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India
- the land to travel to, a haven of tourism delights,
a civilization to tour through. Tourists come to India
for its wealth of sights, cultural exuberance,
diversity of terrain and in search of that special
something, an extra punch that only India promises and
delivers. Teeming with over a billion people who voice
over a million concerns in fifteen hundred different
languages, India is where people live with variety,
thrive on diversity and are too familiar with
largeness to let it boggle them. Mud huts and mansions
face off across city streets. Lurid luxury and limp
living are inhabitants of the same lane.
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Rajasthan Explorer Tour |
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Tour
Duratation |
22
Nights / 23 Days |
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Places to be covered |
Delhi
- Mathura - Vrindaban - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar -
Ranthambhore - Kota - Bundi - Chittaurgarh -
Bijaipur - Udaipur - Kumbhalgarh - Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi |
Day 01:
Arrival at Delhi
Company representatives will receive you
on arrival at the international airport in
Delhi late in the evening. Transfer to
your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires
is now a sprawling metropolis with a
fascinating blend of the past and the
present. It is a perfect introduction to
the composite culture of an ancient land.
A window to the kaleidoscope - that is
India.
Overnight at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi - Mathura - Vrindaban
- Agra
Book this Tour
Proceed for Agra after breakfast.
Visit Mathura and Vrindaban - LORD
KRISHNA'S ABODE. Take a round of the
ASHRAMS and TEMPLES. Have lunch and
proceed to Agra.
Reach Agra in the evening.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and
Shah Jahan, transformed the little village
of Agra into a befitting second capital of
the Mughal Empire - giving it the name
Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}.
Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a
world of contrasting edifices, of red
sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys
and quaint buggies, and that irresistible
charm that this favorite city of the
Mughals still retains. It is not
surprising, that modern Agra still
reflects its Mughal heritage most
conspicuously. A walk down the narrow
bustling streets of the city will
introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma
of Mughlai cuisine.Check in at hotel and
relax. Overnight at Agra.
Day 03: Agra
After breakfast proceed to visit Taj.
Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about
this architectural wonder which is always
the soul raison-de-etre for every
tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah
Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial
to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This
monument took 22 years to be completed and
was designed, and planned by Persian
architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it's
stunning design balance and perfect
symmetry, the Taj is also noted
particularly for its elegant domes,
intricately carved screens and some of the
best inlay work ever seen. Proceed for
sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by
the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD,
the fort is predominantly of red
sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture
perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major
tourist attraction.
Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress
NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The
interiors of which are considered better
than the Taj). Overnight at Agra.
Day 04: Agra - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to beautiful Pink
City - Jaipur.
Stop at Fatehpur Sikri. The deserted, red
Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that
as his capital and palace in the late 16th
century is an exhilarating experience. It
a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins"
are in pristine condition ... it's not
hard to imagine what the court life must
have been like in the days of it's
grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza,
the largest gateway in the world.
Reach and check in at hotel.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city
of Jaipur can be traced back to the
eighteenth century, during the reign of
Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber throne
in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the
spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing
into a bustling metropolis, it still
retains it's character and history - A
beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and
modernity. Popularly known as the Pink
City because of the extensive use of the
locally abundant pink plastered stone,
painted so in honor of the visit of the
royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur
thrills the soul with its massive forts,
magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and
lush gardens.Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 05: Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel.
Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the
outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent
to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic
romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its
construction was started by Man Singh I in
1592, and completed by his descendent Jai
Singh I. It's forbidding exterior belies
an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion
of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's
ultimate expression.
Proceed for sightseeing of the city.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal
and traditional Rajasthani architecture,
the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh
of the area in the walled city. It houses
the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple
and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and
the best preserved of the five
observatories built by Jai Singh II in
different parts of the country. This
observatory consisting of outsized
astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of
this"Palace of Winds" is a prominent
landmark in Jaipur. Its five-storey
structure of sandstone plastered pink
encrusted with fine trelliswork and
elaborate balconies. The palace has 953
niches and windows. Built in 1799 by
Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal
grandstand for the palace women.
Visit a rug factory and see the ladies at
the intricate work or a gem factory and
see the gem cutting and polishing
process.Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 06: Jaipur - Pushkar
Proceed for Pushkar after breakfast. Reach
Pushkar by noon and relax. Check in at
PUSHKAR PALACE.
PUSHKAR - Amongst the grandeur of
Rajasthan, discover a unique gem -
Pushkar. Lord Brahma - The creator of the
world in a search for his abode on earth,
performed the supremely spiritual VEDIC
YAGNA at Pushkar. It is thus the site of
the only Brahma Temple in the world.
Blessed with cultural blends, it is the
venue for the famous Pushkar Fair, with
people coming from all over Asia to buy
and sell cattle of breeds from across the
world. The consecrated mausoleum of
Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer attracts
pilgrims from all over the world. A city
of Pilgrimage from time immemorial with
over 500 temples and Ghats Pushkar begets
a legacy of timeless architectural
heritage. Pushkar radiates an ambience of
peace and spirituality that casts a lure
to visit again and again. The Pushkar fair
is amongst the largest cattle fairs in the
world and amongst the oldest cities in
India, with references in mythology and
the Mahabharat. There are 52 bathing
Ghats, which are linked to the lunar
calendar, enclose the lake. Each Ghat has
its own miraculous qualities and powers of
healing and this city of temples has over
500 temples built over different eras with
varied architectural styles. The rose
garden of Rajasthan - the essence of the
famous Pushkar rose is exported the world
over. Pushkar has the most varied terrain
in Rajasthan with sand, rock, hills, and
proximity to a number of heritage
properties in the area and a number of
fairs and festivals - especially on the
new and full moon days. Visit the
mausoleum, Anasagar and Akbar's Palace.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Pushkar - Ranthambhore
Visit the BRAHMA TEMPLE - The only one in
the world.
Start early after breakfast for
Ranthambhore.
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the
junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas,
is a unique example of natural and
historical richness, standing out
conspicuously in the vast, arid and
denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, barely
14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. Get in
tune with nature for a luxury holiday in
the heart of the jungle. Ranthambhore -
perhaps the best place in the world to
sight a tiger in the wild. The
Ranthambhore National Park has had more
Tiger sightings than any other National
Park in the country. It has come to be
known as "The land of the Tiger", where
most of the documented footage of this
majestic beast has been recorded.
It spreads over a highly undulating
topography varying from gentle to steep
slopes; from flat topped hills of the
Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp
ridges of the Aravalis, from wide and flat
valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An
important geological feature the 'Great
Boundary Fault' where the Vindhya plateaus
meet the Aravali hill ranges, meanders
through the Reserve. The National Park is
bound by the rivers Chambal in the south
and Banas in the north.
Proceed for the afternoon SAFARI to spot
tigers.Overnight at Ranthambhore.
Day 08: Ranthambhore
Full day (two private safaris) at
Ranthambhore.
Overnight at Ranthambhore.
Day 09: Ranthambhore - Kota
Proceed for the morning SAFARI. Breakfast
at hotel.
Start for KOTA.
Rajasthan's largest industrial town
situated on the banks of the river Chambal
is well known for its Kota sarees and also
for a miniature school of art which
specialized in hunting scenes.
Visit the CITY PALACE AND FORT - On the
banks of the Chambal river close to the
Kota Barrage is the fort and the city
palace complex, which houses the RAO MADHO
SINGH MUSEUM containing the relics of the
former rulers of Kota.
JAGMANDIR - in the island in Kishore Sagar
Lake was built by one of the queens of
Kota. You will take a paddleboat and roam
around the same for a spiritual
experience.
Also visit the Govt. Museum and the famous
gardens of Chambal and Chatter Bilas.
Overnight at Kota.
Day 10: Kota - Bundi - Chittaurgarh
Breakfast at hotel. Start for Bundi.
36 km from Kota is a tiny picturesque
town, Bundi - One of the unexplored cities
with a rich historical wealth. Once a part
of Kota, it was ruled by the Had Chauhans
- an offshoot of the famous Chauhan clan
who ruled Delhi and Ajmer. Bundi is
surrounded by the Aravalli hills on the
three sides and is circumscribed by a
massive wall with four gateways. In 1193
AD when Prithvi Raj Chauhan was defeated
by Sultan Mohammed Ghauri, some Chauhan
nobles seeked shelter in Mewar and became
allies to the Rana while other young
warriors moved towards the Chambal valley
and overpowered the Meena and Bhil tribals
thus establishing their own kingdom of
Hadoti. Later, two branches of Hadas
formed two separate states of Kota and
Bundi, on either side of the River
Chambal. Bundi is surrounded by the
Aravalli hills on three sides and is
circumscribed by a massive wall with four
gateways.
Visit the TARAGARH or STAR FORT. Perched
on a thickly wooded hill is a marvelous
white fort with a huge reservoir that once
supplied water to the palace. Built in
1354 AD the fort is one of the most
impressive forts of Rajasthan. This
magnificent edifice is a fine example of
the Rajput architecture, housing some of
the superb Bundi murals.
CHATRASAGAR is a fascinating pavilion of a
gallery of miniature murals. Elaborate
colorful paintings on the walls depict
scenes from the 'Ragamala' 'Raaslila' --
the Radha-Krishna story.
SUKH MAHAL is a magnificent summer palace
on the Sukh Sagar Lake amid the lush
surroundings of a beautiful garden. An
underground tunnel is believed to run from
the Sukh Mahal to the old palace.
Proceed to CHITTAURGARH.
THE EPITOME OF ROMANCE AND VALOUR - The
pride and glory of Rajasthan, CHITTAUR
echoes with the tales of romance and valor
unique to the Rajput tradition. This is a
ruined citadel, where the royal past lives
in its imposing forts, graceful palaces
and spectacular CHATTRIS. This fortified
settlement has been ravaged thrice and
each time the outcome was 'JAUHAR' -when
women and children immolated themselves on
a huge funeral pyre while men donned in
saffron robes of martyrdom rode out of the
fort towards a certain death.
After visiting the FORT proceed to stay at
the BIJAIPUR CASTLE SUITE.
Overnight at the CASTLE.
Day 11: Bijaipur - Udaipur
Start for Udaipur after breakfast.
Reach and check in at hotel. The city of
Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the
azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of
the ARAVALLIS. A vision in white drenched
in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a
fascinating blend of sights, sound and
experiences and inspiration for the
imagination of poets, painters and
writers.
Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces,
lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes
strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a
heroic past, epitomizing valor and
chivalry. Their reflection in the placid
waters of the LAKE PICHOLA is an enticing
sight.
Udaipur is the jewel of MEWAR -a kingdom
ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200
Years.
Relax in the evening. Overnight at
Udaipur.
Day 12: Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur,
stopping first at City Palace. Here you
will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls
and ivory doors, colored glass windows and
inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock
Courtyard.
Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari
Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and the local
folk Museum.
Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on
the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From he
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 island palace in the middle of
the lake. Spend some time at the Jag
Mandir Palace.Overnight at Udaipur.
Day 13: Udaipur - Kumbalgarh
Book this Tour
After breakfast drive to Kumbalgarh.
En-route, visit the RANAKPUR TEMPLES,
dating back to the 15th century. 200
pillars, none of which are alike, support
its 29 halls. The Temple abounds with
intricate friezes and sculptures. Includes
visits to two more Jain temples and the
Temple of the Sun God with its erotic
sculptures.
Reach Kumbalgarh.
Cradled in the cluster of thirteen
mountain peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the
formidable medieval citadel- Kumbalgarh
stands a warysentinel to the past glory.
Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 metres
high from the sea level, the fort was
built in 15th century AD by Maharana
Kumbha (1419-63 AD) and is the principal
fortification after Chittaurgarh, lying 90
km north-west of Udaipur.
The massive fort, encompassed by a 36-km
long wall, has seven majestic gates and
seven ramparts, one within the other.
Rounded bastions and high watchtowers
strengthen the crenellated walls of the
fort making it an impregnable
structure.Stay overnight at the AODHI
HOTEL of KUMBALGARH.
Day 14: Kumbalgarh - Jodhpur
Proceed in the morning after a leisurely
breakfast and reach Jodhpur.
Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, the
imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales
of antiquity in the emptiness of the
desert. Once the capital of the Marwar
state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao
Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs
who claimed to be descendants of Rama -
the epic hero of the Ramayana. The massive
15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on
the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts.
Above the plains. The city is encompassed
by a high wall -10 km long with 8 gates
and innumerable bastions.
Relax in the hotel and visit the museum of
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE. Overnight at Jodhpur.
Day 15: Jodhpur
Morning go for a village safari in the
jeep and have a rare glimpse into the rich
culture and true essence of India.
Abundant wildlife (game) and memorable
moments of the great desert landscape
fascinates one while driving along the
countryside.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jodhpur -
gateway to the desert beyond, home of the
Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh
Fort, rising up a hilly scarp, built on
the advice of a hermit, overlooking the
city in the image of a long sentinel.
Inside the Fort are a number of palaces
added by successive rulers. In this palace
you would see different miniature
paintings & cradle room. After this you
would visit Jaswant Thada Memorial.
Overnight at Jodhpur.
Day 16: Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
Proceed for Jaisalmer.
Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert
like a golden mirage is the city of
Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in
yellow sandstone stands, with its awesome
splendor, dominating the amber-hued city.
The city has an interesting legend
associated with it, according to which,
Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan,
foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent
of the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom
atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was
fulfilled in 1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a
descendent of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti
Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodurva and
founded a new capital -Jaisalmer, perched
on the Trikuta Hill.Reach and check in at
hotel. Overnight at Jaisalmer.
Day 17: Jaisalmer
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for full
day sightseeing tour of The Golden City -
Jaisalmer. It is in the heart of the Great
Indian Desert. Its temple, fort and
palaces are all built of yellow stone. The
city is a mass of intricately carved
buildings, facades and elaborate
balconies. Visit the JAISALMER FORT - The
oldest living Fort in the world. (This is
the highlight of the tour)
See the Patwon-Ki-Havelies,
Salim-Singh-Ki-Haveli and Gandhi Sagar
Tank. Also visit Barabagh Hill.
In the afternoon, proceed to the SAM SAND
DUNES for visiting the typical Rajasthani
Desert Village. View the sunset from the
dunes, as the sky is set on fire. Return
to the village for dinner amidst
Rajasthani musicians playing haunting
tunes. Stay overnight at the SWISS TENT
CAMP.
Day 18: Safari
Breakfast at the camp.
Start for JHAMBA CAMPS through the desert
in the jeeps. Reach in the afternoon and
overnight on camp.
Day 19: Safari to Bikaner
Breakfast at the camp. Continue with the
safari and reach Bikaner via NAGAUR.
Check in at hotel.
BIKANER - The royal fortified city with a
timeless appeal. Lying in the north of the
Desert State, the city is dotted with many
sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval
splendor that pervades the city's
lifestyle.
More popularly called the camel country,
the city is renowned for the best riding
camels in the world. The ship of the
desert is an inseparable part of life
here. Be it pulling heavy carts,
transporting grains or working on wells,
camels are the prime helpers. The wells of
Bikaner - an important source of water are
other attractions of the city. These are
built on high plinths with slender
minareted towers on each of the Four
Corners and can be noticed even from a
distance.
Relax in the evening. Overnight at
Bikaner.
Day 20: Bikaner - Mandawa
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for
sightseeing tour of Bikaner.
Rao Bikaji, a descendant of Jodhaji - the
founder of Jodhpur, founded this desert
town in the North of the state in 1488.
Visit the Junagarh Fort, constructed
between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Jai Singh, a
general in the Moghul Emperor Akbar's
army. The city is also called the "Camel
Country". Visit the camel-breeding farm -
the only one in Asia. Visit the KARNI MATA
TEMPLE.
Proceed for Mandawa.
The medieval Fort of Mandawa gradually
rises on the horizon like a mirage. A
breathtaking view of the town can be seen
from the terrace of Castle Mandawa.
Precious collection of arms with jade
handles, traditional ceremonial costumes
can be seen at the Museum at the Castle.
The havelies worth a visit are Chokhani,
Saraf, Goenka and Ladia in this town.
Built in 1775 by Thakur Nawal Singh,
descendant of Rao Shekhaji, who also
founded the city of Nawalgarh. The Castle,
now a 51 rooms hotel has no two rooms
alike. It also houses an interesting
collection of paintings, jade, costumes
and antiques. The courtyard and the
terrace come to live during evenings with
candle-lit dinners and fire-dances during
the season. A two hundred and forty year
old fortess, that has been converted by
the family into a fine example of
traditional hospitality.
Reach and check in at hotel. Overnight at
Mandawa.
Day 21: Mandawa - Delhi
Breakfast at hotel.
Take a walking tour of the painted
'havelis' of some of the leading business
families of the country. Though they no
longer live here, the local caretakers are
happy to show the visitors around.
Chowkhani Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli,
Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli, Mohahanlal
Saraf Haveli and Bhagchandika Haveli are
of special interest. Spend the major part
of the day looking into frescoes.
Also visit Mahensar and Dundlod meeting
the local village chief. Leave for Delhi.
Reach by evening. Overnight at Delhi.
Day 22: Delhi
Book this Tour
Breakfast at Delhi. Proceed for a full day
tour of Old & New Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old
Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat -
the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was
cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque
in India and the Red Fort - once the most
opulent fort and palace of the Moghul
Empire.
Cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to
Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour
of New Delhi would include a visit to the
Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive
along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath,
past the imposing India Gate, Parliament
House, the President's Residence and would
end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave.Relax in the evening. Overnight at
Delhi.
Day 23: Delhi - Home
Breakfast at hotel. Day free to explore
the city and finish last minute shopping.
Proceed for the DANCES OF INDIA SHOW in
the evening at 1800 hr after checking out
of the hotel. After the show you will have
FAREWELL DINNER before reaching the
airport for flight home with sweet
memories of India.
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