COLOURS OF RAJASTHAN
Duration: 16 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ranakpur Udaipur - Deogarh - Ajmer - Pushkar - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Arrive late night at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi. Upon arrival, the guests will be met by our representative outside the customs gate and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel
DAY 2 NEW DELHI
The capital of India has a fascinating history and a stimulating present. Delhi has been the seat of power of a number of dynasties - the Rajputs, the Afghans, the Turks and the Mughals, who continued their imperial line until the British.
Morning, sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, which has some dramatic remnants of the Mughal Empire. Visit the Red Fort, built in 1648, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, both built by Emperor Shah Jahan. Also visit Rajghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation.
Afternoon, drive through the majestic boulevards of New Delhi designed by the British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1920. Lutyens' Delhi includes the grand government buildings and parliament house, the India gate and "Rashtrapati Bhawan" - the presidential palace. Also visit the 234-foot high Qutab Minar and Humayun's tomb, built in the 16th century by the second Mughal emperor, and is an early example of Mughal architecture.
Overnight in Delhi
DAY 3 NEW DELHI - MANDAWA
After breakfast, drive to Mandawa covering a distance of 250 kms in approximately 6 hours
Upon arrival in Mandawa, check-in at hotel Castle Mandawa, a fortress, now converted into a luxurious heritage hotel. Castle Mandawa is a curious mixture of the old and the new - medieval turreted towers, palanquin-roofed balconies, blend with modern comforts in old-world rooms. Family portraits, antique cannons and arms add to the charm of this family-run resort where tradition still runs strong.
Afternoon visit the town, a painted arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows leads to the bazaar. You can wander through the streets where mansions of rich merchants are adorned with elaborate & lively frescoes, cataloging the life, habits/fashions of the Marwari community and onto Fatehpur & Laxmangarh completing the tour of Shekhawati region.
Overnight in Mandawa
DAY 4 MANDAWA - BIKANER
Morning drive to Bikaner covering a distance of 200 kms in approximately 4 hours.
Bikaner is an oasis town among scrub and sand dunes. Surrounded by a high crenellated wall, Bikaner is a royal walled city with a timeless appeal that will captivate you. The royal splendor of a bygone era still pervades city's life style making it a distinct place to visit. While other cities of Rajasthan are rich in lakes and pleasure pavilions, Bikaner seems quite bare in that respect. Given its severe climatic conditions, the wealth of its architectural heritage lies in its forts, palaces and temples
Afternoon, city sightseeing of Bikaner; this desert town in the north of the state was founded in 1488 by Roa Bikaji, a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur, Jodhaji. Visit the Junagarh Fort constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Jai Singh, a general in the Moghul Emperor Akbar's army; visit the havelis whose sandstone carvings combine traditional Rajasthani havelis architecture with colonial influence. Also visit the Camel Breeding farm (closed on Sundays).
Overnight in Bikaner
DAY 5 BIKANER - JAISALMER
Morning, drive to Jaisalmer covering a distance of 330 kms in approximately 8 hours. Lunch en route at Fort Pokran.
Arrive Jaisalmer late afternoon and check-in at hotel.
Evening, visit to the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rawals in Barra Bagh where the rural were cremated. This is also the good place to watch the spectacular desert sunset and photograph to the fort.
Overnight in Jaisalmer
DAY 6 JAISALMER
Full day sightseeing of Jaisalmer. Visit the Jaisalmer Fort, the most alive of any museum, fort or palace that you are likely to visit in India. It was built in 1156 by the Rajput ruler Jaisala. About a quarter of the old city's population resides within the fort walls. The fort is entered through a forbidding series of massive gates leading to a large courtyard. Within the fort walls are a group of beautifully carved Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th centuries.
Later visit the city's magnificent havelis or merchants' houses, each richly decorated and carved from golden yellow sandstone - Patwon-ki-haveli (House of the Brocade Merchants) is the largest and most elaborate of the famous havelis of Jaisalmer. The Nathmalji-ki-haveli (The Mansion of Nathmalji), the last of the great havelis was built in the late 19th century. End the morning with a visit to Gadisar Lake - the large natural oasis that attracted Rawal Jaisal to this site.
Late afternoon visit the Sand Dunes and a camel ride to view the sunset, as the sky is set on fire and Rajasthani folk musicians play haunting tunes. It can be an unforgettable experience.
Overnight in Jaisalmer
DAY 7 JAISALMER - JODHPUR
Morning, drive to Jodhpur covering a distance of 280 Kms in approximately 5 hours.
Upon arrival in Jodhpur, check-in at hotel.
Afternoon city tour of Jodhpur, the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur, founded by Rao Jodha. Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert. Chief of the Rajput clan known as Rathores and the Rathore kingdom was once known as Marwar - the Land of Death. The tour includes Meherangarh Fort - one of the most impressive & formidable in the whole of fort-studded Rajasthan situated on a high natural rock bluff and from which you can look down on the wonderful panorama of the bustling city below. Later visit Jaswant Thada - A cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in 1899 A.D. in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Within the main cenotaph are the portraits of various Jodhpur rulers.
Overnight in Jodhpur
DAY 8 JODHPUR - UDAIPUR
Today morning, drive to Udaipur covering a distance of 280 Kms, en route visiting Ranakpur Jain temples; the most magnificent 15th century Jain temples situated in the deep secluded valley of the Aravalli Hills. Though over 500 years old, the temples here are superbly preserved in a near-perfect condition. In the centre is the main "Chaumukha temple" dedicated ot Adinath. The most distinctive features are the 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, of which no two are exactly alike. Every conceivable surface is carved and every corner and angle is engraved with Jain images.
After lunch, continue your drive to Udaipur
Upon arrival in Udaipur, check-in at hotel
Overnight in Udaipur
DAY 9 UDAIPUR
Udaipur, the city combines real beauty with a picturesque association of a great and glorious past. It stands in a valley, amidst green hills on the banks of the wide, steel blue Lake Pichola. On little islands in the lake, from the water's edge, rise marble palaces of pure white that glisten like fairy castles. Crowning the ridge in which the city clusters, along the shore of the lake is the palace of the Maharana. Possibly no city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur and is replete with fantastic hill top fortresses, exotic fairy tale palaces and gripping legends of medieval chivalry and heroism. Udaipur rivals any of the world's famous creations of the Moghuls with the Rajput love of the whimsical and it's superbly crafted elegance.
This morning sightseeing includes a visit to the City Palace, a conglomeration of buildings added by various Maharanas. The palace manages to retain a surprising uniformity of design. The entrance is through Hathi Pol (elephant gate) along the main street of the old city, past the Jagdish Temple. The paintings, mosaics, intricately carved ‘chhatries’ and of course the architecturally brilliant façade all contribute in making a visit to the City Palace a truly memorable experience.
Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari, the Garden of the Maids of Honour was constructed for forty-eight young ladies in waiting who were sent to the royal house as a part of the lavish dowry. This garden is well laid out with extensive lawns and shady walks. The sprawling flower lined parks hug the shores of the second major lake of Udaipur, Fateh Sagar.
Afternoon, enjoy a motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - the other lovely island palace in the middle of the lake.
Overnight in Udaipur
DAY 10 UDAIPUR - DEOGARH
Morning drive to Deogarh covering a distance of 150 Kms in approximately 3½ hours.
Upon arrival in Deogarh check-in at Deogarh Mahal. Standing at a height of 2,100 feet above sea level, Deogarh is cooler than surrounding Rajasthan. With its bold battlements, domed turrets and balconies, the Mahal towers over the town below. The terraces offer a commanding view of the surrounding Aravalli mountains and its rugged rock-strewn countryside dotted by a number of lakes.
Afternoon, free to relax and unwind or walk through the bustling merchandising village with villagers buying and selling their wares.
Overnight in Deogarh
DAY 11 DEOGARH - AJMER - PUSHKAR
After breakfast drive to Pushkar (160 kms) enroute visiting
the Dargah at Ajmer.
Ajmer, is the most sacred of all Muslim places of pilgrimage in India.
Situated in a basin at the foot of Taragarh Hill, Ajmer is surrounded be a
stone wall with five gateways. Renowned through the Muslim world as the burial
place of Mu’inuddin Chishti who claimed descent from the son-in-law of
Mohammad. Seven pilgrimages to Ajmer are believed to equal one to Mecca. Every
year, especially at the annual Islamic festivals of Id and Muharram, thousands
of pilgrims converge on this town on the banks of the Ana Sagar Lake.
After the visit, drive to Pushkar and check-in at hotel.
Pushkar
lies in a narrow dry valley overshadowed by impressive rocky hills which offer
spectacular views of the desert at sunset. A mellow, serene and bewitching
little town that attracts those in search of some respite from the tumult of
India. Pushkar is right on the edge of the desert and is only 11 kms from
Ajmer but separated from it by Nag Pahar, the snake mountain. The lake at its
heart, almost magically beautiful in the early morning or late evening light,
is one of the most sacred. For Hindus, Puhskar is a very important pilgrimage
centre and you'll see plenty of Sadhus (individuals on a spiritual search).
Afternoon City tour of Pushkar - Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as
ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many
were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the
Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to
this deity. It's marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the
hans, or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen
Pushkar as its site.
Overnight at hotel
DAY 12 PUSHKAR - JAIPUR
Morning, drive to Jaipur covering a distance of 135 kms in approximately 3 hours.
Arrive Jaipur and check-in at hotel.
Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. It has long been established on tourist itineraries as the third corner of India's Golden Triangle, just 260 kilometers southwest of Delhi, and 200 kilometers west of Agra. The old city of Jaipur is partially encircled with seven gates - the major gates are Chandpol, Sanganeri, and Ajmeri. The 'pink city' label, applies specifically, to the old walled quarter of the Rajasthani capital, while in the northeast of the town, glorious palaces and temples, in an assortment of styles, spanning centuries, are scattered throughout the predominantly urban area. Jaipur is a tourist's delight. It is an extremely colorful city, and in the evening light, the pink and the orange buildings exude a magical glow, which is complemented by the vibrantly attired Rajasthanis. Camel drawn carts are characteristic of Jaipur's passing street scene.
This afternoon’s sightseeing would include a visit to the City Palace. In the heart of the old city is the former Royal residence built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal style. Gray-white marble columns ornate support the carved arches with floral motifs in gold and colored stones, while two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The palace houses a Museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armory of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of different shapes and sizes with ornamental handles, some of them inlaid with enamel and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards. The palace also has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works. Adjacent to the City palace is Jantar Mantar, the largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments, whose setting and shapes are scientifically designed, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy. The most striking of these are the Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes. Also visit the Hawa Mahal. Built in 1799, the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. This five-storey building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry, with its pink semi octagonal and delicately honeycombed sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city.
Overnight in Jaipur
DAY 13 JAIPUR
This morning, excursion to Amber Fort situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur city. At the foot of the hill you will mount your caparisoned elephant for the slow but steady climb up to the main gate, making your entrance in the time honoured fashion. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over 100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families. Within the fort lies Jai “Mandir” (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of mirrors. The walls and the ceiling of the Mahal are covered with a beautiful array of mirrors, which reflects any streak of light, so as to illuminate the entire room. The architecture shows distinct Mughal influence.
This afternoon, enjoy a rickshaw ride in the colorful bazaar of the old city.
Overnight in Jaipur
DAY 14 JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
This morning drive from Jaipur to Agra covering a distance of 240 kms, including stop at Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned, Red Sandstone City built in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, one of India's greatest rulers. Remarkably broadminded for his time, this Muslim king married a Rajput princess in order to win over his Hindu subjects. The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri is a combination of Hindu and Muslim styles, expressing Akbar's vision of synthesizing the cultures. Mughal Emperor Akbar made this a capital once but deserted it later due to paucity of drinking water. This structure also houses Salim-Chishti's Dargah. This is a white marble canopy set in the courtyard of the royal mosque to honour a Sufi saint who reportedly blessed Akbar’s wife with a son.
After the visit, continue you drive to Agra.
Arrive in Agra late afternoon and check-in at hotel.
Overnight in Agra
DAY 15 AGRA - DELHI
Agra, is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that epitomize the high point of Mughal architecture. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jehangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and Shahjahan embellished it with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble. The crowning glory of the city is obviously the Taj, a monument of love and imagination that represents India to the world.
This morning visit the
Taj Mahal by sunrise.
With its incredible lacy white grandeur and loveliness is perhaps the most
perfect architectural monument in the world. Emperor Shahjahan constructed
this most famous and incomparable Moghul monument in memory of his beloved
wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is the most extravagant monument ever built for love.
The Taj Mahal is amazingly graceful from almost any angle and it is the close
up detail, 
which is really astounding.
Please note: The Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and later visit the Agra Fort, situated two kilometers west of the Taj Mahal on the banks of the river Yamuna. It was built by the third Mughal Emperor, Akbar, and added to by his son Jehangir and grandson Shahjahan. Agra Fort is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone, almost 3 kilometers (two miles) long. The eastern part of the fort (the only part open to visitors) contains palaces, audience halls and mosques built by all the three emperors. The fort presents a good sampling of their favored architectural styles. Akbar drew on Islamic and Hindu traditions and the result is eclectic. By Shahjahan time, the style had become so homogenized that it is impossible to separate the Hindu and Muslim strands. The Diwan-i-am (public audience hall) once housed the fabled peacock throne, which incorporated virtually all the important gems of the imperial treasury. The beautiful Diwan-i-khas (private audience hall) and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) are other attractions within the fort.
Early afternoon, drive to Delhi covering a distance of 200 kms in approximately 4½ hours.
Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel where rooms would be provided for wash and change before the final departure.
Late night transfer to the international airport of New Delhi to board your flight in the early hours of day 17.
DAY 16
Flight back home.