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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 & Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight Delhi. |
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Day 05 : |
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. Overnight Bikaner. |
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Day 06 : |
Drive to
Jaisalmer. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight
Jaisalmer. |
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Day 07 : |
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.
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Day 08 : |
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.
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Day 09 : |
Morning drive to
Ranakpur Temples. 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 & picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures &
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
Ranakpur.
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Day 10 : |
Drive to Udaipur.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Udaipur. |
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Day 11 : |
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.
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Day 12 : |
Morning drive to
Kota visiting Chittaurgarh enroute. 113 kms. from Udaipur, the Fort of
Chittor was originally built by mighty Bhim, one of the Pandava heroes
of Mahabharata. Also visit the Vijay Stambh with nine
storeys and 37 mts high built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his
victory over the muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Kirti
Stambh, the Tower of fame 22 meters high is covered with figures from Jain Pantheon. Overnight Kota.
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Day 13 : |
Morning drive to
Pushkar
visiting
Bundi
enroute. Bundi rises from a narrow gorge in rows of terraced gardens &
arched Rajput houses like a two dimensional miniature painting imposed
on the landscape. Visit the palace with its intricate spy-holes, secret
trap doors and under ground passages. Also see the spectacularly
ingenious water supply system.
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.
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Day 14 : |
Morning drive to
Jaipur. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur 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.
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Day 15 : |
Morning visit the
Amber
Fort - the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or
the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors.
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Day 16 : |
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.
Afternoon 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.
Overnight Agra.
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Day 17 : |
Drive to Delhi airport in time for
return flight. No hotel. |
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Day 18 : |
Departure. |