DAY 1 Saturday 1ST NOVEMBER, ARRIVE DELHI Arrival in Delhi. Transfer to hotel (group transfer). DAY 2 Sunday 2ND NOVEMBER, DELHI (B/L/D) Exploring Old and New Delhi – Visit a Hindu and Bahai Temple and pass the magnificent Red Fort, a marvel in red sandstone, built on the banks of the Yamuna River by a Mughal Emperior. Drive by the huge Secretariat buildings, President's house and War Memorial Arch and onto the 12th century Qutab Minar complex. Qutab Minar itself is a tower gracefully hand-carved over its entire height of 234ft, and below it are the remains of the first mosque to be built in India. Lunch with a local family at their home. Then try your bargaining power at Dilli Haat, a huge food and craft bazaar sprawling an area of approximately 27,000 square metres. This is a nice place to spend some time. See food stalls serving authentic Indian food and a bonanza of Indian handicrafts on sale directly from Indian craftsmen. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 3 Monday 3RD NOVEMBER, DELHI-AGRA (B/D) Depart for Agra, midway stop for lunch (own expense). On arrival in Agra check into our hotel. Later in the afternoon visit Shilpgram Market, a feast of stalls selling handicrafts artworks. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 4 Tuesday 4TH NOVEMBER, AGRA (B/L/D) First we visit Aga Fort, a massive red sandstone fort and palace which dominates the centre of the city. The crescent shaped fort with its 20 metre high outer walls contain a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. From here you can get your first glimpse of the Taj Mahal. We then visit the beautiful Taj Mahal. Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is an epitome of love, built by Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife who died giving birth to their 14th son in 1631. A fantastic sight at any time of the day, the white marble walls inlaid with precious stones and carved screens are breathtaking. Lunch at a local restaurant, return to hotel the for relaxation (try a spa treatment). Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 5 Wednesday 5TH NOVEMBER, AGRA-JAIPUR (B/L/D) Depart for Jaipur enroute visiting the abandoned palace Fatehpur Sikri. The palace and city was built in 1564 by Mugal Emperor Akbar and was intended to be the capital city but a shortage of water and unrest in the north-west made the Emperor abandon it. The well preserved buildings are impressive with their unusual architecture.
Proceed to Bharatpur for lunch and then visit a village school later walking around the village to interact with local women to learn about Rajasthani culture and traditions. On arrival in Jaipur, check into our hotel. Jaipur - the vibrant capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the “pink city” because of the pink coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on a dry lakebed in a somewhat arid landscape surrounded by barren hills. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and a feast for the eyes. Vegetable laden camel carts thread their way through streets jam packed with cars, rickshaws, bicycles and pedestrians frantically dodging the crazy traffic. See traditionally dressed Rajput men with swashbuckling moustaches sporting bright turbans. Jaipur has long outstripped the confines of its city walls and seldom disappoints first time visitors. Evening visit to Nehru Bazaar for textiles. Witness sari trying-on demonstration and try your hands at it. Dinner at a local restaurant with traditional dancing entertainment. DAY 6 Thursday 6TH NOVEMBER, JAIPUR (B/L) Drive past Hawa Mahal. This most famous landmark of Jaipur is not actually a palace but a series of sandstone screens. This pink structure was constructed so that the ladies of the place could watch the royal processions without being seen by any outsider. Amer Fort - at a short distance of 11kms from Jaipur, the Amer Fort complex stands on a rocky hill with forbidding ramparts reflected in the still waters of Maota Lake below. One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture, it was the ancient capital of the Kachhawah rulers. Elephant or jeep ride to get to the fort complex. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the City Palace, now converted into a museum, except a small portion that is still used by the royal family of Jaipur. Built in the fortified campus style, among its best features are a courtyard with four ornamental gates representing the seasons and a textile museum containing royal costumes. Visit the Jantar Mantar (Observatory). The largest stone observatory in the world. Time for shopping and bargaining in the jewellery bazaar area of town. Return to our hotel. DAY 7 Friday 7TH NOVEMBER, JAIPUR-PUSHKAR (B/L/D) Morning visit to the home sciences department at Maharani Gayatri Devi College, University of Rajasthan to learn about urban university girl students. Lunch at a local restaurant. Depart for Pushkar. Pushkar - The town clings to the side of beautiful Pushkar Lake with many bathing ghats, for Pushkar is also an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. We will be here just prior to the annual Pushkar Fair. Preparations will be well underway for the fair which hosts around 50,000 camels which are sold, decorated and raced, so the town will be a hive of activity. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 8 Saturday 8TH NOVEMBER, PUSHKAR (B/L/D) Visit Brahma’s Temple, the only such temple in India and an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Then proceed for our own private prayer ceremony on the lake edge finishing with an offering of flowers into the lake. Receive your “Pushkar Passport”, a colourful band tied around your wrist. Lunch at the hotel. Free afternoon to wander around this tourist friendly town. Make your own way back to the hotel. Evening sunset camel ride into the desert, on a clear day the colours are fantastic. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 9 Sunday 9TH NOVEMBER, PUSHKAR - JODHPUR (B/L/D) Later depart for Jodhpur with a packed lunch. On arrival check into our hotel. Free time for rest of the day to relax by the pool or look at some of the local shops in the area. Dinner at the hotel. Jodhpur - is a sprawling city, with a blend of modern and traditional, and home of the Jodphur riding pants. Jodphur is a city built at the foot of hills admidst the Thar desert. The region is known as Marwar or Maroodesh, the land of the sand. The city is dominated by a huge fort, and the old city buildings are mostly painted blue which is why the city is known as the “blue city”. DAY 10 Monday 10TH NOVEMBER, JODHPUR (B/L) Half day city tour – see Meherangarh Fort on a sandstone hill towering over the city of Jodhpur and Chamunda Temple located nearby. Lunch at a local restaurant. Later visit Sadar market, located in the centre of the city. Here you will find stalls and shops selling all sorts of fresh food, produce and spices along with wonderful textiles, which the city is noted for. DAY 11 Tuesday 11TH NOVEMBER, JODHPUR - UDAIPUR (B/L/D) Transfer to Udaipur. Enroute visit the 15th century Ranakpur temple complex. The main temple, Chaumukha Mandir, is an incredible white marble structure with an ornate interior supported by 1444 carved pillars. This is one of India’s most important Jain temples. Lunch at Ranakapur. On arrival at Udaipur check into our hotel with wonderful views of Lake Pichola and Taj Lake Palace (as seen in the James Bond movie "Octopussy"). Udaipur - is also known as the “City of Palaces” is surrounded by hills and its beautiful palaces are mirrored in the calm blue waters of Lake Pichola. The houses and temples of the old city stretch out around Lake Pichola in a pale honeycomb that makes Udaipur an oasis of colours in a stark and arid region like Rajasthan. Walk from our hotel to dinner at local restaurant located in a heritage site on the banks of Lake Pichola. DAY 12 Wednesday 12TH NOVEMBER, UDAIPUR (B/L/D) Morning visit to the City Palace, a majestic palace towering over the lake, it has a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Cooking lesson at a local cooking school and food prepared will be our lunch. Free time for the rest of the day to wander around the old streets, fabulous shopping here. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 13 Thursday 13TH NOVEMBER, UDAIPUR - DELHI (B) Free time until our afternoon flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi transfer to a special store for last minute shopping and spend time in a shopping centre before returning to the airport for onwards departure. END OF TOUR. SEE "WHAT WE OFFER" AND PHOTO GALLERY AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. 2007 TOUR PHOTOS ARE IN THE MAIN PHOTO GALLERY.
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India tour Jewel of Rajasthan
