| CULTURAL TOUR OF RAJASTHAN (12 Nights / 13 Days) Ex-Delhi |
| Delhi (2) – Agra (1) - Jaipur (2) – Bikaner (1) – Jaisalmer (2) – Jodhpur (1) – Udaipur (2) – Pushkar (1) |
| |
| Day 1: Delhi |
| Welcome to the Indian Capital. You are received on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Day is at leisure for shopping. Overnight stay at Delhi. |
| |
| Day 2: Delhi |
| After breakfast you set out to see Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humanyu's tomb etc. Overnight stay at Delhi. |
| |
| Day 3: Agra |
| Drive to Agra (200 km /5 hrs) after breakfast. Here you see Taj Mahal (most celebrated monument of love) and the Red Fort. Overnight stay at Agra. |
| |
| Day 4: Jaipur |
| Drive to Jaipur (235 km/ 5hrs). En route you see Fatehpur Sikri. Explore the colorful market and have lunch at Choki Dhani, a Rajasthani village theme resort. Overnight stay at Jaipur. |
| |
| Day 5: Jaipur |
| Sightseeing for the day includes Amber fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal etc. You can go for light & sound show at Amber in the evening. Overnight stay at Jaipur. |
| |
| Day 6: Bikaner |
| Drive to Bikaner (361 km / 6 hrs). Visit Junagarh fort (built on plains unlike all major forts of Rajasthan), camel breeding farm and the famous 'Karni Mata Mandir' or the rat temple at Deshnok. Overnight stay at Bikaner. |
| |
| Day 7: Jaisalmer |
| Drive to Jaisalmer (355km / 6-7 hrs). See the manmade lake (Jaisalmer’s only source of water for a long period ) and the royal cenotaphs at Bada Bagh. Overnight stay at Jaisalmer. |
| |
| Day 8: Jaisalmer |
| Morning visit the Forts and the Havelis. In the evening go for a camel safari in the rolling sand dunes of Sam. Overnight stay at Jaisalmer. |
| |
| Day 9: Jodhpur |
| Drive to Jodhpur (305 km / 6 hrs). In the afternoon visit the best preserved fort of Rajasthan - the Mehrangarh fort. Later see the marble cenotaph at Jaswant Thada, known as the Taj Mahal of Rajasthan. Overnight stay at Jodhpur. |
| |
| Day 10: Udaipur |
| Drive to Udaipur (269km / 5-6 hrs), the city of lakes. En route visit the amazing white marble Jain temples at Ranakpur. Evening free to explore the city on your own. Overnight stay at Udaipur. |
| |
| Day 11: Udaipur |
| Sightseeing for the day includes City Palace (don't miss the awesome crystal gallery), Jagdish Temple and the garden of maids (it was originally built for the maids of the queen who came along as wedding gifts). In the evening go for a boat ride in Lake Pichola. Overnight stay at Udaipur. |
| |
| Day 12: Pushkar |
| Drive to Pushkar (300 km / 6 hrs). En route you visit the fort of Chittaurgarh. Pushkar is known for its one of the very rare temples dedicated to Lord Brahma (considered the creator of universe in Hindu mythology). |
| |
| Day 13: Delhi |
| Drive back to Delhi (414 km / 7 hrs) for final departure. |
| |
| PALACE ON WHEELS (7 Nights / 8 Days) Ex-Delhi |
| |
| Day 1: Delhi Wednesday Tour begins: 0930 hrs |
| Join the tour group for a day tour of New Delhi. Tour includes visit to the India Gate, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, Humanyu’s Tomb and more. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the Safdarjung Railway station, New Delhi where the guests are accorded a warm, traditional welcome before the Palace on Wheels pulls out into the night ... for a week-long luxury cruise through fascinating Rajasthan. |
| |
| Day 2: Jaipur Thursday Arrival 02.00 hrs. Departure 19.30 hrs |
| The first stop of Palace on Wheels is Jaipur, one of the most well planned cities of the world of its time. This capital city of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded by Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II, in1727 A.D. |
| |
| To explore the city, an air-conditioned coach takes you to Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, followed by a visit to Amber Fort, where rides on caparisoned elephants add to the ambiance. Shop for Jaipur’s famous jewellery, handicrafts, carpets blue pottery and textiles. Near Ajmeri Gate is located Rajasthali - the only Rajasthan Govt. Emporium selling genuine handicrafts at fixed prices. |
| |
| After lunch at a Palace Hotel, you are off to the City Palace, home of the erstwhile royal family & nearby Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory built by the Sawai Jai Singh II. The Luxury coaches will take you back to Palace on Wheels around 6.30 pm. Dinner on Board. |
| |
| Day 3: Sawai Madhopur & Chittaurgarh Friday Arrival 05.30 hrs. (Sawai Madhopur) and 16.00 hrs (Chittaurgarh) |
| Sawai Madhopur is a city named after its founder Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I. After breakfast a visit is arranged to the Ranthambhor National Park, wherein are located the ruins of a 10th century fort. This wildlife sanctuary is considered to be the country’s best for observing and photographing the activities of the tiger. The park, covering an area of 392 sq.kms. is home to more than 300 species of birds. The tiger, hyena, ratel, jackal and fox are among those constituting the carnivorous population here. Sawai Madhopur is known for its exclusive toys, ethnic ornaments and costumes. Upon return to the Palace on Wheels, you leave for Chittaurgarh. |
| |
| After lunch on board you are in Chittaurgarh. Images of love and velour; scars of battles lost and won….thrice-besieged, Chittaurgarh Fort is all this and more. |
| |
| Day 4: Udaipur Saturday Arrival 08.00 hrs. Departure 15.30 hrs |
| Arrive in Udaipur, the Lake City at 8:00 AM. It was founded by Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar, after the Sisodia dynasty was driven away by the Mughals, in 1559A.D. Perhaps the two most beautiful sites of Udaipur are the dream-like marble Palaces-the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jag Mandir, which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichola. After lunch a visit to City Palace is exhilarating. |
| |
| In the evening visit the crystal gallery. Later proceed to Jaisalmer on board Palace on Wheels. |
| |
| Day 5: Jaisalmer Sunday Arrival 09.15 hrs. Departure 23.45 hrs |
| In the heart of the Thar Desert lies Jaisalmer, founded by Rawal Jaisal, in 1156A.D. The yellow sandstone fort is an imposing sight, towering magnificently over the city. Discover latticed Havelis or mansions with their grand facades. The Nathmalji-ki-haveli & Patwon-ki-haveli are fine examples of the stone carver’s skill. |
| |
| Shop at Rajasthali-the only Rajasthan Govt. emporium, for fine pattu shawls, mirror work & embroidered articles etc. After lunch on board, go for an exciting camel ride on the Sam sand dunes. Enjoy the dinner and the cultural programs at a hotel in Jaisalmer. The train leaves for Jodhpur at night. |
| |
| Day 6: Jodhpur Monday Arrival 07.00 hrs. |
| Next morning the Palace on wheels is in Jodhpur, a city ringed by a high stone wall with seven gates, and several bastions. This second largest city of Rajasthan, founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 A.D. is known for its rock-solid Mehrangarh Fort. Near the fort complex lies Jaswant Thada, and a group of royal cenotaphs made of white marble. After lunch at a royal Palace hotel, return to the Palace on Wheels. You can shop for the exquisite handcrafted articles including the embroidered shoes, metal curios, silverware, paintings and tie and dye fabrics. |
| |
| Day 7: Bharatpur Tuesday Arrival 05.00hrs. Departure 08.45 hrs |
| Early next morning, the Palace arrives in Bharatpur, the capital of Maharaja Suraj Mal. After breakfast pay a visit to the world famous bird sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the nesting place of thousands of Egrets, Siberian Cranes, migratory Water Fowl and other species of birds. |
| |
| Day 7: Agra Tuesday Arrival 10.30 hrs Departure 23.00 hrs |
| Arrive at Fatehpur Sikri-the red sandstone Mughal palatial complex. Within the enclosure is a mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and dedicated to the Sheikh Salim Chisti, a Muslim Sufi Saint who blessed him with a son. After lunch move on from the Red Fort and arrive at the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. A pristine monument of undying love. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Agra is known for its splendid marble inlay work like the Pietra Dura work on the Taj, leather goods and jewelry. After dinner on board and a good night’s sleep, arrive at Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi at 6.00 hrs the next morning for final departure. |
| |
