classical india tour, cheap cliassical tour packages, rajasthan tours

8/14/2019 classical india tour, cheap cliassical tour packages, rajasthan tours

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DAY 01 ARRIVE - DELHI BY: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Upon arrival at Delhi International airport, you will be meet & greet by our representative afterwhich proceed to Hotel.

Indias capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustlingmetropolis, which successfully combines in its folds - the ancient with the modern. Amidst thefast spiraling skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monumentsstand as silent reminders to the regions ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitortraveling in from the airport are of a spacious, garden city, tree-lined with a number ofbeautiful parks.

Upon arrival at the hotel, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel

DAY 02 DELHI

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken on a half-day sightseeing tour of Old Delhi .The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat , a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive

past the Red Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid , one of Asias largest mosques and whichis viewed from the outside. People stream in andout of the mosque continuously and the presenceof a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarelyquiet.

In the afternoon, proceed for sightseeing tour ofNew Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British leftbehind. The division between New and Old Delhi isthe division between the capitals of the British andthe Mughals respectively. The division in the walled

city and New Delhi also marks the division in thelife-styles. The walled city is all tradition where onewill be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets,colours and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city

trying to live up to the best of 21st century standards.

A - 419 B, Somdutt Chamber - I, Bhikaji Cama Palace, New Delhi - 110066, INDIATel: +91 11 65100843, Fax: +91 11 46033982, Email: [email protected]


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The tour to Imperial Delhi will include a visit to the QutubMinar , the tallest stone tower in India. Qutub-ud-din Aibakstarted it in 1199. Pulling down 27 Hindu and Jain templesand using their columns erected the attached Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque also built by him. Then visit Humayunstomb , built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor,Humayun, it is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style, a precursor of the Taj Mahal. The tour alsoincludes a drive past the imposing India Gate , theParliament building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan , thePresidents residence.

Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour.


DAY 03 DELHI UDAIPUR BY FLIGHT

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to airport for your flight to Udaipur.

Upon arrival our representative will meet you at Udaipur airport and transfer to your hotel.On arrival check in at the hotel

UDAIPURSet on the shores of Lake Pichola and surrounded by hills, Udaipur grew in completecontrast to the harsh deserts of the rest of Rajasthan. As capital of the old Mewar State itwas the only Rajput stronghold to uphold its Hindu allegiance in the face of Muslim invasion.From the late 16th century, peace brought about an era of renaissance in the arts andencouraged the building of beautiful palaces around the lake, culminating in the City Palace,

one of the largest palace complexes in the world. The lake itself is a romantic settingsurrounding the gleaming white Lake Palace and the Jag Mandir, a refuge of the rebelMughal prince, Shah Jehan, soon to be the creator of the incomparable Taj Mahal.



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Rajasthan is romantic with tales of valour and chivalry, and a history that brings to life fortsand palaces and court intrigues. But Udaipur is different - an interlude for the diehardromantics. A splash of colour in colourful Rajasthan that's brighter, tinged with the tones oflocal legends and lores. Here are lakes that come as a surprise in sandy Rajasthan, andforested hills where wildlife still abounds. And in the lakes or by their edges are palacesstraight out of fairy tales, each more beautiful than the other. There are rugged fortressestoo -- Chittaurgarh and Kumbalgarh, where the history of Udaipur is told as if it were but apage from yesterday. For in Udaipur the past lives and breathes with the present.

Afternoon proceed for a sightseeing tour of Udaipur City , also known as the City of

SunriseFirst on your sightseeing tour you will proceed for a tour of the City Palace, which overlooksthe Lake Pichola. The City Palace was built in 1725 of granite and marble with filigreedbalconies, ornate windows and craftsmanship in glass. The royal palace walls stretch over amile on the eastern side of the lake. Within the palace is a maze of courtyards, apartmentsand decorated halls. The rooms are covered with frescoes, displays of royal processions,stone and glass mosaics and ornamental doors and painted windows. The marble throne inthe coronation rooms was last used during the time Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-30)and nearby is the Sun Window installed by Maharaja Bhim Singh (1778-1828). This is thedivine symbol of the house of Mewar, which traces its lineage to the Surya Vansha,descendants of the Sun. Each palace within is an outstanding creation of art. Visit themuseums and the hall of public audiences, the private chambers of the royal ladies at thepalace and Sahelion-ki-Badi .



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Later, experience the hustle bustle of the old market at Udaipur. Walk past the spiceshops, jewellery shops, utensil shops, jaggery shops, silver market, local meat and foodshop. You shall walk through the areas where The Octopussy James Bond film was shot.

Evening enjoy a boat ride on lake Pichola .


DAY 04 UDAIPUR RANAKPUR - JODHPUR BY SURFACE

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Udaipur to Jodhpur (260 KMS/ 7 HRS),en-route visiting Ranakpur JainTemples , an exceptionally beautifulexcursion through the rugged, woodedhills of Rajasthan to the Jain Temples ofRanakpur in the Aravalli Valley, to seeone of the best complexes of Jain religionwhich is particularly noted for thegrandiose scale of its architecture and thehighly decorated ceilings, walls and 1444different pillars. The priests of the temples

did all the temple designing and theirgenerations are still continuing the work.

Later continue your journey to Jodhpurand upon arrival, check-in at your hotel.

JODHPURThe old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a wall 10km long, which was built about a centuryafter the city was founded. From the fort you can clearly see where the old city ends and thenew begins. The old city is fascinating jungle of winding streets of great interest to wanderaround. Eight gates lead out from the walled city. Its one of the more interesting cities in

India and those baggy-tight horse riding trousers, jodhpurs, took their name from this locale.


The Meherangarh Fort is sprawled across a 125-meter high hill and is the most impressiveand formidable fort in the fort-studded Rajasthan. On the wall adjacent to the Lahapol or IronGate are 15 handprints, the sati marks of the widows of Maharaja Man Singh who threw


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themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843. Inside the fort, which is still run by the Maharaja ofJodhpur, there is a whole series of courtyards and palaces.

Rest of the day at leisureOvernight at the hotel

DAY 05 JODHPUR

After breakfast at the hotel, a visit to city and visit the important tourist places.

Visit the Mehrangarh Fort (citadel ofthe Sun) that evokes the very spirit ofthe Rathores, the ruling local Rajputclan. Visit its various palaces with their

delicate friezes and respectivemuseums, displaying treasures of theroyal family. North of MeherangarhFort, and connected to it by road,Jaswant Thanda is a pillared marblememorial to the popular ruler JaswantSingh II (1878-95), who purgedJodhpur of dacoits, initiated irrigationsystems and boosted the economy.The cenotaphs of members of the royalfamily who have died since Jaswant are close by his memorial; those who preceded him are

remembered by chhatris at Mandor. This south-facing spot is also the best place from whichto photograph the fort, looming above the sheer rocky Meherangarh plateau.

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities.




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DAY 06 JODHPUR PUSHKAR - JAIPUR BY SURFACE

After breakfast at the hotel drive to Jaipur enroute visiting Pushkar.

PUSHKARThe village of Pushkar lies 11 kms from Ajmer and 216 Kms from Jodhpur on the edge of thedesert. At its heart is one of Indias most sacred lakes. There are 52 ghats around the lake,and numerous temples. The Brahma temple, especially, attracts pilgrims all year round.Apart from its religious significance, Pushkar is known for its Cattle and Camel fair held everyyear in the month of Kartik (October/November), which attracts visitors in their thousands.You can also witness and participate in the evening prayer meetings in the temples. Being areligious town, alcohol and non-vegetarian food are taboo .

Continue drive to Jaipur - 150 Kms.

On arrival Jaipur check in at your hotel

JAIPURRajasthans kingdoms are an enduring legacy to Indias history. A land endowed with

invincible forts, magnificent palaces ad waves of sanddunes and serene lakes. No other region in the countryassembles the many paradoxes of India, as does thedesert land of Rajasthan. By far it is the most colourfulregion in India.

Jaipur's past is never too far from hand. The city of

victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert stateand its people: surrounded by rugged hills, eachcrowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces,mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts.The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witnessto royal processions and splendour are now livingmonuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestylesof the people of the "pink city". Except for the busytraffic of bicycles, cars and buses, little seems to havechanged. There is a timeless quality to Jaipur'sbazaars and its people. With its historical past, Jaipur

revives legends of the ancient Rajputs. The dresses ofthe women and the turbans of the men add colour tothis fascinating city.




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DAY 07 JAIPUR

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital ofAmber to see the fabulous Amber Fort.Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal EmperorAkbars most successful General, startedthe construction of Amber Fort in the 17 th century. Before the City Palace wasconstructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seatof power. The fort is surrounded byfortified battlements and overlooks theMoat Lake. Ruins and remains are spreadover the Aravalli hills and sprawlingcrenulated walls lattice the surroundingarea.

An elephant (alternatively by jeep) willspare you the trouble of reaching up to thefortress. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many ofthe rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls.Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight isreflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room.

En-route to Amber you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds , otherwise known as HawaMahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch thedaily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The

cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through which thequeens of the court once viewed the streets of the city.

In the afternoon, you will visit the city of Jaipur . Among the highlights to be seen whiletouring Jaipur include the City Palace , which is an overwhelming complex of exquisitepalaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museumhouses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings.Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharajaof Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai JaiSingh and makes accurate predictions even to this day. You will also have the opportunity towander about the local markets. Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour of Jaipur City.

Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour.




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DAY 08 JAIPUR FATEHPUR SIKRI AGRA BY SURFACE

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur to Agra (240 KMS/ 6.3Hours) en-route visiting FatehpurSikri , the deserted red sandstonecity, built by the Great MughalEmperor Akbar as his capital andpalace in the late 16th century. Itwas abandoned soon after it wasbuilt when the local wells went dryand it remains today in much thesame condition that it was over 300years ago. It is complete withpalaces and mosques and used to

be a town larger than London when itwas originally constructed. Now it isan extraordinary place to wanderaround with its buildings in near

perfect condition.

After your visit, continue your drive to Agra and upon arrival, proceed for check-in at yourhotel.

AGRAAgra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides

being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architecturalwonders for Agra & its neighbourhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal,the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The massive butelegant Agra Fort, the magnificent Taj, are each unique and outstanding. Their architecturalgenius can also be seen in the forts, palaces and aesthetically laid out gardens - each one asilent witness to a grand style of a golden era.

Great empires have flourished in Agra and then grown to engulf the whole country. Greatbattles were fought on this soil, as can be gathered from its chequered history. Its line-up ofmonuments today stand mute testimony to the splendour of a bygone era and the visionaryfar-sightedness of the many monarchs who once ruled different parts of this state.

As visitors walk down the narrow, bustling streets, they cant help but wonder if the mancontentedly smoking a hookah is a direct descendant of some bygone Mughal. Even themajority of the buildings in the modern areas of town such as the cantonment, date back overa hundred years.



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DAY 09 AGRA DELHI BY SURFACE

Early in the morning, you will be taken for tour of the Taj Mahal (Closed on Fridays.) Midway Tongas horse carriages would be waiting for you and will drop you at the gatesof the Taj Mahal, taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by theMughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world.

After visit to the Taj, you will return back to the hotel for buffet breakfast.

After breakfast, you will visit Agra Fort - the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire

under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and administration and thepresent structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the firstbuildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jahan added the impressive quartersand the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. Visit its Hall of Public Audienceand its Royal Pavilions.

Afternoon is you will be driven to Delhi by surface (204 Kms/4 Hrs)

On arrival Delhi transfer to a hotel.



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Overnight stay at the Hotel.

DAY 10 DELHI ONWARD DESTINATION BY: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Breakfast at the Hotel. Morning free for shopping / independent activities. Afternoon in timeour representative will transfer you to International airport to board flight for your onwardDestination.


***Tour ends with UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES to take Home ***

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classical india tour, cheap cliassical tour packages, rajasthan tours