India is a destination that has seen incredible rulers in its past. North of India is vivid which has been built by the Rajput’s and Mughal’s. The reminiscent of lifestyle lived by these kings in erstwhile era can be still seen as we jaunt through Delhi to Varanasi to Khajuraho to the princely state of Rajasthan.
In this trip, we travel from New Delhi, the capital city of India which has the charm of both British colonial period and the Mughal era. From thereon to Varanasi, where travelers get an opportunity to see Hindu pilgrims in thousands of numbers as they congregate on the banks of the River Ganges.
One also gets to explore India’s amazing artistic legacy through the exquisite murals of Khajuraho followed by the medieval Mughal marvel of love - Taj Mahal in Agra along with a couple of other monuments.
Then we proceed to Ranthambore, an ideal place for a wildlife enthusiast followed by Jaipur, popularly termed as the pink city of India. The tourists get a chance to enjoy an elephant ride at the Amber fort here in Jaipur.
The journey will then let you witness the mystical town of Pushkar situated in Ajmer city of Rajasthan giving you a chance to witness pilgrims offering their prayers around the holy lake surrounded by many temples, bathing Ghats, and a cluster of onion shaped domes and chalk colored buildings.
After that the itinerary takes us to the lavish city of Udaipur which is adorned by bone white buildings (once royal residences) seeming to float upon shimmering lakes. Our next stop is the luminescent blue patchwork city of Jodhpur that deservingly boasts about the grandeur of its iconic places like the Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh fort.
Subsequently, the tour will head onto discover the honey colored magnificence of Jaisalmer peeking from the desert horizon, prevalently called the Golden city as easily distinguishable due to its yellow sandstone architecture. The tourists will then be taken to the sprawling desert town of Bikaner, famous for its fort and a bustling walled city encompassed by dark red sandstone havelis (traditionally ornate residences).
And finally finishing the journey at Mandawa - a fictional story book town decked with wildly colorful and bizarrely painted havelis.
| Day 1: | Arrive Delhi | |
| Day 2: | Delhi |
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| Day 3: | Delhi / Varanasi (By Flight) |
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| Day 4: | Varanasi |
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| Day 5: | Varanasi / Khajuraho (By Flight) |
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| Day 6: | Khajuraho / Jhansi (Drive) & Jhansi / Agra (By Train) |
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| Day 7: | Agra |
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| Day 8: | Agra / Ranthambore (Drive: 290 Km/ 6 Hours) |
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| Day 9: | Ranthambore National Park |
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| Day 10: | Ranthambore / Jaipur (Drive: 180 Km/ 4 Hours) |
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| Day 11: | Jaipur |
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| Day 12: | Jaipur / Pushkar (Drive: 140 Km/ 03 Hours) |
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| Day 13: | Pushkar / Udaipur (Drive: 280 Km/ 6 Hours) |
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| Day 14: | Udaipur |
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| Day 15: | Udaipur / Ranakpur / Jodhpur (Drive: 290 Km/ 6 Hours) |
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| Day 16: | Jodhpur |
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| Day 17: | odhpur / Jaisalmer (Drive: 300 Km/ 6 Hours) |
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| Day 18: | Jaisalmer |
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| Day 19: | Jaisalmer / Bikaner (Drive: 330 Km/ 6 Hours) |
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| Day 20: | Bikaner / Alsisar (Drive: 240 Km/ 5 Hours) |
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| Day 21: | Alsisar / Delhi (Drive: 265 Km/ 6 Hours) Delhi / Onward Destination (By Flight) |
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We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit Birla House, the Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi before he was assassinated by Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948. Later we visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and Humayun's Tomb*, the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, built in 1570. We continue to Qutub Minar and its Monuments* Built in the early 13th century the red sandstone tower of Qutub Minar is 72.5 m high. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art and two mosques. Our afternoon concentrates on Old Delhi, starting with the Red Fort Complex*. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement and each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. Next, we visit the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. We end our tour with a bazaar experience at Chandni Chowk, the street of silver and goldsmiths. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Please Note: Red Fort and Birla House are closed on Mondays and shops in Chandni Chowk are closed on Sundays
We take a short flight to the holy city of Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel.
In the evening we get to the banks of the Ganges to witness the devotional ceremony of Aarti after sunset performed by devout Hindus.
In the early morning we take a sunrise cruise on the River Ganges for a most serene experience. One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges. Every morning scores of pilgrims and priests fill the riverbanks bathing in the holy waters and performing various other rituals. This unique experience literally transports you to another world.
After boat ride we explore old Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata Temple, which houses a huge marble relief map of India; the Durga Temple, the Tulsi Manas Mandir beside the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. After the tour we come back to hotel for breakfast and rest.
In the afternoon we explore Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath contains Chaukhandi Stupa, a lofty brick structure crowned with an octagonal tower and the remains of several stupas, monasteries and Ashokan column are built from the 3rd century B.C. to 12th century A.D.in brick and stone.
The city is famous also for its silk sarees and we visit some of the houses where the beautiful silk sarees are woven.
Please Note: Sarnath Museum remains closed on Friday.
Today we are transferred to the airport in Varanasi in time to take our flight to Khajuraho. On arrival in Khajuraho, we are transferred to our hotel. In the afternoon we explore the Khajuraho Group of Monuments* The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Today only 20 temples remain, and they fall into three distinct groups and belonging to the religions of Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temples are decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.
In the morning we drive to Orchha to visit this amazing medieval fortress-city located on the shores of the Betwa River. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which are the Raja Mahal and the Jahangir Mahal. We continue to the Railway Station in Jhansi to take our express train to Agra. Shatabdi Express trains are fully air-conditioned. On arrival in Agra, we are welcomed and transferred to our hotel.
We start our day with a visit to one of the most well-known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal*. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mogul garden, this funerary monument combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. We then visit Agra Fort*. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
Please Note: Taj Mahal is closed on Friday for visitors.
A short drive gets us to Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1569 by the Mughal King, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Mughal architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir. From here we continue on a countryside drive to Ranthambore, the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore National Park lies at the edge of a plateau and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. There are several lakes in the park. It is named for the historic Ranthambore fortress, which lies within the national park. The rugged terrain and the dense deciduous forests are major features of this national park, which has among the largest and most diverse collection of wildlife species in India. On arrival in Ranthambore, we check in our hotel. The remainder of the day is free.
Ranthambore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973.Ranthambore is famous for the famous Royal Bengal Tigers and spotting the big cat in its natural habitat can be an experience. In the morning we take safari through the park. If we are lucky enough, we may be able to spot tigers in their natural environment.
In the afternoon we take a safari through the National Park. On our journey we might see various indigenous animals, such as tiger, nilgai, chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar, jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the Rhesus Macaque and the black-faced Langur. About 150 bird species can be found here including migratory birds that arrive in winter.
Please Note: Ranthambhore National Park is closed from 1st July to 30th September each year.
This morning we take a Jeep Ride uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. Located in a valley formed by a range of Aravallis known as Kalikho hills. The Palace and Fort are located on top of the hill with the city on slopes, and the valley protected by fort walls with four gates in the four cardinal directions. The construction of the fort began in 1592. It shows the evolution from the purely defensive fort settlements of the early medieval period to the palace fortress type of architecture typified in the 16th century. This palace fortress was never attacked or invaded. The fort comprises of number of gardens, courtyards and palatial spaces derived from Mughal architecture and are a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. We return to Jaipur and experience the art of carpet weaving & block printing. Later we visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art and the beautiful Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. We also visit the Jantar Mantar*, an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century that includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. It is an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period. The evening is free to enjoy both shopping and the cultural experience in the bazaars. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting.
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Pushkar, a bewitching little town on the edge of the desert, with temples, bathing Ghats, onion domes and chalk-coloured buildings clustering around its holy lake, which is said to have appeared when Brahma dropped a lotus flower. It's an important pilgrimage centre and we shall see plenty of Sadhus. Pushkar has some temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were destroyed by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. We visit the famous temple of Lord Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity.
We start our experience of Udaipur by visiting the City Palace. The palace has several architectural and artistic highlights such as the Mor Chowk, known for its stunning peacock mosaics and the Bhim Vilas Palace with its series of lovely wall paintings. From the City Palace we can see the Lake Place, shimmering like a jewel in Lake Pichola. Later we visit the Jagdish Temple, Fateh Sagar Lake and Saheliyon Ki Bari, the Garden of Maids. We end our tour of Udaipur with a boat ride at Lake Pichola and visit Jag Mandir, a palace built on an island in 1551. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort and pleasure palace for holding parties.
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Jodhpur. En-route we visit the famous Ranakpur temples, constructed in the AD 1439. The Ranakpur Jain Temple was 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. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 Kilograms whose sound echoes in the entire complex. After visiting Ranakpur, we drive to Jodhpur. On arrival we check in our hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax.
Today we tour across Jodhpur starting with a visit to Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India. The fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. We enter through the Gate of Victory (Jaipal) and explore the series of courtyards and palaces decorated with beautiful terracotta lattice work. The museum in the fort has one of the best collections of the splendid trappings of Indian royalty, including some amazing elephant’s howdahs (essential for glittering processions), miniature paintings and the inevitable Rajput armory and ephemera from ivory inlaid ladies dumbbells to camel bone carpet weights. Later we visit Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II with an array of whimsical domes.
We visit Jaisalmer Fort*, one of the largest forts in the world. It was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from where it derives name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the "Golden Fort". Life within the citadel conjures up images of medieval times as we wander through narrow lanes filled with havelis (mansions), temples, skilled artisans and of course camels. We then explore the Jain temple dating to the 11th century BC, the Folk Museum and Patwon-ki-Haveli, the home of a wealthy merchant belonging to powerful Oswal Jain community and banker who had over three hundred trading centres from Afghanistan to China. This ornate five-storey complex took fifty years to complete and is the largest, and most elaborate of Jaisalmer’s havelis. We also visit Gadisar Tank, a scenic rainwater lake with numerous beautiful shrines around and a spectacular avian variety. In the late afternoon we drive to Sam village in the Thar Desert. We ride on camels to the nearby sand dunes to enjoy the beautiful desert sunset.
After breakfast we drive to Bikaner and check in our heritage hotel. In the afternoon we visit Junagarh Fort, built by Raja Rai Singh. Rai Singh had conquered part of Marwar and had been granted territory in Gujurat and Burhanpur by the Mughal emperor Akbar as a reward for his services as military commander. During his imperial service he travelled extensively, giving him an appreciation of art and architecture. These ideas have been incorporated meticulously into the architectural style of Junagarh Fort. Later we visit camel breeding farm set within the sand Dunes, the only farm of its kind in whole of Asia.
After breakfast we drive to Deshnoke to visit the famous Rat Temple dedicated to the Goddess Karni Mata. This ornate, isolated Hindu temple was constructed by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the early 1900s as a tribute to the rat goddess, Karni Mata. Intricate marble panels line the entrance and the floors, and silver and gold decorations are found throughout. But by far the most intriguing aspect of the interior are approximately 20,000 rats that call this temple home. These holy animals are called kabbas, and many people travel great distances to pay their respects. Later we drive to Mandawa, one of the finest of the small towns in the Shekhawati region. We explore Mandawa’s famous "The Open-Air Art Gallery of Rajasthan", visiting havelis, where the walls have been decorated with beautiful frescos depicting different aspects of the life in Rajasthan. From here we continue our drive to Alsisar and check in at Alsisar Mahal.
* DENOTES UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES INCLUDED
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