 |
|
Multicultural India
Tour 06
|
Feel free to
contact us for further details, costing,
and customized multicultural trips.
|
|
 |
|
Day 1 :
Arrive at Delhi
|
|
You will be met and assisted on your arrival and transferred to a
hotel for an overnight stay. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 2 :
In Delhi
|
Delhi, the
capital of India is at least as ancient as Rome and has
survived in as many avtars. This morning our tour will take us
to Old and New Delhi, which are the present names of the
portions built by the Mughals and the British respectively. In
Old Delhi we will visit the Red Fort, the Raj Ghat and Jama
Masjid and then proceed to Chandni Chowk to savour the
ambience of a crowded oriental bazaar. In New Delhi we will
pass by India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament
House visit the imposing Lakshmi Naryan Temple, the 12th
century Qutab Minar and the mausoleum of emperor Humayun.
Enjoy an evening of leisure. Overnight stay will be arranged
at a hotel in Delhi. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 3 :
Delhi / Mandawa (265 Kms)
|
This morning we drive for 5-7 hours - 265 kms, towards the Shekhavati
region called Mandawa, northwest of Rajasthan. It is popularly
known as Rajasthan’s open art gallery. A walking tour of this
small province will take us to traditional mud houses and
havelis decorated with wall paintings. In Mandava your stay
will be arranged at
Mandawa Castle managed and run by the royal family. Dinner in
the garden of the castle with a flame torch procession and
local folk dances is an option definitely worth considering.
Overnight stay will be arranged at Mandwa Castle Hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 4 :
Mandawa / Bikaner (200 kms) |
This morning we will drive 200 km. to
Bikaner in northern Rajasthan.
High battlement walls surround the city as is usual to
Rajasthani cities. Rao Bhikaji founded it in 1488, and it was
a major centre of cross-desert caravan trade. Bikaner is
renowned for the best riding camels in the world., The most
imposing structure in the city is the Bikaner Fort
distinguished by its long range of 37 bastions, balconies and
aerial windows. It houses many palaces, temples and mosques
inside. The Fort bore the brunt of many invasions because of
its strategic location on the caravan route and the commercial
importance of the city. In the Mata Karni temple near the
fort, rats are considered sacred and worshipped.
Enjoy an evening of leisure. Overnight stay will be arranged
at hotel in Bikaner. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 5 :
Bikaner / Jaisalmer (333 kms) |
This morning, after a tour of
Bikaner we will drive to Jaisalmer at a distance of 333km.
Jaisalmer was once a major staging post on trade route across
the forbidding Thar dessert from India to the West. The Bhatti
Rajput chieftain Rawal Jaisal founded the city in the year
1156. Located at the heart of the great Thar Desert, it offers
the visitor an enchanting world of fables and a very colourful
history. It also boasts of magnificent wood-and stone-carved
mansions and temples built by the once very prosperous Rajputs.
The desert festival held here during January and February
attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Enjoy an evening of leisure. Overnight stay will be arranged
at a hotel in Jaisalmer. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 6 :
In Jaisalmer |
The tour on this day will include a half-day excursion to
Akal Wood Fossil Park, 16 Km. from
Jaisalmer and 3 Km. off the road to Barmer. The Park contains
fossilized remains of a 180 million-year-old forest. Guides
available at the park can help you to benefit fully from this
excursion, which an untrained eye may not be able to
appreciate. It is an option definitely worth considering. The
park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Jaisalmer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 7 :
Jaisalmer/Manwar (200 kms)
|
This morning we drive 200 km. to Manwar and on to a desert camp for an
evening of leisure. Enjoy your dinner on the dunes around a
campfire and folk dances by local performers.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Manawar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 8 :
Manwar / Jodhpur (160 kms) |
Our drive on this day will take us to Rajasthan's second largest city
Jodhpur, situated at the eastern edge of the Thar Desert, in
Marwar, the ‘region of death’. The Rajput Chief Rao Jodha
founded the city in 1459.
The massive Mehrangarh Fort dominates the city landscape. It
is on top of a sheer rocky sandstone hill, right in the middle
of the town. A 10-Km long wall with 8 gates surrounds the old
part of the city. In this part a maze of winding streets and
lanes provide a fascinating walk.
Jodhpur also known as the "Blue City" after the coat of blue
given to the buildings, is an interesting and convenient
stopover for an extensive tour of Rajasthan
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Jodhpur.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 9 :
In Jodhpur
|
Our Tour on this day will take us to the high walls of the Mehrangarh
Fort. Fine carvings inside the palace fort form a delightful
contrast to the austere sandstone facades. Opposite the fort
lies Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial in the memory of
Jaswant Singh I, which was erected in 1899. A visit to the
local bazaar, famous for it’s spices, is a ‘must’.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in
Jodhpur. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 10 :
Jodhpur / Rohetgarh (40 kms)
|
This morning will drive to a small Rajput lord’s haveli called
Rohetgarh. Rohetgarh Fort lies about 40 km. from
Jodhpur. The fort has now been
converted into a heritage hotel. In the village nearby Bruce
Chatwin wrote The Songlines and William Dalrymple began The
City of Djinns. The residents of this village, the Bishnoi
community (followers of Guru Jamboji of the 15th century, and
his 29 principles) are arguably the first ecologists of the
world. They worship the magnificent black buck as an
incarnation of Lord Krishna and protect all trees and animals
in their land. A jeep safari will be arranged to view the
black buck and the village.
Overnight stay will be arranged at Rohetgarh Fort Hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 11 :
Rohetgarh/ Udaipur (266 kms) |
This morning we drive 266 km. to
Udaipur (via Ranakpur),
altogether a journey of about 7-8 hrs. We will visit the
Ranakpur Temple of the Jains in the lovely Aravali valley on
the way to Udaipur. It was built in the 15th century. The town
of Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha, the legendary warrior
king of Udaipur. Its surroundings are peaceful and
picturesque.
Udaipur is known for its many romantic stories. The landmark
of this city is the summer home of the Maharaja of Udipur –
the Lake Palace, which from a distance
looks “adrift like a snowflake” in the centre of the Lake Pichola. The placid lake has
an area of 12 sq km.
Later in the afternoon we will visit the City Palace Museum, which is on the
banks of Lake, Jagdish temple and a garden dedicated to the
maids of honour, called Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, the Heritage hotel
and a part of Maharaja’s residence.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Udaipur.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 12 :
Udaipur /Pushkar (310 kms)
|
We drive 310 kms for Pushkar on this day, a town 11 km. from
Ajmer, on the edge of the
desert. Pushkar, a tiny tranquil town lies along the bank of
the picturesque Pushkar Lake – one of the holiest lakes of
Hindus. Surrounded by hill on three sides, Pushkar abounds in
temples. Of these the most famous is the Brahma temple, the
only one dedicated to Lord Brahma in the World. It also boasts
of a world famous cattle fair which takes place in November
every year. Although a serene town, Pushkar bustles with life
during the joyous celebrations during this fair. At Pushkar
you can explore the city and visit the shrine at leisure.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Pushkar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 13 :
Pushkar / Jaipur (260 kms)
|
This morning we drive to Jaipur, the Capital of Rajasthan. Founded in
1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, It is also known as the Pink
city of India as it was
painted pink to welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince Albert in
1883. Here royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces
and guests are treated as gods, a tradition handed down from
time immemorial. The famous Rajput chivalry is evident in the
everyday life here.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Jaipur.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 14 :
In Jaipur |
This morning’s tour of Jaipur will begins with the Maharaja's City
Palace, the former royal residence, part of it converted into
a museum. A small portion is still used by the members of the
former royal family. Built in the style of a fortified campus,
the palace covers almost one-seventh the area of the walled
part of the city. One of the major attractions in the Armoury
Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols,
blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. Members
of the royal family of Jaipur once used most of these weapons.
We will also visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest
observatory of its kind in the world, crafted out of stone and
marble. It stands near the gate of the city palace and has 17
large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Jaipur.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 15 :
Jaipur/Agra (245 kms)
|
The day begins with a drive to
Agra, the city of the Taj located on the banks of river Yamuna.
Once Agra was the capital of the Mughal empire. On the way,
during this 6 hrs, 245 km drive we will visit Fathepur sikri,
the deserted capital of Emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri, in all
its glory and beauty, was abandoned due to scarcity of water.
Here in the 'Ghost City' we will visit the Jama Masjid, tomb
of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and several other palaces
housed within.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Agra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 16 :
In Agra
|
Agra
alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire
during most of the reign of the dynasty. This is why one finds
many architectural masterpieces of the period in and around
the city. This morning we will visit the most famous of these
- the Taj Mahal of course. We will also visit the Agra Fort
(also called the Red Fort), almost as aesthetic and with a
very interesting history as well. Other major attractions on
this tour include the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jama Masjid,
Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, Rambagh and the Mughal Garden.
Besides these historical monuments, one can also explore
Agra’s rich cultural heritage and the handicrafts in its
quaint oriental bazaars are prized both at home and abroad.
Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Agra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 17 :
Agra/ Delhi (220 kms) |
|
We depart for Delhi this morning. The drive
is approximately four hours, 220 km. On the way we will visit
the birthplace of Lord Krishna – Mathura and Vrindavan where
it is believed, Radha and Krishna were married under a banyan tree (Bhadrivat) while Brahma, a god
belonging to the holiest Hindu trinity, presided as an
officiating priest. The ceremony was supposed to have been
also attended by other gods. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 18 :
Departure from Delhi
|
This morning our tour will take us to Old and New Delhi, which are the
present names of the portions built by the Mughals and the
British respectively. In Old Delhi we will visit the Red Fort,
the Raj Ghat and Jama Masjid and then proceed to Chandni Chowk
to savour the ambience of a crowded oriental bazaar. In New
Delhi we will pass by India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and
the Parliament House visit the imposing Lakshmi Naryan Temple,
the 12th century Qutab Minar and the mausoleum of emperor Shah
Jehan.
Transfer will be provided in time to board a flight to your
onward destination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kindly note the above
package is flexible and can be customized as per your requirement. |
|
Ø You can have a choice
of 5 star hotels, 4 star hotels, 3 star hotels, budget hotels.
Ø
The above tour will be
organized with a "chauffeur driven" car / private coach.
Ø
The trip can be
organized for singles, families, couples, groups, universities.
Ø
The package will
commence on a date convenient to travelers.
Ø
Kindly contact us for further information & Costs. Please provide us with exact number of persons,
age of participants, month of travel, type of
hotels required, and if any changes required in the above tour program.
|
|
|
|
Feel free to
contact us for further details, costing,
and customized multicultural trips. |
|
|
|
|
|