Fort and Palace Tour India
Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur - Ranakpur -
Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi
Day 01: Arrive at Delhi
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the
international airport in Delhi late in the evening. Transfer to your
hotel. Relax. Overnight at Delhi. Delhi is just not a city but it is
a book-- a book which narrates the history of India. The city was
built and destroyed seven times and has been witness to the various
events which has brought India through the history books. Seven
times this city went through the pain of being built and rebuilt.
Today as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration
and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there.
These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an
attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is
all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted
Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that
Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with heart. This phrase
acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi - Agra
Proceed for Agra after breakfast. Reach Agra in the afternoon. Visit
Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her
father. Overnight at Agra.
Day 03: Agra - Jaipur
Morning: Guided city tour of Agra. Afternoon drive to beautiful Pink
City - Jaipur. Reach and check in at hotel. Overnight at Jaipur.
Taj Mahal
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, built by Emperor Shah Jahan
in the memory of his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful
mausoleum took 22 years to complete with a work force of 20,000
craftsmen and master builders, who came from all over Asia to join
in this great work from Baghdad, Shiraz, Delhi, Samarkand and
Turkey. The marble, India s finest; was quarried at Makrana near
Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious stones were imported from
distant lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China,
Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrysolite
from Egypt, Amethyst from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from
Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian
Ocean. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the
outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent to the fort. Proceed for
sightseeing of the city. Overnight at Jaipur. Jaipur, the vibrant
capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the ' Pink City '
because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on a
dry lake bed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren
hills surmounted by forts and crenellated walls. This buzzing
metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and a feast for
the eyes. All through, Jaipur has retained its strong Rajputana
flavour tempered by several influences - the mughal being the most
prominent. The region's strong cultural heritage is distinctly
evident even today. The city is a visitor's delight. From the
intricate, delicate looking Hawa Mahal to the graphic forms of the
Jantar Mantar - an open air observatory of outsized astronomical
instruments, the Badi Chaupar lined with shopsand business
establishments on both sides to the majestic fort-palace at Amber;
from the colorful fountains of life to the sublime Birla Temple;
from the architectural delight of the City Palace to the serene Jal
Mahal.
Day 05: Jaipur - Udaipur
Start for Udaipur after breakfast. Udaipur is the jewel of MEWAR -a
kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years. Relax in the
evening. Overnight at Udaipur.
Day 06: Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur,
stopping first at City Palace. Here you will marvel at rooms with
mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass windows and inlaid
marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard. Overnight at Udaipur.
Udaipur, the city of Dawn, is the Jewel of Mewar -a kingdom ruled by
the Sisodia Dynasty for 1200 years. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale
palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with
stalls, carry the flavour of a heroic past, epitomizing valour and
chivalry. Their reflection of these building in the placid waters of
the Lake Pichola is an enticing sight.
Day 07: Udaipur - Jodhpur
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. Relax in the hotel and visit the
museum of UMAID BHAWAN PALACE. Overnight at Jodhpur. At the edge of
the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of
antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. The massive 15th century
AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 mts.
above the plains. A high wall encompasses the city -10 km long with
8 gates and innumerable bastions. The lifestyle in Jodhpur is
unusually fascinating with people wearing lovely multi hued
costumes, artistically designed. Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a
heady experience with a colourful display of the rich collection of
exquisite handicrafts. The tie-and-dye fabric, embroidered "jutis"
or slippers in suede, camel skin, velvet and leather, beautiful
silks, durries, marble souvenirs from Makrana, an extensive range of
useful and decorative items etc., are of interest. he Mehrangarh
fort is one of the most impressive and formidable structures.
Invincible from the outside, the fort has four gates approached by a
winding road. Within the fort are some magnificent palaces with
marvellously carved panels with latticed windows These palaces house
a fabulous collection of trappings of Indian royalty including a
superb collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, miniature
paintings of various schools, musical instruments, costumes and
furniture.
Day 08: Jodhpur
Morning go for a village safari in the jeep and have a rare glimpse
into the rich culture and true essence of India. Abundant wildlife
and memorable moments of the great desert landscape fascinates one
while driving along the countryside. Overnight at Jodhpur.
Day 09: Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
Proceed for Jaisalmer. Reach and check in at hotel. Overnight at
Jaisalmer. Rising from the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the
city of Jaisalmer. The Jaiselmer fort etched in yellow sandstone
stands with all its awesome splendour. The life within the citadel
conjures up images of medieval majesty visible in its narrow lanes
strewn with magnificent palaces, havelies, temples and typical
desert life of men women cattle and camels. The 80 meter high fort,
perch on the hill, houses the entire township within its ramparts.
It has enchanting narrow lanes dotted with exquisite havelis,
beautifully sculptured Jain temples of the 12th-15th century and
palaces. The fort is approached through four gateways -Akhaiya Pol,
Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol and Hava Pol. Some of the most exotic mansions
or havelis, all intricately latticed, are strewn all over Jaisalmer
each with a different facade. The Havelis of Nathmalji, Patwon and
Salim Singh all in Yellow Marble of Jaisalmer are exquisite works of
art. A camel safari through the interesting and remote desert
villages of Roopsi, Doojasar, Kanoi, Kuldara and the Cenotaphs of
Barabagh can be interesting. The villages are very special, as
different communities inhabit them.
Day 10: Jaisalmer
After a relaxed breakfast proceed for full day sightseeing tour of
The Golden City - Jaisalmer. It is in the heart of the Great Indian
Desert. Its temple, fort and palaces are all built of yellow stone.
The city is a mass of intricately carved buildings, facades and
elaborate balconies. Visit the JAISALMER FORT - The oldest living
Fort in the world. Stay overnight at the SWISS TENT CAMP.
Day 11: Jaisalmer to Bikaner
Breakfast at the camp. Continue with the safari and reach Bikaner
via NAGAUR. Check in at hotel. Relax in the evening. Overnight at
Bikaner. Bikaner, the royal fortified city, with a timeless appeal
in the North State of Rajasthan, retains the medieval splendour that
pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly called the camel
country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the
world. This city stands on a slightly raised ground and is
circumscribed by a seven-km long embattled wall with five gates. The
magnificent forts and palaces, in reddish-pink sandstone created
with delicacy, bear testimony to its rich historical and
architectural legacy. Undulating lanes, colourful bazaars and bright
and cheerful folks make the visit Bikaner an interesting experience.
Visit the Junagarh Fort, built in 1593 AD by Raj Rai Singh, one of
the best in Rajasthan. It comprises of 37 palaces with pavilions,
mosaic courtyards, carved balconies, kiosks and windows dotted all
over the structure. The Shish Mahal, the Grand Durbar Hall, the 17th
century Karan Mahal, Anup Mahal and the Phool Mahal bring to life
the grandeur of a bygone era. The Fort museum has a rare collection
of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts and miniature painting.
Day 12: Bikaner - Mandawa
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing tour of Bikaner. Reach
and check in at hotel. Overnight at Mandawa. Shekhawati is a
colourful fantasy having a fascination uniquely of its own. The
open-air art galley, as it is popularly called, is famous for its
plethora of painted havelis, all commendable pieces of the rich
artistic tradition of this region. It is famous for its Havelis
(mansion) built by rich merchants of the region, display a unique
architectural style that evolved around the courtyards to ensure
safety and privacy of the women folk and protection from the heat of
the long and harsh summers. The Havelis, painted predominantly in
blue, maroon, yellow, green and indigo have beautiful wall paintings
that adorn their walls.
Day 13: Mandawa - Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Also visit Mahensar and Dundlod meeting the
local village chief. Leave for Delhi. Reach by evening. Overnight at
Delhi.
Day 14: Delhi - Home
Breakfast at Delhi. Proceed for a full day tour of Old & New Delhi.
Latter transfer to international airport for onward flight.
