|
Duration: 20 Nights /
21 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ranthambhore -
Kota - Bundi - Chittaurgarh - Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi
Day 1: Arrival at Delhi
Assistance on arrival in Delhi and
transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. Overnight
at the hotel in Delhi.
Day 2: Delhi – Agra (Distance 200
kms)
After breakfast leave for Agra by
car. On arrival proceed for sight-seeing tour of the city
visiting Red Fort built by Mughal Emperor Akbar and has within
its walls Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of private audience), Diwan-I-Aam
(Hall of public audience), Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Jehangir
Mahal and various other palaces – all the fine examples of
opulent Mughal Architecture.
Later visit one of the seven wonders of the world – The Taj
Mahal – built by Mughal Emperor shahjehan in 1630 for his queen
Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. The Taj has been
described as a ‘Poem in Marble’.
Overnight at the hotel in Agra.
Day 3: Agra – Jaipur (Distance 260
kms)
After breakfast leave for the PINK
CITY of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Enroute visit the deserted city
called Fatehpur Sikri – 40 kms from Agra- built by Mughal
Emperor Akbar in 1569 at the spot where lived the Saint Salim
Chisti, who had foretold the birth of a son to Akbar. A number
of graceful buildings seen within this planned city are Jama
Masjid with Buland Darwaza, Diwan-I-Am, Dewan-I-khas, The Tomb
of Salim Chishti, Panch Mahal etc.
Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur
Day 4: Jaipur
After breakfast leave for excursion
of the Amber Fort. Amber, once the capital of the state of
Rajasthan till 1728, is situated at the hill-top. The palace
contains Diwan-I-aam with its double row of columns and the
royal apartments. Entry is through a splendid gateway decorated
with mosaics and sculptures. The Sohag Mandir that has beautiful
latticed screens on the ceilings and walls, the Jai Mandir or
the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors and Spangled work,
for which Jaipur is well known. The Jas Mandir is covered with
mosaics and the Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure) has sandalwood
doors inlaid with ivory. Near the Palace Gate is the Temple of
Shitla Mata, the presiding deity of the House of Kachhwahas.
Ascend and descend the hill-top on the elephant back.
Afternoon sight-seeing tour of the city visiting City Palace –
built by Raja Jai Singh. Inside these walls are the Mubarak
Mahal which houses the Pothikhana, containing priceless
paintings and old manuscripts, the State-Armoury that also
comprises the huge Swords of Raja Mansingh – a general of
Akbar’s army, Diwan-I-khas built of the white marble. Some of
the fabulous carpets used by the Royal Court are also kept here
and are shown to the tourists. Chandra Mahal – a four-storied
structure in which some of the members of the Royal Family still
reside and the Badal Mahal – situated on the Talkatora Lake are
also part of the City Palace.
Later visit Jantar-Mantar (The observatory) and Hawa Mahal
(Palace of winds). Later drive through Pink City’s residential
and commercial areas.
Overnight at the hotel in Jaipur.
Day 5: Jaipur – Pushkar (Distance
160 kms)
Proceed for Pushkar after
breakfast. On arrival check-in into hotel. Day free to relax and
enjoy the peaceful life of Pushkar. Overnight at the hotel in
Pushkar.
Day 6: Pushkar
Full day will be spent in PUSHKAR.
Overnight at the Pushkar
Day 7 : Pushkar – Ranthambhore (235
kms)
Start early after breakfast for
Ranthambhore. On arrival check-in into hotel. Rest of the day
free at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Ranthambhore.
Day 8: Ranthambhore
Enjoy the day at Ranthambhore going
out for JUNGLE SAFARIS into the PARK. Overnight at the hotel in
Ranthambore.
Day 9: Ranthambhore – Kota
(Distance 135 kms)
Start for KOTA after breakfast. On
arrival check-in into hotel. Later visit Palace Fort and the
Government Museum.
Overnight at the hotel in Kota.
Day 10: Kota - Bundi – Chittaurgarh
(Distance 200 kms)
After breakfast, leave for
Chittaurgarh, enroute visiting the Taragarh Fort, one of the
most majestic Forts, at Bundi. Later proceed for Chittorgarh.
Overnight at the Chittorgarh.
Day 11: Chittorgarh – Udaipur
(Distance 115 kms)
After breakfast visit THE FORT,
located on a 180 meter high hill, covering 700 acres. The Fort
has a cheqered history and has witnessed some of the bloodiest
battles. Later proceed for Udaipur. On arrival check-in into the
hotel.
Relax in the evening. Spend night at Udaipur.
Day 12: Udaipur
After breakfast sight-seeing tour
of the city visiting City Palace, which is an imposing edifice
of granite and marble, Sahelion-ki-Bari (Garden of maids of
honor) with its kiosks of black stone, lotus ponds and
fountains, Jagdish Temple – dedicated to Lord Vishnu and built
by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651, it is a fine example of
Indo-Aryan temple architecture in Rajasthan. Afternoon
boat-excursion on Lake Pichola.
Overnight at the hotel in Udaipur.
Day 13: Udaipur – Jodhpur (Distance
275 kms)
Proceed for Jodhpur in the morning
after a leisurely breakfast. Enroute visiting 500 years old Jain
temples in Ranakpur, preserved in perfect condition. The central
temple, Chaumukha, dedicated to Lord Adinath, is a 3-storied
structure with 29 halls, 80 domes and 1444 pillars and no two
pillars are alike. Later drive on to Jodhpur. On arrival
check-in into hotel. Rest of the evening free at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Jodhpur
Afternoon sight-seeing tour of the
city visiting Mehrangarh Fort. A magnificient structure built in
1459. It is a sentinel to the grandeur of the past and houses a
palace intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed
windows exquisitely wrought from red sandstone. The apartments
within have a magic of their own – the Moti Mahal (Pearl
Palace), Phool Mahal (Palace of flowers), Sheesh Mahal (Palace
of mirrors), Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana, with a rich and
varied collection of palanquins, howdas, Royal Cradles,
miniature paintings, folk music instruments, costumes, furniture
and an impressive armory. The display of cannon on the ramparts
near Chaumnda Temple is among the rarest in India. Later visit
Jaswant Thada – the memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II,
constructed in 1899 in white marble. The architecture is
noteworthy.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Jodhpur – Jaisalmer
(Distance 300 kms)
Proceed for Jaisalmer after
breakfast. On arrival check-in into the hotel. Evening free for
personal activities. Overnight at the hotel in Jaisalmer.
Day 16: Jaisalmer
After breakfast proceed to visit
Salim Singh ki Haveli (the house of Salim Singh). Narrow at
street level, it widens at its upper stories, with balconies
jutting out. It has a carved yellow-stone façade and a
blue-roofed dome. The house was once the residence of a vey
wealthy and old established family of merchants, the Mehtas, who
became hereditary ministers under the Rawals by reason of the
power of their wealth. The story of Salim Singh is a strange one
involving intrigue, money-power, high-living, back-stabbbing,
poisoning and lust for power. He became a minister after
accession of Rawal Mulraj in 1762 and virtually took over the
reigns of power, eliminating almost the entire Royal family
before being poisoned himself.
Later visit Patwon-ki-haveli – without doubt the most
spectacular of all the buildings in Jaisalmer. Five stories
high, its ceilings supported by handsomely carved and polished
pillars. It is now a Sanskrit School for boys and girls – its
rooms echoing to the chanting of sacred texts and the reciting
of Sanskrit poems. Also visit Nathmalji-ki- Haveli, dating from
the mid nineteenth century it is yet another example of the
subtlety of the stone carver’s art and skill. Here craftsmanship
reaches a peak of perfection, the delicacy of carving around the
windows is of incredible finesse. The carving was done by two
brothers – one worked on the right side of the Façade and the
other on the left. Also visit Gadsisar Lake, the Oasis in the
desert.
Afternoon visit Bada Bagh – surrounded by thick cover of trees.
On the bank of an artificial lake. There are some exquisite
royal cenotaphs richly decorated with ornate carvings. Then
drive to Sam – 45 kms. See the ocean of sand-dunes and the
sunset point here. To see the beauty of the Thar Desert take a
camel ride at Sam Sand Dunes.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 17: Jaisalmer to Bikaner (340
Kms)
After breakfast leave for Bikaner.
On the way visit the Camel Breeding & Research Farm – only one
of its kind in Asia. On arrival check-in into the hotel.
Evening free to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 18: Bikaner – Mandawa (Distance
200 kms)
In the morning visit Junagadh Fort
- constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, fort has
a 986 meter long wall with 37 bastions & two entrances,
Bhandeshwar Jain Temple - The 16century Jain temple, is the most
important of this temple complex. Later proceed for Mandawa.
Reach and check in at hotel. Overnight will be at Mandawa.
Day 19: Mandawa – Delhi (Distance
225 kms)
Morning visit Mandawa Town. Mandawa
has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions. In the afternoon
take a walking tour of the painted 'havelis' of some of the
leading business families of the country. Though they no longer
live here, the local caretakers are happy to show the visitors
around. Enroute you can shop for the colorful art and crafts of
Rajasthan: tied and dyed textiles, metal handicrafts, carved
wooden artefacts and more. Later proceed for Delhi.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 20: Delhi
After breakfast full day city tour
visiting India gate (war memorial), Rajghat (the cremation site
of Mahatma Gandhi ) and Red Fort. After that visit The National
Museum - one of India's most prestigious institutions. The
galleries of the museum follow a historical and chronological
sequence. The Indus Valley Gallery displays many antiquities
excavated from Mohenjodaro and Harappa, like terracotta toys,
images and pots, jewellery, seals, bronze and copper implements
and sculpture. Later on drive past President's House, Parliament
House & Secretariat Building and visit Qutab Minar.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 21: Delhi - Home
Breakfast will be at hotel. Day
will be free to explore the city and finish last minute
shopping. Transfer to airport in time to catch flight back home. |