ASIAN ODYSSEYS
INDIA Sample Itinerary
Day 1 : (Arrive Delhi)
Arrive into Delhi by your flight. After clearing immigration and customs, meet with our representative and then transfer to the Taj Mahal hotel where accommodation is reserved for immediate occupancy.
The rest of the day is at leisure to recoup from the long flight over. Overnight in Delhi.
Taj Majal Hotel
Day 2: Delhi
Delhi, the Empress of Indian cities has a fascinating history and stimulating present. She has often been sacked and left naked and desolate. But she could not be despoiled of the incomparable situation that marks her for the metropolis of a great empire. The capital of India, Delhi has been the seat of power of a number of dynasties – the Rajputs, the Afghans, the Turks and the Mughals who continued their imperial line until the British. Scattered over are surviving ruins, remnants of mighty edifices, tombs of warriors and saints, which, in an impressive sense of magnificence are memorials not of a single city but of supplanted nations.
This morning, we visit Akshardam Temple, the monument consists of 234 ornately carved pillars ,nine domes and 20000 murtis or statues of Hinduism .It is constructed entirely from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian carrara marble .
We suggest lunch at the popular in-house `Veda’ restaurant.
Later in the afternoon, we drive to the Connaught Place area and visit the Hanuman Temple dedicated to the Monkey God, a great local scene. We conclude the tour with a visit to the Sikh temple called `Gurudwara’.
Overnight at the Taj Mahal hotel.
Day 3 : (In Delhi)
This morning, we drive around New Delhi with its majestic boulevards and grand government buildings. India Gate, Delhi's triumphal arch, stands at one end of the Rajpath. At the other end of the Rajpath stands the official residence of India's president, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a complex of buildings that mix Mughal and Western architectural styles.
Continue on to visit the Tomb of Humayun a example of Mughal architecture. The design elements of this tomb – a squat building lighted by high arched entrances topped by a protuberant dome and surrounded by formal gardens, were to be refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal.
This afternoon, we explore the historical part of the city also known as Old Delhi starting with `Shah Jehanabad’ which has some dramatic remnants of the Mughal Empire in the imposing Red Fort and Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, built by Emperor Shah Jehan, creator of the Taj Mahal. We ride trishaws through its principal street, Chandni Chowk.
Our lunch is reserved in the fashionable Olive restaurant specializing in Mediterranean Cuisine.
We then see the earliest surviving Islamic monument, the Qutb mosque and minar created by the founder of the sometimes-called Slave Dynasty, Qutb-ud-din-Aybak. 73 meters high and consisting of 5 storeys, the Qutb Minar construction started in 1199 on what was intended to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world.
This evening, there lies an option to visit Delhi Haat where a wide variety of skillfully crafted handicrafts from different States of the country are available in this exotic bazaar. These range from intricate rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, to sophisticated fabric and drapery. Gems, beads, brass ware, metal crafts, silk and woolens....the range is limitless.
Overnight at the Taj Mahal hotel.
Day 4 : (Delhi – Varanasi)
We leave Delhi this morning for the `Soul of India’. Our Jet Airways service 9W 723 departs at 10:30 a.m. and arrives into the city of Varanasi at 11:45 a.m. It’s a 40 minute drive from the airport to our hotel the Nadesar Palace.
Varanasi, also called `Kashi’ (the city of light) is one of the oldest cities in the world. The banks of the `sacred’ Ganges teem with masses of humanity, as the rich and the poor, the families and the sanyasis (renouncer) dip in the river's holy water in an effort to achieve purity.
Lunch is at the hotel.
After lunch, visit Sarnath, where the enlightened Buddha preached his first sermon : All is sorrow.
Later, seated in trishaws, we pedal through the heart of this ancient city and its exotic markets towards the banks of the Ganges river. At dusk, we take a boat on what is referred to as the `River of Heaven’ immersing in the daily life, rich with the chant of priests, the sound of temple bells and the fragrance of flowers and incense. We see Brahmins along the banks invoking Lord Shiva, the most powerful of the Hindu trinity, with a ceremonial ritual known as Aarti.
We return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight in Varanasi.
Day 5 : (Varanasi - Delhi – Agra)
After a cup of coffee and croissant, an option to return to the river at sunrise, when the banks are alive with the multitude of worshippers who come to immerse themselves honoring life’s milestones as they face the rising run. This worship form is better known as “Surya Namaskar” which translates into paying homage to the Sun God.
Before returning to the hotel for breakfast, for those interested we can further explore the maze of Varanasi’s by-lanes and some of the living temples.
Later, transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 336 which departs Varanasi at 1.40 p.m. and arrives Delhi at 3.00 p.m.
Take a connecting Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 4367 which departs Delhi at 5.15 p.m. and arrives Agra at 6.15 p.m.
Upon arrival, we transfer and check-in to the Amarvilas.
The rooms & public areas afford uninterrupted views of the Taj Mahal and its classical architecture is complemented by elaborate Mughul gardens, terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions. Amongst the Muslim rulers, Emperor Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan lifted the powerful Mughul Empire to unprecedented heights of cultural glory and aesthetic achievements. The grandeur of the Amarvilas reflects this.
Overnight at the Amarvilas.
Day 6 : (In Agra)
Post breakfast, we proceed to visit the Taj Mahal.
The ivory gate through which all dreams pass. We visit the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most perfect architectural monument in the world. To the poet Tagore, a `tear on the face of eternity’.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
This afternoon, we begin exploring Agra’s `other’ historic contribution, the Agra Fort, a World Heritage Site credited to Emperor Akbar, India’s great visionary.
An option exists to visit Kohinoor, the erstwhile jewelers to the Mughal Court that have been featured in National Geographic. The Marble Inlay factories steeped in this decorative art culture are also a specialty of Agra.
Overnight at the Amarvilas Agra.
This morning, we drive around New Delhi with its majestic boulevards and grand government buildings. India Gate, Delhi's triumphal arch, stands at one end of the Rajpath. At the other end of the Rajpath stands the official residence of India's president, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a complex of buildings that mix Mughal and Western architectural styles.
Continue on to visit the Tomb of Humayun a example of Mughal architecture. The design elements of this tomb – a squat building lighted by high arched entrances topped by a protuberant dome and surrounded by formal gardens, were to be refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal.
This afternoon, we explore the historical part of the city also known as Old Delhi starting with `Shah Jehanabad’ which has some dramatic remnants of the Mughal Empire in the imposing Red Fort and Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, built by Emperor Shah Jehan, creator of the Taj Mahal. We ride trishaws through its principal street, Chandni Chowk.
Our lunch is reserved in the fashionable Olive restaurant specializing in Mediterranean Cuisine.
We then see the earliest surviving Islamic monument, the Qutb mosque and minar created by the founder of the sometimes-called Slave Dynasty, Qutb-ud-din-Aybak. 73 meters high and consisting of 5 storeys, the Qutb Minar construction started in 1199 on what was intended to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world.
This evening, there lies an option to visit Delhi Haat where a wide variety of skillfully crafted handicrafts from different States of the country are available in this exotic bazaar. These range from intricate rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, to sophisticated fabric and drapery. Gems, beads, brass ware, metal crafts, silk and woolens....the range is limitless.
Overnight at the Taj Mahal hotel.
Day 4 : (Delhi – Varanasi)
We leave Delhi this morning for the `Soul of India’. Our Jet Airways service 9W 723 departs at 10:30 a.m. and arrives into the city of Varanasi at 11:45 a.m. It’s a 40 minute drive from the airport to our hotel the Nadesar Palace.
Varanasi, also called `Kashi’ (the city of light) is one of the oldest cities in the world. The banks of the `sacred’ Ganges teem with masses of humanity, as the rich and the poor, the families and the sanyasis (renouncer) dip in the river's holy water in an effort to achieve purity.
Lunch is at the hotel.
After lunch, visit Sarnath, where the enlightened Buddha preached his first sermon : All is sorrow.
Later, seated in trishaws, we pedal through the heart of this ancient city and its exotic markets towards the banks of the Ganges river. At dusk, we take a boat on what is referred to as the `River of Heaven’ immersing in the daily life, rich with the chant of priests, the sound of temple bells and the fragrance of flowers and incense. We see Brahmins along the banks invoking Lord Shiva, the most powerful of the Hindu trinity, with a ceremonial ritual known as Aarti.
We return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight in Varanasi.
Day 5 : (Varanasi - Delhi – Agra)
After a cup of coffee and croissant, an option to return to the river at sunrise, when the banks are alive with the multitude of worshippers who come to immerse themselves honoring life’s milestones as they face the rising run. This worship form is better known as “Surya Namaskar” which translates into paying homage to the Sun God.
Before returning to the hotel for breakfast, for those interested we can further explore the maze of Varanasi’s by-lanes and some of the living temples.
Later, transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 336 which departs Varanasi at 1.40 p.m. and arrives Delhi at 3.00 p.m.
Take a connecting Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 4367 which departs Delhi at 5.15 p.m. and arrives Agra at 6.15 p.m.
Upon arrival, we transfer and check-in to the Amarvilas.
The rooms & public areas afford uninterrupted views of the Taj Mahal and its classical architecture is complemented by elaborate Mughul gardens, terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions. Amongst the Muslim rulers, Emperor Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan lifted the powerful Mughul Empire to unprecedented heights of cultural glory and aesthetic achievements. The grandeur of the Amarvilas reflects this.
Overnight at the Amarvilas.
Day 6 : (In Agra)
Post breakfast, we proceed to visit the Taj Mahal.
The ivory gate through which all dreams pass. We visit the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most perfect architectural monument in the world. To the poet Tagore, a `tear on the face of eternity’.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
This afternoon, we begin exploring Agra’s `other’ historic contribution, the Agra Fort, a World Heritage Site credited to Emperor Akbar, India’s great visionary.
An option exists to visit Kohinoor, the erstwhile jewelers to the Mughal Court that have been featured in National Geographic. The Marble Inlay factories steeped in this decorative art culture are also a specialty of Agra.
Overnight at the Amarvilas Agra.
Day 7 : (Agra – Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri)
After breakfast, check-out and drive an hour to the Indian countryside to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone former capital of the Mughal empire. Politically astute and remarkably broadminded for his time, India’s greatest emperor successfully addressed the Hindu-Moslem divide by marrying a Hindu princess whilst also combining their distinctive architectural styles finely exampled at this World Heritage Site.
After the visit, we continue our journey driving around 3 hours to Jaipur in time for a late lunch.
Jaipur is where the enduring charisma of the past blends with the throbbing vitality of today. Where a colorful cast of characters - from painters and potters to artists and antique dealer s - present a fascinating picture of a city that is alive to both tradition and change. Today, Jaipur has spread far beyond the pink crenellated walls that once defined its boundaries. It presents a fascinating picture of a city where growth, evolution and change are sustained by tradition.
We live a part of Jaipur’s history staying at the Rambagh Palace, set on 47 acres of lush gardens. Originally built in 1835 as a modest structure, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II elevated the Rambagh to the status of a palace.
The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful gardens of the Rambagh Palace and its spa.
OR : We have an option to explore the markets of Jaipur. Shopping in Jaipur is quite exhilarating. The bustling bazaars are laden with souvenirs, carpets, world famous gems and jewelry, the specialty being the traditional hand block printed fabric, antique textiles and handicrafts.
Overnight in Jaipur. RAmbaugh Palace
Day 8 : (In Jaipur)
This morning, trace Jaipur’s history at the Amber fort, the former seat of the Rajput rulers of Jaipur. Ascending the fortress seated in a jeep, wander around the beautiful palaces and visit the Shiladevi temple (which continues to be the private temple of the Royal family) with its exquisite marble carvings and silver door.
We then depart for Dera Amer, the estate of Udaijit Singh, grandson of the erstwhile Chief Secretary of Jaipur state and a close cousin of the legendary Maharaja of Jaipur, Man Singhji. The safari concludes at the pavilion where lunch is served.
This afternoon we drive into old Jaipur stopping by the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a stunning example of Rajput artistry made of red and pink sand stone, beautifully outlined with white borders and motif's painted with quick lime.
Our next highlight is the open air royal observatory “Jantar Mantar”. Maharaja Jai Singh, the creator of Jaipur loved mathematics and science, spent much of his time studying astronomy, he constructed masonry observatories at Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain, Mathura and most impressively the `Jantar Mantar’ at Jaipur, built between 1728 and 1734.
Opposite the Observatory is the City Palace and Museum with its fine collection of textiles.
Overnight at the Rambagh Palace.
Day 9 : (Jaipur -Jodhpur)
This morning is at leisure to enjoy the Rambagh Palace.
Post lunch, transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher flight IT 4301 which departs Jaipur at 3.10 p.m. and arrives Jodhpur at 4.10 p.m.
Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rajput clan ‘Rathores'. Jodhpur certainly has one of the country's most spectacular fortress and palace complexes. It was from here that those baggie tight horse riding trousers `jodhpurs' took their name.
In Jodhpur we stay at the Taj Hari Mahal.
Overnight in Jodhpur.
Day 10 :( Jodhpur)
After breakfast, we proceed by jeep for a village safari. Visit small villages including the Bishnoi tribe famous as the earliest environmentalists. Also visit local weavers, potters, dyers and gypsy tribes in their homes who share your curiosity. En route view the wildlife of this region, like black buck, blue bull and spotted deer. The safari will conclude at the local chieftain’s house at Rohet where we will meet the family and enjoy lunch with them.
This afternoon, visit the Meherangarh Fort and its Museum section which has a well documented collection of the Maharajas private art and miniature paintings.
Overnight at the Taj Hari Mahal.
Day 11 : (Jodhpur - Udaipur)
This morning, enjoy a heritage walk through the old city. A fascinating experience as you walk through and perhaps visit a few local homes, pass through the bazaar laden with spices, grains, utensils and other daily use items. In the market square sits the towns hairstylist and barber, a `local’ dentist and other interesting scenes.
This afternoon, we check-out and transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 4302 which departs Jodhpur at 4.40 p.m. and arrives Udaipur at 7.10 p.m. (the flight makes a stop en route in Jaipur).
On arrival, transfer and check-in to the Taj Lake Palace.
The city of Udaipur or the city of `sunrise’ that combines real beauty with a picturesque association of a great and glorious past. The legendary Ranas or kings of this state traced their ancestry back to the sun ! It stands in a valley, amidst green hills on the banks of the wide, steel blue lake Pichola and is regarded as the most romantic spot in India.
Our stay here is at the Taj Lake Palace, conceived in romance in 1746 and set against the backdrop of the majestic Aravali mountains on one side of the lake and lofty palaces on the other. Once the summer palace of the rulers of Mewar it was built two and a half centuries ago by Maharana Jagat Sing II. A pleasure palace like no other in India, or indeed, in the world. To stay here is an unmissable experience, affording as it does, a glimpse of the opulence that was the sole preserve of princes. Where you arrive not by car but by boat. It is built in pure white marble, every ancient inch of it – slender carved columns, fountains, painted ceilings, filigreed screens – marble form the pinnacles of its domed chattris to the bottom of its swimming pool, created for the private frolics of princes.
Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace.
Day 12 : (In Udaipur)
Following breakfast, we take a 40-minute drive to visit the interesting little temple of Eklingji, which is an important pilgrimage site where people flock to worship Lord Shiva, the protector and destroyer. Of this 108-temple complex the main temple was originally built in the 8th century with an elaborately pillared hall featuring a four faced Shiva image of black marble. Also visit the nearby ancient temples of Nagda, which date back to the 4th century. Ancient rock edicts, stone inscriptions and very early shrines which the tribals worship even today.
Later, we take a small walk into the nearby Delwara Village which retains its culture and authentic style. Everyday life is encountered in this 450 year old settlement which has a varied community comprising of Rajputs, Patels, Gametis and other distinctive tribes. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “India lives in her seven hundred thousand villages.”
Enjoy lunch at the nearby Devi Garh Palace, an 18th century castle conceived after years of restoration, as a place where the past meets the future.
OR
Return to Udaipur for lunch.
At sunset, we take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. On little islands in the lake, from the waters edge, rise marble palaces of pure white that glisten like fairy castles.
If the Venetian owned the Pichola (Lake) he might say with justice, “See It And Die” –
Rudyard Kipling.
Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace.
Day 13 : (Udaipur – Bombay)
After breakfast, we drive to see the massive City Palace, crowning a ridge in which the city clusters along the lake. Begun in the 16th century the palace is a maze of reception halls, residential suites and internal courts built above the water. The most elaborate of the inner courts is the `Mor Chowk’ or Peacock Court.
Later, explore the city and its many narrow and twisting by lanes of the Old City.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
Post lunch, transfer to the airport for the Air India flight AI 471 which departs Udaipur at 3.50 p.m. and arrives Bombay at 4.25 p.m.
With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city.
In Bombay, we stay at the renowned Taj Mahal Palace located by the sea face and adjoining the Indo-Saracenic Gateway of India built to commemorate the visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911.
Overnight in Bombay.
Day 14 : (In Bombay)
Our encounter of the city begins with the Dhobi Ghat; washing of dirty linen in public! This open air laundry is another facet of Bombay, like the Dabbawallahs. Dhobis (washer men and women) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily.
Later, we visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use.
Before lunch, we explore the city passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus. Continuing to the seafront called the Queen’s Necklace, uphill to enjoy the vistas.
Lunch is at the popular sea food restaurant, Trishna, reviewed by the New York Times as one of the best restaurants.
No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar. The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see anywhere else in a lifetime.
OR
Visit the following Art Galleries show casing Contemporary Art:
Sakshi, Chatterjee & Lal, Volte, Chemould. There are some fine shopping options available in Bombay.
Overnight at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
Day 15 : (In Bombay)
This morning, we drive via the famous Art Deco Marine Drive, also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay to visit Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
Continue drive onto the Churchgate Railway Terminus to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city. Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’. Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer. Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
We suggest lunch at the `Khyber’, a popular eatery patronized for its delicious Northwest frontier cuisine.
Cosmopolitan Bombay offers a variety of activities and interesting shopping opportunities, which can be independently explored with assistance of a guide and car. There’s a range of shopping options, for exclusive fabrics and jewelry stores.
Overnight in Bombay.
Day 16 : (Depart Bombay)
Post breakfast, walk across to the jetty near the Gateway of India for an excursion by a motor launch to Elephanta Island, located some four miles from the city, originally called Gharapuri (‘Fortress City’) and renamed ‘Elephanta’ by the Portuguese who found a large stone elephant near the landing place. Within the main rock-cut temple, probably dating from between 450 to 750 A.D. are found large sculptured panels, the most interesting of which is the three headed Shiva shown as the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. Other Shiva panels includes one of the God dancing the ‘Tandava’ and thereby causing the world to shake.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
The afternoon is at leisure for independent activities with the car available.
Late Evening Departure Flight
—¬–
After breakfast, check-out and drive an hour to the Indian countryside to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone former capital of the Mughal empire. Politically astute and remarkably broadminded for his time, India’s greatest emperor successfully addressed the Hindu-Moslem divide by marrying a Hindu princess whilst also combining their distinctive architectural styles finely exampled at this World Heritage Site.
After the visit, we continue our journey driving around 3 hours to Jaipur in time for a late lunch.
Jaipur is where the enduring charisma of the past blends with the throbbing vitality of today. Where a colorful cast of characters - from painters and potters to artists and antique dealer s - present a fascinating picture of a city that is alive to both tradition and change. Today, Jaipur has spread far beyond the pink crenellated walls that once defined its boundaries. It presents a fascinating picture of a city where growth, evolution and change are sustained by tradition.
We live a part of Jaipur’s history staying at the Rambagh Palace, set on 47 acres of lush gardens. Originally built in 1835 as a modest structure, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II elevated the Rambagh to the status of a palace.
The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful gardens of the Rambagh Palace and its spa.
OR : We have an option to explore the markets of Jaipur. Shopping in Jaipur is quite exhilarating. The bustling bazaars are laden with souvenirs, carpets, world famous gems and jewelry, the specialty being the traditional hand block printed fabric, antique textiles and handicrafts.
Overnight in Jaipur. RAmbaugh Palace
Day 8 : (In Jaipur)
This morning, trace Jaipur’s history at the Amber fort, the former seat of the Rajput rulers of Jaipur. Ascending the fortress seated in a jeep, wander around the beautiful palaces and visit the Shiladevi temple (which continues to be the private temple of the Royal family) with its exquisite marble carvings and silver door.
We then depart for Dera Amer, the estate of Udaijit Singh, grandson of the erstwhile Chief Secretary of Jaipur state and a close cousin of the legendary Maharaja of Jaipur, Man Singhji. The safari concludes at the pavilion where lunch is served.
This afternoon we drive into old Jaipur stopping by the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a stunning example of Rajput artistry made of red and pink sand stone, beautifully outlined with white borders and motif's painted with quick lime.
Our next highlight is the open air royal observatory “Jantar Mantar”. Maharaja Jai Singh, the creator of Jaipur loved mathematics and science, spent much of his time studying astronomy, he constructed masonry observatories at Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain, Mathura and most impressively the `Jantar Mantar’ at Jaipur, built between 1728 and 1734.
Opposite the Observatory is the City Palace and Museum with its fine collection of textiles.
Overnight at the Rambagh Palace.
Day 9 : (Jaipur -Jodhpur)
This morning is at leisure to enjoy the Rambagh Palace.
Post lunch, transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher flight IT 4301 which departs Jaipur at 3.10 p.m. and arrives Jodhpur at 4.10 p.m.
Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rajput clan ‘Rathores'. Jodhpur certainly has one of the country's most spectacular fortress and palace complexes. It was from here that those baggie tight horse riding trousers `jodhpurs' took their name.
In Jodhpur we stay at the Taj Hari Mahal.
Overnight in Jodhpur.
Day 10 :( Jodhpur)
After breakfast, we proceed by jeep for a village safari. Visit small villages including the Bishnoi tribe famous as the earliest environmentalists. Also visit local weavers, potters, dyers and gypsy tribes in their homes who share your curiosity. En route view the wildlife of this region, like black buck, blue bull and spotted deer. The safari will conclude at the local chieftain’s house at Rohet where we will meet the family and enjoy lunch with them.
This afternoon, visit the Meherangarh Fort and its Museum section which has a well documented collection of the Maharajas private art and miniature paintings.
Overnight at the Taj Hari Mahal.
Day 11 : (Jodhpur - Udaipur)
This morning, enjoy a heritage walk through the old city. A fascinating experience as you walk through and perhaps visit a few local homes, pass through the bazaar laden with spices, grains, utensils and other daily use items. In the market square sits the towns hairstylist and barber, a `local’ dentist and other interesting scenes.
This afternoon, we check-out and transfer to the airport for the Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 4302 which departs Jodhpur at 4.40 p.m. and arrives Udaipur at 7.10 p.m. (the flight makes a stop en route in Jaipur).
On arrival, transfer and check-in to the Taj Lake Palace.
The city of Udaipur or the city of `sunrise’ that combines real beauty with a picturesque association of a great and glorious past. The legendary Ranas or kings of this state traced their ancestry back to the sun ! It stands in a valley, amidst green hills on the banks of the wide, steel blue lake Pichola and is regarded as the most romantic spot in India.
Our stay here is at the Taj Lake Palace, conceived in romance in 1746 and set against the backdrop of the majestic Aravali mountains on one side of the lake and lofty palaces on the other. Once the summer palace of the rulers of Mewar it was built two and a half centuries ago by Maharana Jagat Sing II. A pleasure palace like no other in India, or indeed, in the world. To stay here is an unmissable experience, affording as it does, a glimpse of the opulence that was the sole preserve of princes. Where you arrive not by car but by boat. It is built in pure white marble, every ancient inch of it – slender carved columns, fountains, painted ceilings, filigreed screens – marble form the pinnacles of its domed chattris to the bottom of its swimming pool, created for the private frolics of princes.
Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace.
Day 12 : (In Udaipur)
Following breakfast, we take a 40-minute drive to visit the interesting little temple of Eklingji, which is an important pilgrimage site where people flock to worship Lord Shiva, the protector and destroyer. Of this 108-temple complex the main temple was originally built in the 8th century with an elaborately pillared hall featuring a four faced Shiva image of black marble. Also visit the nearby ancient temples of Nagda, which date back to the 4th century. Ancient rock edicts, stone inscriptions and very early shrines which the tribals worship even today.
Later, we take a small walk into the nearby Delwara Village which retains its culture and authentic style. Everyday life is encountered in this 450 year old settlement which has a varied community comprising of Rajputs, Patels, Gametis and other distinctive tribes. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “India lives in her seven hundred thousand villages.”
Enjoy lunch at the nearby Devi Garh Palace, an 18th century castle conceived after years of restoration, as a place where the past meets the future.
OR
Return to Udaipur for lunch.
At sunset, we take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. On little islands in the lake, from the waters edge, rise marble palaces of pure white that glisten like fairy castles.
If the Venetian owned the Pichola (Lake) he might say with justice, “See It And Die” –
Rudyard Kipling.
Overnight at the Taj Lake Palace.
Day 13 : (Udaipur – Bombay)
After breakfast, we drive to see the massive City Palace, crowning a ridge in which the city clusters along the lake. Begun in the 16th century the palace is a maze of reception halls, residential suites and internal courts built above the water. The most elaborate of the inner courts is the `Mor Chowk’ or Peacock Court.
Later, explore the city and its many narrow and twisting by lanes of the Old City.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
Post lunch, transfer to the airport for the Air India flight AI 471 which departs Udaipur at 3.50 p.m. and arrives Bombay at 4.25 p.m.
With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city.
In Bombay, we stay at the renowned Taj Mahal Palace located by the sea face and adjoining the Indo-Saracenic Gateway of India built to commemorate the visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911.
Overnight in Bombay.
Day 14 : (In Bombay)
Our encounter of the city begins with the Dhobi Ghat; washing of dirty linen in public! This open air laundry is another facet of Bombay, like the Dabbawallahs. Dhobis (washer men and women) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily.
Later, we visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use.
Before lunch, we explore the city passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus. Continuing to the seafront called the Queen’s Necklace, uphill to enjoy the vistas.
Lunch is at the popular sea food restaurant, Trishna, reviewed by the New York Times as one of the best restaurants.
No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar. The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see anywhere else in a lifetime.
OR
Visit the following Art Galleries show casing Contemporary Art:
Sakshi, Chatterjee & Lal, Volte, Chemould. There are some fine shopping options available in Bombay.
Overnight at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
Day 15 : (In Bombay)
This morning, we drive via the famous Art Deco Marine Drive, also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay to visit Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
Continue drive onto the Churchgate Railway Terminus to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city. Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’. Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer. Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
We suggest lunch at the `Khyber’, a popular eatery patronized for its delicious Northwest frontier cuisine.
Cosmopolitan Bombay offers a variety of activities and interesting shopping opportunities, which can be independently explored with assistance of a guide and car. There’s a range of shopping options, for exclusive fabrics and jewelry stores.
Overnight in Bombay.
Day 16 : (Depart Bombay)
Post breakfast, walk across to the jetty near the Gateway of India for an excursion by a motor launch to Elephanta Island, located some four miles from the city, originally called Gharapuri (‘Fortress City’) and renamed ‘Elephanta’ by the Portuguese who found a large stone elephant near the landing place. Within the main rock-cut temple, probably dating from between 450 to 750 A.D. are found large sculptured panels, the most interesting of which is the three headed Shiva shown as the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. Other Shiva panels includes one of the God dancing the ‘Tandava’ and thereby causing the world to shake.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
The afternoon is at leisure for independent activities with the car available.
Late Evening Departure Flight
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