Day 1 : Abroad / Delhi
Arrive late night at New Delhi International airport. On arrival the guest
will be met by our representative and transferred to hotel. Upon arrival at
hotel the guests will be provided with the traditional Indian welcome
consisting of aarti-tikka and garlands. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : New Delhi
Morning
sightseeing tour of Old 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. Visit the vast Red Fort, built in 1648,
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. Afternoon sightseeing tour of 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 3 : Delhi - Sariska
After breakfast drive to Sariska (180 kms) On arrival in Sariska - check
into the hotel. Sariska Palace - built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar, at
the turn of the century, the Sariska Palace was a royal hunting lodge or
Palace de Nature. Silhouetted against the nurturing arms of the Aravali
range, this legacy of Maharaja, now a heritage hotel, is located right
inside the Tiger Reserve. Hard tennis courts with a viewing pavilion and a
swimming pool give that zestful touch to a quiet holiday. Lunch at the
hotel. Afternoon, an exciting jeep drive to the Sariska sanctuary to view
wildlife. Set among valleys, hills and deep forests that change colour with
the seasons. It is the home to an exotic variety of wild animals and
beautiful birds. Here, herds of golden deer dart and pirouette gracefully,
playing hide and seek with their shadow, and the big wild cat, the tiger,
roams free.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 : Sariska - Ranthambore
After breakfast drive to Ranthambore (240 kms) On arrival in Ranthambore -
check into the hotel. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary - Rajasthan's most
renowned wildlife sanctuary, it is 400 sq kms of dry deciduous forest,
perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhya
hills, dotted with pavillions and dominated by a hilltop fort. Ranthambore
was one of the hunting preserves of the former rulers of Jaipur and because
of this the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest
and their inhabitants well protected. It has a good population of tiger and
their prey species, and has been declared a "Project Tiger"
reserve. Wildlife includes blue bull, black buck, spotted deer or cheetal,
wild boar, a large variety of bird species and, if very lucky, the rarely
seen leopard. This afternoon you will be escorted on a game viewing inside
the sanctuary by jeeps.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 : Ranthambore
Early morning and late afternoon, game viewing in the sanctuary by jeeps.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 6 : Ranthambore - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur (156 kms) On arrival in Jaipur - check into
the hotel Lunch at the hotel Afternoon, tour of 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 7 : Jaipur - Bharatpur
Morning visit Amber Fort Afternoon drive to Bharatpur The famous Keoladeo
Ghana Bird Sanctuary which is a wonder of the natural world and no less
worth seeing than the marble mausoleum of the Taj. Here over 350 species of
birds find refuge in the 29sq kms of shallow lakes & wood lands of the
park. A third of them are migrants many of whom spend winter in Bharatpur
before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and
Central Asia. This sanctuary is the creation of the Maharaja of Bharatpur in
the late 19th century, who recognized the area's potential and augmented the
water supply by diverting water from a nearby irrigation canal. He also
constructed small dams, dykes and shooting butts & in a few years the
new ecosystem so flourished that it was able to support thousands of water
birds. The maharaja celebrated his success in style, with extravagant
shooting parties for the dignitaries of princely India. Their exploits are
recorded to this day on a sandstone inscription in the park. There are many
good paths & trails through the dense park, but a ride with your expert
rickshaw driver will be a rewarding experience as he has been trained to
recognise the different species of birds. Afternoon, cycle-rickshaw ride.
Day
8 : Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra (56 kms) enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri - drive to the impressive sandstone fortress of Fatehpur
Sikri. The fort was built in the 16th century and only occupied for a few
years before being abandoned, leaving the buildings in virtually perfect
conditions. On arrival in Agra - check into the hotel Lunch at the hotel
Afternoon, visit the Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the
beloved spouse of Shah Jahan, who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises a
forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming formal Mughal garden with canals and
a central tank with a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached
mosque on the west and its symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is
remarkable for its perfect proportion and rich pietra dura, with minute
details executed with great skill. The building, often styled "a dream
in marble" is said to have taken at least 22 years (1631-1653) to
build.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 : Agra - Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Red Fort built by three generations of
Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is a
masterpiece of design and construction. It housed both the residential
Palaces of the Royal family, and the military quarters. Lunch at the hotel.
Afternoon drive to Delhi (203 kms/ 5 hrs) Upon arrival transfer to the
international airport for onward flight.
Day 10 : Delhi - Abroad
Leave Delhi for Abroad.
