Duration : 15 Days / 14 Nights
Destinations : Delhi – Mandawa – Bikaner – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Pushkar – Jaipur – Agra – Varanasi – Delhi
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi.
Upon your arrival at Delhi International Airport you will be greeted by me personally or by a member of the “Mahendra Travel” staff to be accompanied to your chosen hotel. Day of relaxation and rest in the Hotel.
After breakfast departure for Mandawa. Along the way stop for lunch and visit the Piramal Haveli, a traditional house painted with angels and deities driving chariots on the walls. Arrival in Mandawa in the afternoon, registration at the hotel and rest break. In the evening visit the traditional houses of the city. These houses, once the residences of wealthy merchants, still retain precious frescoes on the facades. You will also be able to admire the lifestyle of the inhabitants of this small town. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
After breakfast departure for Bikaner. Arrival in Bikaner and registration at the hotel. Break to rest from the journey. Start of the tour of the city, also known as the city of camels. You will be able to see carts pulled by camels, women with traditional clothes and men with the typical turban crossing the streets of the city. In the afternoon visit Junagarh Fort, a large complex with bastions built in the 16th century. You will also see the Jain temples of Bandeshwar and the Deshnoke temple, where mice are venerated and considered sacred. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4: Bikaner – Jaisalmer
After breakfast departure for Jaisalmer. Along the way, a stop at the Khichan nature oasis, a place where thousands of migratory birds stop in winter. The locals feed the birds that come to rest in the oasis, confident that they will return every year. You can see these migratory birds in winter on the tour offered by Rajasthan Travel. Arrival in Jaisalmer, registration and break to recover strength in the hotel. Visit the sand dunes near the city to see the sunset in the desert. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 5: Jaisalmer
After breakfast, visit the city and the “Sonar fort”, with its “golden” walls that seem to blossom from the desert dunes. In the fort you will see splendid houses or “havelis” with intricately decorated balconies and terraces. There are many havelis throughout the city which create a medieval ambiance. You will also visit the nearby Gadisar lake and museum. After visiting the city, departure for the sand dunes of Khuri, 50 km from Jaisalmer to admire the beauty of the Rajasthan desert. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 6: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
After breakfast departure for Jodhpur. Along the way stop at the Osiyan desert oases with beautiful Hindu and Jain temples. Arrival in Jodhpur, registration and break at the chosen hotel. Start of the visit to the city. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India where you will find beautiful palaces and an exhibition of royal armaments. You will also see the Jaswant Thada or Royal Cenotaphs in the Umaid Public Gardens, and stop at the magnificent palace and historic museum of Umaid Bhawan.
Return to the hotel to rest or go shopping in the city market. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7: Jodhpur – Udaipur
After breakfast departure for Udaipur. Along the way stop at Ranakpur temple, one of the largest Jain temple complexes in India. The most famous temples in the complex are the Chaumukha, the Neminath and the Parashnath Temple. Arrival in Udaipur, registration and overnight stay in the chosen hotel.
Day 8: Udaipur
After breakfast, visit the city of Udaipur: the City Palace, a large palace with beautiful architecture; the Jagdish Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu; the museum of arts and folklore with colorful dolls, musical instruments and paintings.
In the afternoon you can visit the city center or take a boat on Lake Pichola and see the fabulous water palaces of Udaipur, the Jag Mandir and the Jag Niwas now known as the Taj Lake Palace, where you will dine in a regal environment. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9: Udaipur – Pushkar
After breakfast depart for the pilgrimage town of Pushkar. Arrival in Pushkar in the afternoon and registration at the chosen hotel. In the evening visit the city with its splendid lake and its temples, in particular the Brahma temple, the only Brahma temple in India. Pushkar Lake is considered a sacred place by Hindus who flock there during religious holidays. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10: Pushkar – Jaipur
Departure for the city of Jaipur. Arrival in Jaipur, registration at the hotel. In the evening you can stroll through the streets and the city market, where you can buy many famous artisan products: carpets, jewellery.
Day 11: Jaipur
After breakfast, city tour of Jaipur. In the beautiful pink city built by Maharaja Sawai Singh you will visit the beautiful facade of the Hawa Mahal palace, the City Palace inside which there is a museum, the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory and the Amer fort, about 11km from the city centre, where you will ride on the back of an elephant to enter the fort. Inside the fort there are many palaces and royal buildings. Return and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12: Jaipur – Agra
After breakfast departure for Agra. Along the way, stop at the Deeg Palace, the summer retreat of the royal family of Bharatpur and at the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, a famous nature reserve for Indian birds, where you can admire thousands of birds. Also stop in Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful ghost city built by Emperor Akbar. There are many important monuments in this city: a grand mosque – the “Jama Masiid”, a splendid palace – the “Panch Mahal, and the grand entrance gate resembling a triumphal arch – the “Buland Darwaza”. Arrival in Agra in the evening, registration and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 13: Agra – Varanasi
Wake up at dawn and visit the Taj Mahal at 7 in the morning. Breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal at sunrise. This time of day is perfect for taking great photos of this beautiful white marble monument. The Taj Mahal, the most beautiful example of Islamic architecture in India, was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal and has become the symbol of eternal love.
Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast visit the city fort. The Mughal emperor Akbar built this majestic fort which was later modified by the emperors Jahngir and Shah Jahan. Inside the fort there are large palaces, rooms for public and private audiences and gardens. Transfer to the central station to take the train to Varanasi. Overnight stay in train sleepers (possibility to alternatively choose air transport to reach Varanasi starting from Delhi airport).
Day 14: Varanasi
Arrival in Varanasi, registration at the hotel and break to regain strength. Varanasi is a city with a history of over 2500 years, also known as Kashi, it is thought to have been founded by King Kashya in 1200 BC. In the afternoon visit the city: Sarnath Temple, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, the Chaukhandi Stupa, the Dhamek Stupa and the famous 20 meter pillar of Ashoka, built by the emperor himself in 258 BC. Return and overnight stay at the chosen hotel.
Day 15: Varanasi – Delhi – Departure
Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Delhi Airport for your next destination.