|
Day 1:
Arrive Delhi
 Namaste!
We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with
hands clasped together. After immigration and custom
formalities, we are assisted and driven through the
city to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Delhi
Day 2: Delhi
After breakfast city tour with New Delhi and
visit first the famous India Gate followed by the
Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and the Qutub
Minar - a perfect minaret towering 102 m into the
sky. New Delhi is a blend of Moghul India, Hindu
India, British India and, certainly, modern
independent India. Our afternoon concentrates on Old
Delhi, starting with the famous Red Fort. Built by
Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort of
the Moghul Empire. Next we visit another Moghul
majesty, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque,
followed by the Raj Ghat, the cremation site of
Mahatma Gandhi. We end our tour with a bazaar
experience at Chandni Chawlk, the street of silver
and goldsmiths. Overnight: Hotel in Delhi
Day 3: Delhi / Agra (drive 220 km / 5 hrs)
A fter
Breakfast drive to Agra in En-route Sikandra.
This is where lie the remains of Akbar the Great -
one of the greatest of the Mughal rulers. It is a
very simple mausoleum for a person of his stature.
The mausoleum brings in a lot of visitors and
black-faced monkeys keen to grab food you may be
holding in your hand. We then proceed to Agra - the
city that is home to the most well known of the
wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal. We leave for
Agra visiting Akbar the Great's Tomb in Sikandara en
route. We are welcomed with a visit to one of the
most well known wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal.
Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite
wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white
marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with
semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where
Shah Jehan, in the later years of his life, was
imprisoned by his son to prevent him from spending
the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal.
Overnight: Hotel in Agra
Day 4: Agra / Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri (drive
235 km / 5 hrs)
A short drive gets us to the World Heritage Site of
Fatehpur Sikri the beautiful capital built in 1640
by the Moghul king Akbar the Great and was later
abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of
Moghul architecture, it stands perfectly preserved
in the desert. We also visit the artistically
designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to
have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth
of Salim Jehangir. From here we continue on a scenic
countryside drive to Jaipur, the rose pink capital
of Rajasthan. Overnight: Hotel in Jaipur
Day 5: Jaipur
 A
royal experience awaits us as we take an elephant
ride uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a
distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput
architecture. After enjoying the panoramic view, we
return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical
observatory built by Jai Singh who founded the city.
We also visit the majestic Palace, which houses a
rare collection of Indian art, and the colorful
bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled
in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most
of the buildings in the old city are made of pink
sandstone. One of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal,
Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem
used to watch the city from behind the intricately
carved facade. Evening is free to enjoy both
shopping and a cultural experience in the bazaars of
Jaipur. Overnight: Hotel in Jaipur
Day 6: Jaipur / Pushkar (drive 140 km / 3 hrs)
In the morning after breakfast we set for on our
journey to the Pushkar fair grounds.
Overnight: Hotel in Pushkar
Day 7: Pushkar
T he
annual fair in Pushkar is serious business for
villagers who spend days traveling across the desert
to Pushkar hoping to turn camels into much needed
cash. The Pushkar Lake is holy to the Hindus and
religious ceremonies are performed simultaneously as
camels are being traded. The night at the fairground
takes on a Carnival atmosphere. The ferries wheel
attracts line-ups of giggling Rajput women in richly
colored saris and sparkling bangles that stretch
from wrist to shoulder. Roadside vendors sell pots,
pans, bangles, saris, belts and other various items.
Campfires dot the dark desert like bright stars as
the evening meal is prepared. This day is free to
experience the festivity and mingle with the people.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 8: Pushkar / Ajmer / Ranthambhore (drive 350
km / 6 hrs)
 In
the morning after breakfast we drive to
Ranthambhore. En-route we visit Ajmer, situated in
the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills has been
a witness to an interesting past. The city was
founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century
A.D. and continued to be a major center of the
Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. Today, Ajmer is a
popular pilgrimage center for the Hindus as well as
Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb
of the Sufi saint Khawaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, which
is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. Later
we visit the Dargah of Sufi Saint Khawaja
Muin-ud-din Chisti. The Dargah at the foot of a
barren hill is situated India's most important
pilgrimage center for people from all faiths. The
mausoleum has a gigantic gate, which was built by
the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two massive cauldrons in
the courtyard are of particular interest and on the
right side of the courtyard in the Akbari Masjid
built in white marble. There is another mosque in
the courtyard built by Shah Jahan. Overnight:
Resort / Lodge in Ranthambhore
Day 9: Ranthambore
R anthambore,
the former hunting ground of the Maharajas of
Jaipur, the Ranthambore National Park is situated in
Eastern Rajasthan at the confluence of the Aravali
hill ranges and the Vindhyan plateau. Two rivers
flow through the Ranthambore National Park - the
Chambal River in the South and the Banas River in
the North. Six man-made lakes and many perennial
streams pass through the entire national park. The
Ranthambore National Park is nestled between the
Aravali and Vindhya mountain ranges. The rugged
terrain and the dense deciduous forests are major
features of this national park, which has among the
largest and most diverse collection of wildlife
species in India.
Today we take an exclusive jeep safari through the
National Park in an open jeep. On our journey we
will see various indigenous animals such as: nilgai,
chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild bear and Tiger!
Other habitants of the Park include the muntjac,
jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the rhesus
macaque and the black-faced langur. About 150
species of bird are also found here including
migratory birds, like the steppe eagle, that arrive
in winter. Later we return to our resort for lunch.
Ranthambore is famous for the famous Royal Bengal
Tigers and spotting the big cat in her natural
habitat will be of great experience. Relying on our
luck and how much lucky we are today, we take
another exclusive jeep safari through the National
Park. If we are lucky enough we may be able to spot
the Big Cat in her natural environment.
Overnight: Resort / Lodge in Ranthambhore
Day 10: Ranthambore / Delhi (Train # 2059- Kota
Jan Shatabadi, Departure 07:10 hrs, Arrival 12:25
hrs)
In the morning we are transferred to Railway station
for our train to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transferred
to our Hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure for
personal activities or shopping. Today we will have
a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: hotel in Delhi |
