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Royal and Rustic India

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Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
Places to Visit: Mumbai / Delhi / Varanasi / Khajuraho / Orchha / Gwalior / Agra / Jaipur / Luni / Jaisalmer / Bikaner / Khimsar / Jodhpur / Narlai / Ranakpur / Udaipur / Ahmedabad / Mumbai

Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival at Delhi you will be transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Day 02 Delhi
After breakfast set out to visit the imperial capital of the 20th century : New Delhi. Visit the Qutub Minar – the tallest free standing minaret in stone in the world; then onto Humayun’s tomb – the first Mughal construction in India from 1565 AD. Also see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India Gate built in the earlier half of the 20th century. Drive through the old city past the Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid – the biggest of its kind in India. Here take a rickshaw through the winding streets of the old city to see the life of the people in this part of the world. A perfect introduction of your tour. The rickshaw puller pulls you through the imperial avenue the Chandni Chowk where you will find each and every small business under the sky. Finally, reach Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where your chauffeur is waiting for you.

Day 03 Delhi – Varanasi
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi. En route to your hotel visit Sarnath – the sacred Buddhist city where Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon to his 5 disciples under the bodhi tree. Visit the site and the temple attached to it. See the frescoes related to the life of Buddha inside the temple. Also visit the archaeological museum that houses artifacts from the 3rd century BC. Most interesting is the lion capital of Ashoka Maurya from 272 BC. Adjacent to the museum is the ancient seat of learning from the 2nd century BC now completely in ruins. Also see the Dhamek stupa and the Dharmarajika Stupa where hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims offer there prayers. continue to Varanasi just 11 km away and check in to your hotel.

Day 04 Varanasi - Khajuraho
Early in the morning (0500hrs) we take you to banks of the river Ganges where we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika Ghat along the sacred Ganges. Don’t forget to see the sun rise along the Ganges. See the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvyapi kund and the mosque attached to it. Also visit the Benares Hindu University the largest residential university in India with more than 3000 residential students. Also worth a visit is the Bharat Mata Mandir(Mother India temple) where you see the undivided India – Mahatma Gandhi’s Dream.

Return to your hotel for breakfast. In time transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Khajuraho – the millenium destination of India.

In the evening witness the DANCES OF INDIA SHOW in a nearby auditorium

Day 05 Khajuraho – Orchha
Morning sight seeing shows us the temples built during the 9th to the 11th centuries by the powerful dynasty of Chandela rajputs. The temples with their erotic sculptures are a feast to the eyes. The Chandelas built 85 temples in all but today only 20 temples stand intact. Visit the Kandariya Maheshwar temple and the Laxmana Temple along with Varaha temple and then onto the Jain group of temples. Post lunch carry on towards Orchha.

Visit Orchha with its imposing Jehangiri Mehal and the cenotaphs of the Bundela Rajput warriors. Orchha a medieval village where time has stopped. You feel the timelessness of this spot. Orchha is a medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces and temples of the 16th and 17th century – which have remarkably withstood the onslaught of time. The river Betwa picturesquely flanks the city. See the beautiful Palace Complex – Jahangiri Mahal and the Raja Mahal. Closely study the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja Mahal . Visit the visit the laxmi Narayan temple during the prayer time in the evening to witness the Hindu devotees offering prayers in the temple.
Overnight in Orchha Resort.

Day 06 Orchha – Gwalior – Agra
After breakfast at your hotel leave for Agra enroute visiting the Scindia capital of Gwalior. A trip to Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the fort, Scindia Palace and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen. Also visit the Gurjari Mahal the palace of the Gurjar queen Mrignayani today housing an archaeological museum. Also see the Teli ka mandir and the Saas bahu ka mandir inside the fort.

Continue towards Agra a short distance away.

Overnight in Hotel Clarks Shiraz. Taj Facing rooms

Day 07 Agra
Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design, balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen anywhere in the world.

Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar that houses many fabulous palaces built in Indo Islamic style. See the marble palace of Shahjehan that was built with the remaining and rejected stones from the Taj Mahal – Mussamman Burj.

Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah – it is the first mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.

Day 8 Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur
Leave early morning for Jaipur and enroute visiting the phantom city of Fatehpur Sikri : the erstwhile capital of the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great.

Visit the diwan-i-am - the hall of public audiences where the emperor used to give justice to the oppressed subject of his. See Jodhabai’s palace (Akbar’s Hindu wife) that is even bigger than his own private palace. Later visit Salim Chisti’s tomb at the nearby mosque. Salim chisti was a sufi saint who blessed Akbar and his Hindu wife with a long awaited son. Akbar was so overwhelmed that he built a mosque in his remembrance to thank the Sufi saint.

Continue towards the Pink City - Jaipur.

Upon arrival check in Hotel Alsisar Haveli.

Day 9 Jaipur
Visit the Amber forts and palaces in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Sheesh mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens. Also visit the carpet manufacturing factory in the city of Amber.

After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician, an astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold latticed work. The city palace houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery. This evening after the visit discover the art of cutting and polishing of gems for which Jaipur is world renouned. Visit the gems cutting and polishing atelier in the city of Jaipur.

Day 10 Jaipur – Luni
After a leisurely breakfast in your hotel leave for Luni. Luni is a quaint little village with a palace hotel in the center of this village. Luni is abishnoi village where life is respected in every form. It is a lifetime experience to be received by the royal family who still lives inside the castle.

In the evening the ambiance is lit up by local artistes and performers who dance to local tunes.

Day 11 Luni – Jaisalmer
Early morning after breakfast we take you on a safari to discover the hidden beauty of the jungle life. Here you would be visiting the Bishnoi villages. Bishnois are a tribe that respects life in every form – animals trees and even dead leaves and branches. They are vegetarians and even in the villages they protect the animal life and don’t let anybody practice hunting in the vicinity of their villages. They live in a joint family system where the oldest member is generally the head of the family.

Then we would like you to witness the opium ceremony with the Patels – a rich tribe. It is a ceremony prevelant in this part of Rajasthan where the youth offers opium to drink mixed with water to the elders of the family when they come back from work in the fields.

Leave Luni after breakfast for Jaisalmer – the Golden city of Rajasthan and on route visit the fort at Pokaran Visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by early evening.

Day 12 Jaisalmer
In the morning after the breakfast at your hotel discover the hidden bounties of this desert capital of the Bhattis. Visit the Jain temples inside the oldest living citadel in the world. Also visit the Palace with its beautiful museum and also the Patwaon ki haveli just outside the citadel.

After lunch leave for Khuri / Sam dunes to witness the sunset amidst the sand dunes in the desert. At Khuri / Sam included is a camel ride to the dunes from the parking. As the sun goes down the western horizon the ambiance is set for the ethnic desert tunes by local artistes. Return to your hotel after sunset.

Day 13 Jaisalmer – Bikaner
Leave the Golden City and proceed towards Bikaner and reach by lunch time.
See the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. Later visit the camel-breeding farm, a unique experience. Evening time free to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner city centre.

Day 14 Bikaner – Deshnoke – Nagaur - Khimsar
In the morning after breakfast leave Bikaner to visit the world famous temple in the vicinity of Bikaner –the Karni Mata Mandir (Rat Temple). According to scriptures it is one of the most sacred temples for the Hindus.

Continue towards Nagaur and visit the Ahichatragarh fort of the Rathores of Jodhpur royal family. Visit the Hawa mahal and Hadi Rani Mahal and the fresco paintings on the walls of the palaces.

Continue a short distance away towards Khimsar and stay the night in Fort Khimsar.

Day 15 Khimsar – Jodhpur
Reach the blue city -- Jodhpur. Upon arrival drive to the Mehrangarh fort the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking.

Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the spices filling the air around you

Then go to Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur.

Day 16 Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Narlai
190 km 4 hrs

Leave the Suncity and reach Ranakpur a big pilgrimage for the Jains. Jains are a community that developed during the 3rd century under Lord Mahavira (a contemporary of Lord Buddha) and they are strict vegetarians by religion. They eat nothing that grows below the earth like carrots, radish, potatoes etc. Their food consists of rice, wheat, lentils and green leafy vegetables.

Admire the workmanship from the 16th century. The temples are built out of marble and the main shrine of Adinath with 1444 columns is awe inspiring and none of these are similar. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus.

After lunch in Ranakpur continue towards Narlai. Upon arrival in Narlai time is free for you to visit the local bazaar of the village that is so exciting and colourful.

Day 17 Narlai – Kumbhalgarh – Udaipur
After breakfast leave Sunset city of Udaipur visiting Kumbhalgarh fortress on the way.

Upon arrival in Udaipur check in to your hotel. After lunch visit the royal temple complex at Eklingji that is famous throughout the region. Eklingji temple is group of temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. The most important of them all being the Shiva temple which is visited by the royal family of Mewar. Later visit the Saa Bahu temple comlex in the vicinity that dates back to the 7th century.

Day 18 Udaipur
After breakfast in your hotel leave for the magnificent city tour of Mewar – Udaipur.

Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See the Peacock Square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises. Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature art schools in the country under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur.

Return to the city and visit Sahelion ki Bari a garden with fountains and a small palace inside it. Sahelion ki Bari is a garden complex where Maharana Sangram Singh build this garden complex with fountains and lakes for his beautiful daughter.

In the evening we take a lake cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichhola by sunset and visit the island palace Jagmandir where according to legends the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan lived and got inspired to build the Taj mahal later

Day 19 Udaipur – Ahmedabad
After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel leave for Ahmedabad. Reach Ahmedabad by early evening and relax at your hotel The Park Plaza.

Day 20 Ahmedabad – Next Destination
After morning breakfast at your hotel visit the city of Mahatma Gandhi. Visit the Sabarmati Ashram where the Mahatma spent the maximum amount of his life and the ashram that was transformed in to a jail by the British from time to time to house arrest Mahatma Gandhi.

Also visit the Jama Masjid which is very particularly Persian in its architectural pattern.

A visit to Ahmedabad is incomplete without a visit to the Calico Textile Museum where you will see textiles of different variety on display (not for sale). Post lunch session is free for you to walk along the old city and feel the city at your own pace.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to ONWARD DESTINATION.

END OF TOUR

This tour includes:

Daily breakfasts
All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary
Consultation with a renowned astrologer in Delhi.
Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur
Camel ride in Sam / Khuri
Rickshaw ride in the old city of Delhi
Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned
Air conditioned car with chauffeur
All applicable taxes
Sunset cruise on Lake Pichhola in Udaipur
Early morning boat rides on river Ganges in Varanasi
Welcome dinner in New Delhi.
Dances of India show in Khajuraho
English speaking local guides wherever required.
Airfare for sectors: Delhi – Varanasi - Khajuraho