Home Tour Packages Cultural Heritage 18 Days Best of Rajasthan Tour Plan

Delhi (2n) >> Agra (2n) >> Jaipur (2n) >> Sawaimadhopur (2n) >> Bundi (1n) >> Bhainsrorgarh (1n) >> Shahpura Bagh (2n) >> Udaipur (2n) >> Jodhpur (1n) >> Delhi (1n). Tour Duration : 18 Days / 16 nights. Best Time : October – 15 March. Accommodation : Deluxe/Heritage Hotels/luxury Camps. Transport : One Air-conditioned SUV Laundry : Available at all locations Trip Style : Independent.

DAY 01	Abroad >> New Delhi.. Arrival at the IGI Int’l airport at late into the evening. Reception at the airport by our representative & transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel The Manor.
DAY 02	Delhi. Wake up at leisure & after B’fast, enjoy a 15 minute massage at the Spa, to give a healing touch to the sore muscles, infusing them with positive energies through modern massage techniques! Leave for full day sightseeing at 10:30am; to include a visit to the India Gate, a war memorial to the one million Indian & British soldiers, who died fighting in the great war & strikingly similar to one in Paris; Drive/walk past the North & South blocks & the erstwhile viceregal lodge, on the Kingsway (now Presidential estate on Rajpath). The secretariat buildings designed by Baker. Visit the Chandani Chowk & Old Delhi, in a rickshaw; the Spice Market; a Sikh Temple. Lunch in Connaught Place, enroute, stop at the CIE to get a flavor of the Kashmir arts and crafts. Post lunch, visit National Museum, perhaps the best ever in India, with excellent overview of the cultural development in South Asia. The collection was formed from the nucleus of the exhibition of Indian Art (1947 London) which brought together selected works from state museums & private collections. Theme dinners & overnight in your hotel (B, D).
DAY 03	Delhi >> Agra (131miles / 5hrs). After B’fast this morning drive to Agra. On the way stop over at Sikandra, for an exteriors picture session, "The afternoon was devoted to what is perhaps the grandest, as Taj is certainly is the most beautiful, tomb in the world-Sikundra (Sikandra), six miles from the Camp"- WH Russell Adc to the Prince of Wales c. 1877. Evening on the swimming pool. Dinners & overnight at Agra in Hotel Taj Gateway (B, D).
DAY 04	Agra. At 6:00am this morning, visit the Taj Mahal – "…Looming 243 feet from the garden level to the dome’s golden surmounting needle, the mausoleum dwarfs visitors by it’s grandeur. Inside of that gigantic central arch, vaulted marble has been chiseled into diamond shapes; while black-jet inscriptions from Koran weave stylised Arabic calligraphy like a giant’s puzzle around the entry way. "Concieved by titans and finished by jewellers" the entire edifice reveals a wealth of dadoes, panels in bass-relief, and precious stone inlay. Flower motifs repeated endlessly in a geometric profusion of bloom are surprisingly naïve. Dominant in the white marble bas-relief is the iris, that graveyard bulb which grows only in shadows away from the Indian heat". Comeback for B’fast & proceed on sight seeing tour of Agra; visit Fort Agra, a massive red sandstone structure , associated closely with Mughal & British History, in India. It is a World Heritage Monument. Standing on the river Yamuna, was seat of government, of the most powerful Empire’s the world has seen. The architectural beauty of this fort is seen to be believed. According to Tillotson, "The architecture of Agra Fort, draws on India’s 2 main traditions, (Islamic / Hindu), but here the various parts are combined in a new and resolved style. It is that resolution which gives the buildings their appearance of purity". Visit the tomb of Itmaddudaullah, a monument well known for it’s "excellent personalized work". Dinners & overnight in your hotel (B, D).
DAY 05	Agra >> Jaipur (155miles / 5 hrs). After B’fast this morning drive to Jaipur. On the way, visit Fatehpur Sikri & Buland Darwaza, the ghost city of the great Mughal Akbar, whose intention was it to reconcile Islam to Hinduism. Completed in 1571 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who was known to be a very tolerant ruler, the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri blend both Islamic and Hindu elements in their architectural style. Experts argue that Fatehpur Sikri is the greatest accomplishment of Mughal architecture, surpassed only in reputation but not in its beauty by the Taj Mahal. The cultural politics of the site remain to be written; perhaps the mammoth chess board, where human figures were used as chess pieces and moved at the emperor's will, provides a clue. Drive on to Jaipur. Rest of day at leisure. Dinner & overnight in Hotel Shahpura House (B,D).
DAY 06	Jaipur. This morning at 8:00am, visit Fort Amber on a gaily caparisoned elephant. The fort was home to the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1137 to 1727. The initial buildings were begun by Man Singh, the commander-in-chief of the Mughal armies. The work was carried on by successive rulers. The architecture shows an amalgam of Hindu & Moslem influence. You need to go through 5 defensive gates to reach the first courtyard or Rajmahal built in 1600 by Man Singh. You have several pavilions & Palaces inside the fort. Visit the Palace of wind, is simply a pink sandstone façade. Built for the ladies of the harem, it is a five storey frontage on a high pedestal, containing 953 small casements for the ladies to view the scene in the market below. We shall now take you to the colourful oriental market, where you can hunt for handicrafts & souvenirs for yourself & for dear ones back home! Visit the City Palace & Museum. It is at the heart of the old city. The Hall of Private Audience, has an attractive white marble frontage. There are several museums inside viz. the Textile & Costume Museum, Arms & Armour, the Art Gallery. Some manuscripts of great significance & antiquity are housed inside the city palace. Dinner & overnight in your Hotel. (B, D).
DAY 07	Jaipur >> Sawaimadhopur (109miles/ 4 hrs). After B’fast, this morning drive to Sawaimadhopur. After lunch proceed to view wildlife to the Ranthambore national Park in an exclusive Jeep. The park is overlooked by the Rinthambore Fort, scenes of many a battles between the crack Rajput warriors & the ruthless Moslem invaders. The two large lakes in the park are full of the Gharial crocodiles & it’s surrounding elephant grass is teeming with wildlife of all description, location of several wildlife films done by the National Geography & the BBC. Dinner & overnight in Hotel Sher Bagh / Luxury Jodhpur tents (B, L, D). The luxury tents, ensuite toilets, are well insulated & proper heating arrangements provided for.
DAY 08	Sawaimadhopur . Exclusive jeep safari this morning after a cup of tea for WL viewing. After lunch, drive today to Ranthambhore National Park in an exclusive Jeep. All trees like the Androk, Garjan & Semul, Jamoah, Gular & Kaith are green, attracting a variety of birds. Painted spur fowl, partridges, bustard quail, Ospreys, peafowl are among 211 known varieties. Animals found in the park include the tiger, panthers, hyena, leopard cats & a number of deer. Dinners & overnight. (B, L, D).
DAY 09	Sawaimadhopur >> Bundi (75miles / 3hrs). After refereshing yourself, at your hotel, proceed on a half-day sightseeing of Bundi monuments, including the Bundi Palace, which is "the coup d’ ceil of the castellated palace of Bundi, from which ever side you approach, is perhaps the most striking in India" & the Rani-ji-ki-Baori (step-well). Dinners (delightful vegetarian meal) & overnight at Hotel Braj Bhushanji (B, D).
DAY 10	Bundi >> Bhainsrorgarh (44 miles / 2hrs). After B’fast this morning drive to Bhainsrorgarh. On the way, visit the Shaivite temples of Baroli. The temples of Baroli, 7th century , "to describe it’s stupendous & diversified architecture is impossible…Art here seems to have exhausted itself, and we were now perhaps for the first time, fully impressed with the beauty of Hindu sculpture. The columns, the ceiling, the external roofing, where each stone presents a miniature temple, one rising over another, until crowned by the urnlike Kullus, distracted our attention". Drive on to Bhainsrorgarh. The Castle of Bhainsrorgarh is "most romantically situated upon the extreme point of a ridge, on an almost isolated rib of the Pat’har (plateau)…it overhangs the placid expanse of the river Chambal, it’s height above which is about 200 feet". Dinner & overnight at Castle Bhainsrorgarh (B, L, D).
DAY 11	Bhainsrorgarh >> Shahpura Bagh (112 miles / 4 hrs). After a cup of tea this morning, take a boat ride on the river Chambal & appreciate the sceneries surrounding the castle. Come back for B’fast & Check out, but not before you have taken a round of the village of Bhaisrorgarh, where the entire village will come out to welcome you…! Take your leave & drive to Shahpura. Dinners & overnight in Hotel Shahpura Bagh (B, D).
DAY 12	Shahpura Bagh . Shahpura Bagh locates on one side of the old moffusil town by that name. The hotel is in the middle of a large estate with ancient trees & bush! This evening, take a guided tour of the village & witness the colourful rural Rajasthan. Dinner & overnight at your hotel (B, D).
DAY 13	Shahpura Bagh >> Chittorgarh >> Udaipur (141miles / 4 hrs). After B’fast this morning drive to Udaipur & on the way visit Fort Chittorgarh. Visit the fort Chittorgarh, the mother of all forts in Rajasthan & teeming with reminiscences of glory, the ruins of which are testimony of the violent, struggle of the Hindu Rajputs against the marauding Moslem forces. Scene of mass acts of fealty committed by Hindu women thrice in medieval history. Reflects an English classicist "How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! How is she become a widow! She, that was great among nations, and princess among provinces, how is she become a tributary!" Continue on your travels to Udaipur. Dinner & overnight in Hotel Trident (B+D).
DAY 14	Udaipur. B’fast partaken of, Visit the City Palace one of the best in India, Crystal Gallery, Maharanas vintage car garage which houses some of the rarest Rolls Royse. The ambience, history & locale of your stay, make Udaipur a tourist heaven. At 3:45 pm undertake a boat ride around the lake Palace & partake of a welcome cup of coffee at Jagmandir Island. Udaipur is an oasis of green mountains & blue lakes in the midst of a stark & arid region. Udaipur is a traditionally planned walled city, it’s bastioned rampart walls pierced by 5 massive gates, each studded with iron spikes as protection against enemy war elephants. High on the hill above lake Pichola stands the magnificent city palace. City Palace The city palace is one of the best in north & western India. Half of it is occupied by the maharana & his family; while the rest is a museum & some beautiful palace hotels with in. The Crystal Gallery housed in the museum, overlooking lake Pichola is one of the best & one can also see the throne of the Maharanas of Mewar. Lake Pichola Boat ride at 3:30pm. Fringed with hills, gardens, havelis, ghats & temples, the lake is the scenic focus of Udaipur. Set in it is the Jag Mandir Palace. The Lake palace hotel is situated here & the views are great. Overnight in your Hotel. (B, D).
DAY 15	Udaipur >> Ranakpur >> Jodhpur (172miles / 5hrs). After B’fast, drive to Ranakpur. On arrival visit the ancient Jain Temples. The temples date back to 15th century has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, none of which impedes the view of the deity. It abounds with intricate friezes & sculptures. Ranakpur locates in the heavily wooded valley of Aravalli hills. Drive on to Jodhpur. Dinner & overnight in Hotel Taj Hari Mahal (B, D). (Note: Ranakpur Jain temples do not permit leather goods like belts, wallets or purses to be taken inside. You are also requested to wear clothes that do not expose the body.)
DAY 16	Udaipur >> Delhi (By Air). After B’fast, transfer to the domestic airport for your afternoon flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi transfer to Hotel Metropolitan (B, D).
DAY 17	Delhi >> Abroad. Day at leisure. Car at disposal for last minute purchases. Your hotel room shall be retained for ‘Day Use’ till about 09:00pm. Transfer to international airport, after dinners. (B).
DAY 18	Catch the midnight flight to next destination

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