The Rajasthan Diaries & The Holy Ganges

After breakfast, we go on a guided tour of Delhi. We drive past Lutyens New Delhi. Known as ‘Rajpath’ or ’Kings Way’- the wide tree lined avenues served as the capital city for the former British Empire. Among the buildings you drive past are the Secretariat buildings, Parliament House, Presidential Palace (Rashtrapathi Bhawan), and India Gate, a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the undivided Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21.

Visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the most prominent Sikh house of worship in Delhi, visit Agrasen ki Baori – a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well. Then visit the great Jama Masjid, the most important mosque in India. Then set off on an exciting rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, inching your way through a maze of ox carts, cars and the occasional wandering cow, explore the spice markets, jewellery market & the clothes market.

Lunch stop with your guide at Chor Bizarre, serves pan-Indian cuisine. The dining rooms are designed to look like a thieves’ market. Chor Bizarre – A play on the phrase Chor Bazaar, or Thieves’ bazaar…

Continue to the Qutub Minar complex which has many historic monuments. The first mosque in India – The Quwwat-Ul- Islam – built from the dressed and carved stones of demolished temples lies in this complex. It establishes the political victory of Islam in Northern India. The Qutub Minar itself began in 1199 by Qutub ud din Aibak and was completed by his successors.

Rest of the day is at leisure/own activity

Overnight at hotel (B,L)

Tentative flight AI 475 1255/1415

Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Jodhpur. Upon arrival, your guide will join you at the airport, and take you on a guided tour of Mehrangarh Fort & Jaswant Thada.

Mehrangarh Fort stands in splendour on a perpendicular cliff, four hundred feet above the sky line of Jodhpur. Burnished red sand stone, imposing, invincible and yet with a strange haunting beauty that beckons and includes Sukh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (palace rooms), Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble memorial to well-respected Maharaja of bygone days.

Later check in to the hotel.

Evening is at leisure, own activities.

overnight at hotel (B)

Morning, your tour director will take you on a stroll around the market, clock tower. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Drive to Ghanerao. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel. Later go on a village walk. Ghanerao is the only village in India with 33 Step-wells and beautiful quaint temples. Meet the locals & artisans or just sit by one of the step-well and enjoy the moment.

Evening is at leisure.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast, drive to Ranakpur to visit the stunning Jain temple with intricate carvings. Note shorts are not allowed to enter the temple, so wear appropriate pants accordingly. Audio guided tour.

Later continue to Udaipur. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel.

Afternoon pamper yourself with a spa treatment or indulge in a yoga class.

Overngiht at hotel (B)

Early breakfast and we go on a full day guided sightseeing tour of Udaipur.

Visit City Palace, a marble complex of palaces and galleries that offers unforgettable views of the lake and its surroundings. Take a private tour of the Crystal Gallery in Fateh Prakesh Palace, and stroll through Sahelion Ki Bari (Garden of the Maids of Honor). Also visit the Vintage and classic car collection museum. Visit Jagdish temple, walk and explore the small lanes around and return to the hotel to freshen up and brief rest.

Late afternoon go on a sunset boat cruise on Lake Pichola, stopover Jag Mandir. Then on to Bagore-ki-Haveli to watch the Indian traditional folk dance & puppet shows. We will then take a tuk-tuk to Ambrai, a Rajasthani cuisine restaurant by the lake side setting, overlooking the city palace.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B,D)

Early breakfast, drive to Udaipur en-route visiting Eklingji, dedicated to the Lord Shiva of the Hindu religion. Initially, the temple was built in 734 A.D. by Bappa Rawal. Since that time, Eklingji has been the ruling deity of Mewar rulers.

Continue to Shahpura. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel & brief rest. Rest by the pool and enjoy a 30 mins Indian champi/head massage.

Late afternoon, we drive to Dikhola village for a quick stroll followed by sundowner.

Home cooked dinner at the hotel with your host.

Overnight at hotel (B,D)

Morning feel free to stroll around the property walking trail, enjoy a cup of tea by the lake as you watch the morning birds.

Leisurely breakfast and we drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival check in to the hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure, own activities.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Early breakfast we go on a guided sightseeing of Amber Fort, the former capital of royal Jaipur. Few fail to be moved by the dramatic Rajput grandeur of this hilltop fortress-palace 11 km north of Jaipur. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravalli Hills and surrounded by fortified battlements, the palace straddles two sepia-hued tundra hills overlooking Maota Lake and its sprawling crenellated walls lattice the surrounding hills. Our guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.

In the afternoon visit the sprawling City Palace, a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. The seven storied Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) is a sprawling complex with multiple courtyards, public buildings, astronomical observatory and zenana mahals (harems).

From the City Palace you enter the extraordinary “Jantar Mantar”, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1827. Roughly translated the name means “The Formula of Instruments”. This is one of five observatories he built in northern India.

Then drive though the busy streets for a photography stop at Hawa Mahal, the ornate pink façade an icon of the city. These five storied high “screens” composed of projected windows, balconies protected by fine latticed screens was destined to enable the ladies of the harem to observe the lively street scenes of the city from a position of privacy and from here you continue into the Bazaar of the Old City of Jaipur.

Later come back to the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Early breakfast and we drive to Agra en-route visiting the stepwell (quick stop) and Fatehpur Sikri (guided).

Chand Baori is a stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones. Located in the eastern part of the province of Rajasthan, it was built by King Chanda somewhere in the 9th century.

Fatehpur Sikri was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. The city boasts of some of the magnificent monuments of the medieval period. Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor, made it the capital but was later abandoned due to scarcity of water. The buildings at Fatehpur Sikri present a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Some of the attractions at Fatehpur Sikri are the Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza and the Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti.

Continue to Agra. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure, own activity.

Overnight at hotel (B)

By flight AI 406/AI405, 1355/1610, 35mins Layover in Khajuraho (Mon, Wed & Sat only)

Early morning pay your first visit to the masterpiece, Taj Mahal at sunrise. Flawless in its proportions and breathtaking in its beauty, the Taj Mahal looks as though it were painted onto the sky itself — a vision of unrivalled magnificence. (CLOSED FRIDAYs).

Later come back for breakfast and brief rest. Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Varanasi.

Meet & greet upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

At dusk, head to the banks of the sacred Ganges River to witness the Aarti ceremony. Take in the sounds of chanted prayers and rhythmic drumming as you watch the Hindu priests — holding lanterns to keep the darkness at bay and bid the gods and goddesses a restful slumber.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Rise early for a private sunrise cruise on the Ganges River for a view of the activity along the ghats (stone steps) leading down to the river, where the locals and pilgrims alike cleanse themselves, literally and spiritually. Followed by a visit to Akhara, a traditional gymnasium where Pehalwans (wrestlers) practice Kushti (Indian mud wrestling). There is something inherently sensual about kushti, an ancient form of wrestling practiced in India. (weather dependent)

Later come back for breakfast & brief rest.

we then continue to the nearby Sarnath, a park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon 25 centuries ago.

Afternoon, we will then go on a walking tour of the Ganges and explore the streets, which are free from any vehicular traffic. Visit the cremation grounds of Hindus and understand why people want to spend their last days in Varanasi. Witness a stepwell for female fertility during this walking tour. Get up-close with a revered Sitar Player and his family over a cup of tea and local savouries. Witness how bio-degradable statues are made by the Bengali Community. Visit the main Ghat where the Ganges Aarti is performed and visit the place where the famous Indian Epic- Ramcharitmanas was written. Witness the place where Sadhus (Ascetics) live in ‘Juna Akhara’

Overnight at hotel (B)

By AI 433 1530/1705

Morning is at leisure/own activity.

Transfer to airport to board your flight to Delhi. Meet & greet upon arrival and transfer to the airport hotel.

Farewell dinner at the hotel. The first round of toss is on us.

Overnight at hotel (B,D)

Kindly advise your flight details.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.