| Day
01: |
Departure
from your own Country. |
| Day
02: |
Arrive
Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Morning tour of Delhi visiting
Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of
Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive
past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in
1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch
), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple.
Also drive past President's House, Parliament House,
Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping
centre. Overnight Delhi.
|
| Day
03: |
Drive
to Mandawa. Rest of the day visit the Shekhavati villages
of Dundlod, Mandawa, etc. Mandawa was founded in 1755 by
Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his descendants. Mandawa
houses a collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons
from 1820, ancient coins, numismatic collection and many other
interesting items preserved in a museum. The whole area of Shekhavati
has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions and is called the
open air gallery. Overnight Mandawa.
|
| Day
04: |
Drive
to Bikaner. Afternoon tour of this desert city. Bikaner is bolstered
by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces,
temples and a 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. An enormous arched doorway leads to
the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is
Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated.
|
| Day
05: |
Drive
to Jaisalmer. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Jaisalmer. |
| Day
06: |
Morning
visit Jaisalmer. Visit the Fort, bazzars and the old mansions
known as "havelis". People still live in these ancient buildings
dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings
and filigreed work. Overnight Jaisalmer.
|
| Day
07: |
Morning
drive to Jodhpur.
Afternoon visit the Meharangarh Fort, situated on a low
sandstone Hill,including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit
Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899
and the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens. Overnight
Jodhpur.
|
| Day
08: |
Morning
drive to Udaipur visiting Ranakpur Temples enroute. Ranakpur -
98 kms from Udaipur, the Jain Temples built in the 15th century
are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding
is quiet and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful
sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple and none of them
are similar. The magic of light & shade is really awe inspiring.
Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions. Overnight
Udaipur.
|
| Day
09: |
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the city palace, Jagdish
Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari
(Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir
(Folk art museum). Afternoon free. Overnight Udaipur.
|
| Day
10: |
Drive
to Ajmer/Pushkar. Afternoon visit the Tomb of the Sufi Saint,
Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The city was founded
by the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century & is
dominated by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithviraj Chauhan.
In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma
Temple. Pushkar is one of the holiest places for Hindus. Overnight
Pushkar.
|
| Day
11: |
Drive
to Jaipur. Free time. Overnight Jaipur.
|
| Day
12: |
Full
day tour of Jaipur. In Jaipur visit the Amber Fort -the
ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall
of Victory glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant
back.
Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was
given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting
Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer,
this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace,
the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal
& through the pink rose residential & business areas.
Overnight Jaipur.
|
| Day
13: |
Drive
to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur Sikri
is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned
after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings
including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch
Mahal and other Palaces. Overnight Agra.
|
| Day
14: |
Morning
visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor
Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal
remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl
Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the
Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in
memory of her father. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Late evening transfer
to rail-station for Varanasi night train. Night on board.
|
| Day
15: |
Morning
arrive Varanasi. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Varanasi. |
| Day
16: |
Early
morning boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage
from ghat to ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer
the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika
& Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns day
and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and
to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release
from the cycle of birth and death. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight Varanasi.
|
| Day
17: |
Transfer
to airport for Kathmandu flight. Arrive and transfer to hotel.
Overnight Kathmandu.
|
| Day
18: |
Morning
visit the Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka, the ancient
royal residential quarter, Mahadev and Parvati Temple and other
temples. Afternoon free. Overnight Kathmandu.
|
| Day
19: |
Day
free in Kathmandu. Overnight Kathmandu. |
| Day
20: |
Day
free in Kathmandu. Overnight Kathmandu. |
| Day
21: |
Transfer
to airport for Delhi flight. Arrive Delhi and transfer to
Hotel. Overnight Delhi.
|
| Day
22: |
Morning
transfer to airport. |