Day 1 : Delhi
Fly from Heathrow to Delhi on British Airways. On arrival, just
past midnight, you are met by our executive and accorded a royal
welcome and escorted to the Hotel Imperial / Similar 5 Star Category Hotel , where we
already have done a pre check in for you to save time.
New
Delhi
New Delhi begins with the drive past Safdarjang’s Tomb
(1753 AD) on the way to Qutab Minar (1193 AD) this striking
medieval tower of victory of Persian World is 73 m high. Within
the Qutab complex, amidst the ruins of Quwat-ul-Islam mosque,
stands the Iron pillar which has stood the vagaries of weather
and has not rusted over 1500 years. Then drive through New Delhi
includes the Embassy area (Diplomatic enclave), Government
buildings, India Gate, Sikh Temple (Bangla Sahib Gurudwara),
Birla Temple and Connaught Place, New Delhi’s main shopping
area. Visit Humayun’s Tomb - considered to be the fore
runner of Taj Mahal.
Day 2 : Delhi
Your day would begin after a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
Your personal guide takes you to the fantastic sites of old and
New Delhi. The sites include the Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat
(Gandhi’s memorial), Humayun’s tomb and the 12th
centaury Qutab Minar. During the day you also drive through the
government building like the president house, the parliament,
India gate and the Sikh temple. Evening we seize the opportunity
to host you a welcome dinner at the Village Bistro on a
rooftop.
Overnight at the hotel. B/D
Day 3 : Neemrana
After a leisurely breakfast we take a short drive
to Fort Neemrana, nestled in the Aravalli hills. Day at leisure
for your personal activities.
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Day 4 : Mandawa
After a leisurely breakfast we take a
short drive to about three hours to reach Mandawa. Check in at
the Castle Mandawa / Desert resort.
MANDAWA - SHEKHAWATI
Think
of the most famous of the Marwari business families in India, and
it s a fair bet that a painted haveli by that name exists in
Shekhawati. Singhania, Goenka, Birla, Bharatiya, Jalan, Saraf,
and Poddar the list is impressive. The successful Marwari
ventured out to the ports of Bombay and Calcutta, prospered and
spent lavishly on beautifully painted havelis in the 18th and
19th centuries .The painters are as much at ease with Krishna and
the gopis as with the Wright brothers trying to fly their
machines. Shekhawati is not a town or a village, but a region
comprising Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts with a network of towns
Nawalgarh, Dhundlodh, Mandawa, Lachhmangarh, Fatehpur and
Sikar.
Drive to all the places of this region to look at the
painted mansions. After lunch we offer you to visit the painted
havelies of the Dhundlodh town and surrounding areas of Mandawa
and Nawalgarh. The painted havelis of the region are called The
Open Air Art Galleries.
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Day 5 : Jaipur :
After a leisurely breakfast we take
a short drive to about three hours to reach Jaipur. Upon arrival
check in at the Jai Mahal palace for a stay of two nights.
The evening you have an option to take a heritage walk into the
illuminated bazaars of the pink city and enjoy a rickshaw ride
and the treasure hunt organized especially for you.
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Jaipur
The
Capital of Rajasthan, this picturesque city is a symphony in
Pink, a colour which symbolizes hospitality in Rajput culture.
Built by Raja Jai Singh in the 18th century it is surrounded by
hills topped with rugged fortresses and dotted with fairy tale
palaces. Jaipur is a city of ambling camels and brightly dressed
peasants, treasure trove of handloom and craft. Come visit city
of Love, legends and lore.
THE splendid fort / palace of AMBER was wrested by the Kachhwaha
Rajputs in the mid-12th century who dominated the surrounding
area for the next six centuries. Amber was also the prime site of
the alliance between the Mughals and the Rajputs. The
astronomer-king Sawai Jai Singh II, famous for his Jantar Mantar
ascended the throne in 1699. He soon decided to build a new city
in the plains: JAIPUR was designed according to the principals of
the Shilpa-Shastra (Architecture)and the capital shifted here in
1727, the city attracted merchants and crafts-people that over
time shaped its irresistible bazaars.
Overnight at the hotel. B
Day 6 : Jaipur:
This morning you take a ride on an
elephant back as your personal guide takes you to the majestic
Amer fort. You ascend the fort, the royal way. The sight seeing
of Jaipur includes the visit to the most distinguished
astronomical observatory and the royal city palace complex.
We would like to offer you a traditional silver platter lunch at
a restaurant known for its cooking demonstration and the most
exclusive for us, a turban tying demonstration. There is also a
turban museum there.
Overnight at the hotel. B/L
Day 7 : Ranthambhore:
After a
leisurely breakfast we take a short drive to about four hours to
reach Ranthambhore Tiger Project. The stay will be at the Taj
jungle Lodge on full board basis.
In the afternoon after lunch jeep safari into the park to observe
the wild life and the elusive tiger.
Overnight at the hotel. B/L/D
RANTHAMBORE
NEAR SAWAI MADHOPUR, the stunning RANTHAMBORE tiger project is
famous for its tigers .The best season is Oct-April. The 10th
–century fort witnessed Raja Hammir’s valiant defeat
against Allaudin Khilji. The heroic tales are given a suitable
ambience by crumbling temples and mosques, crocodile infested
lakes and chhatris (Cenotaphs).
Day 8 : Ranthambhore
This morning we again go to the jeep safari in to the park. After
the safari visit the Badal Mahal, the Ganesha temple in the fort
which everyday receives wedding invitation by the sack full.
Afternoon return to the jungle looking for the tigers.
Overnight at the hotel. B/L/D
Day 9 : Agra:
After a leisurely breakfast we drive five hours to reach
Agra.
On the way after lunch at the midway we visit Fatehpur Sikri, a
16th century deserted capital of the Mughals. Late afternoon
arrive Agra and check in at Mughal Sheraton / Taj View.
Later in the afternoon your personal guide takes you to visit the
legendary Taj Mahal by the sun set.
Over night at the hotel. B
Day 10 : Agra
Taj Mahal
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, built by
Emperor Shah Jehan 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, Chrosolite from Egypt, Amethyst from
Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from
Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean.
The day starts early as we offer you to visit the great monument
once again by the sun rise. After the visit you return to the
hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon the guide takes you to the
other breath taking sites from the Mughal era, including the Agra
fort and Itmad-ud-Daulah, commonly known as baby Taj. Evening you
return to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. B
Day 11 : Delhi
This morning we drive to Delhi 200 kms / 5 hrs.
The drive is comfortable and offers convenient stops at regular
intervals.
Upon arrival in Delhi we would be holding day rooms for you to
wash and change before we provide you a transfer to the airport
to catch your onward flight.
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