Duration: 8 Nights / 9 Days Places Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Delhi Day 01 : Abroad - Delhi
Arrive at Delhi International airport. On arrival in Delhi, the guest will be
met by our representative and transferred to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
This morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre of Moghul
Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars.
Drive past the Red Fort, built in 1648 and board the 'rickshaw ride' for a
unique experience from the Red Fort, through "Chandni Chowk" or
Silver Street, experiencing the sights and sounds of this very busy avenue
heading west from the Fort. Later visit the Jama Masjid, the greatest mosque
in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also built the Taj Mahal.
This afternoon you will be taken to visit New Delhi - drive past the stately
government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the
India Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns
tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal. End
the tour at the towering minaret of Qutab Minar.
Overnight at hotel
Day 03 : Delhi - Agra
Morning drive to Agra (203 km)
Upon arrival in Agra - check into the hotel
Afternoon visit red fort and famous Taj Mahal.
Red Fort - lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart
of the town. It was built by Akbar as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in
the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone
and a moat.
Taj Mahal -This most famous Moghul monument was constructed by Emperor
Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal "the lady of the Taj".
It has been described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love,
for the emperor was heartbroken when Mumtaz died after 17 years of marriage,
during the birth of her 14th child.The central structure has four small domes
surrounding the huge, central dome. Above the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah
Jahan are false tombs, a common practice in Indian mausoleums. (Taj Mahal
is closed on Friday).
Stay at pristine Taj Mahal for sunset, to see this true Wonder of the world
in gentle late afternoon light.
Overnight at hotel
Day 04 : Agra - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur (221 km), en route visit Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri the deserted, red sandstone city that was built by Emperor
Akbar as his capital and palace in the 16th century. Also visit the Bulund
Darwaza the largest gateway in the world.
Thereafter continue drive to Jaipur Upon arrival in Jaipur - check into the
hotel Afternoon at leisure to explore the city
Overnight at hotel
Day 05 : Jaipur
Morning tour of the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside
Jaipur City. At the foot of the hill you will mount your caparisoned elephant
for the slow but steady climb up to the main gate, making your entrance in
the time honoured fashion. The Fort, completed in the early 18th century,
took over 100 years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating
insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families.
Afternoon tour of the City - "The Pink City" is spectacularly set
within surrounding rugged hills, dotted with ancient ruined fortresses. Your
tour will include the imposing City Palace, still home to the Maharaja although
several of the rooms are now open to the public. Many antiques and artefacts
belonging to the ruling family are housed here, including a collection of
weaponry. You will also visit the Hawa Mahal "Palace of the Winds",
and the open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory to see the vast astronomical instruments.
Enjoy a stroll through the colourful bazaar before returning to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel
Day 06 : Jaipur - Pushkar
Late morning drive to Pushkar (130 km)
Pushkar - is famous for its colourful annual fair during kartik poornima
(full moon) in the November each year. At this time this otherwise peaceful
and gentle village on the banks of holy Pushkar take is thrown into colourful
confusion when the desert tribes and camel caravans meet to trade cattle,
camels, goat, sheep, clothes, jewellery and spices beside the sacred Pushkar
Lake and to perform their rituals in its waters, to the accompaniment of temple
& folk music. Upto 200000 traders and 50000 cattle pour into town, along
with numerous festooned camels and colourful pilgrims. After 10 hectic days
of livestock dealing, camel racing and colourful festivities, everybody goes
for a big holy dip in the lake on the night of the full moon. (Kartik Purnima).
Upon arrival in Pushkar - check into the Royal Camp captures the luxurious
nostalgia of a bygone age of the Maharaja's Safari and Shikar camps, combined
with innovative design demonstrating many of the skills and crafts of Marwar.The
camp consists of tents, each with verandah, bedroom and bathroom. There is
a large dining tent serving the best of Rajasthani cuisine and a large open
reception tent with seating areas. The campfire is the focal point for the
evening entertainment programme with cocktails & rhythms of the Thar-music,
dancing, magicians, puppet shows, jugglers, flaming torches & camel parades.
Afternoon City tour of Pushkar - Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as
ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many
were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the
Brahma Temple, said to be one of the few temples in the world dedicated to
this deity. It's marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the
hans, or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar
as its site.
Overnight at Camp
Day 07 : Pushkar
Full day at the fair. Built as 'an explosion of fun, frolic, games and laughter',
the fair provides some wonderful photographic opportunities and is a rare
change to see Rajasthani women decked out in all their traditional jewellery,
dress and finery. Temple music wafts through the night, as the fires die down
and the Rajasthani melodies played on the stringed ek-tara come to a close.On
the night of the full moon, the pilgrims bathe by moonlight, then send marigold
and rose petals floating across the lake on green plate-like leaves. It is
worth getting up early to see the camels and tribes rousing themselves in
the pink of the dawn desert light.
Overnight at hotel
Day 08 : Pushkar - Ajmer - Delhi
Morning drive to Ajmer (15 Km) Upon arrival in Ajmer, straight proceed for
city tour. The Emperor Shah Jehan's white marbles pavilions are in a delightful
park on the east banks of the man-made Ana Sagar Lake. Ajmer, located 135
km southwest is the most sacred of all Muslim places of pilgrimage in India.
Ajmer is a green oasis on the shore of Ana Sagar Lake, hemmed in by barren
hills. Historically Ajmer has always had great strategic importance. It was
founded in 7th century by Ajaipal Chauhan. He named it Ajaimeru the 'invincible
hill', because here he raised Taragarh, India's first hill fort. The city's
Muslim history began when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Ajmer to Sultan Muhammad
Ghori in 1193 A.D. The Persian saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti who came with
Muhammad Ghori from Persia in 1192 settled here. Thus the place where he was
buried is today known as the Dargah Sharif. Construction of the shrine was
completed by Humayun and the gates were added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Later
Shah Jahan constructed a mosque of white marble, it has 11 arches and a Persian
inscription running the full length of the building. Beyond the Dargah is
the Adhai din ka Jhonpra an ancient Sanskrit college, which was converted
into mosque in 1198 and remains one of the finest monuments of medieval India.
Afternoon transfer to railway station for train to Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, the guests will be met by our representative and straight
proceed to International airport for flight back to home.
INCREDIBLE TOURISM
