Rajasthan with Varanasi Tour
Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days
Destination: Delhi – Mandawa –Bikaner –Jaisalmer –Jodhpur – Udaipur –Pushkar -Jaipur– Agra – Varanasi – Delhi
Day 1: Delhi
Arrival at Delhi airport, transfer to hotel, check-in at hotel. Relax at Hotel after a long flight. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
 After breakfast, proceed for a sightseeing tour of New and Old Delhi. Our itinerary takes off from Old Delhi, which is a multi-layered city. Our first stop is the Red Fort built by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he shifted his capital from Agra. A short drive brings us to the Great Mosque - The Jama Masjid. Drive on to see the memorial built for Mahatma Gandhi( The Father of Nation ) at Rajghat.
Afternoon Sightseeing tour of New Delhi includes a visit to the Qutub Minar - the tallest stone tower in India built in 1191 AD. Continue to Humayun's Tomb believed to have been designed by his widow. Its plan is based on the description of Islamic paradise gardens and is known to have inspired the Taj Mahal and many later Mughal tombs. Also visit the Bahai Temple - a lotus shaped structure. It is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility. Overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.
Day 03: Mandawa
 After Breakfast proceed for Shekhawati region to a town called Mandawa. This town and the nearby areas of Shekhawati region are famed for its beautiful painted haveli’s (mansions) which were constructed by wealthy merchants of the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Overnight stay at hotel in Mandawa.
Day 04: Bikaner
After breakfast, proceed to Bikaner (a flourishing trade route of medieval period).Visit the world famous rat temple at Deshnok town. Check in at hotel. Later visit the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. Evening time free to stroll in the busy market area of Bikaner city centre. Overnight stay at hotel in Bikaner.
Day 05: Jaisalmer.
 After breakfast proceed for Jaisalmer - The Golden City of Rajasthan and on route visit the fort at Pokaran.Visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive by early evening. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaisalmer.
Day 06: Jaisalmer
In the morning after the breakfast at your hotel discover the hidden bounties of this desert capital of the Bhattis. Visit the Jain temples inside the oldest living citadel in the world. Also visit the Palace with its beautiful museum and also the Patwaon ki haveli just outside the citadel. After lunch leave for Khuri / Sam dunes to witness the sunset amidst the sand dunes in the desert. At Khuri / Sam included is a camel ride to the dunes from the parking. As the sun goes down the western horizon the ambiance is set for the ethnic desert tunes by local artistes. Return to your hotel after sunset. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaisalmer
Day 07: Jodhpur.
 After breakfast, proceed for Jodhpur. Reach the blue city Jodhpur. Upon arrival drive to the Mehrangarh fort the stronghold of the Rathore princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking. Post lunch session introduces you to the fabulous spice market of Jodhpur the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the spices filling the air around you. Later go to Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars. Overnight stay at hotel in Jodhpur.
Day 08: Jodhpur
After breakfast, visit Umaid Bhawan Palace, the present residence of the king of Jodhpur. Evening at Leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Jodhpur.
Day 09: Udaipur
After breakfast proceed for Udaipur which is known as “Venice of East”. En-route Visit world famous Jain Temples of Ranakpur- The eternal Jain pilgrimage centre of Ranakpur. Admire the workmanship of the 16th century temple. Reach Udaipur. Check in at the hotel. Evening at Leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Udaipur.
Day 10: Udaipur
 After breakfast , leave for the magnificent city tour of Mewar - Udaipur. Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See the Peacock Square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises. Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature art schools in the country under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur. Return to the city and visit Sahelion ki Bari- A garden with fountains and a small palace inside it. Sahelion ki Bari is a garden complex where Maharana Sangram Singh build this garden complex with fountains and lakes for his beautiful daughter. In the evening we take a lake cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichhola by sunset and visit the island palace Jagmandir where according to legends the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan lived and got inspired to build the Taj Mahal later.
Day 11: Pushkar
 After breakfast, drive to Pushkar the holiest city of Rajasthan. Enroute visit Chittorgarh. Enjoy one of best drive route in Rajasthan. Check-in at hotel. Pushkar happens to be the holiest places. According to the Hindus as it is considered that Lord Brahma (the Creator) and his wife Saraswati (the godess of learning and music) performed a ritual in the lake. Here we visit the only Brahma temple of the world before intermingling with the local colours in the local bazaar. Pushkar is the world famous for its cattle fair held each year in the month of October/November. Overnight stay at hotel in Pushkar.
Day 12: Jaipur
After breakfast, proceed for Jaipur “The fabled Pink city”. Check-in at hotel. Relax at the Hotel. Afternoon Sightseeing of Jaipur includes a visit to Jantar- Mantar (observatory), Hawa-Mahal (palace of wind) and City Palace. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaipur.
Day 13: Jaipur
After breakfast, proceed for Amber Fort, situated just outside the city (8 kms). You can have the unique experience of traveling on elephant back to and from the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. Evening explore the local markets in Jaipur. Overnight stay at hotel in Jaipur.
Day 14: Agra
After breakfast proceed for Agra . Enroute visit the phantom city of Fatehpur Sikri : the erstwhile capital of the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. Visit the diwan-e-aam - the hall of public audiences where the emperor used to give justice to the people. See Jodhabai's palace (Akbar's Hindu wife) that is even bigger than his own private palace. Later visit Salim Chisti's tomb at the nearby mosque. Salim chisti was a sufi saint who blessed Akbar and his Hindu wife with a long awaited son. Akbar was so overwhelmed that he built a mosque in his remembrance to thank the Sufi saint. Continue drive to Agra. Check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Agra. .
Day 15: Visit Taj Mahal
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Agra .Visit Taj Mahal - built by a grief-stricken emperor, Shah Jahan, as a memorial of eternal love for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Visit Agra Fort which perhaps offers the most moving view of the Taj Mahal from its octagonal tower situated across the River Jamuna.
Visit Sikandra Emperor Akbars, tomb at Sikandra is a magnificent gateway, covered with floral and geometrical arabesque decoration in white and coloured marble. Four elegant Minarets surround the tomb. Evening transfer to Railway Station to board the overnight train to Varanasi.
Day 16: Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi. Check in at Hotel. Later visit Sarnath the sacred city for the Buddhist all over the world. It was here that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon to his first five disciples. Also worth visiting is the museum with artifacts dating back to 3rd century BC. Visit the nearby ruins of the ancient seat of learning in Sarnath. Overnight stay at Hotel in Varanasi.
Day 17: Delhi
Early in the morning at the time of sunrise we take you to banks of the river Ganges where we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika Ghat along the sacred Ganges. Have your breakfast after returning from Boat Ride. Transfer to airport to board the flight to New Delhi. Arrive Delhi. Transfer for International Airport for your flight back to your home/ onward destination.
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