The Magnificent Forts of India

Enjoy breakfast to start your day of sightseeing in Delhi. A mixture of history with a taste of everyday Delhi, today’s itinerary covers all aspects of this former capital of the Mughal Empire. Stop off at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. Built in 1570, it is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Then visit the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. After that visit the bustling Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Enjoy a rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk.

Have lunch at a nice restaurant. Later visit the towering Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall tapering tower of five storeys. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutub Minar's first storey around 1192. Afterwards visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples, or Sikh house of worship in Delhi and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. There is also a sacred pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar."

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Delhi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Agra. Welcome to the city of Wonder… because it is the city of Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world. Pictures of the Taj Mahal do not do complete justice to its magnificence. It is an epitome and symbol of love. You got to be here to feel your jaws drop. Agra used to be the historic capital of the Mughal Empire.

Reach Agra by afternoon. Have lunch at a nice restaurant. Check-in at the hotel and freshen up. In the late afternoon visit Agra Fort, a historical fort, which remained the main residence of the Mughal emperors till 1638. Walking through courtyard after courtyard of this palatial red-sandstone and marble fortress, your amazement keeps growing as you hear about the history of this fort from the guide. In the evening visit the local market to get the true essence of Agra city. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Agra.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Early in the morning, visit the majestic Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by Shah Jahan in 1632 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel, and head towards the Pink City - Jaipur, famous for its broad avenues, massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and royal culture.  On the way visit Chand Baori (Step Well), one of the oldest and most attractive stepwells in Rajasthan. It was built during the 8th and 9th centuries and has 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, which descend 20m to the bottom of the well.

Reach Jaipur by evening. Check-in at the hotel and freshen up. In the evening have a guided walk tour of the famous Pink City markets. Jaipur is also known as the shopper’s paradise. Jaipur's colorful markets offer a great break to stop and shop on your tour. Take in the glint and sparkle of the rows of shops selling hand-crafted bangles and other decoration items. While moving through the markets, you will come across the vivacious culture of this region.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Meals: Breakfast

Have a sumptuous breakfast and then set out for exploring the best attractions of Jaipur. Visit Hawa Mahal ("Palace of Winds"), a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside. Then visit Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, and completed in 1738 CE. Afterward, visit the City Palace. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during the years 1729 to 1732, the vast complex of the palace occupied one-seventh of the walled city. The palace is divided into a series of courtyards, buildings and gardens.

In the afternoon stop by Jal Mahal, a palace in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city. It was built in the 17th century. Then visit the grand Amer Fort (or Amber Fort), also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur and the current structure was built during the late 16th century by Rajput Kings. This magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. In the evening visit Nahargarh Fort, which provides a beautiful bird's eye view of the entire Jaipur city.

Later in the evening enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and head towards the holy, spiritual & peaceful town of Pushkar. Pushkar has a magnetism of its own – it’s quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. It’s a prominent Hindu pilgrimage town and devout Hindus visit at least once in their lifetime. It is famous amongst Hindus for having the only temple of Lord Brahma in the whole world.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival. In the afternoon head out for sightseeing. Visit Pushkar Lake and hang out at the market. The main street is one long bazaar, selling anything to tickle a traveler’s fancy, from hippy-chic tie-dye to didgeridoos. Despite the commercialism and banana pancakes, the town remains enchantingly small and authentically mystic. In the evening visit Brahma Temple.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Pushkar.
 
 Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check-out and head towards Bikaner. Bikaner is a vibrant, dust-swirling desert town with a fabulous fort and an energizing outpost feel. It’s less dominated by tourism than many other Rajasthan cities, though it has plenty of hotels and a busy camel-safari scene.

Reach Bikaner by after noon. Check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit Junagarh Fort, built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1902 in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. It is a stunning red stone building and is a perfect fusion of Mughal, European and Rajput architecture and has a superb collection of paintings and hunting trophies. Afterwards, visit Camel Breeding Farm (National Research Centre on Camel). This camel research and breeding center is the only one of its kind in Asia. The center is spread out over 2000 acres of semi-arid land and is managed by the Government of India.

Reach back at the hotel. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Bikaner.

Meals: Breakfast

After a delicious breakfast check-out and head towards Jaisalmer. A city that has come back almost from the dead in the past half-century, Jaisalmer may be remote but it’s certainly not forgotten – indeed it’s one of Rajasthan’s biggest tourist destinations, and few people go from here without climbing onto a camel in the surrounding Thar Desert. It is known as the 'Golden City' due to its golden sand dunes and forts clad in golden honey sandstone. Jaisalmer is adorned with lakes, ornate Jain temples, and Havelis (mansions).

Reach Jaisalmer by evening. Check-in at the hotel. The evening will be at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast head out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Jaisalmer Fort. Jaisalmer’s unique fort is a living urban center, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It’s honeycombed with narrow, winding lanes, lined with houses and temples, handicraft shops, guesthouses, and restaurants. It is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built-in 1156 AD by the Rajput Rawal (ruler) Jaisal.

Afterward, visit Patwon ki Haveli ('mansion of brocade merchants'), a cluster of 5 small havelis, is an interesting piece of architecture and is the most important among the havelis in Jaisalmer. The first among these havelis was commissioned and constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa and is the biggest and the most ostentatious.

In the evening head out to visit the Sam Sand Dunes, for a genuine Thar Desert experience. The sunset view at the sand dunes is a lifetime experience.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and head towards Jodhpur. Welcome to the land of legendary kings, gladiators, and royalty. Also known as the "The Blue City", "The Sun City" and "The Gateway to Thar", Jodhpur is famous for its beautiful Mehrangarh Fort, vivid blue houses, temples, sweets, and snacks. Seen in the backdrop of the movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Jodhpur attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the globe.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival. The evening will be at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jodhpur.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, set out for local sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. Visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, regally set on a sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that itself stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in India. 

Afterwards visit Jaswant Thada – the milky-white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, sitting above a small lake 1km northeast of Mehrangarh, is an array of whimsical domes. The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun. 

Then visit the lavish Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the world's largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. After that visit Jodhpur market. 

Overnight stay will be at hotel in Jodhpur. 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Kumbhalgarh. Known as the Great Wall of India, it is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan state. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Reach Kumbhalgarh by noon. Check-in at the hotel. Then, visit Kumbhalgarh Fort The magnificent fort is situated in the middle of a forest which has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary. It is the second-largest and the most important Mewar fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh palace. Under the reign of Mewar kings in Rajasthan, the majestic fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century between AD 1443 and 1458 under the direction of Mandan who was a very renowned architect of that time. Named after the King Kumbha, the Kumbhalgarh fort was cleverly designed on a hilltop to provide the strategic position to the Mewar kings to protect them against the attacks from the enemy. The fort was constructed in the exact same place where an old castle existed which was attributed to Samprati who was a Jaina prince of the second century BC. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kumbhalgarh.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and head towards Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh, the mention of the name brings to mind gallant heroic Rajput kings exhibiting valor and sacrifices. A small district mainly known for its UNESCO World Heritage fort perched upon a hill, Chittorgarh is an important tourist place in Rajasthan.

Reach Chittorgarh by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. After that head out to visit Chittorgarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India. The Chittorgarh Fort, plainly known as Chittor is spread majestically over a hill of 590 feet in height and is spread across 692 acres of land is a fine example of the popular Rajput architecture. Then visit Vijay Stambh, also known as Victory Tower. It was constructed by the king of Mewar, Rana Kumbha to celebrate his triumph over the combined forces of Malwa and Gujarat led by Mahmud Khilji, in 1448.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Chittorgarh.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Udaipur - the “City of Lakes”. A fusion of nature, Rajasthani culture & architecture, the picturesque view of the city shouts the story of its past glory. Often referred to as the 'Venice of the East', the city of lakes Udaipur is located around azure water lakes and is surrounded by lush green hills of the Aravalli Ranges.

Reach Udaipur by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. After that visit the famous Sajjangarh Palace (AKA Monsoon Palace). Located just on the outskirts of the city of Udaipur, perched atop a hill, Sajjangarh Palace is a former royal residence belonging to the Mewar dynasty. Reach back at the hotel by evening.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast head out for local sightseeing. Visit Fateh Sagar Lake (one of the most beautiful lakes in Udaipur). Then visit the Sahelion ki Badi, which was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. Afterward, visit City Palace Complex.  It was built over a period of nearly 400 years, atop a hill, in a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. Also, visit the beautiful Jagdish Temple close to the City Palace Complex.

In the evening visit Lake Pichola and enjoy a sunset boat cruise (shared). Then visit Bagore-ki-Haveli, a historic haveli (mansion) that stands magnificently on the waterfront of the surreal Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat. Built in the 18th century by Amar Chand Badwa, the then Prime minister of Mewar kingdom, Bagore Ki Haveli has been restored over a period of time and is now converted into a museum. In the evening enjoy the Dharohar Folk Dance Show at Bagore-ki-Haveli. See Rajasthani folk dancing, with nightly shows of colorful, energetic Marwari, Bhil, and western Rajasthani dances, as well as traditional Rajasthani puppetry.

The overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Udaipur Airport. Board your flight for Delhi.

Hasta La Vista! Bid farewell with the memories of an amazing fun-filled 16 days trip through the Golden Triangle and Royal Rajasthan worth remembering for a lifetime!

Meals: Breakfast