A ROYAL EXPERIENCE
MAHARAJA RETREAT

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Maharaja Retreat
Tour Ref.# HT016/RV   BOOK NOW

Special Feature: Maharaja Forts & Palaces, Castles & Havelis, Local Cuisine etc.
Price: 13 nights from US$ 1555 (per person)
Destination: Rajasthan
Departure Date: As per the client's choice
Transportation : Air-conditioned Car with an expert driver

ITINERARY

Day 01 - Arrive Delhi
Arriving Delhi, you will clear customs and immigration. Leaving the airport, you will be met by our representative, holding a play card with your name on it at the exit. Arrival transfer to your hotel and assistance for check-in will be provided. After check-in overnight at hotel.

Day 02 - Delhi - Mandawa
After an early breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive to Mandawa. Arrive Mandawa and check-in into hotel Castle Mandawa. Mandawa castle, one of the finest castles of Rajasthan is now a beautiful hotel. Mandawa has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions. In the afternoon take a walking tour of the painted 'havelis' of some of the leading business families of the country. Though they no longer live here, the local caretakers are happy to show the visitors around. Enroute you can shop for the colorful art and crafts of Rajasthan: tied and dyed textiles, metal handicrafts, carved wooden artefacts and more. You also get a unique insight to life in the desert by visiting nearby villages on a camel safari. Overnight at hotel.(Breakfast)

Day 03 - Mandawa - Khimsar
After breakfast visit painted havelis & mansions. Also visit Mandawa Town for capturing the rural life in your camera. Later on check-out and drive to Khimsar - which is steeped in history. Founded 2500 years ago by the Jain Saint Mahaveer this is the starting point of the great Indian Desert. The founder of the castle which was built in mid 15th century was Prince Karamsi. On arrival check-in into Hotel Khimsar Fort. Perched on the edge on the great Thar Desert in the heart of rural India, the unique fort at Khimsar offers a wide range of experiences. The battle-scarred walls and turrets remind one of the glorious past of this place. You have an option to relax and pamper yourself with an Kerala aromatherapy massage by expert masseurs. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 04 - Khimsar - Jaisalmer
After an early breakfast, check-out from the hotel and visit Khimsar town. See the rural Rajasthan on Village Tour. Later on continue drive to Jaisalmer - The Citadel City. On the way we pass camel carts, vibrant and colorful Rajasthani women carrying produce to the market, and men sporting brightly colored turbans usually sitting groups just passing the time of the day. On arrival check in into hotel. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 05 - Jaisalmer
After breakfast half day sightseeing of Jaisalmer.  Almost 900 years old, Jaisalmer was a major post on the trade route across the forbidding Thar Desert, and still today, one’s first glimpse of the honey colored walls of the fort, rising out of the hot and barren desert is magical. Untouched by time, Jaisalmer, with its golden crenellated walls and narrow streets lined with exquisite havelies, has a medieval ambience. The fort encloses palaces decorated with delicate jali or lattice worked screens, carved doors and flora carvings, and elaborately carved 12th to 16th century Jain temples. The havelies in both the fort and the town are exceptional. Similar in style to the homes of Venetian merchants, the havelies were the mansions of wealthy traders. The houses are decorated with beautifully carved facades, jali screens and oriel windows, each with an inner courtyard surrounded by richly decorated apartments. To see the beauty of the Thar Desert take a camel ride to Sam Sand Dunes. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 06 - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
After an early breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Jodhpur - The Desert enchantment. On arrival check in into hotel. Later on visit Mehrangarh fort - unsurpassed in beauty & grandeur, it is one of the largest forts in India. Innumerable palaces in the fort, interspersed with sprawling courtyards, are intricately carved Jaswanthada - The 19th century royal cenotaph and the museum located in the Umaid public gardens. After that a visit to Ummed Bhawan Palace. A portion of the Ummed Bhawan Palace has been converted into a museum. The architectural splendors of these remnants will enthrall you. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 07 - Jodhpur - Narlai
After breakfast  visit Guda Bishnoi : The villages are inhabitated by the Bishnoi tribe who are staunch believers in the sanctity of plant and animal life. Villages are marked by Khejri trees and deers, which thrive there.Come back to hotel for collecting your luggage.

You still have time to browse in the bazaars of the old city for Jodhpur’s famous glass bangles, rugged "mojri" slippers and vivid tie and dye fabric. The area around the bazaars is a wonderful example of 19th century town planning, blending Rajasthani concepts with more contemporary styles.

Then, we depart on a two hour drive to Narlai. On arrival check in into Rawla Narlai - A Heritage Resort. A 17th century fortress renovated over the years to have exquisite rooms with period decor. It is situated in the heart of Narlai, a typical Rajasthani village bustling with activity and colours. The Rawla (fortress) provides a stupendous view of a gigantic 350 ft single rock of granite dotted with caves and temples and crowned by a statue of a white elephant. Here you wake up to the sounds of this 17 century village and the early morning chanting coming from the many local temples and mosques. Overnight at Resort. (Breakfast)

Day 08 - Narlai - Kumbhalgarh - Narlai
After an early breakfast take an excursion Kumbhalgarh where you explore the one of the most majestic forts of India. 13 mountain peaks surround the impregnable fortress of Kumbalgarh (54 Kms) at a height of 3281 ft. Seven towering gateways pierce the massive walls of this prominent fortress of Mewar . The young Udai Singh founder of Udaipur took shelter here from his treacherous uncles. Emperor Akbar was defeated by these impregnable walls dotted with cannonballs. In the evening back to Narlai. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 09 - Narlai - Ranakpur - Udaipur
After breakfast, drive to Ranakpur. We have arranged your lunch at Fateh Bagh. Fateh Bagh Palace is recreated in Ranakpur by 65000 pieces of lovingly rebuilt stone by stone out of 200 years old Rawla Koshilav Palace. This is probably India's first attempt at transporting a palace, faithfully preserving the richness of Rajput architecture for 21st century visitors.

After lunch visit Ranakpur Jain Temples complex, one of the biggest and the most important cluster of Jain temples in India. Nestled in the Aravalli range. The Chaumukha Temple, or Four Faced Temple, is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble, the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1400 pillars, no two of which are alike. The two other Jain temples in the complex are Neminath and Parasnath temple.

After that continue drive to Udaipur. Arrive and check-in into hotel. In the evening, you have the option of taking a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch)

Day 10 - Udaipur
After breakfast visit City Palace - the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas. Jagdish Temple is an Indo-Aryan temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has a black stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. Folk Art Museum has an interesting exhibition of folk arts including dresses, dolls, masks, musical instruments, paintings, and puppets. Later on an excursion to Eklingji & Nagda temples. Eklingji, It is famous for the beautifully sculpted temple complex with 108 temples within its high walls built in 734 A.D.The temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Mewar ruler. The walled complex encloses an elaborately pillared hall or mandap under a large pyramidal roof and has four-faced image of Lord Shiva in black marble. Nagda, This ancient place in Mewar was the capital of Bappa Rawal and has a magnificient torana exquisitely carvedwith graceful apsaras. This ancient site dating back to the 6th century A.D. is renowned for the Sas-Bahu temples (9th- 1Oth century A.D.) with interesting architecture and carvings.   In the evening, you have the option of taking a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 11 - Udaipur - Pushkar
After an early breakfast, drive to Pushkar - the city of Brahma. Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the North-West of Ajmer. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas, that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.

Enjoy a peaceful day in the idyllic village around the holy Pushkar Lake. One can walk around the entire lake in about an hour. There is drumming every evening at sunset from the 52 ghats surrounding the lake. Visit various temples and the sacred lake. ( Pushkar fair is world famous and normally is during the months of October or November.) Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 12 - Pushkar - Jaipur
After an early breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check-in into hotel. Afternoon half day city tour covering Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds," one of the major landmarks of Jaipur, although it is actually little more than a facade. The five-storey building overlooks the main street of the old city and is a stunning example of Rajput artistry with its pink, semi-octagonal, honeycombed, sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The City Palace, located in the heart of the old city, is a large complex of courtyards, buildings, and gardens, and also houses an interesting museum. Adjacent to the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, the ancient astronomical observatory built by Raja Jai Singh, whose passion for astronomy was even more notable than his prowess as a warrior. In the evening we have arranged your dinner at Revolving Restaurant. View the Pink City from the 14th storey of the revolving restaurant. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast/Dinner)

Day 13 - Jaipur
After breakfast visit Amer Fort - The royal family's residence at Amber is only 11 km away. Ascend on elephant back, the hill, on which the fort is situated. The palaces and forts of yesteryear, once witness to royal processions, now shine amid the splendor of modern monuments, a juxtaposition accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of an amazing people. It is an example of fascinating blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture built in red sandstone and white marble. The highlight of the fort is the Seesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), a palace known for its craftsmanship in mirrors. Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort palace. Amber was the ancient capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs until Sawai Jai Singh II moved down the hill to his newly created capital, Jaipur. This is one of the most magnificent destinations located on the hills just outside Jaipur. It was built by Raja Man Singh in 1600 AD and completed by Sawai Jai Singh in the 18th century.

In the evening we have arranged a special THEME DINNER at an Ethnic Village Resort where you can savour the taste of RAJASTHANI CUISINE with Folk Dances. Other attractions are CAMEL RIDES,PUPPET SHOW, MAGICIAN, FORTUNE TELLER and VILLAGE CRAFTS. Overnight at hotel.(Breakfast/Dinner)

Day 14 - Jaipur - Delhi (Departure)
After breakfast morning free to relax. In the afternoon check-out from the hotel and drive to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and car with driver will be at your disposal until transfer to International Airport to catch flight for onward destination. (Breakfast)