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Delhi
- Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Delhi(07 Nights/ 08 Days) [pushkar
fair 2007]
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Day
01 : Abroad - Delhi
Arrive at Delhi International airport. On arrival in Delhi,
the guest will be met by our representative and transferred
to hotel.Overnight at hotel.
Day
02 : Delhi
This morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre
of Moghul Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow
streets and bustling bazaars. Drive past the Red Fort, built
in 1648 and board the 'rickshaw ride' for a unique experience
from the 'Red Fort', through 'Chandni Chowk' or Silver Street,
experiencing the sights and sounds of this very busy avenue
heading west from the Fort. Later visit the 'Jama Masjid', the
greatest mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan
who also built the Taj Mahal, and the 'Raj Ghat', the simple
memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. This afternoon you will be taken
to visit New Delhi - drive past the stately government buildings
of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India
Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful
Humayuns tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world
famous 'Taj Mahal'. End the tour at the towering minaret of
'Qutab Minar'.Overnight at hotel.
Day
03 : Delhi - Agra
Morning drive to Agra (203 km)Upon arrival in Agra - check into
the hotel. Afternoon visit red fort and famous Taj Mahal.
Red Fort - lies on the bend of the river Yamuna,
almost in the heart of the town. It was built by Akbar as his
citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style.
It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat.
Taj Mahal -This most famous Moghul monument
was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife
Mumtaz Mahal "the lady of the Taj". It has been described
as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, for the
emperor was heartbroken when Mumtaz died after 17 years of marriage,
during the birth of her 14th child.The central structure has
four small domes surrounding the huge, central dome. Above the
tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are false tombs, a common
practice in Indian mausoleums. (Taj Mahal is closed on Friday).
Stay at pristine Taj Mahal for sunset, to see this true Wonder
of the world in gentle late afternoon light.Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 : Agra - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur (221 km), en route visit Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri the deserted, red sandstone city that was built
by Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the 16th century.
Also visit the Bulund Darwaza the largest gateway in the world.
Thereafter continue drive to Jaipur Upon arrival in Jaipur -
check into the hotel Afternoon at leisure to explore the city.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
05 : Jaipur
Morning tour of the impressive Amber Fort, situated on a ridge
just outside Jaipur City. At the foot of the hill you will mount
your caparisoned elephant for the slow but steady climb up to
the main gate, making your entrance in the time honoured fashion.
The Fort, completed in the early 18th century, took over 100
years to build and now, although deserted, offers a fascinating
insight into the lifestyle of the Moghul ruling families. Afternoon
tour of the City - "The Pink City" is spectacularly
set within surrounding rugged hills, dotted with ancient ruined
fortresses. Your tour will include the imposing City Palace,
still home to the Maharaja although several of the rooms are
now open to the public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging
to the ruling family are housed here, including a collection
of weaponry. You will also visit the Hawa Mahal "Palace
of the Winds", and the open-air Jantar Mantar Observatory
to see the vast astronomical instruments. Enjoy a stroll through
the colourful bazaar before returning to your hotel.Overnight
at hotel
Day
06 : Jaipur - Pushkar
Late morning drive to Pushkar (130 km). Pushkar - is famous
for its colourful annual fair during kartik poornima (full moon)
in the November each year. At this time this otherwise peaceful
and gentle village on the banks of holy Pushkar take is thrown
into colourful confusion when the desert tribes and camel caravans
meet to trade cattle, camels, goat, sheep, clothes, jewellery
and spices beside the sacred Pushkar Lake and to perform their
rituals in its waters, to the accompaniment of temple &
folk music. Upto 200000 traders and 50000 cattle pour into town,
along with numerous festooned camels and colourful pilgrims.
After 10 hectic days of livestock dealing, camel racing and
colourful festivities, everybody goes for a big holy dip in
the lake on the night of the full moon. (Kartik Purnima).
Upon arrival in Pushkar - check into the Royal Camp
captures the luxurious nostalgia of a bygone age of the Maharaja's
Safari and Shikar camps, combined with innovative design demonstrating
many of the skills and crafts of Marwar. The camp consists of
tents, each with verandah, bedroom and bathroom. There is a
large dining tent serving the best of Rajasthani cuisine and
a large open reception tent with seating areas. The campfire
is the focal point for the evening entertainment programme with
cocktails & rhythms of the Thar-music, dancing, magicians,
puppet shows, jugglers, flaming torches & camel parades.
Afternoon City tour of Pushkar - Pushkar boasts temples,
though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important
pilgrimage site, since many were deserted by Aurangzeb and subsequently
rebuilt. The most famous is the Brahma Temple, said to be one
of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. It's
marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the hans,
or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen
Pushkar as its site. Overnight at Camp.
Day
07 : Pushkar
Full day at the fair. Built as 'an explosion of fun, frolic,
games and laughter', the fair provides some wonderful photographic
opportunities and is a rare change to see Rajasthani women decked
out in all their traditional jewellery, dress and finery. Temple
music wafts through the night, as the fires die down and the
Rajasthani melodies played on the stringed ek-tara come to a
close. On the night of the full moon, the pilgrims bathe by
moonlight, then send marigold and rose petals floating across
the lake on green plate-like leaves. It is worth getting up
early to see the camels and tribes rousing themselves in the
pink of the dawn desert light.
Overnight at hotel
Day
08 : Pushkar - Ajmer - Delhi
Morning drive to Ajmer (15 Km) Upon arrival in Ajmer, straight
proceed for city tour. The Emperor Shah Jehan's white marbles
pavilions are in a delightful park on the east banks of the
man-made Ana Sagar Lake. Ajmer, located 135 km southwest is
the most sacred of all Muslim places of pilgrimage in India.
Ajmer is a green oasis on the shore of Ana Sagar Lake, hemmed
in by barren hills. Historically Ajmer has always had great
strategic importance. It was founded in 7th century by Ajaipal
Chauhan. He named it Ajaimeru the 'invincible hill', because
here he raised Taragarh, India's first hill fort. The city's
Muslim history began when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Ajmer to Sultan
Muhammad Ghori in 1193 A.D. The Persian saint Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishti who came with Muhammad Ghori from Persia in 1192 settled
here. Thus the place where he was buried is today known as the
Dargah Sharif. Construction of the shrine was completed by Humayun
and the gates were added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Later Shah
Jahan constructed a mosque of white marble, it has 11 arches
and a Persian inscription running the full length of the building.
Beyond the Dargah is the Adhai din ka Jhonpra an ancient Sanskrit
college, which was converted into mosque in 1198 and remains
one of the finest monuments of medieval India. Afternoon transfer
to railway station for train to Delhi
Leave
: Ajmer at 1550 hrs by Shatabdi Express
Arrive : Delhi Cantt. at 2220 hrs
On arrival in Delhi, the guests will be met by our representative
and straight proceed to International airport for flight back
to home.
