DAY
01 : ARRIVE DELHI
 On
arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked
hotel.
Delhi
: India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in
its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location
was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it
as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the
British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi
is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the
Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably
confront the citys’ past.
DAY 02 :
DELHI
After
breakfast, visit Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest
mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started
in 1844 and was not completed until 1658 ; Red Fort, which was
also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638
to 1648 ; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation
site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon,
city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayun's Tomb : built in
mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture
; Qutab Minar drive past India Gate, President House
and other govt. buildings. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi
Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY
03 : DELHI - MANDAWA
(250 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Mandawa. Arrive Mandawa and check in at prebooked
hotel.
Afternoon,
visit Mandawa (Shekawati region). This region came into prominence
in the 14th century when a number of Muslim clans moved into the
area and the towns of this region developed into important trading
posts on the caravan routes emanating from the ports of Gujarat.
This region is famous for painted havelis (houses) most of which
date back from the 18th century. The major towns of interest are
Mandawa, Fatehpur, Nawalgarh. Visit the havelis in Mandawa and
other villages of Shekhawati region.
DAY
04 : MANDAWA - BIKANER
(190 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
 After
breakfast, leave for Bikaner. Arrive Bikaner and check-in at prebooked
hotel.
Afternoon,
city tour of Bikaner - a desert town founded in 1488 by Rao Bikaji,
a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur, Jodhaji. Visit the Junagarh
Fort which was contructed between 1588 and 1593 by a general in
the army of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar. The
fort has a 986m long wall with 37 bastions and two entrances;
Camel Breeding Farm, managed by goverment this camel breeding
station is probably unique in Asia and has thousands of camels.
DAY
05 : BIKANER - JAISALMER
(333 KMS, 05-06 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, excursion to Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke.
Afternoon,
leave for Jaisalmer. Arrive Jaisalmer and check-in at prebooked
hotel.
DAY
06 : JAISALMER
After breakfast,
city tour of Jaisalmer. Visit the the citadel – the Fort built
by Rawal Jaisal where a fourth of the population lives. The fort
also houses Jain temples of the 12th to 15th centuries, Patwon
Ki Haveli – a five storey mansion with carved pillars & murals
of Salim Singh. Also visit Gadsisar, which had once supplied water
to the city ; the temples & archways around it have been built
by a courtesan.
Afternoon,
excursion to Sam – 45 km away, is known for its sand dunes &
is the venue for the Desert festival. Get the actual feel of the
desert by enjoying a camel ride on the sand dunes and witness
a magnificent sunset on the sand dunes. Return to Jaisalmer for
overnight stay.
DAY 07 :
JAISALMER - JODHPUR
(290 KMS, 05-06 HRS DRIVE)
 After
breakfast, leave for Jodhpur. On arrival in Jodhpur, check-in at
prebooked hotel.
In
the afternoon, city tour of Jodhpur : Visit the Mehrangarh Fort
which literally means “Majestic Fort”, located at the very centre
of the city. There are ,in all , three gates , each built to commemorate
a particular victory, as well as to reinforce the fort. It has a
collection of musical instruments, palanquins, furniture & cannons
on the forts’ ramparts are well preserved. Jaswant Thada : Close
to the fort complex lies this white marble cenotaph, built in 1899,
in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits of
Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen at Jaswant Thada.
DAY
08 : JODHPUR - MOUNT ABU
(264 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast,
leave for Mount Abu. On arrival check-in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon,
city tour of Mount Abu which is the only hill station in the state
of Rajasthan. Visit the Dilwara Jain temple, which are the main
attraction in Mt. Abu and are amongst the finest examples of Jain
architecture in India. The complex included 02 temples, the older
of which is the Vimal Visahi built in 1031 and is dedicated to the
first tirthankar, Adinath. The later Tejpal temple was built in
1230 AD and is dedicated to Neminath - the 22nd tirthankar.
DAY
09 : MOUNT ABU - RANAKPUR -
UDAIPUR
(275 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
 After
breakfast, leave for Udaipur, enroute visit the Jain temples at
Ranakpur : The cluster of temples, made of intricately sculpted
white marble, come across as a marvellousfeat of architecture. It
would take anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in 1460,
so well preserved & sparkling is the marble. The main temple
is supported on 1,444 pillars – none of which is similarly carved.
After the visit, continue drive to Udaipur. Arrive
Udaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
10 : UDAIPUR
After breakfast,
visit the romantic city of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace
which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish temple,
a fine Indo Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion ki Bari
or Garden of the Maids of Honour, which is a small garden with its
fountains, kiosks, marble elephants & lotus pool.
In
the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY
11 : UDAIPUR - CHITTORGARH - PUSHKAR
(310 KMS, 07-08 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Pushkar, enroute visit Chittorgarh. The hilltop
fortress of Chittorgarh epitomises the whole romantic ideal of Rajput
chivalry. The fort was  sacked
3 times from 1303 to 1568 by a stronger enemy and on each occasion,
the end was "Jauhar". The men donned the saffron robes
of martyrdom and rode out from the fort to certain death and the
women and children immolated themselves on a huge funeral pyre.
Continue drive to Pushkar.
Pushkar
- The holy lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord
Brahma himself. It is as important as Banaras or Puri. Devout Hindus
believe that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their
lifetime. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in
the holy Pushkar lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52
ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahma
is to be found here. While Pushkar is a heaven for the religiously
inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country's most colourful
cattle fairs - the Pushkar Fair. Arrive Pushkar and check
in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
12 : PUSHKAR - JAIPUR
(135 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, free to explore Pushkar on your own.
Afternoon,
leave for Jaipur - The Pink City : Jaipur needed a fresh coat of
paint to welcome its distinguished guest the Prince of Wales in
1905-6. The contractor inability to supply any other color in the
required quantity compelled the choice of pink shade for its walls.
A contractor’s compulsion famed Jaipur to Pinkcity. Since then the
PINK color is associated with hospitality in Rajput culture.
 Arrive
Jaipur and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
13 : JAIPUR
After
breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills
of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At a distance
of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state.
Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput
commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon,
city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum
having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and
weapons; Jantar Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja
Jai Singh in 1728 and the façade of Hawa Mahal.
DAY
14 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
(240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city
of Fatehpur Sikri : built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old
capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to
scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama
Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other Palaces which
are still preserved in its original glory.
 Continue
drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening and checkin at prebooked
hotel.
DAY 15 :
AGRA - DELHI
(203 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After
breafast, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built
by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time
of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and
private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues; the highlight
of the day - The Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah
Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj
began in 1631 and was not completed until 1653.
Afternoon,
leave for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
16 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.
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