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 ‘The
Colours of India’ tour gives you the
opportunity to journey into the very heart of a land
of staggering colour and culture. Taking in some of
India’s most priceless gems – from the colourful
exuberance of Delhi’s vibrant streets to the elegant
majesty of Udaipur’s sumptuous palaces and gardens
– this journey of discovery takes you through
some of Rajasthan’s most enchanting places where
kings ruled for centuries in extravagant pomp and splendour. |
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Day
01 : ARRIVE DELHI (BY LX146 – 0045HRS)
Arrive at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport
this morning. You will be met at the airport by our
representative, who will give you a warm welcome with
fresh flower garlands and then transfer you to your
hotel by Royal Saloon air-conditioned car. Your room
will be available for immediate occupancy. Use the day
for your leisure and to relax.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day 02 : DELHI
After a leisurely breakfast, leave for a sightseeing
tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid - this
immense mosque is the largest in India and the final
architectural extravagance of King Shah Jahan with
a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. Raj
Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is a simple black
marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation
on 31st January, 1948. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi
are located nearby. Later on, drive past Red Fort
Citadel.
In New Delhi, visit the 11th century Qutab Minar Tower,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Qutub-ud-din
Aibek of the Slave Dynasty, who took possession of
Delhi in 1206. It is a red sandstone tower, standing
tall at a height of 72.5 metres, covered with intricate
carvings and verses from the holy Qur'an. The India
Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers
martyred during the Afghan war. Drive past the grand
government buildings – the President’s
House and Parliament House – all dating back
to the time of British Raj.
Overnight stay at the
hotel.
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Day
03 : DELHI / AGRA (200 KMS – 4HRS)
In the morning, drive
leisurely to – Agra, taking us through the beautiful
countryside. In the afternoon explore the monumental
heritage of the Great Mughals, including the magnificent
Taj Mahal. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of
the Seven Wonders of the World and surely the most extravagant
expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured
for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's
beloved wife. It's a wealth of white marble and semi-precious
stone – undoubtedly the highlight of the tour!
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Also visit the imposing Agra Fort - the imperial city
of the mughal rulers, which is another UNESCO World
Heritage Site. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces,
such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built
by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas;
and two very beautiful mosques.
Overnight stay at
the hotel. |
Day
04 : AGRA / JAIPUR (250 KMS – 5HRS)
After breakfast, the tour takes
you to the royal city of Jaipur, also known as ‘The
Pink City' due to the predominant colour of its buildings.
The throbbing, vibrant capital city of the colourful
state of Rajasthan where yesteryear’s regal ambience
is still felt throughout the city's numerous carved
arches and once-bejewelled fortress walls.
En route we tour Fatehpur Sikri - a UNESCO World Heritage
Site which has been described as “the world’s
most perfectly preserved ghost town”. Built by
King Akbar in the late 16th century, it was abandoned
after only 14 years, and the elegant buildings of this
superb walled city remain intact to this day.
In the afternoon you have
the option to relax in our hotel or go for a city
ride to capture some of the most fascinating pictures
in this colourful city. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day
05 : JAIPUR
The breakfast is followed
by a sight-seeing tour of the city, visiting the dramatic
hilltop fortress at Amber. Ascend the imposing fort
on a decorated painted elephant. Wander among glittering
inlays and the Hall of Mirrors. On the way back stop
to view the elegant Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds.
This elaborate building, now little more than a façade,
is encrusted with delicate screens and carved balconies
from which the royal ladies could sneak views of the
outside world. |
After
lunch tour the Maharajah’s City Palace, now partly
a museum displaying a unique fusion of Mughal and Hindu
architecture and housing a rare collection of paintings,
Rajput armoury and costumes. Albert Hall, situated in
the middle of the garden as a centre attraction which
was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, a British architect
who designed many palaces in Rajasthan. Combining the
elements of English and north Indian architecture known
as the pride of the New Jaipur opened in 1887, it is
a very well maintained displaying a rich collection
of artefacts like paintings, carpet, ivory, stone and
metal sculptures and colourful crystal works. Later
on explore the city on your own and indulge in shopping
for gemstones, silver jewellery, paintings, blue pottery
and hand printed textiles that Jaipur is renowned for.
Overnight stay at
the hotel.
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Day
06 : JAIPUR / RANTHAMBHORE (150 KMS – 3HRS)
Drive after breakfast
towards Ranthambhore, former hunting preserve of the
Maharajas, famous for the wildlife sanctuary, which
is said to have the India’s friendliest tigers
and considered to be the best place in the world to
photograph the tiger in its natural habitat. It is a
wonderful place for bird watching too.
In the afternoon
leave for excursions in the park. You are likely to
see Nilgai (blue bull), barking deer and sloth bear
and perhaps the very elusive Bengal tiger. Park visit
timings 2:30pm - 5:30pm.
Overnight stay at
the Jungle Resort
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Day
07 : RANTHAMBHORE / BIJAIPUR (230 KMS – 6HRS)
Morning game excursions
in the park, timings 7:00am - 10:00 am. After breakfast
drive to Bijaipur and check in to the hotel. Castle
Bijaipur is a 16th century castle set in the serene
vindhyanchal ranges near Chittaurgarh. A wildlife sanctuary
adjacent to the castle has leopard, chinkara, spotted
and four-horned deer, crocodile and wild boar as well
as a variety of birds.
Overnight stay at
the hotel.
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Day
08 : BIJAIPUR/CHITTORGARH/UDAIPUR (160KMS/3HRS)
After breakfast drive
to Udaipur. There is no place in Rajasthan which appeals
more to the imagination of poets and painter, travellers
and writers than this oasis in the desert state of Rajasthan.
En route we will visit the Chittorgarh Fort. Early in
the evening visit the Crystal Gallery. This collection
has been hailed as the single largest collection of
crystals in the world. The crystal gallery also houses
the only crystal bed in the world. Also enjoy a boat
cruise at Lake Pichola.
Overnight stay at
the hotel.
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Day
09 : UDAIPUR
Let the glorious sunrise
dazzle you at breakfast. Wander through the opulent
City Palace grounds and the museum, which are the testament
to the valour and chivalry of the Mewar rulers. Visit
Saheliyon Ki Bari - the gardens of the maids-of-honour,
the Jagdish Temple on the shores of Lake Pichola. The
Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir is a treasure house of Rajasthani
folk culture. The afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day
10 : UDAIPUR/RANAKPUR/JODHPUR (259KMS/6HRS)
Today the tour takes
you to Jodhpur through the most interesting contours
of the desert landscape. The enchanting forts, temples,
and other royal residences and settlements retain its
medieval character and comprise the town's multifaceted
attractions. En route, visit the Jain Temples at Ranakpur,
which are superbly preserved in a near-perfect condition
for over 500 years. The most attractive features are
the 29 halls of the temple, which have 1444 unique pillars.
In the evening, upon arrival at Jodhpur, we proceed
to hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day
11 : JODHPUR/OSIAN/JAISALMER (308KMS/6HRS)
After breakfast at
the hotel visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. Perched
on a 150m high hill its sprawl is the most formidable
and magnificent fort in Rajasthan which offers spectacular
views of the blue-hued city. On the way down from the
fort, on left is Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble
cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The main memorial
has been built like a temple with intricately carved
marble stone that is sculpted by the genius artesian.
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After
lunch journey through the vast Thar Desert to the ancient
caravan city of Jaisalmer - one of the last princely
bastions in the region, founded on the crossroads of
lucrative trade routes. En route we stop to visit Osian,
an ancient town in the Thar Desert known for its temples.
There are 15 brahminical temples and shrines, and a
cluster of Jain temples, all built during the Gurjara
Pratihara dynasty between the 8th and the 12th centuries.
Overnight
stay at the hotel. |
Day
12 : JAISALMER
In the morning, set
out to explore the honey-coloured fort that emerges
from the flat dry desert sands and enjoy a walk through
the maze of narrow streets in the city with ornately
decorated ‘havelis’ in yellow sandstone,
built by rich merchants at a time when the city was
a key stopping place on the caravan routes from the
Middle East. Jaisalmer has been described as an ‘open
air museum’, and to enter its narrow cobbled lanes
is to step back into another era.
In the evening, just before sunset, arrive at Sam Sand
Dunes to see the total bush less desert. Enjoy camel
rides by the dunes and take a picture with a lone camel
on a desert track, the setting sun in the backdrop.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day
13 : JAISALMER/GAJNER PALACE/BIKANER (333KMS/06HRS)
After breakfast at
the hotel you will be driven to the remote city of Bikaner,
tucked away in the desert region of western Rajasthan.
Bikaner retains the medieval grandeur that permeates
the city's lifestyle. En route we stop to visit Gajner
Palace, converted into a heritage hotel just 32kms from
Bikaner. Gajner is an incomparable jewel in the Thar,
built by the great Maharaja Ganga Singhji on the embankment
of a lake with generous dose of flora and fauna.
Around the palace is a thick forestation that attracts
to take up a simple walk around, admiring the migratory
birds in the winter like imperial sand geese and the
animal species that wander around in the form of nilgais,
chinkaras, deers, antelopes, black bucks etc. The hotel
is spread in a large area, and the ambiance around is
as raw and authentic as it was before.
Followed by lunch is a visit to the unusual Junagarh
Fort - an unassailable fortress, which has never been
conquered. The fort is decorated with ornately lacquered
walls in red & gold and has panels of dazzling coloured
glass inlays set over the coronation throne. Also visit
Asia’s largest Camel Breeding Farm; you will get
the opportunity to see hundreds of camels, wherein we
can also see the playful baby camel which is a very
interesting sight and an experience in itself.
Overnight stay at
the hotel.
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Day
14 : BIKANER/MANDAWA (190KMS/04HRS)
After breakfast at
the hotel drive towards Mandawa - The towns of Shekhawati
are eminent for their amazing painted havelis whose
appeal dubbed this region as the "open art gallery
of Rajasthan". The havelis are noted for their
frescos depicting mythological themes and huge animals.
Some later day frescos show the arrival of the British
and highlighting steam locomotives and trains –
doubtlessly for the benefit of those who did not travel
by train or see this newly introduced mode of transport.
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Post
lunch visit the printed havelies of the small, but charming
Dundlod town and the surrounding areas of Mandawa and
Nawalgarh as well as Mukundgarh, well known for its
brass and iron scissors. Dundlod has a fort, palace
and the Goenka havelis which have some fine frescoes.
Overnight stay at the hotel. |
Day
15 : MANDAWA/DELHI (240KMS/06HRS)
Last day of your trip!
After breakfast feel free to jump into the swimming
pool and relax. At noon you will be driven back to Delhi.
Overnight stay at
the hotel.
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Day
16:
Early morning transfer
to the airport to board flight back home.
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