Meeting and assistance upon arrival at Delhi International airport and transfer to hotel.
(Check-in time 1400 hrs)
Delhi, city and national capital territory, north-central India. The city of Delhi
actually
consists of two components: Old Delhi, in the north, the historic city; and New Delhi, in the
south, since 1947 the capital of India, built in the first part of the 20th century as the
capital
of British India, One of the country’s largest urban agglomerations, Delhi sits astride (but
primarily on the west bank of) the Yamuna River, a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, about
100 miles (160 km) south of the Himalayas. The national capital territory embraces Old and New
Delhi and the surrounding metropolitan region, as well as adjacent rural areas. To the east the
territory is bounded by the state of Uttar Pradesh, and to the north, west, and south it is
bounded by the state of Haryana.
Delhi is of great historical significance as an important commercial, transport, and
cultural hub, as well as the political centre of India. According to legend, the city was named
for Raja Dhilu, a king who reigned in the region in the 1st century BCE. The names by which the
city has been known—including Delhi, Dehli, Dilli, and Dhilli, among others—likely are
corruptions
of his name. Area Old Delhi, 360 square miles (932 square km); national capital territory, 573
square miles (1,483 square km). Pop. Old Delhi, (2001) 12,260,000; national capital territory,
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel
Morning visit of Old Delhi-the 300-year-old walled city built by Emperor Shah Jehan in
1648
as his capital and named after him. Drive past the Red Fort (Closed on Monday) built of red
sandstone. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid,
the most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th
century and the Ashokan Pillar of 3rd BC. Then visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated
in 1948. Drive through the old city subject to traffic restrictions.
Later visit of New Delhi-the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past the
Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat buildings - the centre of all
government activity and down the main avenue, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial
arch, the India Gate, the High Court Building and the Old Fort. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in
1565
AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high and the ruins of
Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque. See Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron
Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD. Later visit of Gurudwara- the place of of
worship
for the Sikhs
Overnight at the hotel in Delhi
After breakfast depart Delhi by surface for Mandawa, upon arrival check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit the Shekhawati region, Mandawa and Nawalgarh, quaint towns with a large
number of painted buildings.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning depart Mandawa by surface for Bikaner. Visit one of the most beautiful monuments
of
Rajasthan, the Junagarh Fort with numerous palaces, pavilions and temples, which are connected
by
patios and terraces.
After visit transfer to Hotel, upon arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel
Morning city tour-the mesmerising music of the desert is echoed in Bikaner, a medieval
flavoured city set along the old caravan route which linked Central Asia and North India with
the
Gujarat seaports. Charming havelis (mansions) stand in the old part of this walled city and a
leisurely lifestyle still prevails in this sublimely picturesque place surrounded by harsh
desert.
Visit the Fort, one of the finest of Rajput monuments. Thirty-seven palaces, pavilions and
temples
built by different kings are all connected by paved courtyards, narrow staircases and terraces
in
this Rathor stronghold. The oldest existing structures in Bikaner are the 14th-century Jain
temples built by two merchant brothers, Sandeshwar and Bhandeshwar. The Bandeshwar Temple has
carved wooden columns with dancing figures, surrounding a dark sanctuary with checkered gold
design and a mandap with astonishly well-preserved frescoes. The Sandeshwar Temple’s chief
features are enamel and gold leaf wall paintings and a vaulted and arched ornamental ceiling.
The
two marble altars are lined with rows of white marble statues of Jain saints.
After sightseeing proceed to Jaisalmer by surface on arrival check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning city tour of Jaisalmer-set in a sea of golden tinged sand, Sonar Kila, a golden
fort
rises out of a rock of topaz. The entire living area of Jaisalmer lies within the gigantic
citadel
walls. Visit the silent 12th century Fort built by Prince Jaisal and the Palace which stands at
the highest point (100 metres) above the marketplace. Also visit the Jain Temples (12th-15th
century) which lie within the fort complex. Some of them have quaint but impressive figures of
Jain saints of white marble and of red and black stone. Others have beautiful images of Hindu
deities which indicate the remarkable religious tolerance of that age. The famous art of the
stone
carvers of Jaisalmer is evident in the elaborate facades of the yellow sandstone desert havelis
(mansions) which glow softly in honey tones. Visit Salim Singh ki Haveli, (Salim Singh was the
tyrannical Prime Minister of Jaisalmer in the 18th century), Patwon ki Haveli (House of the
Brocade Merchants) the largest and most elaborate of the famous havelis of Jaisalmer. Patwas are
merchants trading in rich brocades, gold and silver embroidery, sequins and ribbons. This family
expanded their business to include opium, banking and revenue collecting. Visit Nathmal ki
Haveli
the last of the great havelis. Also visit Gadi-sar an artificial lake that was an important
source
of water in the past. A natural decline was enlarged to catch every drop of rain and, in a
season
of drought, Gadi-sar was the mainstay of Jaisalmer.
Later in the afternoon proceed for Sam to experience the pace and space of desert life.
Ride
to the smooth, silky sands of Samm sand dunes where the Raikas (camel drovers) travel with their
animals over vast distances and know every waterhole and pasture in their region. They are the
best guides. The Raika is a handsome, romantic figure, and in local legends and folk-songs, he
is
referred to as the messenger of love or the carrier of good or bad tidings.
Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at hotel.
Late morning depart Jaisalmer by surface for Jodhpur , upon arrival check in at hotel.
Rest of the day at Leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning we explore Jodhpur, located in the heart of the Thar Desert. Visit the
Mehrangarh Fort. This extends majestic fort on top of a cliff 125 meters high. This is the most
impressive and formidable fort of Rajasthan. Continuing the visit to Jaswant Thada mausoleum
built
in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II. The tour ends with a visit to the museum located
in the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning depart by surface for Udaipur, En-route visit Ranakpur, located in a valley
surrounded by lush shady forest, 98 kilometers north of Udaipur in the Indian state of
Rajasthan,
one of the largest temple complexes ornate Jain of India and one of the five great places saints
of Jainism. The main temple in the complex is the Chaumukha built in 1439 has 29 marble halls
supported by 1444 carved pillars, none of which is similar to the other. Visit Surya Temple and
other Jain temples within walking distance from each other, later continue drive to Udaipur,
upon
arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast visit the Udaipur city, famous for its lakes and palaces; View of the Royal
Palace, built in 1725, which houses ornately decorated buildings as Dilkhush Mahal, Sheesh
Mahal,
Moti Mahal and the Palace of Lord Krishna, continues to Jagdish Temple, built in 1651 and is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Trinity of Hindu gods. Visit Sahelion ki Bari
beautiful garden and fountain, back to Hotel around Lake Fatehsagar. Also enjoy the Boat Ride on
Lake Pichola (Boat ride subject to water level in the lake).
Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast the drive to Ranthambore. On arrival check-in at hotel.
Ranthambore National Park: Ranthambore, covering 410 sq. km. runs from the easternmost
spur
of the Aravallis to the Vindhya range. It has both the old fort and the wildlife sanctuary also
known as Sawai Madhopur.
The National Park is 10 kms of Sawai Madhopur town with the approach along a narrow
valley.
The path to the fort zigzags up the steep outcrop in a series of ramps and through two
impressive
gateways. The fort wall runs round the summit and has a number of semi-circular bastions. This,
combined with the natural escarpment produces sheer drops of over 65 m in places and stunning
views. There are two tanks, a palace and pavilion and a few temples inside the walls. All are in
various states of disrepair but there are good views out over the surrounding countryside to
warrant the effort of reaching the fort, and it is a wonderfully peaceful place.
Background - The Chauhan Ranthambore fort on a 215m high rock 12 km NE of Sawai Madhopur,
was built in 944 and over the next 6 centuries changed hands a number of times. Qutb-ud-din
Aibak
captured it in 1194 and later handed it back to the Rajputs. Ala-ud-din Khalji took it in 1301
and
Akbar in 1569. It later passed to the house of Jaipur. Set in dry deciduous forest featuring
Anogiessus pendula, the area covers rocky hills and open valleys dotted with small pools and
fruit
trees, and this became the private tiger reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur. In 1972, the
Sanctuary
came under the Project Tiger scheme.
Wildlife - Tigers can occasionally be seen in the daytime, particularly Nov-Apr. Sadly
poaching has increased with the demand abroad for skins and bones and the tiger population has
decreased (to around 25 in 1995, and two pairs had cubs in 1995). It provides a fine habitat for
sambar; there are also a few leopards, nilgai, sloth bear, jackal, crocodile, the occasional
rare
caracal and a rich variety of birds.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Early Morning and afternoon game ride of Ranthambore National Park by using open Jeep.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast the tour continues to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.
Balance day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast excursion to Amber fort by Jeep; Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani
Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside,
but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war
scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside
the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh
Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror
pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. Enroute to Amber Fort,
you
will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds.
Afternoon city tour begins with a visit to the Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal
residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family
of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in
area
of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum
housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and
daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar
Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near
the
gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working
condition.
Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast depart by surface for Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. The deserted city
of
Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim
Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar
used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly
became
deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the
abandonment of this beautiful city.
Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including
the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the
grandeur and splendour of the Mughal empire at the height of its power.
Continue drive to Agra. On arrival check in at hotel
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Visit Taj Mahal which is the seventh wonder of world built by Shahjahan as a
memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal by the banks of river Yamuna. After her untimely death,
Shahjahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was
placed
to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum The Taj has been called the most
extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The great monument took almost 22 years to
build and was completed in 1653. Around 20,000 workers from all over the country and central
Asia
were recruited to translate this dream into a reality. (TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS)
Later visit to Agra fort Agra Fort- The foundation was laid by Emperor Akbar in 1565 and
continued till the time of Shahjahan. The high red stone monument stretches for around 2.5 kms,
dominating a bend in the river Yamuna northwest of the Taj Mahal.
Late Afternoon depart by Surface for Delhi. Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
Later intime transfer to airport to board flight to onwords destination.
You can cancel your trip 24 hours before the trip, without any cancellation charges!
Yes, you can book your tour in advance. You will get instant confirmation of your booking whether you pre-pay or if you opt for payment on arrival as a payment method.
Yes, we accept last-minute bookings.
You can Pay via PayPal, Credit Card & also in Cash on Arrival.
Pick-up timings are from 07:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Pick-up and drop-off are available from your hotel or airport anywhere in New Delhi/Noida/Gurugram as per your convenience.
In a Private Tour, no other guest will join your Private Air Conditioned Car.