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DAY
01 : ARRIVE DELHI
 Arrive
Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted
with your baggages at the airport by our executive and transferred
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, half day city tour of 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 Humayuns Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is
an early example of Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive past
India Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The tour ends with
a visit to Laxmi
Narayan Temple.
DAY
03 : DELHI - MANDAWA
 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
Morning, 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
Morning, 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
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 - RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR
After breakfast, leave for Udaipur.
Enroute visiting 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. Rest of the day
at leisure
DAY
09 : UDAIPUR
Morning, 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 10 : UDAIPUR - CHITTORGARH - PUSHKAR
After breakfast, leave for Pushkar, enroute visiting
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. Arrive Pushkar
and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 11 : PUSHKAR - JAIPUR
After breakfast, Visit
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 colorful cattle fairs
- the Pushkar Fair.
 Afternoon,
leave for Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 12 : 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 13 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
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 check-in at prebooked hotel. Overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 14 : AGRA
After breakfast, 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;
Itmad-ud-daulah, which was contructed by Nur Jahan between
1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for
her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; 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, free for individual activities.
DAY 15 : AGRA - JHANSI (TRAIN)
JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO
(178 Kms., 04-05 Hrs. Drive)
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board
Shatabdi Express, scheduled to depart for Jhansi at 0815 hrs. Arrive
Jhansi at 1025 hrs., transfer to Khajuraho, enroute visit
Orchha : Once the capital of Bundelas, Orchha is a village, set
amongst a complex of well preserved palaces and temples. Though
Orcha was founded in 1531, it's golden age was during the first
half of 17th century. When Jahangir visiting the city in 1606, a
special palace, the Jehangir Mahal was built for him. Visit the
Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal & Ram Raja temple which also dates
back to the 17th century.
Arrive Khajuraho and check-in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 16 : KHAJURAHO - VARANASI
(FLIGHT)
After breakfast visit Khajuraho : Built by the warrior Chandela
dynasty that rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th
centuries, the 25 odd surving temples display different facets of
life, including the sensual. These erotic carvings on some panels
have given rise to much speculation since Khajuraho’s re-discovery
by a British officer in 1838. To preserve it for posterity, Khajuraho
has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Visit the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings
between 950 AD & 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset
Yogini temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev temple, Chitragupta
or Bharatji temple with lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishwanath
& Nandi temples, Lakshmana temple, Visha temple dedicated to
Shiva, which is the largest & most typical of temples.
Afternoon, transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi
: formerly known as Kashi – the city that illuminates. The
religious capital of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living city
of India & one of the worlds’ most ancient. The present name
is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence of the
rivers Varuna & Asi. Arrive Varanasi and transfer
to prebooked hotel.
DAY 17 : VARANASI
Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the
bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the
riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting
sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals,
ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across
have fascinated visitors from all over the world. Return to hotel
for breakfast.
After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi - Visit the Bharat Mata temple
with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas
Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery &
the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.
 Afternoon,
excursion to Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this one
is seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of Benares
still resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar Hall) and
the royal museum housing collections of palanquins, elephant saddles,
arms, furniture, costumes, etc., are a must see at the Ramnagar
fort. Return by boat in the evening, enroute witness the religious
ceremonies along the banks of river Ganges.
DAY 18 : VARANASI
- DELHI (FLIGHT)
After breakfast, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist
city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment
at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he
preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the
'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this
place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Sarnath
was a renowned school of learning from 16th century BC to 12th century
AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple & the museum
(closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its
four guardian lions, used as independent Indias’ national emblem.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive
Delhi and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY
19 : DEPART DELHI
Early Morning, ransfer to the airport to board flight back
home/onward destination.
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