05 Classical Rajasthan

13 Nights / 14 Days   |   Delhi,Agra,Jaipur,Bikaner,Jaisalmer,Jodhpur,Deogarh,Udaipur

DAY 1 - Delhi

Arrival in Delhi, capital of India, one of the greenest capital cities and home of more than 13 million people. Today's Delhi is a blend of the past dating back to 1,500 BC to the medieval times of the great Moguls and the modern extending up to the colonial times into independent India of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 2 - Delhi

Sightseeing of Delhi with Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s tomb and India Gate and drive past government buildings in New Delhi. Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 3 - Delhi – Agra

Travel to Agra onboard the Shatabti-Express(chair car, air-condition, departure 06.00 hrs, arrival 08.00 hrs in Agra). Visit the massive Agra Fort with the halls of public and private audiences, "Octagonal Tower" and other buildings. The highlight is but the Taj Mahal - the magnificent monument, constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of this wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is the most extravagant monument ever built for love. The emperor was so heartbroken when Mumtaz, to whom he had been married for 17 years, died in 1629 in childbirth, after giving birth to 14 children. Construction of the Taj began in 1631 and was not completed in 1653. 20.000 workers were recruited not from all over India but also from Central Asia. In the marble inlay factories of Agra you can still witness the artists and craftsmen doing their inlay work on marble as it was done for the Taj Mahal. Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 4 - Agra – Jaipur (246 km)

Drive to Jaipur. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri, beautiful but deserted capital built by great Mogul Emperor Akbar as a gesture of thanks to Sheikh Salim Chisti by whose grace the only son and heir to the Mogul throne was born. It took 11 years to build this beautiful city by artists and craftsmen assembled from all over the country but was inhabited for only 11 months. The buildings are of red sandstone. In the vast ruins visit Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audiences), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences) and Friday mosque, dedicated to the sufi saint Chishti. The mosque has one of the the highest gates in the world, "Buland Darwaza". In Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan and "Pink City", afternoon free. Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 5 - Jaipur

Visit Amber Fort (12km), once capital of the Rajput Kingdom. It remained the capital till Jaipur was built in the 18th cent. by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Amber is situated in a beautiful green valley surrounded by the Aravalli mountains and guarded by it "Great Walls" running along the ridges punctuated with watch towers. See the rich decorated Halls of Public and Private Audiences, the Hall of Mirrors, ladies quarters and various other courtyards. In the lively bazaar mingle with the crowd, admire the traditional jewellery. See Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). Built in 1799 it is one of Jaipur's major landmarks, although it is actually little more than a facade. This five-storey building is a stunning example of Rajput artistry and was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and processions in the city. After Jantar Mantar, the observatory of Maharaja Jai Singh II, visit the City Palace. One part is museum with a great collection of miniature paintings, textile and armaments but the remaining part is still the today's residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.

DAY 6 - Jaipur - Bikaner

Drive to Bikaner, a city on the edge of the Thar desert. Visit the cremation grounds of the Royal Family of Bikaner, known as Devi Kund. Hundred's of Chattries (cremation towers) with beautiful stone filigree gave the otherwise barren landscape an interesting view. The Golden Jublee Museum has a good collection of the Rag-Ragini (mythological) paintings. The Junagarh Fort or "Old Fort" was royal residence till Lalgarh Palace was built in 1911. This fort-palace has large collections of arms and paintings. The palaces hide picturesque ensembles of courtyards, balconies, kiosks, towers and windows, superb quality of stone carvings in the palaces - it rivals the best anywhere in the world. Overnight in a Heritage Hotel.