Travel Destinations » Delhi        » Mumbai »Agra         » Ajmer »Jaipur       » Jaisalmer »Varanasi   » Khajuraho »Banglore   » Hyderabad                        more..  Famous Tour India »Grand South India Tour » Kerala Tour Packages » Kerala Backwaters » Wildlife of Kerala » Nepal Jungle Tour » Bhutan Holidays Tour  Wildlife Tour »Royalty Tigers » Big Cats of India » Gir National Park » Kaziranga National Park » Tigers and Rhinos Tour » Temples and Tigers Tour » Wildlife Cuisine                            more....  Bhutan Tour Package »Bhutan Holidays Tour » Bhutan Tour Package » Cultural Bhutan » Nepal Jungle Tour » Enchanting Sangrila                            more....

Rajasthan Tour »Classic Rajasthan » Colourful Rajasthan » Golden Triangle Tour » Indian Insight » Desert Romance » Rajasthan Uncovered » Royalty and Tiger » Romantic The Taj » Rajasthan Travel                            more....  South India Tour »Calm Kerala » Kerala Backwater » Spice of the South » Kerala Vacation Tour » Kerala Tour Package » Hyderabad Tour Package                            more....  Incentive Tour »Cities and Citadels » The Deccan Plateau » East with Tajmahal » Ranikhet Walking Tour » Wildlife & Cuisine Tour » Grand South India Tour » Indian Painting Textile Tour more....  Special Tour »Belts of Chattisgarh » Ethnic Trail of Rajasthan » Indian Textile Tour » Highlight of Rajasthan » Pappadoms and Palaces » Indian by Rail more....

Rajasthan Desert Romance

Duration : 15 days / 14 nights
Destination : Delhi - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Khimsar - Rohetgarh - Udaipur - Deogarh - Jaipur - Agra

Day 01 Arrive Delhi
You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the hotel
Stay at The Imperial for the night

This colonial hotel is located in the heart of the city in the midst of beautiful landscaped gardens.
The hotel has been recently refurbished and upgraded to one of the best and most sought after hotels in Delhi.
Five-star deluxe period hotel

Day 02 Delhi - Bikaner
In the morning enjoy combined sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi
Enjoy a sightseeing of Old Delhi.
(Including the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the bazaars of Chandni Chowk)
Red Fort is closed on Mondays

Old Delhi pulses with the energy and colour, the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars and is laced by a maze of narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses full of the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian sub-continent. In Old Delhi you will see the famous Red Fort surrounded by shops, and bazaars (built by the Emperor Shah Jehan – the builder of Taj Mahal), the Jama Masjid mosque with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes, Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi's business nerve center), the hustle-bustle of everyday Indian life all around you and chattering voices.

Enjoy a sightseeing of New Delhi.
(Including the Qutb Minar, Humayun's tomb and Lutyen's buildings)

New Delhi stands in formal splendour, like a lone sentry guarding an outpost of a long-gone empire. It is a city of wide boulevards, which offers ever-changing perspec­tives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city rich with formal parks and you will see the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India in the 330 acres of land and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens), once the awe-inspiring residence of the British Viceroys and now the Presidential Palace, India Gate (a majestic 42-mts high arch, built as a memorial to the Indian Soldiers killed in World War I), Qutab Minar (the 72.5 mts high tower dating back to 13th century and one of the greatest bequests of Islamic Culture), Humayun's Tomb (built in the 16th century and architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal, has Mughal Architecture at its graceful best).

Later, in the evening you will be transferred to Delhi Sarai Rohilla railway station to board your train to Bikaner
(Bikaner Mail; 2115/0815; operates daily; first class air conditioned sleeper carriage)

Day 03 Bikaner
Arrive Bikaner at 0815 hours
You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the hotel
Enjoy sightseeing of city in the afternoon.

The fortified city of Bikaner is encircled by imposing battle­ments and stands on a slight eminence. Its roads undulate through colourful bazaars and the predominant hue of the buildings is the strong reddish pink of local sandstone. Junagarh Fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, an outstanding general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. It is encircled by a moat and contains palaces made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals. Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke is dedicated to Karni Mata, a mystic. Legend goes that she foretold the vic­tory of success of Rao Bika and the prophecy came true. Today along with her, thousands of rats are revered here. The strange mode of worship owes to the belief, that the souls of her de­votees are housed in these rats, and consequently they must be protected and well fed.

Stay at The Gajner Palace for the night
A Grand Heritage Palace Hotel – first class – (A part of HRH Group of Hotels)
A private property of the Bikaner royal family, Gajner Palace is now managed by the HRH group of Hotels.

Day 04 Bikaner - Jaisalmer
In the morning drive to Jaisalmer (305 Kilometres/ 6 hours)
Stay at Fort Rajwada for two nights

Fort Rajwada is a centrally air-conditioned hotel with 69 rooms and suites. Each room has a telephone, television and attached private facilities. Other amenities include a bar, bookshop, Ayurvedic massage center, swimming pool, dining hall and multi-cuisine restaurant. Location: Airport – 4 kilometers : Railway Station – 2 kilometers
First class modern hotel built in a traditional local style

Day 05 Jaisalmer
Morning enjoy sightseeing of Jaisalmer.
(Visit Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer Fort, Jain temples and the Havelis (mansions) of Nathmalji, Salim Singh, and Patwon.)

The name Jaisalmer evokes a vivid picture of sheer magic and brilliance of the desert. Over the years the remote location of Jaisalmer kept it almost untouched by outside. Jaisalmer is a marvel of beautiful culture and harsh climatic conditions, together amounting to a memorable experience. Jaisalmer Fort - Like a yellow sand stone fabric that seems to issue skywards from the golden sands, Jaisalmer Fort is sheer magic. Standing proud to a height of hundred meters over the city with its 99 bastions, the fort is a splendid sight in the afternoon sun. One of the largest and the most elaborate houses in Jaisalmer is Patwon ki Haveli, which is five storeys high and extensively carved.
Afternoon is at leisure.

Evening enjoy a camel ride into the dunes.
Ride by the dunes on Camel back to get a feel of the pace and space of Desert life. The golden sand dunes beckon the tourist, creating an illusion of being smooth and firm. Often a wind can blow a dune up into a moving funnel to deposit it yards away.

Day 06 Jaisalmer – Khimsar
In the morning drive to Khimsar (350 Kilometres/ 6 hours)
Stay at W.G. Khimsar fort for the night
A heritage fort converted into a hotel with 5-star amenities

A 16th century fort, Khimsar Fort is located in the countryside environment perched on the edge of the great Thar Desert. The hotel has a bar, swimming pool, tennis court with flood lighting, health club, Ayurvedic massage centre, home theatre, restaurant, bar and yoga centre. Each air-conditioned room has a telephone, television, mini bar and a private bathroom with bath and/or shower and toilet.

Day 07 KHIMSAR – ROHETGARH
In the morning drive to Rohetgarh (140 Kilometres/ 3 hours and 30 minutes) visiting Jodhpur enroute

Founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of Rajput clan known as the Rathores, Jodhpur was the capital of the Rathore Kingdom. Until recent times, Jodhpur was known as the ancient kingdom of Marwar, the largest kingdom in Rajputana. Standing at the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city is dominated by a massive fort that sits atop a sheer rocky ridge right in the middle of the town.
Stay at Rohetgarh fort for the night
A heritage fort converted into a hotel - Standard Grade

Rohetgarh Fort is 40 kilometres far from Jodhpur. The fort has 25 well furnished rooms. The Hotel offers the facilities of Air-conditioned rooms, swimming pool, horse safari, jeep safari, camel safari, wild life sanctuary and all major credit cards accepted.

Day 08 Rohetgarh – Udaipur
In the morning drive to Udaipur (280 Kilometres/ 6 hours) visiting Ranakpur enroute

Near the village of Sadri lies the Ranakpur temple complex – one of the biggest and most important clusters of Jain temples in India. Nestled in the Aravalli Range, Ranakpur is a mere 90 kms from Udaipur. The Chaumukha temple, or four faced temple, is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble, the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1400 pillars, no two of which are alike.
Stay at Fateh Prakash Palace for two nights

Fateh Prakash is one of the main palaces in the city palace complex. Hotel is partially air-conditioned. Each bedroom has a telephone, television and attached private facilities. Overlooking the lake Pichola, the Dovecote rooms have been tastefully refurbished and have a lake view (and the lake palace view). Other amenities include a swimming pool, money changing facility, health centre, squash and billiards.
Deluxe Heritage hotel

Day 09 Udaipur
In the morning enjoy sightseeing of the city

Udaipur, the enchanting City of Dawn, looms up like a vision in white. City Palace was built in 1725, and has various palaces inside such as Dilkush Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal, the Palace of Krishna etc, all ornately decorated. Saheliyon Ki Bari - this 'Garden of Maids of Honour' is a small ornamental pleasure garden, contains an elegant lotus pool, gushing fountains, beau­tiful black marble kiosks on the corners of the pool and stunning bougainvilleas covering the wall of the enclosures. Shilpgram situated on the outskirts of Udaipur, the Shilpgram is a crafts and performing arts center and houses various craftsmen from different states who display live their crafts and products for the benefit of the visitors.

Enjoy a boat ride in the evening on the placid waters of Lake Pichola.
(Subject to water level permitting)

Day 10 Udaipur – Deogarh
In the morning drive to Deogarh (180 Kilometres/ 4 hours)
Stay at Deogarh Mahal for the night
Standard grade former royal residence

The beautiful rambling hilltop Deogarh Mahal dominates a delightful small town and is nestled among the Aravalli Hills, dotted with majestic forts and lakes.

Day 11 Deogarh - Jaipur
In the morning drive to Jaipur (280 Kilometres/ 6 hours and 30 minutes)
Stay at Samode Haveli for two nights

The Samode Royal Family who maintains their residence at Samode Haveli has converted this century and a half old royal mansion into a charming heritage hotel.

Day 12 Jaipur
Morning enjoy an excursion to Amber Fort which is ascended on elephant back.

Amber, built by Man Singh, embodies the Rajput belief that the fort symbolizes the strength of the King. The commanding view, sheer walls and rock face, and the curved route that leads to the palaces within, all point to concern with security and defense. The fort is mirrored in Maota Lake, which stands adjacent to the Dilaram Garden. The private apartments begun by Man Singh in the17th century combine Hindu and Mughal styles and the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), its walls covered with tiny mirrors, becomes a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. Visit  the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory, glittering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and the Kali Temple.

Enjoy a sightseeing of the city in the afternoon.
(It includes Sawai Man Singh Museum, Jantar Mantar - Observatory, Hawa Mahal and the colourful bazaar of the Pink city)

The capital of Rajasthan, also known popularly as the ‘pink city’, Jaipur was founded in the year 1727. Here you will see the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), which remains only a façade today, was originally built to enable ladies of the royal family to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The Jantar Mantar (Observatory) was built between 1728 and 1734. Each of the instruments serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading. Situated in the centre of the city occupying a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the City Palace is an interesting place to visit. You can see the textile and costume museum, arms and armour museum, art gallery and hall of public and private audience.

Day 13 Jaipur - Agra
In the morning drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute

Fatehpur Sikri, was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after fifteen years due to scarcity of water. The attractions in Fatehpur Sikri are Jama Masjid – a beautiful building containing elements of Persian and Hindu Design, The main entrance is through the 54 m high Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, constructed to commemorate Akbar’s victory in Gujarat. The Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) is a projecting room with walls made entirely of stone latticework. Birbal Bhavan, built either by or for Raja Birbal, Akbar’s favourite courtier, this small palace is extremely elegant in its design and execution. Hiran Minar (Deer Minaret) is said to have been erected over the grave of Akbar’s favourite elephant. Panch Mahal – This amusing little five-storey palace was probably once used by the ladies of the Court and originally had stone screens on the sides. The lower floor has 56 columns, no two of which are exactly alike.

Outside the Jama Masjid are the remains of the small stone – cutters’ mosque. Chishti’s cave was supposedly at this site and the mosque predates Akbar’s imperial city.
Stay at Trident Hilton for two nights

Set amidst six acres of landscaped gardens, The Trident combines traditional Mughal architecture with all the amenities of a modern hotel. Each bedroom has a telephone, television, mini bar and private attached facilities. Other amenities include a swimming pool and elegant fountains, beauty salon, barber shop, book shop, bar and multi-cuisine restaurant. Location: Airport – 12 kilometers : Railway Station – 10 kilometers.
A first class modern hotel – a unit of prestigious Oberoi group of Hotels

Day 14 Agra
In the morning enjoy sightseeing of the city
(It includes Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Itmaud-ud-daula)

A sprawling industrial town, Agra is situated 204 kilometres from Delhi. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna. Babur defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay the foundation of the Mughal Empire. Places of interest in Agra include the most extravagant monument, Taj Mahal; Agra Fort, the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Itimad-ud-Daulah

Day 15 Agra - Delhi
Late start from Agra and drive to Delhi International airport
You will be transferred to the International airport to board your International flight to next destination
(Check in 3 hours prior)