Today arrive at Jaipur and transfer to your hotel. The capital of Rajasthan Jaipur - popularly known as the “Pink
City” as the Pink sandstone was used to construct the buildings in the old
walled city. Jaipur owes its name, its foundation and it’s planning to the
Great-warrior-Astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1699–1744 AD). Jaipur (City of
Victory) was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. It is the only
city in the world symbolising the nine divisions of the Universe through nine
rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. The architect who formalised the city’s
plans on the Shilpa Shastra, the epic Hindu treatise on architecture, mixed it
with the sublimity of the Mughal and Jain influences of those times. The city
was painted pink in 1853 in honour of the visit by Prince Albert. Except for
the busy traffic of bicycles, cars, and buses, little seems to have changed.
Overnight at Hotel
After breakfast proceed for full day city tour of Jaipur –
visiting Amer Fort located at 11 kilometers from Jaipur and was the old fort of
the Kachhwaha clan of Amber. It used to be the capital, till it was moved to
Jaipur. The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and looks even
more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort is a
beautiful sight to behold but as one looks on the fort with its clear
reflection on the lake in the front; one cannot help but wonder if it is a
dream or a beautiful illusion. An elephant [Subject to
availability/alternatively by jeep] will spare you the trouble of climbing
up to the fortress. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of
courtyards and halls with a well informed and well-spoken guide who would
regale you with tales of yore.
Later visit the City of Jaipur. Among the highlights to be seen
while touring Jaipur include the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex
of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved
doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armours,
costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar
or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur, built in 1726 and
is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes
accurate predictions even to this day. Jaipur is a shopper’s paradise. Most of
the bazaars are in an old city with a wide range of things to buy, from
jewellery (precious and semi-precious stones and handcrafted silver) to
textiles to handicrafts and antiques. No doubt, for an avid shopper “Jaipur” is
the choicest of the city to shop and collect memorabilia.
Overnight at Hotel
After breakfast drive to Ranthambore; Arrive Ranthambore and
transfer to your hotel.
The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country where
more visitors spending a couple of nights are likely to spot one of these
majestic animals, THE ROYAL BENGAL TIGERS.
Once, private tiger reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur, in 1972 the
sanctuary came under the Project Tiger scheme.
It covers 410 sq. km and runs from the easternmost spur of the
Aravalli to the Vindhya Range. It has
both the old fort and the wildlife sanctuary, also known as Sawai Madhopur,
after the town, which has some Jain temples with gilded paintings. Apart from
tiger you can see herds of Chital and Sambar deer and sounders of wild boar,
Nilgai antelope and Chinkara gazelles. There is also sloth bear, a few leopards and
crocodiles. Extensive bird life includes
spur fowl, jungle fowl, patridges, quails, crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers,
flycatchers etc. There are also water
birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes.
Afternoon Game Drive [Not included in the quote] to Ranthambore
National Park.
Overnight at Hotel
Early morning Game Drive [Not included in the quote] into the Park
where your naturalist will talk to you about the wildlife found in this
Park. Ranthambhore National Park is
probably the best place in the world to see wild tigers and is the only dry
deciduous tiger habitat in the world. In game drive your naturalist will help
you explore the park in the search of The Royal Bengal Tiger.
After Game Drive, return to the hotel for breakfast. Later drive
to Udaipur; enroute visit Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh is said to have been
originally built by Bhim, one of the Pandavas. Though deserted now, impressive
reminders of its grandeur still stand. See Rana Kumbha’s palace and Fateh
Prakash palace. Visit the 37 m high Jaya Stambh (Tower of Victory) built by
Rana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Khiljis of Malwa in 1440. Also see
the 22 m high Keerti Stambh or Tower of Fame, dedicated to Adinath and
decorated with figures of various Jain tirthankars.
Later continue to drive to Udaipur; arrive Udaipur and transfer to
your hotel. Set on the shores of Lake Pichola and surrounded by hills, Udaipur
grew in complete contrast to the harsh deserts of the rest of Rajasthan. As
capital of the old Mewar State it was the only Rajput stronghold to uphold its
Hindu allegiance in the face of Muslim invasion. This fairy – tale city, with
its marble palaces and lakes surrounded by a ring of hills, was founded by
Maharana Udai Singh in 1559. The city is dominated by massive City Palace,
which overlooks Lake Pichola with its romantic island palaces. Picturesque
havelis, ghats and temples line the lake front, with the lively bazaars of the
old walled city stretching behind them.
Overnight at Hotel
After breakfast proceed for half day city tour of Udaipur –
visiting the City Palace and Museum. The largest palace complex in India, it is
a blend of Mughal and Rajput influences. Also, see the 17th century Jagdish
temple, drive around the Fatehsagar Lake, and visit the Sahelion ki Bari (the
Garden for the Maids of Honour), an ornamental pleasure garden with fountains
and marble kiosks. Later visit the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir or the Folk-Art
Museum.
Later in the evening take a boat ride – ON DIRECT PAYMENT on the 4
km long and 3 km wide Lake Pichola, which is fringed with hills, palaces,
havelis, ghats, embankments and temples and offers spectacular views of the
city. Visit the Jag Mandir Island with its exquisite Gul Mahal Pavilion.
Overnight at Hotel
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur visiting Ranakpur enroute
– which is the largest Jain temple complex in India and dates to the 15th
century. The main temple is dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankar.
Intricate carvings detail mythological figures, patterns and motifs on the
walls, pillars and domes. There are 1444 ornately carved marble pillars in the
complex and none of them are similar. The beautiful lace-like interiors of the
domes are a superb example of western Indian temple style. Surya temple and other Jain temples are side
attractions. (Temples open only at 1200 Hrs. Leather belts, footwear, bare legs
and black clothing not allowed).
Later continue to drive to Jodhpur – Arrive to the Blue City –
Jodhpur and transfer to your hotel.
An oasis in the arid Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second largest
city in the state of Rajasthan. Representing this colourful city with shades of
blue, Jodhpur has a history that is rich and a present that beckons strongly to
the discerning tourist. Forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and
tradition, spices and fabrics, colour and texture, Jodhpur has them all and in
plenty. Situated in Western Rajasthan, Jodhpur has long attracted both the
domestic and outside tourist. It not only offers tangibles, in terms of what
you can see and buy but also fills one with a sense of history and the
splendours of an era gone by. The hospitality of the locals, the demure women,
and the colourful turbans -all set against the beloved desert (Marwar) is
something to feel, not just see. Every pore of Jodhpur tells its own tales of
heroic deeds that made legends out of kings and soldiers, romances that
continue to warm the heart and a time when epics were lived out on the streets
by everyday man. Also visit Sardar Bazaar and Clock Tower markets where you can
see the vegetable, spice, Indian sweets, and textile and silver markets. These
colourful markets with tiny shops dot the narrow lanes replete with
woodcarvings, wrought iron, lacquer work, silver and ivory ornamentation and
leather handicrafts. Afternoon is free to walk around in the colourful and
bustling bazaars for personal exploration or shopping.
After breakfast proceed for half day city tour of Jodhpur. Visit
the Meherangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. The palace apartments
like Sukh Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal etc are beautifully decorated
and house Jewellery, costumes, armoury, palanquins, howdahs and other remnants
of the past. See the Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble memorial to Maharaja
Jaswant Singh II built in 1899. Later the royal crematorium and three other
cenotaphs were also built here. Drive to Jaisalmer; Jaisalmer - a fairy-tale
town in the Thar Desert founded about 800 years ago by Rawal Jaisal.
Unlike any other city, this desert fortress is one of Rajasthan's
most exotic and unusual towns. Jaisalmer, an important ancient trading centre
because of its strategic location on the camel trade routes, is often described
as the 'golden city'.
Later drive to Jaisalmer; Arrive Jaisalmer and transfer to your
hotel. The havelis, built by merchants of the 19th century, are exquisitely
carved from golden-yellow sandstone and are still in a beautiful condition. The
fort built by Rawal Jaisal in the 12th century, stands on the 80-meter-high
Trikuta hill, with beautifully carved Jain temples. The annual desert festival
takes place in January and February each year and is a riot of colour and
activity. Jaisalmer is also famous for its embroidery, Rajasthani mirror work,
rugs, and blankets, antique, silver jewellry, and stonework
Overnight at Hotel
After breakfast leave for the city tour of Jaisalmer. Visit the
famous Havelis (mansions) known for their frescoes. Jaisalmer's strategic
position on the camel terrain route bought it great wealth. The merchants grew
prosperous and commissioned great havelis, or mansions, to flaunt their
ever-growing status in society. Made of local golden-yellow sandstone and wood,
some of the havelis are still in excellent condition. The most elaborate and
magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis is the Patwaon Ki Haveli. Five Jain
brothers built the Haveli between 1800 and 1860. Salim Singh Ki Haveli and
Nathmal Ki Haveli are the other two havelis that are open to visitors. Built in
1156 by the Bhatti ruler, Jaisal, The Fort here stands atop the 80 m high
Trikuta hill. 3 walls and 99 bastions surround the fort. Over the centuries,
the golden sandstone fortress witnessed many battles between the Bhatti
Rajput’s, the Mughals and the Rathore’s of Jodhpur. Within the fort, complex is the beautifully carved Jain Temples built between the
12th and 15th centuries. The Maharawals (rulers) of Jaisalmer were devout
Hindus but were tolerant of Jainism and encouraged art and religion. There are
7 temples in the complex - Chandraprabhu, Parasnath, Shitalnath, Sambhavnath,
Shantinath, Kunthunath and Rikhabdev Temple.
The temples are all connected by a series of corridors and
walkways. Close by is the Gyan Bhandar, a library founded in 1500 A.D. This
houses priceless ancient manuscripts and other exhibits like astrological
charts, besides the Jain equivalent of the Christian Shroud of Turin.
In the evening, proceed to Sam Sand dunes. Located at 42
kilometers from Jaisalmer, Sam Sand Dunes is the closest point to witness the
total sandy desert. You can also see the patterns and motifs created by the
shifting sands and air. Moreover, Sam Sand Dunes also provide you with an
unforgettable experience of camel rides – on direct payment and the sunset.
Overnight at hotel
