Rajasthan Unplugged

Day 01: Delhi.

Arrival at Delhi Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi and ttransfer to your hotel. Relax. DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India .

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi

After breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of the city. Start with the sightseeing 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 by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia 's largest mosques. The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Jamuna was built during the years 1638 - 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak. The tour continues to Jama Masjid, one of Asia 's largest mosques and which is viewed from the outside. People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.Enjoy the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi.

After visiting Old Delhi, you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where one will 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.
Imperial Delhi will include the Qutub Minar - the tallest stone tower in India , Humayun's tomb , the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. And which inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence.
Spend night at Delhi .

Red fort remains closed on Mondays

Day 03: Delhi – Alsisar - By road 260 km in 6-7 hr

After Breakfast – start an early drive to Alsisar in Shekhawati region in Jhunjunu. Evening explore the village or relax on the pool side Jhunjhunu was founded by Kaimkhani Nawabs in the middle of the 15th century, and remained under their control until it was taken by the Rajput ruler Sardul Singh in 1730 AD, which lasted till the Indian independence. It was in Jhunjhunu that the British based their Shekhawati brigade, a troop raised locally in the 1830s to try to halt the activities of the dacoits (bandits).

They were largely local petty rulers who had decided it was easier to become wealthy by pinching other peoples' money than by earning their own. Jhunjhunu is one of the largest towns of Shekhawati and is the current district headquarters. It has some of the region's most beautiful buildings and should not be missed. The artistically painted havelis of Muragh Das Modi, and the Khaitans are spellbinding.

Overnight will be at Alsisar.

Day 04: Alsisar – Bikaner - By road 200 km in 5 hr.

After Breakfast start your drive for Bikaner. Afternoon half day city tour (Includes Junagadh Fort, Camel Breeding Farm) [Camel Breeding is closed on Sunday] The fortified city of Bikaner is encircled by imposing battlements and stands on a slight eminence. Its roads undulate through colourful bazaars and the predominant hue of the buildings is the strong reddish pink of local sandstone. Junagarh Fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, an outstanding general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. It is encircled by a moat and contains palaces made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals. Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke is dedicated to Karni Mata, a mystic. Legend goes that she foretold the victory of success of Rao Bika and the prophecy came true. Today along with her, thousands of rats are revered here. The strange mode of worship owes to the belief, that the souls of her devotees are housed in these rats, and consequently they must be protected and well fed.

CAMEL BREEDING FARM -This farm, perhaps the only one of its kind in Asia, is managed by the Central Government. Bikaner's Camel Corps was a famous fighting force and still maintains its importance. This is the center for the Camel research and breeding scientifically.

JUNAGARH FORT -The fortified city of Bikaner is encircled by imposing battlements and stands on a slight eminence. Its roads undulate through colourful bazaars and the predominant hue of the buildings is the strong reddish pink of local sandstone. The Junagarh Fort was built by Raja Rai Singh who was an outstanding general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. It is encircled by a moat and contains palaces made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and balconies embellishing the structure at intervals.

Overnight will be at Bikaner

Day 05: Bikaner – Jaisalmer - By road 300 km in 6 hours

After Breakfast start your drive for Jaislamer. Enroute visit to Karni Temple

Overnight will be at Jaisalmer.

Day 06: Jaisalmer

Morning sightseeing (Jaisalmer Fort, Jain temples and the Havelis) The name Jaisalmer evokes a vivid picture of sheer magic and brilliance of the desert. Over the years the remote location of Jaisalmer kept it almost untouched by outside. Jaisalmer is a marvel of beautiful culture and harsh climatic conditions, together amounting to a memorable experience. Jaisalmer Fort - Like a yellow sand stone fabric that seems to issue skywards from the golden sands, Jaisalmer Fort is sheer magic. Standing proud to a height of hundred meters over the city with its 99 bastions, the fort is a splendid sight in the afternoon sun. One of the largest and the most elaborate houses in Jaisalmer is Patwon ki Haveli, which are five storey high and extensively carved.

Afternoon camel ride in Sam Sand dunes Enjoy a ride by the dunes on Camel back to get a feel of the pace and space of Desert life! The golden sand dunes beckon the tourist, creating an illusion of being smooth and firm. Often a wind can blow a dune up into a moving funnel to deposit it yards away.

Overnight will be at Jaisalmer.

Day 06: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur -By road 330 km in 6 – 7 hours

After Breakfast start your drive for Jodhpur. Afternoon enjoy a sight seeing tour of Jodhpur. The city of Jodhpur was founded by Rao Jodhaji in 1459. Right in the middle of the Thar desert rises a fort 120 meters high overlooking the imperial city of Jodhpur. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10 km long wall with eight gates serving as entrances. The new city is settled around this walled area. Jodhpur lies on the ancient trade route of the 16th century, the fabled silk route, and hence has a centuries old tradition of hospitality to a variety and number of travellers. In Jodhpur, the genius of ancient craftsmen comes to life in the exquisite palaces, forts, temples and havelis, or homes, which stand testimony to the imperial grandeur of the erstwhile rulers of the state. The most alluring part of Jodhpur is the traditional lifestyle and festivity, and the smiling people of this former princely state.

Overnight will be at Jodhpur

Day 08: Jodhpur - Udaipur By road 300 km in 07 hours

After Breakfast start your drive for Udaipur visiting ranakpur Jain temples enroute. Near the village of Sadri lies the Ranakpur temple complex – one of the biggest and most important clusters of Jain temples in India that is worth seeing. Nestled in the Aravalli Range, Ranakpur is a mere 90 kms from Udaipur. The Chaumukha temple or four faced temple is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in 1439, this huge, beautifully crafted and well-kept marble temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, no two of which are alike. Within the complex are two other Jain temples, Neminath and Parasnath - the former with a black image of Parsvanatha in the sanctuary and erotic carving outside.

Overnight will be at Udaipur.

Day 09: Udaipur

Udaipur, the enchanting City of Dawn, looms up like a vision in white. City Palace was built in 1725, and has various palaces inside such as Dilkush Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal, the Palace of Krishna etc, all ornately decorated. Saheliyon Ki Bari this 'Garden of Maids of Honour' is a small ornamental pleasure garden, contains an elegant lotus pool, gushing fountains, beautiful black marble kiosks on the corners of the pool and stunning bougainvilleas covering the wall of the enclosures. Shilpgram situated on the outskirts of Udaipur, the Shilpgram is a crafts and performing arts center and houses various craftsmen from different states who display live their crafts and products for the benefit of the visitors. Enjoy boat ride on the Lake Pichola using shared boat

Overnight will be at Udaipur.

Day 10: Udaipur – Pushkar By road 270 km in 05 hours

After Breakfast start your drive for Pushkar. Pushkar is a mellow, serene and bewitching little town which attracts those in search of some respite from the tumult of India . Pushkar is right on the edge of the desert and is only 11 kms from Ajmer but separated from it by Nag Pahar, the snake mountain. The town clings to the side of the small Pushkar Lake with its many bathing ghats and temples. For Hindus, Puhskar is a very important pilgrimage centre and you'll see plenty of Sadhus.
(Individuals on a spiritual search).

Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. It's marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the hans, or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as its site.

Overnight will be at Pushkar.

Day 11: Pushkar - Jaipur By road 130 km in 04 hours

After Breakfast start your drive for Jaipur. Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India . Proudly belonging to the KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made fearsome foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain their wealth and authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to the central power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors and also the British Raj that followed.

The bustling Rajasthan capital of Jaipur takes its name from its venerated founder Jai Singh II, who was given the title-Sawai Maharaja by the Mughal. Literally translated this would mean 'one and a quarter', suggesting that the Mughal thought this emperor to be more valuable than just 'one'. Jaipur is known as the ' Pink City ' on account of the distinctive colour of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State Visit from Prince Albert

Overnight will be at Jaipur
Day 12: Jaipur Proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort after breakfast. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.

AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression. At the foot of the hill you will mount your caparisoned elephant for the slow but steady climb up to the main gate, making your entrance in the time honoured fashion. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over 100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families.
Continue sightseeing.

CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum .
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this " Palace of Winds " is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. This afternoon is free for you to relax, shop or explore independently. Shopping is superb in Jaipur, particularly for gold and silver jewellery, pottery, tie-dye materials, silk, saris, wooden handicrafts and carpets.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 13: Jaipur – Agra By road 240 km in 06 hours After Breakfast start your drive for Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Continue your drive to Jaipur.
Arrive Agra and transfer to your hotel. Evening visit to Agra fort.

AGRA : Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma ofMughlai cuisine
Proceed for sightseeing

AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Overnight will be at Agra
Day 14: Agra – Delhi By road 210 km in 04 - -05 hours Early morning visit to Taj Mahal at sunrise.
TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra . Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Later after check out drive to Delhi international Airport for flight back home.