We will help you unfold the mysteries of North India as we take you through the royal romance of Rajasthan, its deserts, its colours and music, its small reclusive hamlets and bewilderingly enormous palaces, and its mouthwatering cuisine – all together create an unforgettable and colourful tapestry.
Colourful Rajasthan Tour (13 Nights – 14 Days)
DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI
Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Delhi and directly proceed for sightseeing tour of Delhi.
Morning proceed to visit OLD DELHI – the 300-year-old walled city built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital and named after him. Drive Past the magnificent Red Fort built of red sandstone. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jamia Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century and the Asoka Pillar of 3rd BC. Visit Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi), Drive past Chandni Chowk, once and an imperial avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city.
Sightseeing tour of New Delhi. NEW DELHI – the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat buildings – the centre of all government activity and down the main avenue, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate, the High Court Building. Visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years.
Also proceed to visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the “Sarovar.” It was first built as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel .
DAY 02 : DELHI /MANDAWA BY SURFACE (265 KMS , 6 HRS)
After breakfast depart by surface for Mandawa. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mandawa visit the Havelis, with their frescoes – of which the Chokanis, the Goenkas and the sarafis are extravagantly painted. The word haveli, which is of Persian origin, means `surrounded’ or an `enclosed place.’ The English equivalent“ mansion” comes close enough, suggesting the spacious residence that haveli connotes, but it fails to capture the essence of a way of life that was more than just a form of architecture. Secluded from the outside world, a haveli set its own pace of life.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 03 : DRIVE FROM MANDAWA TO BIKANER (185 KMS; 04 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning depart by surface for Bikaner. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon Visit the Fort, one of the finest of Rajput monuments. Thirty-seven palaces, pavilions and temples built by different kings are all connected by paved courtyards, narrow staircases and terraces in this Rathor stronghold. The oldest existing structures in Bikaner are the 14th-century Jain temples built by two merchant brothers, Sandeshwar and Bhandeshwar.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 04 : DRIVE FROM BIKANER TO JAISALMER ( 330 KM, 07 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel. Mormng depart for Jaisalmer. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day at lesiure.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 05: IN JAISALMER
Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit the silent 12th century Fort built by Prince Jaisal and the Palace which stands at the highest point (100 metres) above the marketplace. Also visit the Jain Temples (12th-15th century) which lie within the fort complex. Some of them have quaint but impressive figures of Jain saints of white marble and of red and black stone. Others have beautiful images of Hindu deities which indicate the remarkable religious tolerance of that age. The famous art of the stone carvers of Jaisalmer is evident in the elaborate facades of the yellow sandstone desert havelis (mansions) which glow softly in honey tones . Visit Salim Singh ki Haveli, Patwon ki Haveli (House of the Brocade Merchants) the largest and most elaborate of the famous havelis of Jaisalmer. Patwas are merchants trading in rich brocades, gold and silver embroidery, sequins and ribbons. A brief stop at Gadhi Sagar is a must – a manmade pond; a luxury in the centre of the Thar Desert !
Afternoon excursion to Sam Sand Dunes with camel ride. Experience the pace and space of desert life. Ride to the smooth, silky sands of Samm sand dunes where the Raikas (camel drovers) travel with their animals over vast distances and know every waterhole and pasture in their region. They are the best guides. The Raika is a handsome, romantic figure, and in local legends and folk-songs, he is referred to as the messenger of love or the carrier of good or bad tidings.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06 : DRIVE FROM JAISALMER TO JODHPUR ( 292 KM, 07 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning depart by surface for Jodhpur. On arrival check into hotel. Later proceed for Sightseeing tour of Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada Cenotaphs from Balsamand or Ummed hotel. Visit the 5-km long Mehrangarh Fort situated on a 125-mt high hill. This is one of the most impressive and formidable structures in Rajasthan. Within the fort are some magnificent with meticulously carved panels, latticed windows or “Jarokhas” with evocative names. Later visit the Jaswant Thada – a cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in 1899 AD in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 07 : DRIVE FROM JODHPUR TO UDAIPUR (298 KM, 06 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning depart by surface for Udaipur en route visit Ranakpur. RANAKPUR-100 kms from Udaipur, in a deep, secluded valley at Ranakpur are the most magnificent Jain temples in India. It is an extensive complex covering 3,600 sq. metres and has 29 halls with 1,444 pillars, each unlike the other, intricately covered with delicate carvings, geometrically so designed that if one stands near any pillar, one can see the deity. The central temple is dedicated to Adinath, the Revealer of Truth. The temple was constructed in the early 14th century.
Continue drive to Udaipur. Upon arrival check in at the hotel
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 08 : IN UDAIPUR
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning half day sightseeing of Udaipur – a splash of colour in Rajasthan that is brighter when tinged with the tones of local lore and legends. Visit the City Palace, built in 1725, which houses the Dilkhush Mahal, Sheesh Mahal – studded with glittering Belgium Mirrors, Moti Mahal and the Palace of Lord Krishna all of which are ornately decorated. Later visit the Jagdish Temple. This temple built in 1651 is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. Also visit the Sahelion Ki Bari gardens and fountains. Later drive around the Fatehsagar Lake.
Evening proceed to enjoy Boat Cruise on Pichola lake, 4 Kms long and 3 Kms broad, surrounded by splendid hills, palaces, temples, bathing ghats and embankments. Visit the island palace Jag Niwas which is beautifully set in the lake. (Boat ride is subject to water level in the lake)
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
DAY 09 : DRIVE FROM UDAIPUR TO JAIPUR (290 KMS, 07 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning depart Udaipur by surface for Jaipur. En route visit visit Chittorgarh, From the 8th to the 16th century it was sacked three times. Its fortifications, temples, towers and palaces cover 700 acres of a seven mile long hill. To commemorate his victory over the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat, Rana Kumbha, the best-loved warrior king of Mewar erected the Vijay Stamb or Tower of Victory. It is 36.5 metres high and is entirely covered with carvings depicting the social life of the time. Enjoy Tuktuk ride while visit Fort .
On arrival check in at the hotel. Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 10 : IN JAIPUR
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Excursion to Amber fort by jeep. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal – a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. Enroute to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal – the Palace of Winds.
Afternoon city tour begins with with a visit to the Maharaja’s City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Enjoy rickshaw ride during the city tour
Dinner and Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 11 : DRIVE FROM JAIPUR TO RANTHAMBORE ( 165 km, 04 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel
Morning depart by surface for Ranthambore . Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon enjoy Jungle Safari through Ranthambore National Park (By an open Canter)
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 12: DRIVE FROM RANTHAMBORE TO AGRA BY SURFACE (189 KMS 05 HRS)
Breakfast at hotel
Upon arrival check in at the hotel in Agra. Later visit Red Fort. Visit the Palaces in the Fort – the Anguri Bagh, Golden Pavilions, Khas Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am (halls of private & public audience), which are all splendid examples of Mughal architecture.
Dinner and Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 13 : DRIVE FROM AGRA TO DELHI (205 KMS, 04/5 HRS)
Early morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal at Sunrise, built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this ‘ Love Poem in Marble’. (Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday).
Breakfast at hotel
Continue drive to Delhi and on arrival proceed for an Orientation tour of Delhi.
Upon arrival check in at hotel .
Dinner & overnight at hotel
DAY 14 : LEAVE DELHI BY INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
Breakfast at hotel.
In time transfer to International airport to connect flight for onward destination.