The Jewel of the Crown

Day by day

The itinerary

1. Day 1 · Delhi

   Arrive Delhi

   Upon arrival at airport in India, you will be warmly met by a representative, who will provide assistance and transfer to your accommodation to check-in. (Check-in 12:00 noon) Overnight: Delhi

2. Day 2 · Delhi

   Delhi

   Activities: • After breakfast, we cross the city into the walled gates of Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries. • Our tour includes visit to the Jamma Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk. Then we drive past the Red Fort (1639-1648). • Later visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to the Father of India’s Nation-Mahatma Gandhi. • Afternoon, we proceed on a guided tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutab Minar. • Drive through the Embassy area, Connaught Place, the heart and main shopping district of the capital. • Continue to Humayuns tomb, also known as the forerunner to the Taj Mahal. Overnight: Delhi – (B)

   Breakfast

3. Day 3 · Udaipur

   Delhi - Udaipur

   Activities: • Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Udaipur. Arrive Udaipur transfer to the hotel (Check-in 12:00). • Udaipur is the famed ”City of Sunrise”. The Jagadish temple next to the city palace enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu and his vehicle- a mighty bird called garuda – in a brass image. • Afternoon, city tour of Udaipur followed by a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight: Udaipur – (B)

   Breakfast

4. Day 4 · Jodhpur

   Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur

   Activities: • After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur; enroute visiting Rankapur Jain Temples. These temples were created in the 15th century AD during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. • Resume drive to Jodhpur, on arrival at Jodhpur check-in at your hotel. Overnight: Jodhpur – (B)

   Breakfast

5. Day 5 · Jodhpur

   Jodhpur -Rohet - Jodhpur

   Activities: • After breakfast, proceed on a tour to include a visit to the massive fort. Once inside, royal palaces abound with fascinating history and priceless jewels. • After the tour drive to Rohet for lunch (on own). Walk along the narrow lanes of this fascinating town with ethnic and tribal lifestyles. • Late afternoon return back to Jodhpur. Overnight: Jodhpur – (B)

   Breakfast

6. Day 6 · Jaipur

   Jodhpur - Jaipur

   Activities: • After breakfast, drive to Jaipur through tribal countryside. Arrive Jaipur and check-in at the hotel. Jaipur’s colorful bazaars tantalize the eye with enamelled blue pottery, exquisite gem-studded jewellery, engraved brass work, traditional block-printed fabrics and brightly patterned durrie rugs together with traditional crafts and miniature paintings. Overnight: Jaipur – (B)

   Breakfast

7. Day 7 · Jaipur

   Jaipur

   Activities: • After breakfast, visit the Amber Fort which is set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills. Ride up to this hilltop palace on a caparisoned, painted elephant. Your guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents. • Afternoon, visit the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semioctagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. • Tours of Jaipur also include the City Palace & Observatory. Overnight: Jaipur – (B)

   Breakfast

8. Day 8 · Agra

   Jaipur - Agra Via Fatehpur Sikri

   Activities: • After breakfast, drive to Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. The mysterious ghost city founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great in the late 16th century and capital of the Mughal Empire from 1581 to 1595. The city occupies a sandstone ridge, and the area around it is enclosed within a seven-milelong wall. We’ll stroll about the fort and palace. • After sight seeing continue drive to Agra, on arrival check-in at the hotel. • Evening sunset visit to Taj Mahal. This grand edifice, built by Shahjehan from 1631to 1653 to enshrine the remains of his Queen Mumtaz Mahal. The semi translucent white marble is inlaid with thousands of semi-precious stones in beautiful patterns and the building has four identical facades. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Overnight: Agra – (B)

   Breakfast

9. Day 9 · Agra

   Agra

   Activities: • After breakfast, visit the sprawling “Agra Fort” on the bank of the Yamuna River. Agra Fort’s architecture is an almost perfect fusion between military might and lavish beauty. • Also visit the Tomb of Itmadud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. • After sight seeing return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Agra – (B)

   Breakfast

10. Day 10 · Varanasi

    Agra - Delhi - Varanasi

    Activities: • Early morning, we drive to Delhi airport to board your flight to Varanasi. On arrival at Varanasi transfer to the hotel. • This evening in Varanasi (depending on the flight schedule), sightseeing of “Sarnath” – The ancient Buddhist learning center of Sarnath. Here, Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon to his disciples as portrayed in Bernardo Bertolucci’s film “Little Buddha.” • We then visit the Sarnath Museum (except on Fridays, when the museum is closed), which houses some of the greatest treasures of Indian Buddhist art, including Lion Capital of Ashoka, the Sarnath museum has a small but awe-inspiring collection of Buddhist artifacts. Among the things to see is a beautiful sculpture of the Buddha from the fifth century. • Evening drive to the Ghat to see the Aarti ceremony. As the sun sets the temple priests perform Aarti, the sacred “light ceremony”, on the banks Mother Ganges. Overnight: Varanasi – (B)

    Breakfast

11. Day 11 · Varanasi

    Varanasi

    Activities: • Proceed on a boat ride at sunrise on the Mother Ganges River. • Visit some of the popular temples of the city as well as the renowned University of Varanasi. • Visit the bustling Gadolia bazaar where would never have seen so many cycle rickshaws and heard the cacophony of so many cycle rickshaw bells! Overnight: Varanasi – (B)

    Breakfast

12. Day 12 · Delhi

    Varanasi - Depart Delhi

    Departure: In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and proceed to the international airport for your onward flight. – (B) Meals as per itinerary: (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

    Breakfast, lunch, dinner