Home || Rural Rajasthan

Rural Rajasthan

DESTINATION : 14 Nights / 15 Days
DURATION : DELHI - UDAIPUR - CHITTORGARH - BIJAIPUR - BUNDI -KOTA - AJMER - PUSHKAR - JODHPUR - MANDORE - LUNI - RANAKPUR - JAISALMER - POKARAN - BIKANER - FATEHPUR - MANDAWA - NAWALGARH - DUNDLODE - JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA - DELHI

Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Meet and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then drive to your hotel with your driver and car for the night.

Day 02 Delhi - Mandawa
Morning after breakfast a full day city tour of this imperial British capital of the 20th century awaits you. Visit the Qutub Minar - the tallest free standing minaret in stone in the world; then onto Humayun’s tomb - the first Mughal construction in India from 1565 AD. Also see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India gate built in the earlier half of the 20th century. Drive through the old city past the Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid - the biggest of its kind in India. Here take a rickshaw through the winding streets of the old city to see the life of the people in this part of the world. The rickshaw pulls you through, the imperial avenue of the yesteryears, the Chandni Chowk. Finally, reach Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where your car and chauffeur is waiting for you to take you to your next stop the Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple in activity.

In the afternoon leave for Mandawa the quaint township that developed along the silk route that passed through this part of India. Reach Mandawa by evening.

Day 03 Mandawa - Bikaner
In the morning, proceed towards Nawalgarh via Dundlode. See the Dundlode castle now a heritage hotel and the haveli built in 1875 by a rich merchant.

In Nawalgarh visit the Poddar haveli with its splendid mural paintings.(richest in the region).Reach back Mandawa and visit the splendid havelis of this region. Then continue on your desert trail to reach Bikaner by lunchtime. En route, stop at Fatehpur to see the splendid haveli of the local merchants of Shekhawati that used to be an important caravanserai of the yesteryears. See the many havelis of this quaint little town built by the rich and the famous merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. These havelis have been painted with activities if daily life and of deities to break the monotony of the desert life.

Post lunch see the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. Later visit the camel-breeding farm, a unique experience. In the evening time to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner city centre. Night in your hotel

Day 04 Bikaner - Jaisalmer
After breakfast we set towards our journey across the Thar Desert to reach Pokaran. Visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by evening to witness the sunset with the most imposing edifice of the town behind you. Relax in your hotel.

Day 05 Jaisalmer
Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila. The fort is a living citadel with about 40,000 people living inside it. You will find shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars etc. all inside the Sonar Kila. The Jains are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit the palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes and artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli with intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external world.
Later in the day we go to the final frontier the Sam village. Here we have loads of excitement in store for you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby sunset point on the dunes to see the sunset. After sunset you will be transported back to the village where your dinner is arranged in mud huts. In the evening, listen to the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians. A lifetime experience.

Day 06 Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Today we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon.

Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the spices filling the air around you. Later visit Mandore the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Marwar now in ruins. Here see the many cenotaphs of the Rathore dynasty of Marwar and also see the hall of local heroes and gods. On your way back stop by the Umaid Bhawan Palace the present residence of the present monarch of Jodhpur.

Retire to your hotel and relax.

Day 07 Jodhpur - Luni
After breakfast drive up to the majestic Mehrangarh fort the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking.

Then go to Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars. Drive back to Jodhpur and see the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur.

Later an hours drive brings us to a totally different world, the world of animals - the black buck, the national pride of India the peacock, rabbits and birds of different varieties. This is Luni - the palace amidst the more rustic life of Rajasthan.

After lunch we take you on a safari to discover the hidden beauty of the jungle life. Here you would be visiting the Bishnoi villages. Bishnois are a tribe that respects life in every form - animals, trees and even dead branches.

Then we would like you to witness the opium ceremony with the Patels - a rich tribe. It is a ceremony prevalent in this part of Rajasthan where the youth offers opium to drink mixed with water to the elders of the family when they come back from work in the fields.

Day 08 Luni - Ranakpur - Udaipur

In the morning take direction Udaipur visiting Ranakpur on the way. Ranakpur is a big pilgrimage centre for the Jains. Just 2 hours drive from Udaipur is the eternal Jain pilgrimage centre of Ranakpur. Admire the workmanship from the 16th century. The temples are built out of marble and the main shrine of Adinath with 1444 columns is awe-inspiring and none of these are similar. Also see the sun temple and the other temples in the campus. Proceed towards Udaipur and on the way stop by the fields to see the local way of farming and irrigation. Walk into the villages to mingle with the locals around to know more about their lifestyle.

Reach Udaipur by late evening and check into your hotel

Day 09 Udaipur
Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See the Peacock Square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises. Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature art schools in the country under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur. Later see the temples of Nagda and Eklingji.

The temple at Eklingji is a temple that belongs to the Maharana of Mewar (royal family) as he is often there to pray. The temple complex of Nagda is a group of temples of which only two remain intact and those are that of Saas and Bahu: the temples of Shiva and of Vishnu both from the 7th century.

In the evening we have a lake cruise on the Lake Pichhola by sunset.

Day 10 Udaipur - Chittorgarh - Bijaipur
After a leisurely start this morning head towards Chittorgarh the former capital of the Maharanas of Mewar. See the Kumbha Palace and the Meera temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Also see the tower of Victory built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century after winning a series of battles. Later visit Maharani Padmini’s palace. Proceed towards your hotel in Bijaipur about 30km from the site.

Day 11 Bijaipur - Bundi - Kota
Today cross the entire stretch of Mewar to reach the city of the maharaos ( a rajput clan).

Visit the Garh palace museum in the heart of the city by the river Chambal.

The Garh Palace museum is one of the richest museums of its kind with intricate mural paintings on its walls. Also see the clock that the Maharao Umed Singh used to locate time.

Afternoon session introduces you to the Bundi palace with very rich and vibrant mural paintings. Later see the Nagar kund and the Rani ki baoli both water points for the royal ladies during the zenith period of the Bundi rulers. Retire to your hotel.

Day 12 Kota - Ajmer - Pushkar - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur via Pushkar and Ajmer.

Pushkar happens to be the holiest place according to the Hindus, as it is considered that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the goddess of learning and music) performed a ritual in the Lake that is shaped as an eye. Here we visit the only Brahma temple in the world before intermingling with the local colours in the local bazaar. Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each year in the month of October/November. Proceed towards Ajmer.

Ajmer is the pious city for the Muslims. Surprisingly both the cities are at distance of 11km from each other.

Visit the Durgah built in fond remembrance of Khwaja Muin ud Din Chisti where the Muslim pilgrims from all over India throng during the festival times. Later, visit Akbar’s Palace where his son Jehangir received Sir Thomas Roe and granted the permission of trade to East India Company with India. This decision changed the history of India completely and slowly and steadily India became colony of the British Empire.

Continue towards Jaipur and reach by late evening and check into your hotel.

Day 13 Jaipur
Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Sheesh mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens.

After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory; Jantar Mantar built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician, an astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold latticed work. The city palace houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery. In the evening, relax at your hotel.

Day 14 Jaipur - Agra
Leave early morning for Agra and enroute visit the phantom city of Fatehpur Sikri: the erstwhile capital of the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great.

Visit the Diwan-i-am the hall of public audiences where the emperor used to give justice to his oppressed subject. See Jodhabai’s palace (Akbar’s Hindu wife) that is even bigger than his own private palace. Later visit Salim Chisti’s tomb at the nearby mosque. Salim chisti was a Sufi saint who blessed Akbar and his Hindu wife with a long awaited son. Akbar was so overwhelmed that he built a mosque in his remembrance to thank the Sufi saint.

Proceed towards Agra and have lunch then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar in 1567 where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb.

Later visit the tomb of Itmad ud Daulah the finance minister of the Mughals and the father of Noor Jehan: Jehangir’s wife. It is the first mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.

Day 15 Agra - Delhi
Don’t forget Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today. A must see with the rising sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the sole raison d’être for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen anywhere in the world.

Later proceed towards Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to your hotel for a brief wash and change before going in for a farewell dinner and finally transferred to the international airport for your onward destination.

TOUR ENDS

Included on this tour are:

1. Daily breakfasts

2. All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary

3. Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned

4. Air conditioned car with chauffeur

5. All applicable taxes

6. Desert and village safari in 4x4 jeeps in Luni

7. Opium ceremony in Luni

8. Visit to Bishnoi villages in Luni

9. Sunset cruise on Lake Pichhola in Udaipur

10. Camel ride on the dunes in the desert

11. Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur

12. Rickshaw ride in the old city of Delhi

13. Farewell dinner in New Delhi.

14. Magic show in Agra

15. Puppet show in Jaipur

16. One night’s dinner on the dunes in Jaisalmer

17. Local music and dance by local village artists on the dunes in Jaisalmer