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TREASURES OF INDIA
Day 1 London Heathrow to Delhi
Fly with British Airways non-stop to Delhi.
Day 2 Delhi
Arrive into Delhi in the early hours and transfer by car to the Taj Palace
Hotel or upgrade to the Taj Mahal Hotel. (B)
Day 3 Delhi
Later today tour Old and New Delhi with your local guide. Explore Old Delhi’s
dense network of homes, markets, mosques and alleyways visiting Chandni Chowk
by rickshaw, the Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Rajghat. Later visit Sir Edwin
Lutyen’s New Delhi, inaugurated in 1931 and home to Rashtrapati Bhawan,
the official residence of the Indian President, Rajpath and the imposing India
Gate. (B)
Day 4 Delhi to Agra – by train
Leave your hotel and transfer to Delhi Railway Station in good time to catch
the Shatabdi Express to Agra. Stay for two nights at the Taj View Hotel or
upgrade to the Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel. (B)
Later today visit the imposing Agra Fort on the banks of the River Yamuna which was established by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. Afterwards continue to the Taj Mahal, arguably the greatest monument to love, built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz and a building world renowned for its power and beauty. The craftsmanship is outstanding with semi-precious stones inlaid into the marble in beautiful patterns, a process known as pietra dura, whilst the white marble reflects every change in light allowing the Taj to appear to change its hue according to the light and time of day. Leave the Taj and cross the river to visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula, the jewel of Agra, sometimes known as the ‘Baby Taj’ – the least visited of Agra’s three great monuments and the first to be covered in white marble and pietra dura.
Day 5 Agra to Jaipur – 238kms
via Fatehpur Sikri
This morning leave Agra for the drive to Jaipur stopping en-route at Fatehpur
Sikri the one time red sandstone capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The
one time capital of the Mughals, Agra, which stands on the right bank of the
River Yamuna, is a city of contrasts. One of Uttar Pradesh’s largest
cities Agra is dominated by three magnificent buildings – Agra Fort,
the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula and the beautiful Taj Mahal – that hark back
to its glorious past. Stay for two nights at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel or
upgrade to the Rambagh Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 6 Jaipur
This morning drive through the rugged hills that surround Jaipur city to visit
Amber Fort a beautiful palace with ornate mosaics, coloured stone inlays,
intricately painted murals, palaces, temples and cooling courtyard watercourses.
In the afternoon take a guided walking tour through the old city to explore
the colourful markets and bazaars before continuing onto the City Palace complex
that occupies the centre of Jaipur. (B)
Day 7 Jaipur to Nimaj – 230kms
Drive to Chhatra Sagar which comprises of 11 wonderfully designed tents pitched
on a dam overlooking a lake that is noted for its birdlife. The charming Nimaj
family own the site and are all personally involved in looking after guests
whilst the tents are amongst the best of their kind with all of them attractive
and comfortable. The food is prepared by the ladies of the house and comprises
of family recipes passed down over generations resulting in some of the finest
home cooking in Rajasthan. Stay for two nights at Chhatra Sagar. B/D)
Day 8 Nimaj
Due to its location, surrounded by farmland and small villages, a stay here
allows you to experience rural Rajasthan in a way that few other properties
allow you to. Accompanied by one of your hosts you can wander out to explore
the farm, local temples and meet the villagers. (B/L/D)
Day 9 Nimaj to Jodhpur – 110kms
After breakfast, leave Nimaj and drive to Jodhpur, gateway to the Thar Desert
and the one time capital of Marwar. Home to the dominating Meherangarh Fort,
the city was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, who chose the site due to its strategic
location on the influential Delhi-Gujarat trading route. Stay for two nights
at the Taj Hari Mahal Hotel or upgrade to the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 10 Jodhpur
Today visit the Meherangarh Fort which stands high above the blue painted
houses of the town below. Protected from the desert by a huge 10km wall, guarded
by towers and fortified gateways the fort sprawls along the clifftop and is
home to many palaces and temples. In the afternoon walk through the ancient
city to explore the narrow streets, bustling bazaars, temples and richly carved
houses. (B)
Day 11 Jodhpur to Udaipur – 275kms
Drive south to the Jain temples at Ranakpur which are beautifully preserved
and are renowned for their intricate carvings and architecture. From here
it is a beautiful drive through the Aravalli Hills to Udaipur, a beautiful
city, and one regarded by many as the most romantic in India. Stay for two
nights at the Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel or upgrade to the Taj Lake Palace Hotel.
(B)
Day 12 Udaipur
This morning visit the City Palace which is an impressive complex of several
palaces and stands on a hill on the banks of Lake Pichola. Of interest is
the attractive Mor Chowk court, the Manak Mahal or ‘Ruby Palace’,
the Chini ki Chitra Mahal and the Queen’s Palace. Continue to the Fateh
Prakash Palace to visit the unique Crystal Gallery overlooking the grand Durbar
Hall and walk through the old town to view the impressively carved Jagdish
Mandir temple. In the afternoon take a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola to admire
the serene beauty of Udaipur. (B)
Day 13 Udaipur to Aurangabad – by air
Fly to Aurangabad, situated on the Deccan Plateau and a popular base from
which to explore the Ellora and Ajanta Caves. Later tour the city visiting
the markets and the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara – mausoleum of Aurangzeb’s
wife Rabia Daurani. Stay for three nights at the Taj Residency Hotel. (B)
Day 14 Aurangabad – Visit Ajanta Caves
This morning drive the 106kms from Aurangabad to visit the Ajanta Caves. These
caves, which precede those at Ellora and date from about 200 BC to 650 AD,
are cut from the volcanic lavas of the Deccan Trap and form part of a steep
wooded hillside deep in the Sahyadri Hills. Compared to the frescoes of Assisi,
Sienna and Florence, the complex was once a monastery and home to over 200
monks, artists, craftsmen and labourers with designs of widely varying subjects
from the royal court, family life and street scenes to wildlife. (B)
Day 15 Aurangabad – Visit Ellora Caves
Aurangabad to Mumbai – by air
Closer to Aurangabad than Ajanta, the Ellora caves are located on an ancient
trade route between Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and the west coast of India.
Situated around a hill the caves contain elaborate carvings of gods and goddesses
representing three of the main faiths of ancient India – Buddhist, Hindu
and Jain. Later return to Aurangabad stopping at Daulatabad Fort on the way
to take in the views of the surrounding area. (B)
Later in the afternoon fly to Mumbai where you will be met and transferred by car to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel which stands facing the Gateway of India in the historic Colaba district of the city.
Day 16 Mumbai
Vibrant Mumbai was originally a small group of islands and the transition
into one of the greatest cities in the world has been achieved through a continuous
struggle against the sea. Later visit the Gateway of India, built to commemorate
the visit of George V in 1911, the Prince of Wales Museum, the historic Fort
area of the city and Malabar Hill with its superb views over the city. End
at Mani Bhawan, a small museum celebrating Gandhi’s links with Mumbai,
and the colourful Dhobi Ghat where the city’s linen is washed. (B)
Day 17 Depart Mumbai
Depart Mumbai on the British Airways flight to London Heathrow Terminal Five.
STAYING ON
Birdwatchers can stopover at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur which is considered to be one of the leading bird sanctuaries in the world. Located close to Agra, a visit to Bharatpur can easily be added to the majority of north Indian tours.
Relax on the beaches of Goa or Kerala – both easily reached by air direct from Delhi. With a range of hotels to choose from both locations offer something for everyone and are an excellent way to end a tour. Time in Kerala could also be extended with a cruise on the backwaters.
Festivals – Please click here to include a visit to one of the many festivals of Rajasthan
Planning your journey: We can design a unique journey to suit you as our tours are totally tailor made. By combining your own ideas with our knowledge and experience we can help you to create your own journey tailored exactly to your requirements Once you have formulated your ideas, or if you require some general or specific advice, please call us on 01892 515966 or simply send your ideas to pettitts@btconnect.com. On receipt of your enquiry we will provide you with a full written quotation together with our suggestions and recommendations.
A Guide to Price – TREASURES OF INDIA
Prices vary according to selected airlines, hotels and season, however, an indication to the current cost of this itinerary is from £3,800. All prices are per person and are based on a minimum of TWO persons travelling together and sharing a twin bedded room with meals as indicated. If you wish to travel alone we will be pleased to assist you with your arrangements and can provide a proposal on request.
Note: Meal Basis (N) = No Meal; (B) = Breakfast; (L) = Lunch; (D) = Dinner
For further important information please click here.