Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 2
In Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning at leisure
Afternoon visit of 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 and the Old Fort. Visit of 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 by surface 220km/04hrs
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit of 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 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. Cycle rickshaw ride through the Kinaree Bazaar and Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948
Drive through the old city subject to traffic restrictions.
Afternoon proceed by surface to Agra. On arrival check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 4
In Agra
Breakfast at the hotel
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.
Afternoon 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.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 5
Agra/ Ranthambhore (265 Kms/ 6- 7 hours via Fatehpur Sikri)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Ranthambhore enroute visit of Fatehpur sikri-a drive of around 3½ hours-37 kms west of Agra lies the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri-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.
Later proceed by surface for Ranthambhore and on arrival check in at the hotel
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 6
In Ranthambhore
Morning visit of Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore, covering 410 sq. km. runs from the easternmost spur of the Aravallis to the Vindhya range. It has both the old fort and the wildlife sanctuary also known as Sawai Madhopur.
Open: October-May, 0630-1000, 1430-1700
Climate: Temp. range 49C (summer- end April/ May) to 2C (December/ January).
Best time: November to April
The National Park is 10 km East of Sawai Madhopur town with the approach along a narrow valley.
On return breakfast at the hotel
Afternoon Jungle Safari
Lunch/ Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 7
Ranthambhore/ Jaipur (165 Kms/ 3-3½ Hours)
Morning visit of Ranthambore National Park
On return breakfast at the hotel
Lunch at the hotel
Afternoon proceed by surface for Jaipur and on arrival check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 8
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
Later city tour-Jaipur is the city which has the “tone of the autumn sunset” Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) 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
Rest of the day at leisure Overnight at the hotel
Day 9
Jaipur/ Pushkar (165 Kms/ 3-3½ Hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Pushkar and on arrival check in at the hotel
Pushkar-a small town sacred to the Hindus and now a tourist attraction for its annual camel fair, the largest in the world. Many legends have grown over the origin of Pushkar. According to one of them, a lotus slipped out of Lord Brahma’s hands and fell on the earth. Water gushed out of the spot where it fell. Thus the lake of Pushkar was created in the Thar Desert. Pushkar is one of the traditional “once in a lifetime” places of pilgrimage. Epics, religious texts, coins and inscriptions bear evidence to the sanctity of Pushkar. Over the centuries it grew into a temple town, and today there are as many as 400 temples in Pushkar. The present town was renovated in the ninth century by a Parihar king of Mandor, when he was cured of a skin ailment after a dip in the Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is a maze of temples, ashrams (hermitages) and dharamshalas (rest houses) and one is never far from the sound of worship and devotees. Pushkar lake is bounded by 52 ghats built over the centuries by kings and nobles (Photography is prohibited on the ghats.) For complete cleansing of sins, three twilights must be passed at Pushkar with baths at the three important and revered ghats - Varah, Brahma and Gau Ghats.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 10
Pushkar / Jodhpur (225 Kms/ 3½-4 Hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Jodhpur and on arrival check in at the hotel
Afternoon city tour of Jodhpur-the city of Jodhpur, with its gentle atmosphere belies a stormy yet glorious past. Its walls, seven gates and numerous bastions and towers were built in the 16th century by Rao Maldeo. 393 feet above the flat surrounding plains soars a bold bluff on which was built the massive Meherangarh (Majestic) Fort. In the old city’s maze of old lanes lie several palaces, havelis and some temples. The famous puppet makers of Jodhpur are found here. Visit the Sardar Bazar with its Clock Tower of 1912. Visit the fort and palaces, some of which contain a fine collection of Rajput miniature paintings, a museum, Maan Vilas which houses Rathore armoury and on the ramparts stand cannons, the spoils of Gaj Singh. On the road down from the Fort see Jaswant Thada, the blinding white marble cenotaph (chhatri) of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.
Day 11
Jodhpur
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning at leisure
Late afternoon visit to a Bishnoi village- steeped in history: this 450 year old Bishnoi tribe has a distinctive way of life. They are environmentalists in the fundamental sense, preserving the wilds in scientific and logical routines evolved over the centuries of living with nature by nature. In villages of other tribes one can witness the opium ceremony- a ritual by which guests are traditionally welcomed. Gaily attired men and women carry on about their chores and one can catch a glimpse of their norms and customs. The smoothened mud floors of the village huts remain in the mind’s eye, the effervescence of a cool ambience As the shadows lengthen, the sun caste a golden glow on the sands Driving across this mystic horizon, one could encounter the agile black buck, wild camels and flights of rare birds. Overnight at the hotel
Day 12
Jodhpur/ Udaipur via Ranakpur (294 Kms/6½-7 Hour including visits)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Udaipur en route visit of Ranakpur. Ranakpur- which is around 185 Kms and a drive of around 3½-4 hour.
Temple open from 1200 to 1700 Hours and guide are prohibited in the temple premises
Visit of Ranakpur Temples-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.
No guide is allowed to enter the temple premises and audio guides are provided which are of very high standard
After the visit proceed for Udaipur and on arrival check in at the hotel Overnight at the hotel
Day 13
In Udaipur
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning 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).
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 14
Jodhpur
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning at leisure
Later in time transfer to the airport to connect flight for Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel Overnight at the hotel
Day 15
Departure Delhi
In time proceed for the international terminal to connect flight for onward journey. Flight check in starts three hours before the schedule departure time
