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DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
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| Room is held on this day from 12oo hrs for immediate
occupancy. Arrive late in the evening. You will be met and assisted on arrival
in Delhi and transferred to your hotel. |
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| DAY 02 DELHI |
| Start late after overcoming the jet lag and
enjoy a late breakfast. Llater in the day proceed for the combined city
city tour of Old & New Delhi. In Old city visit RED FORT built by Emperor
Shah Jahan; Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India; RAJ GHAT-
the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and enjoy a walking tour in CHANDNI CHOWK-
the silver street of Delhi bustling with activity. In the afternoon visit
QUTAB MINAR, the tallest stone tower in India; HUMAYUN'S TOMB built in the
Indo Persian style and a predecessor to The Taj Mahal in Agra; India Gate
- A War Memorial Arch. Also drive past the PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, PARLIAMENT
HOUSE, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS and CONNAUGHT PLACE - the heart
of New Delhi and a busy shopping center. Overnight is at the hotel. |
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| DAY 03 TO DELHI - NAWALGARH by surface |
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After breakfast check-out of the hotel and drive to Nawalgarh.
Nawalgarh was founded by Nawal Singh in 1737 AD at the village site of
Rohili. Arrive and check-in at the heritage hotel. Rest of the day is
at leisure to explore the beautiful havelis and their frescoes or just
take a walk in the colorful village and soak in the history. Overnight
is at the hotel.
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| DAY 04 TO NAWALGARH - BIKANER by
surface |
| After breakfast check-out of the hotel and drive
to Bikaner which was once a major trading post between Africa, West Asia
and the Far East. The arts prospered receiving the patronage of a wealthy
merchant community. The city is renowned for the best riding camels in the
world. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Later in the day proceed for your
tour visiting Camel Breeding Farms; Junagarh Fort, a formidable structure
encircled by a moat and having some beautiful palaces within. Evening is
at leisure to explore the local market. Overnight is at the hotel. |
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| DAY 05 BIKANER - JAISALMER by surface |
| After breakfast check-out of the hotel and drive
to Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer a fairy-tale town in the Thar Desert founded about
800 years ago by Rajah Jaisal. Unlike any other city, this desert fortress
is one of Rajasthan's most exotic and unusual towns. The fort built by Rawal
Jaisal in the 12th century, stands on the 80 metre high Trikuta hill, with
beautifully carved Jain temples. The annual desert festival takes place
in January and February each year and is a riot of colour and activity.
Evening is free to walk around in the colorful and bustling bazaars. Overnight
is at the hotel. |
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| DAY 06 IN JAISALMER |
| Full day is at leisure to explore this fascinating
city. Visit the famous Havelis (mansions) known for their frescoes. The
most elaborate and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis is the PATWAON
KI HAVELI. The haveli was built between 1800 and 1860 by five Jain brothers.
SALIM SINGH KI HAVELI and NATHMAL KI HAVELI are the other two havelis that
are opened to visitors. Built in 1156 by the Bhatti ruler, Jaisala, THE
FORT here stands atop the 80 m high Trikuta hill. The fort is surrounded
by 3 walls and features 99 bastions. Over the centuries, the golden sand
stone fortress witnessed many battles between the Bhattis, the mughals and
the rathors of Jodhpur. |
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| DAY 07 JAISALMER - JODHPUR |
| Drive 285 Kms to Jodhpur, where again we stay
in a lovely Haveli, where the family still resides and we stay as their
guest. Visit the 5 km long majestic Mehrangarh Fort situated on a high hill,
one of the most impressive and formidable structures; Jaswant Thada, a memorial
built in pure white marble for the exclusive use of the royal family, as
a crematorium; Umaid Bhawan in rose colored sandstone; Mandore Gardens,
once the old capital of Marwar. |
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| DAY 08 JODHPUR - UDAIPUR by surface |
| This morning we'll drive through valleys in
the remote and peaceful Aravalli Range to RANAKPUR to visit one of the most
important Jain temples in India. This marble complex is noted for the 29
halls supported by 1,444 pillars, each adorned with hundreds of carved figures,
no two alike. Continue your drive to Udaipur, described as the "City
of Sunrise" and check-in at the hotel. Evening enjoy a leisurely boat
ride on LAKE PICHOLA. |
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| DAY 09 IN UDAIPUR |
| Udaipur is also a centre of historic arts and
crafts of Mewar, like the Mewar School of Miniature Painting. There is of
course the modern face of Udaipur, that one can look at if interested, but
given the other sights from a glorious past, modernity is no real distraction.
This is a place that will hold you in its thrall no matter who you are or
where you come from. During a guided tour you will visit the CITY PALACE
built in 1725, the grand City Palace is actually a conglomerate of eleven
palaces overlooking the sprawling Lake Pichola. One of the largest, most
beautiful palaces in the state of Rajasthan, it is now a museum, royal residence
and a luxury hotel. This intricately designed monument is an architectural
wonder in granite and marble; JAGDISH TEMPLE built in 1651 by Maharaja Jagat
Singh, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the centre
of the old city. |
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| DAY 10 UDAIPUR - BUNDI by surface |
| Today morning drive 182 kms (4 hours) to Bundi
located in southern Rajasthan - also known as the Hadoti region which is
still the least explored land of Rajasthan. In the afternoon visit TARAGARH
FORT, built in 1354. Set within the horse-shoe shaped fold of the hills,
and with the lakes and water reservoirs below, the fort straddles the crest
and offers invincible battlements that must have proved difficult to scale.
The views over the town and surrounding countryside from the top are magical,
especially at sunset. Also visit BUNDI PALACE, housing CHITTRA SHALA, a
beautiful pavilion and gallery of fascinating murals in the miniature style.
The walls are adorned with elaborate painting with color scheme in blue,
green, turquoise on white with touches of terracotta or yellow. Bundi Wall
paintings are famous all over the world. |
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| DAY 11 IN BUNDI |
| Enjoy a day trip to KOTA today, 39 kms (1 hour)
one way. Visit the FORT and CITY PALACE standing overlooking the modern
Chambal Valley Project with its many dams. The Durbar Hall is ornate with
beautiful mirror work and has ebony and ivory doors. Exquisite miniatures
of the Kota school are housed within the Hall. Situated in the old palace,
the MAHARAO MADHO SINGH MUSEUM has a superb collection of Rajput miniature
paintings of the Kota school, exquisite sculptures, frescoes and armory.
The museum also houses a rich repository of artistic items used by the Kota
rulers. Also visit the colorful bazaars before returning to Bundi for overnight
stay. |
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| DAY 12 BUNDI - RANTHAMBORE by surface |
| This morning you will drive to Ranthambore National
Park and check in at the hotel for 02 nights stay in your lodge. The park
is quite famous for good population of Tigers, which can be encountered
in broad daylight, quite unperturbed by the human presence. Following dinner
there may be a slide show and an orientation talk about the park and its
wildlife by the lodge staff. |
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| DAY 13 IN RANTHAMBORE |
| Early morning a safari into the park - one of
the finest tiger reserves in the country. Spread over an area of 392 sq.
km, the park is characterized by dry deciduous forests sprawling over the
Aravalli and Vindhyan ranges. If you are fortunate enough you can also see
the tiger strolling in the jungle or near any of the three lakes namely,
the Padam Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Milak Talab. The park also houses some
of the rare species of desert creature like the sambhar, chital, nilgai,
chinkara, langur, wild boar and peafowl. After a visit to the Park you will
return to your hotel for late breakfast. The afternoon is at leisure in
the lodge. You will have another opportunity in the afternoon for tiger
spotting during your second safari of the day. Overnight is at the lodge.
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| DAY 14 RANTHAMBORE - KARAULI by
surface |
| Continue your drive to KARAULI and stay at BHANVAR
VILAS PALACE. It was built as a royal residence in the year 1938 by Maharaja
Ganesh Pal Deo Bhadur, the then ruler of Karauli. The architecture is of
colonial style and the interiors are furnished in art - de-decor period
furniture. The spacious grounds are home to a variety of plants and animals. |
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| DAY 15 KARAULI - JAIPUR by surface |
| Drive 130kms today to the pink city of Jaipur,
a wonderful place to see the colour of Rajasthan and its people. The palaces
and forts of yesteryear that witnessed royal processions and splendour are
now integrated into the daily life of Jaipur. Jaipur owes its name, its
foundation and its careful planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja
Jai Singh II (1699-1744). He laid out the city with its surrounding walls
and six rectangular blocks by principles of town planning set out in an
ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. Jaipur is well known for its beautiful
carpets, enamelled ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, brass ornaments
and many other arts and crafts. Rest of the day is free to explore the colorful
town independently. Spend time in crowded lanes & by lanes of pink city,
haggling and souvenir-hunting. |
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| DAY 16 IN JAIPUR |
| This morning you will drive 11kms in the outskirts
of the city to visit Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the State until
1728. Visit the Temple of Kali, the Hall of Victory or Jai Mahal and Jagmandir.
You can have the unique experience of traveling on elephant back to and
from the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. In the afternoon
visit the Observatory, the Palace of Winds and the City Palace and Museum.
The museum has an interesting textile section, which contains dresses and
costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Return to the
hotel for overnight stay. |
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| DAY 17 JAIPUR - AGRA by surface |
| After breakfast check-out of the hotel and drive
to Agra. En route to Agra we will stop at FATEHPUR SIKRI. This 16th century
capital of Moghul emperor Akbar is a complex of forts, palaces and mosques
built in sandstone. The city had to be deserted because of lack of water.
The white marble Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Akbar's spiritual adviser,
is now observed as a Muslim pilgrimage spot here. Later continue your drive
Agra and check-in at your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. |
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| DAY 18 AGRA - DELHI by surface |
| After breakfast proceed for a half day city
tour of Agra city. Visit the red sandstone AGRA FORT, which stands like
a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna River enclosed by forbidding 20-meter
high walls, with a 12- meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal
emperors - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan - helped create this massive structure
which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture. Then proceed for the famous
white marble mausoleum TAJ MAHAL, which was built in the middle of the 17th
century by the Moghul emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Completed
in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some
20,000 laborers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by
emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Later
drive to Delhi and arrive at the airport in time to board your flight for
onward destination. |
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| DAY 19 DEPART DELHI |
| Connect your onward flight. |
Hotels
Delhi 2 nights at The Connaught (4 star downtown)
Nawalgarh 1 night at Sara Villas
Bikaner 1 night at Laxmi Niwas Palace (Heritage hotel)
Jaisalmer 2 nights at Fort Rajwada (Modern hotel)
Jodhpur 1 night at Ajit Bhawan Palace
Udaipur 2 nights at Udai Kothi (Heritage hotel)
Bundi 2 nights at Kothi Ishwari (Heritage hotel)
Ranthambore 2 nights at Tigermoon Resort (Jungle Lodge)
Karauli 1 night at Bhanvar Vilas Palace (Heritage hotel)
Jaipur 2 nights at Narain Niwas Palace (Heritage hotel)
Agra 1 night at Holiday Inn Modern hotel (First Class)
Delhi 1 night at The Connaught (4 star downtown)
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