Duration :12 Days(Delhi- Agra- Jaipur-
Bikaner- Jaisalmer- Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi)
This 11-day forts and palaces tour in India is an excellent
opportunity to experience the architectural brilliance, majestic style and
rich heritage of India. It highlights places like Delhi, Agra Jaipur,
Bikaner Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur
DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive
at the international airport and received by our representative. Transfer to
hotel and overnight stay there.
DAY 02: DELHI
Visiting Delhi's tourist attractions of both New Delhi (like India Gate,
President's House, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple) and Old Delhi
(Red Fort, Jamia Mosque, Gandhi Samadi). Overnight at hotel.
DAY 03: DELHI - AGRA
Move to Agra in the morning, via Mathura and Sikandra, viisting the both
places. Check in at hotel on arrival. Evening is at leisure. Overnight at
Hotel.
DAY 04: AGRA - JAIPUR
A morning drive to Jaipur and en-route visit to Fatehpur Sikri and bird
sanctuary. On arrival in Jaipur, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 05: DAY JAIPUR
A trip in the morning to Amber Fort, climb the fort on elephants' back.
Afternoon trip of the city and visiting destinations like City Palace,
Jantar Mantar (observatory), Palace of Winds, Birla Temple. Overnight at
hotel.
DAY 06: JAIPUR - BIKANER
From Jaipur drive to Bikaner. Check in at hotel on arrival. Stay overnight
at Hotel.
DAY 07: BIKANER - JAISALMER
Morning journey across the Bikaner city, traveling to Bikaner Fort, Lalghar
Palace and journey to the famous Deshnoke Temple (Rat Temple). Later drive
to Jaisalmer and an optional visit to Pokhran Fort. On arriving in
Jaisalmer, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 08: JAISALMER
A morning tour of Jaisalmer which includes sightseeing of Jaisalmer Fort,
Gadisar, Havelis (old Houses) etc. Then afternoons ride to Sam or Khuri.
Later, in the evening is the time to enjoy camel safari and watch sunset at
dunes drive to Jaisalmer. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
On
arrival meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Delhi : India's capital & a major gateway to the country,
contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in
its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the
prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New
Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind . The division
between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the
British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he
will invariably confront the citys past.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit
Jama Masjid,
the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was
started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658; Red Fort, which was also
built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648;
Chandni
Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit
Humayuns Tomb; built in
mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutab
Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The city
tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir) or Gurudwara
Bangla Sahib (Sikh temple).
DAY 03 : DELHI-UDAIPUR (FLIGHT, 9W 3317, 1105-1335 HRS)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Later, excursion to Nagda & Eklingji.
DAY 04 : UDAIPUR
After breakfast, visit the romantic city of Udaipur. Visit the City Palace
which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan; Jagdish temple, a fine
Indo Aryan temple built in 1651; Sahelion ki Bari or Garden of the Maids of
Honour, which is a small garden with its fountains, kiosks, marble elephants
& lotus pool.
Afternoon, free. In the evening, boat ride on Lake Pichola.
DAY 05 : UDAIPUR - RANAKPUR - JODHPUR (275 KMS, 06-07 HRS
DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Jodhpur. Enroute visiting the Jain temples at
Ranakpur : The cluster of temples, made of intricately sculpted white
marble, come across as a marvellousfeat of architecture. It would take
anyone by surprise to learn that they were built in 1460, so well preserved
& sparkling is the marble. The main temple is supported on 1,444 pillars
? none of which is similarly carved.
After the visit, continue drive to Jodhpur. Arrive Jodhpur in the evening
and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 06 : JODHPUR - PUSHKAR (225 KMS, 04-05 HRS HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, city tour of Jodhpur. fatehpur sikri agraVisit the
Mehrangarh Fort which literally means ?Majestic Fort?, located at the very
centre of the city. There are ,in all , three gates , each built to
commemorate a particular victory, as well as to reinforce the fort. It has a
collection of musical instruments, palanquins, furniture & cannons on
the forts? ramparts are well preserved. Jaswant Thada : Close to the fort
complex lies this white marble cenotaph, built in 1899, in commemoration of
Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to
be seen at Jaswant Thada. Also visit the Clock Tower ? the city centre.
Afternoon, leave for Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check in at prebooked
hotel.
DAY 07 : PUSHKAR-JAIPUR (135 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, visit Pushkar. Afternoon, leave for Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur
and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY 08 : JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills
of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At a distance of 11 kms
from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of
the fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's
army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace which has museum
having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel ware and weapons;
Jantar Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728 and the
façade of Hawa Mahal.
DAY 09 : JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA (240 KMS, 06-07 HRS
DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of
Fatehpur Sikri - built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the
Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See
the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti,
Panch Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original
glory.
Continue drive to Agra. Arrive Agra in the evening and checkin at prebooked
hotel.
After breakfast, city tour of Agra. Visit Red fort, which was built by
Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his
grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public and private audiences
amongst many other beautiful structues; Itmad-ud-daulah, which was
contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the
tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan; the
highlight of the day - The Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in
memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and
was not completed until 1653.
Afternoon, free for individual activities.
Note : Taj Mahal closed on Fridays.
DAY 11 : AGRA - JHANSI (BY TRAIN, SHATABDI EXPRESS,
0815-1025 HRS) JHANSI - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO (178 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board train for Jhansi.
Arrive Jhansi and board our car/coach which awaits you to drive you to
Khajuraho.
Enroute visit Orchha : Once the capital of Bundelas, Orchha is a village,
set amongst a complex of well preserved palaces and temples. Though Orchha
was founded in 1531, it's golden age was during the first half of 17th
century. When Jahangir visiting the city in 1606, a special palace, the
Jehangir Mahal was built for him. Visit the Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal &
Ram Raja temple which also dates back to the 17th century.
Continue drive to Khajuraho. Arrive Khajuraho and check in at hotel.
DAY 12 : KHAJURAHO - VARANASI (FLIGHT, 9W 724, 1330-1410
HRS)kahjuraho india
After breakfast visit Khajuraho : Built by the warrior Chandela dynasty
that rose to power in Central India between 10th & 11th centuries, the
25 odd surving temples display different facets of life, including the
sensual. These erotic carvings on some panels have given rise to much
speculation since Khajuraho?s re-discovery by a British officer in 1838. To
preserve it for posterity, Khajuraho has been declared a World Heritage
Site.
Visit the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings
between 950 AD & 1050 AD. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini
temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev temple, Chitragupta or
Bharatji temple with lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishwanath &
Nandi temples, Lakshmana temple, Visha temple dedicated to Shiva, which is
the largest & most typical of temples.
Afternoon, transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. Arrive
Varanasi and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 13 : VARANASI
Early morning, leave for boat ride on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats
(river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a
boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound in
an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river & the
wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world.
Return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, city tour of Varanasi.
Formerly known as Kashi ? the city that illuminates. The religious capital
of Hinduism , Varanasi is the oldest living city of India & one of the
worlds? most ancient. The present name is derived from the fact that the
city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi. Visit the Bharat
Mata temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga temple, Tulsi
Manas Mandir, Benaras Hindu University which has an art gallery & the
mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb.
Afternoon, excursion to Ramnagar - For a 17th century fort, this one is
seriously well-preserved, probably because the Maharaja of Benares still
resides here. The hall of public audience (Durbar Hall) and the royal museum
housing collections of palanquins, elephant saddles, arms, furniture,
costumes, etc., are a must see at the Ramnagar fort. Return by boat in the
evening, enroute witness the religious ceremonies along the banks of river
Ganges.
DAY 14 : VARANASI - KATHMANDU (FLIGHT, F5 622, 1535-1625
HRS)
Note : Flight operates on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday.
After
breakfast, excursion to Sarnath - the buried Buddhist city where Buddha
preached his first sermin. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the
Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse
in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of
the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching
first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school or learning from 16th century BC
to 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple &
the museum (closed on Fridays). At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its
four guardian lions, used as independent India's national emblem.
Later, transfer to the airport to board flight for Kathmandu. On arrival in
Kathmandu meet and assist at the airport and transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 15 : KATHMANDU
In the morning, visit the valley of Kathmandu ? the capital city of Nepal,
Swayambhunath & Museum. Afternoon, excursion to Patan & Tibetan
Handicraft centre
DAY 16 : KATHMANDU
After breakfast, visit Bhaktapur, Boudhnath & Pashupatinath. Afternoon,
excursion to Dhulikhel to witness the beautiful sunset. Return to Kathmandu
after sunset.
DAY 17 : KATHMANDU - DELHI (FLIGHT, F5 603, 1600-1800 HRS)
After breakfast, free for individual activities. Afternoon, transfer to the
airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to prebooked
hotel.
DAY 18 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.
Rajasthan
Forts and Palaces
DAY
09: JAISALMER - JODHPUR 
