Day 01: Delhi
A company representative from
TNS will offer you a warm traditional welcome at the Delhi airport, complete with garlands and tilak. Elite and foreign tourists usually prefer the best five star hotels in the city and thus, a room is reserved for you at The Imperial or The Oberoi. The hotels offer you a free welcome drink to help you overcome jetlag and get adjusted to the new environment as soon as you check in.
The company representative will discuss the itinerary details with you once again, telling about all the options available and mapping out alternative ways of making your luxury tour all the more enjoyable. This is the time to make any queries, requests or ask for changes in the tour and indicate your preferences. We advice you to take proper rest on this day and be refreshed for the excitements of the next day.
Day 02: Delhi
You will be served an energizing breakfast before you commence
your guided sightseeing tour of Delhi, the capital of India,
with the company representative. At Old Delhi, you can see
Raj Ghat, the memorial of the Father of the Nation Mahatama
Gandhi;
Jama
Masjid, the largest mosque in India; Birla Temple dedicated
to Lord Vishnu built in Nagara style of architecture and relief
carvings depicting scenes from mythology; the
Red
Fort which was once the stronghold of Mughal emperors
and holds a special place in the heart of India as it was
here that the first Prime Minister of India unfurled the tricolor
flag on the day India gained its independence; and Chandni
Chowk, Asia’s biggest and oldest market with several
lanes specializing in a particular merchandise. Chandni Chowk
is a shopper’s paradise with several good bargains,
famous delicacies and eateries, and the rickshaw ride.
New Delhi has its share of highlights too. It is much better
planned with wide avenues lined with shady trees with strong
resemblance to green European cities. You can see Qutub Minar
here that was built to commemorate the first Islamic victory
in India; the
Lotus
Temple with its unique shape and design that belongs to
Baha’i faith; the Rajpath stretching from the Rashtrapati
Bhawan or the President’s House to the
India
Gate, a tribute to martyrs, where Republic Day Parade
takes place every year on 26th January as a display of India’s
military might. Foreigners, typically, love the ‘Dances
of India’ show that is held every evening at 18:45 hours
to promote Indian culture and tourism and showcases several
classical and folk dance forms of India.
Day 03: Delhi - Agra
(Distance by Road: 201 km, Usual Time Taken: 4 hrs)
A parting breakfast will be served at Delhi, before you check
out of the hotel to visit Agra, the City of
Taj
Mahal that immortalized the royal romance of Emperor Shah
Jahan with its marble beauty and radiates his passion through
every precious and semi-precious stone that found its place
in the inlaid stonework of the architectural splendor.
En-route, you will visit Sikandra, Akbar’s tomb. The five-storey mausoleum is built in red-sandstone with the topmost storey being in pure white marble. It also entombs two daughters of the Emperor along with other members of the royal family. At Agra, you will check in at the luxury hotel ‘Oberoi Amar Vilas’, where you can relax after the tiring journey. If you like, you can roam in the city markets in the evening and check out lesser-known landmarks of the city.
Day 04: Agra
Today is one of the most exciting days of your luxury tour itinerary as you will visit Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as other highlights of the city. Local say that only those who are in true love can enjoy the real beauty of Taj. However, those who are interested in studying unique architectural features or have good aesthetic sense are awed by the perfect symmetry and clever use of optical illusion throughout the Taj complex.
Agra Fort is about a century older than its famous cousin at Delhi but the most interesting thing to see here is the room where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurungzeb in his last days. The room allowed Shah Jahan to see Taj Mahal to his heart’s content. The guide will tell you about the spot where Sha Jahan laid down in his dying moments and a diamond was affixed to allow him to see Taj’s reflection until his last breath.
Other marks of Mughal grandeur and luxury in the city includes Itmad-ud-Daullah’s Tomb, which was built by Empress Noor Jehan in the memory of her father and is so beautiful and unique that it is often referred to as the Jewel Box. In the evening, you can shop for souvenirs such as Taj miniatures and take a piece of luxury to home in the form of marble tabletops and trinket boxes with inlaid stonework and breathtaking handicraft items.
Day 05: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
(Distance by Road: 235 km, Usual Time Taken: 5 hrs + 2 hours for touring Fatehpur Sikri)
You will be served a delicious breakfast before you check out of the hotel and proceed to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, more popularly known as ‘The Pink City’. En-route you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the most striking relic of Mughal grandeur before Shah Jahan that you will see during this tour. Fatehpur Sikri is a well-planned city built by Emperor Akbar in the honor of the Sufi saint - Sheikh Salim Chisti – who blessed him with sons and an heir to his throne. The beautiful structure had all the provisions needed by the royal family to successfully rule the empire from here. However, scarcity of water led to the abandonment of the city.
The highlights of the place are Buland Darwaza or the Royal Entrance; Sheikh Salim Chisti’s Dargah considered sacred by people of all faiths; and the Queen’s Quarters, especially the Panch Mahal, the Palace of Rani Jodhabai that had five storeys. The motifs and architectural features used here present a mix of European, Mughal and Rajputana style presenting the secular views of the Emperor.
Jaipur will bring you out of the Mughal reverie to subdued sophistication of Rajput rulers and the famous hospitality of the land of Rajasthan. Here, you will check in at the
Oberoi Raj Villas, where you can rest and relax and get rejuvenated for the rugged magnificence of the desert state of India.
Day 06: Jaipur
While Mughals loved to give a special touch to the tombs of their greatest, Rajput rulers concentrated on sustainable and modernistic lifestyle, which was simpler and more suited to their environs. Their greatness found expression in the way they lived and conducted themselves. The elephant ride to the Amber Fort will give you an idea on how the high positions of the royalty could be expressed by just the right choice of animals for the ride. The Amber Fort complex has several palaces and temples that are magnificent with delicate screen and filigree work here and there. In the movie Jodhaa Akbar, scenes of Rani Jodhabai at her parents’ place were shot at
Amber Fort complex.
Other highlights of Jaipur are
Hawa
Mahal or the Palace of Winds that was built as a summerhouse
for the royal ladies. It has natural air-conditioning system
that kept it cool when the sun blazed outside. Its honeycomb
façade allowed the ladies to see whatever happened
in the central market area without being seen from outside.
The Royal Observatory or Jantar Mantar was built on the blueprint
developed by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II and has large masonry
instruments that can make accurate astronomical calculations
to this day. A part of the City Palace complex still houses
the erstwhile royalty while the rest of it is open for tourists.
In the evening, you can see ladies weaving intricate designs at the rug factory and artisans working diligently to cut and polish the gems using the established, precise and elaborate procedures at the gem factory.
Day 07: Jaipur - Udaipur (Distance by Road: 425 km, Usual Time Taken: 8 hrs)
Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at Jaipur before you begin your luxury ride to the most romantic city of Rajasthan – Udaipur – popularly known as the City of Lakes. The ride is long but exciting as you get a chance to observe the true picture of urban and rural Rajasthan today. The bright colors used by Rajasthanis in their attire may seem odd to foreigners but provides an interesting contrast to the otherwise dull, dusty and barren surroundings.
People have adapted their lifestyle to the scarcity of water in the region and shining brass utensils, use of heavy jewellery, and wall paintings adorning the house will captivate your attention. Udaipur is surrounded by large water bodies and looks like an oasis in the desert land. You will check in at the Oberoi Udaivilas, where you will find all the comforts you need to relax fully.
Day 08: Udaipur
You can enjoy traditional cuisine for breakfast or may choose international cuisine to feel more at home at the luxury hotel where you are staying. The sightseeing tour of the city starts with the visit to the landscaped gardens, Sahelion-ki-Bari, which were once meant exclusively for royal ladies. The lotus pool, rain fountains, marble pavilions and ornate kiosks are just some of the special features of these gardens.
The intricately carved pillars and frescoed ceilings of the famous Jagdish Temple and the local folk museum depicting lifestyle, culture and tradition of the local people are other highlights of the city. Yet, the topping on the treat is the romantic boat ride in the beautiful and clear waters of Lake Pichola at sunset. During the ride, you can also see the very beautiful fairy-tale like Lake Palace that seems to have sprung up from the leaves of the Arabian Nights.
Day 09: Udaipur - Deogarh (Distance by Road: 120 km, Usual Time Taken: 2 hrs)
Palace Tour of Rajasthan is incomplete without the mention of Deogarh Mahal, the mainstay of Mewar aristocracy that has now been converted into a heritage hotel. After breakfast at Udaipur, you will check out of your luxury hotel at Udaipur and ride to Deogarh where you will check in at the Deogarh Palace. It is a beautiful place that has been lavishly embellished and encapsulates many surprises and treats for the tourist.
The idea of staying at Deogarh Mahal is to allow you to explore the intricacies of the lifestyle, culture, splendor, opulence, and hospitality of the Rajputana. Mewars of Deogarh were senior feudal barons under the supremacy of Maharana of Udaipur and were the rulers of a large jaghir that had about 210 villages in all. Since they spent most of the time fighting, they had little time to amass wealth or ostentation. Yet the rugged grandeur mesmerizes domestic and foreign tourists alike.
Day 10: Deogarh
The day is free for you to explore Deogarh Mahal as much as you like. From the entrance of the palace to its central courtyard to the opulent religious decoration in the ‘Kishan Kunj’ Hall, Deogarh Palace has several surprises to lure the tourists. Impressive paintings and decorations make it worthy of a prolonged stay.
Day 11: Deogarh – Pushkar
(Distance by Road: 170 km, Usual Time Taken: 4 hrs)
You will be served a tasty breakfast at Deogarh, before you check out of the luxurious palace hotel and move to Pushkar, where you will check in at another notable palace known as the Pushkar Palace. In the evening, you will visit the Akbar’s Palace which has now been turned into the Ajmer Museum and houses stone sculptures, weapons and miniature paintings; mausoleum of the sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti; and the famous Ana Sagar Lake surrounded by pavilions and catchments known as Baradari which is the favorite picnic spot in the city.
Day 12: Pushkar – Neemrana
(Distance by Road: 130 km, Usual Time Taken: 4 hrs)
You will be served a regal paraphernalia for breakfast at the Pushkar Palace, before you check out from there and proceed to Neemrana, where you will check in at the India’s oldest heritage resorts - Fort Palace of Neemrana. Quite close to Delhi,
Neemrana Fort Palace complex has scenic surroundings. It is situated majestically on a plateau surrounded by Aravalli Ranges from three sides in a horseshoe pattern. Spend the evening at leisure, exploring the scenic surroundings and relaxing as much as you like.
Day 13: Neemrana
Well-preserved and generously embellished, Neemrana Fort Palace presents a spectacular mix of antiques, traditional Indian and colonial furniture, and rare artifacts. Most of its rooms have private terraces, balconies or bathrooms that offer scenic views of he surrounding areas. The day is free for you to explore the pleasures of Neemrana Fort that might include yoga and meditation exercises, reading in library, swimming, relaxing in jacuzzi, opting for holistic Ayurvedic treatment, guided tours of stepwells, camel car rides and trekking to watchtowers on hills. The airborne adventure exclusively at Neemrana known as the Flying Fox is highly recommended, in which highly trained guides take you on a thrilling ride over the Aravalli ranges where you feel like flying while being suspended from super-strong steel cables.
Day 14 : Neemrana - Delhi (Distance by Road: 120 km, Usual Time Taken: 3 hrs)
On the last day of your luxury palace tour, you will be served a delicious breakfast at Neemrana and then you will proceed to Delhi by road. Usually, you will have enough time to do the last minute shopping at Delhi in its local markets such as Janpath and Delhi Haat. The company representative from
TNS will treat you to a parting dinner and fare you well at the International Airport, in time for your flight to home.
TOUR ENDS
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
- ACCOMMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS,
- DAILY BREAKFAST AT HOTEL
- SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY,,
- ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDES
- PRIVATE CAR WITH DRIVER
- CHANDNI CHOWK RICKSHAW RIDE
- ELEPHANT SAFARI IN JAIPUR
- BATTERY VAN RIDE IN AGRA
- ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES
- ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXES AND DRIVER ALLOWANCES,
- ONE FAREWELL DINNER FROM TNS GROUP.
EXCLUDES:
Lunches and dinners are not included (except where mentioned in the inclusion list) along with personal expenses, camera, etc. tips, (if any) at places where applicable. All hotels are subject to availability and all flights are subject to confirmation. Airfare is included in the tour price. It is not separate.
