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Heritage Tour of Gujarat
& Rajasthan
Destinations Covered: Mumbai
(Bombay) - Ahmedabad - Lothal - Bhavnagar - Palitana - Gondal -
Junagarh - Dasada - Poshina - Mount Abu - Udaipur - Ranakpur -
Jodhpur - Pushkar - Jaipur - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra -
Delhi
Duration - 19 Nights / 20 days
Day 1: Arrive Mumbai
Meeting and assistance on arrival at International airport &
transfer to hotel. Morning at leisure to rest and relax. This
afternoon proceed on a guided tour of the city, which is distinctly
tropical. Its weathered Victorian mansions, some still privately
owned, and grand public buildings, many beautifully lit at night,
stand as lingering reminder of the days of the British Raj, First
visit the Gateway of India, hastily created as a symbol of welcome
to Queen Mary and King George V of England on their to India in
1911. Next visit the Hanging Gardens, perched at the top of Malabar
Hill, which provide lovely views over the Arabian Sea. Overnight at
the hotel.
Day 2: Mumbai - Ahmedabad (By Flight)
After breakfast an excursion on motorized boats across the Arabian
Sea to the Elephanta Caves, which house several, sculptures and
images sacred to the Hindu faith. Of special mention is the
sculpture of the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the
Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. Afternoon we are transferred
to the domestic airport to board flight for Ahmedabad. Upon arrival
we are met and transferred to our pre booked Hotel. Overnight at the
hotel.
Day 3: Ahmedabad - Lothal - Bhavnagar (By Surface)
Morning visit the Calico Museum, numerous mosque and mausoleum
complexes and other attractions of Ahmedabad. Afternoon we continue
our drive for Bhavnagar en-route visiting the Indus Site of Lothal.
Upon arrival in Bhavnagar check in at hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Bhavnagar - Palitana ? Gondal (By Surface)
After breakfast we go for a morning trip to the famous Jain Temples
covered on the Shetrunjaya Hills with its splendid cluster of more
than 850 temples on the summit. These temples were built some 900
years back. On a moonlit night these ivory coloured temples conjure
up the vision of a fantasy land. The ornate temples have deities
studded with GEMS and JEWELS. After the visit to these famous
Palitana Temples we continue our journey to Gondal. Overnight at the
hotel.
Day 5: Gondal - Excursion to Junagarh (By Surface)
After breakfast we visit the vintage and classic car collection, the
1748 AD Naulakha Palace, the Ayurvedic pharmacy and the lakes of
Gondal. After visiting these sites of Gondal we drive to Junagarh to
visit the famous Uparkot Fort, Durbar hall Palace Museum, Royal
Mausoleum and Hill Views. Evening we return back to Gondal for an
overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Gondal ? Dasada (By Surface)
After breakfast we drive towards Dasada. Afternoon we take excursion
by jeeps to the little Rann of Kutch sanctuary and nearby villages.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Dasada
Today we visit the village around Dasada of more than nine pastoral
and agricultural communities. Here we visit hamlets along the Little
Rann of Kutch and the salt gatherers. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Dasada - Poshina (By Surface)
After breakfast we start our drive towards Poshina were we visit the
Bhil and Garasia Hamlets. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Poshina - Mount Abu (By Surface)
After breakfast we start our drive towards Mount Abu. Close to the
Gujarat border, Mt Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station. Sprawling
along a 1200 m high plateau, Mt Abu stretches for about 22 Km. For
years the Maharajas and the Princes escaped to this hill resort to
escape the sweltering summers of the dusty desert. Here we also
visit the famous Dilwara group of Jain temples - one of the finest
examples of Jain architecture in India. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Mount Abu - Udaipur (By Surface)
After breakfast we start our drive towards Udaipur. Upon arrival at
Udaipur we check into our pre booked Hotel. Rest of the day is at
leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Udaipur
Built along three lakes and ringed by green hills, Udaipur (pop,
366.000) is known as the 'Venice of the East' The City's palaces,
gardens, Ghats, temples and painted houses match the beauty of the
setting. This morning we'll visit the towering City Palace, the
largest in Rajasthan, and the Sahelion ki Bari (Garden of the
Maidens). Once for bidden to all but his queen and her ladies. From
here we visit the e superb Jagdish Temple noted for its elephant -
motif carvings. Evening we take a boat ride on the Lake Pichola.
Day 12: Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur (By Surface)
After breakfast leave for JODHPUR en-route we visit Ranakpur which
is situated between Jodhpur, Mount Abu, and Udaipur. Here we visit
the famous Ranakpur Temple complex, one of the biggest and most
important clusters of Jain Temple in India. Nestled in the Aravalli
range. The Chaumukha temple or Four Faced Temple is the main temple
in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble,
the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1400 pillars, no two
of which are alike. After visiting the Ranakpur we continue our
drive to Jodhpur. Upon arrival in Jodhpur we check in at our pre
booked hotel.
Day 13: Jodhpur
This morning's tour begins at the massive Mehrangarh Fort where we
will explore the intricate living quarters, corridors and palaces
within the complex. Proceed into the heart of the bazaars for a view
of local artisans at work as well as locals shopping of their wares.
Late morning, we set out on a fascinating drive to Rohetgarh, a
neighbouring royal village. On our drive back to the hotel we visit
the famous Jaswant Thada - a memorial built in pure white marble
which is in exclusive use by the royal family as a crematorium, the
old fort museum and the Mandore garden. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Jodhpur ? Pushkar (By Surface)
After an early breakfast we drive towards Pushkar - a quiet little
town, on the edge of a small and beautiful lake in eastern
Rajasthan. A city of 500 temples and 52 bathing Ghats. Pushkar
prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God
of Creation, BRAHMA and is therefore believed to be the centre of
the creation of the world. Afternoon is spent visiting the Ghats and
the temples. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Pushkar ? Jaipur (By Surface)
After a relaxed breakfast we start our journey for Jaipur popularly
known as the Pink City, was built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai
Singh II. Designed in accordance with Shilp Shastra - an ancient
Hindu treatise on architecture - Jaipur follows a grid system. Upon
arrival check in your pre booked hotel.
Afternoon - tour of City Palace and Observatory. The City Palace in
the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthan and Mughal
architecture. The Palace of winds - a five storied structure of pink
sandstone has semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows
overlooking the main street of the old city. It was originally built
to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life.
Day 16: Jaipur
The capital of Rajasthan is the most colourful city in India. Today
morning we visit the Amber Fort in the Aravalli Hills, which is a
super example of Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style architecture. A slow
elephant ride takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several
graceful buildings. Afternoon is spent visit the local bazaar. In
the evening, we visit Chokhi Dhani where an ethnic village
atmosphere is recreated each evening with thousands of oil lamps,
folk dancers, acrobats, snake charmers, puppeteers etc. Overnight at
the hotel.
Day 17: Jaipur - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (By Surface)
This morning travel to Bharatpur for a tour of the world famous bird
sanctuary here. The reserve boosts of river 300 species of resident
and migratory birds. From here we drive to the ancient city of
Fatehpur Sikri (ghost capital) for a tour of the magnificent and
world heritage buildings still in a state of perfect preservation.
We continue our journey for Agra and upon arrival check in at our
hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 18: Agra - Delhi (By Surface)
Agra was the capital of India under the Moghuls in the 16th and 17th
centuries. This morning we see the exquisite tomb of the emperor
Jehangir's chief minister and father-in - law, often called the
'BABY TAJ' because its design foreshadows the Taj Mahal. Then we
tour Agra's Red Fort, built over three generations by the Moghul
Emperors.
Following an afternoon free, we go at sunset to see the Taj Mahal,
the mausoleum built by a sorrowing Shah Jahan in memory of his young
wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The building's stupendous scale, flawless
symmetry, translucent white marble and shimmering reflection in the
water channel are truly breathtaking. After visiting the Agra city
we leave for Delhi. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at
the hotel.
Day 19: Delhi
This morning we visit Old Delhi, built in the 17th century by Shah
Jahan the Magnificent (who also built the Taj Mahal). First we will
be visiting the famous Jama Masjid mosque with its 9,000 sq. ft.
courtyard, three domes and two minarets, and then proceed to the
massive complex known as the Red Fort.
Afternoon we'll visit Laxmi Narayan Temple, a Spectacular structure
that's just 60 years old, and then proceed via India Gate and the
Governmental building to Qutab Minar, the 240 foot tower built in
1190 to commemorate the arrival of Islam in India, the Bahai Temple
with its nine pools on an elevated platform, and the Crafts Museum,
which replicates and Indian street with over 50 artists and
craftspeople at work. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 20: Depart Delhi
In time transfer from hotel to international airport to connect
flight for onward destination / home.
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