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Saturday, May 25, 2013

ROYAL RAJASTHAN TOUR

RELATED TRAVEL ARTICLES

Heritage and Culture Tours
DESTINATIONS COVERED: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Samode, Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Rawla Narlai, Ranakpur , Kumbalgarh, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Bijaipur STATE: Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh [India]
12 NIGHTS / 13 DAYS

DAY 1: DELHI - AGRA (2 HRS)
Drive to Agra in the morning. Transfer to hotel. After lunch a tour of Agra fort, Itmad-ud-daula tomb and the Taj Mahal. Overnight in Agra.

DAY 2: AGRA - JAIPUR (6 HRS)
Optional early morning visit to the Taj Mahal. After breakfast drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri, arriving by lunch time. Check into the hotel. In the afternoon, tour of the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, the observatory. Overnight in Jaipur.

DAY 3: JAIPUR - SAMODE (1 HR)
After a morning excursion to the Amber fort on elephant back you can wade through the colourful bazaars of the Pink City and then drive on to Samode (40kms). A royal welcome awaits you at the Samode Palace heritage hotel. Evening at leisure spent watching a cultural show in the palace courtyard. Overnight at Samode Palace.

DAY 4: SAMODE - MANDAWA (3 HRS)
In the morning, enjoy a camel ride through the village and sand dunes up to the royal orchards. Leave Samode after breakfast (via Nawalgarh and Mukundgarh) to arrive in Mandawa by lunch-time. Check into the palace hotel. In the afternoon explore the painted havelies of Shekhawati. Overnight in Mandawa.

DAY 5: MANDAWA - BIKANER (5 HRS)
In the morning, drive to Bikaner to arrive by lunch. Check into the palace hotel. After lunch, tour the Junagarh fort with its massive walls, breath-taking pavilions, ornamental balconies and decorated, murals and frescoes, mirror studded walls, blue and white Chinese tiles, mosaic floors and some splendid carvings. Also visit the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum which houses terra-cotta potteries 5000 years old and centuries old miniature paintings. Overnight in Bikaner.

DAY 6: BIKANER - JAISALMER (5 HRS)
Drive to Jaisalmer, in the heart of the Thar desert, in the morning to arrive by lunch. Check into a heritage hotel. In the evening stroll the fortress town where narrow streets lead up to temples and have lies with the most exquisite stone carvings all done in golden honey yellow stone. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

DAY 7: JAISALMER
A day tour of the Sam sand dunes known for their spectacular camel rides; watch the glorious sunset over the Thar desert before returning to Jaisalmer in the evening. Overnight in Jaisalmer.

DAY 8: JAISALMER - JODHPUR (290 KMS)
After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur to arrive by lunch. Transfer to the palace hotel. Afternoon tour of Meherangarh fort and the grand Umaid Bhawan palace. Overnight in Jodhpur.

DAY 9: JODHPUR - RAWLA NARLAI (4 HRS)
After a slow-paced breakfast, drive to Rawla Narlai, a small fortress dating back to the 17th century. Spend the afternoon exploring the charms of a typical Rajasthani village surrounding the fortress; you can also climb the 350 ft high granite rock with its spectacular views, caves and temples. Overnight in Rawala Narlai.

DAY 10: RAWLA NARLAI - RANAKPUR / KUMBALGARH
Drive down in the morning to India's most celebrated Jain temples at Ranakpur. The main temple, built in 1439, is exceptionally gorgeous, its 29 halls supported by 1,444 pillars. Drive on to Kumbalgarh where you can check into the Maharaja of Udaipur's former hunting lodge, Aodhi. Post-lunch visit the imposing fort and wander through several and temples inside the massive walls of the fort which is situated on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary. Overnight in Kumbalgarh.

DAY 11: KUMBALGARH - UDAIPUR
An optional early morning horse/jeep safari into the wildlife sanctuary. Later drive down to Udaipur (2 hrs) and check into a hotel. In the afternoon tour the City Palace, Jagdish temple and the Garden of Maids. In the evening enjoy a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight in Udaipur.

DAY 12: UDAIPUR - CHITTORGARH - BIJAIPUR
In the morning, drive to Chittorgarh, the former capital of Mewar and one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. The spectacular remains of temples, palaces and towers date back to the 7th and 15th centuries. In the evening return to Udaipur or alternatively stay the night at Castle Bijaipur (45 minutes drive) in the Vindhyachal hills. Spend a leisurely evening with local tribal folk songs and dances. Overnight in Udaipur / Bijaipur.

DAY 13: UDAIPUR - DELHI
Morning transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi.

TOUR ENDS