21 days maxi tour
Day 1st Delhi - Udaipur
Group arrival in Delhi, After checking customs, airport/hotel transfer by private coach. Night at hotel. After Leisurely Breakfast, in Afternoon sightseeing to include Lakshmi Narayan Temple and the Sikh Guru Dwara. If requiring Lunch somewhere in the city (at own expence) This evening we will catch 2nd class air con sleeper train for Udaipur. It leaves Delhi at 19.50 pm. We will have a packed dinner with us in the train. Arrival in Udaipur at 8.30 am. (B, D)
Hotel The Corus
Day 2nd Udaipur
After arrival in the hotel rest and have breakfast, morning at leisure and leave for a walk around the city, we visit the painting school of the Elephant Art Shop and then to City Palace museum, we will have Lunch in Town (at own expense) later Drive down to Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal museum at 6.00 pm for folk dance and music (depends on availability). Return to hotel for dinner and rest. (B, D)
Hotel Karohi Haveli or similar
Day 3rd Udaipur
After leisurley breakfast this morning we will visit the Fateh sagar and then drive to Saheliyon-ki-Bari. Lunch some where in the city (at own expense). This evening we have boat ride on lake Pichola (depending on availability of boat and water in the lake) and walk around the markets, return to hotel for dinner and rest (B, D)
Hotel Karohi Haveli or Simillar.
Day 4th Udaipur – Sardargarh (105 km)
After breakfast we leave Udaipur and proceed for Kumbalgarh Fort, then drive to Ranakpur, the famous jain temple of Rajasthan. Have lunch at a midway and then proceed for Sardargarh. Sardargarh - one of the magnificent forts of Rajasthan, an extravagant creation by men of a bygone era, placed amidst the mountains and deep forests of Chuppun. Overnight in Sardargarh. (B, L, D)
Sardargarh Castle
Day 5th Sardargarh – Pushkar (195 km)
After breakfast we leave for Pushkar, picnic-lunch on the way to Pushkar. Later on arrival in the afternoon walk around the market and enjoy the holy city of Pushkar on feet. We will enjoy sunset at sunset point, return to hotel for dinner and rest. (B, L,D )
Hotel Jagat Niwas Palace or similar.
Day 6th Pushkar
After breakfast we visit the camel festival. Whole group is advised to stay together in the mob of people for security of belongings. It will be great fun exploring the Fair and colorful people. Lunch some where in the city (at own exp). We also visit the famous Brahma temple. (Fair/Festival depending on the availability, in such case canceled part will be replaced by other interesting visit to Ajmer, site of Muslim Dargah Sharif of Muin-Ud-Din-Chisti, one of Indias most popular pilgrimage site). (B, D)
Hotel Jagat Niwas Palace or Similar
Day 7th Pushkar – Jodhpur (250 km)
After breakfast we will enjoy a pleasant drive through Thar desert to the city of Jodhpur. Picnic-lunch on the way. On arrival enjoy some free time. Later receive an ayurvedic massage. Evening at leisure, Dinner at Guest House with gypsy dance program. (B,L, D)
Durag Niwas Guest House
Day 8th Jodhpur
After a leisurely breakfast we travel by horse-cart carriages to Sadar market and see Clock tower and walk among the spice market, cloth market and parfumers. Visit local temples, taste local lassis and dessert. Lunch somewhere (at own expense). Evening at leisure. Dinner at Fort Meherangarh. (B, D)
Durag Niwas Guest House
Day 9th Jodhpur and Bishnoi village
This morning enjoy a cultural desert excursion to local villages that specialize in making of pottery and weaving. Enjoy a Pottery workshop with a local artisan whose family has perfected this art for centuries. View the various procedures in Weaving of special carpets and shawls. By using natural and artificial dyes, local artisans express themselves in their unique combination of colors and designs. Enjoy the wildlife that is preserved by local Bishnoi villagers and observe a certain ceremony with a local family. Lunch with the local family. Balance of evening at leisure. Dinner some where in the city (at own expense). (B,L)
Durag Niwas Guest House
Day 10th Jodhpur
This morning we enjoy a workshop of Block printing, screen printing with Chipa Rashid Ji at his home. Then visit Tie and dye procedure at Mehboob Bhai in their home. Enjoy embroidery at Abdul Gani Ustad's factory at Kaga Kangdi, around this area we will witness the local family factories doing spray printing, powder printing and other fabric printing/dying techniques. These families have been specializing in textile design and this crafts for centuries. Learn and participate in few hour workshops in these little factories inside the old part of the town. Proceed for Lunch (at own expense) and balance of day at leisure. Dinner at guesthouse. (B, D)
Durag Niwas Guest House
Day 11th Jodhpur – Setrawa (110 km)
This morning we enjoy sightseeing at the marvelous Jodhpur Fort Meherangarh, the "citadel of the sun". Come back to the guesthouse, visit a local NGO called Sambhali Trust ”Helping to empower harijan (untouchable) women”, running on first floor of the property. Have Lunch, afterwards drive through the Thar Desert to the Setrawa desert village. Enjoy a demonstration of clay and cow dung flooring in the courtyard of a desert house. Enjoy Dinner in a typical desert village with a host family. Enjoy a short walk on the sand dunes to photograph the sunset. Sleeping accommodations are provided on the rooftop terrace of the desert camp. Enjoy unbelievable visions of thousands of stars shining above us.
Setrawa village desert camp (B, L, D)
BASIC ACCOMDATION: Jodhpur and Setrawa have basic accommodation for our group to experience some Rajasthani Rajput family hospitality.
Day 12th Setrawa – Jaisalmer (190 km)
This morning after breakfast the host lady will demonstrate her art by painting the floor from her home, the art is called Mandana, it is paintings done on the clay and cow dung floor, which would be made a day before. Women use natural colors they obtain from the nature to decorate their homes. Later enjoy a camel ride to the near by village through the sand dunes, visit a local initiative (NGO) helping to empower women and girls from the village. Then drive to the famous old caravan-city of Jaisalmer. Lunch enroute Jaislmer. After arriving Jaisalmer, we explore ancient old streets and marvel at the beautiful havelis (sandstone carved homes). Dinner and rest at hotel. (B, L, D)
Hotel Nachna Haveli or simillar
Day 13th Jaisalmer
After breakfast we will go to visit the outskirts of this ancient city which includes Bada bagh, Ram-kunda, Ludharwa, Amar Sagar and Mool Sagar water reservoirs, Kuldhara-Kabha. We carry a picnic-lunch on the trip as there are not many possibilities to have lunch on the way somewhere. Dinner will be eaten in the Khuri sand dunes with witnessing the traditional folk artists performance. Overnight in Jaisalmer. (B, L, D)
Hotel Nachna Haveli or simillar
Day 14th Jaisalmer – Mirvana Nature Resort (50 km)
After breakfast visit ancient citadel of the desert the Sonar Fort that also includes the Jain temples and a museum, museum has interesting historical explanations and antiques. Lunch (at own expense) in Jaisalmer. Leave for Mirvana nature resort which is 55 km away from Jaislmer enroute Bikaner. Balance of evening at leisure. Dinner at Resort. (B, D)
Mirvana Nature Resort
Day 15th Mirvana Nature Resort
Whole day at Leisure, enjoy nature, spa, swimming. (B, L, D)
Day 16th Mirvana Nature Resort - Bikaner (300 km)
After breakfast we proceed for Bikaner via Ramdevra - a very holy pilgrimage for hindus and muslims. Picnic-lunch will be provided some where on the way while we proceed for Bikaner. Check in the hotel and rest. In the evening, if we get to Bikaner on time, we plan to visit the camel breeding farm before sunset. Sunset at the farm is an awesome sight, as hundreds of camels return from grazing. Dinner and rest at hotel (B, L, D)
Karni Bhawan Palace
Day 17th Bikaner – Nawalgarh (240 km)
After breakfast, if we have the courage, we visit the rat temple at Deshnok. And drive to Nawalgarh via Mandawa, where we will see the most beautiful Mahavir Prasad Goenka ki Haveli, Geori Shankar Haveli, Nandlal Devra ki Haveli, lunch on the way. Arrive at hotel for rest and dinner. (B, L, D)
Hotel Roop Niwas Kothi
Day 18th Nawalgarh - Jaipur (120 km)
After an early breakfast leave Nawalgarh visiting the Podar Haveli Museum, and continue to Jaipur, the famous pink city and the capital of Rajasthan. Lunch on a midway. Later check into hotel and balance of day at leisure. Special arrangement can be done for an Indian movie experience this evening at Raj Mandir Cinema or similar. Early Dinner at hotel. (B, L, D)
Hotel Dera Rawatsar
Day 19th Jaipur
After breakfast drive to the Amber Fort and enjoy an elephant ride (depending on the availability of elephants). We visit the famous façade of the Palace of the Wind, the Hawa Mahal - the most recognized monument in Jaipur. Proceed to the City Palace, the home of the Rajasthan Royal family. Finely carved doorways and pavilions are a magnificent subject for photography. Also included is the Jantar Mantar observatory. Lunch at local restaurant (at own expense). Return to hotel, evening at leisure, dinner at hotel. (B, D)
Hotel Dera Rawatsar
Day 20th Jaipur - Agra via Fatehpur Sikri (250 km)
After early breakfast leave from Jaipur for Fatehpur Sikri. Afterwards drive to Agra. Lunch at a midway restaurant. Evening at leisure. Dinner at hotel. (B, L, D)
Hotel Yamuna View
Day 21st Agra – Delhi (210 km)
After breakfast visit Taj Mahal, we then proceed to Delhi via Sikandra, Itma-dud-daulah monument. Lunch at a midway restaurant. Arrival at hotel in evening, we check in, freshen up and walk around the market near our hotel. We have dinner at hotel and rest. (B, L, D)
Hotel The Corus
Day 22nd Delhi
After breakfast and checking out at hotel proceed for sightseeing in Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India. Experience one of India’s oldest markets, the Chandni Chowk. Lunch some where in the city (at own expense). In the evening we walk around the area of Connaught Place and Janpath. We go for dinner at one of the oldest restaurants of Delhi (Karims) and then transfer to airport to catch flight back home. (B, D)
(C) 2008 - Rajput Cultural Adventures in Rajasthan