Rajasthan with Delhi Agra Varanasi Tour

Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be welcomed by a representative of Optima Travels and transferred to the hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, depart for Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. Lunch will be on the way. On arrival, you will be welcomed by a family of the warrior caste and transferred to the hotel. Along with professional guide, visit the village of Mandawa which is in the heart of a region rich in hundreds of havelis, small palaces or mansions decorated with frescoes dating from the 18th and 19th century. In the evening, enjoy local cuisines in dinner. Overnight stay is scheduled in the hotel.

After breakfast, departure to Bikaner will take place. On the way, you will stop to visit an ancient small town of Ram Garh to discover magnificent mansions covered with frescoes dating from 18th and 19th centuries. On arrival at Bikaner, you will be transferred to the hotel. Post lunch, along with a certified guide, visit Junagarh Fort, a huge citadel spread in area with 1 km in circumference. You will see a superb maharaja palace built in 16th century. The next stop will be in Deshnoke, 20 km from the city, to visit the Karni Mata Temple, the temple of rats. At this unique place where people from all over India come to worship and admire rats. The devotees bow down when a white rat appears. Later, in the evening, return to hotel to have dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Jaisalmer. On the way, stop at an ancient monument, the temple of Baba Ramdev. It is a sacred place for all sects of the Hindus. Once in a year, a large fair is held here. People come on foot from all over Rajasthan and adjoining regions. On arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Late afternoon, you will go to see the sunset on the royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas of Jaisalmer. Dinner and overnight stay is scheduled in the hotel.

After breakfast, visit the city of Jaisalmer, called the Golden City of Rajasthan. Its impressive yellow sandstone fortress dominates the city in all its splendor. Jaisalmer was an important caravan stop on the Silk Road. Walk in the streets of the lower town to admire the richness of the facades of the famous havelis like Nathmal ki Haveli, Patwon ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli. These magnificent havelis reveal the charm of Jaisalmer. Thereafter, visit Gadsisar Lake. After lunch, visit the abandoned village of priests in Kuldhara. Overnight stay is scheduled in Jaisalmer hotel.

After relaxed breakfast, check out from the hotel & proceed on for Thar Desert exploration. You can reach to the camp by either 4X4 jeep or camel. It will be almost an hour long safari on the sand dunes. In the evening, enjoy desert dance and folk music. Dinner and overnight stay is scheduled in the camp.

After breakfast, depart for Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan. It is good to walk in its winding streets. On arrival at Jodhpur, visit Mehrangarh Fort that dominates the city in all its splendor. It was built in 1459 AD as an eagle's nest. Hereinafter, have lunch and get transferred to the hotel. Post-lunch, continue with a walk in the old bazaar of Jodhpur. This city is known for authentic spices. Overnight stay is scheduled in Jodhpur hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Jawai. On arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel. After lunch, proceed to visit a large Jawai lake and go on a leopard safari by jeep. In addition to a spectacular view of the lake and the mountains, you will have a chance to see crocodiles and birds in the lake. Continue the safari to see Indian leopard. It is the only place in India where one can see this majestic beast. Late evening, return to hotel to have dinner and enjoy overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Ghanerao. En route, visit Ranakpur known for its Jain temples. Visit the temple of Adinath, known for architecture of great beauty. Ranakpur Jain temple is one of the coveted tourist attractions in Rajasthan. Have lunch on the way to Ghanerao. On arrival at Ghanerao, you will be transferred in the hotel. Having relaxed a bit, explore the vicinity of the town and meet the nomads of the Raikas community who are herders of goats, sheep and dromedaries. Direct interaction with shepherd community of Rajasthan will be an exotic experience. Overnight stay is scheduled in Ghanerao heritage hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, depart for Kumbhalgarh known for its sturdy & gargantuan fort. Reach the Kumbhalgarh Fort meandering and hiking through thick forest and hilly terrain. It is one of the most beautiful forts of Rajasthan. Its peripheral wall and ramparts is the second largest wall in the world after China Wall. The total length of the wall is 26 kms. The existence of royal settlement in the strategically located fort is traced back to Mauryan era, dating around 3rd century BC. After exploring the fort thoroughly, continue your drive to Udaipur. On arrival at Udaipur, check in at the hotel to spend evening in leisure and have overnight stay.

After breakfast, proceed on for exploring the romantic city of the desert state. Udaipur, one of the most wonderful cities of Rajasthan, has been founded amidst lakes and hills. The most coveted tourist attractions in Udaipur are City Palace and Saheliyon Ki Bari (garden / theater of royal ladies to congregate & celebrate festivals). Visit a miniature painting school. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Pichola and relish few moments of relaxation on the Isle of Pleasure. Later, return to hotel to spend evening in leisure and have overnight stay in hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Bundi. On the way, you will visit one of the oldest forts in India in the city of Chittorgarh. This city was built in 7th century by the kings of Sisodiya dynasty of Mewar. Until 15th century, it was the capital of Mewar region. Its 5 km long rampart and the ruins tell the history of Chittorgarh Fort. Visit the temple of deities Kali, Krishna, Shiva and Vishnu which was built in 14th century by King Rana Kumbha. Have lunch in the city. After exploring Chittorgarh, proceed on for Bundi. Along the way, visit the breathtaking Menal waterfall which is located in a natural site of great beauty. On arrival at Bundi, you will be transferred to hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, visit the palace of Bundi. You will see 17th century’s beautiful frescoes, depicting historical stories of the epics - Mahabharata and Ramayana. You will have a beautiful view of the city and visit private and public courtrooms, king's bedroom, banquet hall etc. Walk through the city where you will visit colourful market and magnificent Baori (stepwells). These stepwells offer an impressive view of ancient water storage and harvesting bodies. After sightseeing of Bundi, depart for Pushkar. On arrival at Pushkar, you will be transferred to the hotel. Post-lunch, visit this Hindu religious city. Pushkar is famous for being home to the only Brahma Temple. Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple premises. You will be taken to Pushkar Lake, a sacred lake of Hindus, where you will observe Sadhus and devotees performing ablution on the Ghats, steps that lead to the lake. Enjoy watching Hindu rituals and rustic lifestyle of the people. Overnight stay is scheduled in Pushkar hotel.

After breakfast, depart towards Jaipur. On the way, you will halt at Ajmer (previous name Ajaymeru), a historical city, and visit Adhai Din Ki Masjid, built in 13th century by the Muslim king Alauddin Khilji. Roam around Ajmer and enjoy Tuk Tuk ride here. Continue your drive to Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur, you will be directly transferred to pre-booked hotel. Post-lunch, in the afternoon, watch a Bollywood movie in the most beautiful cinema hall in Asia, Raj Mandir. Rest of the day is left for leisure. Overnight stay is scheduled in Jaipur hotel.

After breakfast, proceed on with a professional guide for visiting famous historical monuments of Jaipur, popularly known as ‘Pink City of Rajasthan’. The first monument to be visited is Amber Fort, a gargantuan fort-palace complex. Enjoy elephant ride, like a ‘maharaja’, from foothill to hilltop where the main gate of fort is located. This complex was the ancestral home of the ‘maharajas’ of Jaipur. Thereafter, drive back to the city. On the way, visit Panna Meena Ka Kund, a stepwell to harvest water. This stepwell is famous worldwide for its unique architecture. The next halt will be Jal Mahal, an ancient palace built amidst a lake. Several stories of the palace are inside lake water. The palace was meant as pleasure and hunting house of the ‘maharajas’.

On arrival in the heart of the city, make a photo stop in front of the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal), visit the royal City Palace and astronomical solar observatory - Jantar Mantar. Explore colorful market and, in the evening, attend ‘aarti’ ceremony in Govind Dev Ji Temple. Rest of the day is left for leisure. Overnight stay is scheduled in Jaipur hotel.

Have breakfast and depart for Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, located in Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan. On arrival at Ranthambhore, you will be transferred directly in the hotel / resort. After lunch, proceed on a tiger safari on a 4X4 jeep with a naturalist provided by the forest department. Spot tigers, gazelles, antelopes, wild boars etc on a 3 hours long adventure. Overnight stay is scheduled in Ranthambhore hotel.

After early breakfast, depart for Agra. On the way, visit Keoladev National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary). You will be able to observe great diversity and beauty of the birds while exploring the flora & fauna on manually-pulled rickshaw. Bharatpur is a district in Rajasthan. Post-lunch, continue your drive to Agra. En route, visit the ghost town at Fatehpur Sikri, built in 16th century. On arrival in Agra, you will be transferred to Agra hotel for overnight stay.

The sightseeing will commence at the time of dawn. You will be taken to Taj Mahal at the time of sunrise when the white marble monument looks most beautiful. Have magnificent view of Taj Mahal in friendly, professional and knowledgeable company of Agra tour guide. Having visited Taj Mahal, return to hotel to refresh and have delicious breakfast. Late morning, along with the guide, visit Agra Fort and tomb of It-Mad-ud-Daulah.

At the end of the afternoon, you will cross Yumana river and reach Mahtab Bagh, a garden that offers excellent view of Taj Mahal during sunset and night. You will be amazed by the beauty of this monument, changing color of its white marble to the warm colors of the sunset and blue color of the night. Visit a marble workshop too. Late night, you will board a Varanasi-bound train. It will be an overnight journey.

On arrival at Varanasi, one of the most sacred cities in Hinduism, you will be transferred to pre-booked hotel. Post lunch, visit Sarnath, one of the Buddhist pilgrimages where Lord Buddha delivered his first teaching before his five disciples after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Visit Buddhist temples, ‘stupas’ and national museum where exceptional sculptures including the most beautiful statue of Buddha are placed. In the early evening, you will take an unforgettable stroll through the streets of Varanasi to go to the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges and attend Ganga Aarti ceremony, collective prayer ceremony on the Ganges. Overnight stay is scheduled in Varanasi hotel.

Early in the morning, enjoy boat trip on the Ganges to see cremation ceremonies. In Hindu belief, dying in Varanasi makes it possible to end the cycle of birth & death and achieve nirvana / moksh. On the Ghats of the Ganges, pilgrims bathe and make ablutions at sunrise. The water of the river is said to wash away all sins. Return to hotel to have breakfast. Now proceed on a guided sightseeing tour of the city. It includes visiting famous temples in Varanasi like Sankat Mochan Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Bharat Mata Temple; and exploring market & silk factory. After lunch, you will be transferred to airport to board Delhi-bound flight. On arrival at Delhi, you will be transferred to the hotel.

After breakfast, proceed on to discover Delhi, starting with a visit of Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India built in 1650 AD. Enjoy rickshaw ride in the urban chaos of the shopping street of Chandni Chowk in New Delhi. It is a sight to behold! Then visit Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. After lunch, visit New Delhi through India Gate, Sikh Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Tomb of Humayun and Qutub Minar built in 12th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later in the evening, you will be transferred to international airport to board flight for your onward destination.