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Destinations Covered : Delhi - Mandawa - Shekhawati -
Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Kota
- Chittaurgarh Pushkar - Bundi - Jaipur - Agra
Duration : 16 Nights / 17 Days
Day - 1 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel.
Day - 2 : Arrive Delhi
Full day city tour. Visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the
cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,
Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in
1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch),
Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive
past President's House, Parliament House, Government
Secretariat Buildings & Connaught Place shopping centre.
Overnight Delhi.
Day - 3 : Mandawa
Drive to Mandawa. Rest of the day visit the Shekhavati
villages of Dundlod, Mandawa, etc. Mandawa was founded in
1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his
descendants. Mandawa houses a collection of armories,
costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820, ancient coins,
numismatic collection and many other interesting items
preserved in a museum. The whole area of Shekhavati has
beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions and is called the
open air gallery. Overnight Mandawa.
Day - 4 : Shekhawati
Continue with the visits of Shekhawati. Overnight Mandawa.
Day - 5 : Bikaner
Drive to Bikaner. Afternoon tour of this desert city.
Bikaner is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th
century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque.
Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by
its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and
aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched
doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is
Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once
celebrated. Overnight Bikaner.
Day - 6 : Jaisalmer
Drive to Jaisalmer. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight
Jaisalmer.
Day - 7 : Jaisalmer
Morning visit Jaisalmer. Visit the Fort, bazzars and the
old mansions known as "havelis". People still live in
these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century.
Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work.
Overnight Jaisalmer.
Day - 8 : Jodhpur
Morning drive to Jodhpur. Afternoon visit the Meharangarh
Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including
Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an
imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum
located in the Umaid Public Gardens. Overnight Jodhpur.
Day - 9 : Ranakpur
Morning drive to Ranakpur Temples. Ranakpur - 98 kms from
Udaipur, the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are
situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its
surrounding is quiet & picturesque. Ranakpur has grand
structures & beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars
in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of
light & shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and
other Jain Temples are side attractions. Overnight
Ranakpur.
Day - 10 : Udaipur
Drive to Udaipur. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight
Udaipur.
Day - 11 : Udaipur
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the city palace, Jagdish
Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari
(Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala
Mandir (Folk art museum). Afternoon free. Overnight
Udaipur.
Day - 12 : Kota - Chittaurgarh
Morning drive to Kota visiting Chittaurgarh enroute. 113
kms. from Udaipur, the Fort of Chittor was originally
built by mighty Bhim, one of the Pandava heroes of
Mahabharata. Also visit the Vijay Stambh with nine storeys
and 37 mts high built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate
his victory over the muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in
1440. Kirti Stambh, the Tower of fame 22 meters high is
covered with figures from Jain Pantheon. Overnight Kota.
Day - 13 : Pushkar - Bundi
Morning drive to Pushkar visiting Bundi enroute. Bundi
rises from a narrow gorge in rows of terraced gardens &
arched Rajput houses like a two dimensional miniature
painting imposed on the landscape. Visit the palace with
its intricate spy-holes, secret trap doors and under
ground passages. Also see the spectacularly ingenious
water supply system. Afternoon visit the Tomb of the Sufi
Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The
city was founded by the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the
11th century & is dominated by the Taragarh Fort built by
Prithviraj Chauhan. In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and
also the famous Brahma Temple. Pushkar is one of the
holiest places for Hindus. Overnight Pushkar.
Day - 14 : Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur
Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in
honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh,
the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit
Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas
Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose
residential & business areas. Overnight Jaipur.
Day - 15 : Jaipur
Morning visit the Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the
State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory
glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back.
Afternoon free. Overnight Jaipur.
Day - 16 : Jaipur - Agra
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur
Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in
1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of
water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama
Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other
Palaces. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day - 17 : Agra - Delhi
Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the
Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz
Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra
Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and
Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah
built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father.
Overnight Agra. Drive to Delhi. Arrive and Transfer to the
Airport to board flight for onward Journey. |