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- The Grandeur of Rajasthan
India is a magical country full of spirituality, history, culture, diversity, traditions, etc. In order to make your visit to India memorable, you must start exploring it by taking up the Rajasthan tour. This tour of 15 days takes you to four famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
Arrive in Delhi. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to the hotel. (Hotel check-in 1400 hrs). Overnight
Following breakfast at the hotel, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi, including a rickshaw ride (pedicab) in Chandni Chowk [Red Fort is closed on Mondays]
Old Delhi – Situated in a strategic position on the west bank of the Yamuna River, between the Himalayas and the Aravalli Hills, Delhi is the gateway to the rich alluvial soils of the Ganges plain and has, according to Indian folklore, been occupied since 2500 BC. The original city, Indraprastha, was the first of nine. Shahjahanabad, or Old Delhi, the 7th city, was built when the Mughal Emperor moved his capital back to Delhi from Agra in 1638. Planned out in blocks with wide roads, residential areas, and bazaars, Chandni Chowk, now thought to be Asia’s busiest street, was the main artery. Literally translated as ‘Silver Street’ this bustling market area of Old Delhi is good for hunting down new and antique gold and silver jewellery from craftsmen whose forefathers served the emperor. At the 1911 Delhi Durbar, King George V announced that the capital of India was to move from Calcutta to Delhi.
Chandi Chowk, Delhi
New Delhi – was planned and built by the British in the 1920’s and is characterized by Sir Edwin Lutyens’ monumental architecture. Driving through the city, with its wide tree-lined avenues, discover India Gate and the Diplomatic Enclave, the Central Secretariat, and the President’s House. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, aptly called the predecessor of the Taj Mahal because of its ornate Mughal style of architecture, later perfected in the Taj Mahal. Finally, see the 12th-century Qutub Minar, considered one of the most perfect towers in the world, measuring 72m high. Continue to Connaught Place, New Delhi’s main shopping area and central hub. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi [B].
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Agra. Arrive and check in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit to the Taj Mahal & Agra Fort .[Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays]
Taj Mahal – Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1631, the Taj Mahal is described by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as ‘a tear drop on the face of eternity’. Heartbroken by her death, legend has it that Shah Jahan’s hair turned grey overnight and that he turned his back on running the empire, concentrating instead on the construction of this monument to love. Construction took 22 years, and the Taj was completed in 1653 at a speculated cost of 3 million rupees, equivalent to around 70 million US Dollars today. Overnight stay at a hotel in Agra [B].
Taj Mahal, Agra
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Ranthambore – one of the many famous destinations in the western state of India, Rajasthan.
Ranthambore – Surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravalli hill ranges and located very near the outer fringes of the Thar Desert, Ranthambore offers the best of the desert as well as the plains area near the hills. Due to its proximity to the Thar Desert, the vegetation here is that of a deciduous forest. Ranthambore used to be the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Later, in 1955, it was declared a game sanctuary.
Fatehpur Sikri – named the abandoned city. Despite having many wives, 26-year old Akbar had no living heir, as all his children had died in infancy. Sheikh Salim Chishti, a Sufi saint living in the village of Sikri, predicted Akbar would have three sons, and with the birth of Salim (named after the saint and later known as Jahangir), and in recognition of the saint’s prophecy, Akbar built a new capital at Sikri in his honor. 37km southwest of Agra, this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the Mughal capital from 1571. Due to an ever-increasing population and erratic water supply, the red sandstone city was abandoned in 1585.
Fatehpur Sikri, the town of victory, was the Mughals’ first planned city to feature designs that amalgamated Hindu, Persian, and Islamic designs. Today, the complex of buildings, including the Diwan-i-Am, the Diwan-i-Khas, the Panch Mahal, and Jodha Bai’s Palace, is perfectly preserved.
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Inside the Jama Masjid Mosque, completed in 1571, is the stunningly carved white marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti. Today, childless couples hoping for a son visit the tomb and, in seeking the saint’s blessing, tie a woolen thread to the outer Jali screens. Later, continue your drive to Ranthambore and check in at the hotel. Overnight.
Morning and evening park visits at Ranthambore. Overnight
Morning breakfast at the hotel and drive to Jaipur - the Gateway to Rajasthan. Also known as the Pink City, as all buildings have a pink tint to them. It is an unselfconsciously medieval city, with stately palaces, colorful bazaars (markets), and a fort brooding over the city. Graceful women in swirling skirts and veils of red, yellow, orange and magenta, laden with silver jewellery, and straight, tall men in Turbans and leading carts drawn by camels, do nothing to dispel the illusion. Arrive and check in at the hotel. Overnight
Amber – Originally the ancient capital of the Kachwahas clan from 1037, the ancient town of Amber, 12km from Jaipur, is dotted with ancient temples, Havelis, and step wells. High above the town and surrounded by defensive fortification walls sits the impressive Amber Palace. Built by Raja Man Singh in the early 17th century, it houses mighty gates, temples, huge ornate halls, palaces, pavilions, and gardens. Amber Palace is a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture, and once at the top, the Palace affords excellent views of the surrounding countryside and town below. The 10-minute walk through a series of five defensive gates will bring you to the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate), the main entry to the Palace. As an alternative, it is possible to arrive at the Palace on the back of an elephant or drive up by jeep.
Having visited the fort, it is also possible to take a guided heritage walk of the often-overlooked Amber village. This walk takes in seldom-visited temples, havelis, step wells, and a fascinating museum of textiles.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Pink City – Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur (City of Victory) is the state capital and largest city of Rajasthan. It was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 and was planned according to Indian ‘Vastu Shastra’ principles. The city was divided into 9 blocks representing the ancient Hindu map of the universe; 2 blocks housed the state buildings and palaces, and the other 7 were allotted to various public buildings. A fortification wall was built around the city with 7 gates for entry. Originally, the buildings were painted in a variety of colours, but in 1853, when Prince Albert visited, the old city was painted pink, a traditional colour of welcome. It has remained pink ever since.
The City Palace in the centre of Jaipur took 4 years to complete. Tour the Palace by passing through the main entrance and begin by visiting the Mubarak Mahal, built in 1890, which houses the Textile and Costume Museum. Visit the Armoury, then proceed through the Rajendra Pol gate into the main complex. Here, the Diwan-i-Khas is home to 2 giant silver urns used by Sawai Madho Singh to carry Ganges water to England when he attended Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. After visiting the Chandra Mahal and the museums, proceed to the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Built between 1728 and 1734 on a grand scale, the 17 astronomical instruments were built in stone and marble. The collection, built by Jai Singh, includes the large Samrat, a 27.4m high sundial accurate to 2 seconds. Overnight stay at a hotel in Jaipur.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Deogarhen route visiting Pushkar - This small township and the sacred lake of Pushkar is 11 kms.
Away from Ajmer. The road to Pushkar winds through the Nag Pahar (Snake Mountain), leading to the ancient lake. On arrival explore
this small town and visit Sacred lake, Brahma Temple. Later, drive to Deogarh and check in at Devshree - a beautiful boutique hotel.
Overnight.
Morning proceeds for a rural train ride through the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan.
Rural train ride – You hardly realize how high this part of Rajasthan is, and one way of finding out is to take a little-known train ride to a dusty, quaint station called Phulad. You could catch the train from Deogarh, but if you want that charming, in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of feeling, try Khamli Ghat a few kilometres away. The metre gauge line runs from Udaipur to Marwar Junction, a distance of a little under 200 kilometres.
The train doesn’t have a name. The train number is 222. It’s a little passenger train that takes you through some pretty rugged terrain, some stunning and indeed very cinematic landscape. The section between Khamli Ghat and Phulad is the prettiest and takes a couple of hours at a leisurely pace. This is also the highest track on the Western Railway. The train trip will be one big, beautiful surprise! Late afternoon proceeds with a Village safari, with Tea/Coffee somewhere in between. Overnight stay at a hotel in Deogarh.
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Jodhpur and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon free. Enjoy a Tuk-Tuk ride and visit Old town/Market. Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Jodhpur and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon free. Enjoy a Tuk-Tuk ride and visit Old town/Market. Overnight.
Jodhpur – The second-largest city in Rajasthan, Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert. The city of Jodhpur was founded by Rao Jodhaji in 1459. Right in the middle of the Thar Desert rises a fort 120 meters high overlooking the imperial city of Jodhpur. In Jodhpur, the genius of ancient craftsmen comes to life in the exquisite palaces, forts, temples, and havelis, or homes, which stand
testimony to the imperial grandeur of the erstwhile rulers of the state. The most alluring part of Jodhpur is the traditional lifestyle and festivity, and the smiling people of this former princely state.
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for the city tour and visit Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, and the Museum at Ummaid Bhawan Palace. Afternoon visit to Bishnoi Village to witness the Rural lifestyle of India. Enjoy lunch with the locals. Overnight.
Jodhpur , Rajasthan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Udaipur. En route to visit Ranakpur - Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain community. On arrival at Udaipur, check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel followed by half-day city tour visiting City Palace – the largest Palace complex in Rajasthan, built by Maharana Udai Singh II, the city’s founder. Also visit Saheliyon Ki Bari – the Garden of the Maids of Honor and Jagdish Temple. Afternoon free. Evening enjoy boat ride at Lake Pichola. (Subject to water level in Lake)Overnight stay
Udaipur , Rajasthan
Morning free. Afternoon transfer to the airport in time to connect to the flight to Delhi. Met on arrival and transferred to the hotel. Overnight
Transfer to the airport in time
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