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Day 01 :
Delhi
Arrival in Delhi and be met by our representative at the
airport welcoming you to India with fresh flowers.
Transfer to the Hotel for immediate occupancy of the
rooms already reserved for you. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 02 :
Delhi
Today explore the city of Delhi with exclusive guide.
This is the capital city of India, and can be called as
a major gateway to the country. Delhi is one of the most
important metropolitan in India, as it is the city of
power. It has a very good combination of both modern, as
well as ancient culture. In these more than 2000 years
of its existence, there has been the origin of seven
cities, where the traditional Indian capital is situated
now.
Your sightseeing will include all the major attractions
of Delhi like Red fort (which was built by Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan. The premises of the Red Fort houses
a number of beautiful buildings like Diwan-i-Aam,
Diwan-i-Khas and Rang Mahal), Jama Masjid (It is the
largest mosque in India and was built in 17th Century. A
cupboard is located at the Mosque which contains a
collection of prophet Muhammad's relics, a red
beard-hair of the prophet and his sandals),Chandni chowk
(which was once the richest street market in the world),
Qutub Minar (This tower dated back to 12th century. This
minar or tower has many historical values) and the
government buildings like Parliament House, President
House, India Gate,etc.
Overnight in Delhi.
Day 3 –
Delhi to Agra (203 Kms)
In the morning proceed for Agra by car at 0800 hrs. The
drive will take 4 hours and you will be there by noon.
Agra is the unique Mughal City, where the world marvels
at the epitome of love, beauty and sacrifice, The
Taj-Mahal one of the wonders of the world. So
overwhelming is the magic monument, that Agra has been
immortalized, as the City of the Taj. The most modern
areas of the town, such as the cantonment, dates back
over a hundred years.
Your City Tour will include – Sikandra (the Tomb of King
Akbar), Agra fort with its exquisitely rich palaces,
Itmud-Ud-Duala and the magnificent TAJ MAHAL -about
which legion of tributes have been written. Overnight in
Agra.
Day 4 –
Agra to Jaipur (250 Kms)
In the morning proceed for Jaipur at 0930 hrs. Enroute
visit to Fatehpur Sikri, the ancient capital of King
Akbar. This deserted city lies along the top of a ridge.
This new capital had to be abandoned, only 14 years
after it was created, due to lack of water. But the
splendid palaces and mosques remain as a dream. However,
this ghost city, is worth a view for its buildings, and
can be classified into religious and architectural
wonders. After sightseeing, continue journey to Jaipur,
reach there by early evening. Overnight at Heritage
Hotel in Jaipur.
Day 5 –
Jaipur
The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is also
known as the Pink city. There is a timeless appeal in
the colorful bazaars of Jaipur, where one can shop for
Rajasthani items like handlooms and trinkets.
Beautifully gardens, attractive monuments and marvelous
Havelis (mansion) & Palaces, are worthy of admiration.
Start your city Tour with an early morning visit to the
Fort of Amer, which was the capital of ancient Rajputs.
Ride up to the gates on elephant back and explore the
great fortress palace buildings. Amer or Amber was the
former capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs, for many
centuries.
The Palace and the Jaigarh fort show distinct Mughal
influence. Spend rest of the day visiting -City Palace
(an true example of imposing blend of traditional
Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The Maharaja of
Jaipur still lives in part of the palace), Jantar Mantar
Observatory (This is the largest of five observatories
built during 18th century. Its massive masonry
instruments are of an extraordinary precision & can
still be used to measure local time, the sun's
declination and altitude, the declination of fixed stars
& planets & also to determine the time of an eclipse of
the sun), & Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal) and other local
attractions in Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day 6 –
Jaipur to Pushkar (135 Kms)
In the morning, Proceed towards Pushkar. The drive will
take approx 3 hours.
On the edge of the desert lies the tiny tranquil town of
Pushkar, along the bank of the picturesque Pushkar Lake,
in a narrow dry valley, overshadowed by impressive rocky
hills, which offer spectacular views of the desert at
sunset. The lake is almost magically beautiful in the
early morning or late evening light, is one of the most
sacred lakes of India and an important pilgrimage spot
for the Hindus. Visit all the major attractions of the
city like Pushkar lake, The Temple of God Brahma (It is
the only temple in the world of God Brahma) etc. with
our guide during the day. Overnight at Pushkar Palace
(Now converted into Hotel).
Day 7 –
Pushkar to Udaipur (285 Kms)
After having your leisurely breakfast in the morning,
proceed towards Udaipur. The drive will take 5 hours.
Evening is free. Overnight in Udaipur.
Day 8 –
Udaipur to Ahmedabad (255 Kms)
The city of Udaipur is also known as ‘City of lakes’ or
‘Venice of the East’. It is an enchanting city in true
manner. It is a vision in white, drenched in romance and
beauty. From the azure water lakes in the midst of sandy
terrain, surrounded by the lush hills of the Aravalis,
Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sounds and
experience. It is like a kaleidoscope of Palaces, lakes,
temples, etc.
Go for the sightseeing of Udaipur including all major
attractions like City Palace (former residence of King
of Udaipur), Sahelio ki Badi (the former play ground
exclusively for Princess of Rajasthan), Jagdeesh Temple
(has very much historic and religious values for
Hindus), Rana Pratap Memorial etc. In the early evening,
drive towards Ahmedabad. Overnight at The House of
Mangaldas, an Indo-European style mansion built in early
20th century by Seth Mangaldas Parekh, and has been
converted by his descendants into a boutique category
hotel with state-of-the-art facilities.
Day 9 –
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is Gujarat's main city and is one of the major
commercial centers in India. It has also been called the
`Manchester of the East' due to its many textile
industries and its smokestacks. Nevertheless, this city
has a number of attractions for travelers, and is one of
the best places to study the blend of Hindu and lslamic
architectural styles known as the Indo-Saracenic. The
new capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar is 32km from
Ahmedabad. Your sightseeing will include the Calico
Museum of Textiles, the historic Gandhi Ashram and the
Sardar Patel memorial at Shahibagh Palace. Overnight in
Ahmedabad.
Day 10 -
Ahmedabad – Palitana (239 km, four hours)
In the morning, take the Heritage Walk in walled city of
Ahmedabad. This organized walking tour is a great way to
see the historic Swaminarayan Temple, exquisitely carved
Jain and Hindu temples, ornate wooden havelis and the
traditional lifestyle of the dwellers of the old
quarters, bird-feeders, the 15th century Jumma Mosque
and the mausoleum complexes of the Sultans and Begums of
medieval Ahmedabad. Proceed for Palitana calling in on
the way at the 2400 – 1600 BC Indus site of Lothal for
an insight into the Harappan civilization. If time
permits, visit the Jain museum of Palitana and the local
bazaar. Home-cooked dinner and overnight stay at the
Vijay Vilas Palace, the 1906 AD house of the late Prince
of Palitana, now run by his grand-daughter as a heritage
hotel.
Day 11 -
Palitana – Gondal (160 km, three hours)
Early morning ascent to the 863-temple covered summit of
Shatrunjaya Hill. This is one of the most awe-inspiring
sights of Gujarat and is one of the major Jain
pilgrimage sites with an aura of devotion that is
mind-blowing. Depart after lunch at the Vijay Vilas for
Gondal. See the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, the Vintage and
Classic Car museum, the Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy
and the Swaminarayan Temple.
Overnight stay at the Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace of
Gondal, both of them are
heritage hotels owned and managed by their owners with
11 and seven rooms respectively and the latter also has
a converted rail saloon suite.
Day 12 -
Gondal – Junagadh – Gondal (123 km round trip):
Drive to Junagadh to see the Uparkot Fort & Buddhist
cave-sites, Ashoka’s rock inscriptions (3rd century BC),
palace museum, 18th & 19th century royal mausoleum
complexes, Nawabi buildings and museums. Return to
Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace of Gondal for overnight
stay.
Day 13 -
Gondal – Dasada (220 km, four hours)
On arrival at Dasada, depart for a jeep safari in the
Little Rann of Kutch in search of endangered desert
wildlife like the Asiatic wild ass and witness the
sunset at a lake that attracts flamingos, pelicans,
cranes and other attractive birds in large numbers.
Overnight stay at Rann Riders, an imaginatively designed
safari resort.
Day 14 -
Dasada – Balasinor (180 km)
Early morning walk in Dasada village, known for its
Rabari and Bharwad embroidery, weaving and other
handiwork. Drive to Balasinor which will take approx
three hours. Visit the dinosaur site, one of the largest
prehistoric fossil sites in the world. Overnight at the
Garden Palace where you can experience the NAWABI
CULTURE. The Nawab dynasty of Balasinore came to India
during Mughal period. This Palace was built in 19th
Century by Nawab Saheb Manover Khanji and is set in fine
gardens, agricultural fields and orchards. It has a
grand drawing room which is elegantly furnished with
Louis XIV style French chairs, antique lamps, portraits,
a collection of photographs of Indian Royals and hunting
trophies and beautiful dining hall where meals are
served in a typical Nawabi period ambience, made from
home grown vegetables, milk from the palace dairy and
chicken from the family's own poultry. The guests of the
Garden Palace are entertain by Nawab family itself. The
Garden Palace has beautiful furnished rooms with
attached modern baths and royal atmosphere for its
guests.
Day 15 -
Balasinor – Champaner - Chhota Udepur
Drive to Champaner (also known as ghost city), the only
Gujarat site on the World Heritage List, and see the
impressive forts, mosques, mausoleum and temples.
Proceed to Chhota Udepur and Overnight stay at Kali
Niketan. Originally called Nahar Mahal, this palatial
mansion was built about 100 years ago as the summer
residence of the royal family of Chhota Udepur
(descendants of emperor Prithvi Raj Chauhan) in 60 acres
near River Orsang. Attractively set in fruit orchards,
the mansion has fountains in the forecourt and in the
courtyard.
Day 16 -
Drive to Ahmedabad
In the morning, after having your leisurely breakfast,
proceed towards Ahmedabad Airport to catch the flight
back home or to Delhi. There are some budget airlines
operating at Ahmedabad and you can have very attractive
fare for Delhi or Mumbai from Ahmedabad. |
