Duration: 15 Days
DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02 IN DELHI
Morning sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi. Among some of the most interesting highlights of your city tour of Old and New Delhi are the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Raj Ghat in the old city area and the Government Buildings, a drive through the majestic Rajpath to the India Gate, the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutab Minar etc. Highlight of the days tour is we give you a cycle rickshaw ride on the narrow lines of the Chandni Chowk to show the life at the Old Delhi and take you to the spice, fancy clothes, dry fruit market and also visit the "Parantha wale gali" (Street where Indian clay oven baked bread). Overnight in Delhi.
DAY 03 DELHI/MANDAWA
Leave Delhi for Mandawa (265 kms/6 hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the hotel. If the desert blooms in myriad colours it is the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, where every home is adorned with gaily painted murals that illuminate the arid landscape. Castle Mandawa, a remote feudal principality in the centre of the Shekhawati region is an ideal base to discover the legacy of the 18th century frescoes that adorns the 'Havelis' of this storybook town. With canopied balconies and turreted battlements, it offers modern comforts with an old world charm. The highlight of your stay is a royal repast where guests dine under the stars entertained by a Rajasthani fire dancer. Overnight in Mandawa.
DAY 04 IN MANDAWA
Full day visit Mukundgarh, Nawalgarh, Dundlod Drive to Mukundgarh (14 kms). You will find frescoes at the Gopinath and Venugopal temples. Visit drive to Dundlod the stronghold of Goenka's (5 kms from Mukundgarh) has some havelis with interesting murals. In the center of the town is its fort that combines Rajput elements with the later advent of British architecture. Overnight in Mandawa.
DAY 05 MANDAWA/BIKANER
Leave Mandawa for Bikaner (192 kms/5 hrs approx). On arrival check-in at the hotel. Bikaner city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. PM: City tour of Bikaner visiting the fort, founded by Raja Rai Singh, is distinguished by its long range of pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Visit the cenotaphs situated 8 K.M. from Bikaner at Devi Kund with innumerable ornamentals Chhatris of the Royal House of Bikaner. On your return visit the Camel breeding farm set within the Sand Dunes, the only farm of its kind in whole Asia watch the return of the Camel at the Sun-set. Overnight in Bikaner.
DAY 06 BIKANER-JAISALMER
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface to Jaisalmer and upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 07 IN JAISALMER
Jaisalmer- the last citadel in the desert. The Golden fort of Jaisalmer used to be a regular scheduled stop for the caravans plying on the ancient silk route, and was a major trading centre. Visit to the Fort, the Gadisar Lake and the famous Havelis - some of the most exotic ones being the Nathamalji hi Haveli, the Patwon ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli. Late afternoon take an excursion to Sam Sand Dunes to witness the sunset. Also enjoy a short camel through the desert. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08 JAISALMER-JODHPUR
After early breakfast leave for Jodhpur On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Jodhpur.
DAY 09 JODHPUR/RANAKPUR/UDAIPUR
AM : Sightseeing tour of Jodhpur city - Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill, including Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Later visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memoriam built in 1899 and the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens.
Afternoon depart by surface to Udaipur en route visiting Ranakpur Jain Temples, built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quite and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple different from each other. The magic of light and shade is awe-inspiring.On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Udaipur
DAY 10 IN UDAIPUR
Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sounds and experiences - an inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers. Maharana Udai Singh founded the jewel of Mewar - Udaipur in 1559 A.D. Of the original eleven gates of the city, only five remain now.
AM : Sightseeing tour of Udaipur city. Among the places visited is the City Palace - a majestic architectural marvel towering over the Lake Pichola - a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, and rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through the Triple arched gate "Tripolia" with eight marble porticos; the Jagdish temple- built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh, this Indo - Aryan temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple of Udaipur with note worthy sculpted images; the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, which houses an interesting collection of folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, paintings etc; the Sahelion ki Bari with its many fountains etc.
A highlight of your trip to Udaipur is a sunset boat-cruise on the beautiful placid Lake Pichola. The lake is surrounded by hills, palaces including the beautiful city palace, temples, bathing ghats and embankments. There are two island palaces, The Jagmandir and Jagniwas and also the beautiful Lake Palace sits on an island in this lake. Boat rides, which originate from the City Palace jetty (known as Bansi Ghat), are a popular way of exploring the natural beauty of Udaipur. Overnight in Udaipur.
DAY 11 UDAIPUR/DEOGARH
Leave Udaipur for Deogarh (135 kms/3 ? hrs approx) On arrival check-in at the hotel. Deogarh Mahal is an imposing structure built in the 17th century. It stands atop a hill and offers a commanding view of the Aravali mountain range and the numerous lakes, strewn across the countryside. With its graying 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. Deogarh is also renowned as a school of miniature painting. Some Deogarh miniatures adorn the personal collection of the present Rawat Sahib. Frescoes of this art form can also be seen on the fort walls.The Mahal also has some exciting rooms to browse through - Sheesh Mahal - the colourful hall of mirrors, is just one of them!. Overnight in Deogarh.
DAY 12 DEOGARH/JAIPUR
Leave Deogarh for Jaipur (280 kms/6 hrs approx) On arrival check-in at the hotel. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan is colour washed pink - the colour associated with auspiciousness and Rajput hospitality. This Pink city of fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and a city of broad avenues is picturesque. A formidable wall encircles the first planned city of its time. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Jaipur.
DAY 13 IN JAIPUR
AM: Excursion to Amber fort. Drive past the Hawa Mahal, known popularly as the palace of winds, which is just a fa?ade built for the ladies of the royal household in the 19th century. The Amber Fort, the capital of the erstwhile state of Jaipur until 1728 is perched on a hill. It has halls of public & private audience, a Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) various marble palaces, which are marvelous examples of ancient Rajput architecture. Ride an Elephant to ascend the hill on which the fort is situated. PM: City tour of Jaipur. Visit the city Palace - the former Royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal style. It now houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes, an armoury of the Mughals and Rajputs with weapons of arms, an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit. Visit the Jantar Mantar - an astrological and astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century, which is remarkable for its accuracy of the instruments even in the present times. Overnight in Jaipur.
DAY 14 JAIPUR/FATEHPUR SIKRI/DEEG/AGRA
Leave Jaipur for Agra by surface visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute(240 kms/6 hrs including the visit) This exquisite city built by Akbar the Great in 1569, in red sandstone; with its forts, palaces and mosques was abandoned 14 years after its construction due political reasons. The Diwan-I-am - a vast courtyard where the Emperor met the public, when in residence, Diwan-I-khas a large quadrangle which contained all the major functions of the palace, the Emperors private living quarters, palaces of Birbal the minister, the Queens, Jodha Bhai, Mariam and Turkish Sultana. The Panch Mahal is some of the important buildings of this residential complex. The Friday mosque and the exquisite tomb of Sheikh Salim Chistiare in the religious grounds set aside in a separate enclosure adjacent to the secular buildings.
Later drive on to Deeg, an 18th century stronghold, whose massive fortifications are surrounded by luxuriant gardens, woods and pools. It is renowned for its palaces surrounded by gardens, tanks and fountains of artificially coloured water. See the richly carved columns, cornices and eaves of the palaces, Gopal Bhavan, contains a marble swing which was carried off from Oudh to Deeg by a Jat warrior. Continue your drive onto Jaipur. Upon arrival in Jaipur check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Agra.
DAY 15 AGRA-DELHI
AM: City tour of Agra visiting the Taj Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble. Built over a period of 22 years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630, for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. It is one of the seven modern wonders of the World. Visit the Agra Fort built by Emperor Akbar over the years 1565 - 1573 with its maze of courtyards, mosques, and private chambers. Most of the buildings originally built by Akbar were destroyed and were replaced by his grandson Shah Jehan. The only surviving structure from Akbar's period apart from the solid sand stone ramparts and the gateway is the Jehangir Mahal. It is the biggest private residence in the complex and its architecture indicates strong influences from Hindu overtones. Nearby are the various buildings, which were built by Shah Jehan, Including the Khas Mahal, The Jasmine Towers, the Octagonal Tower, the Sheesh Mahal, and the Hamam's. Ironically it was within these apartments that Shah Jehan spent his last years when his son Aurangzeb imprisoned him. Afternoon drive back to Delhi (203 kms/4 hrs) and upon arrival departure transfer to the International airport to board flight back home.