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You’ll
be met on arrival at Delhi airport and assisted with the transfer to your
hotel. India’s capital has a long and storied past as the centre of many
kingdoms and empires. Modern Delhi is 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, and a window to the kaleidoscope that is
India. Overnight in Delhi.
Begin your tour with a full day of sightseeing
around Delhi including Old Delhi highlights such as Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort
and the Jama Masjid plus a drive-by tour of some of New Delhi’s famous sights
(the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, the imposing India Gate, Parliament House,
the President's Residence and more). Qutb Minar is located some distance to the
south of the other places of interest and getting there may mean omitting other
places due to traffic issues. Overnight in Delhi.
Begin the driving part of the trip with a
relaxed 3 hour drive to the fort and landmark heritage hotel at Neemrana. On
arrival, check in at the hotel and relax. Time later in the day to explore the
nearby Kesroli Fort and 11-level-deep stepwell and local traditional village
during Rural Rajasthan holidays trip. Stay overnight at hotel.
These days there are not many days of the year
when the Taj ‘lights up’ with the rising sun- sadly, Agra’s air quality means
that most days the sun rises as through mist, fog and haze rather than out of a
clear blue sky. Our usual advise is to have breakfast and visit the Taj
mid-morning when many of the crowds have dispersed. After spending ample time
at the Taj- this is not a place to rush through- depart Agra and head out to
Fatehpur Sikri. Due to water shortages, this majestic Mughal capital was
operational for only a few years before it was abandoned- the result is an
almost perfectly preserved complex of buildings which stand as testimony to the
genius of Mughal architecture. Proceed from here and, if time permits, make the
short detour, not long before reaching Jaipur, to the spectacular stepwell at
Abhaneri. This is variously described as the oldest, deepest or widest stepwell
in India, but regardless of which of these claims is true is certainly very
beautiful indeed. At the end of a long day, check-in at your Jaipur hotel and
relax. Overnight in Jaipur.
The
Pink City of Jaipur is Rajasthan’s largest city as well as its present-day
capital. Easily the busiest and most cosmopolitan of the cities you’ll see in
Rajasthan, Jaipur has a number of famous and iconic sights- the best way to
avoid the crowds is to visit the city-centre highlights in the morning (the
City Palace, Palace of the Winds and Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds)
before heading out to Amer Fort in the afternoon. Emperor Man Singh I initiated
the construction of the Amber Fort in 1592 CE and the building was completed by
his descendent Jai Singh. As remarkable as these monuments are, for many people
the real highlight of Jaipur is the vast market area within the walled city
where you can find just about everything imaginable from precious gems to total
chintz and most things in between. A walking tour to properly explore this vast
area is highly recommended. Overnight in Jaipur.
You’ll
have time in Jaipur to take an early morning tour within the old city if you
wish, before driving 3 hours or so out to Pushkar. This famous small town, built
around the eponymous lake, is home to an important creation story in Hindu lore
and also the site of one of only a handful of temples dedicated to Brahma.
Something of a low-key destination, this is a great place to walk and explore
without any set schedule. Most of the time Pushkar is a peaceful, even laidback
place, but for a few weeks each year around early November it becomes a major
trading hub as camel and cattle breeders from across North India (not to
mention thousands of pilgrims) descend on the town for the annual camel and
cattle fairs. Overnight in Pushkar.
Join a guide for morning sightseeing around Pushkar including
the Brahma Temple and the sacred ghats around the lake before driving south
into the Aravali Hills and the city of Udaipur. If you’re not put off by the
idea of a little extra driving, and want to see another of Rajasthan’s most
impressive forts, a detour to Chittorgarh can make a nice addition to the day.
Picturesque Udaipur awaits at the end of the day. Overnight in Udaipur.
Udaipur’s major sights (the intricately carved Jagdish
temple, the rambling City Palace and Saheliyon-ki-Bari gardens) can be covered
in the morning, leaving time for exploration of the many lanes and alleyways of
the old city area in the afternoon. You might also like to take a boat ride on
Lake Pichola, before dining at one of the many restaurants overlooking the
lake. Overnight in Udaipur.
Depart
by mid-morning and drive through the hills to the sublime Jain temple complex
at Ranakpur. No guides are permitted here and despite being a busy and popular
site it is still largely peaceful and serene. Absorb the beauty of the temples
for a while, then head on to the small town of Jojawar, where you’ll find a
warm welcome at the heritage hotel, and former maharaja’s stately home, Rawla
Jojawar. In the latter part of the day head out on a jeep tour, or go
bird-watching. Overnight in Jojawar.
Morning excursion by train in the Aravali hills- this is a
delightful journey through some lovely scenery, and a great way to see
something of local life close up. For railway enthusiasts the engineering
involved in the track construction will delight as well. Later drive to
Jodhpur- be sure to ask your driver to stop in the small town of Rohet where
one of Rajasthan’s most famous snack-food empires has grown around a single
stall, selling just one thing- deep fried, potato-and-mint stuffed sweet
peppers. The queue is long, but the wait more than worth it! Continue into
Jodhpur and settle in with later afternoon/evening exploration in the highly
atmospheric old city area. Overnight in Jodhpur.
The Blue City of Jodhpur (light blue allegedly deters
mosquitoes- please feel free to try it out) is famous for many things including
bustling markets focused on textiles and spices, the beauty of Mehrangarh Fort
and the highly atmospheric old city area. A recently-restored historic stepwell
provides a social hub for locals, while the shopping in the old city is
excellent. There are many NGO-supported craft co-ops operating around Jodhpur
which are worthy of support and whose wares can be purchased from boutiques
here. Overnight in Jodhpur.
Today you will leave the semi-arid lands around Jodhpur for
true desert as you head towards the ‘golden city’ of Jaisalmer. Unlike the
other forts of Rajasthan which are largely museums, or abandoned completely,
Jaisalmer Fort is still home to a large population and as such is regarded as a
living fort. It’s a 5 hour drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, so you will likely
arrive mid-afternoon, with free time later in the day. For environmental reasons,
we don’t book hotels within the fort itself- the 12th century plumbing was
never designed to cope with modern water-use and the fort is degrading as a
result. We feel you can enjoy Jaisalmer just as much staying outside the fort,
and ensuring that this incredible structure is preserved for future visitors to
enjoy and marvel at. Overnight in Jaisalmer.
Sightseeing of Jaisalmer to start the day, with lots of time
to explore the fort and interact with its inhabitants- wandering musicians,
street chefs, craftspeople, sadhus and many more make their homes here. Later
continue your tour with visits to other places of interest around the city- the
sandstone havelis near the fort are particularly impressive. In the afternoon,
visit the abandoned ghost town of Kuldhara before heading out to Khuri to see
the sunset over the desert with options for a camel ride and cultural show with
dinner also available. Overnight in Jaisalmer.
Your tour has now reached its westernmost point, and the long
journey east back to Delhi begins today. Firstly drive around 4 hours to
Bikaner, a desert outpost city famous for its impressive fort, rambling markets
and camel farm. Visit these during the afternoon, with an optional detour to
Deshnok and the infamous Karnimata ‘rat temple’ here. Overnight in Bikaner.
Your next destination is the unique Shekhawati region, dubbed
by some as the largest open-air art gallery in the world. In many of the villages
of this area, traditional merchants’ homes are decorated with mural paintings
depicting desert and village life and culture. Overnight in Mandawa.
Further time to explore the towns and villages of Shekhawati
in the morning, before the last leg of your trip, a 6-7 hour drive back into
Delhi. Overnight in Delhi or depart late in the evening.
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