Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
This itinerary covers the following destinations :- Delhi - Udaipur - Bundi - Kota - Ranthambore - Jaipur - Samode - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Delhi - Lucknow - Delhi
Day 1 : Depart for Delhi- overnight on board
Day 2 : Arrival Delhi
The colour & romance of India welcomes you with arms wide open as you reach Delhi. The aroma of Indian traditions gets hold of you in a fascinating way. The capital of India, Delhi, is one of the liveliest places in the whole world with something exciting & unexpected always happening at every corner every moment. For a first time visitor, it serves as a perfect start to a journey towards cultural wealth, different religious beliefs and the dynamisms of India. Delhi can often be both, a melting pot as well as a mosaic of cultures & a keen traveller can take back with him a multitude of experiences.
Meet our representative and thereafter transfer to the hotel.
Later, proceed for a city tour of New & Old Delhi. Visit the buildings of the British era designed by Lutyens, including the India Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayun's Tomb of the Mughal era , declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prototype of the world famous Taj Mahal. Later explore the towering Qutab Minar, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Ajitgarh or also called Ashoka's pillar, is the Mutiny Memorial, recently rechristened as Ajitgarh. An octagonal tapering tower of red sandstone rising from a two-tiered platform and provided with a staircase in the interior. It occupies the site of Taylor's battery during the siege of Delhi in the year 1857, and was built in the year 1863 in memory of the soldiers of the Delhi Field Force who were killed during the Mutiny.
In the afternoon visit Old Delhi of the Mughals comprising of the Red Fort & the Jama Masjid. Also visit Raj Ghat - The final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi.
Return to the Hotel.
Day 3 : Delhi / Udaipur (Flight)
After breakfast transfer to Delhi airport to catch a connect flight for Udaipur. Udaipur is referred to as the "Venice of the East", the "Most Romantic City of India" and the "Kashmir of Rajasthan" (a reference to Dal Lake) and not without reason.
In the afternoon, visit the Sahelion-ki-Bari also called as the garden of demoiselles with its pond covered with lotus flowers, thereafter visit the school of paintings, which specialises in Miniature paintings.
In the evening, enjoy a boat ride on Pichola Lake and visit the Jag Mandir in the middle of the romantic Lake Pichola. Thereafter, return to the hotel.
Day 4 : Udaipur
After breakfasts proceed for the city tour of Udaipur - set around the vast Pichola Lake and dominated by dramatic Palaces, Udaipur is surely Rajasthan's most picturesque city. Morning visit the romantic and stunning white marble Palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola, the magnificent City Palace - built in the year 725, the ancient palaces of the Mewar royal family for centuries and the Jagdish Temple.
Return to the hotel.
Day 5 : Udaipur / Bundi / Kota(315 Kms)
In the morning, depart for Bundi - The Rajputana of yore, set amidst the great Thar, the only desert of the sub-continent, is known not only for the sizzling summer heat and the dunes but also for its warm hearted people. Considered as the most colourful region of India, this exotic land of valour and chivalry has an unusual diversity in all its forms, people, customs, culture, costumes, music, manners, dialects, and cuisine etc. Everything here is breathtakingly beautiful, impressive and fascinating to see. The Hadoti region that is Bundi, is the least explored land of Rajasthan.
Nestling at the footsteps of a large craggy hill, Bundi, named after Bunda Meena, was established by Rao Deva in 1241 A.D. The large dominating complex of Fort and Palaces, hugging the steep hillside, is mainly made of two- Garh-Palace and Taragarh-Fort.
Arrive Bundi and visit the Bundi Fort - Visit the palace with its paintings, garden and temple. Also see the region's spectacularly ingenious water supply system.
Thereafter continue towards Kota (30 Kms) and upon arrival check in to hotel.
Day 6 : Kota / Ranthambore(160 Kms)
In the morning leave for Ranthambore Wildlife Park - The Park, which is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country, is one of the best places in India to see these majestic predators in the wild. It also contains abandoned fortress and lakes. Its 'friendly' tigers have made it one of the most filmed wildlife reserves in the world. Ranthambore was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1955 and became part of Project Tiger in the year 1973.
In the afternoon, visit the park for a memorable experience with wild animals that include the antelopes, spotted-deer, wild boars, monkeys, crocodiles and with a bit of extra luck the majestic royal Bengal tiger.
Return to the Hotel
Day 7 : Ranthambore / Jaipur (195 Kms)
After breakfast depart for Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Steeped in history and culture, this city is known for its magnificent Palaces and forts, broad avenues and spacious gardens. Jaipur, with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and tradition. Arrive and proceed to the hotel. Your evening includes a panoramic city tour of Jaipur. Thereafter, take a joyful rickshaw ride in this quaint city and we guarantee you this ride shall be the ride of your life.
Return to the hotel
Day 8 : Jaipur
After breakfast proceed for a visit to the Amber Fort, built during the time of the Mughals. The area used to be always ready for war. Amber was the residence of the Maharajas. One is able to imagine the power of the Fort just by taking a look at the majestic ramparts of the Fort, which surround the palace. You will ascend this 11th Century Bastion on a gaily decorated elephants.
Visit the Palace with its crimped rooms of mirrors and the old harem, a true labyrinth style. The magnificent public and private rooms show evidence of the splendour of the rulers of the 16th & the 17th Century.
There is a possibility of also attending a Puja ceremony of a number of priests chanting at the Kali temple. Puja (chanting in the name of the Lord) is the time of prayers according to the 'Hindu rites'. One can enter the temple only bare feet and any kind of leather is not permitted in the Temple.
Later return to the hotel.
Day 9 : Jaipur / Samode (45 Kms)
The next Morning proceed for Samode - once a noble state, a small fairy tale castle. An interesting visit this typical village of Rajasthan. The Samode Palace comes into view like a mirage, rising above cobbled streets and mud houses that smell like true India with people extremely innocent and unaware of true city life. Their innocence and simplicity is their main character.
On arrival check into the Palace
Day 10 : Samode / Bharatpur (210 Kms)
After breakfast depart for Bharatpur. Arrival and check in to the hotel.
In the afternoon, proceed towards the park, travelling on cycle rickshaws (Indian local mode of transport) for your first view of the variety of birds at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. This Sanctuary is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in India. It houses more than 415 kinds of birds, out of which 117 birds migrate from arrive from the high plateaus of central Asia, Mongolia and Siberia, the most eagerly awaited of the lot being the gravely threatened Siberian crane. Apart from this the other animals found here are - the nilgai (blue bull), sambar, jungle cat and mongoose. The park covers an area of 29 sq. km out of which 11 sq km is marshland and the rest is scrubland and grassland.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 11 : Bharatpur/ Fatehpur Sikri / Agra
Today, we start our journey towards Agra, popular for the one of the seven wonders of the World : the Taj Mahal. A pleasant town with a comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work called pietra dura on marble and soapstone by craftsmen who are descendants of those who worked under the Mughals. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.
En route visit Fatehpur Sikri, Built in the 16th Century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (known as the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for about 10 years. Then it was abandoned for reasons unknown till today. It includes one of the largest Mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.
Thereafter continue towards Agra. Arrival at Agra in the afternoon and proceed to the hotel.
In the afternoon, discover the strong & magnificent Red Fort - built by the three generations of Mughal Emperors between the year 1565 and 1573, whose military power is beyond compare. It was the residence of the Mughal Emperors, and each one of them just added to the existing character of the Fort: Red sandstone of Akbar and Jahangir, White marble of Shah Jahan. This fort rises on the banks of Yamuna River, and is surrounded by a wall of 20 to 33 meters height and 2500 meters in perimeter.
Return to the hotel.
Day 12 : Agra / Delhi
In the morning proceed to visit the World famous piece of architecture, the Taj Mahal, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
The next morning get set for a city tour of Agra , travelling on a horse pulled carriage, locally called a 'tonga' to visit the World romantic Taj Mahal, whose eternal beauty never ceases to astonish and mesmerize its visitors. It is also known as the "Crown of Palaces" built by the Emperor Shah Jahan to immortalize the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in the year 1631. The Taj - a poem of love in marble is referred to as "a tear drop on the cheeks of Eternity". The rest of the day is at leisure for souvenir shopping.
In the afternoon, depart for Delhi and on arrival check in to the hotel.
Day 13 : Delhi / Lucknow (Train)
Early morning transfer to the railway station to board the Swarn Shatabadi Express train for Lucknow - perhaps the only city in the world where it is so easy to turn back the pages of the history. Lucknow is the heart of the art, cuisine, dance, culture and music of Northern India. It was the cradle of the Hindu-Muslim-Sikh symbioses that made India great. It was made famous by the soft-spoken, and sweet tongued, Awadh-Lucknowai culture that was based on civilized behaviour toward fellow human beings.
Meet our representative upon arrival & transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon, a visit to the Hussainnabad Imambara - also known as the Chhota, or Small Imambara, An imposing mausoleum built by the third Nawab of Avadh in the year 1837. Thousands of labourers worked on the project to gain famine relief. The large courtyard encloses a raised rectangular tank with small imitations of the Taj Mahal on each side. Opposite the Hussainabad Imambara is Satkhanda and also known as Seven Storey Tower. A 67meter-high defunct clock tower, overlooks the Hussainabad Tank nearby. West of the Hussainabad Imambara is the Jama Masjid which was started by Mohammed Ali Shah and completed after his death.
Later return to hotel.
Day 14 : Lucknow
Today we visit the old colonial charm buildings built by the British.
Lucknow was once the capital of the kingdom of Awadh, it is one of the few cities of India that retains a strong Mughal flavour. The Tombs, gardens, and Palaces - commissioned by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula and whose treasury eventually went bankrupt financing this effort, dot the town. Though these buildings were not built on as grand a stage as some of the other Mughal buildings of India, their elegance nevertheless is awe inspiring. Of interest too, are the buildings that played a prominent role during the Mutiny in the year 1857, especially the Residency.
The visit includes the State Secretariat and the Residency - Built in the year 1800 for the British Resident, this group of buildings became the stage for the most dramatic events of the 1857 Mutiny or Uprising and the Siege of Lucknow. The Residency has been maintained exactly as it was at the time of the final relief, the shattered walls scarred by cannon shots. Even since Independence little has changed apart from the lowering of the Union Jack that flew night and day from one of the towers and the unveiling of an Indian Martyrs Memorial directly opposite the Residency.
Return to hotel.
Day 15 : Lucknow - Delhi
After breakfast, transfer to airport to catch a flight for Delhi.
Arrival at Delhi - meet our representative and transfer to Discover House (one of our own properties & a wonderful homestay option), Overnight in Delhi.
Day 16 : Delhi/Return
After breakfast transfer to Delhi International airport to catch your homebound flight.
Contact us today and let us know your requirement. We will be more than happy to assist and serve you.
