Indian Heritage With Palace On Wheels !!
Day 01 : Arrival /New Delhi
Late Night arrival. Traditional welcome with garlands as our representatives welcome
you aboard your Luxury car.
Whilst the room keys are assigned to you, our representative would introduce, India as
well as some common Indian customs and courtesies - Welcome to India !!!!
Overnight At Hotel Taj Palace
Day 02 : Delhi 
This morning we proceed for a guided tour of New Delhi.
For more on the tourist attractions of Delhi click here: Delhi Tour
A Home Visit & A Welcome Dinner : This evening we visit an Indian family for
a taste of typical Indian hospitality and home cooked food. The idea of this evening is to
give you a 'feel' of the destination you are visiting and not a superficial touristy
overview.
Overnight At Hotel Taj Palace (B)
Day 03 : Delhi / Agra
Following breakfast, drive through one of India's finest freeways to Agra. You would
have opportunities to stop en route at well-appointed comfort stops for washroom
facilities as well as refreshments. Upon arrival check in to hotel Taj View.
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world.
However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much
and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this
is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter
how high your expectations are, the Taj never lets you down - the unparalleled glory and
beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations. At sun set we visit the
Taj Mahal to witness this spectacular monument built for love. Besides perfect symmetry in
every aspect of its construction, the inlay work of semi precious stones into marble in
pietra dura style is absolutely remarkable.
We would also have an opportunity to visit a marble showroom where we would be able to
witness the inlay work done on marble just as at the Taj Mahal
Overnight At Hotel Taj View ( B )
Day 04 : Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur
Following breakfast, we ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside
reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Built by
Emperor Akbar, the maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo
the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid & other magnificent buildings reflect
the skill of the ancient Indian architects.
Afternoon, we drive to Fatehpur Sikri for a guided tour. This abandoned capital of the
Mughals is a perfectly preserved city at the height of the empire's splendour. The city
divided into religious and secular parts has interesting well-sculpted buildings. From
here we continue drive to Jaipur. In a land steeped with heritage, picturesque with
exquisite architecture, in a state vibrant with heroic memories and romance, lies the
Dream City of Jaipur. The people are dynamic, martial and, need we say it, colourful. Here
every walk through the by lanes is a walk through history. Indeed, Jaipur could be
compared to a vast open-air museum. Pink turbans jostle with saffron ' odhinis ' (ladies
scarves). Camel's buggies and elephants are as commonly found as motor cars and buses.
Upon arrival, check in to Hotel Jai Mahal Palace .
Overnight At Hotel Jai Mahal Palace (B )
Day 05 : Jaipur / Palace On Wheels
This morning we tour the Amber Fort. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, The Fort is
a superb example of Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style of architecture. A slow elephant taxi
takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several graceful buildings. Its rugged
forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu
styles finds its ultimate refinement. Painted scenes of hunting and war adorn the walls
with precious stones and mirrors set into the plaster. In the foreground is the Maota Lake
with breathtaking reflections of the magnificent Amber Fort-Palace.
Then return to our hotel in time for lunch on our own. Following lunch, a tour Of City
Palace & Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of
Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The centre of the palace is a seven storied building
called Chandra Palace, with fine vies over the gardens and the city. The palace lies in
the heart of the city and occupies the whole central grid. The fortified wall has seven
gates and was built for protection from invading armies and animals that lived in jungles
which surrounded the wall that time. Next, we visit the Solar Observatory - an
astronomical treasure house, with solar device that give accurate predictions till date.
Next, we visit the Palace on Winds (Hawa Mahal). The ornamental facade of this
"Palace of Winds" is a landmark in Jaipur. It's five - storey structure of pink
sandstone encrusted with fine trelliswork and balconies has 953 niches and windows. It was
built in 1799 by Pratap Singh and was a royal grandstand for palace women.
Late afternoon , we are transferred to the train station to board Palace On Wheels
Train. Times have changed and winds have shifted, but the Palace On Wheels cruises along
in its unique style, the kind only the Maharajas of Yesteryears could have perpetuated and
enjoyed. Today of course, each traveler on board is treated like royalty in his or her own
right. The exquisite and exclusive Palace on Wheels has luxurious cabins, wall-to-wall
carpeting, a well stocked bar, two dining cars, and a very personalized service. . .in
fact everything that could comprise of heaven on earth the next 4 days .
Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,D)
Day : 06 Palace On Wheels Train (JAISALMER)
Following breakfast on the train today you visit the residential portions of the
Jaisalmer Fort, where one third of the population of the old city still lives.. The design
of the houses here remains as they used to a couple of centuries behind time, and so are
the lifestyles of the people inhabiting them. This is so as most of the families continue
to work for generations for the ruler (though only titular now). Hence there is a sense of
continuity. The houses are arranged in narrow lanes and have small windows from where the
shy child or the girl peeps through. This city is believed to be the home of the most
handsome men and the most gorgeous women in Rajasthan.
You can also walk through the narrow cobbled lanes of the golden Sandstone City to
witness the magnificent medieval Indian Havelis (mansions) of medieval Indian merchants.
These elegant buildings which are very well preserved tell you a story of how medieval
Indian society existed.
Following lunch you visit to the cenotaphs of famous heroes and rulers which are
beautifully decorated with fine stonemasons' work, You will also enjoy the fascinating
journey of the desert on camel back.. The most interesting way to see the desert is on a
camel.. You will pass through villages and frequently come across fields of millet or
girls picking berries or boys and flocks of sheep / goats. The livestock are garlanded
with bells around their neck and in the desert it is music to the ears.
Dinner will be served at the Moomal Tourist Bungalow after which your train departs for
Jodhpur.
Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)
Day 07 : Palace On Wheels Train (JODHPUR)
Arrival 09:00 AM. Breakfast on board. This morning we proceed on a guided tour of
Jodhpur.
Jodhpur is the southernmost of the legendary cities of the desert and was built by Rao
Jodha in 1459 on the advice of a hermit. The high walls of the massive fort form a
delightful contrast to the elegant sandstone facades with their fine carvings inside the
palace. Opposite the fort lies Jaswant Thada, a memorial made of white marble which was
erected in 1899 to the memory of Jaswant Singh I.
Today Lunch will be served at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel, originally the Royal
Palace of the Maharajas of Jodhpur. Evening tea and dinner is served on the train.
Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)
Day 08 : Palace On Wheels Train (SAWAI MADHOPUR - RANTHAMBORE)
Arrival in Sawai Madhopur at 6.30 AM. Following breakfast you are driven to Ranthambore
National Park (14 km - 9 miles). Ranthambore is known to have India's Friendliest tigers
Assured of protection; these nocturnal creatures are seen often in the day. Once the
citadel of Rajput rulers, the fort at Ranthambore faced repeated attacks by invaders and
became part of Emperor Akbar's domain in 1569. The Mughals gifted the fort and its
adjoining areas to the maharajas of Jaipur who converted its forests into his exclusive
hunting preserve.
Sprawled on the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park
encompasses an area of 410 sq km in which live a healthy population of about 40 tigers. A
large number of deer inhabit the area and leopards are occasionally sighted. The Pandam
Taloa lake, located adjacent to the jogi Mahal hunting lodge is the park's favorite water
source. Smaller pools at Raj Bagh and Milak also attract a variety of wild life. The best
way to explore Ranthambore is in a jeep as the park is well connected by arterial roads
and tracks. Some of the popular sighting areas are Nal Ghati, Lahpur, Bakuala, Anantpur
and the Kachida valley.
Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)
Day 09 : Palace On Wheels Train (CHITTAURGARH - UDAIPUR)
Arrival in Chittaurgarh at 7:30 AM. After breakfast on board the train your tour starts
with the Chittorgarh Fort. Chittaurgarh is a place immortalized by deeds of valor and
sacrifice of two remarkable queens. This was the place where Queen Padmini preferred
jauhar (ritual sacrifice by self-immolation), rather than be taken captive, and is
submitted to the lust of Alaudin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. Saintly Mirabai's bhajans
(devotional songs) still seem to echo through the countryside.
We drive 2 hours in your luxury coach to Udaipur to the Lake Palace Hotel, which is a
palace on an island girdled, by hills. Built on a rocky island over Lake Pichola about two
and a half centuries ago, once it was the summer palace of the rulers of Mewar. Today this
pleasure palace is a luxury hotel like no other in the world. To stay here is an
unmissable privilege, affording as it does a glimpse of pleasure that once were the sole
preserve of princes. The Lake Palaces Hotel amazes and delights you at every turn. It is
pure white marble, every ancient inch of it - slender carved columns, fountains and
filigreed screens, marble from the pinnacles of its domed Chatris to the bottom of its
swimming pool, created for the private frolics of a princess.
Late afternoon, following lunch at the Lake Palace hotel, we are transferred to Hotel
Shiv Niwas Palace.
Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy your fascinating hotel.
Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B,D)
Day 10 : Udaipur
Following breakfast, we proceed on a guided tour of this "Lake City". Udaipur
is a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan. It is probably the most romantic city in a
state where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The huge city palace
towering over the Lake Pichola is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Though it is a
conglomeration of buildings built by successive rulers, it manages to retain a surprising
uniformity of design and affords a very fine view of the lake and the city from the upper
terraces. The Jagadish temple next to the city palace enshrines a black stone image of
Lord Vishnu and his vehicle- a mighty bird called garuda - in a brass image. The temple is
a very fine example of Indo-Aryan Art.
Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B)
Day 11 : Udaipur
Morning at leisure to enjoy this romantic lake city. We also suggest walks along the
tranquil lakes or a walk through the bustling bazaars and the residential areas of the old
city to witness traditional and typical Rajput lifestyles.
Evening we take a boat cruise on the serene and beautiful Lake Pichola. The island
palace on the Lake called Jagmandir Palace is quite fascinating. The Palace provided
inspirations and ideas to the builder of the Taj Mahal. The banks of the lake provide
interesting glimpses of the daily bathing and the laundry that takes place here. Looking
across the lake, with the city and its great palace rising up behind the island palace, is
a scene of rare beauty.
Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B)
Day 12 : Udaipur / Delhi (9W 708 - 1530/1640) Delhi / Departure
Transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and
transfer to hotel Radisson, where a day room is booked for you until departure late night.
END OF TOUR
We also offer customized tours to destinations in Rajasthan. We will be happy to
customize this tour for you to suit your interests and convenience. |
