Romance of Rajasthan Forts, Palaces and Varanasi

Arrival at the international airport of New Delhi. Your personal driver awaits you at the airport and take you to your hotel. The arrival time depends on the flight.

Depending upon your arrival time in Delhi, the sightseeing tour of Delhi will be timed accordingly, after breakfast. City tour includes visit of Red Fort, the most imposing mosque in India Jama Masjid, four centuries old market of Chandani Chowk, Akshardham Temple and Qutub Minar, the highest stone-built tower in India. During sightseeing explore buzzing markets of Delhi. Later, in the evening, return to hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast in Delhi hotel, proceed to Madawa by road. Once in Madawa, check in at hotel and discover the narrow streets of Mandawa walk. Visit the different Havelis & Mandawa Fort. In the evening, return and have overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning depart to Bikaner after breakfast. Upon arrival in Bikaner, check in at hotel and explore the fort city of Rajasthan and its magnificent fortress. Then visit the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok located thirty kilometers from Bikaner. Karni Mata is also known as the "temple of the rats." Rodents are under the protection of the temple guards, fed and housed. In the evening, return and have overnight stay at the hotel.

Start early in the morning. After breakfast, move for Jodhpur. Upon arrival in Jodhpur, check in at hotel and relaxing for a while, commence the city tour. Visit the market, Sadar Bazar, and observe women in colourful clothes and men with traditional turbans for men. Overnight stay has been planned in Jodhpur hotel.

Depart in the morning, after breakfast, to discover Jodhpur along with guide. Visit Fort of Jodhpur called the Mehrangarh and visit the famous memorial Jaswant Thada of Jodhpur. You can also visit Umaid Bhawan, royal residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. At present, it’s partially a luxury hotel, residence of royal family and museum. Having leisurely explored Jodhpur, return top hotel for overnight stay.

Start early in the morning, after breakfast, and head towards Narlai. On the road to this town, you have an opportunity to visit a Bishnoi village. Bishnoi is an ancient community of environmentalists. Once in Narlai, check in at the hotel. Then visit the traditional village of Narlai, with its narrow streets and whitewashed rustic clay houses. You will have opportunity to visit the Jain caves and temples nearby.

Depart after breakfast towards Udaipur. On the way to Udaipur, stop for few hours at Ranakpur, famous for its exquisite Jain temple. The Jain Temple of Adinath in Ranakpur is imposing like cathedral and chiseled like an ivory jewel. After visiting the temple, resume your journey to Udaipur. Upon arrival in Udaipur, check in at the pre-booked hotel. Late afternoon, cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Overnight stay is scheduled in Udaipur.

Having enjoyed delicious breakfast in buffet in the hotel, depart for exploring Udaipur with the tour guide. Visit the city and its markets. The sightseeing of Udaipur will include City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Lake Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari and Bagore ki Haveli. If you wish to explore the cultural aspects of Udaipur to the fullest, do attend puppet show in Bagore ki Haveli. Later in the evening, return to hotel for overnight stay.

Enjoying breakfast in Udaipur hotel, depart for Pushkar, a religious town of Rajasthan. Pushkar is one of the important pilgrimages of the Hindus. Upon arrival in Pushkar, check in at the hotel. Then visit Pushkar and its sacred ghats, walk to neighboring villages. Pushkar is world over known for its religious ambience, rustic way of life, colourful culture, the only temple of Lord Brahma (one of the gods of Hindu Trinity), Pushkar Lake and Pushkar Fair. Overnight stay has been scheduled in Pushkar.

Depart in the morning, after breakfast, towards Jaipur. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in at hotel. Then, alongwith tour guide, visit the city and bazaars, the City Palace of the Maharaja and observatory of Sawai Jai Singh II. Overnight stay will be in Jaipur.

Proceed in the morning, after breakfast, to discover Jaipur. Earlier today you will be taken on an excursion to Amber Fort, 15 km from the city centre. Here you will be having Maharaja like elephant ride from foothills to hilltop. Visit the fort leisurely. Hereinafter, return to city centre to visit the Palace of Winds, red sandstone built facades facing the street allowed women to see without being seen. Post lunch, visit Albert Hall Museum and and attend evening aarti at Birla Temple. In the evening, return and have overnight at the hotel.

Start early in the morning, after breakfast, towards Agra. About 40 kms prior to Agra, stop for few hours at Fatehpur Sikri. Visit Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost town and supposedly the second capital of the Mughal, built by Akbar in 1659 AD. But, it had been abandoned for lack of drinking water. Visit the Jama Masjid, the tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and some other palaces within the complex. Upon arrival in Agra, check in at hotel to visit the city next day.

After breakfast, move at sunrise to visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The splendid colors that reflect off the white marble of the Taj Mahal, provide excellent condition and opportunity for great pictures. Taj Mahal is among the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. Built of white marble of Makrana, Taj Mahal is termed as epitome of love. After visiting Taj Mahal during sunset hours, return to hotel for relaxation and refreshment. Later, proceeed to visit Agra Fort. Hereinafter explore colourful market of Agra. Later in the day, after the visits proceed to Agra railway station to board a sleeper train to Varanasi (Benares). The train that you will board is air-conditioned and comfortable. Your berths are confirmed and numbered. It will be an overnight train journey.

Morning arrive at the Varanasi railway station. Your personal driver awaits you at the station and takes you to the hotel. Then visit the Sarnath (the Buddhist city), an ancient Buddhist site where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon and the huge monastery built here was razed by the Muslim invaders out of religious Islamic intolerance. Sarnath has a nicely kept museum and two huge stupas. Late afternoon, you will be visiting Dashaswamedh Ghat of Varanasi, on the banks of River Ganga. Here you will enjoy a religious ceremony called Ganga Aarti in the evening. At the time of sunset, Ganga is worshipped as a goddess giving us sacred waters. The worship ceremony takes place with prayers and Hindu divine incantations. The floating earthen lamps on the water present a gorgeous, mystical and romantic aspect of Indian, actually Hindu culture.

Depart at sunrise for a cruise on the Ganges to have a glimpse of morning activities of the people of Varanasi, the cultural capital of India. This boat ride gives a precise and sublime glimpse of life in permanent boil on the banks of the Ganges and the Ghats of Varanasi. After the cruise, return to hotel to relax and have breakfast. After some time, proceed to explore the city of Varanasi. The sightseeing tour will include a visit to Vishwanath Temple, Durga Kund, BHU and Bharat Mata Temple. After exploration, you will be transfered to Varanasi airport to fly to New Delhi. Your personal driver awaits you at the airport and takes you to your hotel.

Discover the city of New Delhi and its monuments like India Gate, Lotus Temple (Temple of Bahai), Connaught Place ... You have ample possibility to stroll through the many markets in the city. New Delhi also allows shopping time and opportunity. Late afternoon, you will be transfered to Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi according to your return flight. End of the trip.