat Harir RA Masjid 

Sarkhej Roza, Makarba, 1445-51 "Acropolis of Ahmedabad"

Vechaar Museum

dinner together in the restaurant Vishalla

3rd night at The House of MG, Ahmedabad

Saturday, 03.03.2018 / Ahmedabad old town and other highlights - Mumbai (until 1996 Bombay, State of Maharashtra)

Guided city walk through historic Ahmedabad:

"Heritage walk" including Jama Masjid (1424), Siddi Sayed Mosque, etc.

then free time

bus

Tagore Memorial Hall / BV Doshi, 1971 (outside)

Sanskar Kendra City Museum / Le Corbusier, 1957 (tour of the building and exhibition) 

Bus to Ahmedabad Airport

Flight AMD-BOM with AI 92

Mumbai: bus transfer to the hotel, check-in Hotel Taj Mahal Palace 5 *

Individual Cocktail / meal in the hotel 

1st night at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Tower Wing, Mumbai

Sunday, March 4th, 2018 / Mumbai: Elephanta Island and free afternoon 

Walk to India Gate

Ferry to the Elephanta Islands

Walk to the Elephanta Caves: Hindu sculpture 

Ferry back, individual lunch / snack on the way

Prince of Wales Museum: new wing, entrance area / Rahul Mehrotra, 2011

(Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya)

Joint visit to the new extension, then individual visit to the exhibitions

Free afternoon, for example: pool, etc ..., or an optional visit to the cinema at Regal Cinema / Charles Stevens, 1933

or stroll through the Oval Maidan City Park (cricketers on Sundays)

Walk to the restaurant

dinner together in the restaurant Khyber

optional afterwards:

The Dome, bar on the roof terrace of the InterContinental Hotel

or: Going to the cinema in the Regal Cinema

2nd night at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Tower Wing, Mumbai

Monday, March 5th, 2018 / Mumbai: Colonial architecture, Kala Ghoda, Fort, ...

Walk through Kala Ghoda and Fort

Art Entrance Gallery / Exhibition: "Living Ideals - Charles Correa´s Housing Projects"

Gallery MMB / Exhibition "The state of housing", / Curator tour: Rahul Mehrotra, Kaiwan Mehta (among others editor of Domus India)

- Rajabai Clock Tower

- Oval Maidan City Park (cricketers on Monday)

- Eros Cinema

- Flora Fountain

- Horniman Circle Garden

- Asiatic Library

Lunch together in the Britannia And Co. Restaurant

Victoria Station (Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Terminus)

Sir JJ College of Architecture, Sculpture Garden, (born Haus von Rudyard Kipling), guided tour: Mustansier Dalvi 

Crawford Market

Shri Mumbadevi Mandir temple

Taxi back to the hotel 

Walk to the restaurant

Dinner together on the terrace of the Indigo restaurant  

3rd night at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Tower Wing, Mumbai

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Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 / Mumbai: Marine Drive, Dharavi, Bandra

check-out, bus

Marine Drive (Art Deco)

Kanchanjunga appartments / Charles Correa, 1970-82 (offices, interior inspection!)

Mahalaxmi Dhobighat laundry district

Lunch together at The Tote on the Turf / Architects series, 2011

Urbz office studio visit followed by a guided tour with Matias Echanove and  Rahul Srivastava / Urbz through the Dharavi slum

Bandra West district

Drinks and tapas at The Bad Cafe / Nudes, 2015

Bus to Mumbai Airport

Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Terminal 2, Mumbai / SOM, 2014

Flight BOM-MUC with LH 765

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Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 / arrival in Vienna

Flight MUC-VIE with LH 2326

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Photos:  Archive ARCH ON TOUR

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