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THE ROYAL RAJASTHAN
17 Nights / 18
Days
Delhi - Neemrana - Mandawa
- Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Rohet - Deogarh - Udaipur -
Bundi - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi
DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi
in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met
& assisted with your baggages at the airport by
our executive and transferred to prebooked hotel.
Delhi
: India’s capital & a major gateway to the country,
contemporary Delhi
is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines
in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic
location was one of the prime reasons why successive
dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New
Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left
behind . The division between New & Old Delhi
is the distinction between the capitals of the British
& the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor
goes, he will invariably confront the citys’ past.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast,
half day city tour of Old
Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in
India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started
in 1844 and was not completed until 1658; Red Fort,
which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort
was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat
- the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New
Delhi. Visit Humayuns Tomb : built in mid 16th
century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate, President House,
Connaught Place. The city tour ends with a visit to
Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI - NEEMRANA
After breakfast, drive to Neemrana. Upon arrival,
check-in at Neemrana Fort-Palace.
Rest of the day at leisure - free to explore the Fort-Palace
& its surroundings.
DAY 04 : NEEMRANA - MANDAWA
After breakfast,
leave for Mandawa.
Arrive Mandawa
and check-in at prebooked Hotel
Afternoon, visit Mandawa (Shekawati region). This
region came into prominence in the 14th century when
a number of Muslim clans moved into the area and the
towns of this region developed into important trading
posts on the caravan routes emanating from the ports
of Gujarat. This region is famous for painted havelis
(houses) most of which date back from the 18th century.
The major towns of interest are Mandawa,
Fatehpur, Nawalgarh. Visit the havelis in Mandawa
and other villages of Shekhawati region.
DAY 05 : MANDAWA - BIKANER
Morning, leave for Bikaner.
Arrive Bikaner
and check-in at prebooked Hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Bikaner - a desert town
founded in 1488 by Rao Bikaji, a descendant of the founder
of Jodhpur, Jodhaji. Visit the Junagarh Fort which was
contructed between 1588 and 1593 by a general in the
army of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar. The fort has a 986m
long wall with 37 bastions and two entrances; Camel
Breeding Farm, managed by goverment this camel breeding
station is probably unique in Asia and has thousands
of camels.
DAY 06 : BIKANER - JAISALMER
Morning, excursion to Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke
Afternoon, leave for Jaisalmer.
Arrive Jaisalmer and check-in at prebooked Hotel
DAY 07 : JAISALMER
After breakfast, city tour of Jaisalmer.
Visit the the citadel – the Fort built by Rawal
Jaisal where a fourth of the population lives. The fort
also houses Jain temples of the 12th to 15th centuries,
Patwon Ki Haveli – a five storey mansion with carved
pillars & murals of Salim Singh. Also visit Gadsisar,
which had once supplied water to the city ; the temples
& archways around it have been built by a courtesan.
Afternoon, excursion to Sam
– 45 km away, is known for its sand dunes & is the
venue for the Desert festival. Get the actual feel of
the desert by enjoying a camel ride on the sand dunes
and witness a magnificent sunset on the sand dunes.
Return to Jaisalmer
for overnight stay.
DAY 08 : JAISALMER - ROHET
After breakfast, leave
for Rohet. On arrival in Rohet, check-in at Rohetgarh.
In the afternoon, city tour of Jodhpur.
Visit
the Mehrangarh Fort which literally means “Majestic
Fort”, located at the very centre of the city. There
are, in all, three gates , each built to commemorate
a particular victory, as well as to reinforce the fort.
It has a collection of musical instruments, palanquins,
furniture & cannons on the forts’ ramparts are well
preserved. Jaswant Thada : Close to the fort
complex lies this white marble cenotaph, built in 1899,
in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare
portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen
at Jaswant Thada.
DAY 09 : ROHET - DEOGARH
After breakfast, leave
for Deogarh. Arrive Deogarh
and check-in at prebooked Deograh Mahal : an imposing structure built in the 17th century.
It stands atop a hill and offers a commanding view of
the Aravalli mountain range and the numerous lakes,
strewn across the countryside.With its greying battlements,
domes, turrets, jharokhas and huge gateways, it is a
picturesque sight from the town below. At a height of
about 2100 ft above sea level, it is cooler than surrounding
Rajasthan. Built in 1670 A.D. by Rawat Dwarka Dasji
as a family residence, it soon became the hub of village
activity. The family interacted with the villagers and
invited a host of feasts and festivities to be performed
within the Mahal precincts. Some of these traditions
are still practiced. And the gates, that always remained
closed, to ward off enemies, are now open to the guests.
Deogarh
lies on the borders of Mewar, Marwar and Merwara, about
80 miles north-east of Udaipur.
Its chieftain known as 'The Rawat' was one of sixteen
umraos (feudal barons) privileged to wait upon the Maharana
of Udaipur, the capital of Mewar such feudal estates,
called 'thikanas' were granted by the ruling Maharana
to a nobleman either due to blood relationship or for
an act of bravery.
DAY 10 : DEOGARH - RANAKPUR -
UDAIPUR
After
breakfast, drive to Udaipur,
enroute visit Ranakpur
- The cluster of temples, made of intricately
sculpted white marble, come across as a marvellousfeat
of architecture. It would take anyone by surprise to
learn that they were built in 1460, so well preserved
& sparkling is the marble. The main temple is supported
on 1,444 pillars – none of which is similarly carved.
After the visit, continue drive to
Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur
and check-in at prebooked Hotel. Rest of the day
at leisure.
DAY 11 : UDAIPUR
Morning, free for individual activities.
Afternoon, visit the romantic city of Udaipur.
Visit the City Palace which is the largest palace
complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish temple, a fine
Indo Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion ki
Bari or Garden of the Maids of Honour, which is
a small garden with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants
& lotus pool.
In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY 12 : UDAIPUR - CHITTORGARH
- BUNDI
After breakfast, leave for Bundi,
enroute visiting Chittorgarh
- The hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh
epitomises the whole romantic ideal of Rajput chivalry.
The fort was sacked 3 times from 1303 to 1568
by a stronger enemy and on each ooccasion, the end
was "Jauhar". The men donned the saffron
robes of martyrdom and rode out from the fort to certain
death and the women and children immolated themselves
on a huge funeral pyre.
After the visit, continue drive to Bundi.
Arrive Bundi and check-in at prebooked Hotel.
DAY
13 : BUNDI
After breafkast, visit
Bundi
: The Taragarh Fort which was built in 1354. Inside
the fort are huge reservoirs carved out of solid rock and
the Bhim Burj, the largest of the battlements, on which
is mounted a famous cannon.
Afternoon, free or take an excursion to Kota (39 kms
from Bundi).
DAY
14 : BUNDI - JAIPUR
After
breakfast, leave for Jaipur
: The
capital city of the state of Rajasthan
also know as “Pink City”
owes its name, its foundation and planning to
the great warrior astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II.
The city of Jaipur
has broad avenues. The city sits on a dry lake bed in
a wild and somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren
hills surmounted by fortresses and crenellated walls.
Upon arrival, check-in at prebooked Hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 15 : JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride
from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance.
Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur,
Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur
state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja
Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and
is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur.
Visit
the City Palace which has museum having an extensive
collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons;
Jantar Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai
Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 16 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
Morning,
leave for Agra.
Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur
Sikri :
built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital
of the Mughals, which was abandoned after 15 years due
to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including
the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal &
other Palaces which are still preserved in its original
glory. Continue drive to Agra.
Arrive Agra and check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
 DAY
17 : AGRA - DELHI
210 kms /
4-5 hours
After breakfast, city
tour of Agra.
Visit Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in
1565, and additions were made up until the time of
his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public
and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structures;
Itmad-ud-daulah, which was constructed by Nur Jahan
between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb
she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore
in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal,
which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his
wife Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the Taj began in
1631 and was not completed until 1653.
Afternoon, leave for Delhi
enroute visit Sikandra - Mughal Emperor Akbar's
Mausoleum. Continue drive to Delhi.
Arrive
Delhi
and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 18 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport
to board your flight for onward destination.
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