rajasthan - forts & palaces
(delhi-agra-jaipur-udaipur-jodhpur-jaisalmer-bikaner-mandawa)
Day 1 Delhi: Arrive Delhi, meet and greet by Concept Voyages' representative at the airport and transfer to hotel. Evening visit
Sound and Light Show at
Red Fort. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 2 Delhi: After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of
Old & New Delhi. The sight-seeing tour of old Delhi will cover the
Raj Ghat-the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and the
Jama Masjid-the largest mosque in India. In the New Delhi your sight-seeing tour will include a trip to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive around the
India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and ends with shopping at
Chandni Chowk. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3 Delhi-Agra: After breakfast, depart for
Agra, on arrival transfer to hotel. Later proceed for city sight seeing tour visiting the world famous
Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Also visit Agra Fort built in 1566, containing the
Pearl Mosque - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna. Inside the fort, you will visit the
Diwan-E-Khas - "Hall of private audience", where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his
gem-studded Peacock Throne and meet foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Also visit
Itmad-up-Dau’s tomb, built by Noorjehan in memory of her father. Evening visit the
Agra bazaars to pick up marble artefacts. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4 Agra-Jaipur: After breakfast drive to
Jaipur, enroute visiting
Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and later abandoned due to scarcity of water.
The Panch Mahal - "
Palace of Five Storeys" and the
Buland Darwaza, a massive gate which provides entrance to the complex, number among the finest specimens of Mughal architecture, and it is even arguable that
Fatehpur Sikri is the greatest accomplishment of Mughal architecture, The buildings at Fatehpur Sikri blended both Islamic and Hindu elements in their architectural style. Evening enjoy cultural programs at
Choki Dhani, ethnic Rajasthani village. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 5 Jaipur: Breakfast at hotel and proceed for a tour to
Amber Fort. The Amber Fort set in picturesque and rugged hills is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Sawai Jai Singh I, the fort is made in red sand stone and white marble. Later visit the
City Palace- The palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family still lives in a part of the palace. The City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. You will proceed to
Jantar Mantar-the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. Your tour in Jaipur ends with visiting
Hawa Mahal - "
Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their veiled comfort. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 6 Jaipur-Udaipur: After a sumptuous breakfast transfer to
Udaipur, an oasis in the desert state of Rajasthan enroute visiting Pushkar.
Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the
Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. It's marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the
Hans - "
Swan symbol
Brahma" who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as its site. Arrive Udaipur and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 7 Udaipur: After breakfast proceed for a morning city sight seeing tour of
Udaipur. The city is built in 1559 A.D. by Maharaja Udai Singh and has been described as the most romantic spot on the continent of India by Col. James Todd. Visit the
City Palace museum, the
Jagdish temple,
Sahelion Ki Bari (
Queen’s resort for their friends),
Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk art museum) and the
Pratap Memorial. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 8 Udaipur-Jodhpur: After breakfast drive to
Jodhpur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 9 Jodhpur: After a relaxed breakfast proceed for city sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. Jodhpur - the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Perched on a 150m high hill its sprawl is the most formidable and magnificent fort in Rajasthan-The
Mehrangarh Fort. Rao Jodha founded it in 1459 but subsequent rulers of Jodhpur have also added to it over the centuries. A meandering road leads to the from the city 5 kms below. There are seven gates, which include
Jayapol meaning victory built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies.
Fattehpol also meaning victory gate was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of Mughals. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II around 1899 and Umaid Public gardens. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 10 Jodhpur-Jaisalmer: Morning drive to
Jaisalmer, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11 Jaisalmer: After breakfast proceed for a morning city sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer. Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately moulded wonderland in place of a barren land, today stands a city of gilded magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century, when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the foundation of a new city. Visit the magnificent fort, the
Patwon Ki Haveli (Mansion) and
Salim Singh Ki Haveli, with their carved balconies and brackets, which are supreme examples of the art. Evening visit the sunset over sand dunes of Rajasthan. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 12 Jaisalmer-Bikaner: After breakfast proceed for a morning drive to
Bikaner. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade centre on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 kms wall, which can be entered from 5 gates. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and 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. You will visit the
Lalgarh Palace, the museum,
Bhanda Sagar Jain and
Deshnoke Rat temple while touring Bikaner. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 13 Bikaner-Mandawa: After breakfast drive to
Mandawa, on arrival transfer to the hotel. Later visit Mandawa, founded 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and still the home of his descendants has beautiful frescoes, havelis and mansions.
Mandawa castle one of the finest castles of Rajasthan, is now a hotel and house of collection of armouries, costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820 ancient coins, numismatic collection and many other interesting items, preserved in a museum. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14 Mandawa-Delhi Departure: Morning drive to Delhi and transfer to airport for onward journey.
End of Tour!
Tour Booking Code: CVDR-02
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