Royal Rajasthan Tour - Premium Safari & Heritage Tour

Welcome to India! You land at Delhi’s international airport (flight details to be advised)

Upon arrival, you will be met by a Indian Routes representative who will assist you through Immigrations and Customs. As you step into the “Meet & Greet Hall”, you will be handed over to our airport representative waiting who will then escort you to your vehicle and accompany you to your hotel.

We recommend the Leela Palace.

Overnight at hotel.

After a relaxed morning, your guide meets you in the lobby at 1000 hrs. and your tour starts in Old Delhi.  

This was the former Imperial capital of the Mughal Emperor, though very little remains of the grandeur of  the Emperor Shah Jahan’s city. Old Delhi’s backbone is Chandini Chowk.

Originally a canal that ran  through the middle of the street as a part of the water supply scheme, it is said that moonlight reflecting  on its canal, earned it the name, ‘Chandini’ (Moonlit) ‘Chowk’ (Market).  Here, you trade your vehicle for a cycle rickshaw and take a fun ride through the many narrow streets and  an excellent introduction to the organized chaos which is quintessentially Indian!  

Disembark at India’s largest Mosque, Jama Masjid.  

This mosque is the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan. Begun in 1644, the mosque was not  completed until 1658. It has three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40m  high. It is constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. 

From Old Delhi drive to lovely Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the temple of the followers of the Sikh religion.

The Sikhs, which means “disciples”, are one of the country’s most recognizable groups. Beards and  turbans give them a distinctive look. Unlike Hinduism, they believe in one god, and that everyone,  regardless of their station in life, should do “sevak” or rendering social services. This resulted in the  “Langar” or community kitchen, where every member of the religion considers it an honour to come and  put in a couple of hours cooking thousands of Indian breads, making huge vats of curry to feed the poor  and underprivileged. 

You will time your visit to coincide with the lunch service. 

This afternoon you visit Humayun’s Tomb. 

Humayun’s Tomb is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. Recently renovated with the  gardens restored to their former splendour and the working fountains, it is a very attractive site.  Architecturally, the mausoleum drew its inspiration from the styles prevalent in Samarkand, and the  design of the Taj Mahal is based on this tomb.  

On your way back to the hotel, you will drive past some famous landmarks; Rajpath (Kingsway), the  imposing approach to New Delhi sets the venue for the Republic Day parade every January 26th for  millions of people to gather and enjoy the spectacle. Among the buildings you drive past are the  Secretariat buildings, Parliament House, Presidential Palace (Rashtrapathi Bhawan) and India Gate, a  memorial to soldiers of the undivided Indian Army who died in the period between 1914 and 1921. 

Tonight a welcome dinner has been organized for you at the in-house Indian specialty restaurant,  Jamavar. Classic dishes from the royal houses of the sub-continent will be selected for you in a set menu  and served in an opulent dining room. 

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D) 

Check out this morning and depart for Agra, where you will be staying at the Oberoi Amarvilas, one of the  country’s most luxurious hotels. Excluding stops, the drive takes four hours.  

After lunch you begin the tour of Agra city at the Agra fort.

When the Mughal Emperor Akbar established his supremacy in Northern India, he began his first  architectural venture, rebuilding the fort as a beautiful fort palace. The work was completed by his son  and grandson, highlighting the Mughals’ ability to blend defensive and decorative architecture. Richly  decorated with marble and mosaic, it was in a part of this fort that Shah Jahan spent the last years of his  life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. His private quarters, where he was confined, has a magical view of  the Taj Mahal across the river Yamuna.

From here, drive to the lovely Taj Mahal (closed Fridays).  

This stunning mausoleum immortalized the name of Shah Jahan’s last wife Mumtaz Mahal, “light of the  palace”. Built by Indian artisans and artisans from neighbouring Islamic countries, it is aptly described by  the poet laureate Tagore as “A tear on the face of eternity”. Decorated with a mosaic of semi-precious  stones and Persian calligraphy recreating verses from the Koran, the mausoleum is an important place of  pilgrimage since the empress died in childbirth making her a martyr. Prayers are said and passages from  Koran are constantly recited in the mosque and cenotaph chamber.

Tonight you will have a private dinner by the pool and will be entertained by a performance of Kathak.  Literally translated Kathak means story, and the origins of the dance goes back to bards performing in  villages and temple courtyards recounting mythological and moral tales. The Mughal emperors took this  essentially folk art, and changed it to the more sophisticated art form you will see today.

Overnight at hotel (B,L)

Rise early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, a special time when the white-marbled beauty is particularly  alluring and the pink light is ideal for photos.  

After breakfast, depart Agra for Ranthambore where re recommend the exquisite and intimate Oberoi  Vanyavilas, named India’s #1 resort hotel on Travel+Leisure’s 2017 World’s Best Hotels list. The drive  takes approx. 6 hours but we break it up with stops en route to make it more interesting.  

Your first stop en route is Fatehpur Sikri. This stop is approx. two hours outside Agra city. 

Just over 400 years old, Fatehpur Sikri was the inspiration of the third Mughal Emperor – Muhammad  Jalaludin Akbar. This was the first and only time a whole city was constructed using the prevailing Indo  Saracenic or Indian-Islamic architectural styles. Built of red sandstone, this collection of extraordinarily  striking disparate buildings are still as pristine and perfect as when they were chiselled.

From here, continue your drive to your next stop, Laxmi Niwas where you have lunch. 

Post lunch, resume your drive.

Covering 410 sq. km, Ranthambore runs along the easternmost spur of the Aravalli to the Vindhya ranges. 

At one time, Ranthambore was the private hunting ground for the Royal family of Jaipur before being  declared a Sanctuary and in 1972 was brought under the Project Tiger scheme. The dry deciduous forest  covers open valleys with lush vegetation around the lakes, and open grasslands in the higher slopes. This  varied flora supports a large number of animals including a variety of deer, the sloth bear, the shy caracal,  leopards and of course, the tiger. 

Transfer to your luxury hotel and check in. 

The evening is at leisure.  

Overnight at hotel (B,L) 

Your first safari experience in Ranthambore will start at 0700 hrs. A safari typically lasts approx. three  hours and you return to your hotel to freshen up and enjoy breakfast. 

You will have enough time to relax and have lunch before you set out for your afternoon safari at 1400  hrs. and ends by 1730 hrs.  

The evening is at leisure.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After your morning game drive and brunch, set out by road to Jaipur. The drive is approximately 5 hrs.  long excluding stops. 

Jaipur is also known as the ‘Pink City’, because of the terra-cotta-coloured lime plaster that coats the old  part of the city’s walls, buildings, and temples. The most popular reason is that pink is the traditional  colour of hospitality, and the old part of the city was freshly painted and paved with pink gravel to warmly  welcome Edward VII for his visit here in 1876. 

Elevate your welcome to a ceremony fit for royalty at Rambagh Palace, the former palace of the Maharaja  of Jaipur and where you will be staying. Think rose petal showers, beautifully decorated camels, horses  and elephants, and traditional Rajasthani attire and music, all to celebrate the momentous occasion of your arrival.  

This afternoon drive to Amber Fort. 

Hill forts were always important to the Rajput rulers. Belonging to the Hindu “Kshatriya” or warrior class,  they believed that “a fort is the strength of a king”. They built a number of such forts all over the state of  Rajasthan; some made for purely defensive purposes, but most built as fort palaces. Amber is one of the  finest examples of a fort palace, built similar in style to the surrounding richly decorated Mughal courts. 

Next, visit Anokhi Museum.

Located in a magnificently restored Haveli (mansion), the museum displays a varied selection of block  printed textiles alongside images, tools and related objects – all chosen to provide an in-depth look into  the complexity of this ancient tradition. Dedicated to the art of block printing, the Museum strives to  inform both textile specialists and general public alike; but more importantly, the artisans themselves are  encouraged to visit and view their craft in a unique and inspirational way.

From Anokhi, drive to Kukus (Dera Amer). This is a forty minutes’ drive that takes you through the  countryside to the Camp located at the foothills of the Aravali Range and surrounded by the wilderness of  a reserved forest with no urban civilization in the vicinity, just a few hamlets housing the local villagers  occupied by farming on the their fields. 

Here you meet your ride for the next 30 minutes- Elephants! 

After a champagne welcome, enjoy a fun elephant ride through the countryside in the company of a  mahout, ending at a private venue. Here, enjoy an exclusive dinner before you drive to your hotel. 

Overnight at hotel (B,L.D)

This morning, if you wish, rise early to float over Jaipur’s forts, palaces and mountains in a hot air balloon  before enjoying a lavish breakfast spread. 

Alternately, start your morning with a private session of yoga at your hotel. 

After breakfast, drive to the Hawa Mahal the ornate pink façade an icon of the city. This five storied high  “screen” composed of projected windows and balconies protected by fine latticed screens was destined  to enable the ladies of the harem to observe the lively street scenes of the city from a position of privacy. 

Next, take a tour of City Palace. 

The Palace is a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. The palace was built  between 1729 and 1732, initially by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. He planned and built the outer  walls, and later additions were made by successive rulers continuing up to the 20th century.

Then visit the extraordinary “Jantar Mantar”, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II  in 1827. Roughly translated the name means “The Formula of Instruments”. This is one of five  observatories he built in northern India.  The sun dials are accurate to within 2 seconds and are corrected for the local time in Jaipur, which is some  minutes different from Delhi. In addition, there are a dozen structures which fix the position of the sun in each of the astrological signs.

At the observatory we will arrange to have an astrologer present to help you determine your raashi  (Indian horoscope). 

A key element in the science of Indian horoscope are birthstones. Birthstones are considered to bring  good luck and have healing powers. And Jaipur is the perfect city in India if you do wish to shop for one. 

This afternoon you visit to Ladli Vocational Training Center.

This is an initiative supported by our Travel Foundation, Shaping Lives that works with NGOs across the  country to promote social cause activities that make a sustainable impact 

The Ladli Vocational Training Center rescues street kids they find, houses them, feeds even more of them,  and teaches them how to make jewelry. Their focus is not on a meal and a blanket, but rather on  preparation for adulthood, vocational training and steps to teach the children how to enter the working  world and get beyond their situation. Every child, even the homeless ones, are required to have savings  accounts in an accredited bank for part of the money they earn. 

You visit and see their facility near Bani Park, meet the kids who have been rescued, and perhaps even  buy a bracelet or necklace made by the kids. Their products are first rate and make great gifts for family &  friends. This visit also give you the opportunity to see something good and hopeful, not to mention the  big, beautiful smiles that are hard not to reciprocate!

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Spend time exploring the many shopping options of the city or just relax at your lovely hotel and enjoy its  facilities.  

This evening you meet in the lobby of your hotel and you drive to the City Palace.  

Tonight you will be the only guests at the Palace and you will be greeted by caparisoned elephants,  camels and lancers on horseback. Disembark and climb aboard your horse drawn carriages, entering the  private entrance of the Palace through a shower of rose petals just like the Maharajas were yesteryear. 

Start with a private tour of the Palace including the residential areas that are not typically open to the  public. After the tour, enjoy an exclusive dinner in the lovely surroundings. 

You return to your hotel after dinner. 

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D) 

It is an early morning start as you take to the Indian skies for your domestic flight SG-8623 (0725/0830  hrs.) to Udaipur.  

You are met on arrival in Udaipur and you transfer to your waiting vehicle and drive to your hotel, the  luxurious Taj Lake Palace. 

Note: Check in time is 1400 hrs. so you can leave our bags at Concierge, have breakfast at the coffee shop  and meet your guide in the lobby at 1000 hrs for a tour of the city. 

Udaipur is a very romantic city, with the palaces built around Lake Pichola and the Aravalli Hills forming  the backdrop. It is also known as the Venice of the East. Home of the Mewar Rajputs, whose symbol is  the rising sun, Udaipur was built as a result of the former Mewari Capital, Chittorgarh being destroyed in  a bloody siege. 

Start at the City Palace.  

This sprawling palace was built over three centuries and is a series of four interconnecting palaces,  illustrative of various architectural styles. The inside of the main palace is a blend of Rajput military  architecture and lavish Mughal inspired decorative art. Of particular note here is the exquisite collection  of priceless Rajput Miniature Paintings done in the Mewari tradition. In terms of an exemplary eye to  detail and craftsmanship, few palaces match the artwork found here.  

You also walk through the Crystal Gallery which has a rather eclectic collection of crystal d’art and  furniture including a complete bedroom set, discovered recently in a store room in the palace.

After the City Palace, take a walk in the Old City with your guide.  

Your path will lead you to a small temple dedicated to the Indian deity Krishna. Here you watch a very  rare ritual art known as Jal Sanji. This ephemeral art involves drawing pictures on water using coloured  powder. The priest at the temple is one of a very small handful of practitioners who still continue this  ritual in the country. 

Today, after you see him working and have an understanding of the process, you will also have the  opportunity to try your hand at this art. 

You may also enjoy a stop at Bagore Ki Haveli.  

This gracious 18th-century haveli, set on the water’s edge in the Gangaur Ghat area, was built by a Mewar  prime minister and has since been carefully restored. There are 138 rooms set around courtyards, some  arranged to evoke the period during which the house was inhabited, while others house cultural displays,  including – intriguingly enough – the world’s biggest turban. The haveli also houses a gallery featuring a  fascinating collection of period photos of Udaipur and a surreal collection of world-famous monuments  carved out of polystyrene. 

For lunch stop at Royal repast.

Run by the Bedla family, famed for their culinary expertise over years of hosting royal events, the  restaurant is located within a plush, tastefully decorated home with an airy courtyard. The food, too, is  delectable—light and tangy murg dahi bootha, creamy, gently spiced mutton mitti ki handi, and rich  makkai ka meetha (ground corn cooked in milk and ghee) to sweeten your palate. 

The rest of the day is at leisure for you to enjoy your hotel’s facilities or indulge in some shopping. Your  guide and vehicle will be at your disposal.  

This evening we will organize a Bollywood dance class.  

Learn the steps to some of the most popular songs in Hindi films. Shake a leg, or hip or both as you try  and master the many steps that are part of the dances seen on screen and loved by millions.  

The lesson lasts about two hours (approx.).

Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D) 

Post breakfast take an excursion outside the city to the famous Eklingji & Nagda temples.

The small but beautiful complex at Nagda is known as the “Sas” and “Bahu” temples (literally Temples of  the ‘Mother in law’ and ‘Daughter in law’ respectively), and are elaborately carved 10th century temples  dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On the larger Sas temple, there are beautiful friezes with scenes from the  Ramayana and images of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Bahu temple has a richly  carved archway and columns profusely carved with female figurines.  

After Nagda, you drive to visit the 8th century Eklinji Temple.  

Eklinji was a reincarnation of the Indian deity Shiva, and the patron god of the Maharanas of Udaipur. The  entire complex, most of it rebuilt in the 15th century, has a wonderfully uplifting atmosphere. 

Lunch this afternoon is at the charming Devigarh Palace. 

Return to Udaipur city by late afternoon and the rest of the day is at leisure. 

For those interested in shopping, the city is famed for its high-quality silver jewellery and incredible  miniature paintings, an art form that goes back hundreds of years.  

Alongside the jewellery and paintings, Rajasthan is also known for its ornate, colourful embroidery. Items  range from kurtis and cushions to table covers and bags. A traditional and beloved part of Rajasthani  culture, puppet shows are still performed regularly throughout the region. Those looking for the perfect  gift or one-of-a-kind souvenir should peruse the city’s many puppet shops for an unusual memento of  their travels. 

Alternately, you can opt to relax at the hotel and enjoy the facilities.  

This evening, dine at a charming local restaurant with a view of moonlit Lake Pichola and City Palace.

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D)

After Breakfast in the hotel, transfer by road to Jodhpur (approximately 6 hrs. drive excluding stops).

On the way, you stop in Ranakpur to visit the Jain Temples.

At the foot of a steep wooded escarpment of the Aravalli Hills, Ranakpur is one of India’s biggest and  most important Jain temple complexes. It’s 75km northwest of Udaipur. The main temple, the  Chaumukha .

Mandir (Four-Faced Temple), is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar (depicted in the  many Buddha-like images in the temple), and was built in the 15th century in milk-white marble.  

After the visit you are taken to Mountbatten Lodge for lunch. 

Post lunch continue your drive to Jodhpur. 

Nicknamed, the ‘Blue City’- as every building is painted the same light blue hue, this bustling desert city  founded in 1459 by Rao Jodhajo, is the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. Bounded by the  Mehrangarh fort on its West, and the stately sandstone Palace of Umaid Bhawan, residence of the  current Maharaja, on its East, the monuments, temples and gardens of Jodhpur, all together portray a  versatile grandeur. The old city surrounded by a 10km wall is teeming maze of narrow medieval streets  and bazaars, where life appears much as it has been for centuries.  

On arrival, check in at your hotel, a magnificent heritage hotel and the former residence of the royal  family of Jodhpur.

Dinner is at the hotel this evening. 

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D) 

The day starts after breakfast with a city tour. Of all the forts of Rajasthan, there is none more impressive than the Mehrangarh Fort. 

Almost impregnable, the fort is entered through seven fortified gateways. The fort is divided into three  sections – the public areas, the Maharajas palaces, and the zenana, or queens’ palaces. The zenana is  decorated with exquisite sandstone filigree work. Within the fort is the museum which among its varied  exhibits has an excellent collection of royal palanquins and the howdah section which has perhaps the  finest collection of old ornate elephant howdahs in the world. 

Next, walk to Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (1873-95) and  other Maharajas of Jodhpur who died after that year. The cenotaphs of other maharajas are at Mandore

Enjoy lunch at Hunwant Mahal. 

In the afternoon, meet your escort in the lobby of the hotel take a jeep drive through a Bishnoi village.  

On the village safari you will meet the ‘Premier ecologists of the world’, the Bishnois, who have protected  nature for more than 500 years and are responsible for the very survival of species like the Black Buck  antelope (India’s most beautiful antelope and a rare and protected species today). They share a beautiful  relationship with this special animal, wherein the antelope stays close to Bishnoi habitation, never leaving  it, and displays complete trust in the Bishnoi people. You will also have the opportunity to meet the  Raikas (shepherds) with their glorious costumes, and the Paliwals and Meghwals, the Brahmin farmers  and weavers respectively. 

This evening, you meet in the hotel lobby at 1800 hrs. and board your waiting coach. Your destination is  again the mighty Mehrangarh Fort. 

Your jeeps await you as they drive you slowly up the ramp to the gates of the Fort. Disembark and make  your way towards the dining venue. On the menu tonight is a traditional Rajasthani cuisine cooked with  authentic spices and served on silver thalis (heavy plates use by erstwhile royalty). 

Throughout dinner, you are entertained by live musicians, vibrant traditional dances. The evening ends  with a firework display, a befitting end to a gala event. 

Return to your hotel after dinner. 

Overnight at hotel (B,L,D) 

Your first stop this morning on your sightseeing tour is Jaisalmer Fort.  

Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler, the fort had been the scene of many battles. This classic desert  fort, a World Heritage Site, it is built of golden coloured sandstone which looks tawny during the day, the  colour subtly changing to an almost honey gold at sunset. Standing at a height of 100 metres over the  city, this is the world’s only living fort with about a quarter of the city’s population living within the fort’s  walls.  

While at the fort, visit the Lakshminath temple and the Jain temples, which were built between the 12th  and 15th centuries and the intricately latticed Havelis, built by wealthy merchants.  

Similar in style to the homes of Venetian merchants, they were the mansions of wealthy traders who  grew rich on the trade passing through the desert. The houses are decorated with beautifully carved  facades, jali screens and oriole windows. Each Haveli has an inner courtyard surrounded by richly  decorated apartments. 

Your last stop is Gadi Sagar lake. During seasons of drought, Gadi Sagar proved to be the mainstay of the  town.  

The afternoon is at leisure.  

This evening you will drive into the desert in open jeeps and will have cocktails while watching a  spectacular desert sunset. You may like to travel part of the way on camel back. 

For dinner you are served a true representation of a nomadic hunt menu. The evening is set against the  backdrop of a mesmerising folk singer. The food prepared on site is glorious; the ambiance is majestic as  music floats and the stars shine down on you, a night like this is an experience that is unmatched.  Stunning fireworks, on request, that beautifully light up the night, further enhance the celebrations. 

You return by jeeps to your hotel after dinner. 

Overnight at hotel (B, D) 

Start the day with a special Breakfast with peacocks.

This unusual offering makes perfect sense once experienced and is so extraordinary to the senses – visual  and cerebral – that it is a must on every visitor’s personal selection. Drive with us deep into the desert at  the hour before dawn and in the dark twinkling predawn, partake of a nourishing breakfast of traditional  Indian delicacies of parathas, kachoris and samosas showcasing the culinary art of the Halwaii. This early  hour heralds the arrival of hundreds of peacocks called in to feed, as the sun begins to rise over the Fort. 

Return to your hotel after breakfast.  

After breakfast, you check out and are transferred to the airport for your flight SG-478 (1035/1155 hrs) to  Delhi.  

You are met on arrival and you transfer to your hotel and check-in. Our colleague will be on hand to assist  you.  

A room for wash & change has been reserved for you until your in-time transfer later today to the  international airport for your flight home.

This itinerary is only a slice of the wonderful diversity and beauty that India has to offer and we hope that  you will return soon to discover more. Namaste!  

Wash & Change (B)