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Detail Itinerary |
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EXTENSIVE RAJASTHAN |
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Review:
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After exploring the capital of the country
Delhi, we head towards Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, where we will
visit Havelies (fresco painted houses) abandoned by wealthy merchants.
On our way to Jaisalmer we will spend a night in Bikaner which is
situated on the ancient camel caravan routes that came from Africa and
West Asia, here we visit the fort built by Raja Rai Singh (1571 - 1611).
In Jaisalmer we will spend two full days to discover intricately carved
havelies (houses of rich merchants), Jaisalmer Fort, cenotaphs of royal
family and other interesting sites. In Jodhpur we have time to visit
Jodhpur fort which commands panoramic view of the town, Umaid Bhawan
Palace and Old capital - the Mandore. Mount Abu is the hill station of
this desert country, its major attraction is the Jain temples
beautifully carved. We will spend a night in Ghanerao with the royal
family at their castle, converted into hotel. finally we come to Lake
city of Udaipur via Ranakpur Jain temples. In Udaipur we have number of
sites to visit that includes Fort / Palace, Lake Palace, Eklingji Nagda
temples and the fascinating market.
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Ref: |
ER |
Duration: |
16 Days |
Season: |
Oct - Mar |
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Itinerary: |
Delhi -
Shekhawati - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Mount Abu - Ghanerao -
Udaipur - Delhi
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PUSHKAR (add on), to witness annual
PushkarFair
DAY 01. ARRIVE DELHI
Morning arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour
of Old and
New Delhi
includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk,
Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and
Humayuns Tomb.
DAY 02. DELHI – SHEKHAWATI
Drive 280 Km 6 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive towards Shekhawati area of Rajasthan, famous for
Havalies (fresco painted houses of rich merchants). We check in a fort or a
palace converted into a hotel at
Mukundgarh
or
Dundlod
or
Nawalgarh
for two nights, all these places are within ten Km radios.
DAY 03. IN SHEKHAWATI
Full day to explore vividly painted houses and impressive Havellies
(merchant houses). The buildings are decorated bold, highly colored folk art
depicting elephants, horsemen, parrots, peacocks and festive scene like
weddings.
DAY 04. SHEKHAWATI – BIKANER
Drive 240 Km 5 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive towards Bikaner,
en-route explore ethnic villages. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon
explore Junagad Fort built by Raja Jai Singh (1571-1611), camel breeding
center, Karni Mata Temple (28 Km), this temple is famous for the legends of
rats which are venerated here, popularly known as rat temple.
DAY 05. BIKANER – JAISALMER
Drive 340 Km 6.30Hrs.
A full day drive to Jaisalmer across the Great Thar desert. Jaisalmer was on
the ancient camel caravan routes and would have been like a vision from the
‘1001 nights’, after several days crossing the barren desert. Arrive early
evening and check in at hotel.
DAY 06. IN JAISALLMER
This region of Rajasthan is dominated by the great Thar Desert that forms
part of the desert belt extending from the Sahara of North Africa, across
Arabia and Rajasthan to its furthest extremity in the Great Gobi of Central
Asia. Morning explore the fort and the intricately carved houses of rich
businessmen including Salim Singh Ki Haveli and Pathwoon Ki Haveli.
Afternoon drive to Jain temples and Royal cenotaphs for
sunset.
DAY 07. IN JAISALMER
Full day to explore Bara Bagh, Amar Sagar, Lodurva and other remote
villages.
DAY 08. JAISALMER – JODHPUR Drive
300 Km. 6 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Jodhpur, arrive and check in at hotel. Rest of
the day at leisure. The Rathores of Kanauy (U.P) moved in 1211 A.D. to
marusthal, the hot and blazing desert land of death in the heart of
Rajasthan. Their land came to be called Marwar. Two and a half centuries
passed and, in 1459, Rao Jodha founded Jodhpur after the old capital of
Mandore had proved to be vulnerable.
DAY 09. IN JODHPUR
Morning sightseeing tour includes Fort, Umaid Bhawan and Walk through old
city around clock tower. Afternoon visit Mandore Gardens and an optional
tour to some nearby Bishnoi village.
DAY 10. JODHPUR – MT. ABU
Drive 244 Km 5 Hrs.
Morning drive and depart to Mount Abu a hill station famous for Dilwara Jain
Temples. Arrive and check in a hotel for two nights. Rest of the day at
leisure.
DAY 11. IN MOUNT ABU
Located at about 4000' above sea level, Mount
Abu is a stronghold of Jainism and consequently a sacred place of
pilgrimage. Dilwara temples are composed of pure white marble and famed far
and wide for their intricate carvings and virtuoso architecture. Other sites
includes Gaumukh temple, Achalgarh fort, lake and the village. Full day to
explore the sites.
DAY 12. MOUNT ABU – GHANERAO
Drive 190 Km 4 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Ghanerao, check in at Royal Castle. Afternoon
for exploration of the castle and the area.
DAY 13. GHANERAO – UDAIPUR
Drive 120 Km 3 Hrs.
Morning short drive to Kumbalgarh and Ranakpur, after exploring these
extraordinary sites we continue our journey to Udaipur.
Ranakpur-
beautifully sculptured Jain temples at Ranakpur, these temples date back 15th
century with the carvings depicting scenes from the lives of Jain saints at
that time.
Kumbalgarh-
built by Rana Kumbha in mid-15th century, the second most
important bastion on Mewar.
DAY 14. IN UDAIPUR
Full day to discover the city, morning drive to Eklingji temple 24 km,
carved from marble and even today the Maharana of Udaipur who is Diwan of
the temple, makes it a point to visit it every Monday. Return to Udaipur
and visit City Palace, Temples and Bazaar. Evening boat ride on Lake Pichola
(optional).
DAY 15. UDAIPUR –
DELHI Fly
Morning transfer to airport, fly to Delhi arrive and transfer to hotel. rest
of the day at leisure for personal exploration and activities.
DAY 16. DEPARTURE
Transfer to international airport for homeward flight.
JAISALMER CAMEL TREK
(ADD ON)
DAY 08 - 10. JAISALMER
- CAMEL SAFARI - JAISALMER The Thar Desert forms part of the belt extending from the Sahara of North
Africa across Arabian sea and Rajasthan to its furthest extremity in the
Great Gobi of the central Asia. We experience the traditional means of
desert travel allowing us to taste something of the remote life of the
tribesmen and their families. Our crew consists of a tour escort, local
guide, a cook and several camel herdsmen, who will prepare our camp and
three meals a day for next three day (two nights). Two-man tents with foam
mattresses are provided and camp in the desert beneath a mired of brightly
glowing stars. Every day we cover about 10-12 km, ride our camels from
village to village, inhabited by Rajput, Muslim and Jat tribal. On third
day, we arrive Jaisalmer and check in at hotel for overnight.
PUSHKAR (ADD ON)
PUSHKAR
Pushkar is considered
high up in the hierarchy of Hindu pilgrimage centers. It is the site of a
temple to Brahma, the creator, of which there are very few. Here, every
year, on the full moon of November, hundred of thousands of pilgrims gather
to bathe in the sacred lake. This is occasion for one of the largest cattle
markets in Rajasthan where the abundance of color, jewelry, turbans and
costumes has no equal. Number of animal shows are organized by government
agencies, they include camel races and cattle shows.
DAY 15 / 01.
UDAIPUR - PUSHKAR Drive 300 Km
Morning depart
and drive through Aravali hills to Ajmer, after brief visit at Muslim
shrine of Khwaja Mohin din chasti, we continue to Pushkar, quite lake side
village.
During annual Pushkar fair colorful people throng in
with their herds of decorated camels and animals for trading and show.
DAY 16 / 02.
IN
PUSHKAR
Full day to explore this religious
pilgrimage center which attracts large crowds and visitors to the number
of temples and bathing ghats around the lake to perform their rituals and
at the same time trade cattle and camels.
DAY 17 / 03.
PUSHKAR - DELHI
Train
Early morning depart, drive down to Ajmer railway station to catch Delhi
bound train. Arrive and transfer to hotel.
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