Historical Rajasthan & Taj

Duration: 14 Days

Destination Covered: Delhi - Rajasthan Main Cities & Agra


Overview

The magical land of Royal Rajasthan is known for its massive Forts, rich culture, and festivals. Visiting Rajasthan is a lifetime experience for the travellers. This unique Village tour gives you a chance to visit the remote areas of Rajasthan and meet the local people. In this tour, we take you to numerous off-beat destinations along with other famous points of interest in Rajasthan.

Experience the history of colossal forts, the magnificence and splendour of Rajasthan's palaces, along with the symbol of Love – Taj Mahal.

Trip Highlights
    • yes A Royal Elephant Ride at Amber Fort Jaipur,
    • yes Famous World Heritage Sites, Fatehpur Sikri
    • yes One of the seven wonders of the world - Taj Mahal
    • yes Boat Cruise on Lake Pichhola Udaipur
    • yes Rickshaw Ride in Old Delhi
    • yes Visit to Karni Mata Temple (Rat Temple) Bikaner
    • yes Visit to Camel breeding Farm in Bikaner
    • yes Visit to villages & meeting local people in Rajasthan
Itinerary Details
Day - 1     Arrive Delhi

Meet and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then drive to your hotel with your driver and car.

Day - 2     Delhi – Mandawa by surface 280km/7hrs

In the morning after breakfast city tour of this imperial British capital of the 20th century introduces you to the Qutub Minar – the tallest free standing minaret in stone in the world; then onto Humayun’s tomb – the first Mughal construction in India from 1565 AD. Also see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India Gate built in the earlier half of the 20th century. Drive through the old city past the Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid – the biggest of its kind in India. Here take a rickshaw through the winding streets of the old city to see the life of the people in this part of the world. A perfect introduction of your tour. The rickshaw puller pulls you through the imperial avenue the Chandni Chowk where you will find each and every small business under the sky. Finally, reach Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where your chauffeur is waiting for you to take you to your next stop the Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple in activity.

After lunch continue on your route to Mandawa.

Day - 3     Mandawa – Bikaner by surface 200km/4hrs

In the morning see this beautiful village of Shekhawati that used to be an important caravanserai of the yesteryears. See the many havelis of this quaint little town built by the rich and the famous merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. These havelis have been painted with activities of daily life and of deities to break the monotony of the desert life.

Then proceed towards Bikaner en route stop at Fatehpur to see the splendid havelis of the local merchants of Shekhawati.

Reach Bikaner by lunch time.

See the Junagadh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. Later visit the camel breeding farm, a unique experience. In the evening walk along the busy market area of Bikaner city centre.

Day - 4     Bikaner – Osian – Pokaran – Jaisalmer by surface 330km/5hrs

After breakfast leave Bikaner and reach Osian and see the temple complex of Shakti (the Mother Goddess) and the Jain temples in the vicinity. Also see the temple of Harihar (Shiva and Vishnu together). Proceed towards the desert kingdom of Pokaran where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543 inside the fort. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colorful and full of local flavors. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by early evening to witness the sunset over the desert with the most imposing edifice of the town behind you.

Day - 5     Jaisalmer

Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila.. The Jains are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit the citadel’s palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli with intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external world. Also see the Gadisar Lake.

Later, we go to Sam or Khuri village. Here we have loads of excitement in store for you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby sunset point on the dunes to see the sunset by camel carts. After the sunset return to the village where your dinner is arranged in mud huts. Later while you dine listen to the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians. A lifetime experience. Dinner in the desert mud huts.

Day - 6     Jaisalmer – Jodhpur by surface 280km/6hrs

Today we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon and drive up to the majestic Mehrangarh fort, the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking.

Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the spices filling the air around you

Then go to Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur. Retire to your hotel and relax.

Day - 7     Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Udaipur by surface 280km/6hrs

Leave Jodhpur and reach Ranakpur a very big pilgrimage centre for the Jains. Just four hours drive from Udaipur is the eternal Jain pilgrimage centre of Ranakpur. Admire the workmanship from the 16th century. The temples are built out of marble and the main shrine of Adinath with 1444 columns is awe inspiring and none of these are similar. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus. Proceed towards Udaipur and on the way stop by the fields to see the local way of farming and irrigation. Walk into the villages to mingle with the locals around to know more about their lifestyle.

Reach Udaipur by late afternoon and check into your hotel

Day - 8     Udaipur

Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See the Peacock Square.

Later, see the Sahelion ki Bari where Maharana Sangram Singh build this garden complex with fountains and lakes for his beautiful daughter.

Also visit temples of Nagda and Eklingji.

The temple at Eklingji is a temple that belongs to the Maharana of Mewar (royal family) and he is often there to pray. The temple complex of Nagda is a group of temples of which only two remain intact and those are that of Saas and Bahu. Both the temples, of Shiva and of Vishnu, are from the 7th century.

In the evening we take a lake cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichhola by sunset and visit the island palace Jagmandir where according to legends the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan lived and got inspired to build the Taj Mahal later.

Day - 9     Udaipur – Pushkar by car 250km/5hrs

Today cross the entire stretch of Mewar to reach the most holy cities of Pushkar and Ajmer.

Pushkar happens to be the holiest places according to the Hindus as it is considered that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the godess of learning and music) performed a ritual in the lake. Here we visit the only Brahma temple of the world before intermingling with the local colours in the local bazaar. Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each year in the month of October/November. Proceed towards Ajmer.

Ajmer is the pious city for the Muslims. Surprisingly both the cities are at distance of 11km from each other. Visit the Dargah built in fond remembrance of Khwaja Muin ud Din Chisti where the Muslim pilgrims from all over India throng during the festival times. Later visit Mughal emperor Akbar’s Palace where his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe to grant him the permission of trade to East India Company with India, that changed the history of India completely and slowly and steadily India became colony of the British Empire.

Day - 10     Pushkar – Kishangarh – Jaipur by surface 170km/3hrs

After breakfast continue towards Jaipur en route visiting Kishangarh and see the mural paintings of this region that touched the epitome of art and culture during the reign of Maharaja Sawan Singh and master painter Nihalchand.

Reach Jaipur by lunch-time and check into hotel.

After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician, an astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. He built five observatories throughout India – Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only the one at Jaipur is functional.

Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold latticed work. The City Palace houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery. Later visit the carpet-weaving factory of Jaipur. Carpet weaving is an age old tradition in India.

Day - 11     Jaipur

Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Shish Mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens.

In the afternoon visit one of the many stone cutting and polishing stores in the city.

Day - 12     Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra by car 275km/5hrs

Early in the morning continue towards Fatehpur Sikri the Phantom city. Visit this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the second half of the 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife bore him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned Sufi saint Salim Chisti blessed Jodhabai Akbar’s Hindu wife with a son. Also visit Jodhabai’s palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor’s palace himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne.

Continue towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel or go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.

Day - 13     Agra

Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design, balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen anywhere in the world. Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjehan own son Aurangzeb imprisoned Shahjehan.

Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah – it is the first Mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.

Day - 14     Agra – Delhi by car 200km/4hrs

After a leisurely start today proceed towards Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner and finally transferred to the international airport for your onward destination.

 




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