Romance of the Desert13 Nights / 14 days Delhi- Agra-Jaipur- Udaipur- Jodhpur - Jaisalmer- Bikaner- Mandawa- Delhi
Colorful Rajasthan
13 Nights / 14 days Delhi - Agra- Jaipur - anthambore - Kota- Chittaurgarh - Dungarpur- Udaipur- Bombay
The Heritage Rajasthan
18 Nights / 19 days Delhi - Agra -Ranthambhore - Jaipur- Pushkar - Udaipur - Mt Abu- Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi
 |
 |
Camel Festival
Everything about the festivities is meant to represent the ship of the desert so there are even tea and sweets prepared from camel milk available for sampling.  Camel Festival in Pushkar : Originally intended for cattle trading, Puskar’s camel festival has revolutionised to a major festival today. Held the same time as the Hindu holy festival, Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, either in October or November, the otherwise sleepy town comes alive for a long five days swelling to over 200,000 people. Participants come to buy and sell camels and other cattle, or to bathe at the holy Pushkar Lake to rid of their sins. Pushkar Fair should be visited for the sheer variety of entertaining options. There are camel races and circuses and there is the camel beauty contest where prizes are awarded for the best bedecked beast. One competition awards a camel that can accommodate the maximum number of people on its back. You can even watch the spectacle from a hot air balloon if you are wiling to shell $400. The market at Pushkar at this time is something we don’t normally see. Rows and rows of shops sell camel-related items like saddles, saddle-straps, beads, strings and cowries, and jewellery etc. All the camels have pierced nose and wear anklets that make bell-like noises at they walk past you. But there are also plenty of local textiles, glass bangles and silver jewellery to take home. A little far out, tiny charming camps of participants and thousands of camels dot the sandy array of the Thar Desert. Apart from the camels and the bustling bazaar, the sight of the tribal people would interest. You will see men dressed in crisp white dhotis and gaudy turbans fighting their way up the bustling winding streets. Women evidently come in their best costume; colourful and garish peeking from their scarlet veils wearing heavy ornamentation of silver and ivory jewellery.
Bikaner Camel Festival: The Festival begins with a colourful procession from the city’s landmark, Junagarh Fort, but the real fun begins when the march ends at the open sand-spreads of Polo Grounds. Here competition such as camel milking, fur cutting design, best breed, camel acrobatics, and camel bands are held. But the camel acrobatics and dance top the pile. It is delightful to see the footwork of the lanky animal dancing gracefully to the direction of their riders. On day two, the air gets heated as the fleetest camels of the region take part in the camel races. In both days, evenings end with performances by renowned artistes of Rajasthan along with jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, followed by an amazing fire-dance and dazzling fireworks. Day 01 / Arrival Delhi Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.Day 02 / Delhi After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi : OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India. NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Night stay in Delhi. Day 03 / Delhi - Mandawa ( By road ) Approx. 5hrs. drive After a leisurely breakfast drive to Mandawa. On arrival in Mandawa transfer to hotel. Later in the afternoon visit Mandawa, founded 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and still the home of his descendants, has beautiful frescoes, havelis and mansions. Mandawa castle one of the finest castles of Rajasthan, is now a hotel and house of collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820 ancient coins, numismatic collection and many other interesting items, preserved in a museum. Night stay in Mandawa.Day 04 / Mandawa - Bikaner ( By road ) Approx. 4hrs. drive After breakfast drive to Bikaner. On arrival in Bikaner trasfer to hotel. Later in the afternoon proceed for city sight seeing tour. Bikaner is named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was trade center on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 Kms wall, which can be entered from 5 gate. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain and Deshnoke Rat temple. Night stay in Bikaner.Day 05 / Bikaner After breakfast spend all the to enjoy camel Festival. A lively and colorful event begins with a colorful procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort, the festivity advances to the open sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by the best breed competition, the tug-of-war contest, camel dance, acrobatics, etc.The camels display amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of their trainers. Bridal, bridles, bejeweled necks, jingling anklets and long, lanky camel shadow on dusky sands cast a magical spell. Hundreds of tourists and thousands of locals and dignitaries revel in this man-and-animal affair organized especially for the tourists. The evenings close with a different tenor and tempo altogether: a traditional rendezvous of renowned artistes of Rajasthan and the local folk performers. The jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, the awe-inspiring fire dance, and the dazzling fireworks light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner. Night stay in Bikaner. Day 06 / Bikaner - Jaipur ( By road ) Approx. 6hrs. drive After breakfast drive to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Jaipur.Day 07 / Jaipur - Agra ( By road ) Approx. 5hrs. drive After a relaxed breakfast proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression. Continue sight-seeing. CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use. HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Later in the afternoon drive to Agra. On arrival in Agra transfer to hotel. Night stay in Agra. Day 08 / Agra - Delhi ( By road ) Approx. 4hrs. drive Early morning at sunrise visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world 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. Later also visit Red fort - the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcoveof inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded Peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Later in the afternoon visit rich handicraft markets of Agra. Late afternoon drive back to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.Day 09 / Delhi - Departure After breakfast checkout from hotel and transfer to airport for onward flight.Includes: 08 Nights accommodation as per the itinerary with daily breakfast. All transfers & Sightseeing as per the Itinerary by exclusive Air Conditioner Car. Camel ride in Bikaner. Surface travel by exclusive Air Conditioner Car. Elephant ride in Jaipur ( subject to availability ) Local English speaking Guides. All taxes, driver allowances, parking, fuel charges. Does not include: Any Airfares. Entrance fee to the Monuments. Cost of personal nature like beverages, Tips, Laundry etc. Any item not shown in Cost includes. Hotels Selected- Royal ( 5 * hotels)Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand Khajuraho : The Grand Temple view Agra : Jaypee Palace / Trident Hilton / Gateway Hotel ( previously known as Taj view ) Jaipur : Trident Hilton / Le Meridien Hotels Selected - Classic (4 star )Delhi: The Connaught / Hotel City Park Khajuraho : Clarks / Ramada Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Howard Park Jaipur : Golden Tulip / Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer Hotels Selected - Jewel (3* - 4* & Heritage)Delhi: Gautam Dlx. / Hotel Blue Bell / De Gold Khajuraho : Greenwood Khajuraho Agra : Hotel usha Kiran/ Royale Residency / Taj Plaza Jaipur : Nana Ki Haveli/ Dera Rawatsar/ Jas Vilas Hotels Selected - EconomyDelhi: Gautam Dlx. / Hotel Blue Bell / De Gold Khajuraho : Greenwood Khajuraho Agra : Hotel usha Kiran/ Royale Residency / Taj Plaza Jaipur : Nana Ki Haveli/ Dera Rawatsar/ Jas Vilas
|
