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19 days tour explore India’s most popular cultural, religious, historic and natural sites. This perfectly balanced itinerary covers culture and architecture highlights in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Pushkar; religious culture in Amritsar and Dharamshala and untamed nature at Ranthambore National Park. Perfect for first time visitors to India.
Departs daily. Pick up from Delhi International Airport.
Arrive at Delhi Upon arrival welcome, meet & assist at the airport by our representative and transfer to Hotel (Hotel standard check in time at 2PM). Rest of the day at leisure.
Explore Delhi on a full day sightseeing tour. Start with a tour of Old Delhi in the morning: enjoying a cycle rickshaw ride in the bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk followed by a visit to see the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and the Raj Ghat, a memorial built for Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent figure in India’s struggle for freedom. In the afternoon, drive past Lutyen’s Delhi. Visit the tomb of Humayun, tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and the lofty Qutab Minar, an early Mughal structure made of red sandstone and white marble.
Drive to Agra (4-5 hours) for an overnight stay at Hotel. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Agra Fort whose buildings, made of red sandstone and marble, are a mix of Hindu and Islamic architecture followed by a visit to the ornate tomb of Itamudud-Daula. End of the day relax at Hotel.
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise (Oct 2020-Mar 2021 departures). After breakfast back at your hotel continue to Ranthambore (6-7 hours) with an en route stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city built by Emperor Akbar that was abandoned after just 14 years. We stay for two nights at Ranthambore to explore National Park .
Enjoy morning and evening game drives in Ranthambore National Park in search of the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. Other animals include leopard, sloth bear, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, black buck, langur and macaque.
Enjoy a morning game drive. Later drive to Jaipur (4-5 hours). Stay for two nights.
Visit the magnificent 17th century hilltop fort of Amber and the sparkling Mirror Palace. In the afternoon visit the City Palace complex including its museum and the 18th century Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory. Drive through the busy bazaars for a photo stop at the recently restored Hawa Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in Jaipur.
Drive to Pushkar, on reaching there check in at your Hotel, Rest of the day free to explore the local animal market place to trade camels and other animals during this fair and people take bath at Brahm Sarovar. Evening a cultural dance program at a local place followed with a Dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
After breakfast, the morning’s drive brings us to ‘The Blue City’ of Jodhpur, where we’ll stay for a Night. Capital of the former Kingdom of Marwar, Jodhpur owes its prominence to the trade route that once passed its gates, connecting the ports of Gujarat with the cities of the northern plains. The resulting wealth enabled the Marwari rulers to construct one of India’s most fabulous forts – Mehrangarh – on top of a near-vertical escarpment. Also visible, to the south, is the enormous bulk of Umaid Bhawan, a palace built in 1929 by the local Maharaja. In afternoon we will visit the implacable Mehrangarh Fort & Jaswant Thada followed with a Tonga Ride on the local streets of Bazar. Overnight.
After breakfast we’ll set off for the scenic drive over the Plains of Marwar to Ranakpur, where we’ll pause to visit a complex of sumptuously carved white marble temples before continuing on to Udaipur where you will spend two nights, The first half of the day’s journey takes us across a vast, dusty plain studded with giant boulder hills and old-fashioned market towns populated by semi-nomadic Rabari herders and other traditional Rajasthani castes. In the west, the shadowy wall of the Aravalli Mountains gradually grows more distinct. Before climbing into the range, you’ll pause at Ranakpur to visit a cluster of richly sculpted Jain temples. After checked into your hotel in Udaipur, you should have time to wander down to the city to see the great Rajput palaces in the sunset.
Udaipur’s City Palace, seat of the Sisodia Dynasty, holds a feast of Rajput architecture and yields magnificent views over Pichola Lake to the Aravalis. After visiting its palaces, wander down to the Jagdish Temple nearby before heading into the old city to explore the markets. Late afternoon is the time to be at the water’s edge, soaking up the sunset colors and unique atmosphere of this romantic city. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the lake in the evening.
Morning free, later in the day you will be transferred to Airport in order to board flight for Delhi, on reaching we will catch a connecting flight to Amritsar and transferred to The Holiday Inn or similar for two nights. The rest of the day is free for relaxation with a welcome dinner this evening.
A full day of sightseeing starts with a morning walk through the bustling lanes of the old city followed by a visit to the poignant site of Jallianwala Bagh. Visit the majestic Golden Temple complex, one of the holiest shrines of the Sikh faith. Take part in the communal lunch (langar) where thousands are fed for free every day. In the afternoon drive to the Wagah border to see the indulgent joint ‘retreat’ ceremony of the Indian and Pakistani guard.
Heading north, leave the plains of the Punjab and reach the town of Dharamsala (4-5 hours), the current residence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, in the foothills of the Himalaya. Stay for two nights at Clouds End Villa or similar with spectacular views of the Dhauladhar mountain range. In the afternoon visit the nearby Norbulingka Institute, built in the style of the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence in Lhasa (Tibet).
A morning sightseeing tour through the Tibetan Buddhist enclave of Mcleodganj with visits to the Namgyal Monastery, the Kalachakra Temple and the Bhagsunath temple. In the afternoon, relax in one of the many inviting cafes or explore some of the smaller local monasteries.
Leaving Pragpur, drive through picturesque countryside ending with a steep and spectacular climb through the Shivalik Hills to the hill station of Shimla (4-5 hours). Two nights are spent at Shimla.
The morning’s sightseeing tour of Shimla includes a visit to the Vice Regal Lodge, Mock Tudor Library and, Jakhu Temple as well as a walk down the busy Mall Road to see the Gaiety Theatre and Christ Church. In the afternoon take a ride on the affectionately named ‘toy train’ to Kandaghat.
Drive down to Kalka (2 ½ hours) for the express train back to Delhi, staying overnight at the hotel or similar.
Free till transfer to airport for departure.
Conveniently located 4, 5-star and Heritage hotels
