Luxury Holidays - Rajasthan
Tours
Art & Architecture with Cultural Rajasthan
Duration: 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations: Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai - Udaipur - Jodhpur -
Jaipur - Delhi - Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi
Day 01: Mumbai: Arrival
Arrive at Mumbai airport in the evening. Transfer to hotel. Check in
and relax.
Its young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and
cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic
city of India. The capital city of Maharashtra, formerly known as Bombay
lies in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site
originally composed of seven islets lying off the Konkan Coast of western
India. Oozing with the self - confidence of a maverick moneymaker and
"BINDAAS" (carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial
and commercial hub and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.
Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 02: Mumbai:
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Relax in the morning. Start Mumbai City Tour in the afternoon.
GATEWAY OF INDIA - Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India
is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting
point for most tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument
was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King
George V and Queen Mary in 1911.
MUMBAI FORT - The area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort, since
the old British fort was once located here. There are a lot of impressive
buildings from Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church, dedicated
to the soldiers, who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838,
and the first Afghan war of 1843, is also worth a visit.
MARINE DRIVE - Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built
in the 1920s and 30s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous
thoroughfare. It is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of
the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come
to known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end
to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.
CHOWPATTY BEACH - Chowpatty Beach situated at the end of Marine Drive
has a moderate expanse of sand and is the only beach in the central part
of Mumbai. One can witnesses many Hindu religious ceremonies taking place
at Chowpatty like the Annual Thread-Tying Ceremony initiating young boys
into the Brahmin caste, 'Nariel Purnima' towards the end of the monsoons
and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' immersions.
FLORA FOUNTAIN - This fountain situated in the heart of the city
was erected in 1869 in honour of a British Governor of Bombay. Sir Brtle
Frere. Flora Fountain marks a junction of five streets and known as the
'Picadilly Circus 'of Mumbai, which is decorated at its four corners with
mythological figures, the Fountain is a structure in dull stone with a figure
the Roman Goddess of flowers, at the top.
MUMBAI HIGH COURT - An attractive building in early English Gothic
style, situated next to the Oval Ground is well worth a visit for its impressive
architecture. Statues representing Justice and Mercy surmount the Central
structure.
CLOCK TOWER - Rajabai Clock tower, situated at the gardens of the
Bombay University building rises above the portion of the library section.
Consisting of five elaborately decorated storeys the tower is 280ft.in height.
The top of the cupola is ornamented with sixteen statues depicting various
Indian castes.
HANGING GARDENS - Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, the Hanging
Gardens were built in 1880 and renovated in 1921. These gardens are popularly
known as Hanging Gardens, because of their location on the slope of a hill.
The terrace garden looks south from Malabar Hill towards Colaba, and affords
a panoramic view of the city or a breathtaking sunset. It is built over
three reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for
cleaning before being supplied to the town.
Relax at the hotel in the evening or proceed for shopping.
Overnight will be in Mumbai.
Day 03 Mumbai - Aurangabad:
By Air
Flight : 9W 3103 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : ATR Jet
Departure : 0715 hr
Arrival : 0815 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to Aurangabad. Reach and check in at hotel.
The city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610, on the site of a village,
Khirki by Malik Ambar - the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II. When
Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son turned successor in 1626, he gave the city
the name 'Fatehpur'. Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb became Viceroy
of the Deccan, he made the city his capital and called it Aurangabad.
Aurangzeb added the walls that enclose the central part of the city in
1976 in order to withstand attacks from the Marathas. There are four principle
gateways to the city - the Delhi Darwaza, the Jalna Darwaza, the Paithan
Darwaza and the Mecca Darwaza. Nine secondary gateways also formed a part
of the defensive system of this city.
Aurangabad district has always been a prominent region on the Deccan
plateau. Having been inhabited since the Stone Age, it has a long artistic
and cultural history - to which several dynasties have made major contributions
over the years. Maurya rule marked the arrival of Buddhism in Maharashtra.
The earliest caves at Ajanta and Pitalkhora were excavated during the
Satvahana period (in the 2nd century BC) During the Chalukya reign, Buddhism
continued to flourish. This resulted in several 'viharas' (monasteries)
and ' chaityas' (chapels) being excavated at Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora.
In later years the Rashtrakutas built several temples, the most significant
being the Kailas Temple (Cave 16, Ellora) - an unrivaled example of Indian
architecture. With Aurangzeb's death his empire, extending over almost
the entire Indian sub- continent, disintegrated into small fragments.
Shorn of its glory, Aurangzeb's city remained just a part of the State
of Hyderabad, which ultimately merged with the Indian Republic in 1948.
Aurangabad today is a bustling city of Maharashtra with diverse big and
small industries, fine silken textiles, and exquisite hand woven brocades
of silver and gold fabrics, Himroo of world frame. To scholars and lovers
of art and culture the city is more familiar as the gateway to the ancient
caves of Ajanta and Ellora, both famous as treasure houses of Indian Art
and Sculpture.
During the day visit the following:
Ellora Caves: Impressive in their own right is the rock-hewn temples
and monasteries of Ellora that lie just 30 km away from Aurangabad city.
In all, there are 34 cave temples, 12 Mahayana Buddhist caves (550-750 AD),
17 Hindu caves (600-875 AD) and 5 caves of the Jain faith (800-1000 AD)
22 more caves, dedicated to Lord Shiva, were recently discovered. Kailash
Temple (cave16), the central attraction at Ellora, is the most remarkable.
Chiseled by hand from a single massive rock, it includes a gateway, pavilion,
courtyard, vestibule, sanctum, sanctorum and tower which bear testimony
to the excellence of Dravidian art. It is believed to have taken 7000 laborers,
working in continuous shifts and 150 years to build. Ever since the first
European visitors in 18th Century, Ellora has attracted chroniclers, antiquarians,
scholars and in more recent years, ever- increasing number of tourists.
Aurangabad Caves: The almost forgotten caves of Aurangabad lie just
outside the city. Excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect
TANTRIC influences in their iconography and architectural designs. In all
there are nine caves which are mainly viharas (monasteries). The most interesting
among these are Caves 3 and 7. The former is supported on 12 highly ornate
columns and has sculptures depicting scenes from the legendary 'Jakata'
tales. Cave 7 with its detailed figures of bejeweled women also has a dominating
sculpture of a 'Bodhisattva' praying for deliverance.
Daulatabad Fort: Once known as 'Devgiri', this magnificent 12th century
fortress stands on a hill just 13 km. from Aurangabad. It was given the
name Daulatabad, the 'city of fortune', by Muhammad Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi.
Initially a Yadav stronghold, it passed through the hands of several dynasties
in the Deccan. One of the world's best preserved fort of medieval times,
surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad yet displays the character that
made it invincible. This fortress was conquered only by treachery. A series
of secret, quizzical, subterranean passages lie coiled like a python amidst
the fort. Here flaring torches were thrust upon an unwary enemy. Or hot
oil poured down his path, as he deliberated in the labyrinth. Also the heat
from a brazier was blown into the passage by a process of suction suffocating
the entire garrison within. The Fort itself lies in the body of an isolated
hill; the steep hill - sides at the base falling so sharply to the moat
that no hostile troops could scale the height. The moat, 40 ft. deep with
mechanical drawbridges teemed with crocodiles. A 5-kilometer sturdy wall,
artificial scarping and a complicated series of defenses made Daulatabad
impregnable. The 30-meter high Chand Minar (Tower) built much later with
3 circular galleries had a defensive and religious role in the fortress.
Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 04 Aurangabad:
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a full day sightseeing with excursion to Ajanta Caves.
Ajanta caves: Nestling in an inner fold of the Sahyardi hills, 100 km
from Aurangabad in the shape of a mammoth horse- shoe, are the 30 rock-hewn
caves of Ajanta. The Caves date from the 2nd century BC. Discovered in
1819 by a group of British army officers, these startling achievements
took around 600 years to create. Carved with little more than a hammer
and chisel, Ajanta, once the retreat of Buddhist monastic orders features
several 'chaityas' (chapels) and 'viharas' (monasteries). The exquisite
wall and ceiling paintings, panels and sculptures of Buddha's life are
famous throughout the world as the earliest and finest examples of Buddhist
pictorial art.
Overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 05 Aurangabad - Mumbai:
Flight : 9W 3104 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : ATR Jet
Departure : 0845 hr
Arrival : 0945 hr
Mumbai - Udaipur:
By Air
Flight : 9W 3405 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : ATR Jet
Departure : 1710 hr
Arrival : 1855 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer to airport in time for flight to Mumbai. Reach and proceed to
visit ELEPHANTA CAVES.
Start the tour of ELEPHANTA CAVES.
The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves,
containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God,
Lord Shiva. These caves are located at a distance of 11 km from Mumbai
and are now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of
Elephanta, being a commercial, military and religions centre for centuries
has traces of early Buddhist culture.
The Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging
to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the Brahminical resurgence
during the reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these great cave
dedicated to Lord Shiva exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends
and history suggest that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty
Pulkesin ll raised the shrine to celebrate his victory. Some historians
also suggest that these caves were built by the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja
in 6th century AD.
As the worship of the figure of the Buddha began to be encouraged with
rise of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, a shrine was introduced to house
Buddha's image, replacing the cells at the centre of the back wall. The
Monasteries of Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta. It appears that the
same families of craftsmen and sculptors who were working on the Kailasa
temple of Ellora and adjoining Buddhist caves at Ellora were employed
at Elephanta.
Return to city and transfer to airport for flight to Udaipur.
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed
in by the lush hills of the ARAVALLIS. A vision in white drenched in romance
and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences
and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers.
Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow
lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing
valor and chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the LAKE
PICHOLA is an enticing sight.
Udaipur is the jewel of MEWAR - a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty
for 1200 Years.
Reach Udaipur and check into hotel.
Overnight will be at Udaipur.
Day 06 Udaipur:
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur, stopping first at City Palace.
Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored
glass windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.
Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and
the local folk Museum.
In the afternoon, enjoy a motor launch cruise on the placid waters of
Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur
as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan
desert.
Also visit the JAG MANDIR PALACE - the other island palace in the middle
of the lake.
Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 07 Udaipur - Jodhpur:
By Road
260 km in 6hr
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur.
En-route, visit the RANAKPUR TEMPLES, dating back to the 15th century.
200 pillars, none of which are alike, support its 29 halls. The Temple
abounds with intricate friezes and sculptures. Includes visits to two
more Jain temples and the Temple of the Sun God with its erotic sculptures.
Lunch will be at a mid-way restaurant.
Reach Jodhpur.
Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes
with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital
of the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha-chief of the
Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic
hero of the Ramayana. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms
on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts. Above the plains. The city
is encompassed by a high wall -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable
bastions.
Relax in the hotel and visit the museum of UMAID BHAWAN PALACE.
Overnight will be at Jodhpur.
Day 08 Jodhpur - Jaipur:
By Road
290 km in 6hr
Start for Jaipur after breakfast.
Lunch could be in KISHANGARH PHOOL MAHAL PALACE. Visit the KISHANGARH
FORT.
Reach and check in at hotel.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced
back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended
the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana.
In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character
and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is
popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally
abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal
consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts,
magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Spend the evening shopping at leisure in the city. Dinner will be at
hotel.
Spend night at Jaipur.
Day 09 Jaipur:
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Morning excursion will be to the Amber Fort where you will reach the
fort on elephant back.
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 its ultimate expression.
Lunch will be at the TURBAN MUSEUM RESTAURANT.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jaipur visiting...
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. It is a five-storey structure 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.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 10 Jaipur - Delhi:
By Road
260 km in 6hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to Delhi.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis
with a fascinating blend of the past and the present - A perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope
- that is India.
In the evening enjoy DANCES OF INDIA SHOW.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 11 Delhi:
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Proceed for a day tour of Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing 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 and the Red Fort - once the most opulent
fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
Enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include
a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, 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.
Spend evening walking in the Connaught Place or relax at hotel. Retire
early.
Overnight will be in Delhi.
Day 12 Delhi - Agra:
By Train:
Train No. : 2002
Name : Shatabdi Express
Departure : 0600 hr
Arrival : 0800 hr
Proceed for station after breakfast.
Reach Agra and transfer to hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed
the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal
Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today
a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red
sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that
irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains.
It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage
most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city
will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Proceed for sightseeing.
Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder
which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra.
Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful
wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed,
and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design
balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its
elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work
ever seen.
Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal
emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone.
Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major
tourist attraction.
Visit FATEHPUR SIKRI (30 km from Agra) - The deserted, red Sandstone
City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th
century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and
its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine
what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also
visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Relax in the evening and dinner at hotel.
Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 13 Agra - Jhansi:
By Train:
Train No. : 2002
Name : Shatabdi Express
Departure : 0810 hr
Arrival : 1040 hr
Jhansi - Khajuraho:
By Road
175 km in 4hr
Proceed to station after early breakfast for train to Jhansi.
Reach Jhansi and transfer to Orchha, 12 km away.
ORCHHA - A MEDIEVAL CITY FOUNDED BY BUNDELA RULERS WITH PALACES AND
TEMPLES OF THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURY - WHICH HAVE REMARKABLY WITHSTOOD THE
ONSLAUGHT OF TIME. THE CITY IS PICTURESQUELY FLANKED BY THE RIVER BETWA.
Proceed for sightseeing of ORCHHA sites within the Fort Complex. Enjoy
your lunch at Orchha. Continue drive to Khajuraho.
Situated in the northernmost part of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is famous
for its enchanting temples and its legendary Khajuraho dance festival.
The name Khajuraho is derived from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree)
which is grown abundantly in the region. The Khajuraho Temples are dedicated
to a celebration of womanhood, her myriad moods and facets. Famous for
its erotic architecture, the carvings include, women writing a letter,
applying eye makeup, combing her tresses, dancing & playing with her
child. Her innocent, blushed, charming, seductive, ardent beauty, all
depicted in exquisitely sculptured details. These temples have been designed
and carved to lead the eyes from ground level upward till you seem to
be looking at heaven.
Reach Khajuraho. Transferred to hotel and relax. Watch the SOUND &
LIGHT SHOW at WESTERN SET OF TEMPLES. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.
Day 14 Khajuraho - Varanasi:
Flight : 9W 334 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1335 hr
Arrival : 1415 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel. Proceed for a guided tour of the exotic temples
of Khajuraho.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. (Early lunch at hotel)
Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Crowded with temples,
and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the maximum number of
tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the carpet-manufacturing
place of India. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates.
The present name is derived from the fact that the city is at the confluence
of the rivers Varuna and ASI. It is also called CITY OF TEMPLES. The shimmering
red and golden water of the Ganges when rays of dawn falls on them, the
high banks, the temples, the Ashrams, the pavilions all are an experience
in themselves.
Visit Sarnath ? 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the
holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon
in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery
and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist
art and sculptures found at the site.
Spend the evening shopping in the lanes of Varanasi. Overnight will be
at Varanasi.
Day 15 Varanasi - Delhi:
By Air
Flight : 9W 334 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : Boeing 737
Departure : 1440 hr
Arrival : 1600 hr
Delhi - Next Destination:
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river
Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of
one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500
hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable
city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun
rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river,
where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come
daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples
and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge.
Then return to the shores for a walk through the cobblestone streets
along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place
now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel.
Proceed for half day-guided tour of Varanasi including the, Gyanvapi
Mosque, Benaras Hindu University and other important monuments OR can
proceed for last minute shopping.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and will be received
at international airport. Transfer to hotel for "Wash and Change".
Proceed for FAREWELL DINNER with COMPASS and then onto the airport for
international flight with sweet memories of India.
TOUR ENDS
Art & Architecture with Cultural Rajasthan - Reservation Form
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