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Departure
from home country.
Day 2 : Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Morning tour of Delhi.
Visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of
Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive
past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in
1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch ),
Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive
past President's House, Parliament House, Government
Secretariat Buildings & Connaught Place shopping centre.
Overnight Delhi.
Day 3 : Mandawa
Drive to Mandawa. Rest of the day visit the Shekhavati
villages of Dundlod, Mandawa, etc. Mandawa was founded in
1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his
descendants. Mandawa houses a collection of armories,
costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820, ancient coins,
numismatic collection and many other interesting items
preserved in a museum. The whole area of Shekhavati has
beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions and is called the
open air gallery. Overnight Mandawa.
Day 4 : Shekhawati
Continue with the visits of Shekhawati. Overnight Mandawa.
Day 5 : Bikaner
Drive to Bikaner. Afternoon tour of this desert city.
Bikaner is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th
century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque.
Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its
long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial
windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads
to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har Mandir where
royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Overnight
Bikaner.
Day 6 : Jaisalmer
Drive to Jaisalmer. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight
Jaisalmer.
Day 7 : Jaisalmer
Morning visit Jaisalmer. Visit the Fort, bazzars and the old
mansions known as "havelis". People still live in
these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century.
Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work.
Overnight Jaisalmer.
Day
8 : Jodhpur
Morning drive to Jodhpur. Afternoon visit the Meharangarh
Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal
and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing
Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum located in the
Umaid Public Gardens. Overnight Jodhpur.
Day 9 : Ranakpur
Morning drive to Ranakpur Temples. Ranakpur - 98 kms from
Udaipur, the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are
situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its
surrounding is quiet & picturesque. Ranakpur has grand
structures & beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars
in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of
light & shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and
other Jain Temples are side attractions. Overnight Ranakpur.
Day 10 : Udaipur
MDrive to Udaipur. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight
Udaipur.
Day 11 : Udaipur
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the city palace, Jagdish
Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari
(Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala
Mandir (Folk art museum). Afternoon free. Overnight Udaipur.
Day 12 : Kota - Chittaurgarh
Morning drive to Kota visiting Chittaurgarh enroute. 113 kms.
from Udaipur, the Fort of Chittor was originally built by
mighty Bhim, one of the Pandava heroes of Mahabharata. Also
visit the Vijay Stambh with nine storeys and 37 mts high
built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the
muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Kirti Stambh,
the Tower of fame 22 meters high is covered with figures
from Jain Pantheon. Overnight Kota.
Day 13 : Pushkar - Bundi
Morning drive to Pushkar visiting Bundi enroute. Bundi rises
from a narrow gorge in rows of terraced gardens & arched
Rajput houses like a two dimensional miniature painting
imposed on the landscape. Visit the palace with its
intricate spy-holes, secret trap doors and under ground
passages. Also see the spectacularly ingenious water supply
system. Afternoon visit the Tomb of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja
Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The city was founded by
the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century & is
dominated by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithviraj Chauhan.
In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma
Temple. Pushkar is one of the holiest places for Hindus.
Overnight Pushkar.
Day
14 : Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur
Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in
honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh,
the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit
Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas
Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose
residential & business areas. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 15 : Jaipur
Morning visit the Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the
State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory
glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back.
Afternoon free. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 16 : Jaipur
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur
Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569
and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See
the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of
Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces.
Afternoon visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the
Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal
to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort
containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private
Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by
Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Overnight Agra.
Day 17 : Delhi
Drive to Delhi. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Delhi.
Day 18 : Delhi Abroad
Morning transfer to airport.
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