Exotic Rajasthan

Day 1: Arrive Udaipur

On arrival at Udaipur airport assistance and transfer to hotel.

In the evening watch "Dharohar" folk dance show at Bagore-ki-Haveli. A gorgeous 18th century haveli that has been converted into a museum showcasing Mewar art and architecture. The haveli puts on one of the best Rajasthani folk dance shows in Rajasthan. For an hour, performers dance to Rajasthani folk music wearing bright coloured ethnic dresses. The dances are varied and demonstrate the tradition and culture of Rajasthani folklore. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Udaipur

Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Udaipur. The city of lakes is located around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis. The famous Lake Palace, located in the middle of Lake Pichola is one of the most beautiful sights of Udaipur. It is also home to Jaisamand Lake, claimed to be the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia. The beautiful City Palace and Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) add to the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city. The city is also known for its profusion of zinc and marble. Solar observatory in Lake Fateh Sagar is the only observatory in India located on an island and has been made on the pattern of Big Bear Lake in Southern California.

Visit City Palace, Museum, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon Ki Bari, Eklingji & Nagda Temple. Evening Boat Ride at Lake Pichola.

Evening enjoy boat cruise on Lake Pichola, see the ghats along the lake and the interesting buildings on the banks. The view of the city palace from the lake is spectacular. Lake Pichola, is an artificial fresh water lake, created in the year 1362 AD, named after the nearby Picholi village. It is one of the several contiguous lakes, and developed over the last few centuries in and around the famous Udaipur city. The lakes around Udaipur were primarily created by building dams to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the city and its neighborhood. Two islands, Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir are located within Pichola Lake, and have been developed with several palaces to provide views of the lake. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Udaipur - Kumbhalgarh (85kms/ 1hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Kumbhalgarh check in at hotel.

Later visit Kumbhalgarh Fort the most important citadel cradled in the Aravali Ranges built in the 15th century AD by Rana Kumbha. The inaccessibility and hostility of the topography lends a semblance of invincibility to the fort. It served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge to King Udai of Mewar in his early childhood when Banbir killed Vikramaditya and usurped the throne. It is of immense sentimental significance for the people being the birthplace of Mewar's legendary king Maharana Pratap. The fort is self-contained in all respect to withstand a protracted siege. Its defences could be breached only once by the combined armies of the Mughal and of Amber primarily for scarcity of drinking water. There is a magnificent array of temples built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds. The fort also offers a superb bird’s eye view of the surroundings. The fort's massive wall stretches some 36 kms with a width enough to take eight horses abreast. Maharana Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century. The fort's large compound has very interesting ruins and a walk around it can be very educative.

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary encircles the massive fort of Kumbhalgarh. Whether you are a wild-life lover or just someone who wants to commune with nature, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary has the perfect setting for it. Spread across parts of the Aravali range as well, the sanctuary is home to a number of endangered species. It offers you the chance to catch a glimpse of jungle cats, hyenas, jackals, leopards, sloth bears, nilgai, sambhar, chausingha, chinkara, hares, etc. You can even follow wolves around and see them engaged in their activities. Apart from the animals, you can also gaze at a number of birds at the sanctuary. Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary is blessed with a variety of flora that includes a number of trees and plants that exhibit herbal properties.

Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Kumbhalgarh – Ranakpur - Rohet (165kms/ 3hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Rohet via visiting Ranakpur.

Later visit The Ranakpur Temple complex comprises of 1444 intricately carved pillars, 24 pillared halls accompanied by 80 domes which are borne by 400 columns. The apogee of this entire temple architecture is the fact that no two pillars in here are the same! The temple structure has five spires, each of which houses a shrine underneath, and it is under the largest spire in the axis of the main entrance (Chaumukha Shrine) that one can locate the 6 feet tall statue of Lord Adinath. Another exquisite aspect that has also earned the temple its name is the carving of the four-headed image of Adinath, sheltered by a 108-headed snake with numerous tails. The four heads face four directions, suggesting the pursuit of the Tirthankaras. The entire ceiling of this temple complex is bedecked with geometric designs and scrollwork. However, it is the carvings of the nymphs and celestial maidens playing musical instruments, at the height of nearly 45 feet that really draws the eye.

Continue drive to Rohet check in at hotel.

Later, visit Rohetgarh and enjoy safari’s (Jeep, Camel & Horse) organized by the hotel itself to the village of Bishnoi’s and Craftsmen’s. Half day Jeep/ Camel/ Horse Safari could be a 2hr ride in the morning or evening. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Rohet – Jodhpur (45kms/ 1hrs approx approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Jodhpur via visiting Bishnoi Village - Jeep Safari (20kms from Jodhpur)

Guda village, a Bishnoi village, is home to a vivid range of exotic wildlife and nature. It is a habitat for thousands of migratory birds in the area. One can often catch the Demoiselle crane frolicking at the lake. Antelopes and black bucks can also be spotted by the pond. This place is a must-visit for nature lovers. The Bishnoi community inhabits the village. The villagers are staunch worshippers of nature in all its forms, specially the sanctity of plant and animal life. They even pray to the green trees and animals that inhabit their land and make every effort to conserve the environment. Another fact about the Bishnoi tribals is that they worship Lord Vishnu and are vegetarians. It is the perfect place to experience the traditions and customs of tribal life. It is a place caught in a delightful time warp, where life still goes on like the days of the past.

Thereafter drive to Jodhpur check in at hotel.

Afternoon excursion to Mandore, the ancient capital of Marwar. This area is of major historical importance and you will find the cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s former rulers. Unlike the original chhatri-shaped cenotaphs that are typical patterns of Rajasthan architecture, these are built along the lines of Hindu temples. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Jodhpur – Pushkar (190kms/ 4hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel city tour of Jodhpur, popularly known as the Blue City. The name is clearly befitting as most of the architecture – forts, palaces, temples, havelis and even houses are built in vivid shades of blue. The strapping forts that tower this magnificent city sum up to a spectacle you would not want to miss. The mammoth, imposing fortress of Mehrangarh has a landscape dominating a rocky ridge with the eight gates leading out of the fortress. Jodhpur marks its origin back to the year of 1459 AD. Rao Jodha, the chief of Rathore Clan is credited with the origin of Jodhpur.

Visit Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace & Mandore Temples, Gardens & Cenotaphs.

Afternoon drive to Pushkar check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Pushkar - Jaipur (145kms/ 3hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Pushkar one of the oldest cities in India surrounded by hillocks on three sides. Along with an interesting mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar a fascinating city. According to legends, Lord Brahma, believed to be the creator of the Universe dropped a lotus to the ground leading to the immediate creation of a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and thus the name, Pushkar. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world. Hindus consider a journey to Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation.

Visit of Pushkar Lake one of the holiest lake in the country, has 52 bathing ghats, Brahma & Savitri Temple. Excursion to visit Khwaja Dargah E Sharif, Adhai Din Ka Jhonpda, Anasagar Lake in nearby town Ajmer. Also, visit local bazaars of the town.

After sightseeing drive to Jaipur check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax. You can visit Albert Hall Museum, the building gets inspiration for its design & name from The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exquisitely built Albert Hall is housed in the centre of Ram Niwas Garden. Sir Swinton Jacob (who is also the mastermind behind many other palaces in Rajasthan) conceptualised and designed it using styles from the Indo-Sarcenic architecture and the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of the building in 1876. The museum displays a wide range of metal objects, wood crafts, carpets, stone and metal sculptures, arms and weapons, natural stones and ivory goods. It also houses a large collection of miniatures from Bundi, Kota, Kishangarh, Udaipur and Jaipur schools of art. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Jaipur. Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. Established in 1727 by Jai Singh II, the king of Amber when he shifted his capital from Amber to the new city because of the rapidly-growing population and an increasing water scarcity. Noted architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya used the established principles of Vastu Shastra to build the city. In 1876, the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur and the entire Jaipur city was painted in pink the symbolic colour of hospitality to welcome him. The pink that colours the city makes for a marvellous spectacle to behold. Jaipur rises up majestically against the backdrop of the forts Nahargarh, Jaigarh and Garh Ganesh Temple.

In morning visit Amber Fort followed by Jaigarh Fort & Sisodia Rani Garden. Afternoon city tour visit City Palace, Observatory & Hawa Mahal. Further explore local market the famous bazaars of Pink City. In the evening attend Aarti Ceremony at Birla temple. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Jaipur - Departure

Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.