Day 01 : Arrival /New Delhi

Late Night arrival. Traditional welcome with garlands as our representatives welcome you aboard your Luxury car.

Whilst the room keys are assigned to you, our representative would introduce, India as well as some common Indian customs and courtesies - Welcome to India !!!!

Overnight At Hotel Taj Palace

Day 02 : Delhi

This morning we proceed for a guided tour of New Delhi. Our tour of New Delhi includes visits to such sights as Humayun's Tomb (1586) and Safarjung's Tomb (1753) the Qutab Minar 72 meters high and one of the most perfect towers in the Persian world. The Iron Pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for over 1500 years. Continue with a drive through Embassy area, the Government buildings (1921-1930) and Connaught Place, the heart and main shopping district of the capital.

Afternoon we cross the city and into the walled gates of the Old city with visits to the Jamma Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk (aptly translates to Moonlight Square) where the throngs of shoppers and vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi. Visit the Red Fort (1639-1648 built by Shah Jehan the builder of the Taj Mahal in Agra) to view the inlaid and carved Royal Chambers, on to Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and thereafter Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated.

A Home Visit & A Welcome Dinner : This evening we visit an Indian family for a taste of typical Indian hospitality and home cooked food. The idea of this evening is to give you a 'feel' of the destination you are visiting and not a superficial touristy overview.

Overnight At Hotel Taj Palace (B)

Day 03 : Delhi / Agra.

Following breakfast, drive through one of India's finest freeways to Agra. You would have opportunities to stop en route at well-appointed comfort stops for washroom facilities as well as refreshments. Upon arrival check in to hotel Taj View.

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter how high your expectations are, the Taj never lets you down - the unparalleled glory and beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations. At sun set we visit the Taj Mahal to witness this spectacular monument built for love. Besides perfect symmetry in every aspect of its construction, the inlay work of semi precious stones into marble in pietra dura style is absolutely remarkable.

We would also have an opportunity to visit a marble showroom where we would be able to witness the inlay work done on marble just as at the Taj Mahal

Overnight At Hotel Taj View ( B )

Day 04 : Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur :

Following breakfast, we ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Built by Emperor Akbar, the maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid & other magnificent buildings reflect the skill of the ancient Indian architects.

Afternoon, we drive to Fatehpur Sikri for a guided tour. This abandoned capital of the Mughals is a perfectly preserved city at the height of the empire's splendour. The city divided into religious and secular parts has interesting well-sculpted buildings. From here we continue drive to Jaipur. In a land steeped with heritage, picturesque with exquisite architecture, in a state vibrant with heroic memories and romance, lies the Dream City of Jaipur. The people are dynamic, martial and, need we say it, colourful. Here every walk through the by lanes is a walk through history. Indeed, Jaipur could be compared to a vast open-air museum. Pink turbans jostle with saffron ' odhinis ' (ladies scarves). Camel's buggies and elephants are as commonly found as motor cars and buses.

Upon arrival, check in to Hotel Jai Mahal Palace .

Overnight At Hotel Jai Mahal Palace (B )

Day 05 : Jaipur / Palace On Wheels :

This morning we tour the Amber Fort. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, The Fort is a superb example of Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style of architecture. A slow elephant taxi takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several graceful buildings. Its rugged forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate refinement. Painted scenes of hunting and war adorn the walls with precious stones and mirrors set into the plaster. In the foreground is the Maota Lake with breathtaking reflections of the magnificent Amber Fort-Palace.

Then return to our hotel in time for lunch on our own. Following lunch, a tour Of City Palace & Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The centre of the palace is a seven storied building called Chandra Palace, with fine vies over the gardens and the city. The palace lies in the heart of the city and occupies the whole central grid. The fortified wall has seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and animals that lived in jungles which surrounded the wall that time. Next, we visit the Solar Observatory - an astronomical treasure house, with solar device that give accurate predictions till date.

Next, we visit the Palace on Winds (Hawa Mahal). The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a landmark in Jaipur. It's five - storey structure of pink sandstone encrusted with fine trelliswork and balconies has 953 niches and windows. It was built in 1799 by Pratap Singh and was a royal grandstand for palace women. .

Late afternoon , we are transferred to the train station to board Palace On Wheels Train. Times have changed and winds have shifted, but the Palace On Wheels cruises along in its unique style, the kind only the Maharajas of Yesteryears could have perpetuated and enjoyed. Today of course, each traveler on board is treated like royalty in his or her own right. The exquisite and exclusive Palace on Wheels has luxurious cabins, wall-to-wall carpeting, a well stocked bar, two dining cars, and a very personalized service. . .in fact everything that could comprise of heaven on earth the next 4 days .

Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,D)

Day : 06 Palace On Wheels Train (JAISALMER)

Following breakfast on the train today you visit the residential portions of the Jaisalmer Fort, where one third of the population of the old city still lives.. The design of the houses here remains as they used to a couple of centuries behind time, and so are the lifestyles of the people inhabiting them. This is so as most of the families continue to work for generations for the ruler (though only titular now). Hence there is a sense of continuity. The houses are arranged in narrow lanes and have small windows from where the shy child or the girl peeps through. This city is believed to be the home of the most handsome men and the most gorgeous women in Rajasthan.

You can also walk through the narrow cobbled lanes of the golden Sandstone City to witness the magnificent medieval Indian Havelis (mansions) of medieval Indian merchants. These elegant buildings which are very well preserved tell you a story of how medieval Indian society existed.

Following lunch you visit to the cenotaphs of famous heroes and rulers which are beautifully decorated with fine stonemasons' work, You will also enjoy the fascinating journey of the desert on camel back.. The most interesting way to see the desert is on a camel.. You will pass through villages and frequently come across fields of millet or girls picking berries or boys and flocks of sheep / goats. The livestock are garlanded with bells around their neck and in the desert it is music to the ears.

Dinner will be served at the Moomal Tourist Bungalow after which your train departs for Jodhpur.

Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)

Day 07 : Palace On Wheels Train (JODHPUR)

Arrival 09:00 AM. Breakfast on board. This morning we proceed on a guided tour of Jodhpur.

Jodhpur is the southernmost of the legendary cities of the desert and was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 on the advice of a hermit. The high walls of the massive fort form a delightful contrast to the elegant sandstone facades with their fine carvings inside the palace. Opposite the fort lies Jaswant Thada, a memorial made of white marble which was erected in 1899 to the memory of Jaswant Singh I.

Today Lunch will be served at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel, originally the Royal Palace of the Maharajas of Jodhpur. Evening tea and dinner is served on the train.

Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)

Day 08 : Palace On Wheels Train (SAWAI MADHOPUR - RANTHAMBORE)

Arrival in Sawai Madhopur at 6.30 AM. Following breakfast you are driven to Ranthambore National Park (14 km - 9 miles). Ranthambore is known to have India's Friendliest tigers Assured of protection; these nocturnal creatures are seen often in the day. Once the citadel of Rajput rulers, the fort at Ranthambore faced repeated attacks by invaders and became part of Emperor Akbar's domain in 1569. The Mughals gifted the fort and its adjoining areas to the maharajas of Jaipur who converted its forests into his exclusive hunting preserve.

Sprawled on the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park encompasses an area of 410 sq km in which live a healthy population of about 40 tigers. A large number of deer inhabit the area and leopards are occasionally sighted. The Pandam Taloa lake, located adjacent to the jogi Mahal hunting lodge is the park's favorite water source. Smaller pools at Raj Bagh and Milak also attract a variety of wild life. The best way to explore Ranthambore is in a jeep as the park is well connected by arterial roads and tracks. Some of the popular sighting areas are Nal Ghati, Lahpur, Bakuala, Anantpur and the Kachida valley.

Overnight Palace On Wheels Train - (B,L,D)

Day 09 : Palace On Wheels Train (CHITTAURGARH - UDAIPUR)

Arrival in Chittaurgarh at 7:30 AM. After breakfast on board the train your tour starts with the Chittorgarh Fort. Chittaurgarh is a place immortalized by deeds of valor and sacrifice of two remarkable queens. This was the place where Queen Padmini preferred jauhar (ritual sacrifice by self-immolation), rather than be taken captive, and is submitted to the lust of Alaudin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. Saintly Mirabai's bhajans (devotional songs) still seem to echo through the countryside.

We drive 2 hours in your luxury coach to Udaipur to the Lake Palace Hotel, which is a palace on an island girdled, by hills. Built on a rocky island over Lake Pichola about two and a half centuries ago, once it was the summer palace of the rulers of Mewar. Today this pleasure palace is a luxury hotel like no other in the world. To stay here is an unmissable privilege, affording as it does a glimpse of pleasure that once were the sole preserve of princes. The Lake Palaces Hotel amazes and delights you at every turn. It is pure white marble, every ancient inch of it - slender carved columns, fountains and filigreed screens, marble from the pinnacles of its domed Chatris to the bottom of its swimming pool, created for the private frolics of a princess.

Late afternoon, following lunch at the Lake Palace hotel, we are transferred to Hotel Shiv Niwas Palace .

Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy your fascinating hotel.

Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B,D)

Day 10 : Udaipur :

Following breakfast, we proceed on a guided tour of this "Lake City". Udaipur is a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan. It is probably the most romantic city in a state where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The huge city palace towering over the Lake Pichola is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Though it is a conglomeration of buildings built by successive rulers, it manages to retain a surprising uniformity of design and affords a very fine view of the lake and the city from the upper terraces. The Jagadish temple next to the city palace enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu and his vehicle- a mighty bird called garuda - in a brass image. The temple is a very fine example of Indo-Aryan Art..

Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B)

Day 11 : Udaipur :

Morning at leisure to enjoy this romantic lake city. We also suggest walks along the tranquil lakes or a walk through the bustling bazaars and the residential areas of the old city to witness traditional and typical Rajput lifestyles.

Evening we take a boat cruise on the serene and beautiful Lake Pichola. The island palace on the Lake called Jagmandir Palace is quite fascinating. The Palace provided inspirations and ideas to the builder of the Taj Mahal. The banks of the lake provide interesting glimpses of the daily bathing and the laundry that takes place here. Looking across the lake, with the city and its great palace rising up behind the island palace, is a scene of rare beauty.

Overnight At Shiv Niwas Palace (B)

Day 12 : Udaipur / Delhi (9W 708 - 1530/1640)

Delhi / Departure

Transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel Radisson, where a day room is booked for you until departure late night.