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
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Elephant Festival
Elephant are considered the divine vehicle of Lord Indra. In Indian culture, the giant beast is a symbol of royalty and many festivals are also associated with it. The royalty-endorsed elephants are the star show at Jaipur Elephant Festival. The Elephant Festival was first initiated a decade ago. It is meant to attract tourists to the city especially to familiarise them with the royal past of the state. As is Holi tradition, riders sprinkle gulaal (coloured powder) to the excited onlookers who shout in glee as they are covered and drenched with colours. After that, there is a series of elephant fights. There are also numerous games where the elephants take part. Elephant polo, elephant race and a tug-of-war between elephant and 19 men and women, the favourite game of the Festival. Another interest is the elephant beauty pageant in which prizes are given to the most beautifully decorated elephant. But elephant polo steals the show. In this, players wearing saffron and red turbans sit on elephants trying hard to score goals with long sticks and a plastic football. Dance and music performances add to the excitement. At the end, there is a colourful fight where participants throw flowers and colours at each other to celebrate Holi. The event finally reaches its conclusion with a brilliant firework display. Day 01 / Arrival Delhi Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.Day 02 / Delhi After breakfast sightseeing tour of New Delhi where ornate buildings recall the days when India was the Jewel in the crown of the British empire. Visit the 11th century Qutab Minar, India Gate and the grand government buildings, the President’s House, Mahatama Gandhi Memorial, Also visit Laxmi Narayan temple popularly known as Birla Temple. Night stay in Delhi.Day 03 / Delhi - Agra ( By train Dep 0615 Hrs Arr 0815 Hrs ) Early morning transfer to railway station to board the superfast air-conditioned train to Agra. Breakfast in the train. Arrive Agra in approx. 02 hours & transfer to hotel. Later visit the Agra 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. Evening at sunset 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 . Night stay in Agra.Day 04 / Agra - Jaipur ( By road Approx 5 Hrs) via Fatehpur Sikri After breakfast drive to Jaipur-the fabled “pink city” of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendours are now living monuments enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone “ghost town" which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Jaipur in late evening & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Jaipur.Day 05 / Jaipur After breakfast proceed for city tour of Jaipur .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. Night stay in Jaipur. Day 06 / Jaipur After breakfast enjoy Elephant festival. The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked the best fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in the pageant and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants, typically celebrated one day before Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Staged at Chaugan Stadium, Jaipur, elephants put up a variety of programs and the arena is brought alive with musicians and dancers. The crowd, which includes sizable presences of foreign and Indian tourist, electrifies the atmosphere. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. A ceremonial procession is recreated with caparisoned elephants, lancers on horses, chariots, camels, cannons and palanquins. Elephant is the centre of attraction in the many races and beauty pageants. Most of the participants are female elephants. The mahouts (elephant keepers) take great care to decorate the elephants painting their trunks, foreheads, and feet with floral motifs and adorning them from tusk to tail with interesting trinkets. Female elephants wear anklets and make music as they walk. Finally, some lucky tourists are invited to mount the elephants and play Holi. Participants dance with great vigour and the excitement rises to a crescendo. Firstly there is a magnificent procession of the majestic elephants decorated with gold ornaments and velvets and beautifully colored. - The guests are greeted and offered garlands by the elephants. Then there is ramp where the best elephant wins the Best Decorated Elephant’ Shield. Then there is the game of polo , its really amusing game where you find the elephants chasing the ball in great speed. There is Tug-Of-War between the largest elephant and ten people. Gaj Shringar is an exhibition where you will find display of elephant-ornaments, textiles (Jhoo) parapernalic howdahs and carriages, paintings medicines and food. Program of Dhaph and Gair dance to display the vibrancy and lively mood of Holi. The finale has the dazzling display of fireworks. Day 07 / Jaipur- Delhi(By Road) After breakfast enjoy colorful holi at your own. Later drive to Delhi, Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel .Night stay in Delhi. Day 08 / Delhi – Departure Transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.Includes: 7 Nights accommodation as per the itinerary. Daily Breakfast All transfers & Sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as per the Itinerary Train tickets of Delhi - Agra in air conditioned Chair Car. Travel Agra –Jaipur –Delhi by exclusive Air Conditioner Car. Local English speaking Guides. All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc. Does not include: Any Airfares. Entrance fee to the Monuments. Beverages, Tips, Laundry etc. Any item not shown in Cost includes. Hotels Selected - Luxury 5* Deluxe Delhi : The Oberoi / Imperial Agra : Amar Vilas Jaipur : RajVilas Hotels Selected - Royal 5*Delhi : The Metropolitan / The Lalit / The Grand Agra : Jay Pee Palace / Taj View / Trident Jaipur : Hotel Trident / Le Meridien Hotels Selected - Classic 4*Delhi : The Connaught / Hotel City Park / De Marks Agra : Clarks Shiraz / Howard Park Jaipur : Golden Tulip / Hari Mahal Palace/ Wall Street / Hotel Clarks Amer Hotels Selected - Economy Delhi : Hotel Blue Bell / Hotel De Gold/ Hotel Sunstar Agra : Hotel Usha Kiran/ Royale Residency / Taj Plaza Jaipur : Nana Ki Haveli/ Dera Rawatsar/ Jas Vilas
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