Forts and Palaces of Splendid Rajasthan

Your tour today will take you on an excursion to witness life within the old walled city.

You will board a Tuk Tuk to reach this part of the city from where you move onwards in little cycle rickshaws. The city, with all of its hustle bustle, exudes a unique charm and the colorful spice and jewelry markets only add to its splendor. However, your first stop will be at the Jama Masjid, known to be one of the largest mosques in the country With a capacity to fit a maximum of 20,000 people, the mosque is magnificently built. Your rickshaws will then take you around the busy markets of Chandni Chowk, the silver lanes of which were once the strolling paths of Maharajas.

Finally, make your way towards Qutab Minar, which is better known as the “Tower of Victory.” Then visit Humayun’s Tomb, the magnificent structure in red sand stone and white marble that also happens to be one of the finest examples of the garden tomb, and a precursor of the Taj Mahal.

Today you will drive to Agra – the home of splendid 'Taj Mahal'. Arrive and check-in at the hotel;

Proceed for a guided visit of Agra Fort and the glorious Taj Mahal. The inimitable poem in white marble was built over a period of 22 years and still stands with unmatched and magical splendor.

Following these visits, check out the crafts areas to see the rich tapestry embroidery in gold thread, beads, semi precious stones, ornate Zardozi works of gold, silver, and silk on velvet. These crafts are still done in Agra. Here, you will come across authentic crafts persons at work in their own houses. With so many things to watch out for, you can take a few memoirs back home, too, if you wish.

Wake up early for another visit of the Taj Mahal (at sunrise) and watch the dome changing its colors from various hues of pink to light yellow to bright white, possibly a reminder of how love exists in the many shades we know.

After you are done with your early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, head back to your hotel and enjoy the sumptuous Indian breakfast before checking out.

You will then leave for the Pink City, Jaipur, which is another six hours from Agra. On the way to Jaipur, visit the ruined city of Fatehpur Sikri. This exquisite city was built in red sandstone by Akbar the Great and has various palaces and mosques. While this has already painted your mind with vivid colors, there is a lot more to come.

Carry on with your journey to Jaipur, a city that is washed in pink - the color associated with auspiciousness and Rajput hospitality. In the evening you have the option to explore the colorful bazaars of Jaipur famous for textiles, jewelry and brocades. Here, you will live through a fairytale experience, with plenty of things to add to your bucket!

When Jaipur has given you enough reasons to cherish this visit, return back to your hotel and enjoy the grand Rajasthani meal!

Wake up today and know this day is full of promising memories to add on to your list. The day starts with breakfast following which is a visit to the mighty Amer Fort. This fort has halls for public and private audiences, a Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) and various marble palaces that serve as marvelous examples of medieval Rajput architecture. To get a feeling of the Indian royalty, ride an elephant to ascend the fort’s hill.

You will then drive back to the city and visit the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory. Next you will drive past Hawa Mahal (“Palace of Winds”), which is the landmark of the city. With so much to look back on by now, the evening holds something even more interesting for you as :

you attend a cooking demonstration class. Your class is followed by a meal with a local family. Believe us, Rajasthani people are the most hospitable people you will meet!

This morning after your breakfast, you will drive towards Shahpura and check in at the unique resort - Shahpura Bagh- an oasis in unexplored Rajasthan. The property is the residence of the ruler of Shahpura. The resort is surrounded by glistening lakes, farm estates and pastures.

While most of your day will be at leisure, you will witness how the Phad paintings are made, which also depicts the Indian mythology and history.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the things of your choice and at your own pace.

Start your day with a grand breakfast and carry on with a jeep safari to the nearby villages to experience the lifestyle and activities of the locals. They will have a hundred stories to share with you while you can share a few of yours with them. Either spend the rest of your day interacting with the locals or visit nearby areas.

Other activities that could be done here are : visiting the nearby Dhikola Fort, bird watching tour to see over 180 species of birds, excursion to a local farm or a temple visit

End your day with a candlelit Al fresco (outdoor) private dinner by the side of an infinity pool!

Leave for Nimaaj -which is another four hours from Shahpura. Once in Nimaaj, check in at the unique luxury tented camps and freshen up.

In the evening take a tour of the nearby village. You also have the option to take a bird watching tour where you will come across over 200 different species of wildlife animals and birds like heron, egret, kingfishers, antelope, wild boar, and small jungle cats.

While there are many other things to look forward to in the day to come, for now, you can look forward to the delicious meal waiting for you!

Start your day with Rajasthan delicacies to savor as your breakfast! After you have had your share of food, leave for Jaisalmer (rising from the Thar Desert like a golden mirage) which will be seven hours away from you. The drive will be picturesque and a great opportunity for all the shutterbugs out there! You will stop en route at the Manwar desert camps for lunch and resume with your remaining journey to Jaisalmer.

Check in at your hotel/camp as you reach the “Golden City of India” and enjoy the meal waiting for you.

This will be an eventful day that starts with what always tops the list of activities - breakfast!

The first stop of the day will be at the splendid fort of Jaisalmer, which is known by many as the “Sonar Quila” or the Golden Fort. Built in 1156 AD, the fort stands proudly on Trikuta hill amidst the golden tretches of the Thar desert. Nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. Walking through the narrow lanes is an experience worth savoring.

Following this you will visit the intricately carved havelis built by the wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer. The havelis served as the residence of the Wazirs- ministers and landlords in the old times. The most famous of them is the Patwon ki Haveli. Next, you will go to Sam for a camel safari in the desert. This is another great opportunity for the shutterbugs as you will witness the sunset on the golden city that gives the desert its golden glow.

If this is not enough, you can also enjoy the cultural performance at the camp along with your dinner.

After you get done with your morning meal, start your journey towards Jodhpur, also known as the “Sun City,” with a stop at Osian to visit the Brahmanical and Jain temples. These temples are beautifully sculpted and designed, most of which have stood through the ravages of time. Some of the temple sculptors are erotic, so Osian is also called as the Khajuraho of Rajasthan. Some of the temples are in ruins and others are well preserved.

Arrive Jodhpur and check in at your hotel.

This day take a guided tour of the majestic Mehrangarh Fort which also happens to be one of the most impressive and profound works of earlier times. Situated on 150 m high hill, it was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. Seven gates have to be crossed to reach the Fort and they bear the marks of the various battles fought during that era.

There is so much to catch up on all through the day and visiting the Jaswant thada and the cenotaphs is next on the list.

Jaswant Thada is a white marble memorial built of intricately carved marble sheets. It is a traditional cremation ground of Jodhpur rulers. Within this cenotaph, there are also two more tombs. The grounds are also comprised of exquisitely carved gazebos, a beautiful multi-tiered garden, and a small lake.

Next, experience a Tuk Tuk ride around the clock tower in the evening which will be followed by a visit to the famous Sadar Market, known for its old “haat bazaar” culture. It has many small shops in the narrow lanes and is famous for handicrafts.

A delicious meal towards the end of the day will mark a perfect end to this day!

After the morning meal, you will leave for Udaipur, better known as the “City of Lakes.” This is bound to be a scenic drive, with a number of opportunities to interact with villagers along the way. You may also stop to take a look at the age-old system of irrigation using bullocks and a Persian wheel.

Later you will arrive at Ranakpur and visit the splendid 15th century Jain temples. A splendid creation, one has to visit the temple to bask in the breath taking beauty and astounding carvings. The temple has 1444 pillars, each with a unique design and carving of its own.

After the visit you will continue the drive onwards to Udaipur.

After a sumptuous breakfast you will proceed for a guided tour of the city. The tour of the city will include visits to the Jagdish Temple known for its Indo Aryan architecture , City Palace museum , and the Crystal Art Gallery that houses the lasrgest collection of crystals in the world.

City Palace museum is in fact a series of palaces, spatially divided into royal private areas and public zones. You could see the rare murals on the walls and ceilings, glass inlay work, original oaintings, weaponry, armaments and personal belongings of the ruleres.

In the late afternoon you will experience an exclusive boat ride on Lake Pichola. See the ghats along the lake and the interesting buildings on the banks. The view of the city palace from the lake is spectacular. Dock at the Jagmandir Island where the Maharana of Udaipur once gave Shah Jahan sanctity.

Later you will proceed for dinner after which you may be ready to retire for the day.

After your breakfast, you may take the remaining part of the day at leisure. Later in the evening, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to Delhi and connect onwards for a flight back home.