November' 2008

2^nd Nov - Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi, On arrival you will be met by our representative & transferred to hotel, Overnight at hotel.

3^rd Nov - Delhi  Udaipur

After breakfast free. In time  transfer to airport to board the flight for Udaipur.

Depart             Delhi                           13:35 Hrs         9W 707

Arrive              Udaipur                       14:45 Hrs

Arrive Udaipur the lovely lakeside capital of Mewar - The City of Dreams - is perhaps the most romantic city in Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills and mountains and set on the edge of three lakes - it is bewitching in all its details. Narrow streets lined by vivid colored stalls, gardens, temples and palaces - every feature mirrored in the placid blue waters of lake Pichhola. Udaipur's inherent romance and beauty and its remarkable past bristling with episodes of heroism and splendour, continue to enthrall the visitor. Today, many of Udaipur's palaces, are some of the finest hotels in India.      

Meeting assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel. Overnight.  

4^th Nov -  Udaipur

After breakfast excursion to Ekling & Nagda. Eklingji is located at a distance of around 22 km from Udaipur. This small pilgrimage town is set in a deep ravine that contains Eklingji Lake. The white - marble temple of Eklinga has a two-storey mandapa to Lord Shiva. This was the royal temple of Mewars, as Lord Shiva is their family deity. The temple was first built in 734 AD and was rebuilt again in the 15th century. The temple is known for its silver door and screen and there is a Nandi built of silver that faces the black marble statue of Lord Shiva. Visit Nagda, one of the ancient palaces of Mewar dating back to the 6th century AD. The Sas Bahu Temples are among the most exquisitely carved temples.   

Afternoon, city tour of Udaipur. Visit the Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar lake, Sahelion Ki Bari (Queen's resort for the maids of honour), City Palace. Overnight at hotel.

 5^th Nov - Udaipur - Jodhpur  (260 Kms/05 Hrs)

After breakfast drive to Jodhpur, en route visit famouse Jain Ranakpur Temples, which date back to the 15th Century. Its 29 halls are supported by 200 unique pillars. No two pillars are alike. Check into your hotel and relax. In the evening, visit the Umaid Bhawan Palace and museum. Arrive Jodhpur  the second largest city of Rajasthan, at the edge of the Thar desert was once the capital of the Marwar state. It was founded in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama - hero of the epic 'Ramayana'. The city dominated by the massive Mehrangarh fort on a rocky hill is charming with its wealth of historic attractions and colourful markets which specialises in antiques. It is still one of the leading centres of wool, cattle, camels and salt.  On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 6^th Nov - Jodhpur - Pushkar (254 Kms/05 Hrs)

After breakfast half day city tour gateway to the desert beyond, home of the Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, rising up a hilly scarp, built on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the city in the image of a long sentinel. Drive to Pushkar  to attend fair. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas, that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.  The legend about the Creator God, Bramha describes the creation of this lake. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month), hallowing the place. Sacred to Brahma, Pushkar boasts of its temple dedicated to him, which is the only one of its kind in the world. A dip in the waters of Pushkar and worship at his temple ensure salvation. So thousands flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual on kartik Purnima, or on any of the four days preceding it.  On arrival check-in at hotel/Tent.  Evening enjoy the culture programme. Overnight at Hotel/Tent.

7^th Nov - Pushkar Fair

Full day explore fair on own. The famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around the globe come to the ancient religious town of Pushkar which is transformed into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship and delight in the dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought, sold, beautified, raced and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of men and women seen busy tattooing their hands and other parts of the body. The fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. On spectacular sanddunes camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd pullers. All roads lead to the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims. The movement of the crowd is like a tide of colour with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.

Evenings at the Pushkar Fair have their own charm. The silent night is pierced by calls of camels. Ballads are sung by actors in passionate tones. Folk dramas, skits and folk dance are organised for the entertainment of the  tourists. Overnight at Hotel/Tent.

8^th Nov - Pushkar Fair

Full day explore fair on own or you can visit temple in Pushkar.

9^th Nov - Pushkar - Jaipur (131 Kms/03 Hrs)

Morning visit Fair. Afternoon drive to Jaipur . The Rose Pink city founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur, is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour lending enchantment to the scene which is salmost magical at sunset. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight.

10^th Nov - Jaipur

Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the entrance of the fort. Amer Fort is at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur, and was the ancient capital of Jaipur state. The construction of the fort was begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.

In the afternoon, take a city tour of Jaipur. Visit the City Palace, which has a museum with an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and weapons; see the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728, and view the facade of the Hawa Mahal.

11^th Nov -  Jaipur -  Agra (232 Kms/05 Hrs 30min)

After breakfast, leave for Agra. Enroute, visit the Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces, which are still preserved in their original glory. Arrive at Agra in the evening and check in at a pre-booked hotel.                 

Evening visit Taj Mahal with sunset (Friday Closed) The highlight of the day is the trip to the beautiful Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan, between 1631 and 1653, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal..  Overnight at the hotel.

12^th Nov -  Delhi (204 Kms/04 Hrs 30min)

After breakfast, tour the city of Agra. Visit the Red fort, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and extended by his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains halls of public and private audiences, among many other beautiful structures. The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah, constructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan. Leave for Delhi in the afternoon. Arrive at Delhi and check in at hotel. Overnight.

13^th Nov -  Depart Delhi

In time transfer to International airport to board the flight for back home.