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Thursday. January 30. (D)*. UNITED STATES – DELHI
Depart this evening abroad any airline of your choice to Delhi, India. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.
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Friday. January 31. (B, L, D). DELHI
Continue flying on your airline to Delhi. Lunch and Dinner on the plane. You arrive late at the Delhi International Airport. We meet you outside the customs and transfer you to the hotel, where we stay two nights.
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Saturday. February 1. (B, D). DELHI
Morning sightseeing of the Old City to see the Qutub Minar built in 1210. In the afternoon, we visit Humayun’s Tomb whose lovely gardens offer an escape from the heat. The RAJ GHAT, site of the cremation of three of India’s most revered leaders, Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, Indira Gandhi (no relation to the saintly man) in 1984 and her son Rajiv in 1991, all three assassinated by fanatics. Drive by India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House), and other government official buildings built with wide boulevards, epitomizing the spirit of the British Raj. We will have our Gala welcome dinner. Over night at the hotel.
Delhi is a sprawling metropolis of 12 million, with a stunning backdrop of ancient and modern architecture. Geographically as well as historically, it consists of seven successive cities, with the British- built New Delhi making an eighth. Monuments in marble and sandstone are dotted around the Old City, whereas the colonial-style buildings from 1911AD and the modern architecture after Independence on August 15, 1947, are found next to each other in New Delhi, which has been the seat of the central government since 1931AD. Delhi’s brand new metro system, designed by American engineers Parsons Brinckerhoff, opened first phase in December 2002 and is expected to be completed in 2020. In the meantime, one has to weave a path through bicycles, auto- rickshaws, mopeds, cars, vans, buses, trucks, cows, bullock carts and hand- pulled trolleys to flow with the traffic, looking at Hindus and Moslems dressed in orthodox clothes, women wearing colorful saris or businessmen dressed in suits and ties going about their daily ordeals.
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Sunday. February 2. (B). DELHI – AGRA
Today we drive southeast witnessing the mass of people moving about or selling goods along the highways, dressed in the most colorful clothes imaginable. We arrive in Agra where we stay two nights. This afternoon we will visit the Agra Fort built by the great Moghul emperor Akbar and augmented by successive emperors until the last one Aurangzeb, who imprisoned his old father Shah Jahan here. From there you can catch a fabulous view of the TAJ MAHAL across River Yamuna, lit up by the setting sun. Overnight at the hotel.
Agra, the capital of India under the Moghul rulers is the third apex of the “Golden Triangle”. Jaipur and Delhi are others. It fully merits its status due to the magnificent Taj Mahal, which was best described by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as a “tear on the face of eternity”. It is above all, a mausoleum built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan (meaning Ruler of the Universe) over the tomb of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631 and later his own too. Only he, of all his predecessors, had experience since the age of sixteen in designing monuments, and the recent discovery of an enigmatic diagram inscribed with numerous Islamic scriptures on the façade, leads scholars to believe that his tomb was intended as a reproduction of God’s throne in Heaven.
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Monday. February 3. (B). AGRA
This morning we will visit the most alluring monument, The Taj Mahal built of white marble, with inlaid precious stones on its facades shinning like multi – colored garlands around one of mankind’s greatest creations. This afternoon we will visit the Itmad-ud-Daula described as “jewel box” or sometimes called the “Baby Taj”, built between 1622 and 1628. This mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan’s mother Nur Jahan. Overnight at the hotel.
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Tuesday. February 4. (B, L). AGRA – FATEHPUR SIKRI – JAIPUR
This morning we drive west to stop first at the former capital of the great Moghul emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri now a ghost city. We visit the Royal Palace, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal’s Mansion. Lunch enroute. We continue our journey west to arrive in Jaipur where we stay three nights.
Jaipur, the chaotic capital of the state of Rajasthan, is known as the “Pink City”, because of the rose pink color wash applied to its palaces and monuments, when the city was spruced up for the visit of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1876. It was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who personally designed the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, the largest stone – built observatory in the world.
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Wednesday. February 5. (B). JAIPUR
Morning sightseeing of this flamboyant showcase of Rajasthani architecture begins with driving by Jaipur’s landmark , Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds” built in 1799 to enable women of the court to watch street processions, while remaining unseen behind finely screened windows. We visit part of the City Palace Museums, Mubarak Mahal and the Hall of the Private Audience. We also visit the unique Jantar Mantar observatory to see a total of 18 instruments erected by Maharaja Jai Singh, many of them his own inventions, built between 1728 and 1734. This afternoon is free for shopping, spa or swim. Overnight at the hotel.
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Thursday. February 6. (B, L). JAIPUR
Today we drive northeast to visit Amber, the ancient Capital of Maharajas of Jaipur, where we begin the sightseeing of the Amber Fort. We visit the Palace Complex, with its lofty Hall of Public Audience, the dazzling Seesh Mahal – private chamber of former Kings and queens, and Sukh Mahal, where the marble rooms were cooled by water cascading through fine perforations in the center of the wall- an early and very efficient system of air -conditioning. We have organized special elephant safari in foot-hills of Amer fort in a private lodge followed by lunch. In Afternoon will be free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
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Friday. February 7. (B). JAIPUR – JAISALMER
Today we will do city walk in the spice market. This afternoon, you will fly to Jaisalmer to experience Desert Festival. Jaisalmer comes to life during the Desert Festival. The desert city rejoices in the rhythmic dances – Gair, Kalbelia, Chari and terahtal. Fire dancers are the highlights of the festival. The traditional musical instruments are played. The folk songs of the desert are sung by the Langhas and the Manganiyars of the region. Camel safaris on the dunes are also a highlight of this festival. You will stay three nights at the Surya Garh hotel.
Jaisalmer is known as the “Golden City” due to the yellow sand, and the beautiful yellow sandstone used in most of the architecture of the city. It was founded by Maharawal Jaisal in the 12th century. The magnificent Jaisalmer Fort is situated on a steep hill overlooking at the town of Jaisalmer. Unlike most forts in India, this fort is still a living fort, and about a quarter of city’s population live inside the fort. Jaisalmer has been enriched by its traders and Jain community, which has adorned the city with elaborate carved havelies (mansions) and temples.
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Saturday. February 8. (B). JAISALMER
This morning you visit Jaisalmer Fort and see Patwaon ki haveli. In the afternoon you visit the Gaddi Sagar Lake and the Royal Cenotaphs at Barj Bagh. During the afternoon you can enjoy cultural activities of the festival. Sunset view over this city is spectacular. Over night at the hotel.
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Sunday. February 9. (B). JAISALMER
Morning, you drive for an excursion to Sam to see the beautiful Thar Desert. Return back to Jaisalmer. After noon we will stroll around the fair grounds. Overnight at the hotel.
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Monday. February 10. (B). JAISALMER – JODHPUR
Today, we drive southeast to arrive in Jodhpur where we stay two nights. Afternoon, we will enjoy Jeep safari to a village to see rural life in Rajasthan. Dinner at the hotel.
Jodhpur, known as the “Blue City” due to the color wash of its old houses, is spread across the eastern fringe of the Thar Desert. It is overlooked by the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, whose ramparts rise from a steep sandstone outcrop. Described by Rudyard Kipling, as the work of angels and giants, it is a photographer’s dream at sunset.
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Tuesday. February 11. (B, D). JODHPUR
Morning sightseeing of the Mehrangarh Fort begins with an elevator ride up to the Palace level after going through first of seven gates which made the fort virtually impregnable, even to charging enemy on elephants. We will see the superb Mehrangarh Museum with solid silver “howdahs”- elephant seats, and palanquins on display. Nearby is the Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), a dancing hall for the entertainment of the maharajas and his guests. The views of the city from the ramparts are simply breath taking. Today we will have our Gala farewell dinner.
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Wedneday. February 12. (B). JODHPUR – DELHI – U.S.A.
Today morning we will visit the spice and vegetable market. This afternoon, we take a domestic airline flight to Delhi, where we transfer you to the Delhi International Airport for the flight on airline of your choice back to U.S.A., arriving home the next day.
*B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Departure: January 30, 2020 - 14 Days
Return: February 11, 2020
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