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The State
of Rajasthan is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful region of
India. Rajasthan's many princely states, impressive forts and
magnificent palaces set in the Thar desert evoke uniquely colourful
images of medieval India. Rajasthan means land of Rajas or Kings but
was also called as Rajputana "the country of Rajputs". The Aravali
mountain range, one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world,
extending from north to south, divides the state into two natural
regions. Aravali range and the
Thar Desert are the two most
contrasting features of Rajasthan's geographical make-up. Fairs and
festivals of Rajasthan reflect the vigour and life style of its
people. Vibrant colours, music and festivities make the golden sand
come alive. Veiled, bejewelled women sing and dance to devotional
rhythms. Rajasthan has a fair for every religious occasion, for
every change of season and for every harvest. The kingdom of Rajputs
is as the tales of the Thousand and One Nights and it will make your
Tour an unforgettable memory.
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Day 01. Flight
to India (Delhi)
Around
Midnight arrival in
Delhi. The cosmopolitan City and capital Delhi is
the main gateway for travelers. You are met by an Indo Vacations representative
and transferred to your Hotel.
Day 02. Old - New Delhi
This morning is at leisure. Afternoon sightseeing in Old Delhi. We take
a Rickshaw Ride parallel to the
Red Fort through the old city and famous
Silk Road and Silver Bazaar. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes "Rajghat",
the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and
Jama Masjid,
the great
mosque of old Delhi. Today we also visit the famous "Humayun Tomb"
which is the first substantial example of Mughal
architecture in India.
Before we proceed to the Hotel we have a drive through New Delhi where
we see the
India Gate, Government Buildings and Embassies.
Day 03. Delhi -
Jaipur (about 270 km)
In
the morning we visit "Qutub Minar" which is 71 meter high and consists
of five stories. In 1199 work began on this tower which was intended
to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world. This tower was
damaged twice and repaired in 1326 and 1368.After the sightseeing of
Delhi we drive to the Pink City,
Jaipur. This city owes its name, foundations and careful
planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai
Singh II. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and famous for its
handicrafts and precious and semiprecious stones.
Day 04. Jaipur
After
breakfast we drive to the ancient capital of
Amber, laying 11 km. away from Jaipur. Amber was the ancient
capital of Kachhawaha dynasty for 6 centuries before it was moved to
newly created Jaipur. We will ascend to the Palace Fortress on the
back of an Elephant. Enroute to Amber we will visit the
Hawa Mahal
(Palace of the Winds), built in 1799 AD, it contains 953 small
casements with each having its own balcony. The windows enabled cool
air to circulate and the ladies to watch processions below without
being seen. In the afternoon we visit the
City
Palace
that is still the formal residence of the royal family, built in a
blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the museum of
the City Palace we visit the private collection of the Jaipur
Maharajas. We continue to
Jantar Mantar, a stone observatory, and the largest of Jai
Singh's five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments
reveal us the secrets of medieval Indian astronomy. Later we have a
walk through the colourful Bazaar of Jaipur and visit a factory to
see the famous block printing work being done since centuries in
Jaipur. In the evening we drive through the new city of Jaipur and
visit "Laxmi Narayan Mandir", a Hindu temple made out of white
marble. We might have an opportunity here to observe a prayer
ceremony. Today we have dinner with a presentation of Indian music
and dance. |
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Qutub
Minar Delhi |
Amber
Fort Jaipur |
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Day 05. Jaipur - Shekhawati (about 168 km)
Morning at leisure. In
the afternoon drive to
Shekhawati
region. Arrival in Shekhawati in the evening.
Day 06. Shekhawati
- Bikaner (about 190
km)
In the morning we visit the grand havellis of the Shekhawati area. Shekhawati
lies in the north east region of Rajasthan and is the homeland of marwaris. The
marwaris form one of the most important merchant and business groups
in India, they developed their business acumen on the trade routes between
Delhi and the coast between
India and Central Asia. Marwaris enjoyed
protections by Maharajas and many of them built grand havellis. The hovels
are mansions, elaborately and attractively decorated with a strong main
entrance. The walls are often covered with murals, local legends and
religious scenes from Hindu Mythology. After the visit of Shekhawati
area we proceed to
Bikaner. After a short break in Bikaner we visit
the
Junagarh Fort (1571-1611 AD) constructed of red sandstone and marble
with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals. This
imposing Fort and its palaces are an unforgettable experience for us.
Day 07. Bikaner
- Jaisalmer
(about
330 km)
Today we drive through the desert and proceed for
Jaisalmer.
Very often one can see along the road to Jaisalmer some of the antelopes of this region. Blackbuck and fast
running chinkara are the most common among them. We have a stop enroute
at a village to observe the traditional life of the villages in
Rajasthan. We
arrive in Jaisalmer in the late evening.
Day 08. Jaisalmer
Sightseeing of the medieval city of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer's crenellated
golden sandstone walls and its narrow streets lined with exquisitely
carved buildings makes this city unique. Jaisalmer is famous for its
carved havellis (grand mansions). In medieval times, its prosperity was
due to its location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt,
Arabia, Africa and the West. Jaisalmer is a marvel of beautiful culture
and this city remains one of the most exotic city not only in Rajasthan
but in the whole of India. Some of the visitors called this city "a
living museum". We have a walk through the old city and visit the
Fort
and the Jain temple. In the afternoon we drive around 40 km. away from Jaisalmer to
Sam dunes where we enjoy the sunset before we drive back
to Jaisalmer. |
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Juangarh Fort Bikaner |
Patwon Ki Haveli Jaislamer |
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Day 09. Jaisalmer -
Osian - Jodhpur (about 290 km)
Early morning drive to
Jodhpur
via Osian. Osian is a great centre of Hindu and
Jain religions. The
oldest Temple here was constructed in 1178 AD. The city was once the capital of the
princely state of Marwar (Land of death).
Jodhpur is the second largest
city in Rajasthan. Jodhpur is also known as the blue city as most of
the houses of the old city are painted blue. The old city is surrounded
by a huge 10 km long wall which has 101 bastions and seven gates. Jodhpur
lies on the once strategic Delhi-Gujarat trading route and the marwaris
got benefit from the passing traffic of opium, copper, silk which was
traded to China. We will visit the
Mehrangarh Fort (majestic fort). Mehrangarh
Fort was built on a steep hill and is among the best in India with exquisitely
latticed windows in residential apartments within. We also visit the
Jaswant Thada, a royal cenotaph built in white marble. After the sightseeing
we have a walk through the Bazaars of Jodhpur.
Day 10. Jodhpur - Ranakpur
- Udaipur (about 260 km)
Today we drive to
Udaipur. Enroute we will visit
Ranakpur. Ranakpur is
known for its superbly carved marble Jain Temples. An enormous basement
of this temple covers 48,000 sq. feet. There are four subsidiary shrines,
twenty four pillared halls. The total number of columns is 1,444, all
of which are intricately carved, no two being alike. The
Ranakpur Jain
Temples were built during the 15th century. We have a break in Ranakpur
before proceeding further for Udaipur. Udaipur is called the romantic
city of Rajasthan. A city built around shimmering, clear, blue water
lakes which reflect the green hills of the
Aravali ranges.
Day 11. Udaipur
Today we visit Udaipur, also known as the city of sunrise. We start our
sightseeing with the visit of Sahelion-Ki-Bari. This Garden of the Maids
of Honour is well laid out with extensive lawns and shady walks. After
the visit of Garden of Maids we visit a Museum of folk art. This museum
has a rich collection of Folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls,
folk musical instruments and paintings on display. After a break we
proceed to
City
palace, the biggest Palace in India, where 4 generations
of Maharajas added their contribution, is so carefully planned and integrated
with the original buildings that it is difficult to believe that it
was not conceived as a whole. The museum of the palace includes the beautiful
peacock mosaic and miniature wall paintings of Indian mythology. Today
we have an opportunity to visit a traditional painting school and see
the famous miniature paintings done. In the evening we have a Boat
ride
on the lake Pichola. The famous
Lake Palace of Udaipur was the summer
residence of the former rulers. The James bond Film Octopussy was shot
here and made this palace more known in the west. |
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Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur |
City
Palace, Udaipur |
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Day 12. Udaipur - Deogarh (about 200 km)
Today we take
leave from the city of sunrise and drive to Deogarh. In
Deogarh we
enjoy the overnight stay in a
Maharaja Palace which has been converted
into a Hotel. We have the rest of the day at leisure and therefore
enough time to relax and have a walk in the Bazaar of this small town.
Day 13. Deogarh - Samode (about 250 km)
Today we drive to Samode.
Samode is famous for its palace where we
have an overnight stay. We enjoy the stay in the
Samode Palace and
visit the wonderful Darbar Hall (Audience hall) and other parts of
the palace of Maharaja which are decorated beautifully with the miniature
paintings. On special occasions this wonderful 400 years old Palace
of Samode is decorated and fulfilled with traditional dance and music.
Day 14. Samode - Fatehpur
Sikri - Agra (about 220 km)
Today we leave Rajasthan, the biggest state in India and drive through
a series of fields, small towns and villages in direction of Agra.
Enroute we make a stop and visit
Fatehpur Sikri, which was once an
imperial capital frozen in time, constructed by Akbar the Great in
the 16th century. This wonderful city constructed by red sand stones
was abandoned as abruptly as it had been built. It has been generally
stated that it was due to failing in the water supply.
Late evening arrival in
Agra. Rest of the day at leisure. |
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Deogarh Mahal |
Taj
Mahal, Agra |
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Day 15. Agra
We start today our sightseeing by a visit to the
Agra Fort, built
by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this
massive structure began in 1565 under Akbar's reign and continued
till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan who built the impressive
imperial quarters and mosque. After the visit of Agra Fort we proceed
to visit the most beautiful monument of India, the
Taj Mahal, an enduring
monument to love, with a continually fulfilling beauty. It was built
by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1631-52, as a tomb and memorial
to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace), who died at
the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child. We spend enough time
at Taj Mahal to take this impressive memory home. After the visit
of Taj Mahal we have a look at the famous fine marble inlay work which
is still being done in Agra by the descendants of the families of
builders and artists of the Taj Mahal.
Day 16. Agra - Delhi (about 200 km)
Late morning, after having our Breakfast we drive to Delhi. Arrival
in Delhi in the afternoon. The rest of the day at leisure. (opportunity
for the last shopping or enjoy a massage in the Hotel)
Day 17. Flight to Home
Around Midnight flight to home destination.
Tour Reservation
To get more
information or to book this tour please submit the
Query Form
or send us an
e-mail !
Your
booking will be activated only after we get a reconfirmation from
your side.
About
Hotels:
We
provide you the accommodation as per your budget mentioned above in
the table of hotels category for any of the booked tour. Hotels
provided by us are from budget to luxury class hotels. Luxury hotels are
all five stars or of above standard. Deluxe would be a combination
of 3 and 4 star Hotels and standard would be a combination of 2
and 3 star or similar hotels. The criteria for selecting hotels by
us remains the best value of your money. We also provide you
wherever possible accommodation in heritage hotels. Heritage
Hotels are old Palaces, Forts and Grand mansions of Maharajas
which have been later renovated and converted into Hotels. Rooms
are decorated all individually. Rooms are comfortable, romantic
and present the flair of olden Maharaja days
Our
Services Include:
Accommodation in double rooms on twin sharing basis with bath and WC
in the
chosen category.
Rooms
on the departure day.
American/continental Breakfast.
Rickshaw Drive in Delhi.
Elephant
Ride in Amber.
Camel Safari in
Jaisalmer.
Boat Ride in
Udaipur.
One Dinner will be with a presentation of Indian music and
dance in Jaipur.
Services of qualified local guides (English speaking or languages of
your
choice) at every place of sightseeing.
All
Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Indo Vacations
All
Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an
air-conditioned Car with
driver. For groups an
individual air-conditioned bus (Except
Standard Hotels) will be
provided.
Exclusions:
Any Kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills
and Alcoholic
beverages.
Camera Fees (Still or Movie).
Any Flight Charges.
Monument Entrances.
Unspecified Meals etc.
We always look forward for any changes in the itinerary as wished
by you for your individual trip. |
If you are willing to travel in a group - the
Group
Departure
dates are available
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Check
our
Festival calendar to know about
the dates of various festivals of
Rajasthan during your travel ! |
Visit
Rajasthan
Tours for more
Tours & information on Rajasthan ! |
If you are a group over 15 people please
e-mail
us with the number of participants
and the
wished dates toenable us to
workout the tour cost ! |
Please have a look at our
References
to read the testimonials of tourists & guests
who
have traveled with us.
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Please also check our
FAQ
page to get more
information.
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