Itinerary
13 DAYS Delhi, Agra, Ranthambhore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai
Day 1 - Arrive Delhi Arrive in India's capital city New Delhi, where you are greeted with a traditional Indian greeting and accompanied to your hotel. Rest of the day at Leisure at the hotel.
Day 2 - Akshardham Temple Sightseeing After a leisurely morning, after your breakfast, visit the beautiful Akshardham Temple. Built without steel, it consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangle shikars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 statues of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities.
Day 3 - Old Delhi and New Delhi Sightseeing This morning's tour of the Old Delhi includes the Red Fort, Raj Ghat - a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, Ashoka Pillar and the mile-long Chandni Chowk bazaar. This afternoon embark on a tour of New Delhi. Drive along Rajpath, the capital's broadest avenue, for a view of the Parliament House, the President's House and India Gate. Visit the Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar and Birla Temple.
Day 4 - Delhi / Agra Sightseeing This morning drive to Agra, en-route stopping at Sikandra to visit the tomb of Emperor Akbar. In the afternoon, explore the 16th century Agra Fort with its battlements, apartments, gardens and audience halls. Enjoy an extended visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal and witness the transformation as the monument reflects the warm glow of sunset.
Day 5 - Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Ranthambhore An early morning visit to the Taj Mahal presents an opportunity to cherish this dream in marble as it greets the rising sun. Later, depart by road for Ranthambhore. On the way to Ranthambhore, you will be visiting Emperor Akbar's 16th century abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. This ghost town is exceptionally well preserved and offers a perfect synthesis of Muslim, Hindu and Jain architecture. The sculptured columns stand mute testimony to this noble experiment to unite Hindus and Muslims. Proceed on to Ranthambhore, the remains of a thousand-year-old fortress, today a wildlife sanctuary, where leopards and tigers prowl. Your luxury camp is located on the private reserve of the local Maharajah.
Day 6 - Ranthambhore Game Reserve Ranthambhore Game Reserve is one of the few preserves, where the night-loving camera-shy tigers may be seen in daylight. Almost hunted to extermination by the local royalty and their British overlords, the population of the Bengal tiger is slowly increasing, thanks to the efforts of 'Project Tiger' and the World Wildlife Fund. You'll take exciting game drives in the morning and evening to scour the jungle for wildlife.
Day 7 - Ranthambhore / Jaipur After a morning game drive, leave for the 'pink city' of Jaipur. The old city of Jaipur is surrounded by a massive wall pierced by magnificent gates.
Day 8 - Amber Fort Excursion & Jaipur Sightseeing Today, you are brought back in time, riding royally atop elegantly dressed and painted elephants to the mountain fortress of Amber. A superb example of Rajput architecture with its complex of palaces, temples and ornate apartments stands Amber Fort. Afternoon tour of Jaipur takes you to Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of Winds' and continues to City Palace, with its decorated balconies, tiny windows, cupolas, courtyards and arched doorways. A stop at the ancient observatory concludes the days tour.
Day 9 - Jaipur / Udaipur Todays visit starts with Sanganer which is renowned for its crafts and hand-printed textiles. The town of Sanganer is well-known as the largest centre of the handmade paper industry. It was the idea of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II the handmade paper industry began in Sanganer in 1728. The other traditional small floral prints form the speciality of Sanganer block printers. Sanganer prints are special for the reason that designs in bright colours. Another Speciality of Sanganer prints was that it was printed on white backgrounds. Evening take your flight to Udaipur. On your arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 10 - Ranakpur Excursion Today's excursion takes you to the beautiful 15th century sculpted Jain temples of Ranakpur. The very complicated carved white marble temple of Adinath is perhaps the most well preserved and impressive examples of Western Indian Temple architecture. The temple dedicated to the Sun God is famed for its erotic sculpture. Stop for lunch at Maharani Bagh, a mango grove and private gardens of the Maharajah of Jodhpur.
Day 11 - Udaipur Morning proceed for Udaipur. This famous 'City of Lakes,' known as one of the most picturesque and romantic cities of India. Visit City Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari or Garden of Maids and the folklore museum where you can see a performance of the string puppets typical to this area. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 12 - Udaipur/Mumbai (Bombay) Fly to Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India's most cosmopolitan city and the commercial capital of India. Tour of Mumbai includes the British-built arch 'Gateway of India'. Further, visit the Hanging Gardens and Malabar Hills where Mumbai's rich and famous live. Later visit the Prince of Wales Museum, Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Jain Temple. Back to hotel.
Day 13 - Elephanta Caves / Depart Check out from the hotel and proceed to take the Cruise across the harbour to Elephanta Island. Visit its famous caves, filled with carvings and sculptures dating back to 550 A.D. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and pursue independent activities. Late evening transfer to the international airport for your flight back home.
