Rajasthan Odyssey Tour (13 Nights / 14 Days)
Destinations: Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Nimaj – Manvar – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Delhi
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Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet and assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast gear up for your visit of Old & New Delhi:
OLD DELHI – A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat – the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most visited sites in Delhi. It consists of a simple square black-marble platform that stands on the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Nearby, there are cremation sites of Jawaharlal Nehru – the first Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Jama Masjid – the largest mosque in India. Drive past Red Fort – One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Lal Quila or the Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms. in length with the height varying from 18 mts. on the river side to 33 mts. on the city side. Chandni Chowk – a place that has a history of about 400 years. More evidences of the ancient times that once existed in old Delhi can be found out by winding through the labyrinthine lanes of Chandni Chowk, passengers an opportunity to see a different prospective of Chandni Chowk, which is otherwise only regarded as one of the favourite shopping avenues of Delhi.
NEW DELHI – An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue – Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate -was built by Edwin Lutyens to pay homage to the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I and the Afgan War. Closely looking at the walls of India Gate would let you know the names of 90,000 soldiers who died during the World War I, the Afgan War and the North-West Frontier operations. The structure was finally completed in the year 1931. India Gate was originally called the All India War Memorial., Laxmi Narayan Temple also known as Birla Temple – one of the landmarks in the nation’s capital New Delhi. It was built in the 20th century by the Birla family of industrialists known for its many other temples in India. It is modern in concept and construction. It attracts several devotees and international tourists. The presiding deity here is Lakshmi Narayan (Vishnu), Parliament House, the President’s Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. The evening is free to be spent at your leisure. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 3: Delhi – Agra – (By road – 210 Kms)
After breakfast early in the morning start for Agra. The city of Mughals offers you an opportunity to explore the massive monuments, majestic buildings, and the popular arts and crafts. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. En-route you will visit the Sikandra – Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Mausoleum. Visit Taj Mahal (Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. It took twenty-two years and hard toil of more than twenty thousand workers to construct Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is enchanting and it reflects the marvelous beauty of architecture. Taj Mahal symbolize the richness of art and architecture of the Mughal period. After Taj Mahal visit Agra Fort; built by Emperor Akbar on the west bank of the river Yamuna and beautified with palaces and gardens by Jehangir, Agra Fort today dominates the centre of the city. The crescent-shaped fort with its 20-metre high, 2.4-km outer walls contains a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city.Overnight will be at hotel in Agra
Day 4: Agra – Jaipur – (By road 235 Kms)
After breakfast leave for Jaipur by surface. Jaipur was established by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743) and painted pink by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. The Royal heritage of Jaipur lives in its architecture and culture. The city in pink is symbolic of the hospitality that reigned in the Rajput culture. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. It is a beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The Mughals later abandoned this city for lack of water. Fatehpur Sikri had a short life of splendor. Once Akbar left it in 1585, it never regained its lost importance and has remained the most magnificent and well-preserved ghost city of India. After visit continue drive to Jaipur on arrival at Jaipur check into your hotel. Rest of the day free for independent activates. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Jaipur
Morning after breakfast go for a excursion to Amber Fort. 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 it’s ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing.
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.
Day 6: Jaipur – Nimaj – (By road – 225 Kms)
Morning after breakfast drive to Nimaj Village in the Pali District, Marwar, Rajasthan. Nimaj is situated at the Jodhpur – Jaipur highway. Previously it acted as a hunting lodge of the Nimaj estate. If you have an adventurous bent of mind and want to relax in open air then we recommend you to put up in the Chhatrasagar Tent Nimaj. The camps are situated in a scenic position overlooking the lake which shelters a rich variety of avian life. It is an ideal destination for nature lover and a perfect getaway from Jodhpur. Chhatra Sagar (Nimaj) was created to harvest rain water to re-charge the underground water system and then, by installing artesian wells, the same water could be drawn out for agriculture purpose which made the area fertile. Over the past two decades, due to the irregular usage of water from excessive agriculture and over growing crops which require a lot of water, the underground water system has failed, and people who have been settled here for over two centuries have had to look for different source of earnings 100% of the staff at Chhatra Sagar is from the local community. The owners are the fourth generation of Thakur Chhatra Singh who created this water harvesting system and the staff here is the fourth generation of the people who helped create this system and named it Chhatra Sagar. Due to the water crises and the concept of water harvesting, they do not have bathtubs at Chhatra Sagar. Equally, all the waste water is filtered and is used for irrigation. Or arrival transfer to hotel rest of the day free for personal activates. Overnight at the hotel in Nimaj.
Day 7: Nimaj
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Go for a safari tour to the wildlife encounters, tribal/dhani cultural tour, visit places of Religious and historical interest. Experience Rajput hospitality at its best. Wonder through the Palace, which is a testament to the valour and chivalry of Marwar. See the village life, visit the 9th century temple, end the offbeat at ‘Chhatra Sagar lake’ to see the sun setting behind the dam which gives a golden glow to the lake before sinking behind the unique and rustic architecture of the dam. You can swim, fish, do bird watching, take a round of the green fields or sip cocktails as you cruise in the shimmering backwaters of the lake and return. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel in Nimaj.
Day 8: Nimaj – Manvar – (By road 95 Kms)
Morning after having breakfast drive to Manvar. The area of Shergarh consists of a number of desert villages located in the heart of sand dune country. Predominantly inhabited by Rajputs, this desert area has a rich legacy of generations engaged in pursuits that this region is famous for – incredible valour and martial excellence on the battlefield. It’s almost a sort of unwritten code of honour that most families of Shergarh send at least one young male to join the Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces. If it’s any yardstick of measuring supremacy on the scale of courage, Shergarh nurses the maximum number of war widows with a sense of quiet fortitude. The great grandfather of Moti Singh Rathore (the man behind Manvar) had the distinction of having fought in World War-I. He was also a decorated Major in the Sardar infantry – in the erstwhile state of Jodhpur. Just 6 Kms from Manvar resort is the middle of the wilderness surrounded by the sand dunes is the impressive isolated magnificence of Manvar Tented camp. Reach at Manvar resort and freshen up, later you will be transferred to camp by jeep where you can enjoy jeep safari, camel ride and special gala dinner event at the camp. Overnight at camp
Day 9: Manvar – Jaisalmer – (By road – 230 Kms)
Morning after breakfast visit the sand dunes and camel ride to the deserts. Later proceed for Jaisalmer – induces a dramatic picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain not with standing the warmth and color of people is simply over whelming. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort and beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of the you can let your eyes caress the sloppy sand dunes while you ramble your way in a camel safari. Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city finds its name, founded Jaisalmer in 1156. On arrival transfer to hotel rest of the day free for personal activates. Overnight in at the hotel.
Day 10: Jaisalmer
Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer firstly visiting the Jaisalmer fort which is made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure between the sands. The Jaisalmer city is also revered for its Havelis. Among many of them you will find Salim ji ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli as the most striking. Also visit Gadsisar Lake and take a close look on the migratory birds as they indulge in amorous fight. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Jaisalmer.
Day 11: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – (By road – 264 Kms)
Proceed in the morning after a leisurely breakfast and reach Jodhpur – the second largest city of the state of Rajasthan, Jodhpur. The Rajput chief Rao Jodha founded the city of Jodhpur in 1459. Earlier, it was the capital of the Marwar state of Rajasthan. A 10-km-long wall made of stone surrounds the city. Relax in the hotel and visit the museum of Umaid Bhawan Palace. Overnight at Jodhpur.
Day 12: Jodhpur – Udaipur
(By road – 266 Kms) – Morning after breakfast goes for a village safari in the jeep and has a rare glimpse into the rich culture and true essence of India. Abundant wildlife (game) and memorable moments of the great desert landscape fascinates one while driving along the countryside. Visit Mehrangarh Fort situated on a 125m-sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. Situated at an altitude of about 125 meters, the Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur is spread over an area of 5 sq. km in the heart of the city of Jodhpur. Have a walk in the Fort Complex and in old city. The Jaswant Thada is a white marble memorial built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant II in 1899. Later proceed for Udiapur the lake city is an enthralling tourist destination in Rajasthan. It is an important city in Rajasthan today, attracting a large number of tourists. The medieval attractions of the city are its chief draw, but the scenic beauty of Udaipur and its surroundings is also a major attraction for the tourists. There are some beautiful lakes, man made as well as natural that give the city the sobriquet of ‘the lake city’. On arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Udaipur.
Day 13: Udaipur
After breakfast visit the City Palace towering over the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated in the construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added several palaces and structures to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to the design. The entry to the Palace is from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate. It was once a custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate in gold and silver, which was distributed to the populace. It is also now the main ticket office. Balconies, cupolas and towers surmount the palace to give a wonderful view of the lake. Visit the Jagdish Temple; built by Maharana Jagat Singh I in 1651, the temple enshrines a black stone image of Lard Vishnu. There is a brass image of Garuda the Lord Bird carrier. The exterior and the plinth are covered with base relief of alligators; elephants, horsemen and celestial musicians rise in tiers. Chanting, bells and music can be heard throughout the day. It is the largest and most splendid temple of Udaipur. In the evening enjoy boat ride on the Lake Pichola. This picturesque lake encloses the Jag Niwas Island and the Jag Mandir. And, the City Palace extends along its eastern banks. Return back to hotel for overnight.
Day 14: Udaipur – Delhi/Mumbai (By Flight)
Breakfast at hotel & transfer to Udaipur airport to board the flight for onward Journey.