THE ETHNIC TRAIL OF RAJASTHAN
Destination : Delhi
- Neemrana - Samode - Nawalgarh - Bikaner
- Jaisalmer
- Rohetgarh - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Jaipur
- Pushkar - Agra
.
Duration : 21 Days 20 Nights
DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive at Delhi in the late evening.
You will be met
on arrival and transferred to your hotel for two nights.
DAY 02 DELHI
Enjoy a sightseeing of Old Delhi in the morning.
(Including Red
Fort, Jama Masjid and the bazaars of Chandni Chowk)
Note: 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 in the
afternoon.
(Including Qutub 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), Qutub 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).
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 03 DELHI
- NEEMRANA
Drive from Delhi to Neemrana (drive time - 4
hours approximately)
Check in at your hotel for overnight stay.
Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of
Neemrana.
Built since 1464 AD, Neemrana
Fort-Palace is Indias oldest heritage resort. Sited on a majestic
plateau, concealed in a horseshoe formation of Aravalli ranges,
Neemrana became the third capital of Chauhans. From 1896, the ruins of
this Fort-Palace have been sensitively restored and constructed.
Non-residents are allowed for visiting the public areas for 2 hours,
between 9 am & 5 pm only and with prior approval. 122 km from
Jaipur and 100 km from Delhis international airport.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 04 NEEMRANA -
SAMODE
Drive from Neemrana to Samode (drive time - 4 hours
approximately)
Check in at your hotel for one night.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Samode.
Samode is situated in Rajasthan around
41 kilometres from Jaipur city. Located on way to Shekhawati, this
small village is famous for its haveli and fort. Like most other
places in north India, Samode too has an extreme climate. The summers
can be very hot with the mercury shooting up to 45°C, whereas
winters are chilly and the temperature can dip down to 5°C. The
best time to go to Samode is the period between October and March. The
places of interest include Samode Palace, Samode Fort and excursions
to Shekhawati village.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 05 SAMODE -
NAWALGARH
Drive from Samode to Nawalgarh (drive time - 4
hours approximately)
Check in at your hotel for overnight stay.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nawalgarh
city later in the afternoon.
Nawalgarh is situated in the semi arid
North-Eastern part of Rajasthan where every dune vibrates with legends
and is about 142 Kms from Jaipur and 224 Kms from Bikaner. Nawalgarh
is nostalgia and modernity together. A region rich in chronicle,
tradition chivalry and songs. Founded in 1737 A.D. by Thakur Nawal
Singh the warrior statesman whose renown is enshrined in history and
folklore. The town exudes an old charm with its colourful bazaar
having the largest number of painted havelis in Shekhawati. One cannot
forget these mansions covered with frescoes depicting the whole gamut
of social and religious life, where history is painted with humour.
Overnight at Hotel. (Optional Horse
Safari in nearby village)
DAY 06 NAWALGARH - BIKANER
Drive from Nawalgarh to Bikaner (drive time - 5
hours approximately)
Check in at your hotel for two nights.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 07
BIKANER
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bikaner city later in the
morning.
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.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 08
BIKANER - JAISALMER
Drive from Bikaner to Jaisalmer (drive time - 7
hours approximately) visiting Deshnoke enroute.
Karni Mata Rat Temple, Deshnoke is
dedicated to Karni Mata, a mystic and an incarnation of the Hindu
Goddess Durga. Rats are given sanctuary here due to the belief that
the souls of Karni Matas devotees are housed in these rats.
On arrival Jaisalmer, check in at your
hotel two nights
Rest of the day is at leisure
Overnight at
Hotel.
DAY 09 JAISALMER
Enjoy sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer city in the morning.
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 are five storeys high and
extensively carved.
Afternoon is at leisure for independent
activities (Optional: Camel safari in the Thar Desert)
Overnight
at Hotel.
DAY 10 JAISALMER
- ROHETGARH
Drive from Jaisalmer to Rohetgarh (drive time -
8 hours approximately)
Check in at your hotel for two nights
Rest of the day is at leisure
DAY 11 ROHETGARH
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Rohetgarh city in the morning.
Rohet
Garh is the fortified desert home of the descendants of the 16th
century Rathore. The fiefdom of Rohet was bestowed upon the Thakur
in 1622 AD by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in appreciation of his bravery
in the battle. Rohet is an evergreen oasis, has linked its blue-green
lakeside environs to a perennial stream, which irrigates the desert
lands of Jodhpur. A small but quaint village, Rohet is home to several
artisans and visitors here can also visit Bishnoi settlements with
their scrubbed homes and flamboyantly dressed and bejeweled women.
Afternoon is at leisure. (Optional: A horse safari)
Overnight at
Hotel.
DAY 12 ROHETGARH -
RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR
Drive from Rohetgarh to Udaipur (drive
time - 5 hours approximately) visiting Temples complex at 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.
On arrival Udaipur check in at your
hotel for two nights.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 13 UDAIPUR
Enjoy a sightseeing of the city in the morning
(This will
include the City Palace, Jagdish Temple and Sahelion-ki-bari)
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 and 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.
Afternoon is at leisure.
(Optional:
Boat ride on the placid waters of Lake Pichola)
Overnight at
Hotel.
DAY 14 UDAIPUR -
CHITTORGARH - DUNGARPUR
Drive from Udaipur to Dungarpur
(drive time - 4 hours approximately) we take a detour to visit the
Chittorgarh.
On arrival Dungarpur, check in at your hotel for
overnight stay.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Dungarpur district is the stronghold of
the Bheels, a tribe whose history of occupancy in the Aravalli range
is said to date back to 4000 BC founded in 1197. The rulers of
Dungarpur claim descent from the Rajput house of Mewar. The first
rulers of Dungarpur were Kunwar Mahap and his descendants who resided
in the town of Galiankot, where their ruined castle still stands.
Towards the end of the 12th century, Samant Singh, the eldest son of
the ruler of Mewar, had to leave Mewar in favor of his younger brother
Kumar Singh. Samant Singh drifted into the hilly area of Bagar and,
within the next century, Samant Singh's successors controlled the
whole province of Bagar. Rawal Udai Singh of Bagar was killed at the
battle of Khanua in 1527, fighting for Mewar against Moghul Emperor
Babur. His territory was thereafter divided between his two sons,
forming two separate states. Prithvi Raj remained in Dungarpur while
his brother Jagmal Singh became independent ruler of Banswara.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 15 DUNGARPUR -
DEOGARH
Drive from Dungarpur to Deogarh (drive time - 5
hours approximately)
Check in at your hotel for overnight stay.
Enjoy a walking tour of Deogarh city (optional: Camel Cart ride)
Deogarh lies in the Rajsamund district,
in Southern Rajasthan - 150 kilometres from Ajmer, off National
Highway No 8, running from Delhi, through Jaipur and Udaipur. The
Deogarh Mahal is a 17th century palace built by Rawat Dwarka Das, a
Rajput Jagirdar. He received Deogarh and its neighbouring areas in a
land grant from the Maharana of the mighty Rajput kingdom of Mewar.
Today the Deogarh Mahal is a Heritage Hotel run by the direct
descendants of its builder.
Overnight at Hotel. 
DAY 16 DEOGARH -
JAIPUR
Drive from Deogarh to Jaipur (drive time - 6 hours
approximately)
Check in at your hotel for three nights
Rest
of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 17 JAIPUR
Morning enjoy an excursion to Amber Fort which is ascended on elephant
back or by jeep.
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.
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.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 18 JAIPUR
- PUSHKAR - JAIPUR
Enjoy a full day excursion to Pushkar
(approx 4 hours drive - one way)
On the edge of the desert lays
the tiny tranquil town of Pushkar along the bank of the picturesque
Pushkar Lake. It is an important pilgrimage spot for the Hindus also
known as Nag Pahar or the snake between Ajmer and Pushkar. The Lake
has a mythological significance associated with it. According to myth,
Lord Brahma was on his way to search for a suitable place to perform a
Yagna (a fire sacrifice). While contemplating, a lotus fell from his
hand on the earth and water sprouted from three places. One of them
was Pushkar where Lord Brahma performed his yagna. Every year
thousands of the devotees throng the lake around the full moon day of
Kartik Purnima in October-November.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 19 JAIPUR
- FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
Drive from Jaipur to Agra (drive
time - 6 hours approximately) visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute.
The deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar
in 1569 and abandoned after fifteen years due to scarcity of water.
Here you will see the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid,
the Tomb of Salim Chishti, the Panch Mahal & the other palaces.
The attractions in Fatehpur Sikri are
Jama Masjid - a beautiful building containing elements of Persian and
Hindu Design. The main entrance is through a 54-metre 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-storied 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.
Check in at your hotel for two nights.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 20 AGRA
Visit Taj Mahal at sunrise.
Note: Taj Mahal is closed on
Fridays.
After breakfast enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra city.
(Including Agra Fort)
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 and Agra Fort
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 21 AGRA
- DELHI - FLY OUT
Drive from Agra to Delhi (drive time - 4
½ hours approximately)
On arrival, transfer to the hotel
for wash and change and a farewell dinner at an Indian specialty
Restaurant.
Later you will be transferred to Delhi International
Airport for your flight back home.
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