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Rajasthan is one of India’s brightest jewels, a vast desert province where Rajput princes ruled for centuries in extravagant pomp and splendor. The great forts and palaces of the maharajahs bear witness to this proud and glorious past, but Rajasthan has more than just this rich historical legacy – it is also a land of traditional crafts, musicians and folk dances, women wearing bright saris bedecked with bangles and silver nose rings, festive village life and the contrasting forms and colors of the desert. Rajasthan is, simply, India at its best.
Day 1 Arrival Delhi
Warm welcome with fresh flower garlands, your room is available for immediate occupancy.
Day 2 Delhi - Agra
After a morning at leisure we travel to the city of Taj, Agra, home of the legendary shrine built and dedicated to love, the Taj Mahal.
Overnight Hotel
Day 3 In Agra
The highlight of this morning's tour is a visit to the magnificent « Taj Mahal », one of the Seven Wonders of the World and surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men labored for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. It's a wealth of white marble and semi-precious stone - undoubtedly the highlight of the tour.
Post lunch visit to imposing Agra Fort, built of red sandstone and marble is a cluster of mosques and palaces on the banks of the river.
Evening explore on your own, shop or relax at your hotel's poolside. Overnight Hotel
Day 4 Agra - Jaipur
A leisurely drive takes us to Jaipur, the fabled « pink city » famous for its exquisite buildings of rose-colored terra cotta.
En route we stop at Fatehpur Sikri, 16th century red sandstone city once a glittering capital but later abandoned due to scarcity of water.
Evening to enjoy the Rajasthani folk culture which comes alive as children dance rhythmically to the loud tenor of folk songs sung by men and women, festooned in bright clothes.
Overnight Hotel
Day 5 In Jaipur
Tour the fabled Amber Fort, traveling to the citadel on elephants back. Other visits include the elegant Hawa Mahal or « Palace of the Winds », Maharajah’s City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory.
Enjoy a leisure evening in picturesque Jaipur to explore on your own.
Overnight Hotel
Day 6 Jaipur - Mandawa
We travel to Mandawa, often called the 'open air art gallery of Rajasthan’; the region is famous for the high quality frescoes.
Afternoon sightseeing of Mandawa. Overnight Hotel
Day 7 Mandawa - Bikaner
We will be driven to the relatively remote city of Bikaner, tucked away in the desert region of western Rajasthan.
Post lunch visit to temple of rats at Deshnok - rats are held sacred in this temple.
Overnight Hotel
Day 8 Bikaner - Jaisalmer
Visit to the unusual Junagarh Fort, sumptuously decorated with its ornately lacquered walls in red and gold and panels of dazzling colored glass inlay set over the coronation throne.
Our journey to the ancient caravan city of Jaisalmer takes us through the vast Thar Desert.
Overnight Hotel
Day 9 In Jaisalmer
Explore the honey-colored fort that emerges from the flat dry desert sands and enjoy a walk through the maze of narrow streets in the city with ornately decorated ‘havelis’ in yellow sandstone, built by rich merchants at a time when the city was a key stopping place on the caravan routes from the Middle East. Jaisalmer has been described as an « open air museum », and to enter its narrow cobbled lanes is to step back into another era.
Evening we enjoy Camel ride by the sand dunes – an incredible experience!
Overnight Hotel
Day 10 Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Travel to Jodhpur through the most interesting contours of the desert landscape, the enchanting forts, temples, other royal residences and settlements retain its medieval character and comprise the town's multifaceted attractions. Overnight Hotel
Day 11 In Jodhpur
Morning visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, which dominates and offers spectacular vistas of the blue-hued city.
Other visits include Jaswant Thada, white marble mausoleum built in 1899 and the excursion tour to Mandore, the ancient capital of the Pratihara Rajputs, whose most remarkable monuments are the royal cenotaphs. Overnight Hotel
Day 12 Jodhpur - Kumbhalgarh - Ranakpur - Udaipur
Our daylong drive to Udaipur begins this morning with an en route stop at the Jain temples at Ranakpur, superbly preserved in a near-perfect condition for over 500 years. The most attractive features are the 29 halls of the temple, which have 1444 pillars of which no two are like.
Our next stop is Kumbhalgarh, famous for its Fort, we visit the fort and enjoy its superb views standing high above the pass to Udaipur. We enjoy lunch here and proceed to Udaipur, there is no place in Rajasthan, which appeals more to the imagination of poets and painter, travelers and writers than Udaipur, an oasis in the desert state of Rajasthan.
Overnight Hotel
Day 13 In Udaipur
A morning excursion takes us to the famous temple complex of Eklingji and Nagda, which enshrines the deity of the Maharanas of Mewar. Spend the rest of the day exploring this charming lake city by car. Evening we witness the “Mewar sound & light show”, a legacy of honor, which takes you on a journey through the history of Mewar through 15 centuries. Overnight Hotel
Day 14 In Udaipur
Wander through the opulent City Palace grounds and the museum, which are the testament the valor and chivalry of the Mewar rulers.
Visit Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, or « Garden of Friends », the Jagdish Temple on the shores of Lake Pichola and the Crystal Gallery. The breathtaking beauty of the Lakes – Pichola and Fateh Sagar truly make Udaipur an oasis in the desert. Overnight Hotel
Day 15 Udaipur - Delhi
Morning at leisure. Afternoon we fly back to Delhi.
Evening dinner at popular Delhi restaurant followed by Indian Classical Dances program and later transfer to the airport to board your homeward flight or connect to your onward destination.
Extend Your Stay
Not quite ready to end your holiday, take our extension trip to « Mumbai & Aurangabad ».
Optional Post – Tour Extension Mumbai & Aurangabad
6 Days & 5 Nights
- Free and easy tour
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours
- World heritage sights visits
- A delightful and thrilling shopping experience
- In-depth knowledge on Indian rich Culture, Traditions, Arts, Crafts, History, Heritage, Religions and much more
- Visit to the finest museums of the country
- Opportunity to explore some of the grandest forts & palaces of Rajasthan
- Visit to the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal
- Adventure of Riding a decorated painted elephant to ascend the hilltop Amber Fort in the royal city of Jaipur
- Explore the ancient, winding bazaars of old Jaipur and Delhi by rickshaw
- Cultural evening in a famous ethnic village resort in Jaipur
- Camel ride by the sand dunes in Jaisalmer
- In Udaipur evening, cruise along Lake Pichola, admiring the magnificent sunset across the sparkling waters
- Indian classical dance performance and farewell dinner in Delhi
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