The Enchanting Rajasthan & Pushkar Tour rdligtelyn-travel.com/travel_assets/pdf/Rajasthan...

7th level Select office Tower, Select Citywalk, A-3 District Center, Saket,

New Delhi - 1100171 INDIA Tel: + 91 11 4616 2630

The Enchanting Rajasthan & Pushkar Tour ( 19 October to 03rd November2009)



Delhi/Agra/Jaipur/Pushkar/Deogarh/Jodhpur/Ranakpur/Udaipur/Delhi

Monday 19 October ARRIVE DELHI 1310hrs: Arrive Delhi by CX 639 OR 2200hrs: Arrive Delhi by SQ 408 – meet and transfer to hotel

Delhi – the capital of India has two cities in one – first the Old Delhi of the Mughals created by Shah Jehan and still a medieval place of forts, mosques and bazaars second New Delhi designed by the British architects – Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker – designed in magnificent style to reflect the might of the British empire in India. Traditional Welcome at hotel with the ceremonial arti/tikka and flower garlands and a welcome drink

OVERNIGHT: THE HYATT REGENCY- DELHI

Tuesday 20 October DELHI Morning After breakfast Tour of New Delhi with its wide avenues,

colonial mansions, imperial government buildings designed by Lutyens, including the Parliament buildings, India Gate & the Presidential Palace.

Lunch at “Line of No Control” an Indian restaurant serving north-west frontier specialties from the India and Pakistan. After lunch visit Qutab Minar - the 239ft sandstone tower is an Indo-Islamic architectural wonder of ancient India. The complex has a number of other important monuments.

Evening: Dinner at hotel.

OVERNIGHT: - THE HYATT REGENCY - DELHI

Wednesday 21 October DELHI Breakfast at hotel 0900 View the contrasting images of modern and ancient India visiting Old Delhi

or Shahjahanabad– the capital of Muslim India from the 12th to 19th centuries. Start with a drive Raj Ghat- Mahatama Gandhi’s memorial and then past the Red Fort - the imperial citadel which took 9 years to build and was the seat of Mughal power until 1857 and then onto Jamma Masjid- the Friday



mosque is India’s largest mosque with soaring minarets and vast marble domes. Thereafter walk through Chandni Chowk (Silver or moonlit square) – once this imperial city’s most elegant boulevard past bustling shops and wholesale markets, past old temples and the Town Hall and end the tour at the Old Delhi Metro Station for a short ride back on the new metro line – a marvel of Modern - day India to the city centre where the bus will be waiting to take guests back to the hotel.

1300 Back at hotel - Lunch free

1500 Thereafter drive to Humayun’s Tomb - built in 1570, is of particular cultural

significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. Elements in its design – a squat building, high arched entrances that let in light, topped by a bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens.

1930 Dinner at home with an Indian Family.

OVERNIGHT: THE HYATT REGENCY – DELHI

Thursday 22 October Delhi/Agra

08h00 : After early breakfast, check out and drive to Agra

Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are hereditary craft persons.

13h00 : Check-in at the hotel to a traditional welcome. Lunch free

15h00 : Visit the Taj Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.

Evening: Dinner at the hotel (included)

OVERNIGHT: HOTEL TRIDENT – AGRA



Friday 23 October Agra (Red Fort) / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur

09h00: After breakfast, checkout of hotel and proceed for a visit of the Red Fort - built by three generations of Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is a masterpiece of design and construction. It housed both the residential Palaces of the Royal family and the military quarters and offers other formidable views of the Taj Mahal from across the river. Continue drive to Fatehpur Sikri (40 kms) – an extraordinary city built by Akbar the Great in 1569 AD in red sandstone, with its forts, palaces, mosques and was abandoned 14 years after its creation due to political reasons.

13h00 Stop for lunch at Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur

Continue drive to Jaipur (185 Kms) Jaipur is the bustling capital city and a business centre with all the trapping of modern metropolis but yet flavored strongly with an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a traveler. Founded in AD 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is steeped in history and culture.

I8h00 Arrive Jaipur and proceed to hotel.

Dinner at hotel (included) OVERNIGHT: HOTEL JAI MAHAL PALACE – JAIPUR

Saturday 24 October JAIPUR Breakfast at hotel. 0730 or 0830 hrs Visit Amber – it was the capital of the erstwhile state of Jaipur until 1728.

Ride on elephant back (two guests on each elephant) (subject to availability else on Jeep) to ascend the hill

on which the Fort is situated. Perched on a hill, it has a “Hall of Public & Private Audience (Diwan-e-Am & Diwan-e-Khas), a Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) and various marble palaces which are marvellous examples of ancient Rajput architecture. Descend down the fort by jeeps (four guests in each vehicle).



Afternoon: Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride or a guided walk through the the bustling

and colorful bazaars of the “Pink City” famous for Rajasthani jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers.

Evening: A traditional Rajasthani Puppet show followed by a buffet dinner on the terrace or in the courtyard accompanied by a pageant of Rajasthani Folk Dances

OVERNIGHT: JAI MAHAL PALACE – JAIPUR

Sunday 25 October JAIPUR

09h00: Visit the imposing City Palace – the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles which now houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armoury of the Mughals and Rajputs and the adjacent Jantar Mantar - an astronomical and astrological Observatory built by Maharja Jai Singh in 18th century to measure everything from altitude to time, and map the movement of the planets and the stars, which remarkable for its accuracy even at the present times on the way stopping for a photo at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)

Late Afternoon:Visit to the celebrated Rambagh Palace hotel for a drink and sandwich in gardens (direct payment).

The ‘Jewel of Jaipur’ as it is fondly called, remained the home of the Jaipur royal family until 1957, when it was first converted into a luxury hotel by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. In the finest tradition of Rajput hospitality, the Rambagh Palace offers its guests a taste of royal living – a luxury and extravagance that was once the sole preserve of kings. Its elegantly appointed rooms, marbled corridors and majestic gardens echo with history, and every corner has a story to tell.

Option to visit marble Birla Temple in the afternoon Dinner Free

OVERNIGHT: HOTEL JAI MAHAL PALACE -JAIPUR

Monday 26 October JAIPUR/PUSHKAR

0830 hrs : After breakfast check-out and drive to Pushkar – 140 kms

Afternoon: Arrive Pushkar and check into a Deluxe Tented Camp, which captures the luxurious nostalgia of a bygone age of the Maharaja’s Safari and Shikar Camps, combined with innovative design demonstrating many of the skills and crafts of Marwar. The camp consists of tents, each with verandah, bedroom and bathroom. There is a large dining tent serving the best of Rajasthani cuisine and a large open reception tent with seating areas. The



campfire is the focal point for the evening entertainment programme with cocktails and rhythms of the Thar - music, dancing, magicians, puppet shows, jugglers, flaming torches and camel parades.

Pushkar - the holy site is famous for its colourful annual fair during Kartik Poornima (full moon) in November each year. At this time this otherwise peaceful and gentle village on the banks of holy Pushkar take is thrown into colourful confusion when the desert tribes and camel caravans meet to trade cattle, camels, goat, sheep, clothes, jewellery and spices beside the sacred Pushkar Lake and to perform their rituals in its waters, to the accompaniment of temple & folk music. Upto 200000 traders and 50000cattle pour into town, along with numerous festooned camels and colourful pilgrims. After 10 hectic days of livestock dealing, camel racing and colourful festivities, everybody goes for a big holy dip in the lake on the night of the full moon (Kartik Purnima).

Guided walk at the fair and all meals in the camp.

OVERNIGHT: TENTED CAMP (SWISS DELUXE TENTS) Raj Resorts PUSHKAR

Tuesday 27 October PUSHKAR

Morning: After breakfast at the camp, full day free to participate in the various

activities, explore and photograph the fair and the Pushkar village.

Apart from the religious rituals and festivities, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The variety of folk dances and songs lend vivid splashes of colour and music to the atmosphere that is already charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair. The bargaining process, which involves a great deal of haggling between the camel traders and the buyers, add to the spirit of the fair.

(All meals at the camp). OVERNIGHT: TENTED CAMP (SWISS DELUXE TENTS) PUSHKAR Wednesday 28 October PUSHKAR/DEOGARH (175 KMS) 09h00: Breakfast at hotel, check-out and drive to Deogarh

Deogarh Mahal is an imposing structure built in 1670 A.D. At a height of about 2100 ft above sea level, it is cooler than surrounding Rajasthan. Built by Rawat Dwarka Dasji as a family residence, it soon became the hub of village activity.



The noble family of Deogarh interacted with the villagers and invited a host of feasts and festivities to be performed within the Mahal precincts. Some of these traditions are still practiced. And the gates, that always remained closed, to ward off enemies, are now open to the guests. Its chieftain known as 'The Rawat' was one of sixteen Umraos (feudal barons) privileged to wait upon the Maharana of Udaipur. Such, feudal estates called Thikanas were granted by the ruling Maharana to a nobleman either due to blood relationship or for an act of bravery. Deogarh is also renowned as a school of miniature painting. Some Deogarh miniatures adorn the personal collection of the present Rawat Sahib. Frescoes of this art form can also be seen on the fort walls. The Mahal also has some exciting rooms to browse through Sheesh Mahal - the colourful hall of mirrors, is just one of them!

Afternoon Walk through village and visit the local school Dinner at the Deogarh Palace (included) OVERNIGHT: DEOGARH PALACE Thursday 29 October DEOGARH \ JODHPUR (170 Kms) 09h00: After leisurely breakfast, check-out and drive to Jodhpur

Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar desert and was the citadel of the ancient Marwar kingdom…this bustling desert city is the second largest in Rajasthan after Jaipur and its landscape is dominated by the massive Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge. The imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity.

Arrive and check into hotel Afternoon : At leisure Evening : Dinner at hotel with local music & dances OVERNIGHT: HOTEL AJIT BHAVAN PALACE - JODHPUR

Friday 30 October JODHPUR Morning : City Tour of Jodhpur visiting: Mehrangarh Fort – Perched on a 150 m high hill its sprawl is the most

formidable and magnificent fort in Rajasthan. 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. Battle scars of canon ball hit by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second



gate. To the left is chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot while defending the fort against the armies of Amber. Jaswant Thada – On the way down from the fort, on left is Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The main memorial has been built like a temple with intricately carved marble stone that is sculpted by the genius artesian. Visit the Umaid Bhawan Palace – Maharaja Umaid Singh who built this palace was fascinated with western lifestyles so he marshalled the services of a well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester, a creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect of New Delhi) to construct a three hundred and forty seven roomed Umaid Palace. This was to become India’s last of the great palaces and the biggest private residence in the world. The Palace now is a five star deluxe palace hotel. Refreshments at the Umaid Bhawan Palace -direct payment

Afternoon : Board tongas (horse-carts) for a visit of the old city of Jodhpur with its colorful textile and spice markets ! The lifestyle in Jodhpur is unusually fascinating with people wearing lovely multi hued costumes, artistically designed. Shopping in Jodhpur’s bazaars is a heady experience with a colourful display of the rich collection of exquisite handicrafts, the tie-and-die fabric, embroidered “jutis” or slippers in suede, camel skin and an extensive range of useful and decorative items Dinner free OVERNIGHT: HOTEL AJIT BHAVAN PALACE- JODHPUR

Saturday 31 October JODHPUR /RANAKPUR (180 KMS) /UDAIPUR (90 KMS)

0900hrs : Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Drive to Udaipur, stopping to visit the beautiful temples of Ranakpur enroute. These are magnificent 15th century Jain temples situated in the deep secluded valley of the Aravalli Hills. Though over 500 years old, the temples here are superbly preserved in a near-perfect condition. The most distinctive features are the 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, of which no two are exactly alike. Every conceivable surface is carved and every corner and angle is engraved with Jain images (Temples open at 1200 hours).

Lunch at Maharani Bagh included– perched in the Aravali hills, this hotel is a classic example of Rajput architecture

After lunch continue drive to Udaipur. Evening: Dinner at the hotel (included)

OVERNIGHT: HOTEL TRIDENT or THE LAKE PALACE UDAIPUR



Sunday 01 November UDAIPUR 0900 hrs After breakfast visit the magnificent City Palace which is simply enormous - an assemblage of not one but four separate palaces covering some four acres of area and exceeding all other palaces for colossal grandeur.

Lunch at Sunset View Terrace (included)

Afternoon : Boat ride on the Lake Pichola. The picturesque lake that entranced

Maharaja Udai Singh. It was later enlarged by the founder. The lake is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples, bathing ghats and embankments. Visit a school of miniature paintings and walk through the old city of Udaipur – a vivid sprawl of little shops selling the tie & die. fabrics ‘pichhvais’, brightly coloured folk toys and enamel & silver jewelry. Visit the ancient Jagdish temple – a living temple

Evening: Sound & Light Show at the magnificent Manek Chowk of the City Palace, recounting the glorious history of the land of Mewar.

Dinner at the Dari Khana.

OVERNIGHT: HOTEL TRIDENT OR THE LAKE PALACE UDAIPUR

Monday 02 November UDAIPUR/DELHI

BACK TO DELHI

Morning: After breakfast morning at leisure to enjoy the hotel. Those who wish can return to the Old City.

Afternoon: Transfer to airport for the flight to Delhi 1530 hrs: Departure by Jetairways

1630 hrs Arrive Delhi – meet & transfer to the Radisson hotel Evening Farewell dinner at the buffet restaurant (included) and few room for wash & change (1 room to 5 Pax)

0005hrs After dinner late transfer to the International Airport to board your flight Dragon Air/ Cathay at 0340 hrs for Hongkong on 18th November.

“ BON VOYAGE”

The Enchanting Rajasthan & Pushkar Tour rdligtelyn-travel.com/travel_assets/pdf/Rajasthan...

Documents

Transcript of The Enchanting Rajasthan & Pushkar Tour rdligtelyn-travel.com/travel_assets/pdf/Rajasthan...