RAJWADA – NORTH INDIA

• Arrive Delhi.
• Upon arrival, Welcome by Mr. Deepak Gupta and transfer to your hotel.
• Welcome Non-alcoholic welcome drink at hotel.
• In its 3000 years of existence; seven cities have risen where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary. Where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist beside a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored. 

• Overnight at Hotel. (Meals not Included)

• After breakfast, enjoy the sightseeing of Delhi.
• Drive past Red Fort (Closed on Mondays) the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone surrounded by a huge 33 meters high boundary wall. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens.
• Near Red Fort is Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656 at a cost of one million Rupees has perfect proportions. Jama Masjid is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Theinterior of the prayer hall is divided into aisles by arches. The walls and floors are of marble inlay panels.

• Also, enjoy the Rickshaw Ride in the bazaars of Old Delhi.
• Also visit the Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
• You will drive Past Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the         President of India. 

• Photo stop at India Gate Built of Bharatpur stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died inthe 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 areengraved on the arch and foundations.

• Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal.
• Visit the Qutub Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek in 1199 and it is one of the tallest minaret in India (73 meters height). It is made from red sandstone & marbles.
• Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

• Post breakfast, drive towards Shekhawati.                                                                                                                        
• Arrive Shekhawati in the afternoon & transfer to hotel and Check-in.                                                                         
• Afternoon, visit the village & Haveli’s of Shekhawati region – was a trading outpost for the ancient caravan routes that stopped here from China and the Middle East. This town has been referred to as the “open art gallery” of Rajasthan because the entire Shekhawati region is dotted with fascinating mansions (havelis) that have lavishly painted walls.                                                                                                                                                
• Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

• Post breakfast, drive towards Bikaner – 500 years ago, a desert chieftain established his kingdom here, and over the centuries it has grown into an impressive town.  Its central fort offered the occupants safety from invaders, while inside, the rulers designed some beautiful apartments that carried echoes of opulence and in rain starved Bikaner, the images of monsoon clouds.                                                                                                          
• Arrive Bikaner and transfer to hotel.                                                                                                 
• Afternoon, city tour of Bikaner with Fort Junnagarh and Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, which displays collections of sculptures, terracotta objects, paintings and musical instruments. The Fort Junnagarth, built in the fifteenth century as a real eagle’s nest, is equipped with 37 bastions and a rampart of about 1000 meters long! One has to walk on a long ramp and several monumental gates. One can see many impacts of cannonballs, dating from many battles. The fort, which has various palaces and temples, is a maze of corridors, stairways and courtyards, revealing beautiful facades, carved balconies and windows.                                                    
• You will also visit the Jain temple with a walk from the old town by auto rickshaw.                                              
• Stop in a typical shop to see & taste the local preparation of Indian sweets highly regarded in the area!          
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel and check out from hotel.                                                                                                                     
• Depart for Jaisalmer is one of the last princely bastions in the region founded n what was the cross roads of lucrative trade routes,  this remote settlement came to be celebrated for the valour of its rulers and for the aesthetic sense represented by their palaces and haveli’s. The rich merchants engaged stone craftsmen who worked with great delicacy on the sandstone mansions they built, filling up facades with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. Today these veritable art museums are still inhabited and their colorful celebrations and festivals have placed Jaisalmer firmly on the world tourism map.               
• En-route visit Deshnok – Karni Mata Temple (also known as “Temple of Rats”).                                                       
• Arrive Jaisalmer late in the afternoon and Check-in at hotel.                                                                                             
• Rest of the time free to relax or for independent activities.                                                                                             
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel.

• Visit the old town, beautiful caravan city founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal. You will walk on foot through the narrow streets lined with polished stone benches by the years to admire the ‘havelis’ these sumptuous painted houses, mostly built by wealthy merchants marwaris. (Dealers) of the eighteenth century and whose openwork balconies are quite extraordinary.                                                                                  
• Visit the 12th century fortress that dominates the desert, surrounded by a double wall of the 15th and 16th century which houses the old palace of Maharaja the carved facade and the many rooms decorated with mosaics and paintings, and the white marble Jain temples finely crafted in which you will discover carved and colorful characters and inlaid mirrors typical of Rajasthan.The interior of the fortress is a dense Canvas animated with paved alleys staggered with stalls and stalls. It is also home to seven beautifully carved Jainna temples, built between the 12th and 15th centuries, and palaces including that of the former ruler, the Maharaja Palace, an imposing seven-storey building in the center of a vast court which served for the review of the troops.                                                                                                                             
• Then visit Gadi Sagar, a reservoir lake located south of the ramparts, which once provided water supply to the city. It is reached by a splendid gate and is surrounded by small temples and oratories.                                  
• Discover the Bara Bagh former garden of the rulers of Jaisalmer, visit the cenotaphs of Maharawal. Under the dome of each face a small cattery stele representing a “sati” sovereign who set herself on fire for not survive her royal husband.                                                                                                                                         
• Then, leave for Sodakore.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
• Late afternoon, excursion to Sand Dunes by Jeep to visit the Bishnoi village and Camel Ride at Dunes during the sunset.                                                                                                                                                                      
• Dinner on dunes with Rajasthani traditional music & dance. Return to the Hotel.                                                                
• Overnight at Hotel. 

• Post breakfast, drive towards Jodhpur, Set on the edge of the Thar desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama the epic hero of the Ramayana.                                                                                                                                                           
• Arrive Jodhpur in the afternoon and check in at hotel.                                                                                                   
• Afternoon, enjoy the sightseeing of Jodhpur.                                                                                                         
• Visit Mehrangarh Fort, which was built by Rao Jodha in 1459. It has various pavillions beautifully decorated and at times filled like museums with the old royal artifacts. From the top of the fort one can get a bird’s eye view of the old city. You will notice the predominance of blue houses referred to as Brahmin houses – the colour being associated with the high caste.                                                                                                                                          
• Also visit Jaswant Thada. It is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The monument, in its entirety, is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when the sun’s rays dance across their surface.                                                                                                                                                                               
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel.                                                                                                                                                                      
• Leave for Udaipur is known as the Venice of the East. It has to its credit some beautiful temples and gardens. It lies in the Girwa Valley amidst the Aravali hills of South Rajasthan. The City is considered a Romantic city with its lakes, gardens, temples and –an Oasis in the Thar Desert. Arrive Udaipur and transfer to the Hotel.                                
• En-route visit the Ranakpur Jain Temples – Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stones, Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain community. These temples were created in the 15th century A.D. during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. The central ‘Chaumukha’ or four-faced temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four-faced image of Adinath. Sprawling over 48,000 sq.feet, the temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars – all distinctly carved. Images of 24 tirthankars are carved on the ‘Mandaps’ or porticoes in a corridor around the shrine with each mandap having a ‘Shikhar’ or spire adorned with little bells on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridors move the bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three stories, the temple has four small shrines with 80 spires supported by 420 columns.                                  
• Arrive Udaipur in the evening and transfer to your hotel.                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• Rest of the time free to relax Or to visit the bazaars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel.                                                                                                                                                            
• Post breakfast, enjoy the sightseeing of Udaipur, which includes the visits to the following:                                                             
• City Palace: One of the largest royal complexes in Rajasthan, the City Palace stands majestically on a promontory on the picturesque Lake Pichola. The complex boasts 11 constituent Mahals (palaces), with balconies, towers and cupolas, offering a breathtaking view of the lake and its surroundings. The Durbar Hall, which was used as a venue for formal occasions like state banquets and meetings, has most luxurious interiors highlighted by some of the largest chandeliers in the world. The Palace also houses a museum displaying a number of interesting artifacts.                                                                                                                                         
• Folklore Museum: Bhartiya lok Kala mandal was founded by Padma Shri Devi Lal Samar in 1952. The main objective of the Institute is to conduct studies on the folk art, songs and festivals of regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh etc and to revive a vanishing folk culture. The institute has a puppet unit that trains children, teachers and other artists in the art of puppetry, as this is a very powerful non-conventional educative medium.                                                                                                                                                                                   
• Sahelion ki Bari: The Sahelion-ki-Bari Garden was built in early 18th century AD as a retreat for ladies of the royal household to spend their time in leisure. The enchantingly beautiful Garden is famous for its lotus pool, fountains (in the shape of birds), lush green lawns, flowerbeds, and marble pavilions, offering a breathtaking view to visitors.                                                                                                                                                                   
• Jagdish Temple: Built in 1651 AD by Maharana Jagat Singh, Jagdish Temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple in Udaipur. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is famous for its beautiful sculpted images and towering shikhara. The temple represents a fine example of Indo-Aryan architectural style.                                       
• Later enjoy the Boat ride on Lake Pichola (Common Boat). Lake Pichola derives its name from Pichola Village. Maharana Udai Singh enlarged the lake after he founded the city of Udaipur. This picturesque 4 km long and 3 km wide lake encloses the Jag Niwas Island and the Jag Mandir. The City Palace extends along its eastern banks.                                                                                                                                                                     
• In the evening, witness the folk dances and puppet show at Bagore ki Haveli.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Breakfast in the hotel and check out.
• Tranfer to the Airport to take Flight for Jaipur
• Departure : 1300 Hrs Arrival : 1410 Hrs                  
• Arrive Jaipur & Check-in at hotel.                                                                                                   
• Rest of the time free to relax Or for independent activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

• Post breakfast, Visit Amber Fort with Elephant or Jeep ride. The Amber Fort was built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. It gives extensive views over a deep narrow valley and the wider plains beyond.                                                                                                                                                       
• Afternoon, visit City Palace. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. City Palace complex covers a huge area, which is divided into a series of gardens, courtyards and buildings. The premises consists several buildings like Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani’s Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.                                                                             
• Also visit Jantar Mantar (1728-34) by king astrologer Jai Singh II. The instruments are built of stone with marble facing on the important plains for measuring the harmony of the heavens. Each instrument serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading.                                                                                                          
• Make a photo stop at the palace of winds the Hawa Mahal. A 5 storied building with 25cm thick facade from the 18 century having 953 windows and niches so that ladies of royal family could see the procession and events in the city without being visible to the people.                                                                                                               
• Dinner at Hotel Narain Niwas Palace with a traditional dance show.                                                                                  
• Continue towards Jaipur – Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the 18th century. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. The whole city was painted pink to welcome the visit of Prince Albert in 1853.                                                                                                                                                      
• Return to hotel and Overnight at Hotel.

• Breakfast at hotel and drive to Agra.                                                                                                                                      
• En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri and visit the magnificent fortified ghost town. Capital of the Mughal empire at the time of its splendor between 1571 and 1585, the city was quickly abandoned and remained “as is”, without being looted or destroyed. It is a very interesting testimony, both historically and architecturally, a brilliant Mughal city. You will admire including the Great Mosque with the tomb of Salim Chishti Skeikh the magnificent marble lattice, home of Jewels also called Diwan-I-Khas (audience hall) with the pillar of Akbar and the giant chessboard of the court the Pachhis.                                                                                                                                                  
• Continue towards Agra.                                                                                                                                                   
• Arrive Agra and Check-in at hotel.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• Rest of the time free to relax Or for independent activities.                                                                                      
• Dinner & Overnight at hotel.                                                                                                                                          OPTIONAL: Evening you can witness the “Mohabbat-te-taj” Show in Agra (with Supplement of USD 30 PER PERSON). The Sanskritik Natyashala presents ‘Mohabbat-the-Taj’ – a series of play depicting the saga of love. The true and immortal love of Shajahan for Mumtaj Mahal- his beautiful wife; the lavish lifestyle of mughal era; emaculate hardship of the artisans for 22 years that created the most precious specimen of craftsmanship… ‘Mohabbat-the-Taj’ at ‘Kalakriti is exceptionally inviting. The effort to hold up the cultural and historical legacy of India is worth a glance. So, be with us to witness the Indian heritage come alive.

• Early morning (5.30 am) visit Taj Mahal (closed on Friday’s), the most famous monument of India, classified by Unesco in 1983. This graceful and moving mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan, “King of the World” in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 at the birth of their 14th child. Begun in 1631, the Taj Mahal was not completed until 1653. The best workers were recruited from all over India and Central Asia, the Bordeaux artist, Venice participated in its decoration.                                                             
• Return to the hotel for breakfast. Check out from the hotel.                                                                                      
• Visit Agra Fort (1565-1573). This huge red sandstone fortress was begun by Emperor Akbar. Standing majestically on the banks of the Yamuna, it presents itself as a scholarly combination of power and elegance. This is where Shah Jahan ended his days, sadly contemplating his marble dream. On the other bank of the river further north stands the delicate mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daulah, all marble with inlays of semiprecious stones, which prefigures the style of the Taj, begun four years later.                                                                                     
• Continue towards Delhi.                                                                                                                                                                      
• Arrive Delhi and Dinner at Local restaurant.                                                                                                                                 
• After dinner transfer to international airport to take flight back home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      END OF OUR SERVICES