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NORTH CENTRAL INDIA TOUR (22 Nights & 23 Days) |
INDIA ON YOUR OWN PROGRAMME - 14
Delhi || Mandawa || Bikaner || Jaisalmer || Jodhpur || Rohetgarh || Kumbalgarh || Udaipur|| Chittorgarh || Kota || Pushkar ||Samode || Jaipur || Karauli || Gwalior || Agra || Bharatpur || Delhi
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| Day 01 : |
Departure from the Country. |
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| Day 02 : |
Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Check-in and check-out timings are always 1200 hrs noon.
Morning visit Raj Ghat & Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutab Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshmi Narayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight Delhi. |
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| Day 03 : |
Drive to Mandawa or Alsisar. Visit the famous Shekhavati villages, full of beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions. This entire area is like an open air gallery. Overnight in one of the villages. |
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| Day 04 : |
More visits of Shekhavati (Dundlod, Nawalgarh, etc). |
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| Day 05 : |
Drive to Bikaner. Afternoon tour of this desert city. Bikaner is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Overnight Bikaner. |
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| Day 06 : |
Drive to Jaisalmer. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Jaisalmer. |
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| Day 07 : |
Morning visit Jaisalmer. Visit the Fort, bazzars and the old mansions known as "havelis". People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work. Overnight Jaisalmer. |
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| Day 08 : |
Morning drive to Jodhpur.
Afternoon visit the Meharangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens. Overnight Jodhpur. |
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| Day 09 : |
Drive to Rohetgarh. Check-in at the hotel. Drive through the country-side visiting various villages including Bishnoi Dhanis & watching local craftsmen. Overnight at Rohetgarh. |
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| Day 10 : |
Morning drive to Kumbalgarh.
Kumbalgarh is about 85 km from Udaipur & is known for its 15th century Kumbalgarh Fort - the highest and considered as the most formidable in Rajasthan. Standing on a 1914 m high ridge the Fort provides a panoramic view of the countryside. Visit the historic town of Kumbalgarh and explore the magnificent Fort Complex - with beautiful palaces, gardens and temples.
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| Day 11 : |
Morning drive to Udaipur visiting Ranakpur Temples enroute. Ranakpur - 98 kms from Udaipur, the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quiet and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of light & shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions. Overnight Udaipur. |
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| Day 12 : |
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fateh sagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari (Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk art museum). Afternoon free. Overnight Udaipur. |
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| Day 13 : |
Morning proceed to Chittaurgarh. 113 kms from Udaipur, the Fort of Chittor was originally built by mighty Bhim, one of the Pandava heroes of Mahabharata. Also visit the Vijay Stambh with nine storeys and 37 mts high built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Kirti Stambh, the Tower of fame 22 meters high is covered with figures from Jain Pantheon. Overnight Chittaurgarh. |
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| Day 14 : |
Morning drive to Kota. Afternoon visits. Overnight Kota. |
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| Day 15 : |
Drive to Ajmer/Pushkar visiting Bundi enroute. Bundi rises from a narrow gorge in rows of terraced gardens and arched Rajput houses like a two dimensional miniature painting imposed on the landscape. Visit the Palace with its intricate spy-holes, secret trap doors & under ground passages. Also see the spectacularly ingenious water supply system.
Ajmer was founded by the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century & is dominated by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithviraj Chauhan. Visit the Tomb of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at the Dargah Sharif.
In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma Temple. Pushkar is one of the holiest places for Hindus. Overnight Pushkar. |
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| Day 16 : |
Drive to Samode. 40 Kms north-west of Jaipur, now converted to a hotel, the old Palace of Samode surrounded by hills present a fairy tale picture. It has a most exotic hall embellished with paintings and mirror work. Overnight Samode. |
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| Day 17 : |
Morning drive to Jaipur.
Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old.
Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) & through the pink rose residential & business areas. Overnight Jaipur. |
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| Day 18 : |
Morning visit the Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors.
Afternoon free. Overnight Jaipur. |
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| Day 19 : |
Morning drive to Karauli. Afternoon visit to the bazzar & the City palace with its exquisite frescoes & stone carvings. Aarti at the Madan Mohanji Temple is worth the visit. Overnight Karauli. |
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| Day 20 : |
Morning drive to Gwalior. Afternoon visit the Man Mandir, Gujari Mahal (today an archaeological museum), The Fort, Temples of Sas-Bahu, Teli Ka Mandir, Jai Vilas Palace, Tomb of Gaus Mohammad & the Mausoleum of Tansen. Overnight Gwalior. |
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| Day 21 : |
Morning free. Afternoon drive to Agra. Overnight Agra. |
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| Day 22 : |
Morning city tour visiting the the world famous Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and the Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daullah built by emperor Noor-jehan in memory of her father. Afternoon free. Overnight Agra. Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. |
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| Day 23 : |
Morning drive to Bharatpur enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri built by emperor Akbar in 1569 AD and later abandoned due to scarcity of water.
Visit the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur - one of the most spectacular water birds sanctuary features nesting indigenous water - birds as well as migratory water birds and water side birds. It is inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai & boar. From October till December the indigenous water birds nest in the acacia trees, sarus cranes nest around the lake. From December on, the migratory geese, duck and cranes are the main feature of the sanctuary. |
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| Day 24 : |
Morning drive to Delhi. No Hotel. Transport at disposal. Later airport in time for return flight. |
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| Day 25 : |
Departure. |
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