Adventure Tour In North India

Arrive Delhi and check into hotel. This afternoon we go on a city tour and see the main sights of New Delhi, which include the President’s Palace, Lok Sabha (Parliament), India Gate, the Rajpath and Humayan’s Tomb. 

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we explore the narrow streets of Old Delhi. We take to cycle rickshaws to explore the winding lanes of Chandni Chowk bazaar, a sprawling market where you can buy almost anything you need from household wares to souvenirs. We view the Red Fort from the outisde before leaving the capital and driving to Agra. Our journey to Agra takes approximately 3 hours. On arrival we visit Agra Fort, built by Akbar the Great, which contains thet Moti Mosque, a beautiful building decorated with pearls.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

An early start this morning to one of the world's most famous buildings, the breathtaking Taj Mahal. Over 300 years have elapsed since its construction, yet it stands today unscarred by age, its beauty and symmetry seemingly beyond man, time and space. Created by Shah Jahan as a funerary monument to his favourite wife, Mumtaz, it took 22 years to build (1630-52). The Great Moghul lies beside his beloved under the white marble dome.  Inlaid with precious gems, the building cost a fortune and later Shah Jahan moved his capital to Delhi before being overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb. After breakfast we leave Agra and begin our drive to Jaipur. Along the way we stop and visit the deserted city of Fatephur Sikri. Founded in 1569 and abandoned scarcely 16 years later, it is a perfectly intact example of Akbar's imperial court. Among the many noteworthy buildings is the 5-storied Panch Mahal, probably a pleasure pavillion for hte ladies of the harem. In the centre of the courtyard is the Pachisi Board where the emporer played a game of chess which dancing girls as pieces.  Perhaps the finest structure of all is the lotus shaped carved central pillar of the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), its extraordinary capital supporting a vaulted roof. We continue on to Jaipur where we have time to relax on arrival.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Sometimes called the Pink City, Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink by Maharajab Sawai Ram Singh to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. This morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour including a visit to the lavish and well preserved City Palace with its fine collection of textiles, costumes and armoury. Jai Singh, the great Maharajah-astronomer, built his extraordinary (and very accurate) star gazing observatory (Jantra) here. We will get an opportunity to visit the observatory and also the Old City with its fine gates set in to the pink walls.  In the afternoon we head to the outskirts of the city and visit the dramatic Amber Fort, perched high on a highside with impressive views back down to the city.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we will drive to Mandawa (approx 6 hours). On arrival we will have free time to explore the area and walk amongst the painted houses.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

A short drive takes us to Nawalgarh, where we tour the vividly painted houses and impressive havelis in the Shekhavati area of the town. The buildings are decorated with bold, highly coloured folk art depicting elephants, horsemen, parrots, peacocks, and festive scenes like weddings. We also visit the main bazaar before driving to the desert city of Bikaner (approximately 5 hours). Situated directly on the ancient camel caravan routes that came from Africa and West Asia, Bikaner was once a great trading centre. Its colourful bazaars and buildings of reddish-pink sandstone still suggest its ancient wealth.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we take a tour to the Junagarh Fort built by Raja Rai Singh (1571-1611) which is distinguished by its high defensive light red sandstone walls. The well preserved palaces within the fort area are noted for their fine stone carvings. Bikaner still remains a defensive town, and was the home of the famous Camel Corps. We will also take the opportunity to visit the Old town and Bhandasar Jain Temple. The afternoon is left free for further discoveries such as an optional trip to Deshnoke (Rat) Temple.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

On arrival we will explore Jaisalmer on foot visiting the Gadi Sagar Tank, Jaisalmer Folklore Museum. We will also visit the fort and some of the many elaborately carved Jain Temples and havelis including the Patwon-ki Haveli considered to be the finest in Jaisalmer.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is free for you to relax and enjoy this amazing city at your own pace.  The city is set in the vast Thar Desert and today still retains much of the medieval atmosphere as camel carts pass through the narrow streets alongside rickshaws.  The fort is lively hub of activity, with shops and restaurants, and well worth a wander through.  The city is famous for handicrafts in particular stone carvings, leatherware and brass items and the bazaars team with stalls offering almost everything you can imagine.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Jodhpur, where the impregnable fortress commands a superb panorama of the surrounding countryside (approximately 6 hours). The city itself has a unique atmosphere, with many fine old buildings and temples. Jodhpurs, those trousers-cum-riding breeches, are named after the horsemen of this city. Arriving mid afternoon, the rest of the day is free to wander the atmospheric streets of the Old City.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The Majestic Meherangarh Fort in Jodhpur is built across the top of a steep escarpment 125m above the plains below. It has a huge, sheer drop to the south where it overlooks the city. Our visit this morning affords wonderful views, not only across Jodhpur, but also way into the distance across the surrounding desert plains. The Rajput palace buildings within the fort are typically Mughal – very ornate and flamboyant, but also very practical and as always, built with defence in mind. This afternoon there is the chance to make an optional visit to some nearby Bishnoi villages. The Bishnoi are renowned for their protection of wild animals and nonfelling of trees.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our morning’s drive takes us on to the temple town of Ranakpur, one of Rajasthan’s gems (approximately 4 hours). Little visited, it is home to some of the most beautifully sculpted Jain Temples in India. Situated in a wooded valley the temples date back to the 15th century with the carvings depicting scenes from the lives of the Jain Saints at that time. We visit the Adinath temple, which contains 1444 exquisitely carved pillar, with no two alike. Continuing we then drive to Ghanerao (approximately 1 hour) where we will spend the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we drive to visit Kumbalgarh’s imposing 15th century fort – one of the finest examples of defensive architecture in Rajasthan. Lying 1,100m above sea level, the fortified ramparts protected palaces, temples and even farms, ensuring that the complex was self contained and able to withstand a long siege. We then continue to Deogarh, a small city previously one of the premier states of Rajasthan. The fort and palace are well worth a visit, alternatively the Anjanweshwar Mahadev Temple has been in use for more than 2000 years.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to the beautiful lakeside city of Udaipur where we spend the next two nights.  The city is dominated by Lake Pichola, its island palace (now a hotel) and Jag Mandir island. Here the future Shah Jahan sought sanctuary from his father after he had been found guilty of plotting against him. A city sightseeing tour can be arranged to include the City Palace and Jagdish Mandir. Or you may wish to visit one of the nearby villages by bike or foot. If the water levels are hgih enough it is possible to arrange a sunset cruise on the lake or take a boat to the Lake Palace Hotel, perched on a small island in the middle of Lake PIchola.

Note: At some times of the year the level of the water in the lake may drop or even, after a poor monsoon, dry up completely.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our tour ends this morning after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast