Heritage Rajasthan with Tajmahal

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Duration: 17 days/ 16 nights
Destination: Delhi - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Pushkar - Jaipur - Jaipur - Ranthambhore - Agra - Delhi

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Day 01 : Abroad / Delhi
On arrival at Indira Gandhi international airport, you would be met by our representative and given assistance for transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day will be free for independent activities. Overnight Stay in Delhi

Day 02 : Delhi - Mandawa
Morning: Drive to Mandawa and on arrival, check-in at hotel. Rest of the day visit Havelis in and around Mandawa. Overnight Stay in Mandawa
Shekhawati is a colourful fantasy having a fascination uniquely of its own. The open-air art galley, as it is popularly called, is famous for its plethora of painted havelis, all commendable pieces of the rich artistic tradition of this region. It is famous for its Havelis (mansion) built by rich merchants of the region, display a unique architectural style that evolved around the courtyards to ensure safety and privacy of the women folk and protection from the heat of the long and harsh summers. The Havelis, painted predominantly in blue, maroon, yellow, green and indigo have beautiful wall paintings that adorn their walls.

Day 03 : Mandawa - Bikaner
After breakfast drive to Bikaner. Upon arrival check-in Hotel. Rest of the day is to visit city excursions of Bikaner. Overnight Stay will be at Bikaner.

Bikaner, the royal fortified city, with a timeless appeal in the North State of Rajasthan, retains the medieval splendour that pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly called the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world. This city stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a seven-km long embattled wall with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces, in reddish-pink sandstone created with delicacy, bear testimony to its rich historical and architectural legacy. Undulating lanes, colourful bazaars and bright and cheerful folks make the visit Bikaner an interesting experience. Visit the Junagarh Fort, built in 1593 AD by Raj Rai Singh, one of the best in Rajasthan. It comprises of 37 palaces with pavilions, mosaic courtyards, carved balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure. The Shish Mahal, the Grand Durbar Hall, the 17th century Karan Mahal, Anup Mahal and the Phool Mahal bring to life the grandeur of a bygone era. The Fort museum has a rare collection of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts and miniature painting.

Day 04 : Bikaner - Jaisalmer
In the morning enjoy the surrounding of Hotel. After breakfast, drive to Jaisalmer. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Rest of the day is to visit city excursions of Jaisalmer. Overnight Stay will be at Hotel.

Day 05 : Jaisalmer
After breakfast, visit this perfect Rajput walled desert city which is like a golden jewel shimmering above the hard sand.

Rising from the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. The Jaiselmer fort etched in yellow sandstone stands with all its awesome splendour. The life within the citadel conjures up images of medieval majesty visible in its narrow lanes strewn with magnificent palaces, havelies, temples and typical desert life of men women cattle and camels. The 80 meter high fort, perch on the hill, houses the entire township within its ramparts. It has enchanting narrow lanes dotted with exquisite havelis, beautifully sculptured Jain temples of the 12th-15th century and palaces. The fort is approached through four gateways -Akhaiya Pol, Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. Some of the most exotic mansions or havelis, all intricately latticed, are strewn all over Jaisalmer each with a different facade. The Havelis of Nathmalji, Patwon and Salim Singh all in Yellow Marble of Jaisalmer are exquisite works of art. A camel safari through the interesting and remote desert villages of Roopsi, Doojasar, Kanoi, Kuldara and the Cenotaphs of Barabagh can be interesting. The villages are very special, as different communities inhabit them.

Day 06 : Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Proceed in the morning after a leisurely breakfast and reach Jodhpur. Relax in the hotel and visit the museum of Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort. Overnight Stay will be at Jodhpur.

At the edge of the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 mts. above the plains. A high wall encompasses the city -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable bastions. The lifestyle in Jodhpur is unusually fascinating with people wearing lovely multi hued costumes, artistically designed. Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a heady experience with a colourful display of the rich collection of exquisite handicrafts. The tie-and-dye fabric, embroidered "jutis" or slippers in suede, camel skin, velvet and leather, beautiful silks, durries, marble souvenirs from Makrana, an extensive range of useful and decorative items etc., are of interest. he Mehrangarh fort is one of the most impressive and formidable structures. Invincible from the outside, the fort has four gates approached by a winding road. Within the fort are some magnificent palaces with marvellously carved panels with latticed windows These palaces house a fabulous collection of trappings of Indian royalty including a superb collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings of various schools, musical instruments, costumes and furniture.

Day 07 : Jodhpur - Udaipur
Early morning visits the surrounding villages and witnesses their daily lifestyle of living and enjoy cup of tea / coffee with them. Breakfast will be at hotel. Later drive to Udaipur, enroute visit temples of Ranakpur. Upon arrival in Udaipur, check-in at hotel.

Day 08 : Udaipur
Morning, city tour of Udaipur - the romantic Lake City in Southern Rajasthan, famous for the stunning white marble Palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It was the former Palace of the Maharana and now converted to one of the most glamorous hotels in India. The tour will cover the magnificent City Palace, the Jagdish temple, the pleasure gardens and a drive around the other nearby lakes.

Udaipur, the city of Dawn, is the Jewel of Mewar -a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia Dynasty for 1200 years. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavour of a heroic past, epitomizing valour and chivalry. Their reflection of these building in the placid waters of the Lake Pichola is an enticing sight.

Morning : City tour of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace, a majestic architectural marvel that is perched on a hill and towers over Lake Pichola. The Palace is a majestic conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Each palace within is an outstanding creation of art. Visit the Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum, which has an interesting collection of Indian folk art including costumes, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, musical instruments and deities. Later visit Saheliyon-ki-bari the "Ladies Garden", with its rich foliage and intricately designed fountains.

Afternoon : Enjoy a Boat cruise on Lake Pichola on which the majestic Lake Palace Hotel is situated. See the ghats along the lake and the interesting buildings on the banks. The view of the city palace from the lake is spectacular. Dock at the Jagmandir island where the Maharana of Udaipur once gave Shah Jehan sanctuary.
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Day 09 : Udaipur - Pushkar
After breakfast, drive to Pushkar and on arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day guided visit to Lake and Bramha temple. Overnight Stay will be at Pushkar

Surrounded by hills on three sides, Pushkar, 11 kms from Ajmer, abounds in temples; of these the most famous is the Brahma temple - the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the country. Once a year, during the Kartik Purnima, the entire region comes alive with a pulsating Camel and Cattle Fair. There is a week long celebration with an explosion of fun, frolic, games and laughter with threads of religious fervour. Bedecked and festooned cattle wait in the clouds of sand and the pious gather at the break of dawn to take a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake to absolve themselves of all their sins.

Day 10 : Pushkar - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. Afternoon tour of "Pink City" - Surrounded on three sides by the rugged Aravali hills, Jaipur is the picturesque capital of Rajasthan. It takes its name from the prince, soldier and astronomer Jai Singh II who moved his capital here in 1727.

Day 11 : Jaipur
Tour of the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur City. At the foot of the hill you will mount your caparisoned elephant for the slow but steady climb up to the main gate, making your entrance in the time honoured fashion. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over 100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families.

Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the ' Pink City ' because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on a dry lake bed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted by forts and crenellated walls. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and a feast for the eyes. All through, Jaipur has retained its strong Rajputana flavour tempered by several influences - the mughal being the most prominent. The region's strong cultural heritage is distinctly evident even today. The city is a visitor's delight. From the intricate, delicate looking Hawa Mahal to the graphic forms of the Jantar Mantar - an open air observatory of outsized astronomical instruments, the Badi Chaupar lined with shops and business establishments on both sides to the majestic fort-palace at Amber; from the colorful fountains of life to the sublime Birla Temple; from the architectural delight of the City Palace to the serene Jal Mahal.

Day 12 : Jaipur - Ranthambhor
Drive Morning one more drive deep into the park then drive to Ranthambhore National Park, which is rich in wildlife including tiger, nilgai, jungle cat, mugger and python. Night will be jungle Lodge.

Day 13-14 : Ranthambhor
Morning and afternoon have safaris in Ranthambhore. Overnight Stay will be at Hotel.

Ranthambore National Park is in Sawai Madhopur District of Rajasthan state.Located at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill range, this is one of the finest places to view animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here.The park covers an area of Approximately 400 sq Km and if combined it with the area of sawai man singh sanctuary area, it is around 500 Sq km. Ranthambore national park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of "Project Tiger". It got its status of a National Park in 1981.

Day 15 : Ranthambhor - Agra
Today morning one shorter visits the sanctuary. Later in time drive to Agra. Evening arrive Agra and transfer to hotel for night stay.

Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World -the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra was their capital for nearly a hundred years from 1564. A pleasant town, with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are hereditary craft persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.

Day 16 : Agra
Today morning enjoy city sight-seeing of Agra, visiting Red Fort, Itimad-Ul-Daula and the world famous monument Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum took 22 years to complete with a work force of 20,000 craftsmen and master builders, who came from all over Asia to join in this great work from Baghdad, Shiraz, Delhi, Samarkand and Turkey. The marble, India s finest; was quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious stones were imported from distant lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrysolite from Egypt, Amethyst from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean.

Day 17 : Agra - Delhi
After breakfast, city tour of Agra. Afternoon, leave for Delhi, on arrival, you will be transfer to the airport to board flight back home.