30,000 camels can't be wrong! Join us on an unbelievable adventure as we journey to Pushkar to experience this annual celebration.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Camel excursion in the Thar Desert
• Elephant ride to ramparts of Amber Fort in Jaipur
• Cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
• The incomparable Taj Mahal
• The annual festival of Pushkar
ITINERARY IN DETAIL
16 NOV ARRIVE DELHI
You will be met upon your arrival in Delhi and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight - Hotel
17 NOV OLD AND NEW DELHI
Explore India's capital city, including the Secretariat buildings, Parliament House, Presidential Palace, and India Gate, commemorating Indian and British soldiers. Stop at the Mahatma Gandhi National Museum, paying tribute to the inspiring leader who forced change through non-violent protest. Visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the 234-foot-high sandstone Qutb Minar Victory Tower, built in 1193, and Humayun's Tomb, set in beautiful gardens. This Mughal creation popularized Persian-influenced architecture and was an inspiration for the Taj Mahal. This afternoon, travel by rickshaw past colorful bazaars, sacred temples, and colonial monuments through the winding streets of Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India from the 12th through the 19th centuries. See the sumptuous Red Fort palaces, the symbol of Indian nationhood. Visit India's largest mosque, the white marble Jama Masjid, and see Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's cremation site. Discuss your favorite sights at this evening's welcome dinner.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
18 NOV DELHI-AGRA
This morning, drive to Agra, a city remarkable for its wealth of architecture, handicrafts and jewellery. You will visit the renowned Taj Mahal, the world's greatest monument to love, built by Emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz. In addition, you will see the fort at Agra, with its impressive elephant gates.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
19 NOV AGRA-JAIPUR
Today you will drive to the beautiful walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, built to commemorate the birth of Akbar's son. The complex was completed in 1574 but abandoned only fourteen years later. Of particular interest are the red stone mosques, courtyards and the palace where Akbar reputedly played chess using slave girls as pawns. We will continue to Bharatpur, stopping there for lunch, and explore Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a small but important bird sanctuary. Originally a duck-shooting preserve, the wetland is now a world-renowned birding destination. During the winter months, migratory birds arrive in vast numbers to swell the large number of native species. You'll walk or take a bicycle rickshaw along the narrow road to the open wetlands at the end. Common, Pied and White-fronted Kingfishers are plentiful. Painted Storks nest and roost in the trees while White-breasted Waterhens and Purple Swamphen stalk across the mats of water hyacinths. Woolly-necked and Black-necked Storks patrol the shallow water meadows. The crowning glory of this sanctuary is the bird of prey population - the sky is rarely empty of soaring raptors. Continue to Jaipur and check in at the hotel.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
20 NOV JAIPUR
Take an early morning ride by elephant-back to the ramparts of Amber Fort, a spectacular fortress that protects a complex of palaces, temples and exquisite marble and mirror halls and apartments. The "pink city" of Jaipur is one of India's most fascinating cities. There you will also see the Hava Mahal (Palace of the Winds), a high and intricately carved wall behind which women of the court were sequestered while watching processions. You will visit Jantar Mantar (Observatory) and the City Palace, which contains an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniatures and an armoury of Rajput weapons.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
21 NOV JAIPUR-PUSHKAR
This morning you will drive to Pushkar, the holy city dedicated to Lord Brahma. Pushkar symbolizes the heartbeat of the people of the colourful Rajasthan state. An 8th century temple of Brahma on the banks of the lake draws the faithful by the thousands. Pilgrims bathe at the ghats and pray at the temple while the world's largest camel fair is held in the vast stretching desert around it. You will visit the holy lake, ghats and Brahma temple and enjoy the camel festival. Like nearly every gathering, large and small, across the country, the lunar calendar dictates the date of the festival, thus transforming a mere livestock show into an auspicious spiritual confluence of man and beast. There will be mystics and musicians, camel-wallahs and priests, and vendors plying their wares from the corners of Rajasthan. It's a riot of colour and activities, from sacred bathing rituals to camel races. Your tented camp will provide a comfortable and secure haven for your two nights here.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
22 NOV PUSHKAR
The day is free to explore and experience the Pushkar Fair.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
23 NOV PUSHKAR-UDAIPUR
This morning, drive to Udaipur. Laced with waterways, Udaipur is known as a romantic city, a cultural and artistic centre housing an extravagant palace set on lovely Lake Pichola. It is one of the largest palace complexes in the world and boasts extraordinary craftsmanship. After checking in at the hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore this romantic city.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
24 NOV UDAIPUR
This morning's city tour includes the Palace Museum, Jagdish Temple and the Pratap Memorial. In the evening you will take a cruise on Lake Pichola to view the City Palace by sunset.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast and Dinner
25 NOV UDAIPUR-RANAKPUR-JODHPUR
This morning drive to Jodhpur. En route, you will visit Ranakpur and its 15th century Jain temples. The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. An enormous basement covers a 48,000 square foot area. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444, all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
26 NOV JODHPUR
This morning you will take a city tour of Jodhpur, visiting the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort. Once the capital of Marwar dynasty, it was built on a low hill situated in the heart of the Thar Desert and surrounded by nearly 35,000 square miles of sand. You will also see the beautiful Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
27 NOV JODHPUR-JAISALMER
Take an early morning drive to Jaisalmer, a 12th century city dominated by an impressive sandstone fort. The city is known for its intricately carved buildings, facades and elaborate balconies, with the fort and palaces constructed of yellow stone.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
28 NOV JAISALMER
Your visit to Jaisalmer is a journey back in time. Even the homes of the ordinary people date back to the 12th and 15th century. Visit the citadel built by Rawal, the Jain temples and the Patwon Ki Havelis, a spectacular 5-storey mansion with carved pillars and painted murals. In the afternoon, you will travel to the Sam sand dunes, which make up part of the vast expanse of the Thar Desert. Reminiscent of the camel caravans of a bygone era, you will spend the rest of the day exploring the desert on camel back, accompanied by your Rajasthani hosts.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
29 NOV JAISALMER-BIKANER
This morning, you will drive to Bikaner. On arrival, visit the Junagadh Fort, built in 1587. The fort is a wonderful example of Rajput architecture and consists of thirty-seven palaces, pavilions and temples.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
30 NOV BIKANER-MANDAWA
In the morning, you will drive to Shekhawati. On arrival, visit the beautiful havelis (mansions) constructed by the merchants of the region. Many of these buildings date back to the early 18th century and, due to the abundance of these houses, the entire area has been named the "open air gallery of Rajasthan."
Overnight - Hotel
Meals - Breakfast and Dinner
01 DEC MANDAWA-DELHI-DEPARTURE
On arrival in Delhi, rooms have been reserved at an airport hotel for refreshing prior to your flight home. A late evening transfer to the airport will be provided.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
FACT FILE
• 15 nights deluxe and palace hotels
• Daily breakfast plus lunch or dinner
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• English-speaking local guides
• Entrance fees to monuments
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Leader:
C V Singh |
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One of our
most popular leaders in
India, the multi-faceted
CV Singh is a Management
graduate, holds a Masters
in English Literature and
is a licensed pharmacist.
Despite these qualificiations,
he has a real passion for
travel and has quit his
job to become a full time
tour director. CV has guided
more than 120 trips and
is an expert on North Indian
art, architecture and religion.
Our clients love his enthusiasm
for topics both current
and historical.
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click map for larger image
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| Tour Itinerary |
| Day 1 |
Arrive Delhi |
| Day 2 |
Delhi |
| Day 3 |
Delhi-Agra |
| Day 4 |
Agra-Jaipur |
| Day 5 |
Jaipur |
| Day 6 |
Jaipur-Pushkar |
| Day 7 |
Pushkar |
| Day 8 |
Pushkar-Udaipur |
| Day 9 |
Udaipur |
| Day 10 |
Udaipur-Ranakpur-Jodhpur |
| Day 11 |
Jodhpur |
| Day 12 |
Jodhpur-Jaisalmer |
| Day 13 |
Jaisalmer |
| Day 14 |
Jaisalmer-Bikaner |
| Day 15 |
Bikaner-Mandawa |
| Day 16 |
Mandawa-Delhi |
| Tour Information |
| Cost: |
US $ 2995\Can $ 2995 |
| Length: |
16 days |
| Leader: |
C V Singh |
| Departing: |
Delhi |
| Deposit: |
US $ 500\Can $ 500 |
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Talk
to an Expert call:
