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Forts & Palaces Tour
Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places to Visit: DELHI - JAIPUR - MANDAWA - BIKANER -
POKARAN - JAISALMER - JODHPUR - MANDORE - LUNI -
MOUNT ABU - RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR - PUSHKAR - AJMER -
SAMODE - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA - DELHI
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Meet and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then
drive to your hotel with your driver and car.
Day 02 Delhi - Jaipur (260km)
In the morning after breakfast start a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi after
breakfast.
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.
Enjoy the 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, Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Continue on your route to Jaipur.
Upon arrival check into your hotel. Later proceed for a gems cutting and polishing
centre in Jaipur.
Day 03 Jaipur
In the morning visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant
ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Shish mahal built in the 17th century
in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences
and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens.
After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar
built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician , an
astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. He built five observatories
throughout India - Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only
the one at Jaipur is functional. Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja
of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk
with gold lattice work. The CityPalace houses a collection of paintings also
in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and
ammunitions
in the ammunition gallery.
Day 04 Jaipur - Mandawa - Bikaner (320km)
In the morning leave for Bikaner and on the way stop at Mandawa to see this
beautiful village of Shekhawati that used to be an important caravanserai of
the yesteryears. See the many havelis of this quaint little town built by the
rich and the famous merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries.These havelis
have been painted with activities of daily life and of deities to break the
monotony of the desert life.
Then proceed towards Bikaner en route stop at Fatehpur to see the splendid havelis
of the local merchants of Shekhawati. Reach Bikaner by early evening.
Later visit the camel breeding farm, a unique experience.
Day 05 Bikaner - Pokaran - Jaisalmer (330km)
After breakfast see the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history
of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century.
Then we take our road across the Thar Desert to reach Pokaran. Visit the 15th
century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in
1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful and full of
local flavours.
Continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by evening in to your hotel.
Day 06 Jaisalmer
Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila.. The Jains
are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit
the citadel’s palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes
and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli
with intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external
world. Also see the Gadisar lake.
Later, we go to Sam or Khuri village. Here we have loads of excitement in
store for you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby
sunset point on the dunes to see the sunset by camel carts. After the sunset
return to the village where your stay is arranged in mud huts. Evening listen
to the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians. Dinner
in the desert mud huts.
Day 07 Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Luni (280km)
Today we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon and drive up to the
majestic Mehrangarh fort museum.
The Mehrangarh fort has been the stronghold
of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings
and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath
taking.
Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the
2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the
spices filling the air around you Then go to Mandore gardens the then capital
of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes
of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present
residence of the king of Jodhpur.
Later an hours drive brings us to the world of animals - Luni, the palace
amidst the more rustic life of Rajasthan.
Retire to your hotel and relax.
Day 08 Luni - Ranakpur - Udaipur (212km)
This morning after breakfast we take you on a safari to discover the hidden
beauty of the jungle life. Here you would be visiting the Bishnoi villages.
Bishnois are a tribe that respects life in every form - animals trees and
even dead branches. They are vegetarians and even in the villages they protect
the animal life and don’t let anybody practice hunting in the vicinity
of their villages. They live in a joint family system where the oldest member
is generally the head of the family.
Then we would like you to witness the opium ceremony with the Patels -
a rich tribe. It is a ceremony prevelant in this part of Rajasthan where the
youth offers opium to drink mixed with water to the elders of the family when
they come back from work in the fields.
Reach Ranakpur another big pilgrimage centre for the Jains. Just four hours
drive from Mount Abu is the eternal Jain pilgrimage centre of Ranakpur. Admire
the workmanship from the 16th century. The temples are built out of marble and
the main shrine of Adinath with 1444 columns is awe inspiring and none of these
are similar. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus. Proceed
towards Udaipur and on the way stop by the fields to see the local way of farming
and irrigation. Walk into the villages to mingle with the locals around to know
more about their lifestyle. Reach Udaipur by late evening and check into your
hotel.
Day 09 Udaipur
Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See
the peacock square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises.
Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature schools in the country
under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur. Later see the temples of Nagda
and Eklingji.
The temple at Eklingji is a temple that belongs to the Maharana of Mewar (royal
family) and he is often there to pray. The temple complexe of Nagda is a group
of temples of which only two remain intact and those are that of Saas and
Bahu; temples of Shiva and of Vishnu both from the 15th century.
Day 10 Udaipur - Ajmer - Samode
Early in the morning leave Udaipur and proceed towards Ajmer and Pushkar.
Ajmer is the pious city for the Muslims. Visit the Durgah built in fond remembrance
of Khwaja Muin ud Din Chisti where the Muslim pilgrims from all over India throng
during the festival times. Later visit Mughal emperor Akbar’s Palace where
his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe to grant him the permission of trade
to East India Company with India, that changed the history of India completely
and slowly and steadily India became colony of the British Empire. Ajmer.
Later drive to Pushkar which happens to be the holiest places according to the
Hindus as it is considered that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati
(the godess of learning and music) performed a ritual in the lake. Surprisingly
both the cities are at distance of 11km from each other. Here we visit the only
Brahma temple of the world before intermingling with the local colours in the
local bazaar. Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each year
in the month of October/November.
In the afternoon continue towards Samode and visit the local market where
you will find people from all walks of life working to make a living for example
you shall see vendors of legumes, some ironsmiths, a few goldsmiths, locksmiths
etc…
Day 11 Samode - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (250km)
Leave Samode after breakfast and reach Fatehpur Sikri by early afternoon. Visit
this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the second half of
the 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife bore
him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned sufi saint Salim Chisti
blessed Jodhabai Akbar’s hindu wife with a son. Also visit Jodhabai’s
palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor’s
palace himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne.
Continue towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel
or go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.
Day 12 Agra - Delhi
Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising
sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built
by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of 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 its 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 anywhere in the world.
Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his
own son Aurangzeb.
Post lunch leave Agra for Delhi en route visiting Itmad ud Daulah - it
is the first mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts
it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara
the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.
In the evening a farewell dinner awaits you and then off to the international
terminal for your onward journey.
TOUR ENDS
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Daily breakfasts.
- All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary.
- French speaking local guides.
- Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur.
- Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned.
- Air conditioned car with chauffeur.
- All applicable taxes.
- Desert and village safari in Luni.
- Opium ceremony in Luni.
- Visit to Bishnoi villages in Luni.
- Boat ride on lake Pichhola in Udaipur.
- Camel rides on the dunes in the desert in Jaisalmer.
- Local music and dance by local village artists on the dunes in Jaisalmer.
- Farewell dinner on the last day in Delhi before departure to international
airport.
- Sunrise / sunset visit of Taj Mahal in Agra.
- Battery bus ride in Agra.
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