Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel
Rooms foreseen from 14 Noon onwards on this day
Overnight at the hotel
Day 2
In Delhi
Breakfast at hotel
Morning 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 Red Fort built of red sandstone. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century and the Ashokan Pillar of 3rd BC. Then visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Drive through the old city subject to traffic restrictions. Experience a cycle rickshaw ride from Juma Mosque and ride through the narrow lanes of Chandani Chowk. Later board the bus and proceed for onward visit
Afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi takes you to the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past the Presidential Palace 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. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high and the ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque. See Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD
Overnight at the hotel
Day 3
Delhi/ Agra (210 Kms/ 2-3 Hours)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Agra through expressway and on arrival, check-in at the hotel
Later proceed for Agra enroute visit of Itmad-Ud-daulah- the tomb of father of queen Nur Jehan- a two-storied tomb bearing mosaics in inlaid semi-precious stones. Also called as a precursor to Taj Mahal
Later check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 4
In Agra
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit Agra Fort- the foundation of the fort was laid by Emperor Akbar in 1565 and continued till the time of Shahjahan. The high red stone monument stretches for around 2.5 Kms, dominating a bend in the river Yamuna northwest of the Taj Mahal. The palace is a notable for its smooth blending of Hindu and central Asian architectural styles. The Diwan-i-Am (the hall of public audiences), the Diwan-i-Khas (the Hall of Private Audience), the Khas Palace (the private palace was used by emperor as a sleeping chamber), the Sheesh Mahal (palace of Mirrors), the Shah Jahani Mahal (Shahjahan’s Palace), Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir’s Palace) and the Akbari Mahal (Akbar’s palace) are the fascinating palaces inside the fort. From the rear of Diwan-i-Khas a door leads to Mussaman Burj, a two storey pavilion, where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in his old age
Later proceed for the visit of Sikandra-8 kms north of Agra lies Sikandra, the site of the tomb of Akbar. The emperor’s mausoleum lies inside a huge garden. The slim minarets of the imposing gateway sprout from a wealth of Moghul inlay work in stone. Each floor of the four-storied mausoleum is a series of arcades, tapering to a marble cloister which seems to float on the top. Legend says that the pedestal in the tomb chamber once supported the Kohinoor diamond
After visit return to hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 5
Agra/ F.Sikri/ Jaipur (237 Kms/ 6-7 hours including visits)
Early Morning visit – Taj Mahal (Taj Mahal closed on Friday) which is among the wonders of world and was built by Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal by the banks of river Yamuna After her untimely death, Shahajahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum The Taj has been called the most extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The great monument took almost 22 years to build and was completed in 1653. Around 20,000 workers from all over the country and central Asia were recruited to translate this dream into a reality
On return breakfast at the hotel
Later proceed for Jaipur enroute to visit Fatehpur Sikri- drive of around 1 hour-37 kms west of Agra and is also called the ghost city-an epic poem in red sandstone, built by Emperor Akbar the Great in 1569 and deserted 14 years later because its water supply failed. Its glorious courtyards and palaces conjure up dreams of the mysterious past. The Panch Mahal, a strange building which resembles a Buddhist Temple, a cloistered courtyard which was the Hall of Public Audience, and the Pachchisi paved with black and white where the Emperor played chess using slave girls as figurines. The visit takes around 1½-2 Hours as it is a huge area
After visit proceed for Jaipur and on arrival check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 6
In Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit of Amber Fort-just 7 miles north of Jaipur is Amber with it’s a honey-coloured fortress-palace in the Aravalli Hills which can be mounted by elephant. It has been described as “the sleeping beauty of Rajasthan”. The sombre exterior belies the richness of the royal apartments which open on to striking views of the gorge. It also possesses a Chamber of Mirrors. The Hall of Victory presents a galaxy of decorative art - panels of alabaster with fine inlay work of the tenderest hues
Afternoon city tour-Jaipur is the city which has the “tone of the autumn sunset” Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds-photo shoot only) an elaborate building encrusted with delicate honeycomb screens and carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could view the world outside. Jai Singh’s Observatory built in the 17th century by the founder of Jaipur who, besides being a prince was also soldier, astronomer and builder. City Palace now a museum contains fine Rajput and Moghul paintings, rare manuscripts and an armory
Overnight at hotel
Day 7
Jaipur/ Udaipur by surface (405 Kms/ 6 Hrs)
Breakfast at hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Udaipur and on arrival check in at the hotel
Later afternoon/ evening boat ride on Lake Pichola (before sunset). This lake takes its name from the small village of Picholi on its west bank. In the lake are several islands. On two of them the maharanas of Udaipur constructed pleasure palaces, the Jag Mandir and the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace Hotel).
Overnight at the hotel
Day 8
In Udaipur
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for the visit of Eklingji and Nagda Temples- 22 kms. north east of Udaipur is the village of Kailashpuri known for its 108 temples surrounded by a high fortified wall. This 16th century complex is known as Shi Eklingji Temple and since ancient times has been a holy site. Lord Eklingji Nath is the ruler of Mewar state and Manaranas are the dewan of the state of Mewar. The temple was damaged by the Sultan of Delhi (Allaudin Khilji) in 1314, restored by Rana Kumbha and again destroyed by Aurangazeb in the late 16th century. Close by is the village of Nagda (the first capital of Mewar state) which has several temples dating from the 4th century A.D., ancient rock edicts, stone inscriptions and simple prehistoric shrines
Afternoon city tour- Udaipur is one of the most charming cities of Rajasthan. It nestles like a gem in a valley surrounded by the green Aravalli hills, reflected smooth and white in the clear blue of Lake Pichola. Old dwellings, temples and palaces speak of an aristocratic past. Visit the City Palace, once the home of Mewar’s rulers, is today a museum. It consists of several flawlessly integrated palaces which overlook the clear blue of Lake Pichola. Visit Sahelion-ki-bari (Garden of the Maids of Honour) the scene of royal parties for centuries. Drive around Fateh Sagar Lake excavated in the late 17th century by Maharana Feteh Singh and past the Puppet Museum (Lok Kala Mandal) and the statue of Maharana Pratap (Moti Magri)
Overnight at the hotel
Day 9
Udaipur/ Mumbai by flight
Breakfast at hotel
Later in time transfer to the airport to board the flight for Mumbai
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 7
Jaipur/ Udaipur by surface (405 Kms/ 6 Hrs)
Breakfast at hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Udaipur and on arrival check in at the hotel
Later afternoon/ evening boat ride on Lake Pichola (before sunset). This lake takes its name from the small village of Picholi on its west bank. In the lake are several islands. On two of them the maharanas of Udaipur constructed pleasure palaces, the Jag Mandir and the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace Hotel).
Overnight at the hotel
Day 10
In Mumbai
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning excursion to Elephanta by motor launch (Closed on Mondays)-The island of Elephanta is just an hour away from Mumbai by motor launch. The cave temples here, excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries AD, are famous for their magnificently sculpted panels. The best known is one that depicts the Maheshmurti-a three-headed image of Lord Shiva. This island was so named by the Portuguese after the large stone elephant near the landing place and which now stands at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the mainland. The caves are reached by a stairway up the hillside from the ferry landing
Afternoon visit the Gateway of India, Mumbai’s principal landmark. This arch of yellow basalt was erected on the waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George V’s visit to this colony in 1911. Afghan Church built in memory of those who fell in the First Afghan War. Drive past the Bombay High Court built in Gothic style and the Old secretariat. The ornamental university building with its 280 ft. high Rajabhai Clock Tower, the ornate Victoria Terminus, the colourful Crawford Market, the Flora Fountain in the large bustling square at the heart of the city, the Prince of Wales Museum (Closed on Mondays) which houses a varied collection of China-ware, miniature paintings and sculpture. Drive along the Marine Drive which is known as the Queen’s Necklace. View the memorial to Haji Ali, a Muslim Saint. This unusual shrine stands on an island 500m out at sea and is linked by a causeway to the mainland. Stop at the Jain Temple and also visit Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai
