Rajasthan - Land of the Maharajahs

Arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital which successfully combines the ancient with the modern. Amidst the tall and modern skyscrapers, there are still the remnants of a bygone time with numerous monuments and temples.



For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 2.00pm for the welcome meeting and to take us on our afternoon city tour we take cycle rickshaws to explore the winding lanes of Chandni Chowk bazaar, a sprawling market where you can buy almost anything you need from household wares to souvenirs. We view the Red Fort from the outside and Jami Masjid Mosque, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and one of the biggest in India.



If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport (airport code DEL), which is 12km, around 45 minutes from our hotel.



Please note that if you wish to join the city tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 2.00pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around 45 minutes drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 12.15pm. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This morning we take a city tour of New Delhi, including the President's Palace, Lok Sabha (Parliament), India Gate, Qutub Minar and Humayan's Tomb. We then leave the capital and proceed to Agra. Our journey to Agra takes approximately 4 hours.

An early start this morning to one of the world's most famous buildings, the magnificent Taj Mahal. Over 300 years have elapsed since its construction, yet it stands today unscarred by age, its beauty and symmetry seemingly beyond man, time and space. Created by Shah Jahan as a funerary monument to his favourite wife, Mumtaz, it took 22 years to build (1630-52). The Great Moghul lies beside his beloved under the white marble dome. Inlaid with precious gems, the building cost a fortune and later Shah Jahan moved his capital to Delhi before being overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb. Later in the day we visit Agra Fort, built by Akbar the Great, which contains the Moti Mosque, a beautiful building decorated with pearls and the Itimad-ud-daula, more commonly known as the Baby Taj.

After breakfast we leave Agra and begin our drive to Jaipur. Along the way we stop and visit the deserted city of Fatephur Sikri. Founded in 1569 and abandoned just 16 years later, it is a perfectly intact example of Akbar's imperial court. Among the many noteworthy buildings is the 5-storied Panch Mahal, probably a pleasure pavilion for the ladies of the harem. In the centre of the courtyard is the Pachisi Board where the emperor played a game of chess with dancing girls as pieces. Perhaps the finest structure of all is the lotus shaped carved central pillar of the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), its extraordinary capital supporting a vaulted roof. We continue on to Jaipur, stopping for a while at the spectacular Chand Baori stepwell which is over 1000 years old and is dedicated to the godess of joy and happiness.

Sometimes called the Pink City, Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink by Maharajab Sawai Ram Singh to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. In the morning we head to the outskirts of the city and visit the dramatic Amber Fort, perched high on a hillside with impressive views back down to the city. We will make a stop on the journey to view the ornate facade of the Palace of the Winds, built to allow the ladies of the harem an opportunity to look out over the city. This afternoon we will visit the lavish and well preserved City Palace with its fine collection of textiles, costumes and armoury. Jai Singh, the great Maharajah-astronomer, built his extraordinary (and very accurate) star gazing observatory (Jantra) here. We will get an opportunity to visit the observatory and also the Old City with its fine gates set in to the pink walls.

This morning we leave Jaipur and drive to the desert city of Bikaner. Situated directly on the ancient camel caravan routes that came from Africa and West Asia, Bikaner was once a great trading centre. Its colourful bazaars and buildings of reddish-pink sandstone still suggest its ancient wealth. we take a tour to the Junagarh Fort built by Raja Rai Singh (1571-1611) which is distinguished by its high defensive light red sandstone walls. The well preserved palaces within the fort area are noted for their fine stone carvings. Bikaner still remains a defensive town, and was the home of the famous Camel Corps. We will also take the opportunity to visit the Old town and Bhandasar Jain Temple.

Today we make our way to Jaisalmer. The city is set in the vast Thar Desert and today still retains much of the medieval atmosphere as camel carts pass through the narrow streets alongside rickshaws. The fort is a lively hub of activity, with shops and restaurants, and well worth a wander through. The city is famous for handicrafts in particular stone carvings, leather ware and brass items and the bazaars are packed with stalls offering almost everything you can imagine.

After breakfast we will explore Jaisalmer on foot visiting the Gadi Sagar Tank, Jaisalmer Folklore Museum. We will also visit the fort and some of the many elaborately carved Jain Temples and havelis including the Patwon-ki Haveli considered to be the finest in Jaisalmer.

This morning we drive to Jodhpur, where the impregnable fortress commands a superb panorama of the surrounding countryside (approximately 6 hours). The city itself has a unique atmosphere, with many fine old buildings and temples. Jodhpurs, those trousers-cum- riding breeches, are named after the horsemen of this city. Arriving mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is free to wander the atmospheric streets of the Old City.

The majestic Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur is built across the top of a steep escarpment 125m above the plains below. It has a huge, sheer drop to the south where it overlooks the city. Our visit this morning affords wonderful views, not only across Jodhpur, but also way into the distance across the surrounding desert plains. The Rajput palace buildings within the fort are typically Mughal - very ornate and flamboyant, but also very practical and as always, built with defence in mind. This afternoon there is the chance to make an optional visit to some nearby Bishnoi villages. The Bishnoi are renowned for their protection of wild animals and trees.

Our morning's drive takes us on to the temple town of Ranakpur, one of Rajasthan's gems (approximately 4 hours). Little visited, it is home to some of the most beautifully sculpted Jain Temples in India. Situated in a wooded valley the temples date back to the 15th century with the carvings depicting scenes from the lives of the Jain Saints at that time. We visit the Adinath temple, which contains 1444 exquisitely carved pillars, with no two alike. Continuing we then drive to Ghanerao (approximately 1 hour) where we will spend the night.

This morning we drive to visit Kumbhalgarh's imposing 15th century fort - one of the finest examples of defensive architecture in Rajasthan. Lying 1,100m above sea level, the fortified ramparts protected palaces, temples and even farms, ensuring that the complex was self-contained and able to withstand a long siege. After lunch we drive to the beautiful lakeside city of Udaipur where we spend the night. The city is dominated by Lake Pichola, its island palace (now a hotel) and Jag Mandir Island. Here the future Shah Jahan sought sanctuary from his father after he had been found guilty of plotting against him. On arrival we will take an afternoon boat ride on the famous lake before checking in to our hotel. At some times of the year the level of the water in the lake may drop or even, after a poor monsoon, dry up completely.

Our first stop this morning is the City Palace, located next to the Lake this huge Palace offers an insight in to the opulent life of the Maharajahs. We will also visit the Jagdish Mandir, a large ornately carved Hindu Temple set in the middle of the old town. After our sightseeing we will fly to Delhi for our last evening.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Delhi.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Delhi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport (airport code DEL), which is around 45 minutes from the hotel.