Rajasthan in Depth

Welcome to Delhi! Upon your landing, our representative will greet you at the airport with a welcome sign with your name on it and escort you in a smooth drive to the hotel in our private car.

Activities & Dinner Suggestion:
The hotel we have carefully selected for you is in good location in the downtown with excellent facilities and services. There are several restaurants to choose from inside the hotel. After checking in, you can take a break to recover from the fatigue of the flight, or if you're not tired, go for a walk, go shopping or have dinner in the neighborhood. The Japanese Park is a good place to take a walk near the hotel.

Indian Delicacies That We'd Like to Share with You
Today we would like to share some Indian meat dishes. The most popular meats are lamb and chicken, because people in most parts of India do not eat beef, and Muslims cannot eat pork, while fish is the staple food in some regions.

1. Chicken Tikka Biryani, one of the most popular dishes with rice and chicken. India is renowned worldwide as The Kingdom of Spices, and Chicken Tikka Biryani is also highly praised by many tourists. Creating a perfect biryani requires a lot of effort and ingredients, but the taste does pay off. The typical sponge shaped rice grains are cooked perfectly, then thoroughly mixed with the main protein. Cooking takes time and is usually cooked for family reunions or weekend prayers among the middle-class households. You can order this dish in the restaurant and it is worth a try.
2. Rogan Josh, a kind of curried lamb. It is said that Rogan Josh originated in Persia. It is mainly made by stewing lamb, cooked with onions, garlic, yogurt, ginger, vanilla, spices and Kashmiri chili, the color is red and very tempting.
3. Vindaloo is made from chicken, coriander seeds, cumin, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, mung bean cardamom, mustard seeds, chili, vinegar, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, onions, tomatoes, and sugar, usually paired with rice, Indian pancakes, or naan.
4. Curry Fish. Korameena, halibut, sardine or mackerel are often used for this dish, mixing the aroma of coconut milk and green leaves with the natural sweetness of fish, it will definitely conquer your taste buds.
During the vacation, our guide and driver will recommend local good restaurants and hope you enjoy the journey with us.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini

After breakfast, we will first head to Old Delhi, which used to be the capital of the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. Our guide will first take you to the Raj Ghat, the place where Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India, was cremated, where you can pay tribute to this great man like a local. Next, we will proceed to the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India built in the 1650s by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. We will then drive past the Red Fort to admire its splendid red facade and Mughal fort complex from the outside, before arriving at the Chandni Chowk, a busy market with a rich history, where we will experience a rickshaw ride.

In the afternoon, we will start exploring New Delhi, with the first stop to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, an eminent Sikh shrine with more than 200 years of history. Later, the guide will lead you to visit two of Delhi’s most famous World Heritage sites – Humayun’s Tomb, the earliest Mughal garden tomb and the archetype of the Taj Mahal; and then the Qutub Minar, a soaring conical tower whose height sets a record in all of India. We will end today at the India Gate, a giant arch dedicated to the Indian soldiers killed in the First World War and several border conflicts.

★ What makes our service superior:
1. Rickshaw Experience: We will explore the Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s liveliest bazaars, in the most authentic way possible. Instead of walking, we have arranged a special rickshaw ride for you to easily navigate through the crowded streets filled with busy shops and people. You’ll feel like being a part of the real local life.
2. Flexible Photo Stops: Our guide, car and driver offer private service only for you and your family or friends. In Old Delhi, we will leave you time to take photos in front of the signature Red Fort; while in New Delhi, we will also give you photo time when we pass the Parliament House, President's House and other government secretary buildings. If you see any interesting places on the way, we could stop for you at any time as long as the local traffic laws and conditions allow.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini

In the morning, you will be escorted to the Delhi Airport for a flight to Udaipur. Upon your arrival, our local driver will transfer you to the hotel. Upon check-in, our guide will show you around this beautiful city built around a series of artificial lakes. First, we’ll visit the City Palace, a visual feast of royal residence complex with a mix of Medieval, European and Chinese styles. The next destination will be the Jagdish Temple, a 17th-century Hindu temple with a towering structure and exquisite decorations. 

Afterwards, we’ll take a sightseeing drive around the Fatehsagar Lake with breathtaking views. Next, the guide will show you the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir, a museum featuring rare collections showing Rajasthani cultural traditions. In the end of the day, we’ll pay a visit to the Sahelion-Ki-Bari. With lush greenery and elegant fountains, it is a royal garden that dates back more than 200 years and was built for the Queen and her 48 maids.

★  Privilege of Our Guests
Jagmandir Island Palace, a great heritage hotel built by the Mughal dynasty in the 17th century, is also one of the inspirations for the Taj Mahal. Lying in the middle of the charming Lake Pichola, it is a high-end restaurant now. Three course dinner is provided including starter, main course and dessert, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. We believe that you will have a royal feeling and get relaxed with the beautiful distant mountains, the warm and gentle sunset, together with the exquisite architecture and delectable food.

If you are interested, we can reserve seats for you in advance at your own expense. Our driver will be glad to offer a transfer service for you.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada by Wyndham Udaipur Resort and Spa

After breakfast, we will drive to Jodhpur. En route, stop at Ranakpur for sightseeing (98 km from Udaipur). You can admire the Jain Temples built in the 15th century, especially the Chamukha Temple in Ranakpur, where you will see 20 halls and 1,444 pillars in different designs. After the visit, we will continue our road trip to Udaipur and check into a local hotel before nightfall.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Indana Palace, Jodhpur

Today we will appreciate the best of the Blue City of Jodhpur. We’ll start with the Mehrangarh Fort, which sits on top of a 125-meter-high hill. Our guide will accompany you to visit the luxurious palaces inside, including the Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Palace of Flowers), and Jaswant Thada.

★ What makes our service superior:
1. In addition to the guide’s explanation, we will also provide you with an automatic audio guide device in the fort as supplementary.
2. The privilege of reaching the highest photo spot of the fort, allowing you to capture panoramic views of Jodhpur City in the best light and angle.

Next, you will be guided to the Umaid Bhawan Museum, which once served as the royal palace and now displays a large collection of weapons, crockery, art deco furniture, and antique clocks. Our final stop in Jodhpur will be the clock tower area, where we will visit the Sardar Market, a vibrant bazaar that is considered a popular landmark of the city.

Afterwards, we will start a road trip by private car to Jaisalmer, the Golden City of India and the next destination of our Rajasthan holiday packages. Upon arrival in the evening, check in the hotel and have a good rest.

The In-depth of Mehrangarh Fort and the Blue Udaipur
Mehrangarh Fort was built by different royal families at different times with seven narrow and thick gates. Besides, the passages behind were steeply raked, which could resist the attack from the enemy's elephants.

In ancient India, the women’s social position was very low, for those who had lost their husbands were considered ominous. Therefore, when the kings passed away, their concubines had to be buried alive with the dead, they left their handprints dolefully on the wall before dying. Later the handprints were colored into orange which you can see at the entrance, and many local women touch the wall with their heads when passing by, praying for peace and blessings.

The fort is actually a small city with intricate roads, and the best places to overlook the old blue city is from the observation points on the city wall at the end of the fort. Legend has it that Shiva swallowed the demon's poison to save the earth, which caused her blue skin. The Brahmins in the city painted the houses blue in memory of Shiva. Follow our tour guide's explanation, the history of this ancient fort will be revealed before you gradually.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer

Today, we will visit the 12th century Jaisalmer Fort, the only thriving old fort in India that is still inhabited. There are many elegant haveli residences of the once wealthy businessmen. Our guide will especially take you to the magnificent Salim Ji Ki Haveli famed for intricately-carved arches and vivid peacock statues, the Patwon Ki Haveli which is a cluster of five small mansions, and the Nathmalji Ke Haveli featuring ornate exterior carvings. 

In the afternoon, we will visit the city’s commercial hub, the Manak Chowk Market, which is swarmed with roadside shops loaded with decorative crafts, leather goods, spices, and handmade textiles. Then we will spend some time around the beautiful Gadisar Lake before heading to the desert.

★ Thar Desert Adventure:
Late in the afternoon, we’ll transfer you to the Sam Sand Dunes in the midst of the Thar Desert. You can try a short desert hike, watch a beautiful sunset, or if you like some thrilling activities, you can go paragliding, dune bashing, quad biking, jeep safari and camel safari at your own expense.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer

After breakfast, our driver will transfer you to the Jaisalmer Airport for a flight to Jaipur. Upon your landing, our local driver in Jaipur will warmly greet you and escort you to our well-prepared hotel in the downtown.

► Tip: If there is time left, you can explore Jaipur by yourself. Take a walk in the park around the hotel, find a cinema to watch an authentic Indian movie, or follow the guide’s advice to visit some of the nearby attractions. The Albert Hall Museum is a good choice, which was originally a concert hall and later converted into a museum, where you can appreciate the antique items and art sculptures.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton

In the morning, after arriving at the Amber Fort parking lot, our guide will lead you to walk 15 minutes or take a self-paid jeep to the fort entrance to begin the visit. Known as both Amer and Amber, this massive and well-maintained 16th century fort towering on a hill was built in both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Our experienced guide will walk you around the fort explaining all the details and historical events, and show you the best view points and photography points.

On the way back to downtown Jaipur, we will arrange a complimentary photo spot, the Jal Mahal, for you to take pictures of the secluded palace on a lake. Next, the guide will take you through several of the city's historic monuments, including the Maharaja City Palace, which houses the royal collection of valuables, the Jantar Mantar, known for the world’s largest sundial and bizarre brick architecture, the Hawa Mahal (from outside), with its extraordinary pink walls and numerous windows, as well as the Birla Temple, a large Hindu mandir dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi.

An Interesting Experiment - Try Henna Tattoo
Henna Art can be traced back as far as 5000 years ago and is said to have been introduced to India in the 12th century with the rise of Arab culture and the Mughal dynasty.

Indians call it mehndi, a body decoration that symbolizes good luck, happiness, and beauty. Although it is called a tattoo, it is actually completely different from the tattoo we talk today. A tattoo needs to be pierced into the skin, while Henna is just a decorative pattern painted on the skin, using natural and harmless pigments made of henna flowers. The pattern can be retained for 5-10 days.

On the night before the wedding, the bride is given the first stroke by her future mother-in-law, and then the painter continues with the complex and exquisite patterns on her hands and feet. It is interesting that the bride's own mother will judge whether her daughter is doing well at her new home based on the preservation of the hand paintings, the more paintings left, the less chores her daughter did, which represents she has a relatively easy life, it is really a relief to the mother and also the wisdom of the laboring people.

When you travel in India, you can see painters in the markets and scenic spots with the very simple supplies - one or two stools, some pigment and painting brush. You can have a try after visiting the Maharaja City Palace at the price of USD5 - USD15. As for covering one or two hands with this money range, it all depends on your bargaining. In short, anything is possible.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton

Today we will take a private car to Agra. Along the way, we will pass the Abhaneri Village, where the guide will show you the Chand Baori Stepwell through which you will know the wisdom and symmetrical aesthetics of the ancient Indian people. When approaching Agra, we will stop to visit the Fatehpur Sikri, a 16th century Mughal castle once hailed as the Victory City. Before dark, we’ll arrive in Agra and check into a comfortable hotel.

Why Did Emperor Akbar Relocate The Capital?
Fatehpur Sikri, this magnificent palace is forty kilometers away from Agra. As for why Akbar the Great relocated his capital here, one theory was that king never had a child. A sage told Akbar the Great he would have an heir to the throne if he moved his capital here. The sage's words have indeed been fulfilled.

Before the Mughal dynasty, the conflict between Hindus and Christians led to the disappearance of many cities, because no matter which side wins, the winners would massacre the other's followers. Akbar the Great, a Muslim, was the first to realize that it was impossible to conquer a large number of Hindus in consciousness, so he took measures to coexist and merge with other religious sect. He then married three wives from Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, and built palaces for them with their own religious style here, which is the most commendable and admirable quality of Akbar the Great.

Tour guides play an important role when you visit historical sites. Following his explanation, you will learn about all the history of this Victory City, as well as the function of various buildings. Standing here, you can imagine that during the glory of the dynasty, every small pattern on the walls and doors was inlaid with gemstones. Although this city was abandoned due to water scarcity after only 10 years of use, its historical value cannot be replaced by any others.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson, Agra

Today we will arrange a special activity – watching sunrise from the Taj Mahal. Our guide will wake you up early to enter the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum blending the Islamic and Indian styles built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. We will see the first beam of sunlight on the white marble building from the best angle, solemn and charming.

We will complete our visit of the mausoleum complex in the early morning when there are few people, and then the guide will take you to the Agra Fort, another World Heritage site in Agra. It is a semi-circular red sandstone walled city built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar who believed in Islamism. The guide will take you up the Muthamman Burj, which offers full and majestic view of the Taj Mahal in the distance. Next, we will visit the Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed the ‘Baby Taj’, and finally the Mehtab Bagh, which is the best place to see the Taj Mahal in silhouette at sunset and after dark.

★ What makes our service superior:
1. We offer you a full ticket of the Taj Mahal, allowing entry to the main mausoleum and including free tourist map, drinking water and shoe covers.
2. All-day viewing route around the Taj Mahal: sunrise, sunset, silhouette, and night view.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson, Agra

After breakfast, our driver will take you to the Agra Railway Station for a train to Jhansi. The train Bhopal Shatabdi Express 12002 will depart from Agra at 7:55 and Arrive in Jhansi at 10:45. Please kindly notice that the facility on the train is really limited. When you need the wash room while travelling, please do remember to bring you own toilet paper. Upon arrival, our local representative will be right waiting for you at the Jhansi Railway Station. Here we’ll start our road trip to Khajuraho by private car. On the way we will stop for a walking tour in Orchha, a historic town located on the banks of the Betwa River. By nightfall, we will arrive in Khajuraho and check into the hotel.

The Distribution of the Temple Complex in Khajuraho
During the 9th to 11th centuries of the Chandela dynasty, nearly a hundred temples were built in Khajuraho, representing the Vishvanatha, Vishnu, and Jainism. 25 temples with exquisite carvings are distributed within an area of approximately 20 square kilometers, which led this temple complex to be the seventh in The Times of India's Seven Wonders selection.

The temple complex is divided into three districts: the western, the southern and the eastern temple group. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple of the Western is the most famous because of the typical and magnificent 872 erotic sculptures.

The Eastern Temple Group locating at about 1500 meters away from the Western is now Jain temple group. It is a relatively small world cultural heritage site engraving the images of the three major deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, as well as their wives and various incarnations. The largest and most beautiful one among them is the Parsvanath Temple. Visiting this temples and the carvings, one cannot help but admire the interpretation about sex by ancient Indian, which also represents new fertility and new life.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Jass, Khajuraho

Khajuraho is a unique town featuring numerous Hindu and Jain temples - Khajuraho Temple Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the morning, the guide will lead you to explore the temples built between 885 and 1000 AD, appreciating the astonishing erotic sculptures and carvings. With themes of ancient mythology and sex, these vivid sculptures reflect the philosophy of Indian aesthetics, with lifelike figures that will make your jaw drop.

After the special visit in Khajuraho, the driver will take you to the airport for a flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival after the one hour flight, our Varanasi driver will pick you up from the airport to the hotel for the night.

Things You Need to Know in Varanasi
1. Do not drink water from the Ganges or play with it. Taking 1000 milliliters of water from Ganges as an example, there is over 1 million E. coli in it, while the international standard given by the WHO is only 5000.
2. The streets are lively and noisy, and there are no fixed routes and rules for cars, for people and for cattle. Pay more attention to your safety.
3. The crematorium by the Ganges operates 24 hours a day. Without accompany of our guide or driver, please do not go outside of the hotel at night.
4. There are many ascetic monks on the roadside, but some of them are disguised in order to get money from tourists when taking photos or being photographed, usually 100 -200 rupees.
5. Before the night ceremony, some local people may paint your forehead with a little red. Please refuse, as they will charge you a high fee of 1000 rupees. Actually, 100 or 10 rupees are also acceptable.
6. After the night sacrifice ceremony, you can buy a small lantern if you want, make a wish and put it into the river, hoping the lantern carrying your wishes drifting along the Ganges towards the paradise in your heart.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada Plaza JHV Varanasi

We will arrange a special morning cruise on the River Ganges for you to see how the city wakes up from this holy river. You will find local people bathing here, washing their clothes, worshipping the gods, and cremating the dead on the riverbanks. We would drift past two of the most famous ghats – the Manikarnika Ghat, a local cremation site, and the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the main and most spectacular ghat where the locals sell some religious items, including Ganga Jal that contains water from the River Ganges.

Afterwards, we will enjoy an Old Kashi walking tour, strolling through the narrow alleys and visiting an ancient market that is more than 400 years old. We will also visit a Mughal mosque and the temple of Lord Kaal Bhairao, the protector of Varanasi. In the evening, we will watch the sacred Ganga Aarti Ceremony.

★ Unique Experience of Ganga Aarti:
Our guide will take you to the Dashashwamedh Ghat by the Ganges to find the best vantage point and wait for this unique ritual that dates back thousands of years. The faithful devotees, the choreographed steps, the glittering brass lamps, and the melodious chant will be your memory for a lifetime!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada Plaza JHV Varanasi

Your two-week India tour itinerary will end here. After breakfast, we will arrange for a chauffeur-driven car to escort you to the Varanasi Airport for a 2-hour flight to Delhi, where you can take your own flight home or to the next destination. Wish you a nice trip! If you need to extend your travel to another countries or regions, please feel free to contact our travel consultants.

Meals: Breakfast