Cultural Tour of Rajasthan

Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival at International airport & transfer to hotel. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting Qutub Minar, India Gate, Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, drive past Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Parliament Street and President House. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Delhi – Mandawa (By Surface)
Morning drive to Mandawa the heart of the Thar Desert which used to be a medieval Indian trade city and still has beautifully preserved houses of medieval Indian traders in typical Rajput style – wooden doors, bamboo thatched roofs, mud plastered walls and floor and ethnic decor etc. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon visit of Mandawa. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Mandawa – Samode (By Surface)
Morning drive to Samode. On arrival, check in at hotel. Samode Palace is one of India’s most charming and romantic hotels. If offers a quiet, elegant and luxurious atmosphere. The Palace has been meticulously restored offering a retreat into an aesthetically beautifully environment where visitors can enjoy India’s natural beauty and rich history. Samode palace was transformed into one the country’s premium palace hotels in 1987, and is a perfect example of Samode according to the Rajputana Gazetteer of 1879 was a large and flourishing town. The Zamindars (landlords) of Samode the principal Thakurs of the state of Amber were the Nathawat clan from Chomu, a branch of the house of Amber, tracing their relation to the Jaipur Maharaja the fabled Prithviraj Singhji the 17th Prince of the house of Kacchwaha Rajputs. Evening sightseeing tour of Samode. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Samode – Roopangarh (By Surface)
Morning drive to Roopengarh. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Roopengarh visiting fort and palaces etc. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Roopengarh – Deogarh (By Surface)
Morning drive to Deogarh. On arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Deogarh. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Deogarh – Kumbhalgarh (By Surface)
Morning drive to Kumbhalgarh. Rana Kumbha, the legendary Mewari Hero, an astute and a great builder constructed 32 of the 84 fortresses in Mewar. Of these, the most imposing one is Kumbhalgarh – set amidst 36 Kms of the twenty feet thick ramparts and 365 temples. It is a place for serenity and calm of the countryside away from the madding crowd. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Kumbhalgarh – Udaipur (By Surface)
Morning enjoy the exciting visit to the adjoining wildlife sanctuary which boasts of panthers, wild- boars, antelope, deer etc. and meet the local tribals BHIL & GARASIAS. After visit drive to Udaipur. On arrival check in at the hotel. Evening we take a boat ride on the Lake Pichola. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Udaipur
Built along three lakes and ringed by green hills, Udaipur (pop, 366.000) is known as the ‘Venice of the East’ The City’s palaces, gardens, ghats, temples and painted houses match the beauty of the setting. This morning we’ll visit the towering City Palace, the largest in Rajasthan, and the Saheliyon ki Bari (Garden of the Maidens.) Once for bidden to all but the queen and her ladies. From here we visit the e superb Jagdish Temple noted for its elephant – motif carvings. Afternoon is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Udaipur –Rohetgarh (By Surface)
Morning drive to Rohetgarh. Rohetgarh is an old family property of the Thakur of Rohet, and now converted into hotel. The Garh is walled all around and set within a village in the semi-desert country. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon Ride 12 Km through scrubland to visit the hamlets of the Bishnoi tribe. You will see herds of Blackbuck & Chinkara. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Rohetgarh –Jodhpur (By Surface)
Morning drive to Jodhpur. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Jodhpur the gateway to the Thar Desert, the city is known for its striking forts, stately palaces and gracious building. Arrive Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan, standing on the edge of the Thar Desert. The old city was founded by Rao Jodha, its walls with seven gates and countless bastions and towers were built by Rao Maldeo in the 16th Century when Jodhpur was a booming trading town. Jodhpur is called the “Blue City” for the characteristic plea indigo color of its traditional homes.

There are many great fortresses throughout Rajasthan, but non compare with the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, built atop a 400 ft. promontory. Within this invisible citadel are magnificent palaces with marvelously carved panels, latticed windows and evocative names. These palaces house a fabulous collection of possessions of Indian royalty, including a superb collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, and miniature paintings of various schools, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. Below the fort, visit the Jaswant Thada, a graceful marble cenotaph built 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II, and monuments to other Maharajahs of Jodhpur. Proceed into the heart of the bazaars for a view of local artisans at work as well as locals shopping of their wares. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Jodhpur – Bundi (By Surface)
Morning drive to Bundi. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Bundi is a dream remembered – named after Bunda, a Meena chieftan. A Rajput town so ancient that one gets the feeling of having stumbled upon a page of history. Bundi town nestles in a narrow valley, enclosed by huge walls and fortified by four gateways. In the centre of the township lies a lake. Places of interest are Chattar Mahal or palace of towers, eighty four pillared cenotaphs, the palace and Naval Sagar. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Bundi –Jaipur (By Surface)
Morning drive to Jaipur. Jaipur popularly known as the Pink City was built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Designed in accordance with Shilp Shastra – an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture – Jaipur follows a grid system. On arrival check in your hotel. Afternoon – tour of City Palace and Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. The Palace of winds – a five storied structure of pink sandstone has semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. It was originally built to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Jaipur
The capital of Rajasthan is the most colorful city in India. Today morning we visit the Amber Fort in the Aravali Hills, which is a super example of Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style architecture. A slow elephant ride takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several graceful buildings. Afternoon is spent visit the local bazaar. In the evening, we visit Chokhi Dhani where an ethnic village atmosphere is recreated each evening with thousands of oil lamps, folk dancers, acrobats, snake charmers, puppeteers etc. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (By Surface)
Morning drive to Agra en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri (The ghost city) for a tour of the magnificent and world heritage buildings still in a state of perfect preservation. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15: Agra
Agra was the capital of India under the Moghuls in the 16th and 17th centuries. This morning we see the exquisite tomb of the emperor Jehangir’s chief minister and father-in – law, often called the ‘BABY TAJ’ because its design foreshadows the Taj Mahal,. Then we tour Agra’s Red Fort, built over three generations by the Moghul Emperors. Following an afternoon free, we go at sunset to see the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum built by a sorrowing Shah Jehan in memory of his young wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Building’s stupendous scale, flawless symmetry, translucent white marble and shimmering reflection in the water channel are truly breathtaking. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16: Agra – Delhi (By Surface)
Morning drive to Delhi en-route visit Sikandra. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 17: Departure Delhi
In time transfer to International airport to connect flight for onward destination.

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