Royal Rajasthan – India and Beyond

16 DAYS & 15 NIGHTS

DELHI I MANDAWA I BIKANER I JAISALMER I JODHPUR I UDAIPUR I PUSHKAR I JAIPUR I AGRA

Rajasthan – the land of kings is about the story of warriors and their chivalry, romance, glory and tragedy in fairytale proportions. This tour would give you an experience of staying in the Palace Hotels like a Maharaja.

Itinerary Details Cost & Inclusions Book This Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive/Delhi by International flight

Arrive Delhi, International Airport

Assistance on arrival.

Transfer to your Hotel.

Briefing of the tour by the executive

Delhi – discover that India’s capital is sprinkled with glittering gems: captivating ancient monuments, magnificent museums, a vivacious performing-arts scene and some of the subcontinent’s yummiest places to eat.

Overnight at hotel

Day 02Delhi

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Full day guided tour of Old & New Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India comprises of conspicuously contrasting Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries and one can find mosques, monuments and forts related to Muslim history. New Delhi is the imperial city created as India's capital by the British intricately planned and comprises of imposing buildings displaying various modern style of architecture.

Red Fort (Closed on Monday)

You will be taken to visit the Red Fort (Closed on Monday) (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Red Fort was built by the mughal emperor famous for its architectural wonders one of which is Taj Mahal - Shah Jahan. Red Fort is famous for its delicately carved inlaid and Royal chambers)

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid – the Great Mughal Mosque (It is the largest mosque in India. Located in Old Delhi, the mosque has the capacity to accommodate 25000 devotees. Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD and it again the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is behind this architectural masterpiece. Close to some 5000 craftsmen were involved in the construction of the mosque)
Then visit Raj Ghat (The cremation ground of the father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi)

Humayun's Tomb

After the visit of Old Delhi you will move ahead to visit Humayun's Tomb (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Humayun's tomb is believed to have been designed in 1565 AD by the widow of Mughal emperor Humayun. Its plan is based on the description of Islamic paradise garden and is known to have inspired the Taj Mahal and many later Mughal tombs. This type of garden is known as a charbagh and is based on a grid)

Qutab Minar

Continue your tour with Qutab Minar (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Qutab Minar is 73 meters high which tapers from a 15 m diameter base to just 2.5 m at the top. The walls consist intricately carved quotations from Koran and is one of the most perfect towers of the Persian world),at last enter the Lutyens Delhi and drive through India Gate (The war memorial) and President's Palace.

Overnight at hotel

Day 03Delhi/Mandawa by Road (250kms/4hrs)

Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart for Mandawa and check in at Hotel.

Mandawa

Mandawa is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is part of Shekhawati region. The City of Mandawa was made a thikana in the mid of 18th century by the Bhojraj ji Kasubsub clan of Shekhawati Rajputs. About the origin of this town there have been earlier references to Mandu Jat as founder of the Mandawa village.
Afternoon depart for half day sightseeing tour of Mandawa visiting

Mandwa Fort

The fort of Mandawa was founded in the 18th century. Thakur Nawal Singh, son of Shardul Singh, founded the fort in vikram samvat 1812 (1755 AD). The fort dominates the town with a painted arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows. Built as per a medieval theme, the castle of Mandawa is adorned with beautiful frescoes. Rooms in the palace are decorated with paintings of Lord Krishna, exquisite carvings and amazing mirror work. The palace's Durbar Hall houses a number of antiques and paintings.

The other havelis include Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, Jhunjhunwala Haveli and Goenka Double Haveli.

Overnight at hotel

Day 04Mandawa/Bikaner via Nawalgarh by Road (190kms/4hrs)

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Bikaner en route visiting Nawalgarh

Nawalgarh was founded by Thakur Nawal Singh Ji Bahadur (Shekhawat) in 1737 AD at the village site of Rohili. Nawalgarh was encircled all around by the high Parkota (walls) comprising of four Pols (gates) in different directions, namely Agoona Darwaja, Bawadi Darwaja (in north), Mandi Darwaja and Nansa Darwaja, each gate has iron doors. Bala Kila Fort situated in the center of the Thikana and Fatehgarh Fort situated outside of the Parkota as an Out Post. The market place of the town and layout of the havelis indicates that the city was well planned before construction. Nawalgarh was considered to be the most modern towns of Shekhawati. Nawalgarh – the town where the finest of the Shekhavati’s frescoes can be seen. Its Havelis still bear witness to the rich & prosperous Marwari era of the 19th century. Worth visiting are The Aath Haveli complex, Anandilal Poddar Haveli, Bansidhar Bhagat Haveli & Chokhani Haveli.
Continue your drive to Bikaner and check in at Hotel.

BIKANER

If ever beauty has bloomed in a desert, it has been at Bikaner. Founded in 1488 AD by Rao Bika Ji, it's located in north west part of Rajasthan state in INDIA. The imposing palaces, beautiful and richly sculptured temples of red and yellow sand stones display some of the finest creations of Rajput civilization. It's lust for "dessert “or affection for "desert" that tickles every heart to visit Bikaner.
Afternoon depart for half day sightseeing tour of Bikaner visiting

Junagarh Fort

The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner who reigned from 1571 to 1612. Junagarh Fort is constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, fort has a 986 meter long wall with 37 bastions & two entrances. The main entrance to the fort is Karan Pol [gate], that is east facing. Next to it is the Suraj Pol meaning the sun gate. The fort situates in it some very magnificent palaces like Anup Mahal, Ganga Niwas and Rang Mahal or palace of pleasure. The Har Mandir is the majestic chapel for the royal family for worshipping their gods and goddesses. These palaces, constructed in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble of courtyards, balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure. The premises also houses a museum which is an array of a rich collection

Bhand Sagar Temple

The 16th century Jain temple, is the most important of this temple complex. The temple is dedicated to the 23rd tirthankar, Parasvanath. It has elaborate ceilings and Jins engraved on the outer walls. The temple is crowned by a high grey stone tower. Behind the temple, there is a park which offers a picturesque view of the city wall and surrounding countryside.

Camel Breeding Farm

a unique experience where you can ride on a camel & perhaps have the first taste of camel’s milk.

Overnight at hotel

Day 05Bikaner/Jaisalmer by road (330kms/6-7hrs)

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Jaisalmer and check in at Hotel.

Jaisalmer is named after its founder Rao Jaisal "Jaisalmer" means "the Hill Fort of Jaisal". Jaisalmer is also called as the Golden city of India because the yellow sand gives a yellowish-golden touch to the city & its surrounding area.

Rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 06Jaisalmer

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer visting

Jaisalmer Fort (Golden Fort)

Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal, it is situated on Trikuta Hill and had been the scene of many battles. Its massive Sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, turning to a magical honey-gold as the sun sets. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel and later turned it into a film – Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) which was based on this fort. This is a living fort and about a quarter of city's population still lives inside the fort. The main attractions inside the fort are: Raj Mahal (Royal Palace), Jaine temples and the Laxminath temple.
Also visit the famous Havelis of Jaisalmer visiting

Patwon-ki-Haveli

Guman Chand Patwa (and later by his five sons), a wealthy merchant and banker who had over three hundred trading centres from Afghanistan to China. This ornate five-storey complex took fifty years to complete. This is the largest, the most magnificent, and the most elaborate of Jaisalmer havelis.

Salim Singh-ki-Haveli

It was built by the scheming Prime Minister Salim Singh in 1815. It has a beautifully arched roof capped with blue cupolas and carved brackets in the form of Peacocks.

Afternoon excursion to Sam Sand Dunes to enjoy Camel Ride on the Dunes. and enjoy beautiful Sun set,

Overnight at hotel

Day 07Jaisalmer/Jodhpur by road (275kms/6hrs)

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Jodhpur and check in at Hotel.

Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rajput clan known as the Rathores, and the city grew out of the profits of opium, sandalwood, dates and copper. Rathore kingdom was once cheerily known as Marwar (the Land of Death), but today its moustached men are m ore about smiling for the camera.

Rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 08Jodhpur

Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Jodhpur visiting Mehrangarh Fort lies at the outskirts of Jodhpur city and is located atop a 125 m high hill. The magnificent Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur ka kila) is the most majestic and one of the largest forts in India. It was originally started (c.1459) by Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur. However, most of the extant fort dates from the period of Jaswant Singh (1638-78). The walls of the fort are up to 36 m high and 21 m wide; they enclose some exquisite structures. The fort museum houses an exquisite collection of palanquins howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. The ramparts of Mehrangarh Fort provide not only excellently preserved cannons but also a breath-taking view of the city

Jasawant Thada

The Jaswant Thada is architectural landmark found in Jodhpur. It is a white marble memorial built in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The monument, in its entirety, is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when the sun's rays dance across their surface. Within this cenotaph, there are also two more tombs.

Also visit the bustling market of Jodhpur.

Afternoon is free to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 09Jodhpur/Udaipur via Ranakpur by road (275kms/5-6hrs)

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Udaipur en route visiting Ranakpur

Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms away from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur is reached after passing lush green valleys and streams and the heart capturing views drive away any fatigue of the journey. The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. An enormous basement covers 48,000 sq. feet area. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eligibly domes supported by over four hundred columns

Continue your drive to Udaipur and check in at Hotel.

Udaipur was the capital of the Rajpur kingdom of Mear, ruled by the Sisodia clan. The founder of Udaipur was Rana Udai Singh. The ancient capital of Mewar was Nagda, located on the Banas River northeast of Udaipur. Legend has it that Maharana Udai Singh came upon a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit blessed the king and asked him to build a palace on the spot and it would be well protected. Udai Singh established a residence there. In 1568 the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, and Udai Singh moved the capital to the site of his residence, which became the city of Udaipur. As the Mughal empire weakened, the Sisodia ranas, and later maharanas, reasserted their independence and recaptured most of Mewar except the fort of Chittor. Udaipur remained the capital of the state, which became a princely state of British India in 1818. After India's Independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur acceded to the Government of India, and Mewar was integrated into India's Rajasthan state. The city's pride , the 'Lake Palace' was once a prison.

Overnight at hotel

Day 10Udaipur

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Udaipur– also known as City of Lakes visiting City Place - standing on the east bank of Lake Pichola is a massive series of palaces built at different times from 1559. The balconies of the palace provide panoramic views of "Jag Niwas" (the Lake Palace Hotel), Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. Its main entrance is through the triple-arched gate - the Tripolia, built in 1725. The way now leads to a series of courtyards, overlapping parations, terraces, corridors and gardens. There is a Suraj Gokhda, where the maharanas of Mewar presented themselves in the times of trouble to the people to restore confidence. The Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), gets its name from the mosaics in glass decorating its walls. The chini chitrashala is noteworthy while a series of wall paintings of Krishna are on display in Bhim Vilas. There are numerous other Palaces such as Dilkhush mahal, Sheesh mahal, Moti mahal and Krishna vilas - in memory of a princess of striking beauty who poisoned herself to avert a bloody battle for her hand by rival princes. Now the palace contains many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils and attracts thousands of visitors every day

Sahelion ki Bari

Sahelion ki Bari was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. The gardens set below the embankment of the Fateh Sagar Lake have lotus pools, marble pavilions and elephant-shaped fountains. These fountains are fed by the water of the lake gushing through ducts made for the purpose.

boat ride on Lake Pichola

Late afternoon, approximately an hour before sunset, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola and visit the Jag Niwas Palace by motor launch. The palace, built of granite and marble, covers four acres and is built almost in the middle of the lake. Visit the Borra Mahal, Khas Mahal and the courts, gardens and fountains. Also visit Jag Mandir Palace

Overnight at hotel

Day 11Udaipur/Pushkar via Eklingi, Nagda & Nathdwara temples

Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart for Pushkar en route visiting Eklingi, Nagda & Nathdwara Temple.

Continue your drive to Pushkar and check in at Hotel.

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India. The date of its actual founding is not known, but legend associates Lord Brahma with its creation. It is mentioned that Brahma performed penance here for 60,000 years to have glimpse of Radha Krishna.

The Ramayan mentions Pushkar and says that Vishvamitra performed tapa here. It further says that the Apsara Menaka came to Pushkara to bathe in its sacred waters. The Mahabharata says that while laying down a programme for Maharaja Yudhishthara’s travel, “Maharaja after entering the Jungles of Sind and crossing the small rivers on the way should bathe in Pushkara". And, as per Vaman Purana, Prahlada on his pilgrimage to holy places visited Pushkarayana.

Rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 12Pushkar

Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Pushkar visiting Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Pushkar visiting

Pushkar Lake

The prime attraction of Pushkar is the Pushkar Lake which is considered sacred like the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. Pushkar has become a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of this holy lake. Legend has it that this lake was consecrated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe when a lotus dropped from his hand into the vale and a lake emerged in that place.

Brahma Temple

The most important temple in Pushkar is the Temple of Lord Brahma, one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. In fact it is the only Hindu shrine in the world where Lord Brahma is worshipped. The temple enshrines a life-size idol of Lord Brahma.

And other places of Interest.

Rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight at hotel

Day 13Pushkar/Jaipur via Ajmer

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Jaipur en route visiting Ajmer

The Dargāh Sharīf of Khwāja Muin-ud-din Chishti is situated at the foot of the Tārāgaṛh hill, and consists of several white marble buildings arranged around two courtyards, including a massive gate donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad, a mosque donated by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Akbarī Mosque, and the domed tomb of the saint. The Emperor Akbar, with his queen, used to come here by foot on pilgrimage from Agra every year in observance of a vow he had made when praying for a son. The large pillars, erected at intervals of two miles (3 km) the whole way between Agra and Ajmer, marking the daily halting places of the royal pilgrim, are still extant. Continue your drive to Jaipur and check in at Hotel.

Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and is the first well planned city of India, located in the desert lands of India, Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. In the present date, Jaipur is the major business centre for the natives of Rajasthan with all requisites of a metropolitan city.

Overnight at hotel

Day 14Jaipur

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Morning depart for Amber fort (Situated atop the Aravali hills, it is the ancient capital of Jaipur and a magnificent example of Rajput architecture). We ascend to the fort on Elephant's back and come down in Jeep.

Pronounced ‘Amber’ and meaning ‘High’, this wraithlike fort – palace beautifully illustrates Rajput artistry in the faded shades of the reddish pink. Situated on the rugged hills 1 Km north of town, Amber was once the ancient capital of the Jaipur state.

Hawa Mahal- Palace of Winds

Later sightseeing of Jaipur city visiting Hawa Mahal- Palace of Winds (This five storied building which looks out over the main street of the old city is one of Jaipur's major landmarks. This is a stunning example of the Rajput artistry with it's pink, semi-octagonal and delicately honey combed and stone windows. Originally Hawa Mahal was built to enable the ladies of the royal families to watch the daily life and processions of the city),

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar (The Observatory, built by Raja Jai Singh in1728. It is an excellent example of the marvelous precision where in each construction has a specific purpose to measure the position of stars, altitudes and azimuths or calculating eclipses. The most striking instruments the Sun Dial which is 90 feet high)

City Palace Museum

City Palace Museum (City Palace is delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture. A part of the palace is still the house of the former Maharaja of Jaipur). Visit the various galleries displaying the armory, clothes and paintings of the Rajput clan.

The tour of Jaipur is not complete without shopping as Jaipur is known as a shopper’s paradise famous for jewellery, handicraft, carpet, blue pottery and textiles

Overnight at hotel

Day 15Jaipur/Agra via Fatehpur Sikri

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri

The Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fatehpūr Sikrī about 35 km from Agra, and moved his capital there. Later abandoned, the site displays a number of buildings of significant historical importance. A World Heritage Site, it is visited by most tourists. The name of the place came about after the Mughal Emperor Barbar defeated Rana Sanga in a battle at a place called Sikrī . Then the Mughal Emperor Akbar wanted to make Fatehpūr Sikrī his head quarters, so he built a majestic fort; due to shortage of water, however, he had to ultimately move his headquarters to Agra Fort.

Continue your drive to Agra & check in at Hotel.

Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world - The Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the Moslems, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. While it's significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jaha, it's architectural wealth has secured it's place on the international map.

Overnight at hotel

Day 16Agra/Delhi by Road , Depart/Delhi by Int’l flight

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Depart for sightseeing tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal( Closed on Friday) (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)

Describe as a most extravagant monument ever build for love, this sublime Mughal mausoleum is India’s most ogled icon. The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began in the same year and was not completed until 1653. Not long after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort where, for the rest of his days, he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside Mumtaz.

AGRA FORT

Than depart for AGRA FORT (sometimes called the Red Fort), was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565, and is another of Agra's World Heritage Sites. A stone tablet at the gate of the Fort states that it had been built before 1000 but was later renovated by Akbar. The red sandstone fort was converted into a palace during Shah Jahan’s time, and reworked extensively with marble & Pietra dura inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque, the Diwan-e'Ām and Dīwān-e-Khās (halls of public and private audience), Jahagir Palace, Khās Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (mirrored palace)

Also visit local market and a marble factory where you can actually see the inlay work being done on marble like it was done for Taj in the past. After finishing the tour driven by car to Delhi International airport in time to connect your onward to next destination.

COST & INCLUSIONS

	Premier	Premier	Luxury	Comfort
Summer	US$3882	US$4040	US$2218	US$2074
Winter	US$5743	US$5973	US$2463	US$2155
Delhi	The Oberoi	Taj Palace Hotel	The Lalit	Surya Hotel
Nawalgarh	Roop Niwas Kothi	Roop Niwas Kothi	Roop Niwas Kothi	Roop Niwas Kothi
Bikaner	Narendra Bhawan	Narendra Bhawan	Laxmi Niwas Palace	Lallgarh Palace
Jaisalmer	Suryagarh	Suryagarh	Jaisalkot	Fort Rajwada
Jodhpur	The Raas	Umaid Bhawan Palace	Ajit Bhawan	Park Plaza
Udaipur	Oberi Udaivilas	Taj Lake Palace	Trident	Udaikothi
Pushkar	The Gateway Hotel	The Gateway Hotel	Pushkar Palace	Pushkar Palace
Jaipur	Oberoi Rajvilas	Taj Rambagh Palace	Trident	Holiday Inn
Agra	Oberoi Amarvilas	ITC Mughal	Trident	Crystal Sarovar

The above rates are valid from

Summer: 16th April 2020 – 30th Sep 2020

Winter: 1st Oct 2020 – 15th April 2021

Based on Minimum 2 persons traveling together.

Note:The above rates are not valid for:-

Christmas & New Year Period: 20th December, 2020 till 10th January, 2021

Tour Includes

Share twin accommodation with breakfast
Transfers & sightseeing by Air Conditioned vehicle
Services of English speaking local guides
Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
Elephant ride at Jaipur
Boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
Present applicable taxes as on 15th, Jan 2020

Tour Excludes

Entrance tickets to Monuments
International Airfare
Domestic Airfare
Visa fee & Insurance
Items of personal nature i.e. laundry, telephone, camera fee, drinks & tips etc

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