Travel North India

Cultural Tour Rajasthan
Travel Duration: 13 nights / 14 days
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Mandawa - Gajner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi


Day 1: Arrive Delhi
On arrival, transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi
Morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi.
This morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi
Afternoon free for own activities. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of New Delhi.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Delhi - Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra (203 kms / 4 hours) Upon arrival in Agra - check in at the hotel

Later in the afternoon the guests will board the 'decorated tongas' (horse carriage) which will take them to Taj Mahal

The guests will stay at Taj Mahal and witness sunset, to see this true Wonder of the world in gentle late afternoon light.
Visit a marble-in-lay factory to see the "Pietra Dura" work made famous by the Taj Mahal. This art is passed down from father to son.

In the evening witness magic show.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Agra - Jaipur
After breakfast, group will drive to Jaipur enroute Fatehpur Sikri (265 kms / 6 hours).

Fatehpur Sikri - this impressive sandstone fortress was built in the 16th century and only occupied for a few years before being abandoned, leaving the buildings in virtually perfect conditions.

Upon arrival in Jaipur - check-in at the hotel.

Tour of the Pink City - Surrounded on three sides by the rugged Aravali hills, Jaipur is the picturesque capital of Rajasthan.

Day 5: Jaipur - Pushkar
After breakfast tour of Amber Fort.
Tour of the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur City.
After lunch - drive to Pushkar (120 kms / 3 hours)
Upon arrival check in at hotel.

Pushkar - is famous for its colourful annual fair during kartik poornima (full moon) in November each year.

Check into the Swiss Camp captures the luxurious nostalgia of a bygone age of the Maharaja's Safari and Shikar camps, combined with innovative design demonstrating many of the skills and crafts of Marwar.

Afternoon witness the Pushkar fair. Overnight at camp.

Day 6: Pushkar
Full day at the fair. Built as 'an explosion of fun, frolic, games and laughter', the fair provides some wonderful photographic opportunities and is a rare change to see Rajasthani women decked out in all their traditional jewellery, dress and finery. Temple music wafts through the night, as the fires die down and the Rajasthani melodies played on the stringed ek-tara come to a close. On the night of the full moon, the pilgrims bathe by moonlight, then send marigold and rose petals floating across the lake on green plate-like leaves. It is worth getting up early to see the camels and tribes rousing themselves in the pink of the dawn desert light.

Overnight in the camp.

Day 7: Pushkar - Mandawa
After breakfast proceed for Mandawa.
Upon arrival check in at Hotel Late afternoon visit the Shekawati region.

Walk through the Shekawati region, which was the stronghold of Kayamkhani Nawabs till 1730. Besides the cenotaphs, wells, forts and temples the majority of frescoes are painted on the walls and gateways of Havelis. The havelis are mansion of a unique residential architectural style that evolved around courtyards to serve the purpose of family security, privacy for the women as also protecting the inhabitants from the long, harsh summers. The enormous Havelis with fascinating murals built by the wealthy Rajasthani merchants ("Marwaris") in the 19th century.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Mandawa - Bikaner - Gajner
After breakfast drive to Bikaner (240 kms)

Upon arrival in Bikaner lunch at one of the hotels followed by city tour. City sightseeing tour 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.

After sightseeing drive to Gajner Palace (28 kms / 40 minutes).
Upon arrival check in at Gajner Palace.
Overnight at hotel

Day 9: Gajner - Jaisalmer
In the morning enjoy the surrounding of Ganjer Palace.
After breakfast, drive to Jaisalmer (260 km)
Upon arrival check-in at hotel.

Jaisalmer - is India's most exotic and unusual town - a medieval looking place, straight out of the 'Tales of the Arabian Nights'. This beautiful city is situated inside a huge mud fort and grew as a result of its strategic position on the trading route between India and Central Asia bringing great wealth to the city. Jaisalmer is a tiny jewel in the heart of the Thar Desert - once the capital of the Bhatti Rajputs. Jaisalmer started as an important caravan center and remnants of caravan sarais still exist.

Late in the evening visit the Sam dunes where you will witness sunset while enjoying the camel ride.

Day 10: Jaisalmer
After breakfast, visit this perfect Rajput walled desert city which is like a golden jewel shimmering above the hard sand. Visit the palaces, the Jain temples and magnificent Havelis or merchant's 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.

Afternoon, visit the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rawals in Barra bagh where the rulers were cremated. This is also the best place from which to watch the spectacular desert sunset, and photograph the fort. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
After early breakfast, drive to Jodhpur (280 km)
Upon arrival check in at hotel.

City tour of Jodhpur - the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur, Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert. It was founded by Rao Jodha. 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 is situated on a high natural rock bluff and from which you can look down on the wonderful panorama of the bustling city below, Jaswant Thada - the Royal Cenotaphs.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Jodhpur - Udaipur
After breakfast drive to Udaipur (280 kms / 7 hours) enroute visit Ranakpur Temples.

Ranakpur temples: A visit to the famous Jain Temple, dating back to the 15th century. There are 200 pillars, none of which are alike, support its 29 halls. The Temple abounds with intricate friezes and sculptures. The tour includes visits to two more Jain temples and the Temple of the Sun God with its erotic sculptures.

Upon arrival in Udaipur, check-in at hotel.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Udaipur - Delhi
Morning city tour of Udaipur - the romantic Lake City in Southern Rajasthan, famous for the stunning white marble Palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It was the former Palace of the Maharana and now converted to one of the most glamorous hotels in India. The tour will cover the magnificent City Palace, the Jagdish temple, the pleasure gardens and a drive around the other nearby lakes.

Late afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Pichola at sunset visiting the Jagmandir Island - in the middle of the Romantic Lake Pichola. It commands a magnificent view of the City Palace, Lake Palace and Sajjangarh Fort, on its own island, and it is where Prince Khurram was given refuge in the 17th century.

Evening transfer to the airport for flight Udaipur / Delhi ( 1810 / 2110 hrs. )
Upon arrival transfer to hotel where rooms will be available for wash and change.
Dinner at the hotel. Thereafter transfer from hotel to the airport for flight back home.

Day 14: Delhi - Abroad
Depart Delhi

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