DESERT ROMANCE
DAY 1 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.
? Each air-conditioned room has the
facility of a telephone, television and attached private facilities.
? Swimming Pool
? Shopping Arcade
? Health Club
?
Tennis and Golf facilities
? One multi-cuisine restaurant and 3
specialty restaurants.
? Bar
? 20 kilometres far from the
airport
? 2 kiloemtres far from railway station
Our comments:
Five-star deluxe period hotel
DAY 2 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 perspec¬tives 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 3 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 battle¬ments 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 vic¬tory 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 de¬votees
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.
Fact sheet:
Location: 30 kilometres from Bikaner
1. 11
suites with attached private facilities
2. Multi-cuisine
restaurant
3. Billiards room
4. Money-exchange facility
5. Private lake and wildlife sanctuary
DAY 4 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
Our
comments: First class modern hotel built in a traditional
local style
DAY 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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.
Our comments : Deluxe Heritage hotel
DAY 9 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, beau¬tiful 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.
Fact sheet:
Location: 135
kilometres from Udaipur airport; 140 kilometres from Pushkar; 280
kilometres from Jaipur
1. 40 rooms with telephone and attached
private facilities
2. Multi-cuisine restaurant
3. Bar
4. Swimming pool
5. Ayurvedic massage centre 
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.
Fact sheet:
Location: 17 kilometres from the airport; 6
kilometres from the railway station
1. 21 air-conditioned rooms
with telephone, television and attached private facilities
2.
Multi-cuisine restaurant
3. Bar
4. Swimming pool
5. Spa
Government grading: Heritage hotel
Our comments: Standard
Grade Heritage Haveli with modern amenities
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
Akbars 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, Akbars 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 Akbars 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. Chishtis cave was supposedly at
this site and the mosque predates Akbars 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.
Government grading:
Five-star hotel
Our comments: 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)
|
