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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 tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple
DAY 03 : DELHI
- AGRA (203 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave
for Agra. Arrive Agra and check-in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, 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 contructed 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. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and
was not completed until 1653.
DAY
04 : AGRA
- FATEHPUR SIKRI - JAIPUR (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Jaipur. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal
city of Fatehpur Sikri - built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, 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 Jaipur.
Arrive Jaipur & check-in at prebooked hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
DAY
05 : 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, free for individual activities.
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 06 : JAIPUR
- MANDAWA (168 KMS, 04 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast,
leave for Mandawa. Arrive Mandawa and check-in at prebooked
hotel.
Afternoon, visit Mandawa
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
07 : MANDAWA - BIKANER (190 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, 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 08 : BIKANER - JAISALMER (333
KMS, 05-06 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, visit the Karni Mata temple at
Deshnoke.
Afternoon, leave for Jaisalmer.
Arrive Jaisalmer and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 09 : 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.
DAY
10 : JAISALMER - JODHPUR (290 KMS, 05-06 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Jodhpur. On arrival in Jodhpur, check-in at
prebooked hotel.
In the afternoon, city tour of Jodhpur.
After breakfast,
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.
Also visit the Clock Tower
– the city centre.
DAY 11 : JODHPUR - RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR
(275 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Udaipur. Enroute visiting the Jain temples
at 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
12 : UDAIPUR
After breakfast, visit the romantic city of Udaipur
: 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.
Afternoon, free. In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY
13 : UDAIPUR - DELHI (FLIGHT, 9W 3318, 1335-1505 HRS)
After
breakfast, free.
Optional : excursion to Chittorgarh - The
hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh
epitomises the whole romantic ideal of Rajput chivalry. The fort
was sacked three times from 1303 to 1568 by a stronger
enemy and on each occasion, 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.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive
Delhi and transfer
to prebooked hotel.
DAY
14 : DEPART DELHI
Morning,
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home/onward destination.
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