Arrive Delhi by flight. After clearing immigration and custom formalities, you will be meet and greet by our airport representative, traditional welcome garlanding. Transfer to hotel by AC transport.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Mandawa on arrival check-in at hotel.
In the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan lies the beautiful small town Mandawa, known throughout the state for its forts and havelis. The structures of this place reminds one of the cultural and social hotspot this place used to be in the bygone era.
Mandawa is situated in the north Indian state of Rajasthan around 190 km off Jaipur, the capital of the state. The town lies between latitude 28.06° in the north and longitude 75.20° in the east. The fort town of Mandawa is well connected with the other places in region through a good network of roads.
The compact and busy little market town of Mandawa was settled and fortified in 18th century by the dominant merchant families of the region. The wealthy businessmen of the village constructed many havelis and baolis with colored painting adorning their walls. Later on, with the migration of these merchant families, their old settlements remained in total obscurity with no one to look after them. Despite the time lapse and ignorance about these visual and architectural extravaganzas, their attraction did not fade and today they are some of the major attractions for the tourists visiting Rajasthan
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning visit around Mandawa and Shekhawati region, which is famous for the various havelis, which are extravagantly painted. Some of the famous havelis one should not miss while in Mandawa are the Ch okhanis, the Goenkas
Later drive to Bikaner en route visiting Fatehpur, a town once ruled by the Muslim, Here once must have a look out of the Devra and Singhania Havelis, which are unmatched.
On arrival in Bikaner check-in at hotel.
Bikaner : Sightseeing tour of Bikaner, deep in the desert, on ancient caravan routes. The city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Two life-like effigies of elephants flank the façade of the entrance to the fort. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions. A line of balconies and oriel windows of varying designs lend it a graceful dignity. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple in a spacious courtyard. The royal chapel in Har Mandir where royal wedding and births were once celebrated
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning visit, Bikaner city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, eemples and a mosque founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions. A line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Jormal temple. The royal chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated
Later drive to Jaisalmer en route visiting Deshnoke Temple.
Later depart by coach for Jaisalmer en route visiting “Deshnoke Temple” this temple is dedicted to the mystic Karni Mata. The huge silver gates to the temple and the marble carvings were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh and golden umbrella tops the temple is infested with holy rats, reincarnate as mystics or holy men. As you stroll around the temple rats play leapfrog over your bare feet.
Continue drive to Jaisalmer, on arrival check-in at hotel.
Jaisalmer across the hot barren desert is magical as the city shimmers like a mirage. The golden sandstone town walls and narrow streets lined with exquisitely carved buildings, through which camel carts trundge leisurely, has an extraordinarily medieval feel and an incredible atmosphere. The fort inside perched on its hilltop contains some gems of Jain temple building,
while beautifully decorated merchants’ havelis are scattered through the town
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning visit the various Havelis, known for the Silavats (Stone carvers) of Jaisalmer is justly famous. It attained its peak of excellence during the 18th and the 19th centuries, rivalling the quality of the carved marble of the Taj Mahal at Agra. Among the famous havelis are the Patwon ki haveli (House of the Brocade Merchants) Nathmalji ki haveli (The mansion of Nathmalji), Salim Singh haveli etc.Visit wander through Jaisalmer’s narrow lanes and to visit the small silversmith’s shops, the stalls selling leather craft goods. After drive upto the Citadel to witness the Sunset on the desert, which is a spell bounding experience.
Late afternoon visit Sam Sand Dunes – This is a typical ethnic village situated 40 kms from Jaisalmer, a small picturesque desert village of decorated mud thatched buildings. Visitors are attracted here by shifting sand dunes, some 80 mt. High, and beautiful sunsets, alongwith a camel ride in the Desert.
Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Rohetgarh on arrival check-in at hotel.
ROHETGARH : Village Rohet, is a quaint hamlet 5 km off the main road, beside being home to three species of Antelope and Chinkara, the blue bull and black buck-Rohet is also a heaven for bird-watchers with up to two hundred domestic and migratory species.
Afternoon Visit the “Bishnoi Tribe”.
BISHNOI : On arrival at the Bishnoi Village take a Jeep Safari visit the Bishnoi Tribes, the Bishnois, the conservationist, wealthy community of pure vegetarian who are orthodox and observe principles laid by their enlightened Guru Jambhoji. The Rural community surviving for protecting endangered species of animals and plants by humans and till date making it impossible for the porchers to kill any animal for pleasure.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Jodhpur on arrival check-in at hotel.
Jodhpur is at the edge of the Thar Desert and is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. Among Rajasthan's many princely settlements, Jodhpur is one of the most distinctive. This five hundred year old settlement was the headquarters of The Rathore Rajputs' celebrations for their tales of daring. Jodhpur is known for its impressive fortifield bastions, specially those of Mehrangarh which have bee n witness to many battles and were associated closely with the history of the region. The years of peace that followed resulted in the building of palaces that were laid on open grounds and spread out in an elaborate European manner
Afternoon visit the impressive Mehrangarh Fort on a 37 m low sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. From the top of the fort one can get a bird’s eye view of the old city. You will notice the predominance of blue houses referred to as Brahmin houses - the colour being associated with the high caste. Proceed to the Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph built in 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II, and smaller memorials to other Maharajahs of Jodhpur. At the end of the tour enjoy a short walk through the local and vibrant bazaar of Jodhpur.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Udaipur en route visiting Ranakpur.
Ranakpur, the wonderful 3 temples of the Jain sect dating back to the 14th/15th century. The unforgettable main Temple dedicated to Adinatha the first Tirthankar (1439) built in marble took 65 years to complete. It is one of the five holy Jain pilgrimage centres, and has one of the best temple complexes.
On arrival in Udaipur, check in at the hotel.
Udaipur lies in the Girwa valley amidst the Aravali hills of south Rajasthan. It is considered a romantic city - with its lakes, gardens, temples and palaces - an Oasis in the Thar desert. The old city is a traditionally planned fortified walled city, a maze of narrow winding lanes flanked by houses with doorways decorated with Mewar folk art, windows with stained glass or jali screens, massive havelis with large inner courtyards and shops. The legendary Ranas who ruled, traced their ancestry to the Sun Dynasty.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast visit the City Palace, once entirely the home of Mewar’s rulers, is today largely a museum run by the Maharana Mewar Foundation. It actually consists of four major and several minor palaces forming a single breathtaking facade overlooking the Pichola lake. Visit the Jagdish Mandir, close by the main gate of City Palace, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Later visit the Sahelion ki Bari (Garden of the maids of honor) and the Bharatiya lok kala Mandal.
Also visit the bazaar areas Hathipol, Chetak Circle, Clock Tower Palace Road, Bapur Bazar and city market. You get talk toys, brightly coloured garments, tie and dye sarees and turbans, hand painted textiles, cane furniture as well as local.Silver Jewellery is reasonably priced.
Visit Fatehprakash Palace hotel which is a very elegant small Palace converted into a boutique hotel by the Maharana of Udaipur His Highness Arvind Singh Ji.
Above the Darbar Hall they have the incredible Crystal Gallery museum which houses a staggering collection of Crystal that was ordered by Maharaja Sajjan Singh in 1877 but tragically arrived only after his demise. What is extraordinary is not its size or vast variety like crystal beds furniture, fountains but the authenticity of the design which is distinctively Indian in concept.
The Fatehprakash Palace hotel offers a breathtaking view of Lake Pichola and the Lake Palace. It has a stunning Darbar Hall where tea and biscuits will be served to your esteemed clients as they watch the sunset. In case the Durbar Hall is booked for a conference then tea and biscuits will be served on the terrace right below the Fateh Prakash in the terrace restaurant.
Late afternoon boat cruise on Lake Pichola , 4 km long and 3 km broad, surrounded by splendid hills, Palace, temples, bathing Ghats and embankments. Visit the Island Palace Jag Niwas which is beautifully set in the Lake. Terminate the boat cruise with a visit of the Fateh Prakash Art Gallery.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Deogarh on arrival check-in at hotel.
DEOGARH
Deogarh is a pleasant, little frequented town midway Udaipur and Pushkar. The narrow bazaar road, with good textiles and silver jewellery shops, winds its way up to the top of the hill where you find the beautifully renovated 17th century Deogarh Mahal Palace. The nearby Raghosagar
Lake has an island with a romantic ruined temple and tombs. It attracts numerous migratory birds and is an attractive setting for the charming 200-year old palace, Gokal Vilas, the home of the present Rawat.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DEOGARH MAHAL
Here we stay at one of India’s best Heritage Hotels, the magnificent Deogarh Mahal Palace. There is much to see within the huge palace itself: murals illustrating the fine local school of miniature painting, a stunning swimming pool, beautifully decorated rooms and lounges. The royal family runs the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Jaipur on arrival check-in at hotel.
Jaipur was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. It was made attractive with the pink wash - a traditional colour of welcome in 1853 in honour of the visit of Prince Albert.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast, half-day excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort. En route, make a photo stop at the palace of winds the Hawa Mahal. A 5- storied building with 25cm thick facade from the 18 century having 953 windows and niches so that ladies of royal family could see the processions and events in the city without being visible to the people. Proceed to the Amber Fort situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Rajputs till 1037. Enjoy an Elephant ride from the parking to the entrance of the fort.
Afternoon visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur. The City Palace occupies the center of Jaipur. It now houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armoury, manuscripts, paintings etc. Also visit Jantar Mantar (1728-34) by king astrologer Jai Singh II. The instruments are built of stone with marble facing on the important plains for measuring the harmony of the heavens. Each instrument serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akber in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendor of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.
After visiting Fatehpur Sikri drive continue to Agra and check-in at Hotel.
Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an enshrined romance. A town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning visit the Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Rabindranath Tagore calls "a teardrop on the cheek of time". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well-preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreci ate it. As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument for enduring love, the Taj reveals its subtleties when one visits it without being in a hurry. The dome is made of white marble, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colours that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj. The colours change at different hours of the day and during different seasons. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid into the w hite marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. These changes, they say, depict the different moods of woman. (Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays). Enjoy Tonga ride (Horse pulled cart) from Taj Parking till entrance gate.
Also visit the Agra fort, built alongside the Yamuna river stretching almost 2.5 km. The fort’s colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure 2.5 km in circumference. The fort is surrounded by a moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor. The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Delhi on arrival proceed to sightseeing tour.
Delhi : In Delhi’s 3000 years of existence, seven cities stood where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary - where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist besides a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored.
Visit the 7th city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
New Delhi
Visit Qutub Minar – the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Design ed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chattris Hindu and the graceful colonnades very British. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and south gateways are Mughal in design. The northern building has an inscription with “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed”. The Parliament House, designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
After city tour transfer to International airport to connect flight for onward destination.