Cultural Rajasthan

Welcome to India! Arrive in Delhi. You are met after at the aerobridge and after completion of the immigration and custom formalities. In the arrival hall you will meet our representative and transfer to your hotel by air-conditioned Toyota Innova.

The car and driver will remain at your disposal for the entire trip.

The capital of India, Delhi is home to 16 million people, making it the third largest city in India. The strategic location of the city made it an attractive location for invading armies, and it served as the capital for many great empires that ruled India. Many of these Empires built significant monuments, and whilst the Mughal and the British are the most visible, while driving through the city, you will see ruins from previous capitals, the earliest dating back to the 12th century.

Today after breakfast, you will visit Humayun’s Tomb. One of the earliest examples of a Mughal Garden Tomb, this mausoleum was designed by a Persian architect, and provided the prototype for future tombs, including the Taj Mahal. Recently taken over by the Agha Khan Trust, the gardens have been restored to their former glory, and the tomb and surrounding monuments restored. Continue your tour to Qutub Minar, the 72.5-meter high tower dating back to the 13th century. Built by the first Muslim rulers of India as a victory tower, it is one of the several structures you will find in this fascinating complex.

Drive to Old Delhi for lunch at Café Lota – a lovely hidden cafe at the craft museum. Housed in a building designed by the renowned Indian architect Charles Correa, the museum is a treasure trove of Indian art and architecture. Ranging from metal ware woodwork, masks, painting, terracotta and a textile, the museum show cases the best of India’s craft heritage.

After lunch you will visit the walled city of Old Delhi. In contrast to the newer city, the former Imperial capital is a maze of lanes crowded with shops, crumbling havelies (mansions), in the midst of which lies one of the country’s largest mosques. You will walk through the narrow lanes of the 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market, today it is a busy market selling an extraordinary variety of items – silver, jewellery, aromatic spices, leather, fruit and vegetables. This is an excellent introduction to the organized chaos which is quintessentially Indian.

You also have an opportunity to experience rickshaw ride in the narrow lane and explore popular local snacks of Old Delhi. If you are adventurous you might also visit the Asia’s biggest spice market in Old Delhi.

After breakfast you will drive approximately 4 hours to Agra.

This was the seat of the mighty Mughal Empire before it shifted its capital to Delhi, and it is home to some of their most inspired architectural creations including the Taj Mahal.

In the 16th and 17th century, the Mughal Courts were at their most powerful, and were great patron of the arts, and Agra attracted artisans, poets and musicians from across India as well as Persia and Central Asia, transforming Agra into a cultural and architectural paradise.

On arrival in Agra, transfer to hotel, rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Later you will be met by our resident expert (a local of Agra) to lead you on a specially curated
tour of Agra – see a different side of Agra, beyond the Taj Mahal, on this walking tour. You’ll visit areas better known by locals than by tourists, including the massive Jama Masjid (Mosque), the 650-year-old Shri Mankameshwar Temple and explore city’s top markets, city’s famous sweet - Pethe at a local confectionary shop.

Agra is also famous for its Zardozi embroidery, a skill that goes back to days of the Mughal Empire, and you will have time to visit with some of these skilled embroiderers

You will visit The Taj Mahal is at its best at sunset - just when the light, playing on the marble of the tomb and the reflections in the stillness of the waters, presents this incredible building in all its beauty, majesty and splendor.

05:30 Departure to visit Taj Mahal at Sunrise with your guide. Return to your hotel for breakfast and some leisure time.

Later you will drive approximately 5 hours to Jaipur.

A labyrinth of fascinating bazaars, opulent palaces and a futuristic observatory, Jaipur was the inspiration of the ruler Sawai Jai Singh, who moved the capital from Amber in 1727. Jaipur was designed by a young architect from Bengal and together they planned a city along the ancient Hindu treatise of “Shilpa Shastra”, a science similar to the better-known Feng Shui. Jaipur is laid out in a geometric grid of streets and squares making it one of the earliest planned cities in India. In honor of the visit of the Prince Edward, then the Prince of Wales, the city was painted in rich terracotta, a tradition which has continued through the years. This is the reason why Jaipur is often called the “pink city”. Today it serves as the State capital for Rajasthan.

On arrival in Jaipur, check-in to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

After lunch you will drive to Dera Amer for rural village walk followed by interaction with resident elephants (no elephant ride).

Embark on a rural village walk, to the nearby Meena tribe community. Calling this area of land home since before the Mughals or Rajputs, or any other traveller, they have called this area home for centuries. Visit the nearby school, the local settlements, and you’ll almost certainly be invited for a cup of chai or sample some spicy chutneys. Witness country life outside of Jaipur, where communities are largely self-sustained and rely on the land around them. A touching interaction, miles away from the tourist hoards of the city

Return to Dera Amer for an interaction with the elephant – you can feed them or talk a walk with them. You will end your day with a private dinner arranged for you at an exclusive venue.

Today you will visit Amber fort - built in the 11th century AD and expanded in size and scope by succeeding dynasties and their rulers, Amber is a fortress town of visual awesomeness. Ride up to its imposing hilltop location in jeeps and explore the maze of passages, corridors, pavilions, ornamental gardens and ramparts.

On the way back you may like to stop at Anokhi Museum, where you will see a collection of old costumes with hand blocked prints that are typical to Rajasthan (closed on Wednesdays). If you wish we can also try your hands on block printing.

After lunch at local restaurant continue your tour to The Sprawling City Palace, a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. Within the palace complex are several museums including an interesting textile gallery exhibiting a fine selection of textiles and costumes from the royal collection.

You continue into the Old City, a wonderful blend of old and modern India. Camel carts and Toyotas share parking lots, and the latest mobile phone is sold next to a shop selling handmade camel leather shoes.

After breakfast, drive approximately 3 hours to Shahpura Bagh.

Shapura Bagh was an 18th century regal retreat which has been converted into a boutique hotel. The 120-year-old garden estate was formerly the summer home of the rulers of Shahpura and comprises two residences. Set in 45 acres of garden and pasture, surrounded by two lakes, the working farm estate resplendent with trees of Neem, Ashoka, Peepal and Mango, is a very special and ultimately serene oasis peaceful co-existence with peacocks; an entire menagerie of birds fills the Bagh with birdsong and the occasional blue bull and jackal flit silently amongst the woods.

After lunch explore rare art of Shahpura with hotel guide - Phad Painting - The ancient art of Phad Painting is an important part of Rajasthani folklore. They are a centuries-old legacy of the Joshis of Rajasthan, who painted the stories of local deities on hand-woven cloth with natural colours. These massive painted scrolls were used to depict various myths, folktales, and legends. The paintings are the work of a community known as the Joshis. Bhopa & Bhopi (the Rebari community’s priest-singer and his wife) commissioned it. They would then travel from village to village, performing the acts depicted in the Phad.

You can visit the Joshis at Shahpurabagh and learn how they create these magnificent works of art, which are painstakingly painted by hand.

Enjoy activities Shahpura Bagh with your hotel guide or you may just spend the day at leisure.

In the evening you will drive to Dhikhola Fort (30 min) for an exclusive dinner at the fort overlooking the Dhikhola village. Some moments tend to stay with you for the rest of your life. The exquisite dinner at the step well in Narlai is one of such experiences. In true Rajasthani style, get adorned with turbans and scarves and hop on the bullock carts arranged especially for the evening, guided by a local into the dusk, swaying to the movement of the cart, watch the village slowly turning in for the night and the starlit sky unfolding above you, reach your destination lit by hundreds of lamps. A culinary journey awaits guests that ignite the taste buds with elaborate fare offered over next couple of hours. The traditional Rajasthani Thali served depicts a brilliant play of gourmet preparations.

After breakfast, you will drive approximately 4 hours to Udaipur.

Udaipur, the enchanting city of Dawn, looms up like a vision in white. The City Palace was built in 1725, and has various palaces inside such as, DilkushMahal, Sheesh Mahal, MotiMahal, the Palace of Krishna, all of which are ornately decorated. Saheliyon Ki Bari, the ’Garden of Maids of Honour’, is a small ornamental pleasure garden, containing an elegant lotus pool, gushing fountains, beautiful black marble kiosks on the corners of the pool and stunning bougainvilleas covering the wall of the enclosures. You will also visit the beautiful Jagdish Temple, which is still in use and very much a live temple.

On arrival, check-in to your hotel, rest of the afternoon at leisure

In the evening enjoy a private boat ride in the Lake Pichola.

Today you visit the City Palace. The detailed art and workmanship are a tribute to the skills of local artisans and craftspeople. Built as a stepped palace encompassing a hill, the four places illustrate various architectural styles, reflecting prevailing influences, mostly Mughal and Rajput. In keeping with the claim of the royal family that they are “Surya vansh” – descendants of the Sun, the whole structure faces east, and a stunning bejewelled image of the sun greets you at the entrance.

In the afternoon you take a walk in the old city with your escort. Sharing space with cows, elephants, people, and the walk through the winding lanes is an interesting insight into lifestyles in what is referred to as “small town India”. Shops selling a variety of items, unexpected folk art decorating the walls of houses and small architectural gems like a latticed work Haveli window.

This morning you will meet the crafts people who specialize in the rare skill – Jal Sanjhvi or the “art of drawing on water”. A popular religious ritual performed at temples dedicated to Krishna, this is the art of drawing iconic images on water using coloured powder. This is a dying skill and at the small Krishna temple in the old city you will watch one the last few practitioners of this art create a picture. It takes five hours to complete a picture and you will arrive in time to see him completing a “canvas”.

Afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Delhi – flight departing Udaipur at 1300 Hrs and arriving in Delhi at 1420 Hrs.

On arrival in Delhi, you will be transferred to your hotel. Rest of the evening at leisure.

You will have a car at disposal this evening if you would like to go on last minute shopping or dinner at a local restaurant.

You will be transferred to the airport depending on your onward flight.
Hotel check out time is 12 noon.