Heritage Rajasthan Tour Package

DAY 2, Friday: NEW DELHI
Arrive New Delhi late at night and after clearing the formalities transfer to the Hyatt Hotel.

DAY 3, Saturday: NEW DELHI
The morning is free.
In the afternoon, visit the Red Fort in old Delhi, constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi in the 1640s.? Returning to New Delhi, visit the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, built in the 1560s; this tomb was obviously a model for the Taj Mahal in Agra.? Then drive through New Delhi, the capital of British India, to see the government buildings designed by Sir Edward Lutyens in the 1920s.

In the evening, gather for a talk by the Tour Leader that will serve as an introduction to India and to Rajasthan and a preparation for the tour.? This will be followed by a Welcome Cocktail and an Inaugural Dinner.? ??????Hyatt Hotel.

DAY 4, Sunday: NEW DELHI / AGRA
In the morning, depart in our coach for Agra.? ? In the afternoon, visit the Agra Fort, built by three generations of Mughal Emperors on the banks of the Yamuna (Jumna) River.? It was here that Shah Jahan, deposed by his youngest son, was confined in the last years of his life, gazing across a bend in the river at the incomparable monument he had built for his wife, who died after giving birth to their fourteenth child, and where he himself is buried.

Then visit the Taj Mahal as the afternoon sun lights the white marble of one of the world's most famous buildings.? Set in a garden and invariably described as perfectly proportioned, the tomb is ornamented with inlaid floral decoration and calligraphy composed from a variety of semi-precious stones.? From the terrace in back of the Taj, we can see across the river the site of the Moonlight Garden (Mehtab Bagh), designed for viewing the reflection of the Taj, especially on moonlit nights.? Silted over from repeated flooding, the Moonlight Garden has only in the last decade been identified and rescued. Despite all the pictures and all the hyperbole, no one ever seems to come away from the Taj disappointed.?? Hyatt Hotel.

DAY 5, Monday: AGRA / FATEHPUR SIKRI / JAIPUR
In the morning, depart for Jaipur.? On the way, we will stop 25 miles west of Agra at Fatehpur Sikri, the now deserted city constructed in the 1570s by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital.? The Mughal court left Fatehpur Sikri in 1585 for Kabul and Lahore and never permanently returned.? The great gateway, mosque, courtyards, public buildings, and elaborately carved royal apartments, all built of red sandstone, are almost perfectly preserved. The Great Mosque attached to the city, however, is still very much an active place of worship.? Lunch en route at Chandra Mahal, the former residence of a local land holding family and now a small Heritage Hotel, where we can walk through the village. ? Jas Vilas Guest House.

DAY 6, Tuesday: JAIPUR
In the morning, visit the Amber (pronounced 'Amer') Fort, the old capital of Jaipur State.? Enclosed by a sheer curtain wall, the fort sits on top of a hill and is reached by a twisting road that we will climb seated in the howdahs of gaily decorated elephants.? The three courtyards of the fort, from the plainer older portion, later converted into a zanana (women's quarters), to the ornate Mughal-style newer portions, mark the rise in the fortunes of the Amber kingdom.? ? In the afternoon, we'll visit the workshop and museum of one of Jaipur's prominent jewelers.? Jas Vilas Guest House.

DAY 7, Wednesday: JAIPUR
In the morning, visit the City Palace.? Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, Mughal general, scholar, astronomer, and city builder, who ruled Jaipur in the first half of the 18th century, who was one of the great men of his age.? In 1732 he moved his capital from Amber to the plain below, where he built a new town (now called the Old City or the Walled City) laid out on a grid plan.? The palace complex, which occupies a good part of the grid, includes spacious courtyards and a variety of buildings including the false-front Palace of the Winds, and one of the five astronomical observatories Sawai Jai Singh built in North India.? A number of them are now museums that display the fabulous textiles, costumes, weapons, and art of the Jaipur kingdom.? After lunch, we will visit a block printing workshop on the outskirts of Jaipur to see another of the crafts for which Jaipur is famous.? Jas Vilas Guest House.

DAY 8, Thursday: JAIPUR/PUSHKAR
In the morning, leave for Pushkar. Pushkar, on the shore of a lake lined with temples and ghats (steps down to the water), is an important Hindu pilgrimage center. It is famous for one of the few temples in India dedicated to Brahma, the Lord of Creation, and for a well-known cattle fair held annually in October-November.? Lunch will be at our hotel overlooking the lake. After lunch, we will explore the town on foot, visit the Brahma temple, and walk down one of the ghats to the lake. ?Pushkar Palace Hotel.

DAY 9, Friday: PUSHKAR / AJMER / JODHPUR ?
In the morning, leave for Ajmer, seven miles from Pushkar.? Ajmer, on a major trade route between Delhi and the Gujarat ports and protected by the surrounding hills, was always contested between neighboring Muslim and Rajput kingdoms.? The British obtained possession of it early in the 19th century, and it was one of the few places in Rajasthan that they controlled directly.? It is also the site of the most famous Muslim shrine in India, the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in the 12th century.? We will climb up to the ruins of Taragarh (the Star Fort) to get a panoramic view of the town below.? Then, to bring us back to the present day, we'll visit the grounds of Mayo College.? Actually a primary and secondary school, it was founded in 1870 by the Viceroy Lord Mayo to provide education along British public school lines to the sons of the ruling elite of Rajasthan.? Originally each State built a boarding house for its own boys; now admission is open to all, and the school continues as one of India's leading educational institutions.? Our guide will be a Mayo College Old Boy.? In the afternoon, we'll leave for Jodhpur.? Ajit Bhavan Hotel.

DAY 10, JODHPUR
In the morning, visit Mehrangarh, the fort that rises from the rocky ridge dominating the city of Jodhpur, the largest in Rajasthan after Jaipur.? Founded by Rao Jodha Rathor in 1459, subsequent rulers added to it to create the present series of gates, courtyards, palaces, temples, and memorials, and by following them it's possible to trace the history of Jodhpur.? The palace apartments, which feature spectacular wall paintings and decorations, have been converted into an excellent museum.? ? In the afternoon, we'll have tea on the terrace of the modern Umaid Bhavan Palace, residence of the maharaja of Jodhpur, where we'll have a spectacular view of a desert sunset. Ajit Bhavan Hotel.

DAY 11, JODHPUR / ROHET
In the morning, travel five miles to Mandore, the capital before the foundation of the fort at Jodhpur and the site of the imposing, elaborate? chhatris (cenotaphs) of the Jodhpur rulers.? The chhatris are set in gardens that also include a Hall of Heroes with 15 figures (Hindu deities or local Rajput heroes on horseback) carved out of a rock wall.? After lunch, we'll see the old city of Jodhpur on foot and then leave for Rohet.? Rohetgarh Hotel.

DAY 12, ROHET
Our Desert Safari day.? The estate of Rohet, 25 miles south of Jodhpur, was part of Jodhpur State, and the family of the former rulers have converted their palatial residence into a Heritage Hotel.? Jodhpur lies on the edge of the Great Indian Desert, and our Desert Safari will give us a glimpse of desert life.? We will visit a Bishnoi village; the Bishnois believe in the sanctity of the environment and have protected their trees and animals since the 15th century.? Lunch is part of the safari.? Rohetgarh Hotel.

DAY 13, ROHET / DEOGARH
In the morning, we will continue south leaving former Jodhpur State and cross into Mewar. Our destination is the Deogarh estate, which was part of the former Mewar (Udaipur) State. Under the rule of its feudal lord, the estate functioned as a mini state, with its own ceremonials, armed retainers, treasury, courts, jail, and so on. On a rise overlooking the town, the fort-palace that was the center of the estate is now, like the Rohet palace, a family run Heritage Hotel. A tour of the hotel will help us recreate the bustling life of earlier times, when the Deogarh lord led his retainers into battle. The annual round of festivals was celebrated with great eclat. Hundreds of servants came and went. The stables were full of elephants and horses, and the women led secluded yet active lives within their part of the palace. After lunch, we will visit a local cave temple and sample the birdwatching at one of the several lakes in the area. In the evening, we will watch a dance-drama performed by the local tribal people. Deogarh is associated with a school of Rajasthani painting, and frescoes decorate some of the walls. Deogarh Mahal Hotel.

DAY 14, DEOGARH
We'll continue our exploration of Deogarh and the surrounding countryside via a train ride on the local narrow-gauge railroad, and in the afternoon, we'll take a walking tour of the town. ? Deogarh Mahal Hotel

DAY 15, DEOGARH / UDAIPUR
In the morning, leave for Kumbhalgarh to visit the Kumbhalgarh fort, a massive fortification on top of a ridge of the Aravallis, built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar in the 15th century. The broad perimeter wall runs some 22 miles and enclosed an entire town, including palaces, temples, bazaars, gardens and water storage facilities. It is no longer inhabited and is now wonderfully peaceful. Lunch at Aodhi Hotel, formerly a royal guest house. After lunch, leave for Ranakpur, one of the most important and beautiful complexes of Jain temples in India, tucked away in a valley of the Aravallis. The main temple dates from the 15th century. From Ranakpur, continue on to Udaipur, our last stop. Udai Kothi Hotel.

DAY 16: UDAIPUR
In the morning, visit the City Palace, which rises on the shore of Lake Pichola. The town was founded in the 16th century after the Mughal victory at Chittor, the ancient capital, forced the Rana of Mewar, Udai Singh (hence Udaipur), to establish a new one. Subsequent rulers made various additions, so that in its present form the huge palace complex, the largest in Rajasthan, offers a variety of styles and settings. The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum. In the afternoon, a visit to Shilpgram, a crafts village with demonstrations by musicians and crafts people of the region as well as displays of their wares. Later, we will board one of the boats of the Lake Palace Hotel for a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola. The world-famous Lake Palace, which appears to float in the middle of the lake, was built in the 18th century as a pleasure palace. Looking back, the City Palace dominates the shore. ? Udai Kothi Hotel.

DAY 17, UDAIPUR / NEW DELHI
In the morning, we will fly from Udaipur to Delhi and in Delhi transfer to our hotel. The afternoon is free for last-minute shopping and/or additional sight-seeing in Delhi. In the evening, we'll gather for a tour wrap-up, Farewell Cocktail, and Farewell Dinner.Transfer to the international airport for early morning return flights. Hyatt Hotel.

Day 18, NEW DELHI / USA
Arrive New York or other U.S. point of arrival in the afternoon.