You will arrive at New Delhi's International Airport in the morning. Following customs,
immigration formalities and baggage collection, a BHARAT TRAILS representative will
meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which you would be
transferred to your hotel (Standard check in time is 1400 HRS).
Later proceed for Delhi city tour.
You will first visit Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to
Mahatma Gandhi; drive past the Red Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid one of Asia's
largest mosques The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Jamúna was built during
the years 1638 - 48 when the Mughal Empire was at its peak. The tour continues to Jama
Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques and which is viewed from the outside.
After visiting Old Delhi, you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British
left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of
the British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New Delhi also
marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where one will be able to
glean a past life-style in all its facets, colours and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city
trying to live up to the best of 21st century standards.
The tour to Imperial Delhi will include a visit to the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in
India.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak started it in 1199. Pulling down 27 Hindu and Jain temples and using
their columns erected the attached Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque also built by him.. The tour also
includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the
Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast you will be driven from Delhi - Mandawa (approx 265 Kms / 06 hrs).
MANDAWA (Shekhawati) - The semi-desert region lies in the triangular area between Delhi,
Jaipur & Bikaner. Starting around the 14th century, a number of Muslim clans moved into the
area and the towns which developed in the region became important trading posts on the
caravan routes emanating from the ports of Gujarat. Some of India's richest industrialists of
the
The 20th century belonged to Shekhawati. This region is famous for painted 'Havelis'
(mansions) most of which date back from the 18th century.
On arrival check in at the hotel
Later sightseeing tour of the town Mandawa which lies in the heart of Shekhawati. A painted
arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows Leeds to the bazaar. You can
wander through the streets where mansions of rich merchants are adorned with elaborate
frescoes.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel and you will be driven from Mandawa - Bikaner (approx 170 Kms / 04
hrs).
On arrival in Bikaner, check-in at your hotel.
BIKANER - The royal fortified city with a timeless appeal. Lying in the north of the Desert
State, the city is dotted with many sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval splendor that
pervades the city's lifestyle. More popularly called the camel country, the city is renowned for
the best riding camels in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here.
Be it pulling heavy carts, transporting grains or working on wells, camels are the prime
helpers. The wells of Bikaner
- an important source of water are other attractions of the city. These are built on high plinths
with slender minaret towers on each of the Four Corners and can be noticed even from a
distance
In the afternoon visit the beautiful Junagarh fort, built in the year 1593 AD by Raja Rai
Singh (1571-1612 AD), the 6th ruler of Bikaner. The Fort is a formidable structure & largely
remained unconquered during its eventful history. It houses a number of beautiful Palaces,
Temples & Pavilions, which are richly decorated The beautifully maintained rooms of Anup
Mahal now display the treasures of the Royal family. The Fort Museum has an extensive
collection of illuminated manuscripts, jewellery, jars, carpets, weapons, treaties, decorations
& Farmans (King's Orders)
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel and you will be driven from Bikaner - Jaisalmer (approx 330 Kms / 06
hrs).
Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. A
commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with its awesome splendor, dominating
the amber-hued city. The city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to
which, Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of
the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in
1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal, a descendent of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti Rajput,
abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new capital -Jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta
Hill.
On arrival in Jaisalmer proceed to check-in at your hotel.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for a city tour of Jaisalmer. You will walk up to Sonar
Quila The Fort, which dominates the town. Built in 1156, it is one of the oldest forts in
Rajasthan. About a quarter of the old city's population resides within the fort walls, which
have 99 bastions around the circumference. Within the fort are a fine group of Jain temples
built between the 12th and 15th centuries, many containing ancient manuscripts. Walk
through Jaisalmer's narrow streets dotted with ornately decorated Hindu and Jain temples.
Walk around this desert city, its fort emerging from the flat dry sands, bounding in ancient
palaces, temples and delicately sculpted Havelis - all witness to the emergence of this
Rajput state into a market centre for traders.
In the afternoon you will be driven to Sam for a camelback ride into the desert to
watch the sun set on this golden desert city, emitting a lustrous glow off the desert
sand. Camel Safari is one of the unique ways to explore small villages in Rajasthan.
Atop this ship of the desert embark on an exciting soft adventure. This safari is across
India's Thar Desert, one of the harshest environments in the world. Board camels to discover
the rich desert culture and meet the colourful tribal people.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast you will be driven to Jodhpur (approx 295 Kms / 06 Hours).
Jodhpur, The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a wall 10km long, which was built about a
century after the city was founded. From the fort you can clearly see where the old city ends
and the new begins. The old city is a fascinating jungle of winding streets of great interest to
wander around. Eight gates lead out from the walled city. It's one of the more interesting
cities in India and those baggy-tight horse riding trousers, jodhpurs, took their name from this
locale.
Upon arrival check in at the Hotel
Later you will proceed for a half day city tour of Jodhpur - gateway to the desert beyond and
home of the Rathors of Marwa. The tour will start with a visit to Mehrangarh Fort (citadel of
the Sun) that evokes the very spirit of the Rathores, the ruling local Rajput clan. Visit its
various palaces with their delicate friezes and respective museums, displaying treasures of
the royal family. North of Meherangarh Fort, and connected to it by road, Jaswant Thanda
is a pillared marble memorial to the popular ruler Jaswant Singh II (1878-95), who purged
Jodhpur of dacoits, initiated irrigation systems and boosted the economy.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Udaipur (approx 285 Kms / 06 Hours) via Ranakpur.
The beautifully sculptured Jain temples lie in a tranquil valley of the Aravalis. The main
'Chaumukha Temple' is dedicated to the tirhankara Adinath and has 29 halls supported by
1444 pillars, all distinctly carved. Two Jain temples dedicated to Neminath and Parsvanath
and a Sun Temple a little distance away, are also noteworthy. Continue your drive to
Udaipur.
UDAIPUR: One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of
lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem
almost like a mirage in the desert.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at hotel and proceed for a sightseeing tour of Udaipur City, also
known as the City of Sunrise.First on your sightseeing tour you will proceed for a tour of the
City Palace, which overlooks Lake Pichola. The City Palace was built in 15tn century of
granite and marble with filigreed balconies, ornate windows and craftsmanship in glass. The
royal palace walls stretch over a mile on the eastern side of the lake. Within the palace is a
maze of courtyards, apartments and decorated halls. The rooms are covered with frescoes,
displays of royal processions, stone and glass mosaics and ornamental doors and painted
windows. The marble throne in the coronation rooms was last used during the time of
Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-30) and nearby is the Sun Window installed by Maharaja
Bhim Singh (1778-1828). This is the divine symbol of the House of Mewar, which traces its
lineage to the Surya Vansha, descendants of the Sun. Each palace within is an outstanding
creation of art. In the afternoon, enjoy a motor launch cruise on the placid waters of
Lake Pichola. The beautiful Lake Pichola was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh after he
founded the city. The city palace extends a considerable distance along the east bank of the
lake. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above
the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. One would get an interesting view of the
Dhobi (laundry) ghats. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - a lovely island palace in the
middle of the lake.
a calm walk into the historical royal garden Sahelion-ki-Badi.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast you will be driven from Udaipur - Jaipur (approx 420 Kms / 07 Hrs) enroute
visiting Pushkar- visiting the temple of Lord Brahma, which is only one in India, followed by
a visit to the sacred lake of Pushkar
After the visit of Pushkar, proceed to Jaipur.
Rajasthan's kingdoms are an enduring legacy to India's history. A land endowed with
invincible forts, magnificent palaces and waves of sand dunes and serene lakes. No other
region in the country assembles the many paradoxes of India, as does the desert land of
Rajasthan. By far it is the most colourful region in India.
Upon arrival proceed to check in at your hotel.
Later drive to Jaipur.
Upon arrival proceed to check in at your hotel.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital of
Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort. Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar's most
successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before the
City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. The fort is surrounded
by fortified battlements and overlooks Moat Lake. An elephant (or a Jeep) will spare you the
trouble of reaching up to the fortress (Elephant ride is subject to availability) Once on top,
stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have
delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most
fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is
reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room.'Palace of Winds' otherwise known as
Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to
watch the daily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone
carving. The cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through
which the queens of the court once viewed the streets of the city.
In the afternoon you will visit the city of Jaipur. Among the highlights to be seen while touring
Jaipur include the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces,
gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses
collections of rare manuscripts, armory, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to
the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur,
built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and
makes accurate predictions even to this day.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After buffet breakfast in the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur - Agra (approx 240 Kms/ 5
Hrs) en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great
Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned
soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same
condition that it was over 300 years ago.
Later drive to Agra.
Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides
being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural
wonders for Agra & its neighbourhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj
Mahal, the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The
massive but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of Itimad-ud-daulah's tomb, the
magnificent Taj and Akbar's deserted capital, Fatehpur Sikri, are each unique and
outstanding.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at hotel and visit to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
In the morning, proceed for the sunrise tour of Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is everything that
has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble
was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants.
Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz
Mahal, in the mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world.
Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up
marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be
mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture.
Agra Fort, an outstanding example of Mughal architecture. Agra Fort - the seat and the
stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal
rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the
walls and gates and the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jehan
added the impressive quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts.
Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast, transfer to the Agra railway station to board the train for Jhansi.
Arrive Jhansi, on arrival assistance and you will drive from Jhansi - Khajuraho (approx 180
Kms/ 4
Half Hrs). en route sightseeing tour of Orchha City.
Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy to the ages.
Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain, Rudra Pratap, who
chose this stretch of land along the Betwa River as an ideal site for his capital. In the
Laxminarayan Temple and Raj Mahal, vibrant murals encompassing a variety of religious
and secular themes, bring the walls and ceilings to rich life.
Later continue drive for Khajuraho.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel
After breakfast at the hotel and proceed for the tour of Khajuraho concentrates on the
famous erotic temples, which represent some of the finest examples of temple architecture
in Northern India.
The remote location of Khajuraho meant that the temples were unharmed by Muslim
invaders and as a result, the intricately fine carvings are in very good condition and are said
to represent life in heaven. They were built during the mighty Chandela dynasty; the majority
was constructed in a sudden burst of creative and religious energy, between the mid-10th
and 11th centuries. After
Of the original temples only 22 remain, but many are in very good condition.
You visit the Kandariya Mahadeva, the Chatrabhuj, Parswanath & Ghantai Temples, each
remarkable for its design and architecture.
Later in time transfer to the airport to board your flight for Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi, on arrival assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Evening witness Evening AARTI (Prayer) ceremony on the Ghats of Ganges, also
enjoy rickshaw ride.
Dinner & Overnight at the hote
Early morning you will be taken on a visit to the Ghats witnessing the Hindu pilgrims perform
the rituals and following the centuries old tradition and belief that by dying in Varanasi or by
immersing the mortal remains in the holy Ganges, it clears one from the birth circle and you
are incarnated to human life in the next birth. You would be taking a boat cruise on the river
Ganges around all the Ghats and stopping at the important ones.
Later you will visit Kashi - Vishwanath Temple, the most sacred of shrines dedicated to Lord
Shiva, the patron deity of Varanasi. Reconstructed in the 18th century, its gold plating on the
'shikaras' was a gift of the one-eyed Sikh king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh; Bharat Mata Mandir,
inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi is a unique temple dedicated to Mother India. It houses a
relief map of India carved out of marble; and some other important temples.
In the afternoon, proceed to visit the buried Buddhist city of Sarnath, north-east of Varanasi
- it is as holy to the Buddhists as Varanasi is to the Hindus. Having achieved enlightenment
as Bodhgaya, Budhha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the way to Nirvana. Later,
Ashoka, the great Buddhist emperor erected magnificent stupas and monasteries at
Sarnath. What is visible today are the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and
one can visit a fine museum, which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and
sculpture. Later in time transfer to Varanasi airport to board the flight for Delhi
Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for check - in.
Dinner & Overnight at the hote
Breakfast at hotel and in time transfer to airport to board flight back home
